Fu Zanying had left.

The events had unfolded too quickly.

The Crown Prince looked down at his empty hands, feeling dazed.

When the person he had held turned away and left, he seemed to vaguely hear a murmur.

“I came with my whole being, and still left with my whole being.”

The words were so desolate and ominous that Li Jinghuan hoped he had misunderstood.

What kind of cold and hopeless situation would make a young woman utter such a sigh?

Aying was merely a pampered girl; she couldn’t possibly have such profound feelings.

So he instinctively took a few steps after her, but noticing the various curious gazes upon him, he abruptly stopped.

To have the Crown Prince absentmindedly chase after a young girl would surely lead to ridicule.

He had nothing to do with Fu Zhuangxue.

If he showed such a reaction, it would only make him appear guilty.

Li Jinghuan, standing with a deep, troubled look, heard his mother speaking soothingly to the guests.

He adjusted his clothes to calm himself.

Indeed, the Crown Prince should maintain his dignity.

At most, after the banquet, he would go to the Yuzhu Palace to explain things to Aying properly.

Little did he know that after Zhan Ying left Hualin Garden, she wasted no time, grabbing the waiting Chun Jin and quickly walking out of the Fengzhuang Gate.

She didn’t take the route back to the inner palace but instead walked south along the long imperial road, passing by the Empress’s quarters, the Emperor’s inner palace, and the Taiji Hall where political meetings were held, continuing on and on.

Her hair, which had lost its hairpin, fluttered in the wind, a few strands brushing against her cheek and covering her eyelashes.

She didn’t bother to brush them away.

The imperial path was long, and the towering green walls on either side pressed down like mountains.

Zhan Ying, used to traveling in palanquins, had never walked such a long distance herself.

When her feet grew tired and her legs weak, she pinched her thigh to keep going, with only Chun Jin by her side to support her.

She had anticipated that the Crown Prince wouldn’t come after her.

In front of so many people, the dignity and face of the Eastern Palace had to be preserved.

This aspect of Li Jinghuan’s character was actually quite similar to Empress Yu’s.

Because of this, Empress Yu was undoubtedly busy dealing with the aftermath of the situation and couldn’t pay attention to her.

As for Fu Zean, he would naturally stay by Fu Zhuangxue’s side, comforting her.

He might even be annoyed with her for being so unreasonable, so it was unlikely he would come after her.

These people likely thought her words were just in the heat of the moment and believed that after leaving Hualin Garden, she would simply return to the Yuzhu Palace.

Thus, they wouldn’t make much effort to pursue her in anger.

The cold reality that once chilled her heart now became an asset to her.

She seized the brief moment of freedom, unobstructed, and reached Yunlong Gate.

This was the place where the Grand Marshal had stayed earlier.

Of course, the Grand Marshal had already left, and a few guards stood under the vermilion wall, still casting fearful shadows.

They vaguely recalled a man in military armor and a long cloak with white wolf fur, who had made them break into a cold sweat.

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze wafted toward them.

The guards looked up and saw a young woman with waist-length hair and an otherworldly beauty appear before them, making their eyes widen in surprise.

Chun Jin stepped forward to block the young woman’s path, clearing her throat as she pulled out a golden token from her bosom.

This Kuiwen Fengyi token was given to Zhan Ying by the Emperor many years ago. With this token, one could pass freely through the palace gates.

However, Zhan Ying was not the kind of person to use it recklessly.

She had always been cautious in the palace, and though the token was valuable, it had never been used.

Last night, she had specifically asked Chun Jin to retrieve it and keep it close, making this the first and last time it was of great use.

Seeing the token, the guards treated it with the same reverence as they would if the Emperor himself had arrived.

Though puzzled, they did not dare to be negligent and bowed to clear the way.

From Yunlong Gate to the east was the Zhiche Gate.

This gate was filled with carriages bearing various family crests, all belonging to the guests attending the banquet, including the carriage of Fu Zean and his sister.

