The next day.
As soon as Ye Luan woke up, she found herself wrapped around Xiao Chizhan like an octopus.
Her hands were tightly clasped around his neck, and her long legs were wrapped around his waist, leaving no gap between them.
Her face instantly flushed red, and she quickly retreated.
"Awake?"
A husky, teasing voice came from above her.
Ye Luan let out a soft hum and was about to get up.
Xiao Chizhan had already woken up and had been held by her, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Seeing that she had woken up, how could he easily let her off the bed?
He directly reached out and pulled her down, pressing her beneath him. He kissed her passionately, "Luan Luan, I'm so uncomfortable."
Ye Luan was slightly stunned. Before she could react, she suddenly felt a coolness on her face.
"Get up."
Xiao Chizhan ignored her, grabbed her hands, and kissed them greedily and with adoration.
----
Li Qiongyu had arrived long ago and had been waiting downstairs. She was just gulping down soup and rice when she saw the two of them walk down awkwardly.
Ye Luan's expression was extremely grim.
He chuckled, his mouth full of steamed buns puffed out.
Serves her right!
He shouldn't have come to such a broken place to suffer.
"Hurry up, finish eating and let's set off."
They were still far from Bei Qi, and traveling in this weather was exhausting.
Xiao Chizhan glanced sideways at Ye Luan, awkwardly touching his nose, "Luan Luan."
Ye Luan ignored him and went to eat her meal.
Once it snowed in Saibei, it would snow for several days.
The roads were very difficult to travel.
Li Qiongyu watched Ye Luan ride her horse gallantly and provocatively said, "You lied to us before saying you couldn't ride a horse. Ye Luan, how much else have you hidden from us?"
"Did I ever say I couldn't? Wasn't that just your own imagination?"
Her expression was extremely cold, her fair face devoid of any emotion.
Li Qiongyu curved her lips, no longer provoking the beauty who was covered in needles, and looked directly at Xiao Chizhan beside her.
"After we bypass Blood Ridge Mountain and exit the pass, going west will quickly bring us to Bei Qi. Should we go directly to the military camp?"
Xiao Chizhan said, "Bei Qi's Yuehan Pass has been breached, and the army has entered the city. If nothing unexpected happens, the troops from the other nine prefectures will soon provide support."
"Then Xie Beihan should have already returned to Dazhou. He definitely won't stand by and watch the civilians in Yuehan Pass be slaughtered. Who knows, we might meet again."
"Did you finish sending the pigeon to Tantai Ye as I asked you to before?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiongyu raised an eyebrow, "Of course. The army has retreated, and they should be able to rendezvous with us soon."
Ye Luan was not interested in listening to their conversation. She rode her horse, looking at the scenery on both sides, her expression somewhat dazed.
They had been traveling for several consecutive days. Seeing that Ye Luan's complexion was not good, Xiao Chizhan stopped riding his horse and switched to a carriage.
The carriage was spacious and warm, equipped with everything.
Ye Luan half-reclined on the small couch, engrossed in the medical book in her hands.
Xiao Chizhan lay beside her, a book on military strategy covering his face, as if he were asleep.
A faint tranquility pervaded the air.
It was only when Ye Luan felt tired from reading that she stretched and sat up to pour some tea.
"Are you hungry?"
Suddenly, the man behind her opened his eyes and looked over.
Ye Luan was startled and turned back, "Weren't you asleep?"
It was strange, but for some reason, this fellow always slept during the day.
"Not sleepy anymore."
Xiao Chizhan sat up lazily, threw away the book in his hand, and was about to pull her.
Ye Luan almost choked on his actions and glared at him.
"Do you want to choke me to death?"
Xiao Chizhan withdrew his hand and looked at her, his crimson eyes slightly narrowed.
She was drinking tea with her neck craned. On her fair neck were marks from his kisses. If she tilted her head up slightly, one could see those red marks.
He looked at her with satisfaction, the corners of his lips curving slightly.
Ye Luan sensed his gaze and turned her head in confusion to look at him.
That glance almost made him lose control.
Her unadorned profile was like radiant jade, her fox-like eyes slightly cast aside, filled with charm. Her delicate, alluring red lips were tinged with water droplets, making them exceptionally seductive.
Xiao Chizhan uncomfortably averted his gaze and picked up the book he had thrown down to block his view.
Ye Luan didn't know what was wrong with him. After drinking the water, she felt her throat was much soothed. She sat back down and picked up her book to read.
"Stop reading. You won't figure anything out by reading it."
She couldn't be bothered with his sarcastic tone and silently turned her head.
Seeing her indifferent demeanor, Xiao Chizhan was angry. What was so good about reading a broken medical book every day?
Who was Lu Feibai to her that she cared so much?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the suppressed violence in his heart spread uncontrollably.
He snorted coldly, lifted the carriage curtain, and threw a hidden weapon in his hand at Xue Ren, who was driving the carriage, giving him a meaningful look.
Xue Ren immediately understood, "Yes."
Xiao Chizhan lowered the curtain with satisfaction and sat back quietly.
"Your Highness, how many more days do we need to travel?"
Ye Luan turned her head to look at him.
"Still four or five days."
Traveling by carriage was too slow.
Ye Luan nodded and continued to ask, "Who is the 'ghost hand divine doctor' you told me about before?"
Lu Feibai and Xie Beihan were friends. If there was such a powerful divine doctor, why hadn't they found anyone to treat the illness?
Xie Beihan's status was not low. As the crown prince of Bei Qi, if he really wanted to find a doctor, he should be able to, right?
"This person comes from Southern Xinjiang. When we get to Bei Qi, I will send someone to fetch him."
After Xiao Chizhan finished speaking, he saw the suspicion in her eyes and curved his lips, "Bei Qi and Southern Xinjiang are like fire and water. Xie Beihan cannot find this person."
Ye Luan's expression stiffened, and she turned her head away, no longer looking at him.
How could this person guess her thoughts so accurately?
She pursed her lips, no longer wanting to look. Just as she was about to close her book, the entire carriage suddenly tilted and swayed violently.
She was slightly alarmed and quickly tried to grab the carriage frame, but the jolting was too severe, and her body was uncontrollably thrown towards the man beside her.
"Ah—"
Xiao Chizhan, sitting on the small couch, saw her lunging at him with her mouth agape. A malicious smile flashed in his eyes, and then he reached out, steadily catching her soft, lunging figure.
"Luan Luan, are you alright?"
Ye Luan was still in shock and tightly grasped his robes.
"Your Highness, did you hit something sharp and protruding? Are you alright?" Xue Ren's voice came from outside.
Xiao Chizhan reprimanded him lazily a few times, then, with a heart full of longing, he embraced the person in his arms and massaged her.
Ye Luan didn't notice his actions. When the carriage stabilized, she quickly supported herself and sat up.
"In the snow, it's inevitable to hit obstacles. Luan Luan, if I hold you, you won't fall."
His strong arms held her tightly, and her entire body was pressed against him.
Ye Luan came to her senses and couldn't help but suspect if the person outside had done it on purpose.
"No need, I'm fine."
"It seems you bumped into me. My shoulder injury hurts so much."
He hissed a few times, his brows furrowed as if he were in great pain.
Ye Luan, held tightly by him, said exasperatedly, "Your shoulder injury healed long ago. What are you pretending for?"