Huangfu Jingchen looked over, and his gaze instantly fell into her eyes. Those eyes were like clear autumn waters, shining with a luster, resembling stars, resembling gemstones, pure and transparent...
His heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
His face turned sowhat pale, but anger suddenly surged out of nowhere, spilling out from his eyes as he glared fiercely at Xia Wenjin, gnashing his teeth: "If you keep speaking so recklessly and spouting nonsense, I will... I will make you regret it!"
Xia Wenjin blinked, looking innocent: "I don’t think I said anything, did I? Are you overthinking? The pheasant from yesterday, wasn’t it who caught it? Didn’t I roast it? Doesn’t that count as mine? The bedding, wasn’t it who laid it out?"
"Hmph, as a servant, this is what you are supposed to do!"
Xia Wenjin thought for a mont. It seed to be true.
She waved her hand: "Alright, alright, whatever you say goes!"
Seeing her conciliatory tone, Huangfu Jingchen also felt sowhat guilty, saying: "Pack up. I’ll wash my face and be back soon. Let’s continue the journey!"
Without waiting for Xia Wenjin to speak, he quickly left.
Xia Wenjin, with her sharp eyes, noticed a suspicious flush at the tip of his ears, thinking that this guy wasn’t so bad, knowing when to soften his stance and even showing a blush, though he wouldn’t admit it, his body was being quite honest!
By the pond, Huangfu Jingchen still felt his heartbeat had not settled. Looking at his reflection in the water, his face was red.
Damn it!
Xia Wenjin just smiled at him, and he ended up with a racing heart and a flushed face? He was sick! He must be sick.
He scooped water and constantly splashed it on his face. The cool sensation spread across his face. He filled his hands with water, burying his entire face in it, feeling a suffocating coolness.
It was a while before he released his hands, the water trickling through his fingers and into the pond. He took a deep breath, the fresh and sweet air filling his nose and mouth, and his heartbeat finally cald; his mind finally cald.
Upon returning, as expected, Xia Wenjin had already packed up, waiting for him.
She had even thoughtfully extinguished all the embers.
Huangfu Jingchen took his luggage, and the two continued on their way.
Xia Wenjin looked at the sky and said, "Though we’re not slow, it will still take about ten days to reach Liangzhou. We’d better buy two horses from the marketplace."
They had been walking for more than ten days, and it was indeed a bit tiring. Huangfu Jingchen initially wanted to refuse, but when he turned his head, he accidentally caught sight of Xia Wenjin’s bright eyes and involuntarily said, "Alright, if we take this road straight, we can reach the nearest marketplace by afternoon. We can rest for a night, and continue riding tomorrow, which will shorten the journey by a few days!"
Xia Wenjin was a bit surprised at how agreeable Huangfu Jingchen was this ti, but she didn’t care. If they continued walking like this, it would feel as if her legs weren’t her own anymore.
The next marketplace was a fairly bustling place, still within Yunfeng County, but it was a county-level city.
They arrived as dusk was approaching.
New notices were posted on the street, bearing official seals. Perhaps they had been there for a few days, as there were few people looking. Xia Wenjin glanced at it; it was the announcent for the new Crown Prince’s ascension.
About the forr Crown Prince, the notice ntioned that his virtue did not match his position, thus he was stripped of the title. As for the new Crown Prince, the notice was full of praise, describing him as benevolent, compassionate, and of impeccable character.
Of course, Xia Wenjin rely looked them over.
This new Crown Prince, Prince Zhuang, Huangfu Hanyu, his character wasn’t as benevolent as claid.
Anyone eyeing that position would use any ans necessary, so where is the integrity in that?
Especially in her past life, she had interacted with most of those princes.
Now that the forr Crown Prince was deposed, Huangfu Yuxuan should be too concerned with his own affairs to continue deceiving her father and uncles in Haotian Village, which was a good thing.
Xia Wenjin, lacking interest, turned to leave, only to notice Huangfu Jingchen also staring at the notice, his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression dark and undecipherable.
Curious, Xia Wenjin asked, "Huang Zheng, your expression doesn’t seem quite right!"
Huangfu Jingchen glanced at her and said flatly, "The succession of the Crown Prince is indeed a significant national event! The forr Crown Prince’s virtue did not match his position. We can only hope the new Crown Prince possesses both virtue and talent!"
After speaking, he ceased to pay it any more attention.
Tired from the day’s journey, the two mainly wanted to find sothing to eat and rest. But with it being late, the horse market would close soon.
They first found an inn, asked a clerk for directions to the horse market, and managed to buy two horses before it closed.
After leading the horses back to the inn, they dined at a nearby tavern.
The tavern was bustling, with private rooms on the second floor and common seating on the first. By the ti they arrived, there were no private rooms available, and Xia Wenjin didn’t mind, choosing a spot on the first floor towards the back.
Huangfu Jingchen offered no opinions on this, leaving the choice to Xia Wenjin.
Even amidst the noisy environnt, Huangfu Jingchen didn’t seem to mind.
If this had been right after leaving the capital, he would have insisted on dining in style, with plenty of silver notes in hand and Yan Nan tending to his needs.
Yet, he harbored a dream of the Jianghu, spurred by tales from his ntors. Yearning to explore on his own, he sent Yan Nan away.
Unexpectedly, his nightmare began then.
eting Xia Wenjin, he started experiencing a life he had never known.
No longer in possession of abundant silver notes, even driven out of inns, he was no longer the high and mighty, experiencing the hardships and reality of the poor.
Such a life was sothing he had never experienced in his eighteen years.
Now, having a place to sit and eat quietly, no matter the poor surroundings, seed trivial to him.
This was the feeling of life in the Jianghu!
Xia Wenjin observed Huangfu Jingchen dining elegantly, every move exuding grace, revealing his noble upbringing, even in such a setting.
Xia Wenjin pouted at him.
Perplexed, Huangfu Jingchen glanced at her.
Smiling, Xia Wenjin said, "Do you understand ’when in Ro, do as the Romans do’? Are you trying to attract attention with the way you’re eating?"
Huangfu Jingchen remained indifferent: "Then how should I eat?"
Xia Wenjin grabbed a mouthful of food with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth, saying, "Like this, everyone here eats this way, don’t they?"
Huangfu Jingchen scanned the room, and Xia Wenjin was right. Those seated in the main hall were mostly poorer folks, busy with their livelihoods, calling out loudly, speaking boisterously, gulping at, and downing wine.
He indeed stood out among them.
Inwardly, Huangfu Jingchen disagreed, giving Xia Wenjin a glance: "Uncouth!"
Xia Wenjin chuckled softly, "You don’t understand. You’re an indulged young master from a wealthy family, your food ticulous, your manners refined. But don’t you find such a life tedious? There’s a charm in gulping at and wine. How would you know unless you try?"
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