Look, even the carriage is ready.

The Fu family’s coachman recognized Miss Fu, but he was surprised to see the person getting out of the carriage was not the eldest son and second daughter, as expected, but the youngest daughter.

He was puzzled and confused.

Zanying cleared her dry throat and said simply, “There has been an unexpected event at the banquet. I have an important matter to return home and report to my grandmother.”

The coachman, alarmed by her words, didn’t dare delay.

He quickly lowered the footstool for the young lady to get into the carriage and headed back to the Fu residence.

Chun Jin helped the young lady into the carriage, settled her comfortably, and couldn’t help but look at her with a mix of emotions.

Over the years, she had taken care of the young lady’s daily needs and had never heard her lie or deceive.

Sometimes, Chun Jin even worried that the young lady was too kind and gentle.

Given the weight of managing a household in the future, she wondered if the young lady could bear the responsibility.

But today, Chun Jin felt that the young lady seemed to have suddenly grown up.

Not suddenly, actually.

Thinking back over recent days, Chun Jin couldn’t remember the last time the young lady had smiled.

The sweet smile that used to be constantly on her face was gone.

Chun Jin didn’t know how the young lady had anticipated that the Crown Prince would be meeting with the Fu family’s daughter in the rockery, allowing her to prepare in advance.

She didn’t care about that.

She only worried about whether the young lady’s heart would be hurt after this incident.

The Crown Prince was someone the young lady had admired, trusted, and followed since childhood.

Chun Jin knew how important the Crown Prince was to the young lady, and it was not an exaggeration to say he was her entire world.

Yet the Crown Prince was now involved with another young lady at her coming-of-age ceremony.

The Empress and the eldest son of the Fu family had not spoken up in her favor.

“If you want to cry,” Chun Jin started to say, but Zanying turned her eyes, which were moist but without tears.

She softly said, “I won’t cry. The hardest part is over. I will not cry.”

“Just that it has implicated my elder sister in sharing the risk. Sister, don’t worry. I will ensure your slave contract is canceled and won’t let anyone mistreat you.”

Chun Jin’s nose grew sour.

Even at such a time, the young lady was still thinking about her slave contract.

But Zanying felt completely at ease.

She gently lifted the corner of the carriage curtain and greedily looked at the bustling streets, the shops, the people, and the summer’s vibrant atmosphere as it passed by.

She was finally leaving that prison.

Next, it was time to settle the first account.

The oil-painted carriage stopped in front of the Fu residence’s gate.

Zanying stepped out, her white dress fluttering lightly like a refreshing snowfall in summer.

The steward at the second gate, seeing Miss Fu, who was supposed to be in the palace, did not know what had happened.

He hurriedly reported to the old lady of the Fu family.

By the time the message reached Old Lady Fu, it had become “The young lady has returned.”

Old Lady Fu, who had a stern and authoritative appearance with a flat forehead and a strong nose, had deep lines etched around her lips due to age.

Although she was in her seventies, she still appeared energetic and sharp.

Hearing the news, she stood up, the dark green silk of her skirt brushing the redwood footstool, and asked with an elderly voice, “Didn’t A-Xue come back by herself? Why didn’t her elder brother come back with her? The banquet should have ended early. Did something happen to her in the palace?”

As she spoke, she stepped outside to meet her.

At the door, Zanying’s soft voice came from beyond the railing, “I heard that grandmother is unwell, so I came back to see how you are.”

Old Lady Fu stopped in her tracks.

Zanying’s figure appeared through the carved door, and seeing the elderly woman’s shocked expression, she understood and nodded.

“Seems grandmother only considers A-Xue as the Fu family’s young lady, so you are surprised to see me.”

Old Lady Fu was not only surprised but bewildered.

At this time, her granddaughter should have been in the palace for the coming-of-age ceremony.

Why had she returned alone?

Where were the eldest son and A-Xue?

What had happened in the palace?

Also, what was she wearing?

Such clothes for a young girl—how could she be so unfazed?