Traveling was far from easy. They set out early each morning and rested at night, braving the snow as they went, yet no one complained. It wasn’t until they passed Yecheng and headed south for a day that the weather gradually warmed, and the rivers became navigable. To save time and energy, the group switched to traveling by water. At Yuanfang Wharf, they chartered a boat to take them directly to Zhao Jing. The journey from Yuanfang to the capital, if the river remained calm, would take just three days—several days faster than traveling by land. However, there was a treacherous section of the river notorious for accidents, so most people avoided it unless they were in a hurry.
On this journey to the capital, Murong Jing He was accompanied only by Qing Yan and Yue Qin, while Luo Mei brought along her two female bodyguards. Mei Lin and Corpse Ghost's presence among them felt somewhat out of place. When Murong Jing He saw Corpse Ghost, he was a bit surprised and asked what use he could be. Qing Yan kept his head down and said nothing, leaving Corpse Ghost to awkwardly scratch his head and mumble that he could drive away spirits and knew some voodoo techniques. With that, Murong Jing He didn’t press the matter further. As for Mei Lin, he didn’t look at her even once, as if she truly had nothing to do with him.
The seventeen Tiger Wing Riders had not followed them. They had left Jingbei earlier, and only Murong Jing He knew their destination.
Eager to reach their destination, the group spoke little during the horseback journey, and things remained peaceful. Once aboard the ship, Mei Lin spent most of her time in her cabin and rarely went outside, so she hardly ever crossed paths with Murong Jing He or Luo Mei. There were plenty of rooms on the ship; aside from Luo Mei’s two maids and Yue Qin and Corpse Ghost sharing a room, the others had their own quarters. Since getting married, Mei Lin and Qing Yan had not spent a single night together, but in their free time, Qing Yan and Yue Qin would visit her room to chat.
Yue Qin still couldn’t quite understand why Mei Lin had married Qing Yan, so he took the opportunity to ask.
Mei Lin was fond of Yue Qin and, while she didn’t intend to hide the truth from him, didn’t know how to explain it. Given that Yue Qin planned to stay with Murong Jing He, she couldn’t let him develop any ill feelings towards the man. After some thought, she dipped her finger in water and wrote, Qing Yan is very good.
Yue Qin stared at those words for a long time, his mind drifting back to the day Murong Jing He had crushed the teacup in his hand, and he muttered to himself, “But... the prince really likes you.”
Mei Lin froze, turning her head slightly away.
Outside, the cliffs were sheer, mist floated in the air, and the cries of monkeys echoed mournfully.
Yue Qin looked at her brow, suddenly feeling an inexplicable sadness. Just as he was about to say something, she turned back to him, a smile on her lips.
He is the master, I am the servant, she said. Then, seeing his confused look, she added, Never speak of this again.
Yue Qin left her room feeling dazed. He was too simple-minded to understand all the twists and turns involved. It wasn’t until he saw Murong Jing He and Luo Mei on the deck, looking close as they admired the scenery, that everything seemed to click into place, and clarity washed over him.
Having been captured and toyed with as prey, Yue Qin had never been able to warm up to Luo Mei. Now, with Mei Lin involved, he disliked her even more. Acting on impulse, he shuffled over to them.
Murong Jing He was genuinely fond of Yue Qin, and upon seeing him, beckoned him over.
“Qin Zi, come and see how our Dayan compares to your Nanyue.”
Yue Qin first respectfully bowed to the two of them before casually glancing at the dangerous peaks on both sides of the river, replying dutifully, “Your Highness, to me, the mountains and rivers look the same. I can’t tell the difference.”
“Oh?” Murong Jing He’s interest was piqued, and he smiled. “If they are the same, then why not unite Nanyue and Dayan as one country?”
Luo Mei was startled by his words and glanced at him, but saw only a playful glint in his eyes. She couldn’t tell if he was joking with Yue Qin or if he was serious. If Mei Lin had been present, she would not have had this doubt.
Yue Qin was clearly stumped by the question. He scratched his head for a while before furrowing his brows and saying, somewhat troubled, “It would be great to unite and stop the fighting. But... who would be the emperor?”
Murong Jing He laughed, amused by the boy’s scrunched-up face, and ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry about such matters, little one. Now, what mischief were you up to, sneaking around?”
Luo Mei had rarely seen Murong Jing He so indulgent with anyone, and she was surprised, watching Yue Qin more closely. Although small, he was quite handsome, with clear, lively eyes. Her thoughts began to wander, plagued by the shadow of Murong Jing He’s chaotic private life over the past five years.
Yue Qin, simple as he was, noticed her strange gaze but couldn’t fathom its meaning. Hearing Murong Jing He’s question, he took his chance, flashing a grin that revealed two small tiger teeth.
“Your Highness, I was just talking with... with Miss Mei Lin, and I was heading back to my room when I saw you and General Luo Mei here. I thought I’d see if you had any orders for me.”
Murong Jing He’s heart skipped a beat when he heard Mei Lin’s name, but he quickly noticed Yue Qin had changed how he addressed her. As he was pondering this, Luo Mei interjected, “She’s already married, even if it’s to a eunuch. She can’t be called ‘Miss’ anymore, can she?”
Catching the mockery in her tone, Murong Jing He glanced at her and saw the disdainful curl of her lips. He felt a surge of discomfort, his face darkening.
Yue Qin was furious but knew better than to provoke Luo Mei, so he ignored her and looked at Murong Jing He, defiantly saying, “Your Highness, I’m used to calling her Miss Mei Lin, and that’s what I’ll continue to do—Miss Mei Lin, Miss Mei Lin...”
Murong Jing He couldn’t help but laugh at his childish behavior, his earlier anger dissipating. When he saw Luo Mei’s livid face, he realized his lapse and quickly cleared his throat, pretending to turn his attention back to the scenery.
“Call her whatever you like,” he said lightly. “She certainly won’t mind.” In truth, he rather liked that name.
With Murong Jing He’s permission, Yue Qin felt a surge of triumph and gave Luo Mei a smug glance, barely restraining himself from dancing with glee. Luo Mei, unable to argue with a child, huffed angrily and stormed off to her cabin.
Murong Jing He didn’t look back, seemingly absorbed in the view, lost to everything around him.
Yue Qin watched his back, then thought of the expression on Mei Lin’s face when she had turned to look out the window. The similarity between the two struck him, and he felt a bittersweet ache in his heart.
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