His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

Mo Sangyu heard his words but did not reply.

She simply snuggled closer to him, found a more comfortable position, and continued sleeping.

Feng Xingyu looked at her for a moment, chuckled softly, pulled her closer to his chest, rested his chin on the top of her head, and closed his eyes.

Outside the carriage, a stream murmured and insects chirped.

Inside the carriage, all was quiet, save for the two people's breathing, one deep and one shallow, intertwined, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

The next day.

When Mo Sangyu woke up, she was still lying in Feng Xingyu's arms.

Looking at the sky outside, it was already quite late.

"Don't you have to attend the morning court session?"

"No rush."

Feng Xingyu pulled her up and asked, "How did you sleep last night?"

"Um."

Mo Sangyu stretched gently, feeling her energy return.

Feng Xingyu observed her condition, and it seemed that there was nothing unusual about her.

"What are you doing?"

Mo Sangyu noticed him staring at her with a strange look in his eyes and couldn't help but wonder, "Why are you staring at me like that so early in the morning?"

"no."

Feng Xingyu suppressed that lingering thought in his heart to avoid disappointment.

"Are you hungry? Or what would you like to eat tonight? I can bring it to you?"

He was thinking not to have high hopes and to let things take their course, but he couldn't help wanting to test the waters.

"Would you like it sour or spicy?"

"I haven't eaten breakfast yet."

Mo Sangyu felt confused and looked at him with amusement: "When you're out and about, you can just eat whatever you want. Besides, General Lu can cook, so don't worry, I won't go hungry."

Lu Jin can cook?

Feng Xingyu's eyes flickered slightly, and after a long while, he replied with a single word: "Oh."

"Alright, you should go back now."

Mo Sangyu stood up and put on her coat: "We should set off too."

Feng Xingyu was silent for a moment, then pulled her into his arms and hugged her for a while before reluctantly leaving.

It makes it seem like they're living apart.

Mo Sangyu couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

She got off the carriage, and Yu Chengwei and four imperial guards were packing up their tents.

Lu Jin was cooking porridge, with dry rations roasting beside him.

The heat was just right; the dry rations were roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection, their aroma wafting in the morning breeze.

None of them noticed Feng Xingyu's arrival or departure.

Mo Sangyu alighted from the carriage. Lu Jin looked up and saw her, and quickly greeted her, "Good morning, Your Highness. Breakfast will be ready soon."

Mo Sangyu nodded: "No rush."

She walked to the stream, squatted down, and scooped up a handful of cool water to wash her face.

The water was very cold, which invigorated me.

She shook the water droplets off her hands, stood up, looked at the gradually brightening horizon in the distance, and took a deep breath.

The air in the mountains and forests was so fresh, it felt like it had been washed. Breathing it into my lungs made me feel much more refreshed.

Lu Jin has already finished preparing.

After finishing their meal, the group packed their belongings and continued their journey.

The next day, we were still within Dachen territory, traveling on the highway, and the journey was very smooth.

Mo Sangyu leaned against the soft couch, closed her eyes, and listened to the sound of wheels rolling over the road. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep again.

I stopped by the roadside at noon and ate something quick.

I made do with dry rations and cold water.

By evening, they were lucky enough to find a sheltered hillside to stop on.

Below the hillside is a flat meadow, and not far away stands an old locust tree with lush branches and leaves, like a large, open umbrella.

A thick layer of locust blossoms had fallen beneath the tree, filling the air with a faint, sweet fragrance.

There was another stream nearby, wider and with a faster current than yesterday's.

Lu Jin dismounted and began to work.

Everyone divided the work: some set up camp, some gathered firewood, and some cooked.

Soon, all preparations were completed.

Mo Sangyu had just gotten off the carriage and sat down against a big tree.

As September nights begin, the wind starts to get a bit chilly.

Lu Jin was chopping vegetables when he suddenly felt someone else beside him.

He looked up, his hand trembled, and he almost cut his finger with the cleaver.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty."

Feng Xingyu stood beside him, dressed in a black dragon robe, expressionless, looking down at the kitchen knife in his hand.

"I heard from the Empress that you can cook, so I made a special trip to try it out during mealtime. You don't mind if I have an extra pair of chopsticks, do you?"

"How could that be? I couldn't ask for more."

Lu Jinqian smiled awkwardly, feeling inexplicably apprehensive.

Why does His Majesty seem so strange?

When Yu Chengwei and the Imperial Guards heard the commotion and looked over, they were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

isn't it?

Why is Your Majesty here!

When did he come? Don't he need to worry about matters of state anymore?

Of these people, only Lu Jin knew that Feng Xingyu could teleport, while Yu Chengwei and the others were unaware of it, which is why they were so surprised to see him suddenly appear.

Your Majesty, did you catch up with them at full speed?

