Su Mu, Jun Xuanmo, Wei Ziyun, and Dongfang Yuxi were good friends.
So, if it wasn't in a formal occasion with all the court officials present, they wouldn't be too scrupulous when talking to each other.
"You might be a bit over - confident, Ziyun. These days, you've been going to the Holy Maiden's palace every day, either bringing food or clothes and weapons. But after all this time, the Holy Maiden still looks at you the same way."
Wei Ziyun smiled.
They all enjoyed getting along with Su Mu.
That was why the Jun family rose rapidly, and Wei Ziyun remained loyal to the Qingyun Kingdom despite Su Mu's special preference for Dongfang Yuxi.
They were good friends and confidants. Whenever there was an issue, they would discuss it openly. For example, Wei Ziyun had a great crush on Feng Lingtong, and he knew that Su Mu also liked the Holy Maiden. So he would inform Su Mu in advance, so that Su Mu wouldn't be caught off - guard when he learned this news.
"Your Majesty, this palace is, after all, in the imperial palace. The imperial palace is the most magnificent and prosperous place in the world. However, it's just like a golden cage. The people trapped inside are well - taken care of, but they can't get the happiness they desire. There are too many rules here, and the personnel is too complicated. When doing things or speaking, one has to think about whether it's appropriate or not. I have a crush on the Holy Maiden. Naturally, it's not suitable for me to show it in such a cage. But if we're outside the imperial palace, just the Holy Maiden and me, then it might be different."
Su Mu's face darkened a bit.
Wei Ziyun continued.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I know the Holy Maiden is defenseless, and I also know her nobility. If I accompany her out, I will never put her in danger. You should know my capabilities."
Indeed, Wei Ziyun was extremely capable.
For three generations, the Wei family had all been great generals of the Qingyun Kingdom.
Their combat abilities were all extraordinary.
Feng Lingtong had never demonstrated her charm skills or internal energy in the imperial palace. So, these people naturally assumed that a noble woman like the Holy Maiden, who spent her days with the medicinal herbs and flower fields in the back garden, must be a gentle and refined lady who didn't understand spiritual power or internal energy.
"What you said has just enlightened me."
Wei Ziyun was stunned. "What?"
"Never mind."
Three days later, Feng Lingtong and Wei Ziyun set off.
After they left the city gate, they still had to pass a broken bridge. At the end of the broken bridge, there was a man waiting for their carriage.
"Whoa!"
The coachman tightened the reins.
There stood a man in front of them.
The man was dressed in white, with a complexion as fair as snow. He was smiling at the carriage.
Wei Ziyun lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the man in front of him. He couldn't help but say, "I was too hasty."
Then, Feng Lingtong also looked out.
Su Mu was standing in front of them, holding a bundle.
"Ziyun, I've been quite bored in the imperial palace. The Holy Maiden once said that it would be good for my illness if I went out for a walk, broadened my horizons, and relaxed. In the past three days, I've already handled all the basic government affairs of the Qingyun Kingdom. Do you think I can go with you?"
Wei Ziyun looked at Feng Lingtong and said, "Holy Maiden, what do you think?"
Feng Lingtong smiled slightly.
"Get in."
Su Mu flipped onto the carriage. His movements were so agile that he didn't look like a sick person at all.
Wei Ziyun said, "Your Majesty, you?"
"Just call me Su Mu when we're out."
Feng Lingtong then said, "Then you can call me Xiaotong."
The three of them nodded.
Wei Ziyun glared at Su Mu but said nothing. As the carriage swayed, Feng Lingtong leaned against the carriage and fell asleep.
Seeing this, Su Mu quickly sat over. Feng Lingtong's head naturally leaned on Su Mu's shoulder.
Now, Wei Ziyun was unhappy.
It seemed that he had brought the Holy Maiden out just to create opportunities for Su Mu and her?
"Su Mu, you're being too obvious, aren't you?"
Wei Ziyun lowered his voice, trying not to disturb Feng Lingtong.
Su Mu's expression was a bit strange at this moment. When Feng Lingtong's head leaned on his shoulder, his heart was pounding violently. So when Wei Ziyun spoke to him, he just glanced at Wei Ziyun and said nothing.
Wei Ziyun sat back angrily and watched the two of them lean against each other for the whole journey. Feng Lingtong didn't wake up until afternoon.
When she woke up and saw Su Mu beside her, she smiled.
"Are we still not there?"
Their destination was Yangzhou. Yangzhou wasn't far from the imperial capital, and they planned to head south all the way.
"We're almost there."
"Why don't we ride horses?"
The two of them looked at Feng Lingtong in unison.
"Riding a horse, Xiaotong, are you sure you can? Riding a horse is tiring, and there's also a possibility that your skin might be scratched by the branches on the roadside."
Feng Lingtong nodded.
"You're right."
The two of them looked at each other. It seemed that riding a horse was just a passing fancy of the Holy Maiden.
Then Feng Lingtong said again, "Both of you are really good - looking. If your skin gets scratched, it would surely be a pity."
Su Mu: "—"
Wei Ziyun: "—"
What did she mean?
"Never mind. Let's just go slowly."
"Xiaotong, can you ride a horse?"
Feng Lingtong nodded.
Su Mu and Wei Ziyun looked at each other and then asked, "Do you want to ride a horse?"
"I just think it will be faster."
"Then, shall we go riding?"
The two of them were just asking tentatively, but Feng Lingtong nodded and said, "There are five horses in front of the carriage. One for each of us, and we can let the coachman drive the rest back."
"Uh - okay."
As soon as the words were out.
Feng Lingtong stopped the carriage.
The few of them got off the carriage. Feng Lingtong found a horse, put her bundle on it, and then neatly flipped onto the horse.
"This—"
"Defenseless?"
"Maybe she's just good at riding a horse."
The three of them rode their horses and headed forward.
When they reached the post station in Yangzhou, they took a break and let the horses eat some grass.
Feng Lingtong drank some tea and didn't show any signs of being a delicate noble lady.
There were probably going to be many interesting things happening on this journey.
A purple light flashed rapidly in the south. Feng Lingtong gently put down her teacup.
Going south all the way, she wondered if she could meet Bu Ran.
She heard from A Zhan that Bu Ran had suddenly returned to the Qingyun Kingdom a few days ago and then headed for a large valley in the south. She wondered what strange things were hidden in that large valley.
"Su Mu."
"Xiaotong, what's up?"
"Is there a large valley at the southern end? What's there?"
Wei Ziyun said, "Xiaotong, that large valley is called the Nether Valley. No one has been inside it for years. It's said to be completely dark inside, and you can't see anything. No one can really tell what's going on in there."
The Nether Valley?
What was Bu Ran going there for?