On a bright and beautiful sunny day, a gentle breeze blew by. The weather was neither cold nor hot. If one was in the green willows swaying in the wind and the picturesque Jiangnan water town, one would naturally feel refreshed, making one linger on and forget to return.

However, this was not Jiangnan …

Sitting under the eaves of the corridor, Cheng Yuanyuan, who was wearing a white, light-green, gold-embroidered Qipao with a white collar, with her hair combed in two small bunches, sighed with a sad face. She looked up at the tall brick wall in the distance and wiped the fence next to her hand. After a while, another layer of yellow sand was added to the fence!

No matter how good the weather was in the Great Northwest, it was of no use to her except to add a touch of romance to the vast desert grassland.

Cheng Yuanyuan could not stand the climate in the Great Northwest. She was known as a young and beautiful girl who could endure drought and was easy to raise. In order to complete the task, she was not afraid to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a pot of boiling oil. However, she could not bear being trapped in a big house.

She had been in the System Space and steadily climbed the popularity ranking of the mechanic with her hard work and high cost-performance ratio. Although she was not at the level of a great god, she was still a little invisible person with a sense of existence. However, she had been here for a few days now, but she had not even seen the hair of a protagonist!

If it were not for the generous reward of the task and the fear of forcibly quitting and exhausting her physical strength and affecting her promotion, Cheng Yuanyuan would not have wasted her time like this.

It seemed that the System was patient this time and did not give out the task according to the target. Was it to let her adapt to the environment and cultivate feelings with the people here?

Or was it because the task was difficult and wanted her to enjoy the peaceful time in advance?

Cheng Yuanyuan, who was still pondering, sighed again. Just as she lowered her head and was about to continue sighing, she heard someone call —

"Jianing, Jianing!"

It took a while for Cheng Yuanyuan to react. Only when she realized that the person was calling her did she raise her head. The person had a straight face, a bald head, and a braid behind his back. He was wearing a dark green brocade robe with horseshoe sleeves. He was walking over with steady steps. It was her current older brother, Zalantai.

When Zalantai saw his sister lazily getting up, he looked at her complexion and said with concern, "You've been saying that your body is tired these past few days. It's better to let the housekeeper find a doctor to take a look at you and take some medicine. Maybe you'll be fine."

How was this an illness? She was clearly bored. If she continued to wander aimlessly like this, her chest would be stuffy and her breath would be short.

After silently criticizing him, Cheng Yuanyuan pursed her lips. "Big Brother, you don't have to worry. I'm fine. You, on the other hand, look so happy. Did something good happen?"

After her reminder, Zalantai immediately laughed and said, "I received news that Amar has quelled the Junggar rebellion!"

"Oh." Compared with Zalantai's overjoyed expression, Cheng Yuanyuan just responded casually with interest.

"During the Junggar rebellion, Fu Heng's brother, Fu Qing, was killed in battle fifteen years ago, and then Bandi and E Rongan committed suicide twenty years ago. During these six or seven years, various tribes rebelled against the Great Qing one after another. Now, Amar has quelled them and recovered Yili. This is a great contribution."

Seeing his sister's expected reaction, Zalantai began to talk non-stop. "Amar's promotion will also be of great benefit to you and me.

I originally heard from Amar that in the future, you can't be wronged in your marriage. Even if you are a prince, you are worthy of him. However, Amar can't bear to see you suffer in the palace. I think that Amar may have taken a fancy to Fu Heng's son. "

"Fu Cha?" Cheng Yuanyuan blinked in confusion. Why did they suddenly talk about marriage?

"It's Fu Heng's third son, Fauconn."

Zalantai snorted proudly. He looked at her and saw that her eyes were lifeless and dumbfounded. He raised his hand and waved it in front of her eyes. "What, my silly sister, are you so happy that you don't even have any reaction?"

The mission hadn't started yet, but the rhythm of marriage was already here. She had to calm down … Cheng Yuanyuan pulled a long face and slapped Zalantai's hand away. "Big Brother, you are always talking nonsense. What Fauconn? I haven't even seen his face.

You're not Amar, why are you blindly guessing? "

Zalantai only had this one sister, and he treasured her dearly since she was young. No matter how she was hit or scolded, he would never say a word.

Seeing that she was angry now, he smiled and coaxed her. "What's there to be embarrassed about with Big Brother? Don't think that I don't know. When you were seven years old, we followed Amar to the palace to attend a banquet. Didn't you exchange 'love tokens' with Fauconn, that brat?"

There was such a thing?!

Cheng Yuanyuan's face was bitter and she looked blankly at Zalantai. Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, she hurriedly searched her memory. Seven years old, the palace, New Year's Eve, the banquet … In the blurry image, a little girl wearing a Qi-style dress used a clay figurine bought from the street for a few copper coins to exchange a jade thumb ring in the hand of a luxuriously dressed brat.

