In the early morning, the sun just emerged and the weather began to get hot.

On the way to Qingguo, Wuxian was driving outside, and Jiang Zuiyao sat alone inside, with nothing to do except enjoying the scenery along the way.

Along the way, they walked the uninhabited forest path, so Jiang Zuiyao couldn't tell where it was. She let Wuxian drive forward and walked for about ten days, and finally arrived.

It is a desolate city. Qingguo is located in the northwest. The weather is not as hot as the vulgar country, but it is full of wind and sand.

In the end of July, the wind was blowing with strong winds, without a moment of stopping, and the wind was sweeping with sand and dust, making people unable to open their eyes.

There are a few people walking on the street, and everyone has various wind-proof headdresses on their heads. It seems that this place is like this all year round.

Jiang Zuiyao was in the carriage. Due to the wind and sand, the windows were closed. I didn’t know what the situation was outside. Until the carriage stopped, Wuxian said outside: “We’ll arrive, get off.”

Jiang Zuiyao opened the car door and with a "huh", the dry wind blew over her face, carrying dust and sand. Jiang Zuiyao quickly raised her hand to cover her eyes with her sleeves, frowned irritably.

When I got out of the car, I saw that Wuxian had been blown by the wind and was covered in dust. His collar was standing high, but his hair was covered with dirt.

In such bad weather, is this happening to Qingguo all year round?

When I looked up, I saw a huge house with the plaque clearly saying - Prince Gong's Mansion.

Such a royal villa should have been guarded by sentries at the door, but there was no one left, which seemed a little deserted. The plaque was covered with years of wind and sand, and no one cleaned it.

Up the steps, Wuxian knocked on the heavy door of the mansion, but no one came to open the door for a long time, so Wuxian shouted loudly: "Is there anyone?"

After shouting several times, I heard a distant call from inside: "Here! Here!"

Jiang Zuiyao couldn't help but wonder, is this really the royal palace?

"Cruff--" The thick door opened from the inside, making a dry sound, as if the door had not been opened for a long time.

I saw that the person who opened the door was an old woman wearing dark gray coarse cloth clothes, surrounded by an apron, and holding a spoon for cooking. Seeing Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian’s faces strange, she asked, “Who are you?”

Jiang Zuiyao was slightly stunned. If it weren't for the plaque that said Prince Gong's mansion, she would definitely think she had found the wrong door.

Wuxian also looked puzzled, but he didn't say anything, just said: "I came from a country of despair. I was a distant guest of Prince Gong. I passed a letter with Prince Gong a few days ago."

The old woman blinked, suddenly remembered something, waved the spoon in her hand and said excitedly: "Oh! Yes, yes, I remembered that Prince Gong did leave any words, come in, come in quickly."

Jiang Zuiyao crossed the threshold and looked confused. Logically speaking, she had to confirm her identity, but Wuxian said that they could easily come in.

The old woman was leading the way in front of her. Jiang Zuiyao then realized that the so-called huge royal palace was very simple. Not to mention that the royal villa she had seen, even the Shao family she lived in was a world of difference.

Is this... really the royal palace?

After walking for a while, I suddenly heard a sound from afar: "Grandma, come quickly, the pot is muddy!"

Listening to the sound, it seemed like the sound of a little boy, I also knew that the old woman was named Aunt Cui.

Aunt Cui immediately said in surprise: "Yes! It's bad! It's bad!"

While muttering, Aunt Cui said to Wuxian very seriously: "Young Master, you follow this road and you will reach the reception hall. I have to go and see the pot, and there is soup inside. This cannot be delayed!"

After throwing this sentence, Aunt Cui ran away in a hurry with the spoon.

Jiang Zuiyao looked at Aunt Cui who was gradually moving away, looked at Wuxian with a confused look on her face, and asked, "Is there no other servants in this royal palace? She actually wants a cooking mother-in-law to open the door."

Although Wuxian also found it strange, he said as expected: "Prince Gong is not valued by the royal family, and he lives a life that is not as good as you, a rich young lady."

Following Aunt Cui's instructions, Jiang Zuiyao walked along the road, thinking while walking that even if the royal family did not pay attention to it, she should not be so casual. After looking around, she was empty and there was no one. Could it be that Aunt Cui was the only servant in this huge palace?

When we arrived at the front hall, the two of us sat on chairs and looked at everything in the room, which was very simple.

The room is not small, but there are not many decorations, only a few chairs and a few tables, and only a very ordinary calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall, and there are less than ten teacups and bowls, making the front hall look very shabby.

No matter what, there is always a shelter from the wind.

Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian worked in the front hall for a long time, but no one came. They could not look for people everywhere when they first arrived. This is rude. So, Jiang Zuiyao asked, "Does Prince Gong not know we are here?"

Wuxian stood up and looked at the empty courtyard, with nothing but the wind and sand in the sky.

Jiang Zuiyao simply opened the door and shouted: "Is there anyone?"

There was no response except for the "huhu" rumor.

Jiang Zuiyao frowned irritably, and shouted louder: "Hey! Are there anyone? We are Prince Gong's guests, and is there anyone going to send a message?"

"Who is yelling?" Finally someone heard it, but the sound of replying should be a bit far away.

After a long time, I heard the sound of broken footsteps approaching. A woman with a scarf exposed her head from the courtyard gate, looked at the two strangers and asked, "Are you despised people mentioned in the letter a few days ago?"

Wuxian nodded: "That's right, please go and invite His Highness Prince Gong."

However, the woman did not report, but crossed the threshold and walked in, carried her skirt up the steps, and said, "Prince Gong is not in the palace at the moment, please wait."

After saying this, the woman crossed the threshold and entered the front hall.

Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian had to close the door and enter the house. Looking at the strange woman, Jiang Zuiyao didn't know what to say.

At this time, the woman said, "Please sit down, I will cook tea for you."

No matter what, finally someone greeted him, and Jiang Zuiyao got into the seat.

Wuxian was dusting the dust on his body, but he didn't pay attention to the woman.

The woman started to light the fire and cook tea. She was very skillful in her movements. She said she was a maid. Looking at the golden hairpin on her head, it didn't look like a servant should have, but if she was the master, the clothes made of coarse kudzu were not what the master should have.

Who is she?

When we first met, it was hard to come up and ask about their identity. Jiang Zuiyao said, "I wonder when Prince Gong will come back?"

The woman sniffed the fire and replied, "I'll be back soon, don't worry."
Chapter completed!