Half a month later, a Flying Boat from the front lines slowly entered the imperial city of Blue Sea Country.
Lan Shi'er leaned against Long Ya, her face filled with grief and her eyes hollow along the way, as though all life had left her. Supported by Long Ya, she stepped down from the Flying Boat.
Returning to her familiar yet unfamiliar Princess Residence, Lan Shi'er weakly instructed the maid waiting respectfully at the entrance:
"I am entering seclusion for three years. I will not see anyone for those three years. No matter who comes, turn them away for me. Tell them I will see no one."
Her voice was hoarse, heavy with exhaustion and sorrow.
"Yes, Princess."
The maid sensed that the Princess was acting strangely, but she did not dare ask further. Lowering her head, she bowed.
Lan Shi'er went straight back to her room, shut the heavy door behind her, and activated the room's strongest isolation barrier, completely cutting off all sound and probing from inside and outside.
Long Ya followed her into the room. Seeing Lan Shi'er so distraught and heartbroken, her own heart twisted in pain. She stepped forward and softly comforted her:
"Shi'er, do not be too sad. We need to look forward and cultivate diligently. Only then can we avenge Jiang Ping An in the future!"
Yet the moment her words fell, Lan Shi'er swiftly wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and abruptly straightened from Long Ya's embrace. There was not the slightest trace of grief left on her face. In its place was a sly, lively smile as she giggled:
"Hehe, Sister Long Ya, how was it? Shi'er's acting was good, right? Even someone as clever as Sister Long Ya could not see through it!"
Long