The princes and princesses of the other five countries, along with numerous envoys, had already embarked on their journeys home several days earlier.
Xuan Yue Kingdom was among the last of the countries to leave Jing Yuan.
Prior to this, news of the upcoming marriage between the eldest princess and Prince An had already been sent to Xuan Yue Kingdom.
Li Xi stood at the city gate, watching the crowds coming and going, feeling a mix of emotions.
I never expected to experience the joy of going abroad here. However, in later generations, all seven countries were inhabited by Chinese people.
Just then, a familiar voice came: "Brother Li, I'm in this carriage. Would you like to ride with me?"
Li Xi looked closely and saw Shen Xu standing on a magnificent carriage, waving at her.
She was taken aback, wondering to herself, "Why is he here? Is he here to see me off too?"
With a puzzled look, Li Xi stepped forward and asked, "Why are you here too?"
Shen Xu scratched his head a little embarrassedly and said with a smile, "My father asked me to come to Xuan Yue Kingdom to see if there is any business to do. I heard that the market here has great potential, so I wanted to come and investigate."
Li Xi finally understood after hearing this.
Seemingly sensing Li Xi's thoughts, Shen Xu explained, "Although Xuan Yue Kingdom is quite far from us, it is rich in resources and has many business opportunities. As long as we can find suitable partners, I believe we will definitely achieve good results."
Li Xi nodded, indicating her understanding.
She knew that for business people, business opportunities were the source of wealth. As long as one had keen insight and decisive decision-making ability, one could succeed in the business world.
"I will ride a horse; I will not take a carriage for the time being."
She thought to herself, and besides, traveling such a long distance with him would be quite inconvenient.
At this moment, his identity was indeed somewhat delicate and awkward.
On the surface, she could neither ride in the same carriage as Lan'er nor walk side by side with Shen Xu, otherwise he would easily discover the truth that she was actually a woman.
After much deliberation, he decided it would be best to wait until they were outside the city before seeking an opportunity to meet up with Qin Xiaolin.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xu couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment.
I was originally looking forward to chatting with her all the way and sharing the interesting things that happened during this long journey.
Seeing his furrowed brow, Li Xi grinned mischievously and said, "Why don't you ride a horse with me?"
He chuckled softly and replied, "I'd rather take the carriage." His health couldn't withstand the strain.
Not far away, Emperor Wenyuan was earnestly giving instructions to the two lively characters standing in front of him.
These two should be parents, but now the roles are reversed, and it's him, their son, who has to worry about them.
With a worried expression, he said, "Mother, why don't you stay in the palace with me and let Father take Qi Yu there? That way, I can feel more at ease. After all, the world outside the palace is still somewhat dangerous for you."
He knew that although his mother had a cheerful personality, she was getting old and her health was not as good as before. The fear of getting lost last time was still vivid in his mind.
If he encounters any trouble while out, he would probably be extremely anxious.
His father, on the other hand, was quite old, but still healthy and experienced in handling matters.
Therefore, having his father take Qi Yu along is the most appropriate arrangement.
However, the Empress Dowager said calmly, "Emperor, there are so many people here with me, and I am not afraid. Why should you be afraid? Rest assured, this time I will definitely not quarrel with your father like before."
This trip with Lan'er and Xiao Xi was much more fun than spending time with that old man.
"You all should go back now! We're here with your mother, so let Li Xi go with them this time." The Emperor Emeritus looked up at the sun, which was already high in the sky.
It was getting late, so they began to drive Emperor Wenyuan and his entourage away.
Left with no other choice, Emperor Wenyuan had to return to the palace with several of his concubines.
Before leaving, he secretly made a vow in his heart: in about ten years, he would also abdicate like the retired emperor and then enjoy the magnificent scenery of this land.
And so, the group heading to Xuan Yue Kingdom finally set off.
Prince An's expression darkened when he saw Meng Zhelan board the carriage. Xuan Qing couldn't help but find Qi Yu's demeanor somewhat laughable.
"Your Highness, if you are so reluctant to part with me, why did you agree to marry me? I'm afraid that Doctor Meng's feelings for you are like 'the king's dream, but the goddess's heart is not in it'."
She couldn't understand why Prince An would arrange this whole thing. Originally, after returning home, she could tell her father that she loved Prince Liang, but unexpectedly, Prince Liang was having an affair. So she didn't want to marry Jingyuan. She never expected Prince An to find her beforehand and arrange such a grand drama.
Prince An didn't take her joke seriously. "I have my reasons for doing this. Please remember, Princess, that you must do as we agreed when you return."
"Your Highness, rest assured, Xuanqing understands." Xuanqing ignored him and went straight to his carriage.
As the driver cracked his whip, the wheels began to turn. The entire caravan slowly started moving forward along the official road.
Li Xi rode his horse closely beside the carriage.
She would occasionally glance back at the magnificent carriage, her eyes revealing a complex expression.
She pondered to herself: The way Prince An stared at Lan'er just now, that intense gaze made her suspicious.
Could it be that Prince An desires to enjoy the beauty of that woman from Qi?
In this era, he certainly had that right. But if he set his sights on Lan'er, wouldn't that be...
Li Xi felt a tightness in her chest when she thought of this.
Her eyes flickered, as if she were thinking about something important.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into her mind. She would wait for the right time to discuss the plan with Lan'er.
However, the current situation is somewhat tricky.
The Empress Dowager was riding in a carriage with Lan'er, but Li Xi's current status made it inconvenient for her to get close.
With so many people around, if she acts rashly, it might cause unnecessary trouble and could even give others leverage against her.
She gripped the whip tightly, gave it a sharp flick, and her horse immediately galloped off, charging straight ahead.
She needed to meet with Qin Xiaolin as soon as possible so he could give her some advice.
After all, he was from a prominent family, and he should have some understanding of the thoughts of the royal family.
About ten miles outside the city, Qin Xiaolin and Feng Monian, along with about ten people, waited for the arrival of the Emperor Emeritus's carriage.
They stood by the roadside, their expressions serious, their gazes frequently drifting into the distance.
Feng Monian was dressed in an exquisitely tailored black outfit, his posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his temperament was cold and heroic.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com