Although Rong Ning failed to discern the subtle thoughts in his mind, she nimbly leaped onto her horse as always, turned around and asked, "Is there anything else you need to tell me?"
"Nothing else..."
The Crown Prince swiftly mounted his horse, his gaze fixed on the distance, his tone tinged with urgency, "Time is of the essence. We must return to Kangye City before dusk to confirm that the accounts have been properly organized. This mission is arduous, and we cannot afford to slack off in the slightest."
The two departed as silently as a morning breeze. General Wang was still lost in his thoughts and had no time to react before they disappeared from sight, leaving only the sound of horses' hooves fading into the distance.
Along the way, they galloped on horseback, the afterglow of the setting sun spreading across the sky and bathing the earth in a golden hue. As night quietly fell, they finally stepped through the city gates of Kangye City.
Although the day's journey had left them physically and mentally exhausted, the bustling city scene acted like a good medicine, slowly dispelling their fatigue.
Under the cover of night, Kangye City is brightly lit and bustling with people, as if it possesses a magical power that can gently wipe away all the hardships of the day.
Along both sides of the street, the shouts of various vendors rose and fell, and the air was filled with tempting aromas—a mixture of flavors from all over the world, making one's mouth water.
The dazzling array of handicrafts is so captivating that it draws the attention of every passerby.
"Brother, why don't we dismount and take a walk, and while we're at it, try some of the local delicacies of Kangye City?"
Rong Ning suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement, clearly infected by the lively atmosphere, "The delicious food here isn't in those magnificent restaurants, but hidden among these lively little stalls and vendors."
"Since this is your territory, we'll naturally listen to you."
The prince smiled and agreed. The two then dismounted, tied their horses to the stakes by the roadside, and stepped into the bustling crowd.
"Big brother, look over there!"
Rong Ning suddenly pointed to a stall not far away, her eyes sparkling, "That feisty young lady from yesterday is over there, shall we go say hello?"
Her tone was playful and teasing.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's expression changed slightly, and he quickly pulled Rong Ning in the opposite direction, saying, "Don't cause any trouble for me."
"I'm good at dealing with those scheming ministers, but when it comes to handling young ladies, I'm a real pro."
His words revealed a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.
"A dark mind? Brother, do the ministers know you're talking about them like that?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her laughter was clear and melodious, echoing in the night sky like silver bells.
“Everyone knows these things perfectly well, there’s no need for anyone to spell them out,” the Crown Prince shook his head and continued, “Alright, let’s leave here quickly, lest you cause any more trouble.”
The two walked briskly until they were far away from the young woman's clothing shop, at which point the prince slowed down.
He looked around and spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorns not far away. The candied hawthorns were brightly colored and looked very delicious.
So he quickly took out a few copper coins from his pocket and gave them to the vendor to buy two strings of candied hawthorns.
"Try this candied hawthorn," the Crown Prince said, handing a string of candied hawthorns to Rong Ning.
However, Rong Ning frowned and shook her head, refusing, "No...it's too sweet!"
Her tone carried a hint of disdain.
The prince was taken aback. "Don't you love candied hawthorns the most?"
He remembered that when Rong Ning was a child, she would often pester her mother for candied hawthorns, and she would cry every time she was not given them.
"When did I ever say I liked candied hawthorns?" Rong Ning asked the Crown Prince with an innocent look.
"When I was little!"
The prince touched his nose somewhat awkwardly and said, "When you were little, you often pestered your mother for candied hawthorns. Your mother was afraid that you would ruin your teeth, so she always restricted you. Later, you would cry every time you saw candied hawthorns!"
His words carried a hint of reminiscence and affection.
Rong Ning's face darkened. "That was so long ago! I haven't liked candied hawthorns for a long time!"
She glanced disdainfully at the candied hawthorn in the prince's hand, then pushed it back to him. "You eat it yourself! I don't want to eat something so sweet!"
The Crown Prince was somewhat at a loss. It seemed like Rong Ning's fondness for candied hawthorns was something from a very, very long time ago.
They were young then, always playing together, carefree.
But as time went by, they both grew up and each had their own responsibilities and missions.
In the years that followed, he didn't bother to find out much about what the little girl liked.
He was busy with government affairs, and she was not at home, so they had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet.
Each time we met, we would only exchange a few simple greetings before leaving in a hurry.
Or rather, in their entire lives, the number of days they've had to stroll leisurely on the streets like this is very few and far between.
As the eldest son of King Yu, he bore many responsibilities, and his life was filled with rules and etiquette, with few moments of freedom and relaxation.
He couldn't even fathom her feelings, let alone understand her preferences. He realized that he had shown Rong Ning far too little concern over the years.
The Crown Prince felt a little guilty and quickly caught up with Rong Ning, saying, "Then tell your older brother what you like, and he will buy it for you."
“I don’t have anyone I like…” Rong Ning replied indifferently.
She was telling the truth. She was indifferent to everything. As long as she could survive, she didn't have any special requirements.
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