The wind seemed to hold its breath at that moment.
Gu Shengyin felt a surge of unease. She called out to the system in her mind. "System, what should I do right now?"
Strangely, there was no response. The system, usually so reliable, was silent.
Seeing her flustered expression, Ji Yu's gaze darkened slightly. He knew Jiang Lingzhen hadn't completely opened her heart to him yet, but he was tired of waiting. He had prepared various approaches to gain her trust, but before he could take another step, his expression changed.
Someone was approaching.
Given his current identity, Ji Yu knew it wasn't suitable to be seen in public. He leaned in close to Gu Shengyin, whispering softly, "I just remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to. I need to leave immediately. Keep my visit a little secret between us, alright?" His voice dropped into a low, teasing tone on the last sentence, causing Gu Shengyin's cheeks to flush crimson.
Seeing her nod shyly, Ji Yu smiled in satisfaction. With a light touch, he reached out and adjusted her hairpin, his eyes filled with emotion. Without another word, he turned and left swiftly.
The moment he was gone, Gu Shengyin let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Congratulations, host. You've just received a confession," the system's voice suddenly chimed in, breaking the silence.
Gu Shengyin's mood shifted to one of annoyance. "I called you so many times earlier, and you didn't respond!"
After a brief pause, the system replied, "Apologies, host. There was a temporary glitch in the program that required repair."
Gu Shengyin sighed. "Fine. What do I do now?"
The system thought for a moment before responding, "Your original mission was to help Ji Yu ascend to the throne and become the Empress by his side. It seems this development aligns with that goal. Isn't this an ideal situation?"
Gu Shengyin considered this. It did make sense, but for some reason, something about the situation felt off. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice calling her name.
"Ah Zhen!" Danyang called out, her tone filled with relief.
Gu Shengyin turned to see the county lord dismounting her horse, rushing toward her with a worried expression.
"I was so scared when I saw your horse lose control earlier," Danyang said, nearly in tears. "Thank heavens you're unharmed!"
Gu Shengyin gently embraced her friend, offering comforting words. "It's okay, really. See? I'm perfectly fine now."
Behind Danyang was a group of armored soldiers. It seemed that in her desperation, Danyang had sought help from nearby guards.
Refusing to let Gu Shengyin ride a horse on the way back, Danyang insisted they travel together in a carriage.
"I found these imperial guards nearby," Danyang explained as they settled into the carriage. "By now, Aunt Wencheng and General Jiang have surely been informed of the incident."
Her father, Li Jun, held royal lineage, so addressing Princess Wencheng as her aunt was customary.
As Danyang finished speaking, a commotion arose outside the carriage.
"What's happening?" Danyang asked, lifting the curtain.
"Reporting to the county lord, it's General Jiang," replied one of the guards.
Hearing this, Gu Shengyin hurriedly stepped out of the carriage.
"Ah Zhen!" General Jiang called out the moment he saw his daughter. He dismounted quickly and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
When news had reached him about his daughter's horse running wild and her subsequent disappearance, he had been overcome with fear. After reassuring his wife, he had immediately led a troop of soldiers to search for her.
"We're going home," he said firmly, sending a soldier to inform Danyang of their departure. He then personally escorted Gu Shengyin back to their estate.
"My Ah Zhen!" Princess Wencheng cried as soon as she saw her daughter arrive safely. She had been waiting anxiously outside the gates and now wept openly with relief.
Unused to such displays of affection, Gu Shengyin awkwardly patted her mother's back, offering soothing words until her tears subsided.
Once they had calmed, both parents pulled her aside to ask for every detail of what had transpired. For Gu Shengyin, their concern was a stark reminder of the familial warmth she had never truly experienced before.
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