Part 2
Prince of Yan initially said that since they had just started the journey, he feared her body wouldn’t adapt, so it wasn’t convenient to travel too far in a day, and the speed shouldn’t be too fast.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t take it to heart at first.
It wasn’t until a few days later, when even sitting inside the carriage she could sense the speed was no different from before, that she gradually felt something was wrong.
She curiously sent someone to ask. Prince of Yan simply replied, “Royal Sister-in-law rarely travels far. If we go too hastily, discomfort is inevitable. If your health suffers and we have to stay on the road to recuperate, it would delay time even more and harm your body. It is not far from Luoyang to Chang’an, and the scenery along the way is pleasant. Royal Sister-in-law has not left Luoyang for many years; take this opportunity to enjoy the scenery properly.”
Since he put it this way, and every word was for her sake, Zhao Yiyi couldn’t ask further.
In the evening, the wind whistled outside. Zhao Yiyi lifted the curtain and looked to the side, just in time to see the round setting sun in the distance. The blood-red light embellished the clouds in mid-air like strips of crimson silk sashes. The color radiated outward from the sunset, gradually fading.
“Tomorrow will surely be a sunny day.” Looking at the varying depths of clouds in the air, Mancao laughed from the side and casually poured a cup of tea for Zhao Yiyi.
Zhao Yiyi couldn’t help but smile, her pear dimples faintly visible, and said warmly, “Who says it isn’t?”
Not far ahead, Prince of Yan was turning his head to speak to the person beside him. Zhao Yiyi recognized the man in the crimson robe; he was a confidant who had followed Gu Zhen for many years.
Xin Cheng’an, the General of the Left Qianniu Guard.
Back when they were still in the Eastern Palace, Xin Cheng’an served in the Crown Prince’s Left Guard, specifically responsible for the Crown Prince’s safety. After Gu Zhen ascended the throne, he transferred him to the Left Qianniu Guard.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t know at first. It wasn’t until that night when they arrived at the Mianchi relay station and she stepped out of the carriage, glancing inadvertently to the side just as a breeze lifted her veil hat, that she saw Xin Cheng’an standing there.
She hadn’t expected Gu Zhen to send his own confidant out as a guard.
Tired of holding the curtain with one hand, and with the scenery outside unchanged for a long time, Zhao Yiyi lay bored on the carriage window, counting the elm trees passing by one by one.
Seeming to sense the gaze from behind, Prince of Yan suddenly turned his head to look over while speaking. He was stunned at first, then nodded slightly in greeting before turning his head back.
Not long after, Prince of Yan rode over and said respectfully, “Royal Sister-in-law, we should stay in Shan Prefecture today. After this stretch, we will switch to the water route and enter the Western Capital via the Wei River.”
Usually, to avoid suspicion, he would send a eunuch or a female official in men’s clothing to ask. Perhaps because he happened to be nearby today, he came over personally.
Zhao Yiyi smiled and asked warmly, “How much longer until Shan Prefecture?”
Prince of Yan replied, “We should arrive tonight, mostly.”
“Understood.” Zhao Yiyi nodded, her voice soft. “It has been hard on you to arrange this journey.”
From Luoyang to Chang’an, it actually wasn’t that far.
But because she had to ride in a carriage and they couldn’t drive too fast, they had been dawdling all the way. It took these several days just to reach Shan Prefecture.
Passing Shan Prefecture and entering the Wei River, presumably, Chang’an wouldn’t be far.
Thinking of this, a rare bright smile appeared on Zhao Yiyi’s face, more vibrant than the sunset in the distance.
Prince of Yan smiled along with her and replied, “This is this subject-brother’s duty. How can it be called hard work? Royal Sister-in-law must not say so.”
After a few more words, he rode straight to the front and spoke to Xin Cheng’an again.
They seemed to be discussing some important matter.
