Was it an illusion? Gu Yun thought with surprise and suspicion, then sat in the carriage.

A warm stove was already lit up inside. Gu Yun leaned on one side, closing his eyes to rest. In a state of half-awake and half-asleep, he suddenly could feel that someone was coming closer. He did not open his eyes. In the next moment, he could sense Chang Geng placing a thin blanket on him, his movement as light as a feather, as if fearing it would awaken him.

Shen Yi had always thrown it directly on him before; even the most attentive and careful soldier never had such a gentle gesture that seemed almost protective such as this.

Gu Yun no longer felt drowsy; he continued to keep his eyes closed and pretended to have fallen asleep with difficulty. He did not dare to move; his neck was stiff, always feeling a pair of eyes looking at him.

There was probably nothing in this world that could be hidden away with no trace forever — only a little careful observation was needed.

The string in Gu Yun's heart quietly tensed. For the next few days, he couldn't help but secretly watch Chang Geng; not only did it not help to dispel his inexplicable suspicion, but he also became more and more frightened.

https://www.northwestflower.net/sha-po-lang/book-2/chapter-6-frost-and-snow/6-ii

In addition to a Chang Geng who made him uneasy, he also had to think about the Rong Jin Law and the Emperor's action against the Ziliujin black market, while also using a roundabout way to save Master Feng Han — the topmost stubborn man of Ling Shu Institute. Both his mental and physical strength were exhausted, utterly miserable.

On the 23rd of the first month, Gu Yun sent Shen Yi off from the capital to the southwest to take office.

On the 25th day of the first month, the Emperor visited the imperial garden. Somehow, the imperial carriage had broken down halfway through. The servant unintentionally said a few words, reminding the Emperor of how Master Feng Han had knelt down on the ground, testing the steam-powered imperial carriage for him. The flame in his heart was cooled down by half.

After inquiring about it, it seemed that the old man was all alone. During his imprisonment these few days, aside from a few students from the Ling Shu Institute who came to visit, he did not have even one servant to deliver his meals.

The Emperor was in a good mood. After hearing so, he could not help but feel sorry for the old man. He sighed, ordered for him to be released, only cutting his salary for half a year as a light punishment, and this matter was considered to be pardoned.

With these two things resolved, Gu Yun felt he could not stay in this capital even a day longer, immediately writing a request for him to return to Lou Lan.

He truly should have been on his way by now; the Emperor had no objections. He approved it on the same day.