Chapter 217 – A Warm Welcome - Part 1
“Dearest, the road is getting narrower.”
Li Yuan heard a gentle whisper by his ear. Opening his eyes, he saw the dark interior of the carriage. Lowering his gaze, he noticed Sheng'er sprawled across his right leg, fast asleep. Across from him was his goddaughter, Tang Nian, resting with her eyes closed.
The sight warmed his heart and made him feel at ease; these were the people he wanted to protect.
The voice belonged to Xue Ning, who sat beside him on his right, their shoulders touching. At some point, she had angled her head to peer warily out the window.
Outside, a fine spring drizzle fell, turning the flat official road into mud. The carriage wheels spun rapidly, flinging dark flecks of sludge off into the distance.
They’d already departed Hidden River Province.
Li Yuan didn’t follow Xue Ning’s gaze, because in the rain just outside were a translucent chameleon parakeet and nine ordinary birds flying about, scouting the surroundings. Even with his eyes closed, he was constantly aware of any changes in their environment.
Seeing the worry in Xue Ning’s expression, Li Yuan gently placed his left arm around her shoulders, drawing her into his embrace. She wore a crimson brocade jacket and snow-white trousers that perfectly outlined her hips and legs, with neatly cuffed hems covering her ankles and a pair of embroidered shoes peeking out.
Her mature demeanor and knowing gaze reflected both elegance and competence, a woman whose charm could captivate men of any age.
“Don’t worry,” Li Yuan reassured her in a soft voice. “Deputy Gu is a respected figure. With her leading the way, nothing will happen.” He drew her closer against him.
Naturally, his comment did not escape Gu Xuejian in the lead carriage. Her face remained calm as she ruffled Ping’an’s hair, quietly explaining a few matters about the Holy Tree Temple to him.
The drizzling rain blurred the horizon, making the daytime feel even shorter. Before long, a boundary marker appeared in the distance, painted blood-red with the words Deergut County. The front carriage came to a halt, prompting the others behind it to stop as well.