Translator: Madesmoiselle V.

  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 Shaochen’s 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 Xue’s heart quivered inexplicably, and her heart was filled with indescribable feelings: “Your Highness!”


  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 Shaochen’s tension was slightly relieved. After thousand miles of tracking, he had finally found her: “I’m glad that you’re fine!”


  Faint fragrance of ink bamboo surrounded her. Murong Xue rested her chin on Ouyang Shaochen’s 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 Xue’s rolled her eyes unnaturally, and she pushed Ouyang Shaochen aside gently. Pointing at the young man, she said: “he’s helped me a lot just now……”


  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: “thank you, your Highness!” His clear voice was calm, without any trace of emotion.

  Murong Xue was stunned: “Crown prince? What crown prince?”


  “He is Gong Qianyu, the crown prince of Nanjiang, so naturally, he should be addressed as His Highness!” 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 wouldn’t be an ordinary man, but she hadn’t expected that someone so unsophisticated would be the crown prince of Nanjiang……

  Gong Qianyu ignored Ouyang Shaochen’s 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 mind……

  Seeing her concentrative and attentive stare, Ouyang Shaochen frowned: “it’s late. Let’s get going.” He said gently, holding Murong Xue’s delicate hand and led her forward.

  Gong Qianyu’s gaze turned sharp as he said abruptly: “Hold on!”


  Murong Xue stopped, turned around and looked at him: “what is it, Your Highness?”


  “May I know your name?” Gong Qianyu came up and looked at her fixedly.

  “Murong Xue!” She said gently. It was just a name, and she did not mind letting others know.

  “Will we see each other again?” Gong Qianyu gazed at her, his clear eyes twinkling with hope.

  Murong Xue smiled softly: “let’s see if predestination will arrange our reunion.”


  “We are predestined to meet again!” said Gong Qianyu lightly, his clear eyes shining brightly.

  Murong Xue’s eyelids twitched. How come this remark sounded so weird……

  Ouyang Shaochen’s handsome face turned gloomy for a moment. He looked at Gong Qianyu coldly and, with his arm around Murong Xue’s 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 fast……

  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 her……

  “How did you know Gong Qianyu?” Ouyang Shaochen looked at Murong Xue, his obsidian-like eyes twinkling with elusive light.

  “I met him by chance.” Murong Xue said carelessly, telling him what had happened: “Strictly speaking, he has saved me indirectly, so he could be regarded as my benefactor……”


  “Then how are you going to repay him?” 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 Xue’s eyelids twitched violently and a bad premonition surfaced in her heart. She said hurriedly: “that…… If there is a chance, I will help him according to the circumstances to repay him. I won’t go too far……”


  “Really?” Ouyang Shaochen looked at her with a faint smile, his dark eyes glistening brightly.

  “Of course!” Murong Xue nodded hastily. Seeing that Ouyang Shaochen was about to say more, she hastened to raise her voice: “Your Highness, have you found out who was behind my abduction?”


  “I’ve got two suspects, but who the specific one is still needs to be investigated carefully!” Ouyang Shaochen said softly, his gaze deeper than a pool.

  Murong Xue nodded understandingly: “do you know why he took me?” Since she came to Qingyan, she had never offended any of the powerful people.

  “I’m not sure for the moment. Once we find out that man, we could ask him.” Ouyang Shaochen’s voice was gentle, and his dark eyes were twinkling.

  “Sounds feasible!” 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: “where are we going now?”


  “The barracks of Qingyan!” Ouyang Shaochen said lightly.

  “Why are we going there?” Murong Xue looked at him perplexedly: the barracks were where the generals were stationed, and no one else were allowed inside……

  “It’s getting late. The barracks are nearby. Let’s rest there tonight before we go to the nearest town tomorrow.” Ouyang Shaochen suggested.

  Murong Xue nodded: “sounds nice.”


  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 Xue’s 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 barracks……

  A soldier came up and said, “Prince Ouyang, Miss Murong, General Zhang requests the pleasure of seeing you!”


  Ouyang Shaochen agreed emotionlessly and, holding Murong Xue’s 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 expression……