The sky had darkened, and two flickering flames were reflected in the young girl’s eyes. Her eyes curved with anticipation and joy.
Yan Shi paused briefly and said, “Perhaps.”
Li Mianyu had been waiting for him to say just that.
She immediately nestled close to him, her gaze shifting as she said, “Then when we arrive in Longxi and settle down in Chen Family Village, you should go to the Jiedushi Mansion to investigate. If Cui Yunqi is there, I want to write him a letter and ask him to come to Chen Family Village to fetch me.”
There were actually many uncertainties in this plan—would the Jiedushi Mansion accept a letter from someone of unknown background?
If Lu Sanzhong learned about the Ningguo Princess’s whereabouts, would he harbor ill intentions?
But Li Mianyu did not consider any of this.
In her heart, as long as Cui Yunqi was there, she felt that everything would be no different from before.
She was a Princess, and Cui Yunqi was her Duke Consort, announced to the world by Imperial Grandfather.
He would solve all her problems.
Yan Shi looked at her and nodded.
“Alright.”
Li Mianyu couldn’t help but smile at him, but her gaze soon drifted away.
She turned her face toward the sky outside the small tent and fell silent for a moment.
Her profile was both delicate and elegant, slender and graceful.
She whispered softly, “Yan Shi, I miss Cui Yunqi a little.”
By the end of her words, her voice trembled slightly.
Yan Shi followed her gaze to the outside.
The night was quiet, the crescent moon cold and clear—just like Li Mianyu’s mood at that moment.
She spoke with a hint of grievance and blame, “It’s been so long since I last saw him. When I was in the palace before, he wrote to me every day and would come to see me every few days.”
Yan Shi remained silent, so quiet it was as if he wasn’t even breathing.
Li Mianyu didn’t mind his silence; her body involuntarily leaned closer.
Her voice was thin, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“I’ve been missing for so long, Cui Yunqi must be very worried. He likes me so much—after all, he was the one who petitioned Imperial Grandfather for my hand!”
Her tone was sweet and playful, a mixture of shyness and pride.
Perhaps because Chen Xiue had mentioned the Cui family, Li Mianyu found herself talking endlessly about Cui Yunqi.
She began with his childhood, then told how she met him.
“Cui Yunqi learned to read at three, could recite poetry at five, and was a famed prodigy near and far. He knew astronomy and geography, excelled in numerology, and by seven was already helping his mother with the accounts.”
“When Cui Yunqi passed the Zhuangyuan exam and entered the palace, I first saw him in Imperial Grandfather’s study. He wore a Jinshi scholar’s robe, with a flower pinned to his hat. Standing there with rosy lips and pale skin, gentle as jade, he spoke softly and slowly. I couldn’t help but glance at him more than once…well, just once! But he noticed me immediately, his face flushing red. Imperial Grandfather even laughed at him!”
The young girl’s voice was shy yet joyful.
“Imperial Grandfather was very fond of him. Although he was young, he had a delicate and intelligent heart. He made an exception and kept him close as a Central Secretariat Attendant. I often saw him…he would always speak to me when we met and later frequently brought me things from outside…Yan Shi! Are you listening?”
Yan Shi’s eyes were half-lowered, drowsy.
Li Mianyu noticed his near-closed eyes and immediately grew displeased.
Raising her voice, she grabbed his arm and shook it.
Yan Shi opened his eyes to look at her.
She was pouting and glaring.
“What did I just say?”
“…”
The boy did not answer right away.
His dark eyes, like black mercury in the night, reflected the flickering flames of the nearby fire.
Li Mianyu paused at his gaze.
Yan Shi quickly looked away and said, “You said Cui Yunqi learned to read at three.”
Li Mianyu continued pouting, “What else?”
Yan Shi drew a soft sword from his waist and casually wiped it with his sleeve.
Li Mianyu was puzzled.
She instinctively leaned forward to look at the sword.
“Why are you suddenly wiping your sword?”
His tone was calm.
“I started martial arts at three, knew boxing at five, could wield a sword at seven, and could kill by eleven.”
Li Mianyu: “…”
She was stunned silent for a moment, then spoke haltingly, “Well, you’re pretty impressive.”
Yan Shi didn’t reply but his silence implied agreement.
Lost in thought, Li Mianyu pictured Yan Shi having killed someone by eleven and suddenly fell quiet, forgetting all about Cui Yunqi’s childhood stories.
After a while, she grew sleepy.
