Everyone dismounted.

“Third Master!”

“Father.”

They called out.

Third Master’s face grew stern as he grunted in acknowledgment and looked toward Jingrong.

Jingrong walked up to him and cupped his hands: “Third Master, it has been quite a while.”

Third Master straightened his chest and said politely: “I didn’t expect Young Master Jing to come to our Houliao. Welcome.”

He knew Jingrong was a prince, but out here in the open, it wasn’t appropriate to reveal this.

“I must trouble Third Master, as I may need to impose upon you here for some time.”

“What are you saying? Just treat this place as your own home. Stay as long as you wish—no need to be polite with me.”

“Thank you very much.”

Third Master furrowed his brow, revealing his anger: “However, I didn’t expect such an incident to occur on your journey here. Those Yuedan people are so arrogant—this matter certainly cannot be left at that.”

Capturing his guests—how outrageous!

He asked again: “By the way, where is Miss Ji?”

His concern was evident.

At this moment—

Ji Yunshu, supporting the heavily pregnant Tang Si, descended from the carriage.

She stepped forward!

She cupped her hands toward Third Master: “Third Master.”

Third Master looked her up and down and asked nervously: “Miss Ji, were you injured?”

His tone had clearly softened considerably.

“Thank you for your concern, Third Master. I’m fine.”

“That’s good.” He relaxed and let out a sigh. “The journey here must have been arduous. Miss Ji, rest well tonight first. Don’t worry about other matters.”

She nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

At this moment, Jingrong’s guard stepped forward and asked: “Young Master, what should we do with that person?”

He pointed at Bai Yin, who had been dragged all the way here.

He lay motionless on the ground.

Already on the verge of death!

Jingrong’s eyes turned cold and fierce as he asked: “Is he dead?”

“Not yet.”

When Third Master looked over, his eyes glinted coldly as he asked: “Who is he?”

Jingrong: “A Yuedan person.”

Upon hearing this, Third Master’s face filled with murderous intent: “Since he’s from Yuedan, then kill him.”

Jingrong quickly stopped him: “No, keeping this person alive may prove very useful.”

“Then what do you want to do with him?”

He thought for a moment: “Lock him up first. We’ll decide later.”

Third Master showed no intention of contradicting him and gave his own men a look.

Thus, two burly men wearing iron boots walked over, grabbed Bai Yin under the arms, and dragged him away.

Ji Yunshu glanced over briefly, then quickly withdrew her gaze.

He absolutely must not die!

She still hadn’t figured out the matter of the portrait.

Afterward—

Third Master pulled Jingrong aside to discuss matters.

Ji Yunshu and Qin Xi were separately assigned to their resting places.

Ji Yunshu changed into clean clothes.

She felt much more refreshed.

Tang Si brought her a large blanket, saying: “On the grasslands, it gets very cold at night. Cover yourself with more layers tonight.”

She was tidying her hair that had fallen loose over her shoulders. Seeing Tang Si rushing about busily, she quickly grabbed her.

“Enough, stop fussing over me. I’m not a child. Look at you—carrying such a big belly. What if you fall?”

Tang Si sat down on the ground with a cheerful smile: “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. If I stop moving, I feel uncomfortable all over. Now I can’t go up the mountains, can’t practice martial arts, and even more pitifully, can’t drink alcohol. All day long I’m practically suffocating. If you don’t even let me move around a bit, I’ll die.”

Sigh—

Ji Yunshu sighed.

“You’re about to become a mother. How can you keep mentioning death so casually? It’s so inauspicious.”

“Look, look, look—there you go again, bringing your Central Plains ways here. In our Houliao, we don’t avoid such taboos.”

“…”

Fine!

I give up!

Ji Yunshu smiled and began organizing the clothes at hand, muttering as she did: “I wonder what they’re talking about?”

Hearing this, Tang Si quickly said: “They must be discussing the Yuedan incident this time. I think my father will go find Muzha’er tomorrow.”

Muzha’er?

The Houliao leader!

Rumor had it that in his youth, this man killed gods when meeting gods, killed Buddhas when meeting Buddhas!

Throughout his life, there was nothing he feared. However, he had no great ambitions, being content to guard Houliao and maintain the title of Western Sai Grassland overlord. Moreover, successive Houliao leaders had been the same, never displaying particularly great ambitions. This was why, despite Houliao’s fierceness on the grasslands for over a hundred years, they had never sought to compete for control of the Central Plains. Nevertheless, the relationship between Da Lin and Houliao remained covertly tense, with each guarding against and monitoring the other.

As the saying goes: well water does not intrude upon river water, but if you provoke me, I will surely strike back!

But precisely because of this, the principles of Houliao and the principles of Yuedan created enormous conflicts. One mountain cannot contain two tigers—if Yuedan wanted to dominate the Western Sai Grasslands and compete for the Central Plains, they must first destroy Houliao, this barrier.

Tang Si clenched her fist and said angrily: “Those Yuedan people were originally just a small tribe on the western frontier. Now they’ve become arrogant, constantly swallowing up surrounding small tribes, and they even dare to think they can fight with our Houliao—it’s like throwing eggs at a stone, laughable! This time they dared to capture you, my father definitely won’t let them off. Just wait—tomorrow he’ll surely go find Muzha’er to discuss how to beat those sons of bitches to death.”

Ji Yunshu: “A battle between the two sides is unavoidable now.”

“We should have fought long ago. Yuedan directly brought troops to station here—this is open provocation! A month ago we should have sent troops to eliminate them, but Muzha’er had too many concerns and kept refusing to deploy troops. I really want to see what excuse Muzha’er has this time to keep delaying?”

There weren’t many people who dared to address the Houliao leader by name directly.

Tang Si was one of them.

On the other side.

Qin Xi took her medicine and prepared to rest.

Outside the tent, Lang Bo’s voice came: “Miss Qin, have you retired for the night?”

Her heart suddenly tightened. She quickly tidied her appearance and pressed her lips together.

She called out toward the tent entrance: “Not yet.”

“Then… then I’m coming in.”

“Oh!”

Why was this conversation so awkward?

Lang Bo walked in, head lowered, not daring to look at Qin Xi. “That…”

Qin Xi stood there shyly and asked: “Brother Lang, did you need something?”

He quickly took out what he had brought and handed it to her, saying: “This is Houliao’s cold-dispelling incense. It’s very cold on the grasslands, and your health isn’t fully recovered, so I brought some for you. Just place it by your pillow when you sleep.”

Qin Xi was touched and reached out to accept it.

“Thank you, Brother Lang.”

“No need to thank me. As a grown man, I should be taking good care of you.” Lang Bo patted his chest.

The corners of her mouth curved in a smile.

Lang Bo never dared to meet her eyes directly.

He shifted his feet, not knowing what else to say.

It felt very awkward.

“Well… if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first. Miss Qin, rest early.”

“Mm.”

He turned to leave. Just as he reached the entrance—

“Brother Lang.” Qin Xi called out to him.

“Ah?” He turned around and met her gaze, asking, “What is it, Miss Qin? Is there something else?”

Qin Xi looked at him, thought for a moment, and bit her lip: “Why don’t… you have some hot water before you go?”

This…

The rough man Lang Bo felt as if someone had stuffed a piece of candy into his mouth, sweetness reaching his heart.

In that moment, he felt he must have gone crazy!

Could it be—

That brat Shi Ziran had actually guessed correctly?

Did he really feel that way about Qin Xi…

He scratched his head: “Sure! Then… I’ll have a cup.”

Heh—