Regarding her return to meet with Your Majesty and how to explain the Jiangnan Canal transport issues, Ling Hua had already prepared thoroughly.
Thus, during her audience with the Emperor, she mixed truth with fiction so subtly that there wasn't a trace to be found, wrapping up the matter seamlessly and beyond reproach.
Yan Qing sat to the side listening. If he hadn't already known clearly that Ling Hua had not gone to the Jiangnan Canal transport at all but had instead traveled to Hengchuan Prefecture to find Xiao Zhen, and subsequently turned her steps toward Ling Mountain, and that it was his letter that had called her back from Ling Mountain just before their wedding, she would still be at Ling Mountain now.
It was impressive how she spun her tale before His Majesty, as if it were the truth.