An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

“There are still too many people.”

Xu Zize frowned and glanced at the densely packed crowd standing in three rows in front of him, his voice filled with obvious impatience.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the jade pendant at his waist, and his eyes swept over the guards who stood straight.

He quickly counted the number of people, "My Lord, besides you and the young lady, there are ten secret guards, eight guards including me, plus Zhengyue, Chuyi, Xiaoman, and the groom Jingyi, a total of twenty-four people."

After he said that, he looked up at the sky. It was already past noon, and if they didn't set off now, it would be dark in a few hours.

Xu Zize turned to Jing Chunxi, who was standing beside him. She was wearing a lilac-colored riding coat, her hair tied up high in a bun, making her look particularly neat. The morning breeze blew the loose hair at her temples, revealing her smooth forehead.

"If we go, it will definitely delay the trip." He took out a sheepskin map from his sleeve. The route marked in cinnabar was particularly eye-catching in the morning light.

Jing Chunxi bit his lower lip and thought for a moment, his eyes searching the crowd.

"Chuyi stays, Zhengyue stays." Her voice was crisp. The two people who were called were obviously stunned for a moment. Chuyi wanted to say something, but Zhengyue secretly winked at him.

The seven guards straightened their backs immediately after hearing this. Some of them unconsciously took half a step forward, their boots making a squeaking sound on the gravel.

She remembered what her stepfather said before she left: "These people are all top-notch fighters. If you make any mistake, they will come to you with their heads." If she left them behind, they would definitely not agree.

After all, before leaving, her stepfather had given her an order to do everything in his power to protect her safety. If such a death order was violated, the punishment in the army would be very severe.

"Only the prince, I, Uncle Kuaijiao and Xiaoman can be in the open." Jing Chunxi said as he looked at the seven guards with expectant faces, feeling a little reluctant.

She pointed to the map, showing that besides the official road, there were also many winding side roads. She said, "Four of you will scout ahead. Keep an eye out for any markings our men have left along the side roads. We must not go the wrong way."

Xu Zize immediately responded, his voice as cold as a knife: "Step out of the line and leave immediately." Before he finished speaking, the seven guards stepped forward in unison, their boot heels colliding with a neat "pop" sound.

Quickfoot squinted his eyes and looked at them for a moment, then pointed at the four people who were the most agile and said, "You four, hurry ahead of us. If you take a road other than the official road, leave one person to wait for us."

Then he looked at them with sharp eyes and said, "If you fall behind, come back automatically, no matter why."

"Yes!" the four of them said in unison, and their voices made the sparrows on the treetops flutter and fly up.

They ran towards the stable so fast that they almost left afterimages. The tall man in front took the copper token handed to him by Qingfeng. In the blink of an eye, the sound of horse hooves disappeared at the side door of the house, leaving only a trail of flying dust.

Xu Zize didn't wait for Jing Chunxi to speak again, and directly ordered: "The remaining three will provide protection from the rear. Stay two miles away from us if nothing happens." The three men clasped their fists and accepted the order, then silently retreated to the shade of the trees beside the road to wait for their departure. Their figures soon merged into the mottled shadows of the trees.

"Xi'er, come with me. Everyone else, get ready. We'll set off in a quarter of an hour."

Xu Zize held out his hand, palm facing up. Jing Chunxi, however, put her hands behind her back. Although she didn't take his hand, she still followed him obediently to the wing room. Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattice, casting tiny specks of light on the ground. She stepped on the shadow in front of her and walked forward.

After entering the house, Xu Zize didn't rush to speak, but poured her a cup of hot tea first. "It will be very tiring to gallop later. It's not like a normal horse race."

His Adam's apple rolled up and down as he spoke, and his voice was much lower than usual. "Either tie a cotton pad on your thighs, or ride with Brother Xiaokang." After saying that, he looked at her expectantly.

Jing Chunxi's hand, holding the teacup, felt slightly warm. Amidst the aroma of tea, she caught sight of the other person's expectant gaze. "Let's tie up the pad!" she heard herself say, her voice steadyer than she'd expected. "Riding together is too slow."

In fact, she was more worried about the inevitable physical contact when riding together. If there was one more person sitting in the front, the control of the horse would be affected to some extent.

"Two more cotton pads?" She instinctively thought of the quickest way, her eyes glancing at the neatly folded quilt on the bed. However, Xu Zize had already walked over to the table and untied the indigo bundle on it.

"Come, let me help you." He took out two exquisitely crafted cotton pads from inside, with fine cloud patterns embroidered on the edges and four straps hanging down.

"I prepared them all for you after we came out of Shibaao! Finally, I'll use them." He said with a hint of pride, his fingers gently stroking the fine stitching on the cotton pad. He had just happened to realize that she might get tired from riding in the carriage too much, and she might ride a horse, so he asked Kuan's mother to help him make it.

When Jing Chunxi realized that the two cotton pads had to be tied at the base of the thighs, his face suddenly flushed.

"I can do it myself,"

She hurriedly reached out to take it, but accidentally touched Xu Zize's fingertips. She retracted her hand as if burned, "Brother Xiaokang, go out first."

Her voice gradually became quieter, the last few words almost lost in the rustling of fabric.

Jing Chunxi tied the cotton pad himself, and his legs had to bend slightly outward when he walked, making him look like a clumsy little duck.

She took her steps carefully, and couldn't help but take a deep breath with each step - the cotton pad rubbed against the delicate skin on the inside of her thighs, making her feel itchy and strange.

When she appeared at the gate of the yard in such a strange posture, the originally noisy yard suddenly became silent.

Everyone held their breath. Quickfoot, who was drinking from his water bag, almost choked when he saw this and quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve.

Several secret guards' shoulders shook suspiciously, and some pretended to cough and turned away;

Even July and September, who were usually steady, lowered their heads, with the corners of their mouths curling up uncontrollably.

"Miss, how are you going to get on a horse like this?" Adou's childish voice suddenly broke the silence. The little girl was looking at Jing Chunxi with a confused expression, tilting her head. She was also looking at the thick cotton pad on her legs.

Xiaoyu beside her immediately responded: "Let's ask brother to hold you." As she said that, she stretched out her little finger and pointed at Xu Zize who was standing behind her.

The six children had been tucked away in a corner under the eaves, like a group of quiet little quails. They were now dressed in the same gray cloth. But seeing Jing Chunxi like this, their innocent words were like stones dropped into calm water, stirring up ripples.

Quickfoot turned his head quickly, his shoulders shaking violently. He pretended to adjust the saddle, but in reality he buried his face in the horse's mane and laughed secretly.

Several secret guards instantly disappeared into the darkness, and only a few suspicious laughs were heard from the bushes.

Just as July and September were about to dismount to help, Tang Shuang dashed out like a nimble swallow. Her skirt fluttered in the morning breeze. "Miss, let me help you..." She was interrupted by Xu Zize before she could finish her words.