Bai You'an agreed readily.
Song Qingchao did not say anything.
Old Chang's men were all controlled by the soldiers.
Only then could they travel smoothly.
Walking to the carriage,
Bai You'an gestured for Song Qingchao to get into the carriage, and solicitously extended a hand to help her.
Song Qingchao didn't even glance at him, turning instead to look at Lin Tingwan, who had been looking down, "Get in."
Lin Tingwan looked up and her gaze swept back and forth between Bai You'an and Song Qingchao.
Finally, with a smile, she took the child from Song Qingchao's arms, "I'll ride in the carriage behind."
Song Qingchao frowned, but ultimately complied with her wishes.
She placed her hand on Bai You'an's arm and got into the carriage.
She sat quite properly in the seat furthest from Bai You'an.
There were no extraneous emotions in her eyes.
Bai You'an sat with his long legs stretched out lazily, raising an eyebrow to look at her, "Sitting so far away?"
Song Qingchao, holding a handkerchief, responded with a "Mm" and did not look at him.
Bai You'an did not tease her as he usually did.
The carriage swayed, and the creaking sounds it made in the night were particularly reassuring.
Song Qingchao, for once, looked at Bai You'an, only to see that he had already fallen asleep.
His usually straight back was now leaning against the back of the seat, his head tilted, as if he might fall over at any moment.
Song Qingchao smiled, then lifted the carriage curtain and sat down next to the soldier driving the carriage.
"Miss Song?"
Song Qingchao shook her head to signal him, then put a finger to her lips, "Slowly, we're not in a hurry."
The soldier nodded and then slowed down.
Song Qingchao did not return to the carriage, but instead leaned against the wooden panel behind her.
She looked up at the round moon.
In her previous life, she also loved to sit in the courtyard and watch the moon. Feng Shaocheng always said she was weak and would get cold if she sat outside for too long.
He even deprived her of the small wish of enjoying the moon.
It seemed that anything she liked to do, he would forbid, always placating her with "I'm doing this for your own good."
How foolish she had been in her previous life…
Song Qingchao slowly raised her hand, covering the moon, then suddenly clenched her fist.
This feeling of having everything under her control felt so good.
The carriage soon arrived at its destination.
Song Qingchao lifted the curtain and saw that the person inside was still asleep. She simply told the soldier to leave.
She tied up the carriage and then climbed into it herself.
She took out a cloak from her spatial dimension, gently draped it over Bai You'an, and then found a comfortable spot to lie down, wrapping herself in the cloak.
These long days were all spent like this.
The small carriage was indeed the warmest and most comfortable place.
With a "clang," the carriage swayed slightly, startling Song Qingchao awake. Bai You'an also woke up from his deep slumber.
Their hazy eyes met, and then the carriage curtain was violently pulled open.
What appeared was Xiang Yunling's indifferent face.
He had a stern expression, and his words were blunt, "You like sleeping in carriages so much, it seems I prepared the guest rooms in vain."
Hearing this, Song Qingchao jolted, then immediately stood up.
With a "bang,"
Her hair hit the ceiling of the carriage, making Bai You'an chuckle.
Song Qingchao rubbed her head and glared fiercely at him.
This was retribution!
She shouldn't have felt sorry for him being tired and decided to sleep in the carriage with him!
Song Qingchao got out of the carriage aggressively, then tidied her creased hem, and then hopped out of the carriage.
She did not want to wait for Bai You'an.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Zhou Zhengxi, poking his head out with an anxious expression.
"Master!"
The relaxation on his face was visible.
Song Qingchao responded, and after a moment's thought, asked, "Do you know if Chang Pinghe and Xiang Yunling have any grievances?"
"That's a long story," Zhou Zhengxi straightened up, "The eldest daughter of the Lin family, who is now Wanwan, and Chang Pinghe, the eldest son of the first branch of the Chang family, were betrothed since childhood. Wanwan has been frail for many years and has been cared for by Xiang Yunling, the successor of the Xiang family's medical hall. Chang Pinghe, being curious in his youth, often snuck into Wanwan's courtyard to play. Over time, the three became friends, but Wanwan liked Xiang Yunling at that time."
"Hah."
After listening, Song Qingchao straightened it out.
She coughed a couple of times, "Alright, I understand."
No wonder he was unwilling to send Wanwan over when she had invited him so earnestly before.
It turned out to be because of Xiang Yunling.
"Then what's the deal between Xiang Yunling and Lin Tingwan?"
Zhou Zhengxi pushed open the door, entered the room, and lit incense as he said, "Miss Tingwan was taken in by Guangji Temple when she was young. Young Master Xiang also came to Guangji Temple weekly to treat the sick. Your subordinate guesses that these two must have had some contact during that period."
"Mm…" Song Qingchao leaned back on the divan, watching Zhou Zhengxi arrange for someone to prepare her bathwater, and then asked, "So, when Master Lin found Lin Tingwan again, the original engagement became Lin Tingwan's. The Chang family was also willing, but Chang Pinghe was unwilling, and in the end, against the wishes of both families, he married Miss Wanwan?"
"Master is intelligent." Zhou Zhengxi served a plate of pastries, "But it wasn't against their wishes, it was a substitute marriage. Miss Tingwan escaped and tied up Miss Wanwan. On the surface, Chang Pinghe married Miss Tingwan, but in reality, it was Miss Wanwan who married him."
Song Qingchao almost choked.
She thought that the tricks played by those who transmigrated were truly elaborate…
"By the time the two families discovered it, it was too late." Zhou Zhengxi handed her a cup of tea, "However, Master Lin was not that harsh; he hadn't driven Miss Wanwan away before. Miss Wanwan has always been the second daughter, and it is the Chang family who has been holding a grudge about this matter."
"If that's the case, and Wanwan is the second daughter, then what is the Chang family still concerned about?"
"She's called the second daughter, but the Lin family's business grew larger and larger. How could Master Lin possibly divide his fortune with an adopted daughter?"
Song Qingchao put down the pastries and shook her head disapprovingly, "Master Lin is not that kind of person. The Chang family is judging a noble heart with a mean mind."
"Master is correct."
Song Qingchao sat up straight and stretched her limbs, finally recovering. "Tomorrow, go and pick up Mumu and Zhe'er. Things here have come to a close, and we should prepare to depart."
Zhou Zhengxi responded with a "Yes," but finally asked with confusion, "Where are we departing to? Your subordinate needs to make preparations in advance."
"Mobei."
"Mobei?"
Song Qingchao nodded, then walked into the bathing chamber, "Your master, I, am the daughter of a criminal and the place of my exile is Mobei. I do not wish to lose my identity for the time being."
Zhou Zhengxi was stunned, but quickly accepted it.
He had long suspected his master was extraordinary.
"May I ask your father's name?"
"Marquis Zhennan, Song Bai."