With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

A hushed gasp suddenly rose from the crowd.

Prince Zhao has never cared much about etiquette, but kissing his princess in front of palace envoys and the people on the street still made many people blush.

Shen Run stood behind Shen Ce, his face darkening. "That's enough."

He lowered his voice and reminded them, "It's not like we're really going to be gone for months. We'll be back before lunchtime. Don't make it sound like a life-or-death separation."

Xiao Yunzhao glanced up and looked over. "If you don't speak, no one will pretend you don't exist."

"I just don't want to see you taking advantage of my sister."

"She is my wife."

"I know, you don't need to remind me every day."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again before setting off, Shen Ce coughed heavily, "The time has come."

He stood on the stone steps, looking at Xiao Yunzhao.

Shen Ce wasn't faking leg pain today.

The imperial physicians had already returned to the palace to report, and a commander-in-chief for the northern border had been chosen, so he was too lazy to put on an act any longer.

He walked down the steps and personally straightened the cloak on Xiao Yunzhao's shoulders, saying, "Now that you've donned this armor, you can't let down those who followed you out."

"I know."

"We've got this in the capital."

Shen Ce's gaze shifted from Xiao Yunzhao to Shen Nannan's face.

"Our daughter and the children also have us."

"Just follow the plan and don't always think about blocking everything by yourself."

This is an elder in the family seeing off a younger relative who is about to embark on a long journey.

It wasn't the old general discussing court affairs with Prince Zhao.

Xiao Yunzhao looked at him, and after a moment, he bowed solemnly, "Take care, father-in-law."

Shen Ce's eyes were red as if blown by the morning breeze, but he still refused to back down.

"But let's just go out for a short while, without making it look like we're actually heading to the North. Let's hurry up and get going, or we'll mess things up."

Shen Nannan's eyes, which were originally a little sore, couldn't help but crinkle up at those words.

Xiao Yunzhao gave her one last look before mounting his horse.

The warhorse let out a long neigh.

The man sat on horseback, his black cloak billowing in the morning breeze, with the royal guards waiting behind him.

With a command given, the procession slowly headed towards the north gate.

Shen Nannan stood in front of the door, watching the figure disappear at the end of the street.

Even after she could no longer be seen, her hand remained gently resting on her protruding belly.

The child stirred slightly in her palm.

"Your father did not leave."

She said in a low voice.

He'll be back soon.

Shen Run, standing not far away, glanced at her upon hearing this.

"It's windy outside, let's go inside and wait."

Shen Nannan didn't try to be brave. She knew everyone was watching her today.

If she stood at the door for even a moment longer, people would speculate that Prince Zhao had changed his mind at the last minute.

She turned around and, after Xiao Yunzhao had completely disappeared from sight, calmly walked back to the Shen residence.

Outside the north gate, officials who had come to see them off had been waiting for a long time.

The soldiers of the Western Camp lined up outside the city, their flags fluttering in the wind.

When Xiao Yunzhao appeared, the official in charge of mustering troops on the city wall immediately stood up straight. Two supervisors also came forward, their faces full of respect, "Your Highness, the army is ready and waiting for your order."

Xiao Yunzhao sat on horseback, his gaze slowly sweeping across the ranks.

Those men still appeared to be the old, weak, and disabled soldiers that the court had intentionally assigned to him.

Some had gray beards, and some still bore old wounds.

But when Xiao Yunzhao's gaze fell upon them, everyone straightened their backs at the same instant.

Those weren't a bunch of useless soldiers who couldn't even hold a knife properly. They were sharp blades that Shen Ce and Qiu Lie had secretly picked out for him from among his old subordinates.

Military power was handed over to him.

The Shen family sharpened the knife for him!

Xiao Yunzhao withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go!"

As the deep voice faded, the bugle sounded.

The north gate of the city was wide open.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Prince Zhao's royal banner passed through the city gate and headed north.

Two military supervisors followed behind Xiao Yunzhao, one on each side, not daring to relax their guard in the slightest.

The spies sent by the Crown Prince hid in the crowd and watched the figure in black leave the city.

Officials from the palace also saw it.

On the city wall, countless eyes watched as the royal banner receded into the distance.

The north gate was only locked again after the entire procession had completely disappeared at the end of the official road.

The news spread back to the capital as if it had grown wings.

Prince Zhao has already left the city.

