“You don’t need to pay me back this little bit of money, Miss.”
Since they could not reveal Su Xiaobao’s identity outside, he addressed her as “Miss.”
Su Xiaobao thought for two seconds before saying, “Then when I grow something delicious, I’ll give you some.”
Lin Zhengqing did not refuse and agreed, but he did not take her words to heart.
After all, what could a child who was only three years old possibly grow? Not to mention that she would be growing it in a place like the Imperial Palace.
Once she had bought everything she wanted, Su Xiaobao did not make any further requests.
The obedient and quiet carriage, escorted by Lin Zhengqing and the others, continued all the way toward the capital.
At first, Su Xiaobao was quite excited during her first day in the carriage. She gazed out through the carriage window at the scenery, her eyes sparkling with interest.
But very soon… she could no longer smile.
The carriages of ancient times had no shock absorbers, and the roads were especially uneven. Su Xiaobao felt as though her tiny body was about to be shaken apart.
She missed the days when, although she had not had a body, she could fly everywhere.
It had taken less than half a day for Su Xiaobao to go from sitting upright in the carriage to lying limply across it, trying to make herself more comfortable.
Even though the carriage floor was covered with soft animal pelts, she still could not endure it.
But in order not to cause trouble for the group, and in order to find Daddy, Xiaobao endured it with great determination.
After two days, Lin Zhengqing noticed that the originally lively Xiaobao had wilted completely.
The little girl looked at him pitifully and asked in her childish voice, “How much longer until we get there?”
Seeing how pitiful she looked, Lin Zhengqing comforted her patiently. “It won’t be much longer. There’s about another hour of travel left.”
An hour!
Su Xiaobao instantly perked up, and her little head rose again.
They were finally about to arrive! Boo-hoo… She would never be curious about carriages again.
After traveling for a while longer, Su Xiaobao noticed that the road had become level.
Curious, she poked her head out of the window to look. Only then did she realize that the road here was much smoother than before. Looking farther ahead along it, she could vaguely see towering, majestic city walls.
Xiaobao’s eyes immediately lit up.
“We’re there, aren’t we? Are we there yet?”
The little girl gazed eagerly at Lin Zhengqing, who was riding on horseback. She really did not want to sit in the carriage anymore.
“Mm.” Lin Zhengqing did not disappoint her and answered her.
The little girl leaning against the window immediately broke into a radiant smile and perked up.
At last, with Su Xiaobao’s anticipation, they reached the city gate.
Lin Zhengqing took out a token, and the guards at the city gate immediately let them through.
Prosperous capital cities were always where high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy people gathered. In ancient times, everyone believed that the emperor was the true dragon incarnate, and everyone wished to live a little closer to him.
As a result, the capital was vast and bustling. Its streets were level and spacious; even two luxurious carriages traveling side by side, with pedestrians walking alongside them, would not pose a problem. It was completely different from the small county town Su Xiaobao had seen before.
Su Xiaobao looked around curiously the entire way. Whenever she saw food being sold, she nearly drooled. Whenever she saw a juggling performance, her tiny body almost leaned right out of the window. She was so excited that she wished she could watch from the crowd and clap like a delighted little seal.
Seeing her like this, Lin Zhengqing had the carriage slow down. After all… once she entered the Imperial Palace, it would be difficult for her to come out again.
But no matter how slowly they traveled, Su Xiaobao and the others still arrived at the gates of the Imperial Palace.
Su Xiaobao stared at the palace gates, which were even more refined and imposing than the city gate she had seen earlier. Her eyes widened with curiosity.
Was this the place where she would live from now on? It was so big.
The only princess of Great Xia had been brought back.
When the emperor of Great Xia received the news, he was in the martial arts ground.
The handsome, devilishly charismatic man held a bloodstained long sword in his hand and wore a black outfit suited for combat. Apart from the violent killing intent in his narrow eyes, there was not the slightest trace of emotion. Even after hearing news about his daughter, his dark eyes remained utterly unmoved.
Before him lay a man whose arm had been severed, his entire body twitching in a pool of blood. Eunuchs, palace maids, and guards knelt all around him.
Lin Zhengqing was dressed in the uniform of the Guard Camp’s captain. Standing respectfully beside the handsome man, he reported the news concerning the Little Princess, paying no attention to the man twitching and moaning on the ground—or perhaps he was already accustomed to it.
After listening, Nangong Shiyuan replied in a cold and indifferent tone, “I know. Find some place and have someone raise her there.”
He spoke as though she were not his own daughter, but merely some insignificant little pet.
Lin Zhengqing paused. Although he had anticipated this, he was still somewhat disappointed. However, he did not dare show it and merely answered respectfully, “Yes.”
“Deal with this man.”
After saying that, Nangong Shiyuan casually tossed the bloodstained long sword in his hand aside. The chief eunuch, quick to read the situation, stepped forward and presented him with a clean handkerchief.
Nangong Shiyuan walked unhurriedly out of the martial arts ground, slowly and meticulously wiping the bright-red blood from his hands.
There were faint bluish-black shadows beneath his eyes. His thin lips were tightly pressed together, and his brows were furrowed into a small hill. Violence filled his dark eyes, deep as an ancient well. After he had killed someone in public, everyone serving nearby trembled with fear and did not dare make the slightest sound.
Only after he had boarded the sedan chair and departed did they relax.
Lin Zhengqing beckoned for someone to seize the man lying on the ground. “Take him away and interrogate him to find out whose man he is.”
The current Emperor was warlike. He had seized this entire realm from his own Imperial Father. Even now, people still turned pale at the mention of the palace coup that had dyed the whole capital red with blood.
From the age of twelve, before he had even reached adulthood, the current Emperor had lived alongside all the soldiers like an ordinary soldier. What he ate and wore had been no different from that of any other person, and he had gone into battle with everyone else to kill the enemy. He had been more valiant than anyone.
Thus, after becoming the most powerful ruler in the realm, he still enjoyed sparring with others. This martial arts ground had been built for that very hobby. From time to time, he would have people take the platform and fight him; more often, several people would face him alone.
This gave spies and assassins opportunities to exploit, and they hoped to use such chances to kill him.
Lin Zhengqing’s practiced movements showed that this was not the first time.
Of course, it would certainly not be the last.
Far too many people wanted Nangong Shiyuan dead. He himself also did not thoroughly investigate the matter and root out every spy within the Imperial Guards, almost as though he were deliberately allowing them to remain.
Lin Zhengqing had no idea what His Majesty was thinking. Naturally, he did not dare make any reckless guesses.
After dealing with the spy, Lin Zhengqing did not think of Su Xiaobao again until the fifth day. He could not help feeling worried, wondering how the Little Princess was doing now.
And during those five days, Nangong Shiyuan, her father, had not gone to see her even once. He might even have already forgotten about the daughter who had been brought back from outside and left her completely at the back of his mind.