As soon as Chu Qing stepped out of the palace, she noticed a rather exquisite carriage parked by the bridge in front of the palace gate.
Before she could get closer, someone alighted from the carriage.
It was actually the Dowager Lady Nangong.
The Dowager Lady Nangong made a beeline for Chu Qing. Only when she reached her did she tightly grasp Chu Qing's hand and speak with a solemn look on her face, "My girl, that boy... did he leave in a hurry due to some urgent matter?"
Chu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then gave a gentle smile, "Don't worry, old lady. He really did have some pressing matters, and I... am going back to the Great Yan Dynasty as well."
"Go back?" The old lady frowned slightly, gently rubbing Chu Qing's hand as she said, "My girl, how can you go back at this crucial moment? Wei Ying left in such a hurry and left you here. Isn't it because he trusts us to take good care of you?"
"Thank you for your kind intention, old lady. But after all, he is still the Prince Ning of the Great Yan Dynasty." Chu Qing fixed her gaze on the Dowager Lady Nangong. She believed that this old lady was by no means someone who just stayed in the deep mansion and knew nothing.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Dowager Lady Nangong's eyes flickered. Finally, she let out a sigh and said, "Since that's the case, then be careful on your journey. By the way, has the Emperor... given his consent?"
Chu Qing joked, "If he didn't consent, I'm afraid I'd still be in the palace. If both of them leave, he'll surely be flustered if he has no confidence in the situation."
Hearing this, tears welled up in the Dowager Lady Nangong's eyes, "Both of you... are good children. You're clearer in your minds than anyone else."
Seeing the Dowager Lady Nangong like this, Chu Qing couldn't help but feel a pang of sourness in her heart.
She seemed to be able to empathize with the old lady's feelings.
How could she not feel heartache for her daughter's current situation?
But as a reasonable person, she could only bear the pain herself.
"Alright, alright~ Let's not talk about those unhappy things. Stay in the Nangong Mansion for one day today and leave tomorrow. It doesn't really matter one more day."
After hearing this, Chu Qing thought that there wasn't much difference between leaving today and tomorrow. Wei Ying left overnight because he was short on time, but she didn't have to be in such a hurry.
So, Chu Qing agreed with a smile.
...
Bateer looked at the letter in his hand, his expression gradually turning solemn.
Just then, Gerile lifted the curtain of the tent and walked in. Seeing that the young chief's expression was a bit off, Gerile slowly asked, "What happened?"
Since the Prince Ning and Princess Ning of the Great Yan Dynasty left, Bateer had been very busy.
He directly ordered the Aqitu, Blanduo, and Baharnao tribes to unite and gather in an area with lush water and grass.
The herdsmen of these major tribes got along extremely well when they lived together for the first time.
However, in recent days, the Wumushan tribe had been getting restless because they had no leader. Those with abilities were all coveting the position of the chief. With no leader, the battles among them had even affected this area a bit.
But it wasn't something to be afraid of.
Gerile was just about to come in and tell him about this, but when she saw Bateer's strange expression, she put this matter aside for the time being.
Sure enough, when Bateer saw Gerile come in, he said coldly with a stern look on his face, "The Emperor of the Xiliang Kingdom is asking for trouble. He actually went to make things difficult for my master!"
Gerile was stunned for a moment, adding a bit of comfort to her tone as she asked, "Don't be in a hurry. Take your time and tell me. What exactly happened?"
So, Batu'er angrily told Gerile about what Huyan Zhuori had done.
"He's not a real man!" Gerile couldn't help but violently whip the long whip in her hand on the ground.
Bateer looked at Gerile with burning eyes, "I... want to send someone to help him."
Gerile looked at Bateer in surprise, then said seriously, "I understand your intention, but it's a highly contagious strange disease. We need to discuss it carefully and can't act on impulse."
Bateer naturally had thought of what Gerile said. He just continued to speak with a solemn look on his face, "I know this, so I'm going to go myself."
"You're crazy!" Gerile looked at the young man in disbelief.
He had just won the Alliance of Heroes and had a bright future. Now he was going to take risks to help people from another country?
Seeing Gerile's shocked expression, Bateer smiled, "I can't just let him be there alone. I... feel restless."
A few dark glints flashed in Gerile's eyes. Then she let out a soft sigh, reached out and patted Bateer's shoulder, and said, "You're still young. Stay on the grassland obediently. If you feel restless, I'll go instead of you."
This time it was Bateer's turn to be shocked.
He was stunned for a while, then shook his head vigorously, "No! You don't have to..."
"I'm not doing this for you." Gerile glanced at him casually, then looked out of the window, "She made me the chief of the Aqitu tribe. I should repay her in some way."
The "she" Gerile mentioned was Chu Qing.
When Chu Qing asked her if she was willing to be the chief of the Aqitu tribe, she was a bit flattered.
She knew that Chu Qing looked at her differently from others.
Her eyes, just like her own, had a dazzling light.
Both of them were women, women who were no less than men.
Now that she had the power, she should... help out.
Seeing Gerile's firm look in her eyes, Bateer still felt a bit embarrassed, "Otherwise, I'll go with you?"
Gerile glanced at him again, then said seriously, "You'd better stay here obediently. The people on the grassland need you. You're no longer the old Bateer."
Bateer let out a sigh, then lowered his head.
...
As soon as Chu Qing stepped out of the door, she was called out. When she turned around and saw who it was, she raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Nangong Jin?"
Nangong Jin grinned, then walked towards Chu Qing.
"You...?" There were full of questions in Chu Qing's eyes.
Nangong Jin put away his smile, then answered seriously, "The Emperor sent me to escort you back to the Great Yan Dynasty. My grandmother also told me to take good care of you."
He originally wanted to address her as "Princess" as usual, but thinking of her identity, Nangong Jin suddenly didn't know how to address her.
Calling her "Princess" would seem too formal.
Calling her "sister-in-law" made him feel a bit awkward.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to care too much. After hearing that he was going to escort her back, she gave a gentle smile and then was helped into the carriage by the little maid beside her.
After leaving the city gate, Chu Qing lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked back.
Just then, she saw Wen Lang standing on the city tower.
Chu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then waved at him.
Wen Lang didn't expect to be discovered when he came secretly to see her off. He gave an embarrassed smile and also raised his hand to wave at her.
Deep in his heart, he always had an indescribable sense of familiarity towards this daughter-in-law.
But due to their relationship, he couldn't have too much contact with her.
Well, if the couple had the intention, they would surely come back one day.
Wen Lang was looking into the distance in a daze.
"Father." Wen Yi didn't know when he had walked up beside him.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes... I'm ready, Father."
"Be careful on your journey." Wen Lang seriously patted Wen Yi's shoulder.
Wen Yi bit the soft flesh inside his cheek and nodded vigorously.