Chapter 426: Setting Out for the Capital

Sui Sui had drunk silver ear soup with Lù Yǐnxiāo, chatted a bit about family matters, then went to pack her things, preparing to return to the capital.

Nowadays, the situation in the Northwest Border Pass is already very stable.

Previously, the states that liked to cause trouble for the Alliance were almost all trampled flat by Prince Qing's iron cavalry.

Still want to cause trouble?

Warning of national annihilation!

With no war at the border pass, Sui Sui has enjoyed several years of carefree, relaxed living; now it's also time for her to return to the capital.

After all, there her loving father king and mother consort still reside, along with her brothers.

Feng You Tan spent two days picking gifts, finally deciding to bring back two sheep.

Upon seeing the other's prepared gift, Sui Sui couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Yo yo, you like this—won't it be too extravagant?"

The capital isn't lacking sheep, is it?

Not to mention the sheep raised in Shanglin Garden, even those each manor raises on their own Zhuangzi are extremely plump.

They really have no need to haul two sheep back from Border Pass City.

Moreover, we still have to look after their food, drink, and waste along the way.

Teased by Sui Sui, Feng You Tan wasn't angry, lifted her neck, her chubby face wriggling as she said: "How could they be the same? The sheep from our Border Pass City taste different from those raised in the capital—these sheep have a mutton flavor."

Sui Sui: ……

Although I don't understand, I'll respect it.

Sui Sui doesn't have much stuff, and Lù Yǐnxiāo's pack is also simple; most of the time, it's organized just to look after Sui Sui.

The three of them are returning to the capital, while Prince Qing still needs to guard the border pass, ensuring Northwest stability; His Majesty has been lenient with him and hasn't forbidden him from returning to the capital without an edict.

However, if he wants to leave the Northwest, he must apply to His Majesty in advance and also settle affairs here first.

Although Prince Qing is reluctant to part with Sui Sui, his plan is to return to the capital at year's end.

By then, after the autumn harvest, the border pass should truly be stable, and with the younger generation of officers also rising in succession, he can also return to the capital with peace of mind.

Therefore, this time returning, Prince Qing will not accompany them.

Prince Qing, with a touch of white at his temples, retains his former heroic bearing, though he is now more steady and stern.

Watching Sui Sui and her companions prepare their belongings, Prince Qing anxiously instructed the attendants and also helped pack quite a few items.

Some specialty dried meats, dried fruits, and fruit wine were all packed by Sui Sui.

When Prince Qing had the attendants pack the wine, he also reminded Sui Sui: "Don't drink it straight; this is a gift for friends."

Sui Sui practically grew up in Border Pass City, and her drinking capacity was trained early on.

Although he knows Sui Sui knows her limits, Prince Qing still worries that the young lady, in a moment of joy, might drink too much and end up staggering—how unsightly that would be.

Even though Lù Yǐnxiāo is by her side, Prince Qing still isn't at ease.

Since he isn't personally accompanying her, no matter what, he can't truly be reassured.

Sui Sui isn't impatient either, listening all the way: "Mm, I'll obey Father."

"Don't worry, Father, Seventh Brother is accompanying me."

"Just put your mind at ease, Father—I might be back soon."

……

Hearing Sui Sui occasionally mention Lù Yǐnxiāo, Prince Qing felt a bit uneasy in his heart, yet he couldn't help but admit that Lù Yǐnxiāo……

…is excellent.

He had studied well from the start, with many teachers praising him in various ways.

But for Sui Sui's sake, he unhesitatingly abandoned scholarly pursuits for the military, and his performance these years has also been outstanding.

This might just be that a top student excels in any field—others can't compare.

Prince Qing wanted to play the provocative father-in-law, but actually he couldn't find any fault with Lù Yǐnxiāo.

Thinking of this, Prince Qing patted Lù Yǐnxiāo's shoulder: "Take good care of her."

Lù Yǐnxiāo respectfully clasped his fists: "Prince, rest assured, I understand."

Naturally, one protects one's own wife; Lù Yǐnxiāo naturally looks after her.

Feng You Tan chattered on, picking out even more things, and even wanted to bring back a donkey to slaughter for meat, saying the donkey from Border Pass City has a richer flavor.

Sui Sui thought: Could it be that Feng You Tan likes that strong muttony smell?

After the three finished packing, they set off discreetly.

It's not that they fear problems on the road, but rather that if they weren't low-key……

…many townsfolk would accompany them all the way out of the city.

Over these ten years, Sui Sui has returned to the capital several times.

Each time she returned discreetly, yet observant townsfolk would notice her and then see her off all the way out of the city.

There's no way around it—before Sui Sui arrived, Border Pass City was still a bitter, cold, windswept place with pitifully low grain yields.

But in the ten years since Sui Sui came, she has managed sand, cultivated land, bred and fertilized seeds, carefully researched cold- and drought-resistant strains, and increased grain output.

Even if each mu yields just an extra half dan of grain, for the people it's a tremendous improvement.

Moreover, the yield increase Sui Sui has brought to everyone's fields can often far exceed half a dan.

Therefore, Sui Sui enjoys extremely high prestige in Border Pass City.

The townsfolk hold this little princess from the capital in great affection.

Upon hearing she would return to the capital, who knows how many townsfolk would see her off along the way, each household expecting her to bring back some provisions.

The townsfolk's lives aren't easy, and Sui Sui doesn't want to add to their burden.

So each time she departs as discreetly as possible, and she chooses moments that are particularly gloomy.

Like this time, Sui Sui and her party set out in the dark before dawn.

If they hadn't greeted the City Guard in advance, Chengmen wouldn't have opened for them.

Even so, some perceptive townspeople, through Feng You Tan's earlier extravagant shopping, figured out that the little princess would be returning to Jing these days.

They weren't sure which day she would set out, and they didn't want to disturb the princess, so they just got up early every day to watch.

Then, they were spotted watching.

"Princess, princess, these are my family's newly embroidered shoes—take a look, see if they fit; if not, I'll alter them and bring them back to you."

"Princess, princess, this is my family's——"

……

Four households of townspeople came, likely not wanting to put too much pressure on Sui Sui, each consisting of women bringing along their older children.

They showed enthusiasm, but not overly excited, trying to keep things low-key so as not to draw more people and trouble the princess.

They knew the princess couldn't bear to accept their gifts, lest it make their lives harder later—even if she took them now, she would later have people make it up to them.

But they couldn't help wanting to give.

They hadn't forgotten who was responsible for their good days.

They couldn't forget their roots!

Sui Sui was embraced by the enthusiastic aunties, she smiled helplessly, comforted them a bit, accepted the gifts, and only then saw them off.

A few more gifts, seemingly modest but actually heavy with sentiment, were added to her luggage.

Sui Sui looked at these things and couldn't help boasting to the system: '【Le Le, am I doing well?】'

The Growth Joy System was still there.

But soon, it would be leaving.

Originally, it was supposed to leave after Sui Sui's birthday this year.

But they had accompanied each other for so many years.

The system had been with Sui Sui since she was a poor village girl, accompanying her all the way to becoming the beloved princess she is today—how could the time they'd spent together and their affection be easily cast aside?

So the system submitted an application to delay its departure.

But, destined as the parting was, even if delayed again and again, there would eventually come a day to say goodbye.