When Tang Jiaojiao was talking with Li Xingyuan in the room, Tang Xiaobai rode her horse out.

Although she vaguely felt that she seemed to have forgotten something, since she couldn’t recall it, she let it go for now. After all, she had a lot of preparations to make before leaving the Capital City.

Tang Xiaobai rode to the Hanging Light Gate, south of the Imperial City, and waited quietly. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

As the sun gradually leaned westward, officials who had finished their day at the Government Office were coming out, one after another.

When she saw a young man in a deep green official uniform in the crowd, Tang Xiaobai took two steps forward.

The other party also saw her and turned to walk toward her.

"Senior Brother Pei!" Tang Xiaobai bowed respectfully.

Pei Xuan returned the bow halfway, casting his eyes to the distance behind her, asking, "Second Miss Tang, what brings you to me?"

"To bid farewell, Senior Brother," Tang Xiaobai said, "I will soon be accompanying the Court’s Inspection Envoy to Liangzhou."

Pei Xuan was taken aback: "You are going to Liangzhou? Did your family agree?"

Tang Xiaobai smiled and said, "Of course! Otherwise, how could I go?"

Pei Xuan looked at her for a while and nodded: "Reading ten thousand books, traveling ten thousand miles, is a good thing too," he paused, "Be careful on the road."

Tang Xiaobai agreed and, hesitating for a moment, said, "While I’m away, could I trouble Senior Brother Pei to look after my family?"

Pei Xuan paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but eventually nodded: "I’ll do my best, I dare not refuse."

Tang Xiaobai felt a weight lifted from her heart.

Pei Xuan had a half-mentor relationship with her.

Although initially, it was he who was eager to tutor her, once they started, she genuinely appreciated it.

Besides, Pei Xuan was rigorous in his studies and upright in character, displaying the demeanor of an old scholar despite his young age.

In short, he was a Senior Brother worthy of respect and trust.

He had said he would help, so he certainly would.

Tang Xiaobai smiled with her eyes, ready to express her thanks, but then a strange voice called out from behind, "Ah Brother!"

The voice was that of a clean and clear youth, with a hint of nervousness.

Tang Xiaobai turned her head to look, and indeed there was a young man behind her.

About fourteen or fifteen years old, he was fair-skinned with delicate features, standing about five steps away. Initially, he should have been looking at Pei Xuan, but when he saw her turn, he shifted his gaze to her.

The moment their eyes met, the young man blushed.

Eh?

Why is he blushing?

Tang Xiaobai was puzzled, then saw him hastily avert his gaze, his sleeves drawn together as he bowed, not knowing to whom.

"This is my younger brother, known as the Eleventh Son." Pei Xuan introduced.

Tang Xiaobai’s mind went "boom," and she blushed too.

Pei Shiyi... isn’t he Pei Kuan?

She, she met him!

"Eleventh Son, this is Second Miss Tang."

Both of them greeted each other awkwardly and formally.

Tang Xiaobai felt extremely embarrassed.

Although her marriage proposal was still just in its infancy and had not been discussed openly, during their interactions, they could each sense something subtly.

Pei Kuan must know something, hence the blush when he saw her.

Such a pure child... she couldn’t handle it...

Indeed, they shouldn’t have met, seeing him immediately made her feel guilty.

Unable to bear the young boy’s shy and timid gaze, Tang Xiaobai quickly bid farewell to Pei Xuan, mounted her horse, and left.

Little did she know, after she’d left, Pei Kuan said to Pei Xuan, "Ah Brother, I didn’t know Second Miss Tang was so bashful."

Pei Xuan couldn’t help but show a slight smile: "She’s not usually like this."

Pei Kuan’s fair face turned red again.

That day when he saw her riding out of the city, she was the epitome of bravery.

Could it be because she saw him today that she...?

...

Tang Xiaobai left the Hanging Light Gate and went westward to the West Market.

She also wanted to bid farewell to Wenren Jia.

After hearing her words, Wenren Jia wasn’t surprised, smiling gently: "Earlier when I heard the Court was sending someone to inspect Liangzhou, I guessed you would want to go."

