C208

The next morning.

Qiao Qiao was still taking care of the bag in her hands. From time to time, she would raise her head and look at Yan Mo Chen's shining black eyes. A faint smile could be seen on her lips.

Yan Mo Chen had taken off his bright dragon robe and changed into a plain white robe, looking like a fairy. His handsome face was also smiling and looking tired, his picturesque eyebrows were like mountains, and his skin was smooth and smooth. If he didn't pay attention to the dark circles under his eyebrows, then this person would be so perfect that he would look like a beautiful man in a painting.

"What are you always watching me do?"

Yan Mo Chen rubbed both his temples. He did not expect that every time he wanted to go back to the hall to sleep last night, he would always be able to see Ran Er's curvy body, her even breathing, and her deadly seductive lips. That would mean that Ran Er's state of mind, which had calmed him down, would instantly collapse.

"Nothing, I'm almost done packing." Qiao Qiao laughed out loud. He must have also understood where Yan Mo Chen's panda eyes came from.

"Yes, Yan Mu will drive." Yan Mo Chen said indifferently.

"Is Yan Mu not staying in the palace?" Joe asked, still raising his eyebrows.

"I am more assured that Yan Mu can stay by your side." Yan Mo Chen replied.

"Then who should we leave the palace to?" Qiao Qiao was still stunned. She had thought that Yan Mo Chen wanted to leave the palace with her because he wanted to hand over control of the palace to Yan Mu. After all, the most trustworthy person beside him was Yan Mu.

"Don't worry, the court will be fine." Yan Mo Chen looked at Qiao Qiao with a face full of comfort, a trace of a smile appearing on his tired face.

Qiao Qiao nodded his head in a daze. He picked up the bundle and whispered to Yan Mo Chen, "I left a letter for Qingwu and Xiu Luan. I don't want to say goodbye to them. Let's hurry on our way."

"Alright." Yan Mo Chen nodded his head, and took the bag from Qiao Qiao, then walked towards the door.

Qiao Qiao's eyes were still filled with nostalgia as he looked back at the desolate Qian Qinggong. Sighing, he turned around and followed Yan Mo Chen onto the carriage.

"Your Majesty, Empress, Yu Zihui has arrived." Yan Mu's face was stern. He stood outside the horse carriage and cupped his hands as he spoke to Yan Mo Chen and Qiao Qiao.

Qiao Qiao's face was still stiff. He turned his head to look at Yan Mo Chen, seeming to have a question.

"I think that what you said is right. With the disciple of that geezer Qing You in our hands, we have an extra bargaining chip when we go to Spirit Mountain." Yan Mo Chen opened the door of the sedan, and instructed Yan Mu, "Tie it up and put it in the carriage at the back. Watch out."

"Yes." Yan Mu cupped his hands in response. However, a while later, the horse carriage that was carrying Qiao once again slowly started to move.

"I'm afraid it will take us over half a month to get to Pingyang County. If you get tired, just say so and we'll find an inn nearby to rest." Yan Mo Chen held Qiao Qiao's hand and said softly.

"Alright, let's hurry on our way." Qiao Qiao still smiled lightly and nodded.

​

As the carriage moved forward, it seemed as if it had left the palace already. The dust and dirt were flying everywhere, and the carriage moved at a very fast speed. It was a bit bumpy.

"Young master, it's getting late, why don't we find an inn to rest? Tomorrow morning, we can continue our journey."

Ever since they left the palace, Yan Mu had long since changed his way of addressing Yan Mo Chen to 'young master', and he still addressed Qiao Qiao as the young mistress.

"Are you tired? Shall we take a break? " Yan Mo Chen held onto Qiao Qiao's hand tightly, as if he was afraid that she would run away all of a sudden, and he could not bear to let go of her hand for even a moment.

"Alright." Joe still opened the curtain and looked out. It was getting dark, "I'm afraid we won't be able to make it to the next town before nightfall."

"That's right, Young Madam. I'm afraid we'll have to suffer for the night in this desolate mountain range." Hearing Qiao's words, Yan Mu could not help but agree.

Qiao still had a faint smile on his face and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He looked at Yan Mu and asked, "Can't there be any jackals or tigers in this wilderness?"

"Young madam, don't worry. Even if there are wealthy wolves, tigers, and leopards in the world, young master will still be able to fight them barehanded!" Yan Mu chuckled. He brandished the long whip in his hand as the horse carriage charged forward again.

Qiao once again put down the curtain. She couldn't help but smile. "Can you really use your bare hands and punch after punch?"

"You don't believe in your husband's strength?" Yan Mo Chen frowned, but he could still see the distrust in Qiao Qiao's eyes. He suddenly opened the carriage's curtain and said seriously to Yan Mu, "Tonight we will eat roasted tiger heads!"

Yan Mu's hand trembled, and he tightened his reins. The horse carriage suddenly stopped, and he turned to look at Yan Mo Chen with a suspicious look.

