Light fragrance of ink bamboo was lingering around the tip of her nose, and pounding heartbeats could be heard. Murong Xue looked up, only to see Ouyang Shaochenâs handsome face before her eyes, signs of fatigue could be found in his obsidian-like eyes tinted with a touch of gauntness, and his white robe was stained with dust. Apparently, he had rushed here all the way without enough time to rest.
Murong Xueâs heart quivered inexplicably, and her heart was filled with indescribable feelings: âYour Highness!â
Looking at her lucid and beautiful eyes, Ouyang Shaochen showed the barest hint of a smile. He reached out and held her in his arms. Her delicate body was warm, soft and scented, with a faint fragrance of fire lotus lingering around the tip of his nose. Ouyang Shaochenâs tension was slightly relieved. After thousand miles of tracking, he had finally found her: âIâm glad that youâre fine!â
Faint fragrance of ink bamboo surrounded her. Murong Xue rested her chin on Ouyang Shaochenâs shoulder and, her stare swept past him and landed on the man in black not far away, who was staring at her and Ouyang Shaochen unblinkingly, his clear eyes gleaming with confusion and surprise.
Murong Xueâs rolled her eyes unnaturally, and she pushed Ouyang Shaochen aside gently. Pointing at the young man, she said: âheâs helped me a lot just nowâŚâ
The men in black were all skilled martial artists and came at her with a fierce attack. Meanwhile, she had slept for days and her physical strength was abated. Being alone, even if she could have handled the men in black, she would have had to pay a certain price, definitely not like this without a scratch.
Ouyang Shaochen looked up at the man, his obsidian-like eyes flashing with a touch of invisible surprise. He said gently: âthank you, your Highness!â His clear voice was calm, without any trace of emotion.
Murong Xue was stunned: âCrown prince? What crown prince?â
âHe is Gong Qianyu, the crown prince of Nanjiang, so naturally, he should be addressed as His Highness!â said Ouyang Shaochen lightly, his eyes deep and dark with a hidden glint of light.
What? Crown prince Gong Qianyu of Nanjiang!
Murong Xue looked at Gong Qianyu in surprise, her eyes full of shock and disbelief. She had figured that he wouldnât be an ordinary man, but she hadnât expected that someone so unsophisticated would be the crown prince of NanjiangâŚ
Gong Qianyu ignored Ouyang Shaochenâs words, and looked at Murong Xue unblinkingly, his clear pupils clearly reflecting her figure. He was so earnest and attentive that it was as if he wished to imprint her on his mindâŚ
Seeing her concentrative and attentive stare, Ouyang Shaochen frowned: âitâs late. Letâs get going.â He said gently, holding Murong Xueâs delicate hand and led her forward.
Gong Qianyuâs gaze turned sharp as he said abruptly: âHold on!â
Murong Xue stopped, turned around and looked at him: âwhat is it, Your Highness?â
âMay I know your name?â Gong Qianyu came up and looked at her fixedly.
âMurong Xue!â She said gently. It was just a name, and she did not mind letting others know.
âWill we see each other again?â Gong Qianyu gazed at her, his clear eyes twinkling with hope.
Murong Xue smiled softly: âletâs see if predestination will arrange our reunion.â
âWe are predestined to meet again!â said Gong Qianyu lightly, his clear eyes shining brightly.
Murong Xueâs eyelids twitched. How come this remark sounded so weirdâŚ
Ouyang Shaochenâs handsome face turned gloomy for a moment. He looked at Gong Qianyu coldly and, with his arm around Murong Xueâs waist, he rose into the air, his slender figure like a white cloud, and in an instant, he was high in the sky and flying forward fastâŚ
The whirling wind was blowing past her ears, and the sceneries on both sides were flying rapidly backward. Looking back from afar, Murong Xue could still see the eyes of Gong Qianyu and the way he gazed at herâŚ
âHow did you know Gong Qianyu?â Ouyang Shaochen looked at Murong Xue, his obsidian-like eyes twinkling with elusive light.
âI met him by chance.â Murong Xue said carelessly, telling him what had happened: âStrictly speaking, he has saved me indirectly, so he could be regarded as my benefactorâŚâ
âThen how are you going to repay him?â Ouyang Shaochen looked at her, his obsidian-like eyes as deep as a pool, and the corners of his mouth were curved up, looking unspeakably dangerous.
Murong Xueâs eyelids twitched violently and a bad premonition surfaced in her heart. She said hurriedly: âthat⌠If there is a chance, I will help him according to the circumstances to repay him. I wonât go too farâŚâ
âReally?â Ouyang Shaochen looked at her with a faint smile, his dark eyes glistening brightly.
âOf course!â Murong Xue nodded hastily. Seeing that Ouyang Shaochen was about to say more, she hastened to raise her voice: âYour Highness, have you found out who was behind my abduction?â
âIâve got two suspects, but who the specific one is still needs to be investigated carefully!â Ouyang Shaochen said softly, his gaze deeper than a pool.
Murong Xue nodded understandingly: âdo you know why he took me?â Since she came to Qingyan, she had never offended any of the powerful people.
âIâm not sure for the moment. Once we find out that man, we could ask him.â Ouyang Shaochenâs voice was gentle, and his dark eyes were twinkling.
âSounds feasible!â Murong Xue nodded. Asking for the reason in person, simple and fast, would be much more effective than random guesses! Zigzag paths came into view, and she said leisurely: âwhere are we going now?â
âThe barracks of Qingyan!â Ouyang Shaochen said lightly.
âWhy are we going there?â Murong Xue looked at him perplexedly: the barracks were where the generals were stationed, and no one else were allowed insideâŚ
âItâs getting late. The barracks are nearby. Letâs rest there tonight before we go to the nearest town tomorrow.â Ouyang Shaochen suggested.
Murong Xue nodded: âsounds nice.â
They were new to Mingzhou, tired and fatigued, and not familiar with the terrain here. They needed more time to rest and regain their strength.
The sound of the wind ceased and Ouyang Shaochen, still holding Murong Xueâs waist, fell to the ground as light as a feather.
Murong Xue looked up and all she could see were tents of all sizes standing one after another in a well-spaced manner. Groups of guards in armor with spears were patrolling back and forth among the tents.
There were also soldiers in twos and threes, sitting in front of the tents, gently wiping their swords attentively, which added to the tension in the barracksâŚ
A soldier came up and said, âPrince Ouyang, Miss Murong, General Zhang requests the pleasure of seeing you!â
Ouyang Shaochen agreed emotionlessly and, holding Murong Xueâs small hand tightly, walked into the tent of the Commander in Chief slowly with the guidance of a soldier.
Inside the tent, there was a long table in the center with a topographic map on top. General Zhang was standing at the table and looking down at the map with his brows knitted.
Three or four deputy generals stood beside him, also staring at the topographic map with the same facial expressionâŚ\n