After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Shen Su was also helpless and could only arrange for people to help them and do his best to ensure their safety.

The old lady originally disagreed with Shen Tingjiao going. She couldn't control Shen Lingyi, but this was someone she had watched grow up.

With red eyes, Shen Tingjiao ran to the old lady's bedside and cried, saying a lot of touching words, which finally moved the old lady.

Peony didn't believe that Shen Tingjiao had suddenly changed her personality and was very suspicious of her motives. "Miss, is the eldest young lady planning something again? Last time she almost caused you to be severely punished, and we haven't even gotten revenge yet."

"Didn't that one in the East Palace also go? Her lover is gone, how can our young lady stand it?" Shen Lingyi sneered.

Two days later.

The river was rippling, and a cold wind was blowing. Even though it was so cold, there was no ice. Looking to the side, I realized that several Ling people were pulling the ice they had chiseled back home.

The ice on the entire river is difficult to clear, but if hundreds or thousands of people work together, there's nothing that can't be done.

Shen Lingyi stood at the ferry, the river breeze blowing against her cheeks, causing the snow-white down on her neck guard to scratch her face. Feng Ren, wearing a bamboo hat and holding a sword, stood guard in front of the noodle stall.

The general's mansion wanted to charter a boat, but learned that most of the boats at the ferry crossing were gone, with only one left, which had already been chartered.

Jiang was extremely anxious and proposed to increase the amount of money.

The boatman was very tempted, but powerless to do anything about it. He could only sigh, "Madam, it's not that we don't want to take you, it's just that we've been booked!"

He paused, then lowered his voice and leaned closer: "To be honest, the person on the ship is also a distinguished person, accompanied by a bodyguard with a sword. So you'd better find someone else."

"A benefactor?"

Shen Lingyi spoke, her voice clear and melodious like a bell, carrying into the boat, "May I ask which family you belong to? We are from the General's Mansion, and we have urgent business to attend to. We wonder if you would be so kind as to give us a ride?"

Inside the cabin, Pei Heng paused as he picked up his cup to drink. The woman's clear voice sounded familiar, and her well-defined fingers touched it.

He quickly followed up, "In the capital, there are generals surnamed Xie, Wei, and Shen. May I ask which one you are referring to, young lady?"

Shen Lingyi's eyelids twitched; why did that voice sound so familiar?

She tentatively replied, "Young master, why don't you show yourself? It would be more sincere to have a detailed discussion in person."

After Shen Lingyi finished speaking, there was no further movement on the boat, and it was unknown whether she had angered that important person.

Fearing trouble, the boatman politely asked them to leave, saying, "Please don't make things difficult for me. I have a brother who can take another boat from him in two days. You won't make it in time, so you might as well wait a few more days."

"Waiting a few days will be too late." Madam Jiang frowned. How could they wait for a matter of life and death? If only that important person on the ship could come out and meet them.

however,

It looks like there's no chance.

A slight noise came from the boat. The boatman looked in surprise at the man in black robes who stepped out. He was holding the hem of his robes, and the snow-white cloak added to his otherworldly and noble air.

Shen Lingyi quickly lowered her head, pretending to be very busy.

She never expected to run into Pei Heng here!

Recalling the boatman's constant use of the term "noble person," Shen Lingyi couldn't help but think to herself, "This is indeed a true noble person from the imperial family."

Pei Heng was also sizing up Shen Lingyi. Strange, she was the one who had spoken just now.

He asked himself why he felt that Shen Lingyi had no connection with him and that they had only met once in the palace. Why did her voice sound familiar to him when they were in the cabin?

Pei Heng's gaze held a hint of scrutiny, and he raised his brow slightly: "So you are a general surnamed Shen."

Jiang then came to her senses and hurriedly tried to bow, but then noticed that the person in front of her was dressed in plain clothes, so he must be traveling incognito.

She hesitated, unsure whether to accept the gift or not.

Pei Heng's dark eyes were indifferent, but he was much more approachable than the rumored tyrannical and cruel nature: "General Shen is the backbone of our dynasty, and I have long admired him."

"Since she is the wife of a general, I can certainly give her a ride. Madam, and also..."

He looked at Shen Lingyi, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Miss, please."

Shen Lingyi was truly forced to bite the bullet; things had come to this point, and she could only carefully conceal her identity.

Meanwhile, Shen Tingjiao's eyes were filled with thought, her pearly teeth biting her lip. For some reason, she felt that the two people in front of her had something to do with each other.

Well, perhaps he guessed wrong. Given Shen Lingyi's temperament, how could His Majesty possibly take a liking to her?

Pei Heng was indeed traveling incognito, and he only brought a few guards with him. However, the calluses on his hands and backs showed that these guards were all top-notch experts.

I wonder if all top masters have the habit of not liking to talk.

Shen Lingyi peeked outside and saw Feng Ren standing with His Majesty's personal guard. Half an hour had passed, and the two of them hadn't exchanged a single word.

One person held the knife, while the other crossed his arms.

Feng Ren, who is extremely sensitive to gazes, even looked up and gave her a questioning look.

Shen Lingyi: "..."

"I didn't know it was Your Majesty. I'm so sorry for my rudeness." Madam Jiang sat opposite Pei Heng with trepidation. "I don't know if this will disrupt Your Majesty's plans. If it will, I will take my daughter and disembark immediately."

The trip to Liangzhou was important, but Jiang Shi did not want to leave her two daughters with the emperor, whose reputation was always tarnished.

Moreover, if they were to be assassinated again like at the last palace banquet, it would be sending them all into the fire.

"No need, and there's no need to call me Your Majesty. Just call me Young Master Pei when we're out."

Pei Heng picked up the untouched tea on the table, only to find it was completely cold when he touched the bottom of the cup, so he put it down again.

"Young Master Pei," Madam Jiang called out, sounding quite uncomfortable. Of course, what she found even more uncomfortable was his attitude.

From the moment he left until now, Pei Heng's face has shown neither a smile nor anger.

It's impossible to figure out what he's thinking.

Shen Tingjiao glanced at the man quickly, then lowered her head shyly, her heart pounding. Only today did she realize that Pei Heng's appearance was in no way inferior to Xu Yanqing's. "Since you've said so, young master, there's no need for us to make a fuss."

"Wouldn't it be better to arrive in Liangzhou sooner? With the guards by your side, young master, the risks of this journey should be greatly reduced."

"Are you also going to Liangzhou?" Pei Heng asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shen Tingjiao was about to answer,

But she discovered that the man wasn't looking at her at all; he was looking at Shen Lingyi.

Her face turned pale, and the joy she had felt at thinking Pei Heng was paying attention to her vanished, replaced by intense jealousy and resentment.

That vixen!

With her alluring face, Xu Yanqing was lured away by her, and now she's even going after His Majesty. How hateful!

Shen Lingyi's eyelashes cast a faint shadow, her slender white fingertips poking at the corner of the table, completely unaware that Pei Heng was watching her.

After a while, Pei Heng calmly withdrew his gaze. He realized that Shen Lingyi was avoiding him. Strange, what was she avoiding?

If she simply didn't want to be chosen by him and become a concubine, that would be understandable.

However, where did that inexplicable sense of familiarity in his heart come from? No matter how he looked at his relationship with Shen Lingyi, the only thing he knew was that she admired her nominal son. The two of them usually had no interaction at all.

Jiang nudged Shen Lingyi's elbow privately, but the latter remained silent, pretending to be dead.

Only the former secretly wondered, could it be that Yi'er and His Majesty had some grudge?