That night, Bai Qingqing returned to her room and stared blankly at the dark sky outside.

She had always claimed she could handle it, that she wasn’t afraid of hardship on this journey to the southwest. But when it came down to it, this was still the first time in both her lives that she’d traveled so far from home.

And this wasn’t just any journey. She was utterly alone, uncertain of what lay ahead. These kinds of feelings—she only allowed herself to feel them when no one else was around.

She washed up early and climbed into bed, curling herself into a tight little ball. Over and over, she told herself: Just fall asleep. Once I’m asleep, I won’t think so much.

But the more tangled her thoughts became, the harder it was to drift off. They had only just left the city, and already… she missed home.

Suddenly, Bai Qingqing heard movement from the room next door. Ning Yan was speaking to someone. His voice was low, too quiet to make out any words—just a soft, steady murmur.

Wrapped in her thin blanket, she inched closer to the wall, pressing herself against it. That faint, muffled voice brought an odd sense of comfort. Just knowing that Ning Yan—that seemingly unstoppable man—was right next door slowly eased the tension in her shoulders. Eventually, sleep took her.

The next morning, Bai Qingqing had only just finished washing up when someone knocked at her door. She thought it was Ning Yan and rushed over to open it, only to find a stranger standing outside.

The man had a kind face and a gentle smile. When he saw her, his eyes lit up. “You must be Miss Qingqing? I’m Wen Jiang, a physician. If you don’t mind, you can call me Brother Wen. Ning Yan is doing his morning exercises and asked me to tell you that if you’re already awake, you should go ahead and eat. No need to wait for him.”

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Bai Qingqing returned the greeting politely. “I’m not hungry. I’ll wait for Lord Ning.”

Wen Jiang chuckled. “That works too. He won’t be long anyway. In the meantime, why don’t we chat a bit while we wait?”

Wen Jiang was intensely curious about Bai Qingqing. Ever since he'd learned she would be joining them on this journey to the southwest, he had been itching to meet her in person.

What kind of woman could prompt Ning Yan to break his own rules time and again? Could she be the very girl Ning Yan had once mentioned in those rare, offhanded stories?

Now that he finally saw her, she was indeed breathtaking. Though dressed in the plain garb of a servant, without a trace of powder or a single ornament, she exuded a quiet, refined beauty—one that lingered in the mind long after a single glance.

“All the things Lord Ning asked me to prepare are packed in the carriage,” Wen Jiang said cheerfully. “I’m not sure what a young lady might need while traveling, but if anything’s missing, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

Bai Qingqing looked surprised. “But how can that be? Lord Ning told me not to bring anything—he said it would only weigh us down on the road…”

“That’s because he knew you’ve never traveled before,” Wen Jiang replied, eyes crinkling in a smile. “He was afraid the things you packed might not be suitable, so he had me handle it. It’s not that he thinks you’re a burden.”

To Wen Jiang, the girl seemed genuinely innocent—nothing like the spoiled, delicate type Ning Yan had once vaguely described.

“We’ve never traveled with a woman before,” he added, “so it’s only natural we might overlook some things. If that happens, please speak up. This journey won’t be easy, and without a maid by your side, I fear it may be inconvenient for you.”

Bai Qingqing was a little dazed. This wasn’t what she had expected at all.

She heard movement downstairs and stepped out to the balcony. Below, a neatly lined unit of more than a dozen elite soldiers stood ready, their presence commanding and disciplined. Ning Yan stood at the front, and when he noticed her, he tilted his head up and gave a carefree wave before turning to bark out orders.

At his command, the entire group moved swiftly, dispersing with precision to await further instruction.

Bai Qingqing blinked. Had she… misunderstood something before?