Zhao Yiyi clung to the window sill, staring at their backs thoughtfully. After a moment, she whispered, “Mancao, do you remember when we went to Shan Prefecture before?”
“How could I not remember?” Mancao nibbled on a slice of cloud cake and recalled, “This servant still remembers there was a scholar tree in that relay station. At that time, Niangniang wanted to take this servant to climb it. This servant said no, but Niangniang insisted on going. Well, we almost got beaten by the Old Madame.”
Zhao Yiyi giggled, flicked her forehead, and huffed, “You don’t remember my good points, only these things.”
Arriving at the relay station outside Shan Prefecture in the evening, Zhao Yiyi went upstairs first to return to her room.
Traveling the Yellow River water route to Chang’an necessitated passing through Shan Prefecture. Many officials who escorted grain and fodder would hand over their duties in Shan Prefecture and rest here for a few days before returning. Because of this, this relay station was built quite completely.
The relay station was enclosed on four sides, built in the style of a courtyard with a sky well. The guest room Zhao Yiyi occupied faced inward.
Pushing open the window, one could see the towering ancient scholar tree planted in the courtyard.
In this early summer season, seeing this lush scholar tree and hearing the cicadas chirping in it felt more pleasant than at any other time.
Zhao Yiyi’s eyes held a sigh as she whispered, “I vaguely remember that when I followed Grandfather and the others into Luoyang, passing through Shan Prefecture, we also stayed in this relay station. This ancient scholar tree hasn’t changed a bit.”
Although they stayed in this relay station both times, entering Luoyang back then meant taking the land route to Shan Prefecture first, then switching to the water route to Luoyang. This time, it was the reverse.
The only intersection between the two trips was this relay station.
Watching the Empress go upstairs and hearing the female official report that she had entered her room, Prince of Yan planned to return to his own room.
Just as his leather boot stepped on the stairs, an attendant came over to report: “Young Master, someone outside requests an audience. That person is dressed luxuriously and has a dignified bearing; presumably, he is not someone trying to curry favor with Young Master.”
Prince of Yan frowned and looked at the sky. Since he had nothing to do, he let the person come.
“Fourth Young Master.” That person cupped his hands toward him and said respectfully, “My Master invites Fourth Young Master over.”
Hearing this person easily point out his rank, Prince of Yan’s expression changed. Under the flickering candlelight, after seeing the person’s face clearly, his eyelids jumped, and his expression became colorful. “Your Master… where is he now?”
The person replied, “Master has arrived outside the relay station and is about to enter.”
Suddenly remembering the Emperor’s instructions to slow down, Prince of Yan was stunned at first, then steadied his mind and stammered, “Then… how about I wait in the guest room and talk after your Master comes in?”
The person nodded with a smile and turned to report back.
Sitting upright in the guest room, separated by a screen with cloud and crane patterns, with countless guards outside, Prince of Yan poured a cup of tea personally and asked carefully, “Why has… Royal Brother come?”
“Rouran has begun small-scale border incursions, plundering the cattle, sheep, gold, and silver of border residents. The secret report reached Our hands, it just hasn’t spread yet.” Gu Zhen spoke very lightly, but his voice revealed some heaviness.
Prince of Yan had followed him for many years and could hear that he was angry, just suppressing it in his heart without an outburst.
In the century since the founding of Great Chu, starting from the Great Ancestor, which emperor didn’t use Rouran as a raft to establish imperial prestige? Even those generals used Rouran as a target to establish military merit and earn a future and fame.
It was only because Royal Brother was young and had just ascended the throne, combined with being suppressed by Father Emperor before, that they dared to be so presumptuous.
No wonder Royal Brother was angry about this.
Steading his mind, Prince of Yan said, “Then Royal Brother… do you wish to enter Chang’an together with this subject-brother and Royal Sister-in-law?”
Gu Zhen shook his head and said in a deep voice, “You go first. We haven’t left Luoyang for a long time either. Since We are out, We will look at the recent conditions along the way.”
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