Rubbing her eyes still damp with tears, she wanted to tell Yan Shi to lie down.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a stick hanging from his waist and curiously looked down.
Upon seeing it was just an ordinary piece of wood, she mumbled, “It’s just a plain stick, and you won’t even let me touch it.”
Yan Shi lowered his head.
His face was obscured in the night, but she saw him take the stick from his waist and hand it to her.
“This stick can—Zitte.”
Li Mianyu didn’t catch the trailing sound but only heard that Yan Shi was letting her touch it again.
The irritation from before vanished instantly, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
Yet she maintained a proud air, “Weren’t you the one who told me not to touch it? I’m not touching it.”
Yan Shi passed the stick again, his voice low, “You can touch this one.”
Li Mianyu pretended to refuse again, but in her heart was thrilled, insisting, “You’re the one begging me to touch it.”
Yan Shi nodded.
Only then did Li Mianyu take the short stick.
Her slender, pale fingers touched it over and over but found nothing special.
She then tossed the stick back into his arms. “You can’t keep it on your waist when you sleep; it’s so uncomfortable.”
Yan Shi said nothing but in her sight moved the stick aside.
Li Mianyu felt relieved and patted the space beside her, signaling for Yan Shi to lie down first.
He obeyed, his arm naturally resting as before. Li Mianyu lay down, resting her head on Yan Shi’s shoulder, comfortably closing her eyes.
Now Li Mianyu could fall asleep quickly even outdoors.
Her breathing grew steady and deep, the insects and frogs of the forest fading into silence.
Yan Shi looked down once more, only able to see her curled eyelashes and peaceful sleeping posture.
He soon withdrew his gaze and looked to the night sky outside the tent, listening carefully to the movements of the nearby refugees before slowly closing his eyes.
The next day, when Li Mianyu woke, Yan Shi was already gone.
She pouted in dissatisfaction. Ever since the day she touched the stick, he had been waking early, which caused her to wake early as well.
When she stepped out of the tent, she saw Yan Shi and Zhu Dacheng harnessing horses to a flat cart.
The flat cart belonged to Zhu Dacheng and Chen Xiue.
Li Mianyu did not immediately approach but went to the creek first.
Using a willow branch that Yan Shi had soaked, she carefully cleaned her teeth and rinsed her mouth, then scooped water to wash her face.
Only after freshening up did she stand.
As she turned, Yan Shi had already come up behind her.
She naturally pulled out her hair tie, letting down her thick black hair, then turned her back to him.
Yan Shi stood behind her, shielding her from the gazes of the surrounding refugees.
His fingers grabbed her silky hair and combed through it before tying it up again.
She glanced back at Yan Shi.
He said nothing but took her into the woods.
When they emerged, Li Mianyu’s cheeks were still flushed.
After washing her hands by the creek, she saw Chen Xiue waving from afar.
Yan Shi leaned down and told her, “Zhu Dacheng went to search the forest this morning and found some sweet potatoes. They were roasted and served for breakfast.”
Now Li Mianyu knew what sweet potatoes were and nodded, blushing.
“After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey,” Yan Shi added.
Mornings were always when Li Mianyu was most bashful, so she nodded demurely.
Yan Shi glanced at her twice, then turned away.
After eating, the group packed up.
Yan Shi helped Li Mianyu onto the flat cart.
It was her first time riding one. Unlike a horse carriage, it wasn’t smooth and had no cover.
She was a little nervous, clutching Yan Shi’s sleeve tightly without letting go.
After Chen Xiue climbed up and hugged her with a smile, “Don’t be afraid. This flat cart is very sturdy. You won’t fall.”
Li Mianyu hesitated for a moment, then released Yan Shi’s sleeve.
Just as Zhu Dacheng led the horses forward, the cart jolted slightly.
She swayed but quickly gripped Yan Shi’s sleeve again.
Zhu Dacheng chuckled and looked back, “Xiao Yan, you should get on too. The horses are strong and can pull the cart easily.”
Yan Shi hesitated.
Chen Xiue smiled and said, “You two siblings should both get on. Dacheng’s pace is good, but if he goes alone, we’ll all ride the cart.”
Li Mianyu gently tugged at Yan Shi’s sleeve and looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Yan Shi didn’t hesitate again.
He climbed up nimbly, landing beside Li Mianyu like a cat.
She immediately leaned into him, holding his arm, feeling somewhat reassured.
Chen Xiue smiled quietly upon seeing the two children so close.
