Since they were traveling at night and there was Emperor Xiao Tianchi in the carriage, the convoy didn't move very fast. With the protection of the guards, Jiang Mian wasn't worried about their safety on the way.
However, once Jiang Mian thought of something, it would always be on her mind.
She remembered that Mo Zhizhang had said he would come to join them when they left Luozhou. So, she would occasionally lift the curtain of the carriage and look outside, as if waiting for something.
Jiang Zhiqing noticed her actions and asked with a smile, "What, are you worried about Doctor Mo?"
"You've seen through me, Mother," Jiang Mian said somewhat sheepishly as she put down the curtain.
"It's different from when we came. Now that the Emperor is traveling with us, if Uncle Mo shows up, I'm afraid the guards might mistake him for a villain and draw their swords against him."
Jiang Zhiqing recalled what Li Zhao had once told her. She looked at Jiang Mian's expression. This girl seemed to be genuinely worried about that young man surnamed Mo.
It seemed...
Mujin didn't know Mo Zhizhang's background and origin?
"Mujin, don't worry. Doctor Mo should know his limits. Maybe..." Jiang Zhiqing thought for a while and said enigmatically, "Maybe, when we meet again, things will be different."
Different?
Jiang Mian didn't quite understand what Jiang Zhiqing meant, but she didn't ask further.
When the boat reaches the bridge, it will go straight. Uncle Mo will show up when it's time.
The mother and daughter snuggled up together and fell asleep.
The next day, when Jiang Mian woke up, it was already bright outside.
After a simple wash and filling her stomach with the prepared dry rations, she told Jiang Zhiqing and climbed out of the carriage. She sat on the carriage shaft to enjoy the scenery.
Looking back, apart from the rolling mountains and white clouds in various shapes, she could no longer see the shadow of Luozhou City.
Looking ahead on the road, there were also rolling mountains and a blue sky.
Jiang Mian couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Jingcheng and Taoist Yuanzheng had taken this same road when they left.
Where were they now?
Just as she was about to climb back into the carriage, a very familiar green figure suddenly appeared on the road ahead.
She blinked hard and looked forward again with wide eyes.
A man in a green robe was riding a horse leisurely towards them.
The wind fluttered the man's robe and the green ribbon behind his head, making him look elegant and unrestrained, with an indescribable air of detachment.
But that familiar face made Jiang Mian gasp.
It was Mo Zhizhang!
He had indeed appeared as he had said!
But she immediately became anxious. There were guards all around. She hoped they wouldn't mistake Uncle Mo for a villain who intended to harm the Emperor!
The convoy, surrounded by guards, gradually met Mo Zhizhang, who was alone.
Feeling that the carriage in front had stopped, Jiang Mian became even more anxious. Before the carriage she was in came to a complete stop, she hurriedly jumped off and lifted her skirt, running forward.
"Wait! Wait!"
Knowing that she was the daughter of King Li and the Princess Zhaoping personally conferred by Xiao Tianchi, the guards stepped aside one after another and didn't stop her. So, she quickly reached the front.
"Your Majesty, this... this is my uncle. Please don't—"
Jiang Mian's voice came out before she arrived, but when she reached the front and her view was no longer blocked by the guards, the scene in front of her made her pupils contract. Her throat felt as if it was being choked, and she couldn't say the rest of the sentence.
Mo Zhizhang knelt on one knee, looking very respectful.
But what shocked Jiang Mian the most was the words he said.
"Zhegu pays respects to the Lord."
Zhegu? Pays respects to... the Lord?
Jiang Mian unconsciously clenched her fists and looked up at the carriage. Xiao Tianchi was leaning inside the carriage, looking down at Mo Zhizhang with a calm tone:
"You've worked hard these past few months. When we return to the capital, I will surely reward you according to your merits. Return to your post."
Li Zhao was sitting side by side with Xiao Tianchi. Sensing Jiang Mian's gaze, he looked at her and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"Yes," Mo Zhizhang replied and then stood up from the ground.
Only then did he seem to notice Jiang Mian. He gave her a gentle smile.
When he smiled, he looked almost the same as before.
But Jiang Mian felt that his face suddenly became strange.
It seemed... she had never known him at all.
"Little..." Mo Zhizhang opened his mouth to say something to her, but Jiang Mian clenched her fists tightly and turned around immediately, walking away.
Mo Zhizhang had already imagined what the scene would be like when they met again. He also guessed that she would probably be angry after knowing the truth.
Everything in front of him was actually within his expectations, or rather, his calculations. He thought he was well - prepared, but when he really saw her turn away expressionlessly, a dull pain welled up in his chest.
He unconsciously took a step forward to chase after her, but Xiao Tianchi's voice came from the carriage:
"Zhegu."
Mo Zhizhang stopped his steps abruptly and could only watch helplessly as Jiang Mian ran to the back and got into another carriage.
Lowering his eyelashes to hide his thoughts, Mo Zhizhang let out a soft sigh in his heart.
Forget it. He would find an opportunity to explain it to her properly.
Jiang Mian climbed into the carriage. Jiang Zhiqing wanted to ask, but then she saw her with a straight face, and her eyebrows seemed to be written with the words "I'm very angry".
Jiang Mian was really angry. Even the action of putting down the curtain seemed a bit forceful.
Guessing that something must have happened in front, Jiang Zhiqing didn't speak immediately.
After a while, the wheels started turning again, carrying them on their journey.
Seeing Jiang Mian sitting in the corner, hugging her knees and sulking, Jiang Zhiqing leaned over and gently patted the back of her hand, asking softly:
"What's wrong, Mujin? Was it Doctor Mo who showed up?"
Jiang Mian paused and gritted her teeth, saying, "It's him!"
She raised her head, and her eyes became extremely bright because of anger.
"Mother, don't call him Doctor Mo anymore. He's not a doctor at all. He—"
"He's a liar!"
Jiang Zhiqing didn't say a word. She just patted her back again and again. After her emotions calmed down a bit, she said:
"Anyway, he has never done anything to hurt you or us. Even if everything is different from what you thought, you should give him a chance to explain."
Didn't Jiang Mian know that?
She was just angry, angry that she had been deceived and played like a fool!
There was a post station every hundred miles on the official road of the Sheng Kingdom. Even if they traveled as fast as possible, it would take a whole day's journey from Luozhou City to the next stop.
It was already the Xushi hour when they finally saw the shadow of the post station.
The innkeeper of the post station had already received the news and was waiting outside with a group of servants. When he saw Xiao Tianchi, Li Zhao and the others appear, he hurriedly bowed to greet them.
Xiao Tianchi waved his hand indifferently and walked into the post station one after another with Li Zhao. Jiang Mian and Jiang Zhiqing followed closely behind them, and there was still a dark - green figure following behind.
Jiang Mian never gave him a single look from beginning to end.
After sending Jiang Zhiqing into her room, Jiang Mian came to the door of the room prepared for her in the post station. She was about to push the door in when Mo Zhizhang's voice suddenly came from behind:
"Little sister, could I have a word with you?"