The army passed through Shili Pavilion without looking back.

The two military supervisors stayed by his side the whole time.

Even the black warhorse that had followed Prince Zhao for many years was seen by eye.

Inside the Eastern Palace study, the Crown Prince read the secret letter twice. "Are you sure it's him?"

"I witnessed it with my own eyes. Prince Zhao dismounted at Shili Pavilion to change his cloak, and the two supervising officers stood guard outside the entire time. After the convoy resumed its journey, the prince's personal guards continued to protect him."

The prince's shoulders, which had been tense for several days, finally relaxed.

He walked to the window, looked towards the palace, and a barely suppressed excitement slowly surfaced in his eyes.

"Xiao Yunzhao".

"You're finally gone."

The Empress sat behind the screen, showing no outward joy like the Crown Prince, but she slowly put down her teacup.

"Wait another half day."

"Wait until the scouts send back a second message to confirm that he hasn't returned before letting the men move."

The Crown Prince frowned. "What is Mother still worried about?"

"Xiao Yunzhao is no fool." The Empress raised her eyes. "He knew the entire court wanted him to leave the capital, yet he still agreed so readily. Don't you find that strange?"

"If he doesn't agree, Father will suspect that he's using his military power to his advantage." The Crown Prince didn't care. "Besides, the Princess Consort of the Shen family is pregnant, and Shen Nian is in Cining Palace. Even if Xiao Yunzhao is crazy, he should think about his wife and children."

The Empress did not speak again; for some reason, she still felt uneasy.

But the news sent back by the scouts outside the north gate couldn't be false.

Xiao Yunzhao has indeed left the city.

The black armor, the warhorse, and Mo Bai beside him were all seen by eyewitnesses.

It is impossible for a person to disappear in full view of everyone.

Little did they know that Xiao Yunzhao had only stayed in the military tent behind the Shili Pavilion, which was used for temporary rest, for less than a quarter of an hour.

The person who re-emerged from the military tent was similar in stature to him, wearing the same black armor and a black face shield to protect his face from the wind and sand.

The two supervisors could only see the figure mounting his horse from afar.

They tried to approach, but were stopped by the guards under the pretext of discussing military matters.

The real Xiao Yunzhao had already changed out of his armor and quietly left from behind the military tent.

That road was hidden deep in the mountains and forests; it was an old road that Shen Ce discovered when he led troops to patrol the capital region in his youth.

The mountain path was narrow, unsuitable for marching, but wide enough for a few fast horses to circle back to the west side of the capital.

The city gate had already been manned by members of the Shen family.

Around noon, an empty wagon, having delivered military equipment, drove back into the capital.

The guards only lifted the curtain and glanced at the carriage before waving it through.

No one noticed that a figure had appeared in the empty mezzanine of the carriage.

Just past noon, three very light knocks came from the back gate of the Shen residence.

Shen Nannan was sitting at the table.

The food on the table had already been reheated twice.

Qiu Yun tried to persuade her several times to eat something, but she just held her chopsticks and didn't touch a single bite.

She looked up abruptly when the three sounds came from outside the door.

The next moment, the door was pushed open.

Xiao Yunzhao changed into an inconspicuous black outfit, his hair still damp from the journey.

As he stepped across the threshold, the first thing he saw was Shen Nannan sitting at the table.

The brows and eyes that had been tense finally began to relax.

"My little girl."

Shen Nannan did not get up.

She simply watched him walk towards her step by step, until that familiar hand covered her cheek, then she softly exhaled, "You're back?"

"I'm back."

Xiao Yunzhao bent down and hugged her.

Shen Nannan buried her face in his chest, still smelling the faint scent of dust and grime.

There was no blood.

There was no raging fire in my dream that I couldn't put out no matter what I did.

"The food got cold twice."

"Didn't Madam tell me to come back for dinner?"

Xiao Yunzhao lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

"That's why I didn't leave the capital."

At this moment, the Crown Prince believed that the biggest obstacle had been removed.

The emperor thought that the prince who held military power had finally left his sight.

Those lurking in the shadows are also waiting for the bloody drama of their past lives to begin anew.

But nobody knows.

Prince Zhao, who should have been far away on the official road to the north, was sitting at the dining table in the Shen residence, personally serving his princess a bowl of hot soup.

And his black royal banner continued northward under everyone's watchful eyes.