This transaction was too cunning!

Exchanging a clay figurine for a jade thumb ring. If that brat Fauconn could remember this, his intestines would turn green, and it might even leave a psychological shadow in his heart.

But now Cheng Yuanyuan was relieved. So Fauconn and she weren't childhood sweethearts.

Since that was the case, how should she react now?

Should she blush and be shy, or should she refuse to admit it?

Considering that pretending to be shy was a skill, Cheng Yuanyuan narrowed her eyes and fiercely glared at Zalantai. "If there's no such thing, I won't marry!" After shouting, she turned around and walked away.

"Jianing, don't go."

Zalantai shouted at his sister's back. Seeing that she didn't stop walking, he entered the room in the blink of an eye. But he didn't give up. He stood in the courtyard and continued to say, "You should think about it carefully. Who knows when you see Fauconn and your heart will be moved again …" Before he could finish, he heard a whooshing sound and a tea bowl flew out and shattered at his feet. It attracted several delicate and timid laughter from around him.

Zalantai looked around and gloomily scratched his head. "Where are the maidservants? Where are they? This prince has been standing under the sun for most of the day. How come there isn't even anyone to serve tea!"

He shouted for a long time, but no one paid him any attention. Suddenly, he remembered that he didn't say the most important thing. He could only look at the room at the end of the corridor and beg for mercy, "Jianing, don't be angry. Big brother will apologize to you.

Quickly come out. I still have something important to say. "

After waiting for a while, Cheng Yuanyuan reluctantly stood in front of him. "What is it? Speak."

Zalantai put away the smile on his face and sternly said, "The Emperor has summoned Amar back to the capital. He wants us to go together."

… …

One month later.

Compared to the Northwest, which was filled with yellow sand and the Gobi Desert, the capital was very different. It was charming and bustling, and there were many restaurants.

The carriage was surrounded by a group of bodyguards as it passed through the bluestone road. Cheng Yuanyuan lifted the curtain. The streets were bustling with people coming and going, but she didn't have the slightest interest in them.

From the Northwest to the capital, all she saw were people living and working in peace and contentment. She didn't even encounter a small thief. She suspected that there was something wrong with the system. This time, it was clearly bound to 'wuxia', so why did it become 'qingzhou' instead?

If this was the case, staying here would only be a waste of time. She couldn't be trapped here until she died. However, if she wanted to forcibly quit, she would definitely use up a lot of energy. She didn't know if this mission had any compensation conditions. If she dropped several levels, she would be screwed.

Just as Cheng Yuanyuan was struggling with whether or not she should quit the mission, the carriage stopped in front of a mansion near the Imperial City. Looking at the grand entrance of the General's Mansion, her heart was as bitter as if she had eaten yellow lotus.

However, before they could enter the mansion, she and Amar had already left them behind. Ignoring the dust from the journey and the fact that he hadn't taken off his armor, he directly entered the palace for an audience.

"We haven't been back to the capital for several years.

Jianing, do you think the capital is better, or the Northwest is better? "Zalantai asked as they walked down the corridor.

"Isn't it the same everywhere? In any case, I will always follow you and Amar."

Cheng Yuanyuan wasn't in the mood to chat. She wasn't here to see the scenery, so she pulled at the willow leaves beside the corridor in annoyance.

Zalantai smiled, "Of course it's not the same. If you like the capital, it's better to get married early. Then, in the future, the one following you won't be Amar or me, but your husband."

Here it comes again. This Zalantai, if he didn't make fun of her every day, she would feel uncomfortable all over!

Cheng Yuanyuan glared at him, "If you keep talking, I'll tell Amar that you bullied me. I'll have Amar hang you up and beat you!"

"Why are you so angry? Your brother is telling the truth. If you see someone good, you have to quickly make a move. Otherwise, someone else will snatch him away ~" Zalantai wasn't deliberately teasing his sister. It was just that they hadn't been in the capital for a long time and his sister had already reached the marriageable age. Who knew how many good men were still unengaged?

Amar had military merits this time. If he really took a fancy to a boy, he could ask the Emperor to appoint a marriage.

Cheng Yuanyuan retorted, "Don't worry about me. I'm still single."

"How can you say that?"

Zalantai was embarrassed by his sister's words. He also didn't want to be single. That year, the Emperor had said that he would personally appoint a marriage, so it was delayed until now. If Amar begged the Emperor for Jianing, perhaps the Emperor would conveniently remember him.

He sighed in his heart, but didn't show it on his face as he said to his sister, "Alright, go pack up and settle down early. You still have to enter the palace tomorrow."

Cheng Yuanyuan paused in her steps, "What am I going to do in the palace?"

"You were still thinking about her before. How come you've forgotten about Hailand Gege after entering the capital?

