*

More than a month passed, and just as Pei Linmo was about to make a secret trip to the capital of Wei, he was first greeted by an envoy from Wei, who invited Liang to attend the birthday banquet of the Wei emperor.

"Your Highness, could this be a trap?"

Pei Linmo stood by the window, gazing at the peony in full bloom in the courtyard, without replying. After a long while, he calmly instructed:

"Prepare a generous gift; we will depart in three days."

"Oh, right... bring that set of gilded kingfisher feather headdress from the storeroom."

Su Jing paused, somewhat hesitant and surprised, before asking to confirm:

"Your Highness... are you referring to the set of jewelry left behind by the Lady?"

"Um."

"But....."

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Linmo added, "Also, bring that white jade gold dagger."

Su Jing: "..."

Those were items left to the future young mistress by the late general's wife, and now these are spoils of war won by the prince on his first battlefield experience...

Su Jing secretly thought, "Why don't we just add a little more and go straight to the betrothal?"

He had just finished complaining when he saw his prince suddenly turn around and walk out. He quickly jogged after him.

"Your Highness, where are you going?"

"The storeroom." Pei Linmo didn't stop walking and went straight to the storeroom in the mansion.

Su Jing was stunned and almost tripped over his own foot. Could it be... that he was right?

After passing through several courtyards, the two arrived at the storeroom in the backyard. The old servant guarding the storeroom, seeing the prince arrive in person, quickly took out the key and opened the door.

As soon as the heavy warehouse door opened, Pei Linmo strode in, his eyes scanning the dazzling array of treasures.

Su Jing followed behind, watching his lord tap on this box and then that chest.

A mutton-fat jade disc, a luminous pearl, a warm jade pillow, a glass cup, a five-colored medicinal jade longevity lock, a rhinoceros horn cup carved with a coiled dragon, a gold-threaded warm jade pot...

Su Jing swallowed hard: "Your Highness... isn't this gift a bit too extravagant?"

Pei Linmo glanced at him upon hearing this, then continued picking through the items, moving from the east wall to the west wall, from one shelf to another, checking almost every valuable item in the storeroom. The servants followed behind in a flurry of activity, packing the items into boxes one by one.

As Su Jing left the storeroom, he glanced back. The storeroom, which had been overflowing, was now almost empty, containing only a few large boxes of silver...

After a bumpy journey of more than half a month, Pei Linmo and his party finally arrived at the capital of Wei.

At the city gate, the welcoming procession was already lined up, with banners waving and golden spears gleaming.

The person in charge was none other than Nan Qing.

Today she wore a crimson dress with gold brocade, and a jade pendant with a dragon pattern representing the crown prince hung from her jade belt. Her face was indifferent and her temperament was calm.

Hachiko lay quietly beside her, wearing a golden bell necklace around his neck.

As the entourage drew near, the ceremonial attendant announced loudly, "The envoy from Liang has arrived—"

Pei Linmo lifted the carriage curtain and immediately saw that familiar figure.

The two first met on the battlefield, and the second time they met was at this moment, but neither of them felt uncomfortable. On the contrary, in the instant their eyes met, they both read something in each other's eyes.

Nan Qing nodded first and said gently, "Your Majesty, you have come from afar. You must be tired."

Pei Linmo stopped five steps in front of her, a slight smile in his eyes, and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your kind thoughts, Your Highness. The scenery along the way was so beautiful that I didn't realize how long the journey was."

Su Jing stood to one side, eyes lowered. Hearing this, he muttered to himself, "Of course the Prince doesn't think it's far. A month's journey was covered in a mere twenty days. He's clearly been obsessed with the Crown Princess, and now that he's finally met her, he's acting all coy..."

"Your Highness, you have traveled a long way. Why don't you rest at the post station first? I will come to fetch you to the palace tomorrow at dawn."

According to etiquette, a banquet should have been held tonight to welcome Pei Linmo back, but Nanqing already knew about Pei Linmo's hasty departure, so she specially changed it to the next day.

Therefore, this arrangement was quite appropriate, but Pei Linmo suddenly spoke up:

"I have long heard of the prosperity of the capital. I wonder if Your Highness would do me the honor of accompanying me on a tour?"

Nan Qing lingered on his dark circles for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "Why doesn't Your Highness rest for a while?"

“To travel with the Crown Princess is the best rest.” Pei Linmo’s words were perfectly appropriate, but his eyes never left the person in front of him, fixed on her.

The master of ceremonies behind Nanqing was about to speak when she raised her hand to stop him, replying:

"Since Your Highness has such an interest, I cannot refuse."

She turned to the officials behind her and said, "Take the rest of you back to the post station and make proper arrangements." Then she looked at Pei Linmo and smiled.

"Your Highness, please."

Su Jing followed behind the two, thinking to himself that it seemed he wouldn't need the calming incense tonight.

The two strolled slowly along Zhuque Street, where people came and went in a bustling atmosphere. Pei Linmo remained silent until Nan Qing finally spoke first, asking:

"Where does Your Highness wish to go?"

"Shaoheng".

"Um?"

Pei Linmo stopped and met those eyes: "Your Highness may call me Shaoheng, or may I call you Nanqing?"

Nan Qing hadn't expected that he would be so polite in this small world.

"Please proceed, Your Highness."

"Shaoheng".

"Oh, Shaoheng."

"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Su Jing and the others followed three steps behind, listening to the conversation in front of them. They were worried for their master, fearing that his words might offend the Crown Princess, and that they would have to sit in the room and look at the portrait with longing eyes.

However, he clearly underestimated Nan Qing's acceptance level. Judging from the current pace, he was incredibly reserved in this world.

The two first went to the East Market and sat down at a small shop called "Li Ji Fermented Rice Balls".

There were many people. The guards went to queue up to buy dumplings. They found an empty table in the corner and sat down. Nanqing looked around and asked:

How did you know I like this sweet fermented rice ball?

Pei Linmo had led the way just now, and their destination was clearly Li Ji in the East Market, so she naturally couldn't believe it was a coincidence.

Looks like this little rascal has been secretly studying hard.

Pei Linmo made no attempt to hide anything, stating frankly, "Since she was a child, the Crown Princess has come to this shop several times a month to eat, so the food must be quite delicious."

Nan Qing chuckled inwardly, but deliberately kept a straight face and said seriously, "You investigated me."

Pei Linmo neither dodged nor flinched, meeting her gaze directly.

"yes."

"I want to know everything about you."

His voice was soft and indifferent, as if he were talking about something very ordinary, and as if he wasn't afraid that the other party would suspect that he had other intentions.

Nan Qing suddenly leaned closer to him, their hands barely touching, and her red lips parted slightly:

"Pei Linmo, are you ready to become my royal consort?"

Pei Linmo's breath hitched slightly, but he did not back down, instead looking down at the face so close to his.

But he remained silent for a long time, simply watching her quietly.

Seeing this, Nan Qing suddenly felt a little bored. She pouted and distanced herself from him. Why was this person so dawdling and so dull?