Bai Ling hadn't seen Hei Mo for several days, and when she suddenly saw him, she was particularly enthusiastic and proactive, constantly moving closer to him.
Therefore, Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an were very close to each other.
However, according to the rules, Ye Jingchen is the ruler and Xie Chang'an is the subject. The two of them cannot be on equal footing. Xie Chang'an must at least lag behind Ye Jingchen by half a step.
Ye Jingchen didn't know if the emperor had seen the two of them together. When he spotted the emperor, he immediately dismounted and ran towards him.
"Farewell, Father! I will certainly live up to your expectations!" he said loudly, his face full of excitement.
The emperor glanced at Xie Chang'an, who had followed behind, then patted Ye Jingchen on the shoulder twice, saying with a complicated expression, "Your own safety is the most important thing."
The closer it got to the time of parting, the more reluctant the emperor became. He couldn't sleep for half the night, his mind constantly torn between his thoughts and his feelings.
While military power in the Divine Might Army is important, if Ye Jingchen is implicated because of it, wouldn't the Great Abyss be left without a successor?
Although he had six sons, he never considered handing the throne over to them.
On the way to send Ye Jingchen off, the emperor kept thinking that if Ye Jingchen showed even the slightest reluctance, he would rescind his order and prevent Ye Jingchen from going to the northern frontier to risk his life.
However, even after Ye Jingchen had said goodbye to everyone, there was not a trace of reluctance on his face, which gave the emperor no chance to say what he had been holding back for so long.
Important matters had already been arranged beforehand, and Ye Jingchen was too embarrassed to say anything to them in front of the emperor, so he simply said some words of farewell.
Ye Jingyan also got off the carriage and said goodbye to everyone.
However, like Ye Jingchen, she had already handed over all the necessary matters in advance. Ye Jingshu only told her to pay attention to safety and to prioritize her own safety in everything.
However, Xie Chang'an, this newly appointed guard of the Eastern Palace, was someone with whom everyone rarely interacted when they were studying in the Wenhua Hall. But today, everyone took the initiative to talk to Xie Chang'an.
Although they all had only one main point in what they said to Xie Chang'an, which was to protect Ye Jingchen.
Xie Chang'an was very unhappy to hear this, because he felt like he was an outsider!
He will naturally protect Ye Jingchen; he doesn't need these people to remind him!
No matter how reluctant we are to say goodbye, there will always be a time for parting.
After saying goodbye, Ye Jingchen mounted his horse, pulled on the reins, and Bai Ling galloped away.
In front of everyone, Xie Chang'an waited until Ye Jingyan's carriage started moving before following behind it.
However, after they left the emperor and others' sight, Xie Chang'an ordered Hei Mo to catch up with Ye Jingchen.
"Be careful, the Crown Prince's guards might tattle on me to my father!" Ye Jingchen whispered to Xie Chang'an.
"As His Highness the Crown Prince's bodyguards, how can we protect His Highness's safety at all times if we don't stay close to him?" Xie Chang'an said with a double meaning.
After leaving the capital, his mood visibly improved, and his tone of voice became much lighter.
Ye Jingchen knew why he was like this. As long as Xie Chang'an went to the Northern Frontier, took control of the Divine Might Army, and drove out the Northern Barbarians, without any external enemies eyeing him, the emperor would not be able to destroy the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion again, just because of internal troubles!
By then, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would have no more worries.
This is an outcome that Ye Jingchen is happy to see.
Without external threats, internal troubles are nothing to fear. Da Yuan will enjoy decades of peace, the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and he can realize his dream of lying down and living in peace!
After running on the official road for about half an hour, Ye Jingchen and his group caught up with the supply train that had set off a quarter of an hour earlier and joined the main force.
As for Ye Jingyan's carriage, it followed the supply train at a distance, with guards left for her by Ye Jingchen to ensure her safety.
After the Eastern Palace Guards and Xie Chang'an's men reunited, they all changed into supply train uniforms and escorted military supplies together with the supply train crew.
The Crown Prince's guards are too conspicuous. Their presence is tantamount to openly announcing to everyone that the Crown Prince is here.
Ye Jingchen didn't want to stand out like that!
After all, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
He likes to play it safe, develop his strength stealthily, and then take control of the overall situation.
Moreover, this also made it easier for them to infiltrate the supply train and monitor it secretly.
If even if the two of them personally escorted the supplies, they still couldn't guarantee that the supplies would be transported to the northern frontier intact, then they would have no face to go to the battlefield.
Although Crown Prince Ye Jingchen has been in court for several years, he doesn't care about court affairs at all. He doesn't accept any court officials' overtures or surrenders, nor does he form factions. Even Ye Jingshu has her own team, but Ye Jingchen is still all alone, without a single advisor or confidant by his side, and has zero members in the Crown Prince Party.
The emperor had personally arranged for people to accompany him on this trip to the northern frontier, but he didn't bring any of them.
That is why the emperor had no choice but to give him the tiger tally, which could mobilize the border troops, for self-defense.
The Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor, should have been the center of attention. However, because Ye Jingchen appeared too harmless and mediocre, many people did not take him seriously.
For example, during this trip to the northern frontier, although the emperor did not explicitly inform everyone, he also did not deliberately conceal it, and those who were interested were able to get the news.
From the moment Ye Jingchen left the palace, he was surrounded by many eyes. These people followed him out of the city, and some even infiltrated the supply train.
Although Ye Jingchen didn't know whether these people's target was only him, or both him and the military supplies, the area outside the imperial city was Xie Chang'an's territory, and all those with ulterior motives would pay the price.
Moreover, breaking up the Donggong Guard into smaller units has one advantage: it means he has fewer eyes and ears around him.
Fatherly love is as heavy as a mountain, and sometimes it can be quite suffocating.
The supply train arrived at a post station before nightfall.
The post station was quite large, but the supply caravan was carrying a lot of supplies, and Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an had brought a lot of people, plus Ye Jingyan and her group, so there weren't enough rooms. Ye Jingyan had to share a room with several palace maids she was with, and Ye Jingchen had to share a room with Xie Chang'an.
They weren't supposed to live together. Ye Jingchen was of noble status; who would dare let him live with someone else?
But someone showed up uninvited.
"His Highness the Crown Prince's room is so spacious, yet he wants me to squeeze into a large dormitory with more than a dozen people. Isn't that too cruel!"
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Xie Chang'an sneaked into Ye Jingchen's room and swaggered around for a look.
"Even if I can't sleep in the bed, the tatami mat by the window is better than the dormitory-style bed!"
(Happy holiday everyone! I'll try to update three times today!)
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