The people were found, and naturally, the people of Da Liang had to leave Southern Xinjiang. When Ye Luan returned to the post station, she saw everyone packing in the courtyard.
She hurried back to her small courtyard. She had to pack her own luggage, and there were so many strange tales and records about Southern Xinjiang that she could take back to read.
But when she entered the room, she saw Xiao Chizhan, dressed in a black robe, bending over the soft couch, his head lowered, his hands resting on his knees, his expression unreadable.
Ye Luan walked over with a smile. "What are you thinking about?"
Xiao Chizhan looked up, and upon seeing her smiling face, a flash of cold ferocity crossed his eyes.
He said gently, "Where did you go?"
"I just went for a walk."
Xiao Chizhan's expression changed instantly. He stood up abruptly and grabbed her hand.
"You lied to me?"
His voice sounded calm, yet it held a suppressed madness.
"Ye Luan, you've lied to me repeatedly. What do you take me for?"
He suddenly roared, and the bloodthirsty killing intent in his eyes seemed ready to devour someone.
Ye Luan's ears hurt from his shouting.
She took a step back and squinted. "Did you send people to follow me?"
"If I hadn't sent people to follow you, I wouldn't have known that you dared to secretly see him."
Xiao Chizhan was consumed by jealousy and began to speak without restraint.
"So I was just being a busybody, disturbing you. No wonder you refused to come with me to Longcheng last time. It turns out you were comfortable staying there with him. What, are you regretting it? Regretting not being able to stay in Bei Qi back then, and now you're colluding with him—"
Before he could finish, there was a sharp crack. In the silent room, it was extremely jarring.
His head was directly slapped to the side.
Ye Luan's chest heaved with anger at his words. She forcefully shook off his hand and stepped back.
Xiao Chizhan lightly licked the blood from the corner of his lips and tilted his head to look at her.
"You hit me?"
He laughed, a chilling laugh.
"You hit me again?"
"Is it not because of the late Lu Feibai that you hit me, or because Xie Beihan hit you? They are all more important than me, aren't they?"
Just as Ye Luan was about to explain, she heard his roar.
"Then why don't you marry him?!"
Her heart suddenly ached, and Ye Luan said angrily,
"What nonsense are you talking about? Stop being crazy."
"I'm crazy?!" Xiao Chizhan's crimson pupils were filled with terrifying ferocity. "Yes, I'm crazy. I'm a damn lunatic."
He suddenly kicked out, and the screen beside them crashed down.
Seeing him kick things again, Ye Luan's anger flared. Before she could speak, he grabbed her arm.
"Lu Feibai is dead, and you're still holding his things. Is this also me talking nonsense?!"
He grabbed her arm, his eyes fierce and stubborn, staring at her.
Ye Luan was in pain from his strong grip.
She said angrily, "Let go. Pick up the screen. You've developed all sorts of bad habits."
"Then tell me, do you still love me or not?!"
He suddenly pulled her into his embrace.
Ye Luan had had enough of his unpredictable temper and his suspicious, moody nature. She pushed him hard.
"If I say I love you, will you believe me? Have you ever trusted me?"
"You're accusing me of not believing you, but you not only lied to me about not seeing Lu Feibai, but you also tricked me into seeing Xie Beihan privately. How can you expect me to believe you?"
She already disliked and hated him; it was only after he stabbed her that she managed to get him back. Now, did she not want him anymore?!
Ye Luan was held so tightly by him that her bones ached.
She was too lazy to argue with him. "Think whatever you want."
Xiao Chizhan was furious at her attitude, his anger churning in his chest, burning him so much that he wished he could kill Xie Beihan right now.
If he's dead, then she'd see.
Enraged, he released her, kicked over the table and stool nearby, and strode out.
Ye Luan said indignantly, "You come back here."
Xiao Chizhan paused his steps, turned back, his sinister red eyes seeming to carry a hint of grievance.
"Pick up the things."
She pointed at the items on the ground and yelled at him.