Knowing that you've entered the capital, she might be eagerly waiting for you. "

Seeing that his sister's courtyard was right in front of him, Zalantai finished speaking and turned to walk towards his own courtyard.

The next day, everyone in the mansion woke up early.

After Amar and her brother went to court, Cheng Yuanyuan was dressed up by the old mama in the mansion. She stepped on the bottom of a flower pot with a flag on her head and was helped by two servant girls into the carriage. Then they slowly walked all the way to the front of the palace gates.

The high vermillion walls of the palace looked magnificent under the sun. Cheng Yuanyuan followed the palace maids and eunuchs who led the way through narrow alleyways. Then they passed through endless winding corridors until they finally arrived at Yi Kun Palace.

Her close friend, Hailand Gege, Hailand, lived here. Because she was the orphan of E Rong 'an, a senior advisor who had died for the country, the Emperor had decreed that the Empress should adopt her as her daughter. Although they were both Manchurian nobles, Gege was deeply favored by the Emperor and deeply loved by the Empress Dowager and the Empress, so in terms of status, she was much higher than her.

In the main hall of Yi Kun Palace, Cheng Yuanyuan was revising the memories in her mind as she bowed to the Empress. As soon as she raised her head, she saw Hailand standing next to the Empress, looking at her with joy.

Sisters reunited after a long separation, they should be chatting enthusiastically together. However, the most respected Empress Dowager was still in the palace, so the Empress Dowager had to personally bring her to pay respects.

Facing the Empress Dowager and a room full of concubines and Gege, Cheng Yuanyuan truly felt that the space was in disorder. Then there was the news that her Siu Hui, Amar, had been promoted to First Class Wu Yibo and given the military rank of border general. Then there was the fake smile on her face as she entertained the guests. She felt that her face was about to turn stiff from smiling.

In addition to all this, she also had to act spoiled and cute in front of the Empress Dowager to gain her favor. It was really tiring.

"Looking at you, I know you don't like the Imperial Palace at all."

In the Imperial Garden, Hailand, who had brought Cheng Yuanyuan to admire the flowers, faintly sighed. "General Siu Hye will soon return to the Northwest to lead the military affairs. You just came back and now you have to leave. However, I'm very envious."

Cheng Yuanyuan saw her lonely expression and thought about how she was an orphan deep in the Imperial Palace. Even if she had the Emperor and Empress to rely on, this was still not her home. She couldn't help but say, "I don't think the Forbidden City is bad. However, if you want to leave here, it's not impossible."

Hailand asked doubtfully, "What's the way?"

"Get married. When the Emperor and Empress choose a consort for you, won't you be able to leave the Imperial Palace?" Being teased by Zalantai all day, Cheng Yuanyuan was now very familiar with teasing others.

"You ah …" Hailand's face turned red. She bashfully wanted to hit her, but she was nimbly dodged.

The laughter in the Imperial Garden made Emperor Qianlong, who was about to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, stop in his tracks. He asked, "Who is the girl with Hailand Gege?"

A eunuch walked out from behind the imperial carriage and knelt on the ground. "Reporting to the Emperor, that is General Siu Hye's daughter, Jianing Gege."

… …

At this time, outside the Imperial Palace, Siu Hui and Zalantai, who were waiting, saw that Jianing had not come out. Just as they were about to find someone to inquire about it, the eunuch from Yikun Palace came.

"Master, Niangniang asked Jianing Gege to accompany Lan Gege for one night. Daren, please go back. Tomorrow, you can come back to pick up Lan Gege."

After sending off the eunuch from Yikun Palace, Siu Hui first boarded the eight official sedan chairs. Zalantai smiled at the person next to him. "Fauconn, I'll have to trouble you to wait here. It's not easy to see Jianing, is it?" As he spoke, he flipped over and mounted his horse.

The young Imperial Bodyguard in brocade clothes stood with his hands behind his back. It was difficult to conceal his arrogance. He glanced sideways at Zalantai and said, "I'm obviously asking you, Amar, for advice on the situation in Junggar and the Northwest. What does it have to do with your sister?"

Zalantai thought to himself, 'Boy, keep pretending. Aren't you just following your father's shadow and becoming a first-class Imperial Bodyguard at such a young age? You're still pretending in front of me!'

"If you're not, then you're not. Anyway, when Jianing leaves the Imperial Palace, we'll immediately return to the Northwest. You won't be able to see her even if you want to." As he finished speaking, he whipped his horse and chased after the sedan chair in front of him.

Fauconn watched as Siu Hui and Zalantai left. He then turned his head to look at the Imperial Palace behind him. He was somewhat disappointed.

Although the agreement back then was just a child's babble, he had at least given up the jade thumb ring that he always wore. He had to at least meet her …