Entering the Capital City

As soon as Xuan Cheng's caravan became visible to the eyes of Capital's guard and people, there was a commotion among them, words flew like lightning to the roots of the Capital City that some rich man has been seen outside the gate.

They were all bewildered and people literally left their work hanging and stared at the lavish caravan approaching the City Gate. Their eyes widened and jaw dropped, their heart racing against their chest and they got goosebumps.

The city guards were alarmed and gathered, secretly taking a defensive position, in case the caravan belonged to some rebellion enemy, they would be at an advantage or in case it belonged to some rich merchant from a foreign land, they won't be at a disadvantage of making a mistake.

However, they had not received any instruction from the higher-ups, about someone special visiting the Capital City, so they were highly suspicious.

"Routine Check!" a sturdy guard approached, Zhong, the head escort came forward and climbed down his horse.

"Sir, can we talk on the side?" he proposed with a professional smile. The guard looked at him from top to bottom, giving a suspicious look, his complexion became hostile instead.

Zhong understood that the guard had misunderstood him for attempting to bribe him. His smile became smaller, as he placed his hand on the guard in a friendly manner, he spoke, "Sir, you see, our caravan is no ordinary, my master wishes to keep the identity unknown.

How about this? I should call my master and let him show you the Badge to verify our genuineness..." Zhong burst into a laugh and glanced back to check if Jiu was coming.

Jiu rode forward on his horse, amazing the guard who got goosebumps as he recognized the breed. There was no way for an outsider to differentiate a servant from a master if they wear the same apparel and ride the same carriage.

"Greetings!" the guard grinned weirdly as he addressed the head eunuch of Princess, Li Jiu, who climbed down his horse and stood before him with his nose high up, unlike a servant.

"Can I talk to you privately?" Jiu asked in a proud manner.

"Ye- Yes sir," the guard stuttered from nervousness as he led them to a side, where the guard's supervisor joined them.

After a short conversation, Li Jiu showed them the jade badge that Xuan Cheng had handed him.

"Imperial Princess?" The supervisor read the carved character and then glanced at the eye-blinding caravan, now the things were making sense.

"Which princess is she?" the guard asked, cluelessly.

The supervisor thumped him and whispered, "What a blockhead you are! Noble's identity should not be exposed to commoners."

"Your Lordship, you can go, we will not alarm the higher-ups, but you know news travel fast," the supervisor turned to Li Jiu, mistaking him for a noble.

"As long as you do your part of the job honestly, nothing else to worry about," Jiu exchanged a glance with Zhong, smiling with their eyes.

"Um..here..." Zhong handed red packets to the guard and the supervisor as Jiu climbed his horse again.

Xuan Cheng could feel the bustling wide road of entrance falling into murmuring, she had expected them to be surprised. Her heart finally began to feel a little better.

The reason she didn't inform the Imperial Palace or her Xuan Clan, and stopped the low-ranking officers from informing their superiors, was simply because she wanted to settle down peacefully.

Entering the magnificent city gate with no hindrance, everything went smoothly. Passing through the pillars situated inside the city gate that welcomed the people coming, Xuan Cheng opened her eyes, as she was sitting straight against the carriage wall.

She lifted the curtain very slightly, only enough for sunlight to slip in, she smirked, her heart celebrating the legendary moment of her life, a moment where she marked a new journey of her life.

...

Meanwhile, at his palace, Prince Ming was frustratingly clenching the broken piece of mirror in his hand, his deformed reflection in the cracked mirror.

"Ming'er, open the door," Prince Wu banged against the door with his palms, leaning as close as he could to hear the movement inside.

There was no answer from inside, all they had heard was something shattering. It was Eunuch Su who rushed and called the crown prince, the only person who could convince Zhao Ming.

"I know you are blaming yourself for losing track of that man from Duyi.

Come out, we can solve this together.

Trust me!" Crown Prince spoke loudly so that his voice reaches inside.

"Brother Wu, I am tired, I want to take a rest, let's talk later," a fuzzy voice Zhao Ming replied after a long while.

"Ming'er, I know you are upset...

It's not your fault...

Don't blame yourself...okay?

Get a good rest and come to me when you wake up," Crown Prince Wu comforted him in a soft and warm voice.

"Take care of him, I know him well, we must leave him alone for a while," Crown Prince turned to Eunuch Su and his junior Eunuch San and left.

As he walked out of the palace, he met Officer Pei on his way and asked, "What happened? He has never been this way."

Officer Pei checked his surrounding and as soon as the radar was clear, he came closer and whispered in Crown Prince Wu's ears, "Li Quan was our last hope and he went missing mysteriously.

We were looking for him for days, but then suddenly His Highness asked us to stop our search, ever since then, he has been like that."

"O my poor brother, he must be blaming himself for being incompetent, he must be regretting wasting his time in the garden watching the flower bloom and die and then bloom again.

I hope he pulls himself together.

Anyway, since he is like that, I must take over the search for the poison master," Crown Prince said.

"No...no...your highness, we are enough, please focus on your work, and let us share your burden," Officer Pei bowed his head and requested.