"Won't the emperor reunite with the prince?" Liu Yang frowned slightly and asked in confusion.

Ji Xingzhi shook her head, pretending to be unfathomable. "No. Let's meet up again when we're farther away from the Imperial City. If I were to leave the city now, if the Emperor's uncle found me, he would definitely have Yu Xi throw me back to the palace."

Liu Yang paused for a moment, then said in silence, "The Emperor is indeed thoughtful."

Ji Xingzhi nodded and accepted Liu Yang's praise without any modesty.

After the carriage had been shaking for who knows how long, Ji Xingzhi became sleepy and lay on the eunuch's legs, drowsy. Soon she fell into a deep sleep.

When Ji Xingzhi woke up again, it was already too late.

"Stop." Ji Xingzhi ordered, and the carriage gradually stopped.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Ji Xingzhi opened the curtain and jumped out. He looked around and saw that it was pitch black. It was the end of November and the moon was no longer visible in the sky. The wind blew gently, bringing a chill.

Ji Xingzhi couldn't help but pull her clothes closer. The weather was getting colder and colder, and it was almost time for snow to stop falling. She was freezing.

The eunuch got off the carriage and stood beside Ji Xingzhi, asking, "Your Majesty, why did you stop so suddenly?"

Ji Xingzhi replied, "It's getting late, and there's nowhere to stay nearby. Let's wait for Liu Yang to come back and see if there's an inn or something like that up ahead."

The eunuch understood and silently stayed by Ji Xingzhi's side.

Sure enough, just a quarter of an hour later, Liu Yang came slowly riding a tall horse: "Whoa"

He dismounted gracefully, with swift and decisive movements, and it was clear from the way he dismounted that he was an expert.

"The emperor and the prince have already entered the city. When I came out, the city gate was closed. May I discuss this with the city guards?" Liu Yang said directly without Ji Xingzhi asking.

Hearing this, Ji Xingzhi frowned slightly and said, "No need, just rest here tonight."

After a day of travel, the emperor's uncle had entered Liangcheng and found an inn to rest.

If the closed city gate was suddenly opened again just to let a group of people into the city, it would be abnormal and the emperor's uncle would definitely pay attention to it. In order to avoid being discovered and sent back to the palace, he had to sleep in the wild.

The eunuch spread a blanket for Ji Xingzhi in the carriage, so that she could sleep inside since she was small. The eunuch himself took a blanket and leaned against the carriage door.

The guards took turns patrolling and standing guard. Liu Yang stood by a tree with his arms folded over his chest and holding a sword. He leaned his back against the tree and closed his eyes to rest, intending to stay awake all night.

There was no other way. It was too dangerous in the wilderness. He had to pay attention to his surroundings at all times. If something happened to Ji Xingzhi, everyone present, including him and their relatives, would be responsible.

Thanks to the all-night protection of Liu Yang and others, Ji Xingzhi slept very soundly that night, and even stretched comfortably when she woke up early in the morning.

After Ji Xingzhi finished washing up under the care of the eunuch, she took a deep breath and felt refreshed immediately due to the fresh air.

Ji Xingzhi quickly ate some food she brought from the palace and distributed it to everyone. The reason was that she noticed that ten guards had dark circles under their eyes overnight. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that it was probably because of her, and she felt a little guilty.

"Liu Yang, have you finished your meal?" Ji Xingzhi asked after taking a sip of the water handed to him by the eunuch.

Liu Yang had just finished eating, so he replied, "I'm done eating."

Ji Xingzhi nodded and said, "Go to the city first to see if the emperor's uncle has left. If not, come back and report. If he has, chase him and leave arrows on the road to mark him."

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