Noon.
A group of four walked along the official road, hurrying toward the royal city.
The elderly maid and Qingluan each rode a separate horse, while Zhao Qingyue held Bai Shuangshuang in her arms as they shared a mount.
“Nanny, hand me the wine~”
Zhao Qingyue waved toward her side.
The elderly maid pulled out a round gourd from her bulging pouch and tossed it to the former.
“Here you go, Miss~”
“Are you a drunkard?”
Bai Shuangshuang was stunned.
She turned her head to look at Zhao Qingyue, who was gulping down wine.
No matter how she looked at it, this girl’s behavior wasn’t like that of an ordinary woman.
Then again, what proper young lady would run around outside and even kidnap girls? Compared to that, drinking a little wine seemed like no big deal.
“You think I want to drink? It’s specially made. I have no choice~”
Zhao Qingyue stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her mouth.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
If she hadn’t seen this Lady Zhao’s scheming side earlier, Bai Shuangshuang would have thought her an innocent and lovely girl.
“What? Want a taste? Don’t choke~”
Zhao Qingyue raised an eyebrow.
Without any hesitation, Bai Shuangshuang reached out her hand.
‘Revenge has to be taken step by step. I’ll start by drinking some of her wine.’
‘Watch me down it all and leave her with nothing but the wind to drink.’
“Hand it over!”
The wine gourd was passed into her hands.
Bai Shuangshuang wiped the mouth somewhat disdainfully, then tilted her head back and poured it into her mouth.
‘Kid, your Senior Brother Bai once roamed the nineteen provinces of the Great Yan Dynasty. What wine haven’t I drunk before?’
“Cough, cough! Ptooey!”
The wine went down her throat.
Her face scrunched up from the spiciness, and she coughed violently.
Young Hero Bai seemed to have forgotten that she was now a woman with no tolerance for alcohol.
“Is this meant for human consumption? How is it so strong?!”
“I told you, it’s specially made. You just wouldn’t listen, you little glutton~”
Zhao Qingyue took back the gourd, a mocking expression flashing across her face.
“…”
Having suffered a loss and lost face, Bai Shuangshuang decided not to bother with this bratty girl for now.
She raised her head and looked at the sky.
After staring at the horizon for a while, she suddenly realized something.
A look of surprise crossed her face.
“Is this really noon?”
She asked blankly.
The sky was clear and cloudless, but the sun at noon seemed a bit… dim?
At her question, Zhao Qingyue, as if finally finding someone to relieve her boredom, opened up a floodgate of complaints to Bai Shuangshuang.
Bai Shuangshuang listened, dazed.
Deadlock of Mountains and Rivers?
Stagnation of Spiritual Energy?
Dimming of Heavenly Light?
She looked at Zhao Qingyue and, in spite of herself, slightly changed her opinion of this bratty girl.
So she had been traveling around for the sake of the common people, not just roaming and causing trouble like a spoiled rich girl?
“She doesn’t treat me like an outsider, telling me all this~”
Bai Shuangshuang smacked her lips.
To be honest, after the initial spicy kick, there was still a bit of mellow fragrance.
“Didn’t I tell you? Right now you’re my little maid…”
“No!”
“Little cat…”
“No!”
“Sister Qingluan, let’s turn back to Lingxi County.”
“Hey, hey?! I am, I am!”
Bai Shuangshuang’s face was full of “joy.”
She decided not to contradict Zhao Qingyue for now.
Better to settle in first, and once she recovered her cultivation, she would go find her senior sister.
She told herself this was only temporary.
Once she could beat this bratty girl, she would make sure to repay the grievances of these days with interest.
“A true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. A wise man submits to circumstances. When under a low roof, one must bow. As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn. A wise man does not court danger…”
“Muttering nonsense?”
“Nothing, I said you’re very insightful, Miss!”
The group traveled along the official road for several days, stopping at inns multiple times, until they finally entered the royal city.
Actually, when Zhao Qingyue had come, the journey had been quite quiet.
After all, among the three of them, there wasn’t a chatterbox.
But on this return trip, just listening to her quarrels with Bai Shuangshuang, the elderly maid and Qingluan had laughed out loud several times.
It was truly more entertaining than listening to a storyteller.
Bai Shuangshuang lay in Zhao Qingyue’s arms, scanning the sights of the royal city.
Over the past few days, she had grown accustomed to Zhao Qingyue’s embrace.
It was soft and fragrant, quite comfortable.
Since she couldn’t resist, she might as well enjoy it.
What else could she do?
Over these days, she had also figured out her current location: the southern border of the Great Xia Dynasty, neighboring the Great Yan Dynasty.
The entire southern region, three provinces, was under the rule of the Prince of Jingnan, and this Lady Zhao’s home seemed to be in the royal city.
Moreover, judging by the “official mission” air about her, her father was probably a high-ranking official of some importance.
Young Hero Bai was captivated by the bustling, lively scenes of the royal city.
In truth, since ancient times, the immortal sect disciples and the mortal world had been clearly separated.
Immortal cultivators focused on cultivation and did not meddle in mortal affairs, and mortal commoners did not disturb the immortals.
The two only had some connections at the highest levels.
For example, the various spiritual fields and mines needed by immortal sects had to be nurtured by the dynasty’s dragon vein and national fortune, while the royal family’s authority and many miscellaneous matters also required the support of immortal sects.
So in her previous life, Bai Shuangshuang hadn’t really experienced the prosperity of the mortal world.
Besides, the Great Yan Dynasty fell far short of the Great Xia Dynasty in this regard.
Even just a royal city, not the capital, was enough to open her eyes.
Just as her mind was wandering, Bai Shuangshuang suddenly felt herself lurch forward.
Zhao Qingyue behind her quickly tightened her embrace, steadying her.
“Miss, we’re home~”
The elderly maid beside her nodded with a smile, and Qingluan also let out a sigh of relief.
Hearing this, Bai Shuangshuang looked up at the imposing residence before her.
On the front gate, a black plaque with golden ink bore four bold characters:
Jingnan Prince Manor.
“What the heck, you live in a prince’s manor?!”
Bai Shuangshuang was stunned for a while.
“Yes, didn’t I tell you? Follow me, and no one will dare bully you~”
Looking at the stunned Bai Shuangshuang in her arms, Zhao Qingyue curled her lips into a smile.
Actually, it was obvious.
If Zhao Qingyue was willing to give up living in the prince’s manor and strolling around the royal city, instead traveling over mountains and rivers to pray at temples for the people’s blessings, she definitely wasn’t the typical arrogant and domineering rich kid.
She rarely put on airs as the manor’s daughter or the commandery princess.
But for some reason, she quite enjoyed showing off in front of this little wildcat.
Bai Shuangshuang snapped out of it.
Turning to look at the smug expression on the person behind her, she fumed inside.
She really wanted to shout out loud in the street, “The commandery princess is kidnapping a girl!”
But on second thought, shouting wouldn’t do any good.
The manor that ruled three provinces kidnapping a little girl was nothing.
Instead, she might be asking for trouble.
She shouldn’t provoke this Lady Zhao too much, or she might really get sent back to the Bai family.
Pursing her lips, Bai Shuangshuang could only abandon the idea.
“The commandery princess has returned—!”
A soldier at the gate shouted.
The grand, imposing manor doors slowly opened.
The door studs gleamed, and the bronze rings were thick.
A line of armored soldiers stood at attention on both sides.
Several maids came out to help Bai Shuangshuang and Zhao Qingyue dismount, then led the horses away.
“Let’s go, little wildcat? Follow me back to the manor. From now on, you’re a maid of Jingnan Prince Manor.”
“Number two hundred and five.”