Bai Yaoyao shrank into the corner of the carriage. Ning Yan’s tall frame made the space feel unbearably cramped the moment he entered. The hilt of his sword knocked against the carriage wall with a dull thud, a sound that made Bai Yaoyao’s nerves fray even further. Her face went pale as paper.

“Move over there—don’t scare Yaoyao.”

Distressed for her sister, Bai Qingqing reached out and gave Ning Yan a shove. Bai Yaoyao nearly fainted from fright. But to her astonishment, Ning Yan, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face, actually shifted toward the corner as Qingqing had asked.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t anyone outside notice? No—how could you just barge into the carriage like this?”

Bai Qingqing looked at Ning Yan with disapproval. She’d told him last time—his reckless behavior was exactly what made people fear him. Why wouldn’t he listen?

“I need to speak with you.”

The air in the carriage was stifling. Ning Yan grabbed her wrist and yanked the curtain aside. It fell shut behind them, and only her startled gasp could be heard.

Bai Yaoyao scrambled after them on hands and knees, just in time to glimpse Ning Yan riding away with her sister.

She was so frantic she nearly threw herself from the carriage to draw attention, only to be stopped by Ning Zhao. “No need for that, no need! The lord just has something urgent to say to your sister. It’s not convenient in here, so he took her aside. Don’t worry, he won’t harm her.”

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Bai Yaoyao trembled with rage. “He snatches her in broad daylight—how is that not harm?”

Ning Zhao scratched his head in distress. “This is already the gentlest method the lord could come up with. If he were acting on impulse, he wouldn’t have cared this much. It’s really something important, I promise. Your sister will be returned safe and sound.”

Poor Ning Zhao was left to deal with the mess once again. He could only pray his uncle would bring the girl back soon—if not, he was going to be skewered alive by the younger Bai girl’s murderous glare.

…

Bai Qingqing had ridden a horse before—but never with someone else. And never at such breakneck speed!

She was still in a daze when Ning Yan hauled her onto the horse. The next moment, they were flying like the wind. Bai Qingqing had no time to prepare—her scream had already risen to her throat.

Then Ning Yan threw his cloak over her.

The world went dark. With nothing to see, the sense of panic dulled a little. Bai Qingqing swallowed her scream and huddled motionless beneath the heavy fabric.

Behind her was Ning Yan’s broad, solid chest. Despite their speed, his grip on the reins was steady. Her stiff body slowly relaxed, leaning back into him. The jolting beneath her didn't seem quite so terrifying anymore.

After a while, Ning Yan brought the horse to a halt. Bai Qingqing cautiously peeked through a gap in the cloak. They were no longer on the streets of Xuancheng. It looked like… the palace?

No one else was around. She burst from the cloak in a swirl of soft fragrance. “Where are we? Why did you bring me here?”

The warmth in his arms vanished. Ning Yan tugged the reins with one hand, and the horse let out a sharp whinny, circling on the spot. Bai Qingqing stumbled back into him instinctively, startled.

The corner of Ning Yan’s mouth twitched slightly before he jumped down with her in his arms and set her carefully on the ground.

“We came in through another gate. This is the closest spot to Princess Huaifu’s quarters.”

Bai Qingqing: “?”

Ning Yan gave the horse a pat on the hindquarters. As though understanding, the steed trotted off on its own. He turned back and casually straightened a crooked hairpin on her head.

“I heard there's to be a joyous event in Xuancheng—and it has something to do with you.”