After approximately ten days of peaceful living, the Imperial troops were still in Mingzhou, unmoving, with no news of their activities reaching her. Ji Xinhe had been counting the days, as Mu Houchu had said he would certainly return within half a month, which should not be far off now.
She was waiting for his return, as well as for the court to make a move. However, this waiting was unexpectedly not difficult to bear, time seemed to fly by, perhaps because she knew that everything was going well with Mu Houchu.
One day, while having lunch with Ah Guai, a young maid entered and announced, "Princess, Little Firewood has returned."
Ji Xinhe's smile faltered momentarily. If Little Firewood had returned, that meant that he must have detected some movement.