At the third quarter of the hour of the Ox, the heavy city gates were slowly pushed open by the guards.
A grand procession, magnificent yet silent, rolled out of the city gates.
Ji Zizhao's carriage was at the very end of the procession, with the Second Prince and the Tenth Prince's carriages ahead.
Suddenly, the muffled quiet was broken by the rapid sound of horse hooves.
The Seventh Prince was seen galloping forward, flicking his whip.
His purple robe, embroidered with green patterns, could not conceal his strong physique. Over it, he wore a bright silk matching-colored vest. As if for convenience while riding, he had specifically tucked the hem of his robe into his white jade belt, making his legs appear long from a distance.
Such dashing spirit and fine steeds were entirely different from his usual image of a dissolute rake.
Even Qing Zhu, sitting in the carriage, remarked, "I never expected the Seventh Prince's equestrian skills to be so superb."
Hearing Qing Zhu's praise, Ji Zizhao couldn't help but look out the carriage window again.
This time, she saw two attendants also on horseback, closely following the Seventh Prince. They appeared to be skilled practitioners of martial arts.
The Young General had chosen someone with no experience, yet those accompanying the Seventh Prince were masters of martial arts.
It was evident that Emperor Yu Lin truly favored the Seventh Prince.
The Second Prince, Xie Jingxi, seated in the carriage ahead, was disturbed by the chaotic sound of hooves. Frowning, he peered out the window. Upon seeing it was the Seventh Prince, the words that had reached his lips were swallowed back.
The young eunuch attending the Second Prince suggested, "Perhaps this servant could go and speak with His Highness the Seventh Prince?"
Xie Jingxi waved his hand impatiently, "Speak of what? Do you think this Prince isn't embarrassed enough already!"
Back in the palace, this 'Old Seven' was his father's darling.
Now, he was merely a disgraced prince exiled, so what right did he have to compare himself to 'Old Seven'?
The young eunuch, with a pained expression, whispered softly, "This servant merely wishes for Your Highness to be more comfortable."
Xie Jingxi closed his eyes in annoyance and leaned heavily against the soft couch behind him.
Just thinking about spending his future in Luoyi, how could he speak of comfort?
Especially since his father had also ordered Ji Zizhao to accompany them. The mere thought of Ji Zizhao's face now made Xie Jingxi violently desirous of murder.
Unlike the Second Prince, the Tenth Prince was propped against the carriage window, gazing wistfully at the carriages behind.
Coincidentally, at this moment, the Seventh Prince galloped over. Seeing the Tenth Prince's longing gaze, he tightened the reins and asked, "Why that expression? Are you feeling unwell?"
The Tenth Prince pouted pitifully, "Seventh Brother, I have something to ask of you."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi could not stand the Tenth Prince's look of dejection. "Speak."
Thinking of his younger brother being sent to the Turks as a hostage, the Seventh Prince was determined that no matter the request, as long as it made 'Little Old Ten' comfortable, he, as an elder brother, would...
"I want to share a carriage with Princess Ronghe."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi: "..."
Say that again?
The Tenth Prince blinked his innocent eyes, "Seventh Brother..."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi shoved the Tenth Prince's small head back into the carriage and rode away without looking back.
Wanting to associate with that good-for-nothing from the Ji family?
Let alone calling him 'brother'...
Even calling him 'father' wouldn't work!
Not long after, the carriage Ji Zizhao was in was violently knocked upon.
Lian Ju and Qing Zhu inside the carriage immediately defensively reached for their concealed weapons.
Could they encounter bandits even during a military procession?
Of course not.
So Ji Zizhao lifted the carriage curtain first. Su Dan Novels.
The result was seeing the Seventh Prince, who looked more like a bandit than a bandit...
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi frowned and demanded, "Ji Zizhao, what aphrodisiac did you give my tenth brother?"
Ji Zizhao was stunned, genuinely not understanding, "This commoner does not understand what Your Highness the Seventh Prince means."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi, however, spoke with conviction, "Don't play coy with me. If you hadn't done something, why would my tenth brother insist on squeezing into your carriage?"
Ji Zizhao could understand why the Tenth Prince wanted to be close to her.
But she had no need to explain to this 'Husky Seven' in front of her.
"If Your Highness the Seventh Prince has nothing else, I beg your leave."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi: "..."
What is your attitude?
"Ji Zizhao, I warn you, don't play any tricks. If I find out, you..."
"Bang!"
Before Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi could finish his words, the carriage window was slammed shut.
The Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi, having been rebuffed, had a contorted expression on his handsome face.
But seeing him, he drew the long sword at his waist without a word.
Sun Li and Liang Xiu, who were ordered by the Emperor to follow the Seventh Prince and protect him, quickly rode up. One restrained the sword, the other grasped the Seventh Prince's arm.
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi's eyes widened, "What are you doing!"
Sun Li: "..."
Liang Xiu: "..."
What could they do?
They were ordered to protect the Seventh Prince's safety, and yet, just as they left the city, the Seventh Prince was about to engage in a duel with a young lady?
To put it bluntly, even if the Seventh Prince didn't care about royal demeanor, shouldn't he at least care about his reputation!
Sun Li decided to reason with him, "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, the army has just left the city and must reach Liangcheng before we can rest. If we delay the journey, the entire army might have to travel hungry."
Seventh Prince Xie Jingqi pondered for a moment. It was inconvenient to make innocent people suffer. He shook off Sun Li and Liang Xiu's restraint and rode ahead.
As they were under orders, the army followed the smooth official road.
Although the task was assigned to the newly appointed Young General Han Jingyu, to avoid delaying their journey, they had been pressing on.
By midday, they finally reached the territory of Liangcheng.
Since the army had to continue their journey in the afternoon, everyone could only rest at their current location.
Soon, the soldiers began distributing rations.
Han Jingyu personally delivered portions of rations to each carriage.
Military rations were mostly corn cakes and steamed buns; they were not delicious but ensured one wouldn't go hungry.
The Second Prince's young eunuch selected a white flour steamed bun, but it was still disdained by the Second Prince Xie Jingxi.
The Second Prince Xie Jingxi, being a prince, had never endured such hardship. He threw the bun in front of the eunuch, "Even a dog wouldn't eat this. Go and fetch the pastries I brought with me."
The eunuch dared not disobey and quickly opened the exquisite pastry box.
Xie Jingxi took the pastry box, and as if remembering something, he then took the white flour steamed buns from Han Jingyu's hand.
He did not eat them himself. Instead, he kicked the eunuch, "These buns are for you."
The eunuch quickly offered his thanks, picked up the dust-covered buns, and hid in a corner to devour them.
Han Jingyu was accustomed to the pampered lives of royalty.
This was why he admired the Seventh Prince even more, for the Seventh Prince was now eating the unappetizing rations alongside the soldiers.
After Han Jingyu delivered buns to the Tenth Prince, he arrived at Ji Zizhao's carriage.
"Princess Ronghe, this subordinate is here to deliver rations."