All of this was the work of others; she was just repeating it by rote. But she couldn’t tell the truth. It didn’t matter—so long as it was useful!

Lin Shaoyang didn’t care whose credit it was.

He didn’t know those people anyway.

Since it was his sister who told him, then the credit was hers.

His sister was the most capable.

“Alright, Second Brother understands. Don’t worry, just go ahead and do what you need to. Second Brother will be careful. I promise to return to you safe and sound, along with a thriving Baixiang Restaurant—how about that?”

Lin Shaoyang knew that his sister was most concerned about their brothers and their mother, so he spoke up to reassure her.

He and Third Brother had already set everything in motion, just waiting for their enemies to walk into the trap.

“I understand. Second Brother, take care of yourself.”

Hearing her second brother’s words, Lin Yuxin finally felt some relief after days of anxiety and hard work.

She needed to learn to trust them, to believe that they could fight against their fate.

After chatting for a while longer, Lin Yuxin left.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the day of Lin Yuxin’s departure arrived.

That morning, Li Xiaocheng personally drove a carriage to wait at the Zhao residence’s entrance.

“Your… Your Highness?”

When Zhao Hanya heard the servants say that the Regent was waiting outside, she didn’t believe it at first.

But when she saw him actually standing at the main gate, she was so shocked that she could barely speak.

“Mm. Madam Lin.”

Li Xiaocheng’s normally cold face showed a rare hint of respect as he bowed slightly to Zhao Hanya.

This act of courtesy sent chills down Zhao Hanya’s spine, but it also made something flash through her mind.

After a long moment of hesitation, she finally spoke:

“Would Your Highness like to come inside and wait for Yuxin? She should be out soon.”

“No need. She’s coming out now.”

Li Xiaocheng replied indifferently.

He then stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the entrance, just in time to see Lin Yuxin stepping out quickly, followed closely by Xiao Hao and Xue Ying.

Xue Ying was holding the imperial sword and carrying a bundle on her back.

“Sorry for making Your Highness wait.”

Seeing Li Xiaocheng standing at the entrance, Lin Yuxin hurriedly performed a mock curtsy, all the while secretly giving him a look behind Zhao Hanya’s back.

[“Mother is watching! Don’t reach out your hand! Keep a low profile!”]

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Li Xiaocheng saw her signal and quietly withdrew the hand he had just extended.

He then turned around and walked back to the carriage.

Lin Yuxin obediently took Xiao Hao’s hand and followed behind him.

As she passed Zhao Hanya, she didn’t notice the stiffness in her mother’s expression.

Holding Zhao Hanya’s hand, she spoke with deep reluctance:

“Mother, I’ll be gone for several months this time. Please take care of yourself and don’t make me worry, alright?”

Zhao Hanya quickly composed herself, gripping Lin Yuxin’s hand in return.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

After all, who wouldn’t be shaken upon learning that their daughter not only had a suitor, but that he was the Regent himself—and that they were about to elope… no, embark on a work trip together?

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Hanya finally turned to Li Xiaocheng and said:

“Your Highness, may I have a word with you?”

Li Xiaocheng glanced at Lin Yuxin, then nodded.

“Of course.”

Watching her mother and Li Xiaocheng talking, Lin Yuxin felt nervous.

She hesitated but eventually took Xiao Hao onto the carriage first.

After Xue Ying placed the imperial sword inside, she sat beside the carriage, while Wang Yu stood guard, waiting for his master.

Inside the carriage, Lin Yuxin anxiously clenched her hands.

“Why does Mother want to speak to Li Xiaocheng? Did she figure something out? Ah! I didn’t mean to hide it—I’ve just been too busy these days! I’ll explain everything once I get back!”

She could only sit there, staring at the two people she cared about most as they spoke for a long time. Finally, Li Xiaocheng approached the carriage and got in, instructing Wang Yu:

“Let’s go.”

The carriage began rolling toward the city gates.

Lin Yuxin’s heart clenched.

She quickly peeked out, looking back at Zhao Hanya, whose eyes were already red.

Lin Yuxin’s own eyes welled up with tears.

This was the first time since her transmigration that she was leaving her mother’s side, and she felt reluctant.

As Zhao Hanya’s figure faded from view, she finally withdrew her gaze and sat quietly, saying nothing.

Li Xiaocheng reached out and gently held Lin Yuxin’s hand. He didn’t speak—just accompanied her in silence.

Even Xiao Hao, sensing his sister’s sadness, sat close to her without saying a word.

After a while, Lin Yuxin finally gathered herself.

She turned to Li Xiaocheng and asked:

“What did my mother say to you?”

“Nothing much. She just asked me to protect you.”

Li Xiaocheng gazed at her and spoke softly.

“Really? Then why did it take so long?”

Lin Yuxin was skeptical, eyeing him suspiciously.

“It’s true. Why would I lie to you?”

Li Xiaocheng reached out and pinched Lin Yuxin’s cheek, answering with complete seriousness.

What he said was indeed the truth—but he left out his promise to Lady Lin and the imperial edict for their engagement.

The night he entered the palace, it was to obtain the emperor’s decree for their betrothal.

He didn’t want to wait until they returned; he wanted the emperor to issue the edict in advance.

However, he had taken on the responsibility of announcing it himself—he wanted to surprise Lin Yuxin.

He couldn’t wait to marry her. But these past few days, he hadn’t had the chance to tell her.

Now, with this decree, Lin Yuxin was officially his future princess consort.

“Alright, then.”

Lin Yuxin nodded. She wasn’t insistent—she was just curious.

Xiao Hao glanced left and right, suddenly feeling full for some reason.

But he didn’t know why. Innocently, he patted his stomach.

The carriage continued until it reached the outskirts of the city. Just then, voices called out from outside.

“Yuxin!”

“Sister!”

“Xin’er!”

Lin Yuxin was startled. She quickly stepped down from the carriage.

Before her stood her eldest, second, and third brothers, as well as her grandfather and uncle.

Tears welled up again in Lin Yuxin’s eyes.

“Grandfather, Fourth Uncle, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Second Cousin, Third Cousin—why are you all here?”

Her voice trembled. No wonder she hadn’t seen her brothers this morning—they had been waiting for her here.

“We came to see you off. You don’t know when you’ll return, so I prepared some things for you. Be sure to take them.”

Zhao Shijie handed her a package.

Lin Yuxin reached out to take it, her voice choked with emotion.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“Good girl. Be careful out there, understand? Use the people I’ve assigned to you, do you hear me?”

Zhao Shijie spoke in a low voice.

“I hear you, Grandfather.”

Lin Yuxin responded obediently.

Then, each of her brothers gave her a gift, wishing her success.

Once they were done, Lin Yuxin noticed a group of unfamiliar officials standing nearby, dressed in various government robes.

As she hesitated, unsure how to address them, Li Xiaocheng leaned over and whispered:

“They are officials from the Ministry of Works, appointed by the emperor. The others are royal guards for your protection—but some of them may also be spies from other factions.”