In the inn in Luo’an city, where the ambassadors of various countries were staying, all their rewards and accommodations were arranged by the Great Qi Diplomatic Bureau.

If an ambassador was from a powerful country or was well-regarded by their own family, they would likely receive special treatment. Additionally, if they were willing to spend their own money to enhance the surroundings of their residence, they could maintain the dignity of a prince.

However, in the case of her brother, although he had received construction funds from the king, most of it was used to support her, preventing her from being mistreated at the laundry bureau. Consequently, he had to reside in the old west alley arranged by the Great Qi Diplomatic Bureau, associating with some butchers and lowly servants, becoming the subject of ridicule among the ambassadors.

It’s important to note that many of these ambassadors would eventually return to their respective countries, some even inheriting the throne and becoming rulers. While in Great Qi, they needed to build diplomatic connections and alliances, both for the sake of external relations and to accumulate contacts among these young princes.

In the current state of turmoil among the nations, with ambitions for hegemony rising, securing more allied nations would undoubtedly benefit their own homeland.

However, Jiang Xiurun did not want her brother to go through the same hardships as other princes, engaging in such calculated efforts.

The power of the Kingdom of Bo was declining, and it was not something that mere human effort could stop. With an emperor of despicable character as the usurper ruler, how could there be loyal ministers to assist the country?

Moreover, her brother was stubborn. If he couldn’t be persuaded to be more open-minded and flexible, when the day came for Bo to be swallowed by the Kingdom of Liang, he might sacrifice himself for the country, just as he did in his previous life.

Jiang Xiurun sighed deeply, suppressing the tightness in her chest. She took out her brush and paper, carefully calculating the use of the funds her father had provided.

Based on her experience from her previous life, the emperor would not generously support them in the coming years. If the siblings were to live a decent life in Great Qi, they would have to budget meticulously.

However, the dilapidated residences arranged by the Great Qi Diplomatic Bureau in her previous life were not suitable for dwelling. Quickly, Jiang Xiurun thought about which properties in the capital were currently inexpensive, considering that land prices would rise in the coming years. She selected a few options in her mind, planning to inspect them later. After calculating the expenses for settling into a new residence, there would be some surplus, allowing her to organize things and come up with ways to generate income.

Three years later, there would be a major upheaval in Luo’an. As long as she cleverly took advantage of the situation, she could seize the opportunity to escape with her brother, renaming themselves and leading a common life thereafter.

With this plan in mind, Jiang Xiurun suddenly felt she had a goal to strive for.

However, busy with nursing her brother’s fever, it was already past mealtime, even though the guard had brought in the food.

After the meal, all that was offered were cold dishes and cold bowls, making them unsuitable for a sick person to consume.

Moreover, it was already past mealtime, and the kitchen should no longer be noisy and bustling.

Jiang Xiurun took out a jade hairpin from her makeup box, intending to use it to bribe the inn’s kitchen staff to cook some fine food for her brother.

In her previous life, she was quite adept at these exchanges involving personal favors and money.

Now dressed as a young man with a fresh and innocent appearance, coupled with sweet words and a sincere attitude, she managed to win the favor of the kitchen staff. Not only did they prepare a pot of yam porridge for her, but they also added a whole roasted goose to her meal.

It was said that this roasted goose was rejected by the princess from the Yan Kingdom because she had lost her appetite after being angered by Princess Tian Ying of the Han Kingdom.

As it was already past dinner time, the other envoys had already retired for the night, and the inn was quiet under the descending night.

However, when she exited the kitchen through a side door, she saw a tall young man in a black cloak standing in a pavilion at the corner of the inn.

Beside him, a robust young man was speaking to him: “Your Highness, the empress hopes that you personally welcome the princess from the Yan Kingdom. She suggests that you temporarily stay at the Prime Minister’s residence to show the empress’s kindness towards her. However, you arrived incognito and chose not to make your presence known. Why did you keep watching from the corridor without assisting Lady Cao?”

Listening to the deep and rough voice of the man, Jiang Xiurun couldn’t help but shiver. She wouldn’t mistake that voice—it was Qin Zhao, who had dominated her in her previous life!

