A sparse wisp of sunset glow floats in the sky, and the clouds slightly lift their veils to gaze into the distance, where wisps of smoke rise from between the black rocks and gray tiles.
After traveling for three days, we finally spotted signs of human habitation!
The woman's clear eyes held a contented smile as she subtly shifted her body, but this pulled at the two swollen, red patches of skin between her legs, causing another wave of unbearable pain.
Shi Que tightened the reins, leaned down slightly, and whispered, "We're less than a mile from Huaiyang. Please bear with us a little longer, young lady. Once we're in the city, I'll hire a carriage. Fortunately, His Highness and the army aren't moving very fast, so a carriage will be more than enough for a raid."
Tianyun nodded gently.
A carriage is indeed much more convenient than a horse, and sleeping outdoors at night provides a place to rest peacefully.
The two followed closely behind the caravan and entered the city, heading straight for the inn.
※※※※
As the sun set, Xiao Ziwu dismounted and ordered his army to remain in place.
Yang Yong found some dry branches, started a fire, and then sat down next to him to warm himself by the fire.
Xiao Ziwu removed his helmet, revealing a head of black hair that spread out like black silk, making his pale eyebrows and eyes appear cold and indifferent, like a blue lotus on a snow-capped peak.
Yang Yong turned his head and saw the Third Prince take out a purse from his bosom, gently caressing it with his fingertips, his gaze soft.
Yang Yong guessed that it was a gift from a young lady, and he became very curious!
He squinted and, using the dim firelight, finally made out the strange pattern on the purse. He couldn't help but twitch his lips and say, "Embroidering a pig on a purse, this young lady certainly has a unique idea."
If my precious child were here, he would jump up and down upon hearing this.
As if recalling a joyful scene, the frost in Xiao Ziwu's eyes melted away, and he smiled gently, "General Yang, you may not know, but these are two mandarin ducks playing in the water." Although it was not very obvious.
Even the most impulsive Yang Yong could sense the deep affection in His Highness's voice; only a fool would contradict him at this moment. He chuckled awkwardly, "Now that Your Highness has said that, one can indeed see the beginnings of two loving couples..."
How can you even tell a ghost?
It's clearly a big black pig!
Xiao Ziwu glanced at her tenderly for a moment to comfort her, then put away his purse, filled with tenderness. He then called a soldier to bring him a geomantic map and began to study the terrain.
If they take the shortcut through the dense forest, they can reach Xihai City in ten days to provide reinforcements.
Yang Yong pointed, interrupting his train of thought, "There's a small county town not far from here. The environment here is rather simple. Why doesn't Your Highness go into town and find an inn to rest?"
Xiao Ziwu shook his head slightly, "The soldiers are all camping here and resting on the spot, so there's nothing I can't do."
These past few days, he has been sleeping and eating with the soldiers, showing no airs of a prince whatsoever, and has completely integrated into their ranks. Several generals in the army who had previously questioned his abilities based on his weak appearance have stopped saying anything after seeing this.
Yang Yong raised an eyebrow, his tone rather irreverent, "That's not what I meant. Your Highness is in your prime, and it's inevitable that you'll need some relaxation. Although this small county town is a bit poor, it's not lacking in sweet and lovely girls, is it?"
Yang Yong figured that the purse must have been embroidered by a young lady, and that the Third Prince should have become more discerning about matters of love and sex by now.
The imperial family's descendants have always lived a life of luxury and extravagance, so it wouldn't be good to let him suppress his anger, would it?
Pulled from his thoughts by the geomantic map, Xiao Ziwu raised his eyelids and glanced at him coldly, saying in a chilling voice, "If General Yang wants to relieve himself, he can go by himself. There's no need to drag me along."
Upon seeing Yang Yong's fawning smile, the man knew that Yang Yong was using him as a pretext, and that Yang Yong was actually just looking for his own pleasure.
Yang Yong wasn't alarmed when he was exposed, after all, it was only human nature. What else could a man think about if he didn't think about fame and women?
"This humble general simply noticed that Your Highness was thinking about women."
That purse was clearly embroidered by a young lady whom His Highness cherishes.
Isn't a girl just a woman?
So, his statement that His Highness was thinking about women wasn't entirely wrong.
Yang Yong was used to being shameless in the army camp, and he had learned a lot from those roughnecks, so he could use all sorts of crude language without hesitation. He pursed his lips, casually picked a blade of grass and put it in his mouth, "That's how I kindly invited you."
Xiao Ziwu frowned slightly, then sighed softly, "Go ahead, I have no interest in this."
I thought these words would be enough to get rid of him, but Yang Yong still wouldn't give up. Like a rogue, he walked around from Xiao Ziwu's left side to Xiao Ziwu's right side, his mouth wide open in a grin.
"Your Highness wants to share weal and woe with the soldiers, which I understand, but that shouldn't stop Your Highness from going into the city to take a bath and wash up, right? You can always come back to the camp to sleep after your bath!" It's no big deal.
Since women couldn't seduce him, Yang Yong had a sudden inspiration and found an excuse to take a bath.
He had been observing for several days. Although His Highness ate, dressed, lived, and traveled in the same way as the soldiers, he was very particular about his hygiene. Whenever he found a water source, he would inevitably wash up.
Tempting him with a relaxing hot bath is probably more effective than using a sweet and soft woman!
To be honest, Yang Yong really found Xiao Ziwu's Achilles' heel this time.
When the topic of washing up came up, his cold expression softened.
Seeing that his attitude had softened, Yang Yong pressed his advantage and added, "The small county town is called Huaiyang County, which is only a few miles away from here. If we go and come back quickly, it won't even take an hour!"
It's not yet late, the sun is setting and the stars are shifting.
The cooks' shouts filled the air; it was time for dinner.
Xiao Ziwu suppressed his urge to bathe and change immediately, his dark eyebrows furrowing, "I'll go after I finish my meal."
Yang Yong slapped his thigh with delight, "Alright!" It would be great if His Highness agreed, even if it took a quarter of an hour or two.
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