When Mo Sangyu saw him arrive, she got up and walked towards him: "You've come at just the right time. You can try General Lu's cooking."

Feng Xingyu walked over and took her hand in his. "Mm."

The two walked to the locust tree and sat down on the grass.

Yu Chengwei and his four imperial guards stood there stunned for a while before they came to their senses and went about their business, only their movements were much lighter than before.

Lu Jin quickly prepared two dishes and a soup, which was quite simple.

But considering that His Majesty was also present, he thought for a moment and added another dish.

Bring the food up and place it on a flat stone.

Three dishes and a soup, one more dish than yesterday, and the portions were generous.

Lu Jin stood to the side, looking somewhat awkward.

Feng Xingyu glanced at him and said, "General Lu, you've worked hard. Call Lord Yu and the others over so we can all eat together."

"Yes."

Lu Jin called the group over. It was their first time dining with His Majesty and His Majesty, and they were both nervous and reserved during the meal.

The Imperial Guards and Yu Chengwei and his group finished their meal in a few bites, then threw down their bowls and ran off.

Then he would pretend to be very busy checking the luggage, inspecting the ice coffin for any damage, feeding the horses, or patrolling the area.

Lu Jin was the only one left with half a bowl of rice. Seeing them all run away one by one, he suddenly felt extremely uneasy.

He had dined with His Majesty and the Empress before, but today…

Mr. Lu Jin felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange.

He quickly finished his rice in a few large mouthfuls, then stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I've finished eating. Please continue eating."

After saying that, he turned and left, quickly disappearing from their sight.

What the hell?

Mo Sangyu glanced suspiciously at the man beside her.

It's perfectly normal, why are they all running around?

Feng Xingyu ate his meal calmly. When he saw her looking over, he put down his chopsticks and asked, "Are you full?"

"Um."

"Shall we go back to the car?"

Mo Sangyu nodded.

The two got up and returned to the carriage. The curtain was lifted, and Mo Sangyu immediately saw that the small table was piled with things.

Candied fruit, dried fruit, sour apricots, dried meat, osmanthus cake, lotus seed pastry, and other snacks, as well as freshly washed fruit.

"What are you doing?" Mo Sangyu asked helplessly, looking at the table full of food.

Feng Xingyu leaned against the carriage wall, casually peeled a grape, and held it to her lips: "We have the means, so we don't need to deprive ourselves. General Lu's cooking is quite good, and it's fine to eat it once in a while, but eating cured meat, dried food, and wild vegetables every day for the whole trip will eventually get boring."

Mo Sangyu opened her mouth and ate it, but still rolled her eyes at him: "I'm not that delicate."

"You can have it."

One sentence made her pause for a moment, then she gently smiled.

But then again, the grapes are sweet and sour, and quite delicious.

Mo Sangyu ate two more pills by herself.

Feng Xingyu watched her eat, a faint smile playing on his thin lips.

Over the next few days, the team traveled smoothly and peacefully on the highways within Dachen territory, without encountering any disturbances.

They traveled during the day and found a scenic spot to camp and rest in the evening.

Feng Xingyu would come every night, but he no longer showed up at mealtimes.

Yu Chengwei and several imperial guards were secretly puzzled. His Majesty came for a while and then left. Could it be that he caught up with them just to have a meal with them?

I don't understand.

On the eighth day, they reached the border of Da Chen, where the highway ended.

The official road ahead was noticeably narrower, and the surface was no longer smooth, but full of potholes. As the wheels rolled over it, the carriage began to jolt.

The roadside was no longer lined with neat rows of trees, but instead with endless wilderness overgrown with weeds, and in the distance, the shadows of gray mountains.

They began to encounter other people one after another on the official road.

Caravans on their way, peddlers carrying loads, and pedestrians with bundles on their backs.

When they saw the group, they all moved far away to the side of the road, bowed their heads and let them pass. Only after the group had gone far away did they dare to look at them curiously.

"That carriage is obviously not for ordinary people. There is also a general in armor accompanying it. The people inside must be very rich and noble."

"Yes, I wonder which important person they are, and what they're up to?"

What's in the truck behind them?

"Oh my god, it looks like a coffin!"

"What kind of coffin is this? Look, isn't it emitting a chill?"

The pedestrians and caravans they encountered along the way were both curious and skeptical of the coffin, and couldn't help but discuss it.

Mo Sangyu and the others were not affected in the slightest. As long as they didn't come to disturb them, they could just let them talk.

After leaving Dachen, I headed north.

After passing the final pass, we entered a no-man's-land.

The official road turned into a gravel road, where horses' hooves clattered and kicked up a trail of yellow dust.

On the distant horizon, a gray city can be vaguely seen, its low walls standing in the wind and sand like a trapped beast lying in the desert.

This is Qingshi Town.

Although it's called a town, it's more like a market.

It's a melting pot of people from all over the world.

