Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

It seems we need to find an opportunity to test the waters. If Ji Yunshu is reliable, then we should rely on her for the time being; at least we can save our lives.

He would only kick Ji Yunshu to the curb once Ji Yunyao became empress.

Thinking about it this way, raising two daughters is still somewhat useful. In critical moments, if one can't be relied upon, you can still rely on the other.

His stomach rumbled loudly; he was so hungry he was practically ravenous. He glared at Aunt Zhu, who was still staring blankly to the side, and said impatiently,

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go find something to eat! Look at your good daughter, she's really grown up! Don't forget, I'm still her father, and you're still her mother. If she dares to talk to me like that again, I'll skin you alive!"

Ji Yunyao was slippery, and he couldn't control her. Aunt Zhu was his person, and whether she lived or died was up to him!

Aunt Zhu had no idea what Minister Ji was thinking. She was just frightened by his gaze and didn't dare to say a word. She shrank her neck and moved toward the villagers, hoping to get something to eat from them.

In the woods

Ji Yunshu walked ahead. It had just rained, and the entire forest was damp. Her clothes were wet, but she was too lazy to change.

She strolled through the forest, looking for edible fruit. Unaware, a long tail was following her.

When Ling Yun and the others entered the forest, Ji Yunshu had already disappeared. They were now searching for him everywhere.

Xie Mohe followed behind the officials, acting furtively.

Fearing that the officials would discover her and send her back, she deliberately avoided their gaze and tried to walk past them from another direction.

She didn't want to stay at the back. There were so many officials and constables. Even if she found food, after they had all picked it up, she wouldn't get anything. It was better for her to go to the front. If she could find food, she would be the first to grab some and stock up.

Ji Yunshu wandered around the forest for quite a while but didn't find anything to eat, which was within her expectations.

After all, with this awful weather, even if there's food in the forest, it's probably all been washed away by the rain.

Just as she was thinking about going into her spatial storage to get something to eat, she suddenly sensed some movement behind her. She paused, slowly turned around, and looked around alertly.

"Who's behind us?"

There was no one behind.

Could it be Xie Mu?

Just as she was thinking this, she heard a noise behind her. She turned around abruptly and saw a tall figure standing in front of her.

It is Chu Jinsheng.

Several guards stood not far behind him, including Xiao Wu.

They all kept a certain distance from them, with Hu Jinsheng standing about two or three meters in front of her.

Ji Yunshu remained calm, thinking that the commotion just now must have been caused by Chu Jinsheng.

"Is there something you need, Your Highness? If not, please stay away from me. Don't forget, I might be infected with the plague right now. If you get infected while you're so close, don't blame me."

After saying that, she stopped looking at Chu Jinsheng, walked past him, and went straight ahead.

She finally found a quiet place to take out the things from her spatial storage, but then the Crown Prince came again, so she had to find another place.

Chu Jinsheng stared at Ji Yunshu. He thought that since it was just the two of them, Ji Yunshu would at least talk to him for a while. He didn't expect her to leave after saying such a thing.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he saw that Ji Yunshu was about to leave. He quickly turned around, walked a short distance in front of Ji Yunshu, and stopped her again.

"Ji Yunshu, can't you see me?!"

Back in the capital, Ji Yunshu only had eyes for him and in her heart. Wherever he was, Ji Yunshu would never say a word to anyone else!

He couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe it, that Ji Yunshu could have completely forgotten him in such a short time!

Ji Yunshu was speechless. Everyone was cold and hungry, and all she wanted to do was quickly get some food to take back and fill their stomachs.

What does it mean that this eldest prince has blocked her path time and time again?

"Chu Jinsheng, what exactly do you want? What do you mean I can't see you? Didn't I just tell you that I have the plague and that you should stay away from me to avoid infecting you?"

Also, Your Highness, if you don't have anything important to do, don't come hanging around me.

We even made a bet: when will your imperial physician arrive? When will your money arrive? You should worry about those things more. If you don't keep your promises made in front of so many people, you, as the eldest prince, will lose all face, won't you?"

Chu Jinsheng gritted his teeth, looking at her nonchalant attitude, he felt a nameless anger rising to his head.

"Ji Yunshu, do you have to talk to me like that? Also, you used to call me Brother Jinsheng back in the capital, why, why don't you call me that now?"

Ji Yunshu blinked. "Brother Jinsheng?"

Ugh, she's afraid that calling out like that will make her feel nauseous.

Moreover, that was the original owner's way of calling her; she's not the same Ji Yunshu she used to be.

"Chu Jinsheng, the past is the past, and the present is the present. I've told you before, I'm no longer the Ji Yunshu I used to be. I'm married now, and I'm Xie Moyao's wife. It's inappropriate to call you that anymore."

"Besides, back in the capital, didn't you tell me that the Prince had served the country but unfortunately became disabled, and that you wanted me to marry into the Prince's mansion to take care of him? Didn't I do everything you said?"

Although she didn't want to admit it, it was indeed the truth. A large part of the reason the original owner agreed to marry Xie Moyao was because of this eldest prince.

Unexpectedly, she found herself a good match by chance, and she felt that Xie Moyao was much better than Chu Jinsheng.

The eldest prince opened his mouth, his voice muffled.

"I... I was just joking with you back then. Who told you to take it seriously? Besides, I didn't ask you to take such meticulous care of Xie Moyao!"

Ji Yunshu, as long as you sever all ties with Xie Moyao now, I will speak to Father Emperor on your behalf.

You and Xie Moyao have only been married for one night. You have nothing to do with their family's affairs. Believe me, as long as I speak on your behalf, Father will surely grant you mercy.

When the time comes, you will come back to the capital with me. I will let you enter my household and stay by my side from now on. I will not mistreat you.

"If you want to be a concubine, I will make you a concubine; if you want to be the principal wife, I will marry you as the principal wife. What do you say?"

He looked at Ji Yunshu anxiously, hoping she would give him an answer soon.