Chapter 144 Prince Ding's Patience

With the cavalry brought by Xiao Nanchen, the four of them rode on horseback and soon arrived at the next town. Shen Ning was held in Xiao Nanchen's arms and was almost suffocated.

After entering the city, he went straight to the inn and ate a big meal without even washing up. Shen Ning's belly was full. Xiao Nanchen watched from the side, and the heartache in his eyes was almost overflowing.

After several months, he finally saw the person he had been thinking about day and night, but what he saw was her pitiful and miserable appearance. His Royal Highness Prince Ding's heart was broken.

Shen Qingbai was taken to see his leg by the doctor brought by Xiao Nanchen. It was just an ordinary fracture and the doctor brought by Xiao Nanchen had good medical skills. Shen Ning went back to her room to wash and change clothes.

Xiao Nanchen took advantage of this gap to send someone to send Pei Yuanzhou and the other two away, gave them some money and let them go to Beijing on their own.

It's almost like saying, "Get out of the way."

After half an hour, Shen Ning finally finished packing.

After eating, drinking, taking a shower and changing clothes, she felt like she was alive again.

When Xiao Nanchen knocked on the door and came in, Chen Ning was standing on tiptoe, applying medicine and bandaging the blisters she had picked. Her skin was already wrinkled from soaking in water for too long, and she had been walking for two days straight, which had caused blisters on the soles of her feet.

Seeing her look, Xiao Nanchen smiled and walked over calmly: "Let me do it."

Shen Ning quickly said no, but her foot was snatched away without any explanation.

His Royal Highness Prince Ding is often injured, and although he is good at bandaging, he is very good at it.

He placed Shen Ning's feet on his knees and bandaged them gently. After that, he seemed to be in a trance, holding Shen Ning's ankles with his head down and not saying a word.

"Anan?" Shen Ning moved her feet.

Xiao Nanchen then let go of her, raised his eyes, and spoke slowly, "I was too scared the past two days."

In such a strong wind and waves, he was swept away by the undercurrent and didn't know whether he was alive or dead. He left the capital as soon as he got the news. He wished he had wings, but he had no idea where to find her. He just went down the canal, day and night, and wore out two horses.

Xiao Nanchen's eyes were bloodshot, and his stubble had just been cleaned. Thinking of how dusty and disheveled he looked just now, Shen Ning knew that he probably hadn't slept a wink in the two days and two nights since she had the accident.

She smiled and comforted: "I've always been lucky, it's okay now."

Xiao Nanchen shook his head: "Every time I say I want to protect you, I always fail to protect you."

His Royal Highness Prince Ding had never felt so useless before.

If Shen Ning hadn't been lucky, she would have been... He had clearly left people behind, but he still let her fall into danger several times.

Chen Ning felt helpless and chuckled, saying, "You're just being stubborn. Human power is limited, and natural disasters are no match for us. Even gods wouldn't be able to deal with such a storm. Why are you being so hard on yourself?"

Her expression was gentle, without any resentment or gloom from the near-death experience she had endured a few days ago. Or perhaps, she had always been like this, never blaming others for her experiences.

It's like she can face anything with a smile, and her whole person is always warm.

At this moment, Xiao Nanchen almost couldn't help but want to confess his love to her, and wanted to tell her: Chen Ning, I like you, and I want to be with you, and never be apart from you.

But the remaining rationality made him suppress himself.

He can't be impulsive.

He had just found her and was about to say this to her. Even if she was unwilling, she might not be able to say it out of consideration for the relationship. This was not what he wanted.

Moreover, he had already been embarrassed last time because of a misunderstanding. If he spoke easily again and was rejected by her, he would never have another chance.

Therefore, he cannot be impatient... he must not be impatient. He cannot let go, so he can only take it step by step.

She is not a canary that can be forced to come, but a falcon that can spread its wings and fly high at any time. What he should do is not to cling to her and pamper her by building a golden cage, but to build a world for her by his side when she is unaware, where she would like to stay the most, and do everything he can to make her willing to stay with him.

His Royal Highness Prince Ding forced himself to suppress his emotions, lowered his eyes, and changed the subject. "Your men have received the news and are on their way. They should be able to reunite with you tomorrow. Rest tonight and continue your journey tomorrow. Do you want to travel by land or continue by sea?"

Shen Ning didn't even think about it: "Let's go by water. It's too painful to sit in a carriage for so long."

Originally, Xiao Nanchen didn't want Chen Ning to take a boat ride because he was too scared. Chen Ning said with a smile: Am I never going to take a boat ride for the rest of my life?

This place is far from the capital, and traveling by water is much more comfortable than by land. Chen Ning really doesn't want to rock around in a carriage for several days, and then have to find a place to stay at night.

Xiao Nanchen himself knew that there wouldn't be any dangerous places on the waterway after passing Lanting, so he didn't object anymore.

He wanted to return to Beijing on horseback as soon as possible, so he had no choice but to send Shen Ning on board and then arranged three times the number of people to protect her.

After Xie Yunqing fell into the water and fell ill because of Shen Ning's accident, Xu Zhiyi took the Shen family directly back to Beijing.

Xie Yunqing's boat capsized, but they were lucky. The undercurrent had passed when they fell into the water, and they were not swept away by the undercurrent. After struggling in the water for a long time, they were rescued by the guards.

Dozens of guards died before those people were rescued safely.

They also fell into the water in February and July, but they are good swimmers.

Unwilling to go with Xu Zhiyi, Eryue and his crew had already turned back for two days, searching for Shen Ning everywhere... After learning from the letter brought by the golden eagle that Shen Ning was safe and sound, they turned back and chased after her.

When they arrived at Changling Ferry, Chen Ning finally reunited with Er Yue and the others.

They all looked really miserable, and it was obvious that they hadn't eaten or rested well. When they saw Chen Ning, Qiyue burst into tears and didn't stop for a long time.

After that, he stayed by Shen Ning's side without leaving her side, and refused to let Shen Ning leave his side even when she went to the toilet.

Shen Ning was somewhat helpless: “Xiao Qi, you can’t do this, I also have my own personal freedom… You have to at least let me go to the toilet.”

Qiyue, however, showed no room for negotiation: "Miss, please do as you please. I'll close my eyes."

Shen Ning: ...

She had to talk her mouth off before she finally got July to agree to wait outside.

A few more days passed, and the boat docked at Tongnan Bridge. Shen Ning, Shen Qingbai and his party got off the boat and took a carriage to Beijing.

After the carriage had been travelling for most of the day, we finally saw the majestic and powerful city walls of the capital. Just from the outside of the city gate, the capital was obviously different from other places.

In addition to the taller and more majestic city walls, the guards at the city gates were also wearing sharp armor and had upright postures. The people entering and leaving the city gates were dressed more respectably than those in other places, and there were also many horse-drawn carriages.

Compared with the original peace and tranquility, it is completely different.

Shen Qingbai sighed: "It really is the capital..."

“Miss, Madam Shen and the others are there.”

July opened her mouth crisply.

Shen Ning looked ahead and saw Xie Yunqing, supported by Shen Nian, standing in an open space outside the city gate, looking over here. After recognizing Shen Ning's carriage, he actually trotted forward.

"Ningning, Ningning..."

Shen Nian hurriedly supported her: “Mom, go slowly, your body has not recovered yet.”

Xie Yunqing ignored him, his eyes only focused on the carriage in front. When the carriage stopped and he saw Shen Ning lifting the curtain and showing her head, Xie Yunqing's tears suddenly came out: "Ning Ning..."