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh: "How did you guess?"

She felt a kind of touched understanding.

"Second Miss’s knowledge will only find a place to be used there. Trapped in the Capital City, you would be helpless," Wenren Jia said.

Tang Xiaobai paused, smiling and nodding, suddenly feeling a little sad.

"If it were me, I would want to go too," Wenren Jia added.

Tang Xiaobai lifted the corners of her lips, jokingly saying, "Then you should go too, maybe you’ll have a chance to see the source of the Yellow River."

Wenren Jia’s gaze shifted slightly, then he suddenly smiled: "You put it that way, indeed."

Tang Xiaobai: "???"

"Wondering if I could accompany Second Miss along the way?" he asked with a smile.

Tang Xiaobai: "!!!"

...

On April 20th, the Liangzhou Inspection Envoy left the Capital City.

The departing people were divided into two groups.

One group consisted of Court officials, and the other group was Tang Xiaobai and others.

She was essentially forming her own group to join the journey. After all, the main road leads out of the Capital, and there wasn’t a rule stopping one from traveling with government officers.

The number of people on Tang Xiaobai’s side was quite large too, with more than ten guards and maidservants, along with Wenren Jia, Gu Hui, and Tao Fen accompanying.

Wenren Jia chose to go by himself, while Gu Hui was ordered to accompany her.

Only Tao Fen was invited by Tang Xiaobai herself.

Tao Fen was skilled in swordsmanship and good at socializing, making it very reassuring to bring him along.

Looking at it this way, the people she brought along were already quite sufficient.

Unexpectedly, just as they were about to set off, her sister added one more person.

Added a bomb.

Seeing Prince Li, with his face full of beards and a particularly simple-minded smile, Tang Xiaobai was utterly shocked.

Only after enduring until the night stop did Tang Xiaobai, disregarding others’ gazes, pull Li Xingyuan aside and anxiously ask, "What are you doing here?"

"Your elder sister was worried, so she asked me to follow and protect you." Li Xingyuan’s face was full of benevolence.

"But... aren’t you supposed to be rallying the troops in Zhenzhou?" You’re the male lead, why are you so love-struck?

Li Xingyuan was indifferent: "I have already chopped down the unruly ones in Zhenzhou. Those remaining, I’ll let Su Shunqing handle. It’s not a big problem."

"But the Turkic people are attacking Yanmen Pass!" Tang Xiaobai lowered her voice desperately, controlling her urge to shout, "Why are you running here! After sorting things out in Zhenzhou, shouldn’t you be helping Ah Xiao?!"

Li Xingyuan said seriously: "I’m still in mourning period, can’t lead troops, can’t help him!"

"You’re in mourning, but still going to Liangzhou with me!" Tang Xiaobai almost wanted to shake him wildly.

Li Xingyuan chuckled and said, "I already gave him the soldiers and commanders. If he still needs me to personally command from the front, is it that he’s truly incapable, or do you look down on him?"

Tang Xiaobai was at a loss for words, then immediately glared at him: "Ah Xiao is certainly capable!"

Suddenly thinking of something, she narrowed her eyes coldly: "Are you afraid my elder sister might marry someone else, so you ran over here from Zhenzhou?"

Li Xingyuan smiled without saying a word.

Tang Xiaobai warned, "This journey is crucial, don’t cause any unnecessary trouble!"

It’s truly frustrating.

Originally, it was set that Xue Shaojian would be the Inspection Envoy, and Gu Yuan the Vice Envoy.

Somehow, at the last minute, Wang Jian was added, and now there’s Li Xingyuan as well.

Tang Xiaobai felt like she was leading a brother-in-law troupe.

But this wasn’t a time for squabbling, she didn’t want any internal conflict like jealousy and rivalry.

"How could I stoop to their level?" Li Xingyuan said with disdain, his eyes flickering, "Speaking of Ah Xiao... did you inform him about your trip to Liangzhou?"

Tang Xiaobai was stunned.

No wonder she felt like she’d forgotten something?