The sky above was not completely dark at night. Looking at the myriad stars surrounding the crescent moon, it seemed that the imperial capital would have another clear day tomorrow.
Su Muqing sat on the back of the eagle, the night breeze brushing against her face with a slight damp coolness, yet she didn't feel cold. She was seated on the eagle's back because Huo Qiyuan was behind her.
Perhaps having flown once before, he knew the temperature at high altitudes was very low. Huo Qiyuan worried Su Muqing might feel cold and wrapped her tightly in his arms with a fiery red fur cloak.
High in the sky, only their heads were visible. Their black and white hair, set against the fiery red fur, looked like the pistils of a red flower blooming.
This time, their speed was not deliberately increased. After flying a stretch, they would stop to rest. Once the eagle recovered its strength, they would continue their journey.
Perhaps it was due to having company, but even though they rested for longer this time and made more stops, they arrived within the borders of Si'an Prefecture a little after seven o'clock the next morning.
As Huo Qiyuan landed, he couldn't help but murmur to himself, wondering why time had seemed to pass so slowly the night before, and so quickly today.
He had originally planned to travel slower this time, so he could spend more time alone with Su Muqing. However, seeing the soldiers building city walls below, he knew that hope was dashed.
"The Divine Eagle is back."
"Look, it seems to have people on its back."
"Only the Regent or Her Majesty the Empress could ride on the Divine Eagle's back."
"There are two people, two people on the Divine Eagle's back. Could Her Majesty the Empress have come to Si'an Prefecture as well?"
The eagle carried them directly into a large estate, which was the place where Xu Zhipeng and his men had first set up camp.
Huo Qiyuan learned that this estate originally belonged to a wealthy official in Si'an Prefecture. After Xu Zhipeng and his troops arrived, the official, in an effort to curry favor with him, not only offered his two daughters as concubines but also gifted the entire estate.
The two young women on the bed when they controlled Xu Zhipeng were the official's daughters. Huo Qiyuan had originally ordered the estate to be returned to the official, but the official was a man of ulterior motives.
Seeing that Si'an Prefecture was now occupied by the Hua Xia people, the official proposed that if Huo Qiyuan did not mind, he would donate the estate to the Regent. Even when reclaiming his two daughters who had been defiled, he subtly indicated that he could offer more beautiful maidens.
Regardless of whether these girls were his biological daughters or were specifically bought and raised to be given to high-ranking officials and wealthy families for favors, Huo Qiyuan and his men genuinely felt disgusted by the official's behavior of selling his daughters for prestige.
This might also be because, after spending so much time with Su Muqing, they had been subtly influenced by her views on gender equality.
Therefore, when they saw the official treating women as objects to be casually given away and defiled, they felt displeased. However, this was someone else's affair, and although Huo Qiyuan disapproved, he would not interfere excessively.
As for the estate itself, with its refined furnishings and scenery, it was considered quite elegant. When the official offered to give it to Huo Qiyuan, he did not outright refuse.
They still had to stay in Si'an Prefecture for some time, and this place was suitable for temporary residence. They could return the estate when the army resumed its march.
Since Su Muqing had also come, it was a good opportunity for her to see it. If she was satisfied with the place, they could purchase it from the official and, with a little renovation, it could serve as their private villa in the future.
Su Muqing jumped down from the eagle's back and stretched her limbs before looking around. "The environment here is quite good. Looking at the decoration and layout, it seems the former owner was an elegant person."
Huo Qiyuan smiled and shook his head. "You've only half guessed it! The decoration and layout of this estate are indeed elegant, but as for the original owner, I personally don't think he deserves the word 'elegant'."
Su Muqing looked at Huo Qiyuan with interest and then asked meaningfully, "Oh? Hearing you say that, did something else happen here?"
Huo Qiyuan didn't hide anything when she asked. On their way to the study, he recounted how the official, in his bid to win over Xu Zhipeng, had not only personally handed over the estate but also offered his two daughters.
Likewise, Huo Qiyuan did not conceal that the official, in an attempt to win him over, had also intended to offer maidens to him, in addition to transferring the estate. He revealed everything.
"Wow! The treatment for princes is truly good! But with such delicate maidens being offered, did Prince really not feel even a tiny bit of attraction? I find that hard to believe!" Su Muqing said this while propping her chin, examining Huo Qiyuan up and down with suspicion, and a clear hint of teasing in her smile.
Hearing her words, Huo Qiyuan stopped abruptly. He turned to look at the girl examining him with a frown. Under Su Muqing's teasing gaze, he extended his left hand, clenched it into a fist, placed it over his heart, and said with utmost seriousness.
"Because my heart is only this big, and three years ago, it was already completely filled by someone named Su Muqing, leaving not a single crack for any unrelated person to stir my emotions. Muqing, are you asking me this because you don't believe my feelings?"
Looking at Huo Qiyuan, who was standing before her with such earnestness, the teasing smile on Su Muqing's face slowly faded. It was understandable that he appeared so solemn, as if making a serious vow. She shouldn't have made such a joke about emotions with Huo Qiyuan, an ancient person.
With that thought, Su Muqing's face softened into a warm smile. She quickly reached out and linked her arm with Huo Qiyuan's. "Oh! Why are you so serious! I was just joking. Let's not talk about this and go."
Huo Qiyuan, however, was not satisfied. He held Su Muqing's hand in return, his serious expression unwavering. "I am not joking with you. Everything I say, every word, is true. From the moment I met you, until now, and in the future... for my entire life, there will only be you!"
"Alright, alright, I get it, I get it. I won't dare to make such jokes with you again. Let's go quickly!" Su Muqing, feeling a little embarrassed by his gaze, turned and pulled his hand forward. She saw Leng Ren and the others waiting for them in the corridor ahead.
