"But… this servant is worried about my lady," Wu Hen shook her head.
Xue Xingyue smiled, "Wu Hen, I also need to grow and face things on my own. I can't rely on you all the time. If one day you are not by my side, what will I do? Just like this time." If it weren't for the Xie family army, she might have...
"My lady..." Wu Hen looked at Xue Xingyue, wanting to speak but stopping, her eyes filled with concern.
Xue Xingyue pulled Wu Hen and comforted her, "Don't worry, I will return safely."
Xie Yunliu was slightly mistaken; if she were to leave, she would take Wu Hen and Fei Yu with her. She would not go alone.
"My lady, then let this servant protect you from the shadows!" Fei Yu, who was beside them, suddenly spoke.
"Meng Jiangming is no ordinary person. Fei Yu, you and Wu Hen wait for me in the military camp," Xue Xingyue said.
"Don't worry, I will return safely." Xue Xingyue raised a confident smile, blooming like a thousand vibrant flowers, breathtakingly beautiful.
The night was like cool water, and all was silent.
Xie Yunliu stood outside the tent, gazing at the person within. Through the thin canvas, he could feel every breath she took.
After a long while, he got up and left.
The next morning, Xue Xingyue was awakened by Wu Hen. Before she could even eat breakfast, Wu Hen pulled her out of bed.
"Wu Hen, what are you doing?" Xue Xingyue, wearing a white inner garment, shivered as she looked at Wu Hen.
"My lady, this servant thought about it all night. Since I won't be by your side, I've decided to teach you a few self-defense moves," Wu Hen said.
Xue Xingyue looked at Wu Hen's determined face and was slightly taken aback. Just as Wu Hen thought she would refuse, she saw Xue Xingyue smile and nod, "Alright."
Wu Hen breathed a sigh of relief and began demonstrating a few moves in the tent.
The morning passed quickly. By the time Fei Yu brought in the food, Wu Hen realized it was already noon. She then noticed how truly clever her lady was, grasping the moves instantly.
Little did Wu Hen know that Xue Xingyue was already skilled in martial arts but had deliberately kept it hidden. However, not wanting to disappoint Wu Hen, she pretended to learn. In reality, Wu Hen's skills were not even half of hers.
"My lord, I can ride a horse," Xue Xingyue lowered her head, not daring to look at Meng Jiangming, who stood before the carriage.
She couldn't help but be surprised; why would Meng Jiangming want to ride in a carriage?
"It would be rather boring for this lord to ride alone in the carriage. You come up!" Although the words seemed casual, Xue Xingyue felt an oppressive aura emanating from Meng Jiangming.
"I... I will ride a horse..."
"Do you wish to defy my order?" Meng Jiangming's phoenix eyes gazed at her coldly.
"I dare not."
"Get in." Meng Jiangming boarded the carriage, his voice still echoing in the wind and snow.
Xue Xingyue had no choice but to walk towards the carriage. Suddenly, a gaze fixed directly on her from behind. She knew it was Xie Yunliu's gaze, even without looking back.
But she knew she couldn't turn back. She got into the carriage and lifted the curtain, her head still bowed. Yet, she could feel the cold aura emanating from Meng Jiangming.
"Sit," Meng Jiangming said.
"I... I dare not," Xue Xingyue stood in a bowed posture inside the carriage.
Meng Jiangming looked at the timid soldier before him, his disgust growing: "I told you to sit, so sit."
"Yes." This time, Xue Xingyue no longer hesitated. From the corner of her eye, she saw Meng Jiangming's disdain for her, which slightly eased her worry.
Meng Jiangming narrowed his phoenix eyes, inwardly mocking himself. How could this person be Xue Xingyue? Why did he keep doubting her?
It seemed he was truly foolish to the extreme.
Seeing Meng Jiangming close his eyes, Xue Xingyue finally adjusted her sitting posture. There were still ten li to the city, and at this slow pace, they would not arrive until evening at the earliest.
Due to the heavy snowfall in the previous days, although the snow was gradually melting, the roads were still difficult to traverse. It was likely they would indeed arrive in the evening.
The carriage was very bumpy, and Xue Xingyue felt a bit drowsy from the swaying. But she dared not sleep. Who knew what Meng Jiangming might do if she fell asleep?
Even though Meng Jiangming appeared to be asleep now, she knew he was merely resting his eyes.
But she was truly so tired, especially as the afternoon sun shone on the carriage, entering through the windows. She sat directly in the beam of light, the warm rays making her feel so cozy.
Xue Xingyue felt her eyelids growing heavy, but she could not sleep.
Meng Jiangming slowly opened his eyes and saw the little soldier diagonally opposite him, his head drooping. He narrowed his phoenix eyes and realized the young soldier was asleep.
He saw that the soldier was only fourteen or fifteen years old, just a youth.
The youth's face bore a faint smile. Because the afternoon sun shone into the carriage, it was very warm here, as if separated from the outside. The youth's head swayed gently with the jolts of the carriage. Due to his sleeping posture, his collar had slipped, revealing his fair and delicate collarbone.
Suddenly, the carriage lurched, startling the sleeping youth awake. He shivered, then secretly glanced at Meng Jiangming, and quickly closed his eyes.
Seemingly seeing that he was still asleep, the youth breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Jiangming suddenly found this youth rather interesting.
Xue Xingyue, on the other hand, was a bit panicked. She had actually fallen asleep just now? Fortunately, judging by Meng Jiangming's demeanor, he didn't seem to have noticed her sleeping.
For the rest of the journey, no matter how tired she was, she held on, enduring until they reached the city. Ye Che, the City Lord of Ye City, was waiting at the city gate. The carriage stopped, and Xue Xingyue alighted first, followed closely by Meng Jiangming.
Standing at the city gate, Xue Xingyue saw a man approaching. The man was about twenty years old, dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a jade crown.
Ye Che walked up to Meng Jiangming and bowed, "Your subject Ye Che greets Your Excellency, the驸马."
"City Lord Ye, please rise," Meng Jiangming gestured slightly.
Ye Che stood up, and Xue Xingyue then got a clear view of Ye Che's face.
"Thank you, Your Excellency. Please, Your Excellency, accompany me to my humble abode. I have prepared food and wine, and I hope Your Excellency will grace us with your presence," Ye Che said.