Chapter 263 Lu Yuan is indeed in great pain.

Two days later, Xiao Xuanyou and his party set off.

Their return to the capital was bound to be fraught with danger, so Xie Qi specially dispatched an army to escort them.

Old Xu, who was on the day of the Frost's Descent Festival, was also escorted back to the capital.

Because Xiao Xuanyou was still injured, he went back by carriage.

It looks unremarkable from the outside, but the interior is luxuriously decorated with thick cushions and hidden mechanisms.

Jiang Zhi is now returning as the Princess of Qinghe County, and Xiao Xuanyou has also prepared a carriage for her.

What distressed Lu Yuan was that, due to escorting Xiao Xuanyou, there were many people and opinions along the way, making it extremely difficult to even get into her carriage, let alone ride with her.

Each time, I could only sneak in like a thief when it was late at night and everyone was quiet. I was always afraid of being discovered, and I had to come out after less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

I can't do anything, it's really frustrating.

As in the previous days, the convoy took a temporary rest in a dense forest.

The area is heavily guarded, with staff on duty in shifts.

An Yue brought in a hot water bottle for Jiang Zhi, and then she and Ru Ying stood guard by the carriage.

Jiang Zhi originally wanted them to stay in the carriage with her, since there was plenty of space.

But the two of them absolutely refused.

They were told there was a difference between master and servant, and with the Crown Prince present, they wouldn't dare overstep their bounds even if they had a thousand lives.

Jiang Zhi made up her mind to give the two a good talking-to once she returned to Kyoto, and she stopped insisting.

The night wind was too cold. Even though the bedding inside the carriage was soft and thick, the cold wind still seeped in through the cracks in the window, making it difficult for Jiang Zhi to sleep.

Soon, her cold legs were grasped by a pair of large, warm hands and taken to a warmer place. The warmth flowed in continuously, causing Jiang Zhi's tightly furrowed brows to relax.

Jiang Zhi knew who it was, and snuggled closer to him affectionately before opening her eyes. "Didn't I tell you not to come every day? It's not good if someone sees us."

"I know what I'm doing, don't worry." Lu Yuan pulled her close, his chin resting on the top of her soft hair.

He had his own tent, but sleeping alone always felt like something was missing. Only now, holding Jiang Zhi in his arms, did that emptiness dissipate.

"Since you're so afraid of the cold, I'll naturally come to warm your hands and feet every day."

Although Jiang Zhi was afraid of being seen by outsiders, his embrace was so warm that she couldn't bear to push him away, so she muttered, "Then only today."

Lu Yuan had figured out her temperament and knew that she was saying one thing but meaning another, so he nodded with a forced smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you, Chanyi."

Jiang Zhi's eyes, which had been drowsy, suddenly widened, her calm expression cracking as she looked at him in surprise, "What did you call me?"

"Cicada Robe." Lu Yuan looked at her with her brows furrowed as if she had been greatly frightened, and his heart sank.

"Why do you call me that?" she asked.

"When I heard the Crown Prince address you that way, I thought I'd give it a try." Lu Yuan's smile faded, leaving only his dark eyes fixed on her.

The carriage was dimly lit, with only the faint moonlight filtering in.

There isn't a single star outside; it's probably going to rain tomorrow.

She's so sensitive to the cold, she'll definitely have even less restful sleep.

We need to prepare a thicker mattress.

Jiang Zhi turned away from his gaze, the tenderness in her eyes fading, and she pulled away from his embrace, her voice devoid of emotion, "Don't call me that anymore."

Seeing her obvious resistance, Lu Yuan suppressed the pain in his heart and asked her, "Why is it that only the Crown Prince can call you that? What is the meaning of this name?"

"It doesn't mean anything, I just don't like it."

“But the title of Crown Prince seems to come out of her mouth quite easily.” Lu Yuan, unusually, did not go along with her wishes.

Jiang Zhi fell silent for a moment.

In her past life, she was used to Xiao Xuanyou calling her that, and she never seemed to find anything wrong with it.

But the moment that name came out of Lu Yuan's mouth, it made her feel extremely awkward and uncomfortable.

This is her problem, not Lu Yuan's.

