Lu Qingyan said dismissively, "If we walk for another day or two, we'll eventually reach the city. Then you'll definitely get plenty of wine."
Sima Xing frowned and retorted, “Vulgar! How can the wine of the marketplace compare to the treasured Liuli Zui from the palace? This Liuli Zui uses the brewing method of an empress from over a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, that recipe has not been passed down, and there are only fifty jars left in the entire Jin palace. I only have two jars left, and now that one jar is broken, there is only one left.”
Lu Qingyan comforted him, saying, "I can make fruit wine, and I'll invite you to drink it sometime."
Sima Xing just smiled when he heard this, as if he didn't quite believe it.
For some reason, Lu Qingyan always felt that there was a message in his eyes, as if drinking her wine could take his life.
The next morning, before the sun had risen and the moonlight was still hazy, Sima Xing woke Lu Qingyan: "I'm afraid we'll have to hurry today. I'll take you to Liuzhou, and you can travel by water to Jin by yourself. I have important business to attend to and need to leave for a while."
"Where are you going?" Lu Qingyan asked almost instinctively.
They had at least developed a bond of mutual dependence, and Lu Qingyan couldn't bear to watch him disappear here. Even simply asking him why seemed a bit too much.
Sima Xing didn't give Lu Qingyan an answer, but only vaguely replied, "There's a very important matter that I have to handle personally, and I'm also worried that if you go to Jin Kingdom with me, people will talk about it. Don't worry, I'll have someone waiting for you there to protect you, and there won't be any trouble."
Lu Qingyan lowered her eyelids and stopped speaking.
They galloped away, leaving a trail of dust in their wake, whipping their horses towards the horizon. The wind whistled past her ears, and the swift horse's back pressed painfully against Lu Qingyan's, but Sima Xing, who was holding her, felt nothing at all.
Sima Xing timed it perfectly; by the time he arrived in Liuzhou, the sun was already setting, and the last batch of boats on the riverbank were about to depart.
"We've finally arrived." Sima Xing said, casually brushing a strand of Lu Qingyan's hair behind her ear. "My old friend is probably busy right now, so I won't bother him. Although I've asked someone to look after you, you still need to be careful."
Lu Qingyan nodded: "I know."
She stood on the boat, clinging to the railing, watching the man in hemp clothing ride away on horseback, disappearing into the twilight.
Lu Qingyan was so engrossed in watching that she didn't realize the ship had already started moving. After the ship set sail, the sailors on deck all went into the cabins, leaving her all alone.
As the stars climbed the sky, the early September moon, carrying a hint of chill, swept across the land, and the river shimmered, its reflection serene and still.
Suddenly, a voice called out in my ear: "Princess?"
Lu Qingyan subconsciously turned around and saw an extremely young man, dressed in a dark long robe, speaking with the gentle and refined manner of Sima Xing, yet even more approachable than him.
Because of the twilight, Lu Qingyan couldn't see his face clearly, but she could tell from a few glances that he was no ordinary person.
"You are—" Lu Qingyan asked, suddenly remembering the friend Sima Xing had mentioned.
The newcomer cupped his hands and smiled, "I am Jifeng, the owner of this fleet. Ah Xing specifically asked me to take care of you."
Lu Qingyan smiled and said, "He mentioned it to me as well. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble Mr. Ji these days."
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