Recalling how forcefully Yu Zixi had held her last time, Wei Dongling's voice trembled slightly. "Y-y-you, don't you dare do anything rash!"
Yu Zixi ignored her. He took out a dagger, cut a bundle of reeds, and spread them out on the ground. Then he started to take off his clothes.
Oh my god! Wei Dongling was only sixteen years old, still a minor!
Wei Dongling felt her eyes well up with tears. She scolded with a sob in her voice, "Yu Zixi, you disgusting hypocrite!"
Yu Zixi twitched the corner of his mouth and rolled his eyes. "Miss! What on earth are you thinking about all day? After what you did with that groin kick, even if I had the desire, I wouldn't have the guts!"
Wei Dongling: ...
Well, he did have a point.
Wei Dongling was extremely ashamed. Her small face flushed red. She asked, "Then what are you doing?"
"It's still early until 3:30 a.m. I'll keep watch. You lie down and get some sleep. I'll wake you up if there's any movement."
How embarrassing! She had wrongly accused him. What a disgrace!
With a red face, Wei Dongling sat down on Yu Zixi's clothes hesitantly. Seeing Yu Zixi, who was only in his undergarments, get up and leave, she couldn't help but feel panicked. She called out, "Where are you going?" Yu Zixi didn't answer her.
Thinking of that sinister and ruthless Lord Mu, Wei Dongling's heart skipped a beat. "Don't go too far! I-I-I'm a bit scared."
All she saw was Yu Zixi waving his hand without looking back. "I'm going to pee."
Alright then.
Only then did Wei Dongling lie down in peace and fall into a light sleep amidst the chirping of frogs and insects.
When Yu Zixi came back, he saw Wei Dongling curled up on his clothes, sound asleep.
The bumpy journey must have really tired this little girl out. When she was asleep, her delicate features were relaxed, making her look extremely gentle and serene.
Yu Zixi stared at her intently in the moonlight and couldn't bear to look away for a long time.
Wei Dongling was sleeping soundly.
She dreamt of her childhood when her father took her fishing in the small river. A basket full of jumping small fish and shrimps splashed water all over her face. Father and daughter looked at each other and laughed heartily.
"Wake up." Yu Zixi gently nudged her at the right time.
Wei Dongling sat up alertly at once and silently held her breath. The two of them quietly poked their heads out to look.
A small boat with a very dim light on it was sailing on the dark river, slowly approaching them. Not far from the riverbank, a carriage quietly came. Several black-clothed men jumped out of the carriage.
The man in the lead was indeed Lord Mu!
The two groups of people made the exchange silently and extremely quickly. They carried a box from the boat onto the carriage and then hurriedly left.
Seeing the boat row away, Wei Dongling was about to get up and follow when she saw Yu Zixi cover his lips and make two "coo" sounds. A black-clothed man suddenly emerged from the dark reed forest and quickly ran over. He bowed to Yu Zixi and said, "Young Master."
A cold light flashed in Yu Zixi's eyes. He pointed at the rowing boat and said to the black-clothed man, "Follow it and investigate thoroughly."
"Yes." The black-clothed man responded and quickly left after receiving the order.
Wei Dongling widened her eyes and whispered, "When did your secret guard follow us?"
Yu Zixi slowly put on his clothes. "He's always been here."
Wei Dongling: ...
The two of them traced the carriage's wheel marks all the way.
Wei Dongling said, "They must be going to the horse ranch!"
Yu Zixi looked at the marks on the ground in the moonlight and said, "Not necessarily."
The two of them followed the marks to a mansion. This mansion wasn't far from the horse ranch, and its main gate was tightly closed at the moment.
The carriage had entered here. The two of them looked at each other.
Wei Dongling looked around, quietly climbed onto a nearby tree, and carefully looked into the mansion.
There was a room in the mansion that was heavily guarded and brightly lit.
Yu Zixi sat on a tree branch and sneered softly, "Old Zhao is really like a cunning rabbit with three burrows."