When Zhu Dacheng started pulling the horses along, the refugees who had been resting here in small groups looked up and tried to follow.
Yan Shi lifted his head, his black eyes sharp and fierce as he swept over them.
The refugees felt a chill and hesitated; no one dared to follow.
The flat cart jolted along the mountain path toward Longxi.
The day they entered Longxi’s territory, it was drizzling lightly, and many refugees crowded the road.
Li Mianyu sat on the cart with a coarse linen cloak over her head and a square scarf covering her face, huddling close to Yan Shi.
Looking at the gaunt, ragged refugees, her mood sank.
Along the way, she heard too many people lamenting the Great Zhou Emperor’s incompetence, allowing bandits to seize the Imperial Capital so easily.
She felt sorrow and anger and wanted to defend Imperial Grandfather’s diligence, but could only hold back her words.
By the time they reached Longxi, her spirit was dampened.
Just after entering Longxi, the cart was suddenly jolted hard by someone.
Li Mianyu nearly slipped off but was caught by Yan Shi, who pulled her into his embrace.
She hurried to hold his arm tightly.
“There’s a Chou Shed up ahead,” Zhu Dacheng’s voice rang out, followed by the chaos of refugees suddenly rushing.
Li Mianyu knew what a Chou Shed was. In times of disaster, the government or nobles would set up tents to cook porridge to distribute to the refugees.
Chou Sheds were usually set up outside city gates.
But they had only just entered Longxi’s territory, still far from the city.
How could there be Chou Sheds here?
Curious, Li Mianyu twisted in Yan Shi’s arms to look ahead.
About forty zhang in front was a Messenger Station, and several Chou Sheds were set up before it.
Refugees were running toward them, and the area was packed.
“Chen Family Village is just past the Messenger Station. If you take the side road ahead, it leads into the forest. But it won’t be until night to reach the village. It’s best to get a bowl of porridge now,” Chen Xiue peeked and said.
Li Mianyu did not want to jostle with the refugees for a bowl of porridge.
She shook her head.
“I’m not going.”
Yan Shi naturally didn’t go either.
He helped Li Mianyu down from the cart.
Zhu Dacheng pushed the cart to the roadside and squeezed through with Chen Xiue.
Li Mianyu rubbed her aching waist and stood aside. Looking up at Yan Shi, her eyes glistened again as she softly asked, “Yan Shi, do you think I’ll still see Grandfather?”
“You will.”
Every time she heard Yan Shi say this, her mood lifted a little.
Just then, shouts from soldiers rang out, accompanied by neighing horses.
The refugees who had been crowding forward were driven to the sides of the road.
Yan Shi was swift, lifting Li Mianyu and stepping back two paces, narrowly avoiding fallen refugees.
He then hid behind the crowd, eyes alert toward the front.
Startled, Li Mianyu leaned against Yan Shi’s chest, glaring ahead.
Unlike the ragged refugees, a splendid sedan chair approached from the end of the road.
Four horses ran side by side, their saddles studded with jewels.
The carriage’s corners were hung with tassels that jingled bells with every turn of the wheels.
A fragrant scent wafted in the air.
Li Mianyu hadn’t seen such a luxurious carriage for a long time and was momentarily dazzled, thinking it rivaled the princess sedan she once rode.
The light rain misted, and the wind rustled the carriage curtains. Inside, two figures were seated, one by the window wearing a pale blue robe.
“Who are those people?”
Li Mianyu asked Yan Shi, frowning as the carriage passed.
Yan Shi only now withdrew his gaze from the carriage and shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Li Mianyu didn’t ask further.
She looked at the carriage, then at her own ragged clothes, and felt a pang in her heart.
She was truly out of sorts.
At that moment, Zhu Dacheng returned, escorting Chen Xiue.
“The porridge was all given out, so we went in vain. It was a tight crowd just now. Someone fell and was trampled; I’m afraid they won’t get up again,” Chen Xiue said, then paused. Thinking of Li Mianyu’s delicate nature, she changed her tone, “It’s the birthday of the Jiedushi’s daughter in Longxi. She’s just been betrothed and is happy. Since she’s kindhearted, the porridge tents were set up all the way here.”
Li Mianyu nodded absently.
“I see.”
Chen Xiue, noticing Li Mianyu’s lack of interest, wanted to cheer her up and smiled, “Xiao Yu, you and Xiao Yan are also betrothed cousins, right? When you get to Chen Family Village, you’ll have to hold a proper ceremony.”
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