The carriage soon arrived at the palace. Due to the late hour, they were stopped by the guards at the entrance of the palace.

Hearing the dispute between Li Luo and the guards, Chu Qitong gently opened the curtain and said, "Today, I went to the residence of Prince Ruian to attend Mingluan's plum blossom banquet. I spoke with Mingluan for a while, so I came back a little late. Please, can you make it convenient for us to enter?"

Upon seeing Chu Qitong, a hint of surprise flickered across the guards' faces. Soon, they clasped their fists in salute and respectfully opened the palace gate.

In fact, Chu Qitong had no need to explain so much to the palace gate guards. She only needed to present the waistplate that could prove her identity as a princess.

But the approachable habit she had developed over the past ten years caused Chu Qitong to act before her mind could react.

The carriage traveled smoothly and without hindrance, arriving at the entrance of the Qiwu Palace. Chu Qitong spoke and dismissed the coachman, then reached out and fully opened the door curtain.

After being helped down from the carriage by Lilo, she didn't go straight into the palace. Instead, she reached into the carriage and, with a surprised look, led the woman inside out.

"Princess, who is this?" Li Luo looked at the girl in the red dress who was being led by Chu Qitong and was stunned for a moment before speaking. Throughout the entire journey, she had no idea when the princess's carriage had picked up an extra person, so it was no wonder she was surprised.

"Princess, isn't this the elder sister from the Shen maid's family? Where did you find her? Why does she seem to be injured? Hurry, Princess, let's bring her inside. The Shen maid has always been kind to us, so naturally we should take good care of her granddaughter."

Chu Qitong had not yet figured out how to respond to Lilo's words when the voice of Chu Mingze came from nearby. He wore a jade crown and silk robes, and although he was still young, every gesture he made exuded inherent nobility as a prince.

Chu Qitong was momentarily stunned by Chu Mingze's words. The "Shen Mama" mentioned by Chu Mingze refers to someone who used to serve by the Empress's side. After the Empress passed away, Shen Mama was assigned to guard the imperial mausoleum in her honor for two years.

After returning from the Imperial Mausoleum, Aunt Shen had been constantly by Chu Qitong's side. It can be said that she single-handedly helped Chu Qitong raise Chu Mingze.

Shen Mama has spent most of her life in the palace. Chu Qitong knows that she has never been married, let alone having any granddaughters. She looked at Chu Mingze disapprovingly, even though she knew that Chu Mingze was trying to ease her worries. However, his words were easily seen through by others with a little bit of insight, which was not a reliable action to take.

Chu Mingze received Chu Qitong's gaze and also lowered his head. He realized that he had just spoken without thinking, so he decided that since Lilo was not very familiar with Shen Mama, after she arrived by Chu Qitong's side, Chu Qitong assigned Shen Mama to take care of Chu Mingze exclusively in the Chu Mingze courtyard. Later on, Shen Mama grew older, and Chu Qitong even arranged a small courtyard outside the palace for her to live in.

Upon hearing that it was Shen Mama's granddaughter, Li Luo set aside the faint guard on her face. She took two steps forward and, together with Chu Qitong, supported the woman into the house.

The woman had an injury on her shoulder that didn't require assistance, but upon seeing Liruo's determined expression, she didn't say anything and followed Chu Qitong into the main hall of Qi Wu Palace.