Chapter 10 "The people of Shengjing are all arrogant, and what's more..."

Even after taking a medicinal bath and drinking medicine, Fengmian still developed a fever in the middle of the night, which only subsided slightly when the sky began to lighten.

She was awake, but felt terrible. In particular, Wu Liu wouldn't let her swallow the medicine all at once. No matter how much Feng Mian complained about how bitter it was, she would feed her spoonful by spoonful, saying gently but firmly, "It's better if it's bitter. Next time, before the princess puts herself in danger, she should think twice."

Feng Mian was speechless and could only suffer in silence. As she agonized, she realized the sorcerer's words were indeed false; she had just met that Prince Baili and immediately suffered a terrible fever. He was not bringing her good fortune, but rather bringing her misfortune.

Feng Mian's anger was both justified and unreasonable. She was truly tormented by Wu Liu's bitter medicine, which she wouldn't even allow her to eat candied fruit!

While one side is locked in a desperate battle against "disease" and mist and willows, the other side has already made its way to the door of Baili Xunzhou.

After taking stock of the confiscated stolen goods last night, Baili Xunzhou led his team to rest at the sentry post, separated from Feng Mian's group by a courtyard, keeping to themselves.

As soon as Baili Xunzhou stepped out of the room, the commander, who had been secretly watching his movements, came to his door and asked him to help retrieve the princess's wedding ceremony that had been abandoned at Langgu Ridge.

Since it concerned the princess who had traveled a long distance with the emperor's decree, and he was worried that his mother would be angry if she found out, Baili Xunzhou, even though he was not very willing, could not very well turn away the Luanyi Guards who had come to ask for his help, so he could only send someone to help.

The commander used all his knowledge to ingratiate himself with Baili Xunzhou, hoping to return to Yunzhong County with him. He was truly terrified of the Northern Frontier; his heart, accustomed to a life of luxury in Shengjing, simply couldn't bear the shock of losing the princess again.

Of course, he didn't mention the "missing princess" incident to Baili Xunzhou. Even if the princess eventually returned safely, it would still be considered their incompetence, so the fewer people who knew, the better.

Besides, he remembered that he had confidently told Baili Xunzhou that "the princess has left safely," and he couldn't very well contradict himself.

Ignoring the commander's hints and directives, Baili Xunzhou dismissed the man and then proceeded to pay his respects to the princess according to protocol.

"Sick?" Baili Xunzhou raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

How did this princess fall ill when she arrived at the outpost and stayed there safely?

Wu Liu curtsied apologetically: "Bandits robbed the road, and the princess was frightened. She also caught a chill on the road and caught a cold last night. It's really inconvenient to receive guests, Your Highness, please return home first, and wait..."

Before she could finish speaking, the aloof young general in front of her tossed out, "Please take good care of yourself, Princess," and landed with ease before turning and leaving. Wu Liu was stunned. From the curve of the hem of his robe as he walked away, she could tell that he was in a bad mood and was clearly angry.

"This young master is so rude."

In the guest room where Feng Mian was staying, Liu Ying listened to Wu Liu's reply and muttered in dissatisfaction, "The princess is still sick, what's wrong with him? He left without even listening to her finish speaking."

It's better that he's gone; Feng Mian doesn't want to see him right now. Just hearing his voice reminds her of his ruthless and decisive orders to the bandits last night. She truly doesn't know what expression to wear when facing him.

Liu Ying continued to grumble in dissatisfaction, "He doesn't even care a little more. Our princess is, after all, his betrothed!"

"Even if she's our young master's nominal betrothed, we can't turn her away from him!" Shan Yi quickly caught up with Baili Xunzhou, seeing his displeasure, and spoke up for him. "What's the meaning of sending a maid to get rid of us?"

"What, you expect a princess to entertain you while she's ill?" Baili Xunzhou glanced at him.

Shan Yi didn't really believe the princess was sick. "I reckon this princess has never even seen a bandit before, and she's already scared? Are all the noble ladies in Shengjing this delicate? Besides, I didn't smell any medicine just now..."

Bai Lixun's anger lies here. He's pretending to be sick and leaving him hanging. Does he really think he's an easy target?

He scoffed, "Everyone in Shengjing is arrogant, let alone a princess who was born and raised in the palace."

Inside the guest room, Wu Liu closed all the open windows, reminding Liu Ying, "Now that the smell of medicine has dissipated, close the windows as soon as possible. It's not good to be exposed to the wind for too long."

Feng Mian has been taking medicine since childhood. Although she is used to the bitterness of taking medicine in one gulp, she still hates the smell of medicine the most. Therefore, she always opens the window to let the smell out after taking the medicine and then burns incense until she can't smell any medicine in the room.

"It was my oversight." Liu Ying hurriedly went over to help, and when she saw the Imperial Guards outside through the open window, she remembered something and asked, "By the way, Princess, the commander came to ask how you were feeling this morning before he left. It seems he wanted to go with the young master."

"The commander is right. Since we've met, it's naturally the most cost-effective thing to do is to travel with the Crown Prince."

When the time is right, one must take advantage of the situation. Feng Mian really didn't want to encounter such a dangerous situation as last night again.

Meanwhile, Shan Yi also asked about the invitation the commander had been making all morning to travel together. Bai Lixunzhou was even more annoyed: "We'll set off immediately once our people return. Don't let them get in our way."

