Ning Chen and the others went to Li Hanru's residence.

Li Hanru hadn't lied. His cook really was very good.

As Ning Chen ate, he was working out how to lure Li Hanru's cook over to his own residence.

They talked as they ate.

Li Hanru and the rest were good officials, loyal to the throne and devoted to the country, the pillars of the state.

So Ning Chen didn't hold the earlier scheming against them at all.

They got along famously, and the cups kept going around.

They drank until evening before Ning Chen and the others finally rose to leave.

Pan Yucheng had taken Diaochan back to the Ning residence.

So Ning Chen borrowed a horse from Li Hanru. He'd meant to go straight home, but he changed course and went to the Carefree Escort House to see Silence.

"Greetings, my lord prince!"

Silence bowed respectfully.

Ning Chen lifted a hand. "No need for formalities. Has your mistress written lately?"

Silence nodded. "My mistress writes often. More than once she's asked in her letters how my lord prince is doing.

She says the crown prince and the princess both miss you very much."

Ning Chen sighed. Travel in this world was just too primitive. A single trip could take months.

In the modern world, a plane would get him there in a day.

Wu Sijun was almost four, and the little princess was almost one, and he'd never even laid eyes on them.

"What's the little princess's name?"

The corner of Silence's mouth twitched faintly. What a devoted father you are.

"The little princess is named Wu Sinian. Her pet name is Little Lemon."

A smile spread across Ning Chen's face. "Little Lemon. She must be adorable."

Then he sighed again.

He had to put an end to the fighting in the Great Xuan as fast as he could, and then make a trip to the Wu Kingdom.

Ning Chen said, "Tell your mistress for me: give me a little more time. As soon as the Great Xuan is settled, I'll set out for the Wu Kingdom."

Silence…