Xiao Chizhan didn't move.
Ye Luan crossed her arms. "Pick them up."
Xiao Chizhan looked at her fierce demeanor, and after a moment of stalemate, he silently returned and put the table, stool, and screen back in their places.
The commotion from their argument was too loud, and people outside could hear it. Some secretly peeked, and when they saw their prince cleaning the room, they all covered their mouths in astonishment, and rumors began to spread.
Who would have thought that the ruthless Dingbei Prince would be so strictly controlled by their future princess, having to clean the room after an argument?
Hahaha.
It was hilarious.
The troops of Da Liang were about to withdraw from Southern Xinjiang, and the entire royal family of Southern Xinjiang was overjoyed. They had been here for so long, fearing that another mishap would occur. With their departure, a great potential danger had finally been removed.
Southern Xinjiang experienced a heavy snowfall, making the ground slippery and difficult to travel. The Da Liang army traveled for more than ten days before exiting the border of Southern Xinjiang.
The dowry procession was cumbersome and moved slowly, causing further delays.
Inside the carriage.
Ye Luan was eating pastries and drinking tea, holding a book in her hand.
Wei Qingge entered the carriage from outside and asked her excitedly,
"What happened between you and the Prince? Why was he so angry that he went horseback riding?"
Ye Luan glanced up lazily. "We had a fight. We're in a cold war."
"Hahaha, he still dared to argue with you—"
Wei Qingge laughed so hard that she slapped the carriage door, gossiping with her.
"I'm telling you, these past few days, the soldiers have been privately saying that the Prince is henpecked, and complaining that the Prince's temper has been too bad lately, always bothering them. You'd better hurry up and tame him, so the subordinates don't suffer."
Ye Luan's hand paused as she was drinking tea, and she changed the subject.
"Are we almost at the border of Da Liang?"
Wei Qingge excitedly lifted the curtain. "Yes, the Qunan River is ahead. In another two days, we'll be there."
Ye Luan also looked out through the gap she had opened. But in a flash, her gaze happened to meet Xiao Chizhan, who was riding a horse.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
She immediately looked away.
Seeing her evasive look, Xiao Chizhan's knuckles turned white as he gripped the reins.
"Girls are just like that, a little coaxing will do. Why are you getting angry with a woman?"
Beside him, Li Qiongyu's annoying voice chimed in with a laugh.
Xiao Chizhan glanced sideways. "Did the letter to him get delivered?"
Li Qiongyu said, "Of course. He received it and said he'll wait for you at the old spot after crossing the Qunan River."
Xiao Chizhan's gloomy gaze flashed with a cold smile.
"He's got guts."
The procession had been traveling for most of the day and stopped in an open space to rest.
Wei Qingge was chattering away in the carriage when she saw Xiao Chizhan push open the carriage door and enter.
She immediately covered her mouth, looked left and right, and scooted her rear end down, preparing to get off.
"Qingge, let's eat in the carriage. It's cold outside."
Suddenly, Ye Luan spoke, stopping her from getting off.
Wei Qingge scratched her face and said with a smile, "It's not cold. There are many carriages behind us."
After speaking, she glanced at the stern-faced Xiao Chizhan and then scurried down.
Only the two of them remained in the carriage.
Xiao Chizhan closed the carriage door and moved towards her.
Ye Luan held up the book to block him and tilted her chin. "Sit there."
"No."
He squeezed in directly, pinning her onto the small couch, and nuzzled her.
Ye Luan said sarcastically, "It's not good for a Prince to be pressing on an unmarried young lady, is it?"
"You are my Princess Consort."
"I'm not married to you yet. The Prince said that day that he wanted me to marry someone else. I thought about it and proposed that it was a good idea—"
Before she could finish, he suddenly grabbed her shoulders with both hands, his gaze fiercer than a snow wolf on Mount Tianshan.
Ye Luan was not afraid at all. "Or perhaps the Prince should retract his decree and cancel the engagement."