The purpose of the Imperial Guard's trip was to bring Princess Mo Chen back to the palace, so there was also a huge carriage painted in the same golden color in the middle of the procession.
After Liu Jinghong left, Sui Shouren asked Su Mochen to change to a carriage, since the one they had been riding in before looked too low-class compared to the carriage he had brought.
Su Mochen didn't stand on ceremony and got into the carriage with Guizhi's help. Sui Shouren was about to lower the curtain when Su Mochen waved to the outside from the carriage door: "What are you still looking at? Get in!"
Sui Shouren turned to look at Jing Zhe, somewhat embarrassed: "Your Highness, isn't this... inappropriate?"
If outsiders were to see that the dignified Princess Anguo was riding in the same carriage with a man, what would become of them?
He didn't care how they sat before, but now that he was escorting them back to the capital, he naturally had to be more careful.
With a more spacious and comfortable carriage to ride in, especially a royal carriage, Jing Zhe naturally wanted to try it.
But upon hearing Sui Shouren's words, he deliberately put on a coy expression and waved his hand, saying, "Since this general has already spoken, let's forget about it!"
"It's okay, he'll listen to me!"
As she spoke, Su Mochen glared at Sui Shouren and said coldly, "General Sui, I'm asking my friend to get in the carriage for a chat, are you going to stop me too?"
"Your Highness, I wouldn't dare! But..."
"But what do you mean, 'but'? Do you need to teach me how to do things?"
"..."
Sui Shouren was speechless. He really didn't dare to teach the princess how to do things. As the only and youngest daughter of Emperor Anguo, Princess Mochen was showered with love and affection. Many times, even His Majesty would listen to her.
Otherwise, this incident of leaving the palace and parading through the city wouldn't have happened.
While he was still in a daze, Su Mochen waved to Jing Zhe again: "What are you still looking at? Hurry up and get in the car!"
"oh."
Su Mochen, who usually suffered defeats at her hands, found it quite amusing to see her so dignified.
As Jing Zhe boarded the carriage, he didn't forget to smile at Sui Shouren.
Watching the handsome young man in front of him climb into the carriage, Sui Shouren stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Su Mochen didn't forget to say to Hanhan, "Hanhan, didn't you also want to hear the story of the monkey? Why don't you drive this carriage!"
Hanhan didn't think too much about it; he really wanted to hear what kind of monster was in the Liusha River, so he hurriedly got into the car.
Sui Shouren: "..."
As yet another man boarded the carriage before his eyes, Sui Shouren gradually became bewildered. It was just driving a carriage, thank goodness…
After the carriage curtain fell, Su Mochen lifted a corner of the curtain and called out to him, "General Sui, please drive my friend's carriage as well!"
Sui Shouren was on the verge of tears: I was a personal guard general, and now I've been reduced to driving a carriage for others. Don't I have any dignity?
...
The royal carriage was indeed impressive.
Not only was the decoration exquisite and the furnishings meticulously arranged, but the carriage was also filled with various fruits. Jing Zhe ate and talked, recounting how Pigsy fought the Flowing Sand River and how Tang Sanzang enlightened Sha Wujing.
After listening, Su Mochen exclaimed sincerely, "Tang Sanzang is indeed a highly accomplished monk. The names he gave to his three disciples, Wukong, Wuneng, and Wujing, have profound meanings!"
Jing Zhe was unconvinced: I was the one who said all of this, shouldn't you be praising me?
He then scoffed and said, "What's wrong with that? Doesn't everyone's name have a meaning? For example, I was born on the day of Jingzhe, so my name is Jingzhe. I'm also called Hanhan because I'm silly and simple-minded."
"..."
After a long pause, the simpleton outside the carriage finally said in a muffled voice, "My name is Hanhan, not simpleton!"
"Okay, silly."
"Young Chieftain, why don't you call me Da Han like the Chieftain does?"
"Okay, silly."
"Fine, I'll just call me Old Wu like Fatty and the others do!"
"Okay, silly!"
"..."
Seeing his silly face turn red, Su Mochen couldn't help but chuckle, while also asking curiously, "But my name doesn't have any special meaning, does it?"
As she spoke, she blinked her large, gentle eyes, which were so endearing that they made one want to pity her.
"No? There should be, right?"
Jing Zhe pondered deeply, then grinned and said, "Though stained with dust, the ink marks are still thick; this is what is meant by ink dust!"
"Though covered in dust, the ink marks are still thick..."
As he muttered to himself, Su Mochen's eyes lit up: "But why haven't I heard this poem before?"
"Of course you haven't heard of it."
Jing Zhe grinned slyly, "Because this is something I plagiarized... ptooey, I wrote!"
"Young Master Jing is indeed remarkable. He even went so far as to compose a poem just to please His Highness!"
Gui Zhi, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly surprised everyone, and Su Mochen's face instantly turned as red as an apple.
But then she said seriously, "Jing Zhe, this story of the monkey is good, but once we get to Jingzhou, you must not tell it to anyone else."
Su Mochen felt that calling him "Young Master Jing" sounded too formal, but she was also embarrassed to call him "Zhe'er" like Lu Li and Liu Jinghong did, so she was more satisfied with calling him by his given name.
Why?
He probably guessed what it was, but he still asked.
“Sun Wukong dared to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace all by himself. It’s hard to guarantee that someone with ulterior motives wouldn’t overhear him, exaggerate the story, and pass it on to Father Emperor, which would be detrimental to you.”
Jing Zhe nodded. He had learned about the possibility of telling Journey to the West in ancient times in his previous life, because Sun Wukong represented a force that dared to violently confront feudal society. If it were used by those in power, it would indeed be very dangerous.
I was so engrossed in having fun that I almost forgot about this.
She felt that Su Mochen was not only smart, but also kind-hearted.
After reminding him of these points, Su Mochen smiled, his eyes narrowing, as if talking to himself, yet also as if addressing Jing Zhe:
"Your calligraphy is excellent. It seems no one in the palace can write like you. Father will surely be curious."
"Father Emperor must have heard about that poem, 'Spring Waters Are Greener Than Heaven,' but he would never have guessed that it was written by you!"
"If you could compose a poem on the spot in front of Father Emperor, he would definitely be just as... delighted as I am!"
"..."
Hearing her speak, Jing Zhe was startled.
He asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, you wouldn't be thinking of... taking us with you into the palace, would you?"
Su Mochen raised his head: "Of course, otherwise why would I have sent you to Jingzhou?"
"..."
To be honest, Jing Zhe was scared.
Back in Mangshan, he refused to return to Jingzhou with Su Mochen, precisely because he was afraid of this.
If she were to enter the palace with Su Mochen, their relationship would be like mud falling into her crotch—unpredictable and inexplicable. Even more terrifying was the possibility that her emperor father might also take a liking to her and insist she become his son-in-law. Would he accept the offer or not?
Go ahead and do it; you'll lose your three wives and four concubines.
If I don't do it, I'll lose my head.
Lu Li had initially said that she should get closer to Su Mochen so that she would be safer once they entered Jingzhou—but this is anything but safe!
Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger; the slightest mistake could send him to the palace—becoming a eunuch is not what he wants!
After deep thought, a sudden joy spread across his face:
Since his eldest sister isn't here and his fifth sister has left, wouldn't it be better for him to sneak away and go to Jingzhou alone?
————
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