Wei Dongling sighed and whispered, "There are too many guards. We can't force our way in. Let's retreat."
Yu Zixi put his arm around her waist and gently jumped down from the tree. The two of them walked back at a leisurely pace.
Wei Dongling whispered, "Let's wait for Uncle Li to come back and then discuss our strategy?"
Yu Zixi was puzzled. "Who's Uncle Li?"
"That is, the beggar senior."
"Okay. Wait for my men to report back with the news and then investigate further."
When the two of them reached near the side gate of the horse ranch, Yu Zixi suddenly hugged Wei Dongling's waist tightly and quickly hid in the dark corner of the wall.
Then they saw a masked black-clothed man jump down from the high wall of the horse ranch. The moment the man landed, Wei Dongling saw a twisted black scar in the shape of a centipede behind his ear.
It was Jingzhe!
Wei Dongling pursed her lips and softly blew a short and subtle whistle.
Jingzhe was obviously startled and suddenly looked over here. When he saw it was Wei Dongling, his eyes instantly lit up.
Just as he was about to come over and say hello, he saw the man standing beside Wei Dongling. Jingzhe hesitated for a moment and quickly stopped in his tracks. He clasped his fists in salute and disappeared into the dark night with a light leap.
What was Jingzhe doing here?
Yu Zixi led Wei Dongling back. With a dark face, he asked, "Who is he?"
Wei Dongling replied, "A prison mate."
Yu Zixi: "What?"
Wei Dongling: "A friend from prison!"
Yu Zixi said unhappily, "A friend? Do you know he's one of the Crown Prince's men!"
Wei Dongling replied indifferently, "I know."
Yu Zixi's face darkened even more. "You know and you still act like this?"
Wei Dongling fell silent.
The two of them rode their horses back.
Along the way, Yu Zixi had a cold look on his face and didn't say a word.
It was the first time Wei Dongling had seen this chatterbox be so quiet. She felt a bit uncomfortable.
The two horses galloped side by side. Wei Dongling carefully glanced at Yu Zixi and asked, "Are you angry with me?"
"No."
Wei Dongling said, "I know you're just worried about me. I know what I'm doing."
Yu Zixi didn't even look at her and replied, "That's good."
Wei Dongling asked again, "Why are you so on guard against the Crown Prince? Is it because he framed you last time?"
"That's not it," Yu Zixi sneered. "Our Crown Prince has never done a single good thing."
"What do you mean?"
"The eldest prince, who was supposed to be the crown prince, suddenly died a violent death; the third prince drowned. Guess who did all these things secretly?"
Wei Dongling said in surprise, "All... all of these were done by the Crown Prince?"
Yu Zixi scoffed. "That's right. Otherwise, how could the position of Crown Prince fall to him, the fourth prince?"
Wei Dongling trembled all over. "He could even do such a thing to his own brothers?"
"Otherwise, do you think after Queen Zhao lost her beloved son, why does she keep suppressing Concubine Xue and the Crown Prince everywhere?"
Wei Dongling murmured, "The strife in the royal family is so terrifying."
"That's right! The other princes have either been demoted, imprisoned, or gone crazy. These brothers killing each other is really quite a spectacle!"
Wei Dongling asked again, "Then why did the Crown Prince go after you? Did you sleep with the girl he wanted?"
Yu Zixi gave her a sideways look and said, "I accidentally saved the ninth prince on the day he was poisoned by the Crown Prince. That's why he holds a grudge against me."
Wei Dongling felt extremely sympathetic. "You're so unlucky."
Yu Zixi: ...
Wei Dongling said again, "I have to work harder. My young lady must never marry such a brute like the Crown Prince!"
Hearing her scolding, Yu Zixi's eyebrows curved into a smile. He looked at Wei Dongling intently with shining eyes and said, "Wei Dongling, in a few days, how about I send a matchmaker to your family to propose marriage?"