Marrying the Crown Prince

Because she needed to get going, and because she had been traveling all day, Li Zixiao went to bed early.

But when Huo Cheng woke her up to continue their journey, she still had a dark expression on her face—there was no way around it, it was just too early, and she hadn't had enough sleep yet.

However, despite her dark expression, Li Zixiao showed no sign of stopping her actions of getting out of bed.

Looking at Li Zixiao, who was lifeless and filled with resentment, Huo Cheng felt a little sorry for her. He moved his mouth a few times with difficulty and said, "Your Highness, please hang in there. It's only a few more days."

Li Zixiao: "..."

Perhaps you're trying to comfort me, but why does it sound so ominous? It's as if you're saying we only have a few days left to live…

"What, what's wrong?"

Huo Cheng noticed Li Zixiao's strange gaze and became even more uncomfortable.

Li Zixiao exhaled a breath of stale air, then shook her head. "It's nothing. Let's hurry up and go, or we'll be late."

"Yes."

When the two of them arrived at the city gate, there were already dozens of people waiting there.

Of course, they weren't waiting for them, but for the city gates to open.

The stars in the sky were still bright, but as the roosters crowed in the city, the manager of Baixi Tower rubbed his sleepy hands, stepped forward, and bowed, "Sir, what's the time..."

As he spoke, he slipped a purse into the soldier's hand.

The soldiers made no attempt to refuse, stuffing their purses into their waist pouches. "Yes, it's almost time."

"Come on, open the city gates—!!!"

With a shout, the quiet, dozing crowd suddenly stirred.

"Line up, line up, one at a time."

The soldiers guarding the city gate did not maintain order, but everyone still quickly lined up.

Li Zixiao, standing beside Huo Cheng, remarked, "The people here are quite law-abiding."

"Yes, because the city gates won't open if people don't line up properly," Huo Cheng replied softly. "If anyone delays everyone's time, the soldiers won't have to do anything; someone else will take care of it."

For example, Baixilou Restaurant, where people are in a hurry to leave.

As they spoke, the squad leader guarding the city was already directing the other soldiers to open the city gate.

With the sound of the wooden door turning, the city gate gradually opened wide.

"Line up one by one, don't rush, and don't push or shove."

Li Zixiao and Huo Cheng mingled in the middle of the group and slowly made their way to the city gate.

"Please show me your household registration certificate."

The two of them were stopped.

There's no way around it; it's a special area where strangers are stopped, questioned about their identity, and have their household registration checked.

At this moment, Li Zixiao had no choice but to thank himself for using his power to create a false identity for himself—an identity stamped with the seals of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and the Prefect of the Northern Region.

This kind of household registration certificate is accepted without hindrance anywhere in the northern region, and is even exempt from inspection and checks.

Of course, at that time she made this thing simply because she couldn't bring her real household registration certificate with her whenever she went out to play.

Li Zixiao handed over the items. "Sir, this is my household registration, and this is my elder brother."

The reason she specifically introduced Huocheng was that Huocheng did not have a household registration certificate.

The soldier took it, glanced at it a few times, then looked at Li Zixiao, then at Huo Cheng, and finally called over his captain.

The two whispered to each other, gesturing and talking to Li Zixiao and the others.

Seeing this, the people silently moved their feet, keeping a certain distance from them.

Li Zixiao: "..."

Finally, the squad leader guarding the city came over and handed the household registration back to Li Zixiao.

Li Zixiao calmly accepted it.

"Let them through—!"

"Let's go." Li Zixiao and Huo Cheng exchanged a glance, then strode forward together, catching up with the group above.

After the crowd left, the soldiers guarding the city could finally rest.

Only then did they start chatting.

"The man next to that woman with that kind of household registration certificate is obviously unregistered, Brother Yang, are you really just going to let him go like this...?"

"Shut up!" Yang shouted sternly.

He has always had a good temper and has never been stern with anyone, so his subordinates are all familiar with him. But that doesn't mean that his men aren't afraid of him when he gets angry, except for... Er Lengzi.

And coincidentally, there was a simpleton on duty today.

"Brother Yang, why are you being so fierce? If you don't want to talk, then don't talk, I won't..."

"Ugh, sob sob..."

One of the people next to him covered his mouth, grabbed the simpleton's arm and lifted him back, not forgetting to explain for him, "Brother, this kid is still half asleep, don't mind him."

Yang Da: "..."

He closed his eyes—oh well, out of sight, out of mind.

Let's get back to Li Zixiao's side.

She didn't know how long she had walked, only that her legs were no longer legs, but at this moment, the sky in the distance was just beginning to lighten.

This road... is really long.

As she was lost in thought, she slipped on the ground and almost fell, but Huo Cheng caught her by the arm.

He helped the person up and then quickly let go, without overstepping any bounds.

"Are you... alright?" Huo Cheng asked.

Li Zixiao took a deep breath and shook her head. "It's alright, getting on the road is the priority."

She had barely finished speaking when the road ahead came to a stop.

They were in the middle of the group, and by peering out, they could still see what was happening ahead.

"This mountain is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, you'll have to pay the toll."

This all-too-familiar opening reminded Li Zixiao of the storybook "Kidnapping a Husband to Become a Wife" that Zhou Zhou had sent her some time ago.

Unfortunately, the bandit who appeared this time was not the brave and resourceful female leader from the stories, but a fierce-looking man with a scar on his face.

The manager of Baixilou immediately took out a bag of silver from his pocket. "Don't worry, sir, I understand."

As he spoke, he bowed and presented the silver with both hands.

The bandit weighed the silver in his hand and sneered, "Isn't this amount a bit off?"

"How could this be?" The steward's expression changed slightly. "I prepared twenty taels of silver."

"Twenty taels? Hahahaha!" The bandits roared with laughter. "Twenty taels was last month's price. Now, I want forty taels!"

The steward's face stiffened. "Sir, where would I get forty taels of silver?"

"Hmph, don't think I don't know," the bandit said with a look of disdain. "You guys went to buy goods this time, and you have more than that amount of silver on you."

"Master, please be kind..."

"Ouch—!"

The manager stepped forward and pleaded, but before he could finish speaking, he was shoved by the bandits and fell flat on his back.

"Hey brother, did you hurt yourself?" the bandit said, pretending to help the man up. Then he said earnestly, "I'd like to do you a favor, but so many of my brothers in the stronghold are about to starve to death."

"How can I possibly do this to you?"

With that, the bandit let out a roar and addressed his henchmen, "Brothers, don't you agree?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" the bandits cheered.

The manager's expression changed several times, but in the end he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll go get the silver."

He limped back to the carriage.

Looking at the steward's hunched back, the bandit spat, "Why didn't you just take it out earlier? Why make such a fuss!"

The steward struggled to climb onto the carriage, and after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, an arrow flew out of the carriage.

Caught off guard, the bandit leader rolled awkwardly on the ground before managing to dodge.

"Do it!"

At the manager's command, the members of the escort agency who had come with him drew their swords.

"Charge—!"