"A-Yuan, promise me you won't mention that name again, okay?"

Hearing her softened tone, Lu Yuan exhaled from his chest, "Okay, but can I know why?"

Jiang Zhi shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it."

How is she supposed to bring it up with Lu Yuan?

Tell him you were reborn?

This was too absurd for Lu Yuan to believe; whether he believed it or not was secondary.

But if he knew that she had worked in a brothel in her previous life, and that "Cicada Robe" was her nickname in the brothel, how would he view her?

She knew Lu Yuan's feelings for her, but who could guarantee how long those feelings would last?

Lu Yuan watched helplessly as Jiang Zhi, wrapped in a blanket, leaned against the corner of the carriage, her eyes turning wary and distant as she looked at him.

It was as if the trust and affection she had shown him before were all an illusion; she retracted her soft tentacles, which she had extended, back into her hard shell.

Lu Yuan felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his chest, and even breathing was accompanied by a dull pain.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask—don't treat me like this, Azhi."

He ultimately had no choice but to compromise.

The Crown Prince was right after all.

He is indeed feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.

＊

Sure enough, it rained early the next morning.

Wearing a straw raincoat, Lu Yuan rode alongside the Crown Prince's carriage, but his gaze couldn't help but sweep towards Jiang Zhi's carriage behind them.

I left last night after she had fallen asleep again.

But this matter remained a thorn in his side, causing him sleepless nights and making him unsure how to resolve it.

A group of over a hundred people traveled through the dense forest.

Xiao Xuanyou's injuries had not yet healed, so they did not travel at full speed.

The rain grew heavier, and the surrounding trees were soaked by the moisture, revealing only blurry outlines.

Just then, a soft "whoosh" came from somewhere, and the arrow pierced through the rain and instantly embedded itself in the tree next to the carriage, its fletching still trembling.

"There are assassins. Protect the emperor."

Lu Yuan had anticipated that the journey would not be peaceful and had prepared several defense plans. Therefore, as soon as he spoke, the soldiers immediately organized their defenses in an orderly manner without any delay, surrounding the three carriages in the center.

One car belonged to Xiao Xuanyou, one to Jiang Zhi, and the last one belonged to Old Xu.

He was getting old and couldn't withstand the long journey, so Xiao Xuanyou specially instructed his men to treat him well and let him ride in a carriage.

The rain of arrows was blocked completely.

Lu Yuan was worried about leaving Jiang Zhi alone, so he took her out of the carriage and put her in Xiao Xuanyou's carriage.

Despite his deep hatred for Xiao Xuanyou, the security here is extremely tight, which is the best way to protect Jiang Zhi.

"Oh no! These assassins' target is those Di people!"

One of his men exclaimed in surprise.

Sure enough, a dozen or so men in black descended from the treetops and headed toward the prison cart where the Di people were being held.

"Send a team to the prison van, the rest of you stay put."

Lu Yuan gave the order in a cold voice.

The opponent is cunning and treacherous, and it is highly likely that they are using a diversionary tactic.

The Di people can die, but Xiao Xuanyou and Jiang Zhi cannot afford to make the slightest mistake.

He stood guard outside the carriage, not moving an inch.

Sure enough, not long after, another thirty or forty men in black appeared and launched a fierce attack on the carriage where Xiao Xuanyou was.

However, the defenses outside were as solid as an iron barrel. The men in black suffered heavy casualties but could not get in an inch.

Jiang Zhi sat inside the carriage, and outside the window was Lu Yuan's broad, sturdy back, which made her feel much more at ease.

"Get out of my way, or I'll kill her!"

The leader, dressed in black, held a petite figure hostage, a dagger pressed firmly against her throat, standing before the fully armed guards.

The guards did not know the identity of the person he was holding hostage, and dared not make any rash moves.

Judging from her attire, she was just a lowly maid.

What is there to be afraid of?

The man in black gritted his teeth and slapped the maid across the face. "I told you to speak up, are you mute?!"

The little maid gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Pah! Just kill me!"

A familiar voice pierced through the rain.

Jiang Zhi's expression immediately changed.

It was a green apricot!