The young man in black robes was like a dark shadow, hidden in the shadows. Only after hearing the maid's gossip did he raise his eyes to look into the distance.

The curved knife that had been hidden in his sleeve had plunged deep into his palm, and intense pain and warm, scarlet blood slowly flowed down his wrist.

It dripped into the brown soil.

He knew he was uneasy, but he didn't know why. It was just a woman getting married, why was he so flustered?

He had lived a life of constant danger since childhood and had no idea what love was, nor did he know where this inexplicable emotion came from.

He felt that something was wrong with his body, and wondered if he could go to the pharmacist to get some calming pills.

He scoffed and vanished from the spot moments later.

Bai Guanqing found out very late, and the next day Ni Qing was all packed and ready to set off on her journey.

The emperor probably knew that her status and reputation were not worthy of her position, so he bestowed a title upon her before she left.

Princess Jingyao.

Whether out of genuine joy or a sense of relief, the people cheered throughout the streets and alleys on the day she left.

Amidst the clamor and excitement, many joined the parade to experience the spectacle.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhuzhu looked at her young mistress dressed in an extremely festive red dress and couldn't help but feel a little sad.

"This servant has been looking forward to this joyous day, but I never expected it to turn out like this. It's rare for Miss to look so beautiful, yet she has to marry into the Yu Kingdom and suffer."

Zhuzhu was still unwilling to accept it.

Ni Qing wore an exquisite hairstyle, befitting her wealthy upbringing. Her jewelry, gleaming with gold, was elegant and luxurious, exuding grandeur. Even her betrothal gifts consisted of boxes of gold and silver jewels.

Her jet-black hair made her skin look even whiter, and her eyebrows and eyes had no aggressiveness, giving her a gentle and aloof air. Her lips were a different color than usual, a charming red.

Even though she was not favored and had nothing, her food, clothing, and daily necessities were never skimped on, since she wasn't short of money.

Zhuzhu curiously lifted the curtain and looked outside. There was a huge crowd of people, all smiling.

Ni Qing glanced sideways in the light, and everyone who saw her fell silent as if by unspoken agreement.

I didn't see anyone familiar.

Zhuzhu pursed her lips and lowered the curtain.

The stunning beauty of the girl in red was fleeting, quickly concealed by the airtight curtain.

Soon, the carriage procession marched out of the city gate in a grand procession, with more than 50 people including the guards.

The carriage swayed and rocked, making Ni Qing's back ache. Zhu Zhu also dozed off by the window, vaguely aware that the voices outside were getting farther and farther away.

The air inside was too stuffy, so she tied the curtain up with the rope on the side, and the gentle spring breeze from outside slowly blew in.

To ensure the princess's comfort, the envoys dared not rush, stopping to rest every two or three hours.

We traveled along the way, stopping frequently to eat some dry food and drink some water, and it was almost dark by then.

"Princess, if we continue for another hour, let's find an inn to rest for the night," said the guard in front of the carriage, clasping his hands in greeting.

After all, horses need rest too, and we didn't encounter any robbers or thugs along the way, which greatly improved the efficiency of returning home.

Ni Qing looked out the window at the surrounding mountains and valleys, where night birds frolicked and played in the woods, making no attempt to hide from passersby.

They weaved between the two mountains, the huge mountain shadows firmly enveloping the carriage, the moonlight bright and clear like candlelight.

"Okay," she replied calmly.

A very subtle sense of being watched fell on her face. She paused, her gaze sharp as she looked towards the direction of her intuition.

Far away on the mountainside, there seemed to be a figure standing among the rocks. A cool breeze blew gently, and her high ponytail was turned away from the moonlight, with strands of hair fluttering lightly.

In the blink of an eye, the person disappeared.

Could it be a hallucination? Ni Qing pondered for a moment, then looked around but didn't see anything suspicious.

If they were bandits, they wouldn't go alone.

No accidents occurred until the group crossed the mountains and arrived at the village, and Ni Qing finally relaxed.

The servants naturally took care of the accommodation. After Zhuzhu helped Ni Qing wash up, she extinguished the candles, stepped out of the room, and closed the door.

The room was deathly silent. She had been in the carriage all day, and now her back ached and she was exhausted. As soon as she lay down on the bed, her consciousness began to drift off.

There were waiters pacing back and forth outside the door, but soon it fell into dead silence.

A slender, tall shadow, visible through the thin paper covering, slowly came to a stop at her room's door, and then the door was pushed open.

The girl lay flat on the bed in her undergarments, her serene face appearing exceptionally well-behaved, and a peculiar candlelight scent seemed to waft from her nostrils.

No! She can't be sleeping so soundly, can she? She can't even move her body.

Ni Qing moved her fingertips slowly, with great difficulty.

The newcomer was dressed in black brocade robes and wore an exaggerated mask that completely covered his face, revealing only his dark eyes.

He stood by the bed for a long time before slowly raising his hand and gently stroking her cheek, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

The problem is with the scent.

Ni Qing could feel it, but her body still couldn't move. She tried holding her breath, and it took a long time before she began to regain consciousness.

The other party probably didn't mean any harm, otherwise she would have died in her sleep.

As soon as I entered, the fragrance was noticeably diluted.

The masked man lowered his eyes, his cold, calloused fingertips moving casually until they reached her lips.

Then, the girl grabbed his wrist.

The girl, who had been asleep moments before, now wore a cold expression. Her grip wasn't strong, but it brooked no refusal. She looked indifferently at the newcomer: "Who are you? What is your purpose in coming here?"

A low, husky chuckle reached her ear: "Who am I? Why don't you try to guess?"

Ni Qing: "..." Guess if I'm going to guess?

The person deliberately lowered their voice, and she couldn't immediately recognize who it was.

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