"Alright, alright."
Xu Fanglian couldn't help but smile. She gently embraced her daughter in her arms, patted her on the back, and comforted her, "If you keep crying, your eyes will be swollen in the morning."
"… Mm."
Meng Ruyi held back her tears, but still sobbed uncontrollably. Xu Fanglian found it both funny and heart - wrenching. She gently patted the back of the girl in her arms, coaxing her to sleep.
…
They had to get up early to hit the road.
Early in the morning, the sun hadn't risen yet. There was just a faint glimmer of light, allowing people to vaguely see the path ahead.
Meng Ruyi and Song Huaizhi got up early, had breakfast, and after a final packing of their luggage, they were ready to set off.
It was like the last time when they saw Gu Ling off outside the city. This time, Father Meng, Mother Meng, and Zhang Yunyun came to see them off.
Song Huaizhi temporarily rode his horse beside the carriage. Zhang Yunyun and Meng Ruyi were sitting inside the carriage, while Meng Ruyi's parents were in another carriage.
"We're almost there."
Meng Ruyi lifted the curtain. Seeing the familiar lush greenery outside, she couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Summer was approaching again. The grass and trees outside the city were growing vigorously. The greenery filled her vision, becoming more and more prominent as they moved forward.
When they reached a crossroads, Song Huaizhi gently knocked on the side of the carriage and called out to Meng Ruyi inside, "Yuyu, we're here."
When it came to parting, Meng Ruyi was actually calmer than in the previous days.
Meng Ruyi said a few words to Zhang Yunyun and then to her parents. Song Huaizhi stood beside them, with a faint smile on his face, watching her bid farewell to everyone.
After getting back into the carriage, Meng Ruyi knew that the people behind were all watching her. Jingzhe had handed the horse to Song Huaizhi, so Song Huaizhi was now sitting opposite her.
Meng Ruyi couldn't help it and her eyes turned red. She reached out to rub her eyes and her sore nose.
Song Huaizhi silently handed her a handkerchief and then said gently, "Don't be sad, Yuyu.
"We'll come back after we've accomplished our mission."
Even though he said so, this was the first time Meng Ruyi had left home since she was born. The more she thought about it, the redder her eyes became. She lifted the curtain and leaned out, waving to the people behind.
It wasn't until she could no longer see the figures behind that Meng Ruyi retracted into the carriage dejectedly. She sat there, looking as wilted as an eggplant beaten by frost.
Seeing the faint dark circles under her eyes, Song Huaizhi knew that she hadn't slept well last night. So he took out a small quilt from somewhere and placed it on Meng Ruyi's lap, saying, "Take a rest. The journey is tiring."
"Thank you, Brother Song." Meng Ruyi looked up, her eyes red. She took the quilt and covered herself with it. Then she took the small pillow that Song Huaizhi had taken out from somewhere, propped it up, and leaned against the carriage to sleep.
She slept restlessly.
Although they were on the official road, the carriage still inevitably rolled over some small stones and jolted.
Meng Ruyi was sleeping drowsily. At first, the jolts made her head ache, but after a while, the carriage became surprisingly steady.
It seems this road is quite smooth?
She thought this in her half - asleep state. Then, the next moment, she was once again engulfed by drowsiness.
Song Huaizhi looked at Meng Ruyi who had fallen into his arms and couldn't help but find it funny.
The sleeping girl's face was a bit flushed. Due to crying just now, the area around her eyes was also a bit red, making her look extremely endearing.
Even in her sleep, she frowned.
Seeing this, Song Huaizhi let out a heavy sigh in his heart. He reached out his hand to smooth the wrinkles on her brow, but unexpectedly, just as his hand touched her forehead, Meng Ruyi, still half - asleep, swatted his hand away and then mumbled discontentedly.
Song Huaizhi was stunned for a moment. A gentle smile couldn't help but appear on his face. Looking at the girl in his arms, his face was filled with an undeniable smile.
…
The Third Prince, Zheng Yuanqing, avoided coming to see them off to avoid suspicion, fearing that he might be targeted.
Since morning, he had sighed countless times. As he thought about it, he felt melancholy, making the guard serving him beside him dizzy.
"I wonder when they'll arrive in the capital?"
As he said this, a hint of envy and a touch of disappointment appeared on his face.
He took out the stack of letters that Song Huaizhi had sent this morning and unfolded them. The smile on Zheng Yuanqing's face gradually faded. He held the letters tightly, his fingertips turning white, and his face darkened bit by bit.
No wonder he had recently felt as if someone was watching him. It turned out that things were getting lively again in the capital.
Even his uncle's family had dared to get involved?
Remembering the warning he had given them before he left, Zheng Yuanqing gritted his teeth. He felt uncomfortable and wished he could go back right away.
Idiots! The first bird gets shot! How could they be so bold!
But he could only watch from here. The capital was far away, completely out of his reach.
No, he had to speed up the progress of his work. If he didn't go back soon, those idiots might get themselves killed without even knowing it.
…
When Meng Ruyi woke up, she felt groggy, as if she was in a warm place.
When she opened her eyes, she was face - to - face with Song Huaizhi's smiling eyes. The man had a faint smile on his face and was looking at her gently.
"Are you awake?" Song Huaizhi reached out and rubbed her face. Only then did Meng Ruyi suddenly come to her senses and realize that she was actually in Song Huaizhi's arms.
Song Huaizhi's embrace was warm. The faint cold fragrance on his body filled Meng Ruyi's nostrils, making her feel extremely at ease.
But she was actually in Brother Song's arms! What was going on?
Meng Ruyi blinked her eyes and only then did she react. She got up from Song Huaizhi's arms somewhat clumsily and sat on the side with a blushing face.
[Hahahahahahaha Yuyu is finally awake. I'm dying of laughter. What's it like to wake up in Song Huaizhi's arms?]
[Hehe, just consider it an early adaptation. In the future…]
[Hey! Your carriage wheel just rolled over my face!]
[Yuyu is sleeping on Brother Song. Brother Song may seem calm on the surface, but he must be overjoyed inside, haha.]
"Cough, cough, cough." At first, Meng Ruyi pretended to be calm and tidied her clothes. Then she said to Song Huaizhi, "Thank you, Brother Song."
Song Huaizhi nodded slightly.
Looking at the blushing face of the girl in front of him, Song Huaizhi felt the urge to tease her again. An idea suddenly popped into his mind.
When Meng Ruyi looked up again, she saw Song Huaizhi smiling faintly, with a strong hint of amusement in his eyes. He pointed to the corner of his lips and then rubbed it with his hand.
Oh no!
Meng Ruyi's heart started pounding. She panicked and quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth. Her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't drool in her sleep, did she?
Just thinking about this possibility made Meng Ruyi's heart race. But her hand wiped nothing. Seeing the teasing look in Song Huaizhi's eyes, she realized that she had been pranked.
Meng Ruyi let out a silent scream in her heart. She glared at Song Huaizhi, who was laughing heartily, and shouted, "Song Huaizhi!"
Song Huaizhi said gently, "Since you're up, Yuyu, I'll go out and relieve Jingzhe."
Meng Ruyi could only watch helplessly as he played a prank on her and then ran away. She could only sit there angrily.