The man in the black cloak must be the highly esteemed Crown Prince Feng Liwu of Great Qi!

So, he had personally come to the inn. Could it be that her sharp-tongued mockery from the previous life had also reached the ears of the Crown Prince?

No wonder he had been making things difficult for her. Could it be that he was venting his anger for his beloved cousin?

She, however, wanted to avoid these two people in this lifetime the most. Unexpectedly, they had crossed paths even earlier than in her previous life. Thinking about this, she hid in a corner, planning to wait for the casually dressed Crown Prince to leave before coming out.

At this moment, Feng Liwu slowly said, “No need to continue; too noisy.”

Having said that, Feng Liwu walked out through the back door.

The sky was getting late, and the moonlight enveloped Feng Liwu’s face like water.

Although she had already become accustomed to the naturally proud figure of this Great Qi prince in her previous life, Jiang Xiurun couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. When this prince called others a calamity and a demon, did he ever take a look in the mirror? How could a man, with his red lips, phoenix eyes, high nose, and flying eyebrows, look like a seductive immortal? How could he dare call others demons?

In her previous life, the Great Qi empress did indeed have a strong affection for her niece Cao Xi, so it wasn’t surprising that her son personally came to escort her.

However, this cousin was really disrespectful. He arrived silently, and once he was there, he turned and wanted to leave with just a disdainful remark of “noisy.”

One must ask, how could he justify the passionate and sincere effort of Lady Cao, who would later tear through three thousand beauties for him—this calamity among beauties?

Although she didn’t intend to eavesdrop, she had inadvertently run into the situation. Despite quickly hiding and holding her breath, she was still heard by the skilled martial artist, Qin Zhao.

Alert, he walked in the direction where Jiang Xiurun was hiding and sternly whispered, “Who!”

Qin Zhao, with long strides, quickly reached the corner.

Expecting someone lurking in the shadows with ill intentions towards the prince, it was unexpected that it was a handsome young man. He held a long-handled cooking pot in one hand and a paper-wrapped roasted goose in the other. Furthermore, he was nibbling on a goose leg with an appearance that seemed desperately hungry.

Seeing Qin Zhao approaching, the disguised Jiang Xiurun instinctively shrank back and, pretending to be stern, scolded, “Bold! Which envoy’s servant are you? Walking without making a sound, do you want to scare me to death?”

Qin Zhao, observing this seemingly delicate young man who wore luxurious clothes and had a pretentious demeanor, and considering his insatiable appetite, didn’t think he was an assassin.

Feeling relieved, Qin Zhao couldn’t resist teasing. He glared at the youth and said in a low voice, “Why are you hiding here eating meat in the middle of the night?”

Jiang Xiurun, not willing to engage in conversation with this person who had dominated her in her previous life, coldly responded while holding the pot of porridge, “It’s too late to find meat for your master now. There’s only this goose left, and I’ve already nibbled on it. You better look elsewhere.”

Having said that, she bypassed him and hurriedly left.

Qin Zhao didn’t stop her. Since he hadn’t discussed state affairs with the Crown Prince earlier and saw that this thin and seemingly weak youth was just a gluttonous young man, he wasn’t worth fearing.

However, he wondered which country’s envoy this was. Despite being young, he had a handsome appearance, and even though he was hungry, he looked like a glutton. It seemed he wasn’t an assassin.

Qin Zhao didn’t detain him. In a moment, he quickly regained his composure, joined Crown Prince Feng Liwu, left the inn, and reunited with the guards waiting outside, riding away to the East Palace.

Meanwhile, within the inn, the atmosphere among the ambassadors was quietly changing as they awaited an audience with the Emperor of Great Qi. In between taking care of her brother, Jiang Xiurun observed coldly. Besides the prominent Cao Xi and Tian Ying, there were a few princes from various countries who would become influential figures in the future.

One of them was Prince Liu Pei of Liang, who would return to inherit the throne of Liang three years later. If one delved deeper, he was the future adoptive father that her father would acknowledge—the man she had bitterly called her grandfather.