Huo Qiyuan, however, remained standing still, his eyes fixed on the girl before him, clearly not entirely satisfied with her previous answer.
Seeing that she had been staring at her for so long and Su Muqing still hadn't understood his meaning, Huo Qiyuan finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"And you? Is your heart truly unable to hold any other man besides me?"
Hearing this question, Su Muqing blurted out without hesitation, "Of course not..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Huo Qiyuan's pupils tightened, and the grip on her hand instinctively tightened. Could it be that Muqing had been persuaded by those ministers and was preparing to establish a harem, ready to widely recruit handsome men from across the land as empresses' consorts?
Before Su Muqing could finish speaking, she felt her hand suddenly being squeezed. No! It wasn't just tight; it felt like it was about to be crushed.
"Be gentler, be gentler! My hand is almost being crushed into dust! I meant that besides you, my heart also has my father and my brother...! So it's not just you!" Su Muqing said, patting Huo Qiyuan's hand with her other hand.
Finally managing to pull her hand free from the "claws," Su Muqing rubbed her still sore and tight hand, and cast a wronged glance at the culprit.
Huo Qiyuan rubbed his nose and looked apologetically at Su Muqing's small hands, which had turned red from his grip. "The men I'm talking about don't include family members, but rather men you admire, in the romantic sense of admiration."
"Of course there's only one! A big idiot named Huo Qiyuan! You should have been clearer, you should have been clearer!" After shouting this, Su Muqing pouted and raised her small fists, hitting Huo Qiyuan heavily on the body.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My body is hard, don't hurt your hand again." Huo Qiyuan finally heard the answer he wanted and was in an extremely good mood.
Seeing the girl with her brows furrowed, he realized he had really hurt her. Huo Qiyuan, with a pained expression, cradled Su Muqing's hands, blowing on them and massaging them, all the while apologizing profusely.
"I'll forgive you this time. Next time you squeeze my hand so hard, I'll bite you! Let's go, Leng Ren and the others have been waiting for us for a long time!" Su Muqing pulled her hand back, pointed at the figures waiting ahead, and then linked her arm with Huo Qiyuan's again as they walked towards the waiting group under the corridor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" Leng Ren and the others had waited a long time before seeing the Empress and the Prince approach.
"Everyone, please rise."
It had been half a year since Su Muqing had last seen them. Even during her enthronement ceremony, they were stationed in Si'an Prefecture and couldn't return to attend.
After exchanging pleasantries, they all entered a very spacious study. Huo Qiyuan took out the Qiankun bag and placed the items Su Cuiping had asked him to bring on the table.
Su Muqing handed Leng Kui a large package that belonged exclusively to him, and reminded him that Su Cuiping, despite her pregnant belly, had worked hard for him. "Third Brother Leng, this is what Sister Cuiping asked us to bring you. She knew we were rushing back overnight, but she worked all day with her belly to prepare these things for you."
Leng Kui hugged the large package tightly, his eyes becoming a little red with emotion. "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Highness. How is my wife? Has she lost weight? Has the baby been bothering her? I remember she's due to give birth in less than a month! I wonder if I'll have time to rush back and be by her side then."
"Don't worry, in a word, Sister Cuiping is all well. As for accompanying her childbirth, isn't that simple? After the matters in Si'an Prefecture are resolved, I'll ask the Prince to give you leave, and then I'll take you back to Hua Xia with me. Wouldn't that allow you to be present for her delivery?" Seeing how deeply the couple cared for each other, Su Muqing felt happy for them.
"Then this subordinate thanks Your Majesty and Your Highness first!" Leng Kui hugged the large package and bowed deeply to Su Muqing and Huo Qiyuan.
Perhaps feeling that this was not enough to express his gratitude, he carefully placed the package aside and knelt on one knee to offer them a grand salute!
"Get up! These were also prepared by Third Brother's wife. Each of you has a portion, and even this King has benefited from his good fortune." After Huo Qiyuan helped Leng Kui up, he distributed the other packages on the table to Leng Ren and the others. As for the package for himself and Su Muqing, he put it back into the Qiankun bag.
After Huo Qiyuan finished distributing Su Cuiping's preparations, it was Su Muqing's turn to distribute hers. These were not particularly rare items, but rather dried meats and pastries that Lin Rongrong and Madam Zhou had spontaneously prepared after she decided to come.
Although Su Muqing did not lack such snacks in her spatial store, these were still tokens of their affection. Leng Ren and the others were overjoyed to receive these special treats.
Initially, when they saw Leng Kui holding such a large package, they felt a little envious. Those who were married were truly blessed to have someone thinking of them from thousands of miles away.
Some of them even started to harbor thoughts of finding a matchmaker when they returned this time. However, before they could finish their thoughts, their hands were also filled to the brim, and naturally, they no longer needed to envy others.
They first moved the provisions they received to their temporary lodgings. Then, they quickly gathered back in the study to discuss the matters that needed to be handled next.
First and foremost, the most important issue was the thousands of patients still quarantined in the West District.
Su Muqing took out a new batch of protective supplies and placed them casually. Then, after everyone was fully equipped in protective gear, they rode their bicycles directly to the West District.
The environment in a place crowded with thousands of patients was naturally not pleasant. The roads were covered in white powder, which was lime brought by Huo Qiyuan and his men.
When the army doctors first diagnosed it as typhoid fever, Huo Qiyuan had already dispatched people to spread lime on the roads in the West District and in every nook and cranny, strictly preventing the typhoid from developing into a plague that could then spread throughout the city.
From the moment Su Muqing stepped onto the grounds of the West District, she felt uncomfortable. Especially when she saw the small black dots on the spatial screen, her feeling of unease became even more pronounced.
How could this be? She had never encountered such a situation before.