The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

The honor guard marched out of the capital in a grand procession, heading north.

As the journey progressed, the weather grew increasingly cold, and the biting wind felt like a knife, stinging one's face.

The ten-odd days passed in the blink of an eye, and the scenery along the way underwent tremendous changes.

The once lush and green land is now covered with a thick layer of white snow.

The landscape is covered in silver, serene and beautiful.

In this icy and snowy landscape, a warm stove was lit inside the carriage.

The leaping flames emitted a steady stream of heat, driving away the chill inside the car and making it as warm as spring.

However, even in the warm environment, Xiao Nanzhi's face still showed signs of exhaustion.

Her body simply couldn't handle the long journey.

She had only been out of the capital for seven or eight days when she caught a cold due to the change in environment and the long journey.

Although the patient rested for a few days at a rest stop along the way and the condition improved slightly, the illness relapsed once the journey resumed.

Ji Huai felt sorry for her health and ordered, "Stop at the town ahead, book an inn, and rest there."

This time, he waited until Xiao Nanzhi was fully recovered before setting off.

"Cough, cough..." A violent coughing sound came from inside the car.

Xiao Nanzhi lay listlessly on the soft couch in the carriage, covered with a thick, fluffy fox fur blanket, but even so, it was difficult to dispel the chill emanating from her body.

Her face was as pale as paper, and her lips were dry and cracked from illness.

Extremely weak, she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and helplessness.

She tried to get up, but each attempt ended in failure. Her body felt as if all her strength had been drained away, leaving her limp and powerless.

Seeing this, the two maids quickly stepped forward and carefully helped her up, their movements gentle and respectful.

One of the maids asked softly, "Princess, are you thirsty?"

Xiao Nanzhi shook her head slightly, her voice heavy with nasal congestion, and said weakly, "I'm too tired from lying down, and I feel unwell."

The maids understood immediately and helped her slowly sit down by the carriage window.

Xiao Nanzhi looked out through the gap in the carriage curtain and saw rolling snow-capped mountains and vast ice fields. The world was a vast expanse of white, and the silvery-white world seemed to have no end.

Looking at this unfamiliar and cold scenery, a trace of loneliness and sorrow flashed in her eyes.

From now on, those familiar and beautiful scenes of the capital city will probably only be found in memories.

The Eastern Mausoleum she was about to visit was located in a desert area with a dry and cold climate, which was completely different from the warm and humid Nanyue where she had lived since childhood.

Moreover, the dietary habits of the two places are quite different.

The people of Dongling mainly eat meat, while staple foods such as rice and wheat flour, which are common in Nanyue, are extremely rare there.

The eldest princess felt sorry for her daughter and worried that she would not be used to the local food in Dongling, so she specially prepared all kinds of seeds in her dowry.

Thinking that once she arrived in Dongling, she could have her servants find a place to cultivate the land, so that she could eat her hometown food whenever she wanted.

Xiao Nanzhi stared blankly at the snow-covered landscape outside the window, her eyes filled with loneliness and melancholy.

Just then, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from afar.

A man riding a tall horse came up to her carriage.

The man wore a thick felt hat that covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of deep and bright eyes visible.

His breath instantly turned into a cloud of white mist in the cold air, blurring his face.

Only when he came to stand in front of Xiao Nanzhi did he slowly reach out and remove the mask from his face.

"Nanzhi." A familiar voice came, and Xiao Ji looked at her with heartache in his eyes.

In just a few days, Xiao Nanzhi had become so sickly and haggard.

The moment Xiao Nanzhi saw Xiao Ji, joy instantly shone in her dim eyes, and she softly called out, "Brother Xiao Ji."

The journey was arduous, and if it weren't for Xiao Ji's meticulous care throughout, she truly didn't know how she would have survived these difficult days.

Xiao Ji gently tossed the package he was carrying into her carriage, then said with a hint of apology, "I can't take you any further once we reach the Heihe Ferry."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness and reluctance. That place was the border between Dongling and Nanyue, and as a general of Nanyue, his army could not cross the border line.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Nanzhi's eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She fought back tears, nodded gently, and said, "Take good care of my mother."

"Yes." Xiao Ji responded emphatically, his tone firm yet gentle: "When the new emperor ascends the throne, I will also return to my fiefdom, and then I will be closer to you."

It was no secret that Emperor Wen's health was deteriorating.

A few days ago, Xiao Ji received news from the capital that Emperor Wen had been bedridden for three days.

Currently, the Crown Prince is temporarily overseeing state affairs.

Emperor Wen was nearly sixty years old, and it was only a matter of time before the crown prince ascended the throne.

Once Xiao Yin successfully ascends to the throne, Xiao Ji will take his wife, children, and elderly parents to his fiefdom of Wenchuan, where he will live a carefree life as a prince.

Wenchuan's fiefdom was closest to Dongling, and it could be reached in a day by fast horse.

Hearing this, Xiao Nanzhi felt a little better, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in her eyes. She said, "Brother Xiao Ji, I'm waiting for you."

"Okay, take care of yourself." Xiao Ji gently reined in his horse and waited quietly in place.

They watched as Xiao Nanzhi's carriage slowly moved forward until its figure gradually disappeared.

A short while later, a slight gust of wind was heard.

A dark shadow silently descended beside Xiao Ji like a ghost.

The newcomer was dressed entirely in black, with his face completely covered by a black mask, revealing only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes.

He knelt on one knee, his voice low and respectful: "Your Highness."

Xiao Ji looked at the man in front of him, a trace of heartache filling his eyes.

He walked up to Bai Shu and helped him up with both hands: "From now on, you are Nan Zhi's shadow. With you by her side, I feel much more at ease."

"It is my honor to protect the princess." Bai Shu's voice was completely flat.

He would be willing to die just to stay by Xiao Nanzhi's side.

Xiao Ji patted his shoulder heavily: "Take good care of her, and take good care of yourself too."

After saying that, he handed a token to Bai Shu: "This is my secret army. If you encounter any difficulties, you can summon this army at will."

Being far from home, this was all he could do for Xiao Nanzhi.

Bai Shu gripped the token tightly, her eyes welling up with tears: "Thank you, Your Highness."

After saying that, he leaped up and chased after the group.