The sentry post's backyard and Feng Mian's lodging courtyard were located at opposite ends of the street, quite far apart.

After the princess's wedding ceremony was completed, Baili Xunzhou led the rapidly assembled Swift Feather Battalion out of the backyard without making a sound. Just as they were about to march, they suddenly saw the princess's entourage waiting quietly in front of them.

It seems they're just waiting for a rabbit to run into their trap.

The commander rode forward with a smile, cupped his fists in a salute, and said, "Your Highness, what a coincidence, are you also preparing to return to Yunzhong County?"

The princess was right; the young master really did intend to sneak away and run away with them. Fortunately, he listened to the princess and ordered everyone to set off immediately, which stopped him.

Baili Xunzhou: "..."

It's like a persistent ghost.

Baili Xunzhou drove straight past him, spurred his horse to stop beside the princess's carriage, and said in a cold voice that revealed no emotion: "Isn't the princess ill? Why doesn't she rest and recuperate for a while longer?"

Inside the carriage, Feng Mian leaned gently against the window. She had taken her medicine again at noon, and her fever had subsided, though she remained weak. Therefore, she spoke slowly and softly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I've grown accustomed to being ill, and it won't hinder our journey. With the wedding date approaching, it wouldn't be good to linger here. If Your Highness and the Prince feel I've been negligent, then it would be my fault."

The girl's sweet, coquettish voice sounded like she was pleading. Baili Xunzhou awkwardly fluttered his ears, a thought rising in his mind: The wedding is just around the corner? There's still at least a month to go. Is she impatient, or is she reminding him not to leave his fiancée at the sentry post and go ahead on her own?

The people of Shengjing really speak in such roundabout ways, it's so annoying.

“Since that’s what the princess thinks, I’ll meddle in her affairs.”

Inside the carriage, Feng Mian and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment. Why did he seem to get angry again after just a few words?

Then came the sound of horses' hooves outside the carriage, and Baili Xunzhou was about to leave.

Feng Mian hurriedly knocked on the window: "Your Highness, wait!"

Hearing the horses stop, she asked directly, "Is Your Highness heading back to Yunzhong County?"

Baili Xunzhou replied indifferently, "Hmm."

"May we accompany the young master? I... I'm a little scared about what happened last night..." Feng Mian deliberately lowered his tone.

Baili Xunzhou showed no mercy: "I'm afraid the princess can't keep up with our marching speed."

"As long as Your Highness agrees to let us travel together, we will not be a burden to Your Highness."

"Princess, please feel free to do as you please." Baili Xunzhou didn't bother to argue and casually agreed before leaving.

Having received approval, Feng Mian hurriedly had Wu Liu summon the commander and instructed him to lead the team to keep up with Bai Lixun's boat with all their might, without worrying about her health.

However, after setting off, perhaps because they were carrying a large amount of confiscated stolen goods, Baili Xunzhou and his men did not march very fast. The commander led the team to follow closely behind, and Feng Mian did not find the travel speed too uncomfortable.

Inside the carriage, Liu Ying eagerly placed her hand on the window, her eyes full of curiosity: "Can't we really open the window and peek out? I don't even know what this young master looks like. Is he so ugly he's unbelievable?"

She asked Wu Liu, since it was Wu Liu who received Baili Xunzhou when he came to pay his respects.

Wu Liu sighed helplessly, "I'm just a maidservant. How dare I stare at the young master's face when I'm delivering a message?"

The firefly looked pitifully at Feng Mian; the feeling of being so close yet unable to see him was truly agonizing.

Feng Mian chuckled and leaned back on the soft pillows, wrapping herself in her cloak. "Alright, go ahead and peek through the window, but don't get caught. The young master has a bad temper, so don't misunderstand and think we're talking badly about him behind his back."

After speaking, Feng Mian paused, realizing that what he had just said seemed like he was secretly talking badly about him behind his back...

"Thank you, Princess!" Liu Ying happily opened the window, peering out through the crack, her eyes searching through the crowd: "Which one is it?"

"The one with the long spear on his back, his hair tied in a high ponytail, and the tallest posture is him," Feng Mian replied with his eyes closed, the image of the boy's back, shrouded in the stench of blood, reappearing before his eyes.

The firefly spotted Baili Xunzhou in an instant and clicked its tongue in amazement, "He doesn't look like a burly barbarian at all..."

In the north, the days are long, and it was dusk. The twilight was crimson, and the sky was filled with ink-wash-like mist. The silhouette of the young man riding alone was drawn out in the mist, like a painting.

The figure in the painting seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as an arrow, startling Liu Ying so much that she slammed the window shut.

"That scared me to death." She patted her chest, still shaken. After a moment, her eyes sparkling, she leaned against Feng Mian's side. "Although I didn't see it very clearly, I can say for sure that the young master isn't ugly! He's just a bit fierce, no wonder people say such things about him. Just that one glance from him sent chills down my spine!"

You haven't even seen him threaten people or kill them yet. Feng Mian patted Liu Ying's head and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. He wouldn't dare to be mean to you."

Feng Mian had already figured it out. Although Baili Xunzhou said that the marching speed was fast and that he would not wait for them, he had actually deliberately slowed down and sent several Swift Feather Camp soldiers to the rear to keep watch.

It seems that although this young master is stubborn and ruthless, he still gives her some face and has not completely disregarded imperial power.

In this way, it will be easier for her to do things in the future.