Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Not Worthy of Her

Sheng Zhi Wan’s carriage had also reached the South City Gate. An Zhi was just about to take out the Duke household’s pass token when faint shouting drifted over.

Sheng Zhi Wan listened and smiled. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “I’m suddenly missing the taste of osmanthus cakes. An Zhi, go buy some and bring them back.”

An Zhi froze and said, “Ah? If Princess had told this servant earlier, this servant would have made them and brought them along. Who knows if what they sell outside is even clean.”

An Zhi talked as An Zhi climbed down from the carriage, but after a long while, An Zhi still did not return.

The gate inspection line was already close to their carriage. Ting Lan leaned out to look around, and Sheng Zhi Wan said, “You go down too and take a look.”

Ting Lan agreed and hurried off. By the time the Gate Officer checked Sheng Zhi Wan’s carriage, An Zhi and Ting Lan came back together.

With the Duke household’s token, the Gate Officer did not dare make trouble. The Gate Officer saluted and let them pass out of the capital.

The carriage rolled out through the city gates. The autumn air felt high and crisp, and the sky looked clear and bright. After marrying into the Duke Qi household, Sheng Zhi Wan had not left the city in a long time.

Even more than that, in Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life, Sheng Zhi Wan spent the last three years sick and weak and could not even leave the Duke household. Now that Sheng Zhi Wan was out, even breathing felt lighter.

The scent of autumn harvest drifted in on the wind, and Sheng Zhi Wan even heard farmers laughing and chatting in the distance.

Before Sheng Zhi Wan realized it, the two carriages had entered a secluded official road. There were fewer and fewer people, and the open fields on both sides changed into tall, dense forest.

From outside the curtain, Zhang Da’s voice came through. Zhang Da asked, “Heir’s Wife, there’s a tea stall up ahead. Do you want to sit and rest, eat something, and then keep going?”

Sheng Zhi Wan answered, “Okay.”

When the carriage stopped, An Zhi and Ting Lan jumped down first. One lifted the curtain for Sheng Zhi Wan, and the other reached out to help Sheng Zhi Wan step down.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s feet had barely touched the ground when a rush of hoofbeats came from far away. Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips curved slightly.

Ye Rong tugged his reins and pointed ahead. Ye Rong asked, “Shang Er, is that the Duke household’s carriage?”

Shang Xing Yu seemed to notice only then. Shang Xing Yu said, “It is. Do we go up and greet them?”

Ye Rong snorted. Ye Rong said, “Better not. Young Master doesn’t want to see Qi Shu Xian. I’m sick of hearing his name these days. And I’m just saying, he has a principal wife at home and still made so much messy trouble. Young Master can’t stand it. Not manly at all.”

Pei Yu An said, “Even if you want to see Qi Shu Xian, you might not. He has a rank now and has to attend morning court. He’s not like us, with nothing to do. He wouldn’t show up here.”

Ye Rong scratched his head. Ye Rong said, “Fine, then… let’s go greet them.”

After they decided, the group rode toward the tea stall. Before they even got close, Ye Rong was dazzled by a slender figure and said, “That… is that Princess Qing Ning?”

The woman looked delicate, but her spine was straight. Crescent brows, shimmering eyes, a straight and lovely nose, and bright red lips. She was stunning, so beautiful that even her plain clothes seemed richer.

She must have heard the hoofbeats, because she glanced their way without meaning to. Pei Yu An clutched his chest and muttered, “I really don’t know what Lady Meng must look like…”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze swept over them one by one. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Young Master Shang Er, Young Master Ye, Young Master Pei…”

Today, Shang Xing Yu wore fitted riding clothes. His straight, long legs were set in tightly laced black boots, and his upper body stood tall. He was backlit, so Sheng Zhi Wan could not see the look on his face, but that pressing, heated gaze still made Sheng Zhi Wan’s long lashes tremble.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked away to the others.

None of them expected Sheng Zhi Wan to recognize them. Shang Er and Ye Rong were one thing, but Sheng Zhi Wan even called Zhou Yu Zheng by name. Zhou Yu Zheng’s father was only a Fourth Rank Vice Minister, after all.

The group immediately dismounted and saluted.

When Ye Rong learned Sheng Zhi Wan was going to Chao Ming Temple, Ye Rong said, “What a coincidence. We’re going to Chao Ming Temple too!”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled warmly and suggested, “Then why don’t we travel together? That way, if anything happens on the road, it’s easier to handle.”

Ye Rong was caught by that smile and nodded without thinking.

Both groups rested briefly. Soon after, they set off again.

After traveling for a little over an hour, Ye Rong started to regret it. Ye Rong complained, “Sigh, I shouldn’t have agreed to go together. We’re crawling along. When are we ever going to get there?”

Pei Yu An glanced at Ye Rong and said, “Who told you to agree?”

Ye Rong argued, “And you didn’t object either.”

Ye Rong poked the person beside Ye Rong and asked, “Shang Er, what are you staring at?”

Shang Xing Yu pulled his gaze back from the carriage and said, “I was thinking the Duke household’s carriage seems a bit unworthy of the princess.”

Ye Rong’s mouth twitched.

Pei Yu An looked confused and asked, “Aren’t carriages all like this?”

Shang Xing Yu gave a low chuckle and said, “If I were the princess’s husband, I would personally build a carriage that suited her. I’d let her lie on it like a true noble and precious-”

Ye Rong glared and cut him off. Ye Rong said, “Spit, shut up. You can’t say things like that.”

Shang Xing Yu grinned with his usual shamelessness. Shang Xing Yu said, “What are you afraid of? The only ones who heard were you.”

It really did sound like Shang Xing Yu had only mentioned it casually.