"Whoa!"

After traveling at high speed for a while, the carriage suddenly let out a long neigh and stopped.

Caught off guard, Rong Qingqing and the others tumbled into a heap.

"Princess, are you alright?" Xingchun quickly helped Rong Qingqing up and asked anxiously.

Rong Qingqing shook her head, her bad premonition intensifying, and she clenched her fingers tightly.

Seeing that she was alright, Xiao Tao breathed a sigh of relief, but her face was grim as she called out, "Zhao Yong, what happened?"

However, instead of Zhao Yong's reply, another cold and intimidating voice rang out, "Are you coming out by yourself, or should I go in?"

Upon hearing this voice, the expressions of the people in the carriage all changed.

"How could it be the Emperor?" Xiao Tao stared wide-eyed at Rong Qingqing.

"Why has the Emperor come?" Xingchun asked, equally surprised.

Only Fu'er remained somewhat bewildered.

Rong Qingqing pursed her lips tightly. When she heard Xie Jingrun's familiar voice, her heart was already in turmoil.

Why did Xie Jingrun catch up so quickly?

In her mind, Xie Jingrun should have known that she had left the capital a few days later.

But Xie Jingrun has arrived now, and at this moment, right outside, separated by a carriage door, she seems to be able to feel the hostility emanating from him.

She could almost picture him now, his handsome face ashen, furious and exasperated.

While she was struggling with her decision, the carriage door was suddenly pulled open from the outside, and Xie Jingrun's icy face came into Rong Qingqing's view.

"Rong Qingqing, you're something else! How dare you leave without saying goodbye!"

Just as Rong Qingqing was about to speak, he suddenly jumped onto the carriage. Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the carriage.

"Xie Jingrun, listen to me..."

"Shut up, I don't want to hear you speak right now!" Xie Jingrun said, his handsome face tense, giving her a cold glance.

When Rong Qingqing met his fierce gaze, she obediently shut her mouth.

Seeing her standing there hunched over, Xie Jingrun was furious. He snorted coldly, grabbed her belt, and threw her onto the horse.

Rong Qingqing screamed and fell off the horse.

Before she could get up, Xie Jingrun had already leaped onto her, pulled on the reins, shouted, and sped off.

Upon seeing this, Aqi's expression changed. Just as she was about to chase after her, Zhao Yong stopped her, saying, "The princess will be fine. Don't interfere."

"But……"

“That’s the new emperor,” Zhao Yong said, frowning.

Ah Qi frowned, but seeing that Xiao Tao and the others who got off the carriage didn't seem worried at all, he felt a little relieved.

"Let's hurry up and catch up," Ah Qi urged, still somewhat worried.

"Alright," Zhao Yong nodded.

Rong Qingqing was feeling extremely unwell at this moment. She felt as if her internal organs had shifted out of place.

"Xie Jingrun..."

As soon as she opened her mouth, a mouthful of wind rushed in, choking her and bringing tears to her eyes.

"Xie Jingrun, stop!" she shouted.

Xie Jingrun ignored him and continued to urge his horse onward.

Rong Qingqing lay sprawled on the horse, her bones feeling like they were about to be shaken apart. The hairband she used to tie her hair was blown off by the wind, and her hair fell loose, covering her head and face.

Rong Qingqing was initially feeling guilty, but now she was filled with anger.

She waved her hand, trying to pinch his waist, but the horse was moving fast, and she was being tossed around, so her movements became inaccurate.

In the chaos, she heard a muffled groan.

Before she could react, her hand grabbed something, and the next moment, she was lifted up and pressed into the man's broad arms.

"Aren't you going to let go?"

The man's low, hoarse voice, filled with barely suppressed desire, pierced her eardrums.

She shuddered and immediately let go.

Her face was flushed red to the roots of her neck, and she buried her face in his chest, unable to lift her head.