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Nightfall descended.

Chu Zhao parked the horse carriage beside a tree, secured the ropes, and then began picking up branches to build a campfire.

Jun Wuxian, carrying Xun Qingqing, emerged from within the carriage, and when coming down, it was Jun Wuxian who lifted her out.

Xun Qingqing blushed with a hint of shyness on her face.

Jun Wuxian said, "It’s somewhat chilly at night, go sit by the fire for a while."

"Okay."

Xun Qingqing followed Jun Wuxian and sat down by the campfire.

In the quiet of the night, all around was silent.

Suddenly, Xun Qingqing remembered the autumn hunting expedition; it felt just like this.

The food was prepared by Chu Zhao, sparing them the effort.

They ate some pastries, with water freshly boiled.

Just eating pastries would make one thirsty, so Jun Wuxian took out a teacup, poured a cup of tea for Xun Qingqing, and said, "The water is very hot, be careful."

"Okay." Xun Qingqing took the teacup from his hand, blew on it a while before taking a sip, and repeated this several times.

Chu Zhao raised his head to look at his Master and the soon-to-be Mistress. He had followed Master for so many years, and as he entered his prime, he had thought Master would remain single forever.

Who could have expected the Master to swiftly resolve his personal matters like a bolt of lightning?

If he hadn’t witnessed it with his own eyes, he would have thought that Master would only be so attentive and thoughtful with Xiao Jiu.

Since they had to travel early the next day, they went to rest after eating the pastries.

Xun Qingqing stood on the carriage, hesitating to go in.

Jun Wuxian asked, "What’s wrong?"

Unable to hold back, Xun Qingqing asked, "Aren’t you going to sleep in the carriage?"

Jun Wuxian glanced at the cushions outside the carriage. He was accustomed to traveling afar over the years, so he could sleep anywhere.

"I’ll just sleep outside."

Xun Qingqing knew that by ’outside,’ Jun Wuxian meant the driver’s seat where Chu Zhao handled the reins. Surely, sleeping there all night would be uncomfortable.

"But, it’s not as comfortable outside as it is inside."

Jun Wuxian immediately understood the implication in her words. He laughed and asked, "Are you suggesting I come in and sleep with you?"

With slight shyness, Xun Qingqing nodded, "Mhm."

Jun Wuxian then asked, "Aren’t you afraid?"

Xun Qingqing said, "We are betrothed, why should I be afraid?"

Jun Wuxian said, "Go on in."

Upon hearing this, Xun Qingqing didn’t quite grasp the significance of his words, but she obediently lowered her head and entered the carriage. After she got in, she saw Jun Wuxian follow her inside. Though it was she who had invited him, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

After Jun Wuxian lit the lantern inside the carriage, the pitch-black interior instantly lit up. He opened a hidden compartment beneath the carriage box and took out bedding to spread out inside the carriage.

"Let’s sleep."

"Alright." Xun Qingqing sat on the bedding, removed her shoes, and lay down, her gaze shifting to Jun Wuxian, who was seated, leaning against the carriage wall.

"Do you plan to sit up all night?"

Jun Wuxian chuckled softly, "What else? Lie down with you?"

In a soft voice, Xun Qingqing asked, "Would that be improper?"

Jun Wuxian propped himself up with his hand beside her, looking down at Xun Qingqing, "It’s not that it would be improper, it’s just that my self-control might not be as good as you think."

"Oh." Xun Qingqing didn’t catch the implication in his words.

Jun Wuxian wasn’t lying; he was a man, not the impeccably virtuous Liao Xiahui. Sleeping beside a woman and trying not to think about it would be difficult.

"Go to sleep."

It took a moment for Xun Qingqing to grasp what Jun Wuxian meant, and upon doing so, her face flushed, leaving her too embarrassed to speak further.

Jun Wuxian sat up straight, grabbed a cushion, placed it behind his back, and rested against the carriage wall.

Xun Qingqing closed her eyes and soon fell asleep. How could she not be tired after several days’ journey?

In the quiet carriage, Jun Wuxian heard the rhythm of her steady breathing and knew Xun Qingqing had fallen asleep.

Only then did he close his eyes to sleep.

When they arrived in Mobei, ten days had passed.

The military camp was off-limits, so Jun Wuxian couldn’t approach and had to stay temporarily at an inn in the town.

Once settled, they went to have lunch.

Midway through the meal, Xun Qingqing suggested, "Axian, why don’t I go to the military camp? My father is a general, and many people there know me, including Prince Yu. They should let me in."

Jun Wuxian thought for a moment. They had come all this way, yet they still didn’t know how Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyan were faring. Without finding out, they were blind, making it difficult to search.

"We can try."

The thing that made Xun Qingqing happiest was being able to help Jun Wuxian, rather than constantly being a burden to him.

Her face lit up with eagerness, "Then that’s settled, when shall we try?"

Jun Wuxian said, "Let’s do it tomorrow, rest well today."

Xun Qingqing nodded vigorously, then said hopefully, "That works, hopefully Shen Chuwei has already found His Highness, and they’re in the military camp. That way we won’t have to keep searching."