"What are you guys blanking out for? Drive your car deep into the mountains. Tonight, I will show you all what it means to hit a wild tiger with a stick!" Yan Mo Yu's face was expressionless. He slightly raised his eyebrows and spoke in a very serious manner.

When Qiao Qiao heard this, he couldn't help but pout his lips and pull Yan Mo Chen back from his standing position. He could not help but grumble, "I don't want you to be eaten by a tiger before you reach Spirit Serpent Mountain!"

Yan Mo Chen looked as if he had been ridiculed. He turned his head away with a stubborn expression and muttered with a slight bit of anger, "You actually don't believe me …"

Qiao Qiao laughed out loud and covered his mouth. With a calm face, he said to Yan Mu, "Let's see if there are any inns nearby. We will have a simple rest tonight and continue on our journey as soon as the sun shines."

"Yes, Young Madam." Yan Mu nodded. He raised his whip and spurred his horse forward.

"Change into men's clothes." Yan Mo Chen turned his head to the side and said to Qiao Qiao with a smile on his face.

"Here?" Qiao Qiao's face remained panicked as he looked around. Although the carriage was sealed off, it was still broad daylight after all. There was no way for them to change their clothes in front of him!

"Mm. What are we afraid of?" Yan Mo Chen frowned and asked.

"Then why didn't you let me change it when you were in the palace!" Qiao Qiao's face was still slightly angry. Looking at this fellow's complacent expression, he had long since guessed that this fellow had done this on purpose!

However, she was helpless. It was indeed much more convenient to change into men's clothes while traveling. She grumpily took the clothes in her bag and turned around with her back facing Yan Mo Chen. Her face was slightly distorted as she hardened her heart and took off her thin clothes layer by layer.

"Nice figure and smooth skin …" Yan Mo Chen suddenly said from behind him.

Qiao Qiao's face was still filled with black lines and his hands couldn't help but hesitate a little. This fellow was indeed becoming more and more shameless. How is her figure? Do I need him to comment on it?

The atmosphere in the carriage immediately dropped to the freezing point. Qiao who had changed into the men's clothing still sat to the side with a warm and furious expression. The two of them looked at each other without saying anything.

In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the carriage gradually steadied itself.

"Young master, there is an inn in front of the young madam. Let's stay here for tonight." Outside the carriage, Yan Mu spoke respectfully.

"Alright." Yan Mo Chen answered and was about to raise his hand to help Qiao Qiao down the carriage.

However, Qiao Qiao still coldly avoided the action. She raised her foot and nimbly jumped down from the carriage. Turning her head, she said to the stunned Yan Mu, "We will now address you as Eldest Young Master and Young Master."

Yan Mu came back to his senses before nodding. "Yes, young master …"

Just as her feet landed on the ground, Qiao Qiao's body was still stretched out and curled up in the carriage for an entire day. Her body was truly a little sore, she followed her line of sight and saw a tavern that was slightly old standing in the middle of the wilderness.

"There are no guests within a hundred mile radius. Who is the owner of this inn?" Qiao Qiao was still full of suspicion as he asked with a slight frown.

"Maybe it's to rest the passersby around here." Yan Mo Chen smiled consolingly. He wrapped his arm around Qiao Qiao's shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry, even if this is a black shop, I will still protect you."

Qiao Qiao still had his brows lowered slightly. He did not feel such deep affection for Yan Mo Chen. Instead, he shook his shoulders, shook off his hand, and walked into the inn alone.

"Guests, please come in. Do you have a job or do you need to stay in the restaurant?" The waiter at the entrance of the inn was rather cordial. He took the carriage in Yan Mu's hand and led it towards the backyard of the inn.

"Residence. Three good rooms. Good dishes." Yan Mu said in a deep voice.

"Alright, please wait a moment, sir. Let's drink some tea and rest first." The waiter enthusiastically entertained them before leaving.

Joe and Yan Mo Chen entered the inn one after the other and sat at the same table.

"Young master, I'll go out and take a look around first." Yan Mu cupped his hands and said to Yan Mo Chen.

"Right." Yan Mo Chen nodded.

"What is Yan Mu doing?" Qiao Qiao asked doubtfully as he followed Yan Mu's gaze.

"It's still good to scout around." Yan Mo Chen said as he raised the teacup and placed it in his mouth, sipping lightly.

"Oh, there's a guest ~"

An extremely sharp voice rang out from the top of the inn. Following which, a seductive figure dressed in a red dress leisurely walked down the stairs.

With every step he took, he twisted his waist and held the fan in his hand. Although the fan was covering his face, it was not hard to see the seductive charm within the woman's eyes.

There was actually such a beautiful lady in this desolate mountain range, causing Qiao Qiao to be slightly shocked. She turned her head to look at Yan Mo Chen who was still lightly sipping her tea and smiling.

"Why? Aren't you curious about what the Lady Boss looks like?" She leaned close to Yan Mo Chen's ear and whispered into it with a smile.

"Except for you, all the other women look the same to me." Yan Mo Chen's face was pale, and he held a teacup in his hand.