A crown princess who doesn't do infrastructure construction isn't a good doctor.

Lu Xi wasn't one to sit idly by and wait for his fate. After Shuo Han left, he started plotting again.

Originally, after failing to reason with the soldier who was watching him, he was prepared to take some measures. However, seeing that the soldier had been called in by Shuo Han again, Lu Xi pretended to be obedient for a while. When the soldier was not paying attention, he cast a small spell to make him faint for a while.

After that, he escaped as easily as possible, as long as no one saw him. He really couldn't waste the skills he had learned over the years.

Therefore, when Shuo Han returned to the tent, all he saw was the soldier lying crookedly on the ground and the empty bed. However, Shuo Han was not surprised. After waking the soldier up, he left, leaving the soldier standing there in fear.

In the Wutong Courtyard, Qin Suiyou was not surprised at all when he saw Lu Xi return looking disheveled.

Did you fall into the mud when you were running away?

Looking at his disheveled appearance, Lu Xi patted himself off in annoyance.

"No, I just ran into a blind tiger that splashed mud all over me."

"stop."

Stopping Lu Xi from patting his clothes, Qin Suiyou said, "Don't get mud and dirt on me, go wash up quickly."

Knowing Qin Suiyou's obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness, Lu Xi was too lazy to cause trouble for him at this moment. After saying "I know," she went to find someone to fetch water for her.

Beitang Yan glanced at Lu Xi, whose back exuded an aura of sullenness and menacing, and whispered, "Could he even beat a tiger?"

Qin Suiyou turned a page of the book in his hand. "I don't know, but the tiger doesn't dare to approach him."

The natural suppression made the beast, which knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm, very pragmatic. However, before leaving Lu Xi's sight, it did not pay attention to the road and stepped into a mud puddle with one paw, splashing water and making him even more annoyed.

After that, Beitang Yan stopped paying attention to this and began to focus on drawing. He was going to draw design sketches for the model. Qin Suiyou let Beitang Yan try it on his own, but in the early stages, it was just for Beitang Yan to pass the time.

Even if it's just making a model, if Beitang Yan wants to make the best one, the knowledge required is beyond what his talent alone can achieve. Saying that he should do it himself is just Qin Suiyou giving him something to do.

……

The next day, Qin Suiyou and Beitang Yan got up early.

Qin Suiyou changed into a slightly more formal outfit, while Beitang Yan remained disguised as Qin Suiyou's attendant. Qin Suiyou was already ready while Beitang Yan was putting on his makeup.

The elaborately embroidered robes made him even more eye-catching, but what attracted Beitang Yan the most was the person wearing them. Between applying makeup to his face, he stared at Qin Suiyou for a long time.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear this outfit."

"What, is it not good-looking?"

Beitang Yan shook his head. "It is too beautiful."

"Then why change it? Besides, there's a formal occasion today. We can't be the first to stand out or make exceptions for ourselves right now."

After finishing the last touch-up on his face, Beitang Yan stood up.

"But you are the most eye-catching person when you stand in front of others. With such a good-looking person in front of you, I don't believe anyone wouldn't want to take a second look."

"Alright, alright."

Qin Suiyou turned Beitang Yan's body around and then pushed him.

"It's getting late. Father and Mother are probably waiting. Remember, the same rule applies today: speak less and pretend you don't hear anyone calling you."

After meeting Prince An and Princess An in the front courtyard, the group boarded their respective carriages and headed to the palace.

The welcoming process was simply that after the city guards opened the city gates, the returning soldiers lined up and walked along a pre-determined route, where they would be greeted by spontaneous crowds of people. If there were any talented young men in the ranks, the girls would throw them sachets and silk flowers.

After the lively journey ended, the soldiers headed to the palace, where officials and imperial relatives appointed by the emperor waited at the palace gate to formally welcome them.

Besides the Prince An and his wife, who are Hua Yuanshan's daughter and son-in-law, there were several other princes among the royal relatives who came to welcome them. Subduing the Northern Region was a great achievement, and it was not uncommon for a monarch to personally welcome a meritorious official back. It was also not wrong for the emperor to send several princes to come on his behalf.

Qin Suiyou was a junior, standing behind a group of people, most of whom he didn't know. The only person he was familiar with was Qin Yong, who was standing at the front, but because they were far apart, they couldn't talk to each other.

Lu Xi also came to help keep an eye on Beitang Yan when there were many people around, but Qin Suiyou glanced back and saw him standing there with his head down, looking dejected.

"What's wrong? Are you still in a bad mood?"

Lu Xi raised her eyes, skillfully cast a spell to prevent others from hearing their conversation, and then exhaled heavily through her nose.

"The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Tell me, what right does he have to kidnap me?"

Lu Xi had already told Qin Suiyou about yesterday's events many times, to the point that Qin Suiyou could practically recite them backwards. Moreover, he had gleaned many details from Lu Xi's incomplete retelling.

"You were indeed reckless to trespass into the camp. If Shuo Han hadn't been there, there would have been countless troubles later on. You should thank him, in a way."

"I can get away on my own without him."

Lu Xi's mutterings did not escape Qin Suiyou's ears. He poked Lu Xi's forehead, which was full of unrepentant words, and said, "If you get away on your own, then when people see you doing something like a magic trick, news of monsters will spread throughout Yejing."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xi shook her body in dissatisfaction, swinging her arm as she did so.

"I'm not a monster. If anyone dares to say I'm a monster, I'll show them what a real monster looks like and scare them to death."

Qin Suiyou then changed his finger to his palm and slapped Lu Xi's head.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Lu Xi exaggeratedly touched her head, which wasn't actually hurt, and exclaimed "Ouch!"

"I was wrong, I was wrong, please don't hit me anymore. There's a noise over there, let's turn back quickly, or Beitang Yan will scold me."

Seeing that a crowd was indeed gathering not far away, Qin Suiyou reminded Lu Xi to remember to withdraw the small spell, and then turned around. No one around noticed the whole process.

Ahead, three people rode side by side on tall horses, all wearing armor that, even after being washed clean, still exuded a bloodthirsty aura. Behind them was a squad of well-trained soldiers, their steps resounding and powerful, making for a truly magnificent sight.

Lu Xi looked up for a while, but his interest waned. Then, seeing that Beitang Yan beside him seemed to be watching very intently, he whispered to him, "Actually, you're already used to seeing this, right? When you go to Zhongzhou, I'll show you what a truly well-trained army looks like."

Beitang Yan turned his head and gave Lu Xi a calm, indifferent look before turning his gaze back to the front.

Seeing Beitang Yan's expression, Lu Xi pouted and muttered, "One expression when looking at Youyou, another when looking at others, double standards."