Would Song Qingchao let him succeed?
Of course not!
She pushed Bai Youan’s face away with her hand, then climbed up from him, grabbed the hem of her skirt, and hurried out with her other hand clutching her cloak.
“Master?”
They turned their heads in surprise, still holding tightly to the reins with their other hand.
“It’s nothing.” Song Qingchao gave him a comforting look, then threw the cloak over herself and, with a swift movement, jumped onto the horse tied to the carriage.
The dagger spun in her left palm before slicing through the rope with a “swish.”
She gripped the horse’s belly with her legs and then shot forward like an arrow.
When Bai Youan emerged from the carriage, all he could see was a small black dot disappearing into the white snow.
He stood on the carriage, facing the wind and snow, his exhaled breath frosting his lenses.
He took off his glasses, wiped them with a silk cloth, and put them back on, the world becoming much clearer.
“What did you do?”
Zhou Zhengxi’s tone held no respect for Bai Youan.
Only Song Qingchao was his master; no one else earned his respect.
Moreover, he had long seen that Bai Youan was up to no good.
His eyes were always fixed on his master!
“I didn’t do anything.” Bai Youan answered calmly, sitting down with his legs spread and leaning lazily against the wooden board behind him.
“Just getting some air.”
Zhou Zhengxi fell silent for a moment.
He wasn’t unaware of the relationship between his master and this man, but his gut feeling told him Bai Youan was far more complex than he appeared.
The calm and collected demeanor, the unguarded gestures, were remarkably similar to the one in the palace, perhaps even more so.
Thus, more than anything, he worried that his master would be manipulated by this man.
“We’re almost in Mobei, Mr. Bai. Do you have any plans?”
“No plans.” Bai Youan squinted into the distance. “I was merely ordered to protect her.”
“Ordered?”
Bai Youan raised an eyebrow. “By the Eldest Princess.”
Zhou Zhengxi didn’t know his master’s relationship with the Eldest Princess, but after hearing that, he knew better than to pry.
“If that’s the case, Mr. Bai should have a way to escort Master into the city, right?”
“Don’t worry.”
Bai Youan didn’t elaborate, as he saw Song Qingchao riding her horse towards him.
Her light blue cloak seemed to blend into the snowy landscape, but the bright, unrestrained smile on her face painted the entire expanse of white snow with vibrant colors.
Bai Youan stood up, holding a fan in one hand before him, ready to welcome Song Qingchao’s return. He then heard Zhou Zhengxi’s somewhat “threatening” voice.
“Will Mr. Bai protect Master at all costs, no matter what happens?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you remember your words today, sir. If you ever betray Master, do not blame me for being ruthless.”
His words surprised Bai Youan somewhat.
He hadn’t expected such loyalty.
He had been on guard against him, only to find himself threatened in the end.
Bai Youan smiled indifferently, the glint of bloodlust in his eyes vanishing in an instant.
He pushed his glasses up and returned to his usual detached demeanor.
“Don’t worry.”
“Bai Youan! Look!”
His attention was completely captured by the woman galloping towards him.
She held up a rabbit’s ear, as if showing it off.
“Come back quickly, it’s cold out here.”
Song Qingchao raised her eyebrows triumphantly, then with a tug of the reins, she was soon riding alongside the carriage.
With a “swish,” she handed the rabbit to Bai Youan. “Here, the blood is all drained.”
Bai Youan’s gaze softened as he took the rabbit, gently urging Song Qingchao to get into the carriage.
“Zhengxi, let’s find a place sheltered from the wind to rest for a bit.”
After the carriage stopped, Song Qingchao had just finished tying up the horse when she was enveloped in the cloak. The warmth against her back made her feel all the more heated.
“You’re freezing,” Bai Youan said, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I’ll do it next time.”
As his voice fell.
Song Qingchao felt both her hands being wrapped by Bai Youan.
She immediately felt a little embarrassed, lowering her head and awkwardly searching for Zhou Zhengxi’s figure.
What would people think if they saw her like this?
“Don’t look for him, he asked me to send him away to deal with the rabbit, and to catch a couple more pheasants.”
Song Qingchao felt a rush of blood surge to her head.
A feeling called “shame” quickly consumed her.
“Let go. I’ll count to three. If you don’t let go…”
“What if I don’t?” Bai Youan smirked.
Song Qingchao ignored him, counting and trying to break free.
“One, two, three…”
As soon as she finished saying “three.”
Bai Youan let go. Song Qingchao, who had been about to make a move, was stunned. Just as she was about to forgive him.
She was immediately scooped up and held!
“Bai Youan! You scoundrel!!”
Song Qingchao struggled desperately, but Bai Youan held her so tightly that only her feet were flailing.
Her flushed face was either from the cold or from shyness; Song Qingchao only knew she was in a very bad mood!
“Don’t move, or else…”
Bai Youan’s low voice immediately calmed Song Qingchao.
In contrast to Song Qingchao’s distress, Bai Youan was at ease.
When they returned to the carriage, Bai Youan didn’t do anything.
This improved Song Qingchao’s mood.
Before long, Zhou Zhengxi arrived with the roasted rabbit and pheasants.
Seeing the rabbit, Song Qingchao was still annoyed with Bai Youan.
But food was more important than anything else.
“Zhengxi, stay and eat with us. And there’s something we need to discuss.”
Zhou Zhengxi initially wanted to refuse, but in the end, he stayed.
As Song Qingchao contentedly ate the meat they had portioned, she brought up her concern.
The reason they hadn’t sought refuge in towns along the way was partly due to time constraints, and partly because she lacked a travel permit and identification, which prevented her from entering.
But they were nearing Mobei soon, and she had to find a way to sneak in.
However, to her surprise, when she raised this issue, neither Bai Youan nor Zhou Zhengxi seemed concerned.
“Don’t worry, I have a way to get you in.”
Zhou Zhengxi also remained silent, agreeing with Bai Youan’s statement.
Song Qingchao: “…”
Was she the only one who was worried?
After taking turns resting, Song Qingchao sent Bai Youan out, then looked at Zhou Zhengxi. “Do you have something to say?”
“Yes.” Zhou Zhengxi lowered his voice, then pulled back the curtain with one hand. “Someone has been following us all along.”
“I know.” Song Qingchao appeared indifferent.
Her gaze followed, and she saw Bai Youan walking in the snow.
“Do we need to deal with them?” Zhou Zhengxi made a “kill” gesture with his hand.
But Song Qingchao shook her head. “No need. They haven’t made any moves so far. We don’t need to worry about them yet.”
She looked out at Bai Youan, lost in thought.
She had been observing Bai Youan, noticing that he often looked out the window. When he had gone to catch the rabbit, she had specifically peered deeper into the woods. Although he had hidden it well, she had still found some clues.
But now was not the time to argue. Time was running out, and she had to hurry to Mobei to meet with Mu Mu.
The curtain was lowered.
Bai Youan, who had been under their scrutiny, raised his somewhat sharp eyebrows.
He gazed into the depths of the forest, then pushed up his glasses and smiled. The eyes behind the lenses were dark and profound, sharpness hidden within their sparse appearance.
Now, as he smiled slightly, it was like scattered flowers and jade fragments, all sharpness gradually melting away into the snowy night.
It was getting dark…