As soon as they left the inn, they found a small team of people waiting outside the door, all wearing helmets and armor, weathered from wind and snow, looking like they had just returned from a long journey.

  Nan Chengyao seemed to have noticed my doubts, and with a gentle smile, he wrapped his arm around me and said: "I led some people to the north of the desert a few days ago, and only returned to Ye City today, but everywhere I went, they were all reciting this 'Shangjing Qingfeng'."

  I slightly felt ashamed and somewhat embarrassed, lowering my eyelashes to smile: "I've been in Ye City for five days now, but I couldn't see Your Highness, so I had to think of this plan."

  He smiled and said: "If it weren't for this, how would I have guessed that you were here? The queen might really have to sleep on the streets."

  I couldn't help but laugh at his words, and as I looked up at him, I finally noticed that the atmosphere around us was eerily strange. It wasn't until then that I realized I was still dressed in men's clothing, yet he had wrapped me in his arms under a shared fox fur coat.

  It's a bit embarrassing, can't help but blame myself for being warmed up by the fox fur and becoming lazy all over, didn't pay attention for a moment and ended up in this situation, while quietly trying to struggle out of his embrace.

  He didn't let go, still holding the fox fur with one hand and gripping my shoulder tightly with the other, giving me a sidelong glance that was almost a smile, but saying nothing.

  I blushed and helplessly whispered in his arms: "Your Highness, if you don't let me go, do you want people to say that you have a fondness for men?"

  He lowered his eyes and looked at me with a smile: "If it's such a handsome young man, I don't mind."

  "Your Highness!"

  Perhaps seeing the annoyance on my face, he smiled and let me go, then took off his fox fur coat and personally put it over my shoulders.

  "Your Highness..."

  I wanted to decline, but before I could finish speaking, he interrupted me with a careless smile: "How about it, have you figured it out, or is it just that two people are warmer?"

  I looked at him helplessly, knowing that saying more would be useless. He smiled and stepped forward, instructing his subordinates: "Leave one person here to keep watch, the rest of you follow me back to the mansion."

  Saying so, he turned around and looked at me with a smile.

  I hastily spoke up: "Your Highness, since Shuying is ill and it's inconvenient for her, I'll stay behind instead. Once she's feeling better, I'll immediately head to the government office."

  Since he is now safe and sound, there is no need to rush these letters to him at this moment. All his attendants are men of integrity, but one of them is a young girl who is ill in bed, which makes it inconvenient for her to take care of things.

  Nan Chengyao didn't force me, and instead nodded at me with a faint smile: "Oh, she's come too?"

  Without waiting for me to respond, he slightly turned his head and instructed a clear-eyed young man beside him: "Qin Zhao, you stay behind to guard the princess."

  In front of everyone, even if they had been through a hundred battles, when they heard my identity, they couldn't help but be slightly startled, yet they restrained themselves from making any sudden movements, considering the occasion.

  Although I knew I shouldn't, their helpless appearance at this moment still made me want to laugh, while Nan Xiangyao didn't have such a good heart and directly laughed out loud. He elegantly jumped onto his horse and smiled at the crowd of subordinates: "Let's go, follow me back for now, there will be opportunities to meet again in the future, no need to rush this time."

  He led the crowd away gradually, and Qin Zhao stayed behind to help me tidy up everything.

  This is a young man with a clear and calm appearance, who doesn't seem to be much older than Zhang Da. His eyes are as if they contain the entire universe, filled with tolerance and peace. He has a quiet, clean, and tolerant aura about him.

  At such a young age and with such a temperament, I really can't associate the Qin Zhao in front of me with the Long Fei General who is said to be invincible in battle, fighting amidst blood and rain.

  He naturally noticed my gaze, but continued to act calmly and openly, without avoiding it, yet remained silent, not saying a word.

  I went upstairs to wake up Shuying, and Xiaoyao heard that the third palace had come down. She seemed to have woken up a lot at once, looking happy and refreshed, and her spirits were much better.

  I slightly put my mind at ease and helped her down the stairs. Qin Zhao had already made all the preparations, leading "Zhui Feng" and Zi Yan's horses outside the inn.

  His great name had long been spread throughout the north of the desert, and in the eyes of the people of Ye City, he was almost a god-like figure. Therefore, at this moment, despite the cold weather, there were still many people gathered around him, with admiration and reverence in their eyes.

  He is obviously more adept at dealing with fierce and formidable enemies, but in the face of such unreserved enthusiasm from the people, although he responded with kindness and courtesy, he was somewhat at a loss, and for the most part simply listened quietly.

