Chapter 99

Nie Changping didn’t give up; he hooked his arm around Xiao Xixi’s shoulder again, wanting to say something more, when he saw the bamboo curtain of the carriage window roll up.

Luo Qinghan sat inside the carriage, his expressionless gaze coolly observing the two of them.

For some reason, Nie Changping felt a chill down his spine and instinctively withdrew his hand from Xiao Xixi’s shoulder.

He chuckled at the Crown Prince, “Does Your Highness have any orders?”

Luo Qinghan’s voice was icy, “Since you find riding in the carriage so boring, I will confiscate your carriage.”

Nie Changping was startled and wailed, “If you take away my carriage, how will I go to the south?”

“You can ride a horse or walk.”

In the end, Nie Changping reluctantly chose to ride a horse.

He mounted the horse led by a guard and rode to the front of the convoy.

Luo Qinghan’s gaze fell on Xiao Xixi, his tone tinged with displeasure.

“What are you standing there for? Get in.”

Xiao Xixi quickly climbed into the carriage.

Luo Qinghan looked at her with a cold eye, “I didn’t know when you became so close with Nie Changping?”

Xiao Xixi quickly distanced herself, “No, I don’t even know him. He’s the one who insisted on bothering me. It has nothing to do with me; I’m innocent!”

“If he bothers you again, come to me.”

“Okay.”

Luo Qinghan looked at her shoulder, which had been touched by someone, and the more he looked, the more displeased he became. He said coldly, “Come here.”

Xiao Xixi moved over without understanding why.

Luo Qinghan used a handkerchief to carefully wipe her shoulder.

After wiping, he reminded her again.

“Stay away from Nie Changping. That guy is quite the playboy; don’t let him deceive you.”

Xiao Xixi nodded obediently, “Yes, I understand.”

“You don’t have to call yourself a servant when no one else is around.”

“Okay.”

Seeing that she was quite obedient, Luo Qinghan’s annoyance finally dissipated.

He casually opened a wooden box beside him and took out a thick book.

Before he left the palace, the Grand Tutor had specially given him a box of books, instructing him to read them when he had time and write reflections. After he returned to the capital, the Grand Tutor would personally check his work.

For this reason, Luo Qinghan would read books whenever he had a moment to spare.

Xiao Xixi thought that being a Crown Prince was really hard; he even had to do homework while on a business trip. Even a corporate slave wouldn’t be as miserable as him.

She didn’t disturb the Crown Prince while he was reading and found a spot to lie down straight, then closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully.

Luo Qinghan read one memorial after another, and the woman sleeping beside him occasionally turned over.

The atmosphere was quiet and harmonious.

The convoy traveled for a month.

During this month, the Crown Prince was warmly welcomed by local officials wherever he went, and every inch of land he saw had been cleaned in advance.

As a result, all he saw was what others were willing to show him.

Luo Qinghan was quite dissatisfied with this, but he also knew that haste makes waste. To achieve his goals, he had to proceed step by step.

The convoy stopped in a county near Yi River to rest for the night before continuing their journey.

Looking at the unremarkable inn in front of her, Xiao Xixi felt a sense of foreboding.

She approached the Crown Prince and whispered, “Your Highness, this place is not safe.”

Luo Qinghan’s expression changed slightly. He didn’t ask how she came to this conclusion, only, “How is it not safe?”

Xiao Xixi closed her eyes and calculated something in her mind, then opened her eyes.

“Tonight, someone might try to harm you. You must be careful.”

Luo Qinghan’s eyes darkened, and he responded calmly.

“I understand.”