They lingered in Yan Province for several days, the checkpoints remaining sealed, preventing them from leaving.
Li Qiong Yu went out early and returned late every day, but she had yet to find the pervert衛清歌 had mentioned, which left her disheartened for days.
However, with her naturally carefree disposition, upon failing to find him, she deliberately buried the shadows deep within her heart. Over time, she stopped dwelling on it and instead focused on enjoying the food and entertainment in Yan Province with Ye Luan.
Ye Luan, cradling Xue Qiu, emerged from the roast duck restaurant with the other two. As she observed the increasingly stringent security in Yan Province, her unease grew.
What was Xie Bei Han plotting, that he wouldn't let her leave even from the distant capital?
Now, with such tight security within the city, could it be that he knew she was in Yan Province?
Her heart fluttered with anxiety. If that scoundrel found her, she'd be absolutely furious.
“This roast duck is delicious, let’s come back tomorrow to eat it again.”
Wei Qing Ge, still holding the roast duck wrapped in oil paper, spoke enthusiastically to the other two.
Lan Mu Rou touched her gradually rounding chin, lamenting, “I’ve been eating too greasy food these past few days; I’ve gained weight.”
“What’s wrong with being plump? It looks good. A Luan, what do you think?”
Ye Luan withdrew her thoughts and smiled, “I’m fine with anything.”
“Or, I heard from Xiao Qi that there’s a particularly delicious braised food place on South Street. Do you want to go?”
“Several young ladies, we’ve finally found you.”
At this moment, Xiao Qi’s voice suddenly came from ahead.
Wei Qing Ge turned back, spotting Xiao Qi arriving in a carriage, and waved happily, “Here.”
“Master is looking for you. We can leave now.”
Ye Luan’s eyes lit up, “Really?”
“Yes, he’s waiting for you at the city gate. Hurry and get in.”
The group quickly mounted their horses.
Wei Qing Ge handed one of the packed roast ducks to Xiao Qi, “Here, eat this.”
Xiao Qi exclaimed exaggeratedly, “Ah, Miss, you’re too kind to me.”
She didn't say anything, stepped onto the carriage via a stool, and sat on the driver’s seat, asking, “Did your young master find that pervert?”
Although she had deliberately tried not to think about it these past few days, as they were about to leave Yan Province and there was still no news, she felt a pang of sadness.
“Are you trying to placate me, your young master? How could there be no news at all?”
Ye Luan, sitting inside the carriage, heard the voices outside and frowned slightly.
Given their relationship, even if Li Qiong Yu turned Yan Province upside down, he would surely find that so-called pervert. But why couldn’t he find him?
“He looked. Many people were sent to search, but the situation outside the pass is too tense now. The old general is still detained in the Yan Pass military camp; we need to send you away first. Moreover, the young master has already ordered that the search will continue—”
“Ah, my grandfather came to Bei Qi?”
Wei Qing Ge was astonished. Her grandfather was old and had always guarded the border fort. During the previous border skirmishes, he had fallen ill from exhaustion.
With his poor health, how could he have traveled to Bei Qi?
“Is there going to be another war?”
Xiao Qi shook his head, “This subordinate doesn’t know. However, I heard the young master say that the princes are all outside the pass. Perhaps they are negotiating peace.”
“Oh, oh.”
When they reached the city gate, they saw Li Qiong Yu leaning lazily against the wall, a blade of grass in his mouth, waiting for them on his horse.
Ye Luan lifted the curtain of the carriage and, looking at the strictly guarded city gate, frowned slightly.
“Can we get out?”
Li Qiong Yu rode his horse over casually, “Don’t worry, we can go.” He paused, saw Wei Qing Ge sitting outside, and said, “Get in and sit.”
“No, I like being outside.”
“It’s windy outside the pass. Looking at your rough skin, how are you going to look like a young lady?”
Wei Qing Ge, provoked by his words, puffed up her cheeks in anger.
“I often followed my father in the military camp, how could I be delicate? It’s none of your business!”
After speaking, she rubbed her face uncomfortably, let out a disgruntled “hmph,” pushed the carriage door open, and went inside.
As soon as she sat down, she poked her head out again and asked, “Is my grandfather at the military camp outside the pass?”
Li Qiong Yu smiled smugly, “Behave yourself. Don’t think about going to the military camp. This time, you’re returning to the capital with us.”
Wei Qing Ge was displeased that her thoughts had been guessed.
“I’m just worried about my grandfather. Who wants to go to the military camp?” She paused, then looked at his annoying demeanor and said irritably, “You’re useless, you can’t even find a damn pervert.”
She snorted, lowered the curtain, and crawled inside. Li Qiong Yu paid no mind and rode ahead.
“Mu Rou, what are you thinking about? You spilled the tea.”
Wei Qing Ge looked at the distracted Lan Mu Rou with suspicion and nudged her.
Lan Mu Rou snapped back to attention and quickly put down the teapot, “Nothing.”
Ye Luan, cradling the cat with her eyes slightly closed, heard their movements and looked up.
She knew very well why Lan Mu Rou was distracted.
A bird that had tasted the freedom of the skies, how could it be willing to remain a caged bird?
“Mu Rou, where will you live when you return to the capital?”
Lan Mu Rou poured tea for the two of them as she replied, “The General’s Residence.”
The Tantai family’s ancestral home was within the Imperial City. The General’s Residence was far away, which saved a lot of trouble.
Ye Luan took the tea and asked, “Are you the only one in the residence?”
“Besides him and me, there’s no one else.”
A Yan was still at the border. Judging by the situation, she wouldn’t see him this time.
Wei Qing Ge suppressed her discomfort, entwined her arm around Lan Mu Rou’s, and said cheerfully, “Can I come to your place to play when I get back? The Hundred Beasts Garden at the General’s Residence is so fun.”
The Hundred Beasts Garden was very large, and it had a shooting range. Her target accuracy was excellent.
“Before, every time I went to find you, Tan Tai Ye would look so impatient, wishing he could drive me away.”
Lan Mu Rou nodded gently, “You and A Luan can come together.”
“Oh, right, A Luan, will you be returning to the Ye Residence?”
Ye Luan said, “No, I’ve visited Grandmother. I’ll be staying at the detached villa in Liu Lane. If you want to find me, go there.”
“What are your plans after that?”
“Making money.” Ye Luan smiled and stroked Xue Qiu in her arms. “This little guy eats a lot. I have to earn money to feed it.”
She didn’t know how Xiao Chi Zhan had fed it before; it was so picky.
Upon hearing her words, Wei Qing Ge excitedly clung to Ye Luan’s arm, “Why don’t we open a restaurant together? We can sell roast duck and eat it every day.”
“That would be too tiring,” Ye Luan said, resting her chin on one hand. “Let me think about it properly when I get back. Maybe open a medical clinic, and after I have enough money, I’ll raise a few little companions, hehe, that would be wonderful.”
Wei Qing Ge’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled with a bent gaze, “That’s a good idea, I want that too.”
Since Brother Liu would never like her anymore, she would marry a man who would join her family. Her grandfather would be overjoyed.
The group chatted and laughed, making the journey lively.
After two days of travel, they reached Yan Pass. The sun outside the pass was fierce, and the terrain was uneven. No one wanted to endure the bumpy carriage ride, so they all mounted their horses.
However, before they could even pass the gate, they saw two people standing on the city wall outside the pass.
Ye Luan tightened the reins, looking at the man and woman on the city wall, her eyes darkening slightly.
“What? A Ba actually came to the outer pass himself to block us?”