Although Fa Cai had a somewhat rustic manner, he was quick-witted and never missed an opportunity to gain an advantage. Ye Hui, maintaining a stern face, denied: "You really can't remember clearly. I only said I'd bring a gift, but when did I say I'd attend? Don't try to make excuses."
Fa Cai put on a pitiful expression: "I know Grandmother is a noble person, not someone we common folk could easily approach. I had originally thought you would attend and even assured my family, but now I've lost face."
Who would have thought this young man would use such a provocation technique! Ye Hui smiled, about to respond.
Qin Yuhang, who had been laughing while watching his wife and Fa Cai banter, waved at Fa Cai: "You may go. Go find Lin, the steward, to arrange your accommodation. We'll discuss this matter in a day or two."
Fa Cai, not daring to disobey his master, bowed and left Jinhua Hall.
After sending Fa Cai away, Ye Hui told Qin Yuhang she wanted to go out and explore while the weather was still not too cold.
"Just around Pingzhou's nearby counties. I won't go too far. Husband, I heard Sha Ping County has Moonlight Lake, with water as pure as clouds in the blue sky. Bi Yun County is a vast grassland, with herds of cattle, sheep, and wild camels moving through, creating a spectacular and magnificent scene. Further away is a large desert, even bigger than the one we passed on our way to Pingzhou. People call it the Sea of Death. Western merchants dare only enter the desert's center with the most excellent guide; otherwise, without finding water, they could be swallowed by the endless sand sea, becoming a pile of dry bones."
"China has countless beautiful landscapes. Haven't you seen enough traveling from the imperial capital?"
"I was locked in the Prince of Chu's palace for too long. I want to look around before returning to the capital. If you won't accompany me, I'll have the tenth and eleventh brothers join me," Ye Hui said, her bright eyes revealing a hint of threat.
Qin Yuhang laughed, his eyes curved, embracing her: "How could I not accompany my wife? Whatever you want, I'd even pluck the moon from the sky for you."
That night, Qin Yuhang slept in Jinhua Hall, honestly resting after their intimate encounter.
Preparing for their trip, Qin Yuhang spent two days preparing - various daily necessities, camping tents, horse carriages, and accompanying servants. Finally, he used the royal certificate to requisition five hundred imperial guards under Huangfu Zeduan's name for protection.
Three days later, Ye Hui wore a simple, unassuming light blue long dress, boarding a luxurious horse carriage. The tenth and eleventh brothers rode high-spirited horses on either side as guards. Qin Yuhang boarded Ye Hui's carriage, while Muo Qi held Heng Ting in the following carriage.
The streets were bustling with people starting their day, automatically making way for the Prince of Chu's entourage.
Ye Hui briefly looked out, then lay on the felt blanket and closed her eyes. She had always been a late riser, a habit unchanged since her transmigration. Having woken early for the trip, she felt tired and soon fell asleep on Qin Yuhang's lap.
Qin Yuhang kissed her face and carefully held her to prevent her from being disturbed by the bumpy road.
Pingzhou was vast; even traveling by horse carriage would take over ten days to explore.
The next afternoon, they set up tents on a broad plain. Soldiers lit campfires and roasted the hunted game and yellow sheep. When Ye Hui descended from the carriage, she immediately stood at attention and saluted the soldiers.
This military salute was her suggestion to Huangfu Zeduan - soldiers in uniform must salute, maintaining the army's dignity, with men's knees reserved for golden moments, not easily bent.
Ye Hui, in her most dignified posture, gently waved, allowing everyone to relax.
The troops were well aware of her crucial role in northwest military reforms and defeating the Western Turks, and they deeply respected her.
After dinner, Qin Yuhang brought out Sai Xue, helping Ye Hui mount the horse for a ride across the grasslands.
Sai Xue was the white horse sent from the capital by Huang Zeduan, named for its pure white coat.
Riding with Qin Yuhang embracing her from behind, she recalled her first intimate encounter with the tenth brother at the horse field, her face warming. Glancing back, she saw the tenth and eleventh brothers and a thirty-person personal guard squadron following.
Ye Hui knew they were concerned and paid no mind.
As evening fell, a faint red lingered in the western sky, and the moon's curved shadow appeared.
"Viewing battlefields through history, appreciating moonlight on horseback," she remembered a line from a wuxia novel. The protagonist's passionate, devoted love that would die without regret had softened her heart, and for years she had dreamed of finding such a lover.
Glancing back at Qin Yuhang, her peripheral vision sweeping over him and the two distant guards, her thoughts followed the moon thousands of miles to the capital, where two extraordinary men awaited her return.
"Qin Ge, I'm so happy to have you in this life. When we return to the capital, let's have a child!" Ye Hui remembered Qin's elder sister-in-law couldn't bear children, and the Qin family must eagerly anticipate the next generation. The hand around her waist was exceptionally warm, and his gentle words whispered: "A child like Heng Ting, and twins would be even better.
In this era, the probability of a woman giving birth to twins is quite high, but unfortunately, she only gave birth to Hengting as her first child, which seemed to make the continuation of the royal bloodline somewhat thin. However, Ye Hui did not want to give birth to Huangfu Ze’s child; she did not want to become a baby-making machine.