  But this did not prevent more and more people from gathering around him.

  He saw me coming down the stairs and seemed to let out a sigh of relief in his eyes, quickly walking over to support Xiao Ying, who was dressed in a small servant's attire.

  His hand stretched out halfway but suddenly froze in mid-air, unable to move forward or backward. Perhaps he thought that since I was a woman dressed as a man, the silhouette must also be a woman.

  I smiled slightly and handed over the bundle that wasn't heavy in my hand, saying lightly: "Trouble General."

  He took it, then perhaps because of the overly light weight, he slightly hesitated, looked at me for a moment, and then quietly lowered his eyes and walked out the door to lead the horse.

  Nan Chengyao said those words in a low voice, mixed with the sound of wind and snow, only his few subordinates around him heard.

  But he came over in person and left Qin Zhao behind, which was enough to make everyone curious about my identity.

  The landlady, perhaps because of Qin Zhao's taciturnity and reluctance to push hard earlier, now seeing me come down, took a few steps forward and stuffed silver into my hand: "Mu Xiao Ge, you are the third prince's person, then you are my benefactor in Yenching, I absolutely cannot accept this rent."

  I hastily declined, but no matter how I declined, I had to put the silver on the counter and bowed to her.

  She was startled and hurried over to support me: "Mu Xiao Ge, what are you doing?"

  I looked into her eyes and sincerely said, "In the past few days, thank you for your hospitality. Now that we are about to part ways, I hope you won't make things difficult for Mu Qin."

  "This is our little heart's desire, what's difficult about it..."

  I bowed again, then looked at her and slowly opened my mouth, my voice clear and firm: "You're wrong. The Third Prince's military discipline has always been strict, with the first rule being not to disturb the people. Even in times of war, they can do 'freeze to death without dismantling houses, starve to death without looting'. Now, how could Mu Qin violate military discipline and occupy your house? So I say, please don't make things difficult for me. Mu Qin's personal affairs are small, but if the Third Prince's military discipline is ruined, it will be a big deal."

  "This......" She looked embarrassed, extremely anxious but didn't know how to respond.

  I know that the people of Ye City are simple and honest, and this shopkeeper is a kind-hearted person. If I really leave like this, she will surely be distressed for several days.

  So he smiled and said: "Being in Ye City, the boss is still worried that there will be no opportunity to do something for the country? These days I've been in your 'Half Creek', I understand what it means to have 'Ye City's burning wine arrive at Half Creek'. It really lives up to its reputation. Now that it's cold and frozen outside, soldiers on the march need burning wine to warm themselves up. When I go back, I'll tell the three palaces below to come here and purchase a large quantity, how about that? At that time, don't hide it and not take it out, okay?"

  She then became happy and laughed: "Don't worry, Mu Xiao Ge, I will definitely save the best wine for you!"

  I smiled and bid her farewell, went out the door, first helped Shuying tighten the fox fur cloak on her body, made sure she wouldn't catch a chill before asking: "Do you still have the energy to ride a horse? If not, I'll go ahead and hire a sedan chair for you."

  She smiled: "After taking medicine and sleeping for a while, I'm almost recovered. And now that I can see the Third Highness, this illness is gone."

  I couldn't help but burst out laughing, seeing that her cheeks were still flushed red, knowing that the illness was still lingering, but since she had the energy to make jokes, her spirit seemed not bad either, I thought it would be no problem for us to slowly ride to the government office.

  Thinking so, Fang Fu led her to the front of the purple swallow horse, raised his eyes, and coincidentally met Qin Zhao's quiet gaze.

  He saw me looking at him, but didn't panic. He simply lowered his eyes again and remained silent, silently extending his arm to give Shu Ying a hug.

  Shu Ying leaned on his arm for support, and sat steadily on the horse. Qin Zhao turned around and led "Zhu Feng" over, I lightly jumped up, and only after sitting down did I realize that Qin Zhao's right arm was still in front of the horse.

  Couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and smiled at him.

  He looked at me, and suddenly his lips curved into a faint smile, I didn't know if he was laughing at me or himself, but that smile lit up his clear face like a fleeting flower under the moonlight.

  I was taken aback for a moment, and when I looked closer, the faint curve on his lips had already disappeared, leaving no trace, like a fleeting flower that vanished in an instant.

  He turned around nimbly and mounted his horse, silently waiting for a sign of my departure.

  I smiled slightly and nodded, and then the three of us rode our horses slowly towards the direction of Ye City government office.

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