Caravans stopped here to rest and resupply, escaped prisoners changed their names here, and desperate fugitives who couldn't make a living here sought a living.

No one cares about your identity, and no one asks about your background.

As long as you have money in your pocket, you can survive.

Of course, if you're not ruthless or vicious enough, you'll be eaten alive here, leaving not even a trace.

Lu Jin reined in his horse and glanced back at the carriage: "Your Majesty, Qing Shi Town is just ahead, the only way to Qing Yue Kingdom."

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Mo Sangyu glanced outside.

The city walls were gray and dusty, the houses were low, and the streets were bustling with people.

There were Northern Di merchants wearing fur coats, Cangwu wanderers wrapped in long robes, and several unfamiliar faces who couldn't be identified, squatting by the roadside, their eyes menacingly observing the passersby.

One word, chaos.

I never imagined that there was such a place on the Nine Provinces continent.

Their group standing out like a crane among chickens was incredibly conspicuous.

Mo Sangyu lowered the carriage curtain: "Let's go in."

Lu Jin responded and spurred his horse to the front.

Yu Chengwei followed behind him without looking to the side.

Four imperial guards protected the cart, on which an ice coffin gleamed coldly in the sunlight, its lid covered with a thin layer of white frost.

Sure enough, as soon as their group entered the low city gate, they attracted everyone's attention.

Although people on both sides of the street made way for them, some still craned their necks to watch.

Some people huddled together whispering, while others stared at the ice coffin with shifty eyes.

Mo Sangyu leaned against the car wall, closed her eyes, and silently spread out her consciousness.

Several malicious eyes were lurking in the shadows, sizing up the group.

It's okay, we've been bored for too long on this journey.

Perfect timing, time to stretch my muscles.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Shall we rest here tonight?" Lu Jin asked from the carriage window.

"Let's stay here and pick up some supplies while we're at it."

Mo Sangyu's cool voice rang out softly.

The men lining the street strained their ears to listen to what was happening inside.

Upon hearing that it was a woman's voice, an excited smile immediately appeared on his rough face.

Such a luxurious and exquisite carriage, how beautiful must the girl sitting inside be?

How dare they come to a place like this? Isn't this like lambs to the slaughter?

"Feed".

A man dressed in a long, dark robe nudged the man next to him who was leering at the carriage and whispered, "Don't do anything rash. See that man in armor? His true energy is incredibly powerful. Can you tell what rank he's at in martial arts?"

"Who cares about his rank? This is our territory, and he looks like a fat sheep. If we can't fight him head-on, we'll have to use some special methods."

Inside the carriage, Mo Sangyu's red lips curved into a faint, cold smile.

"General Lu."

She whispered, "Find an inn to stay at tonight. We've traveled for so long, everyone should get a good night's sleep."

"Yes."

Lu Jin responded.

Yu Chengwei surveyed his surroundings, feeling as if he had stumbled into enemy territory.

He swallowed hard, leaned slightly towards Lu Jin, and whispered, "General Lu, you must protect me tonight."

"I'll protect you?"

Lu Jin smiled at him and asked in return, "Then who will protect the Empress?"

"Oh dear, Your Highness's martial prowess is too great, so there's no need for protection. I'm rather weak, so I beg General Lu for protection."

Yu Chengwei was risking everything to ensure his own safety.

The carriage stopped in front of an inn.

The plaque above the door is crooked and bears the three characters "Ping An Inn". The paint is peeling off and it is difficult to make out.

The waiter was leaning against the door frame eating sunflower seeds when he saw the carriage and froze, dropping sunflower seed shells all over the ground.

Lu Jin dismounted, went inside to look at a few rooms, and then came out and whispered by the carriage window, "Your Majesty, there is a separate courtyard in the back, which is fairly clean, but a bit small."

Mo Sangyu nodded: "Let's stay there."

Lu Jin responded and turned to make the arrangements.

Yu Chengwei directed the Imperial Guards to transport the cart into the backyard, cover the ice coffin with a black cloth, and leave two people to guard the door.

The innkeeper rubbed his hands together and came out to greet them with a big smile, but his eyes kept darting around the carriage.

Lu Jin glanced at him, and the shopkeeper quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.

Mo Sangyu alighted from the carriage, her silver hair gleaming coldly in the twilight.

People on both sides of the street stared wide-eyed; some had their mouths agape and forgot to close them, while others dropped what they were holding without even noticing.

The lecherous man nudged the man in black robes beside him: "See that? This girl is truly a stunner. That figure, that aura... But why is her hair white?"

"Hey, have you ever heard of the Empress of the Great Chen Dynasty...?"

"What empress? How could an empress possibly come to this wretched place?"

The lewd man interrupted the man in black robes, swallowed hard, and stared intently at Mo Sangyu, unable to look away.

"Tonight I... ah..."

The next instant, a scream rang out: "My eyes..."