Chu Qing looked at the tightly closed door in surprise, unsure whether she should go and check.
Seeing the worry between Chu Qing's eyebrows, Wei Ying said, "Old Master Ruan knows what he's doing. He... should be fine... right..."
It was meant to be a comfort, but in the end, even Wei Ying's tone sounded uncertain.
Well...
Ruan Zheng... he... should be okay, right?
The others were also waiting outside the door with different expressions. When they heard no more sound from inside, Nangong Jin whispered, "Shouldn't we really go and check?"
Wei Ying frowned, then shouted into the room, "Old Master Ruan?"
"Alright! I'm coming!"
Shortly after he said that, the door was opened.
First, Ruan Ming walked out with a beaming smile, looking like he had successfully carried out some scheme.
And then...
A...
Well...
A man with extremely handsome features, even a bit feminine, walked out awkwardly.
Looking at his clothes, everyone had an unbelievable thought in mind.
Chu Qing coughed lightly, then held back her laughter and tentatively said, "Hua'er?"
The man blushed shyly and nodded.
Everyone was shocked.
In just this short while inside the room, the grandfather - grandson pair had shaved off his beard!
Ruan Ming explained with a chuckle, "After all, he's going to follow the King of Ning from now on. We can't let this brat go around with a stubbly beard all day. It's so impolite. So... I just tricked him in and shaved his beard off."
Ruan Zheng beside him pouted, clearly looking angry but not daring to show it.
Wei Ying couldn't help but curl his lips. "It doesn't really matter to me here."
Hearing this, Ruan Zheng immediately turned his head to look at Ruan Ming and said angrily, "See!!! The King doesn't mind! But you shaved my beard off! How can I intimidate others with this face that's even prettier than a woman's! And who knows, maybe some blind person will take a fancy to me... Where can I go to reason?"
Ruan Ming gave Ruan Zheng a disdainful look, then waved his hand. "Stop having such wild dreams all day! Take a fancy to you? You greet people's parents every time you open your mouth. Who would take a fancy to you? It's shaved, so that's that! Why are you such a fussy man! Don't you understand! A face like this is deceptive!"
Ruan Zheng still replied defiantly, "Humph! I don't care about this so - called deceptiveness. A real man should fight openly and honestly! What do I need deceptiveness for!"
"Are you still arguing with me?"
"I'm not!"
While the grandfather - grandson pair were bickering, the others lowered their heads and tried hard to hold back their laughter.
Chu Qing was also shaking with laughter.
It seemed that Ruan Zheng's nickname of Hua'er was quite appropriate.
A man like a flower.
Well...
No, it wasn't just appropriate. It was extremely appropriate.
Ruan Zheng's brothers were also standing there, stunned and wide - eyed, because since they had known their leader, he had always had a bushy beard and his face was often dirty.
Feeling the somewhat shining looks from his brothers, Ruan Zheng at this moment wished he could dig a hole and bury himself.
He was so embarrassed!
All his life's glory was ruined by this old man!
But Cao'er and the others didn't give him a chance to say anything. They all swarmed up.
"Boss! You're so good - looking!"
"Boss! Why is your face so white! You have to wash your face every day from now on!"
"Boss! You're even prettier than the top courtesan in Spring Day Tower!"
Ruan Zheng: "...... Go to hell! Prettier than the top courtesan? You're the ones who are prettier than the top courtesan!"
Chu Qing watched them chatting and laughing, and even some vulgar jokes popped up from time to time. Just as she was enjoying it, Wei Ying covered her ears expressionlessly.
Chu Qing looked back at him blankly. After understanding, she smiled slightly. "I'm not a little girl anymore."
"You'll always be a little girl to me." Wei Ying still replied expressionlessly.
Seeing his determination, Chu Qing didn't say anything. She just smiled and let him cover her ears.
Fortunately, the only little girl, Wen Huan, had already gone to rest. Otherwise, this innocent girl would surely ask her elder brother a few questions. As for whether her elder brother would answer her, that was probably unlikely.
Everyone laughed and chatted for a while. As it got darker and darker, they left reluctantly.
Back in the arranged room, it was a bit dim inside. Only a flickering candle was lit in the corner. The bedding was clean. When Chu Qing touched it, she even felt it was soft. But Green Vine was still worried. She carried out a stack of bedding from the carriage and helped Chu Qing make the bed. Then she served her to wash up and then withdrew.
Just as Wei Ying was about to go to bed, Wei Yi lightly reported outside the door. Then Wei Ying went out for a while and came back.
He was still holding a letter in his hand.
Chu Qing was sitting on the edge of the bed and looked at him.
Wei Ying handed the letter to her.
"Hu Yanlongchang has escaped?" Chu Qing frowned after reading the first sentence.
"Keep reading," Wei Ying said with a sneer on his lips.
Chu Qing did as she was told and continued reading.
After she finished reading, a sneer also appeared on her face.
"The Empress Dowager really has great skills. We worked so hard to defend the city and capture Hu Yanlongchang. But she just let him go. Fortunately, the Emperor has his own ideas. That's not bad."
"He has improved a lot."
"With such a mother, how could he not improve?" Chu Qing couldn't help but feel a bit angry.
Seeing Chu Qing like this, Wei Ying stroked her head. "We'll deal with this when we get back. For now, he should be able to handle things on his own. You don't have to worry too much. Go to bed early. We have to get up early tomorrow."
Suppressing the anger in her heart, Chu Qing nodded.
Chu Qing originally thought she wouldn't be able to fall asleep, but unexpectedly, she slept through the night without a dream until dawn.
Because the schedule was too tight, they didn't stay any longer. Instead, they prepared to leave early in the morning.
When Wen Huan, who had just met them, saw the beardless Ruan Zheng, she let out a shrill scream.
Ruan Zheng looked at her in surprise. "Princess... What's wrong?"
"Who... who are you!" Wen Huan's fingers trembled slightly as she pointed at him.
Ruan Zheng blushed and said awkwardly, "I'm Hua... Well, Ruan Zheng!"
Ruan Zheng, who originally wanted to call himself "Hua'er", finally didn't say it. He really didn't think there was anything wrong with this name before. But now, after shaving his beard...
He'd better just call himself Ruan Zheng honestly!
It was the first time in Ruan Zheng's life to leave this place, so he naturally had a lot to say to Ruan Ming, Cao'er and the others.
After Chu Qing said goodbye to everyone, she asked Green Vine to help her silently get into the carriage.
After all, she still didn't want to see the farewell.
When Wei Ying brought Ruan Zheng over, Chu Qing saw that Ruan Zheng's eyes were red. It seemed that he was trying hard to hold back his tears.
Chu Qing couldn't help but imagine what he would look like if he were crying at this moment. For some reason, a phrase came to mind.
Tears like pear blossoms...
Well...
As the carriage got farther and farther away from the stockade, suddenly a loud wail came from outside the carriage.
Ruan Zheng finally couldn't hold back and cried.
Chu Qing couldn't help but lift the curtain and look out.
But the words of comfort got stuck in her throat.
There was no such thing as tears like pear blossoms. It was clearly a violent storm.
He cried... not at all nicely.
It made her feel sad too.
Chu Qing sighed silently and put down the curtain.
She originally wanted to tell Ruan Zheng that departure was for a better reunion. But seeing him like this, this sentence...
He'd better figure it out on his own in the future!