Chapter 29

The Qingyun Guard’s main force withdrew to Beilin, leaving only two thousand soldiers to escort them to the capital.

The procession stretched out like a long dragon, and as a close guard, Shen Yu rode on horseback next to Xie Tingzhou’s carriage.

With less than a month until New Year’s Eve, Xie Tingzhou seemed unhurried. The procession moved slowly, covering less than a hundred miles in three days. At this rate, it might take two months to reach Shengjing.

The carriage traveled smoothly on the official road, hardly feeling any vibrations from the journey. Even the sound of the wheels rolling on the snow was faint.

Xie Tingzhou leaned against the seat, playing chess with himself, a white piece held between his fingers.

His slender fingers were as white as jade, no less beautiful than the chess piece.

Just as he was about to make a move, the sound of approaching hoofbeats suddenly echoed from outside.

Because of the slow pace, the horses’ footsteps were also slow, but the hoofbeats were louder than the others, abrupt and distinct.

Xie Tingzhou closed his eyes and put the white piece back into his palm.

This wasn’t the first time Xie Tingzhou had heard this sound.

For the past few days, every half an hour, the sound of hoofbeats would gradually fade away, mixed with the sound of galloping horses. But in the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the sound would return, like clockwork.

After a moment of hesitation, Xie Tingzhou couldn’t hold back and called out, “Xi Feng.”

Xi Feng, who was originally sitting in the front compartment of the carriage, lifted the curtain and entered upon hearing the call. “Your Highness.”

Xie Tingzhou’s expression was unreadable. “What has he been running back and forth for these past few days?”

Xi Feng knew immediately who he was referring to and replied, “Liang Jianfang and the other suspects are being escorted ahead. It seems Shi Yu is worried and goes to check on them from time to time.”

While it was understandable to check, the frequency seemed excessive.

“Calling him in,” Xie Tingzhou said impatiently, tossing the chess piece back into the basket.

Shen Yu was surprised when she heard that Xie Tingzhou had called for her.

During her time as Xie Tingzhou’s close guard, she had rarely seen him face-to-face apart from regular duty. He had never specifically summoned her.

And from her observations, she noticed that she had fewer shifts than other close guards. She wasn’t sure if this was arranged by Xi Feng or instructed by Xie Tingzhou.

It seemed like today was an exception.

Little did she know, Xie Tingzhou was truly fed up with her.

For example, when he wanted to play chess or rest for a while, the incessant sound kept disrupting him.

When Shen Yu entered the carriage, she heard Xie Tingzhou’s voice inside, prompting her to lift the curtain and walk in.

The carriage was about six or seven feet long, equivalent to the size of a small room. It looked majestic from the outside, but inside, it was like another world.

There was a heater in the carriage, and the floor was covered with a thick felt blanket, making it exceptionally warm inside.

Xie Tingzhou was wearing a pale white robe as he leaned against the seat, casual and charming. When Shen Yu entered, she only glanced at him before lowering her head and kneeling at the table.

“Your Highness called for me. What are your orders?” she asked respectfully.

Xie Tingzhou looked at her and said, “You’ve been running back and forth dozens of times these past few days, haven’t you?”

Shen Yu raised her head, looking puzzled.

She was always concerned about the safety of the suspects, and Xie Tingzhou couldn’t even reprimand her.

But the constant running back and forth of the horse’s hooves all day long was really disturbing.

Xie Tingzhou picked up the teacup and contemplated for a moment before saying, “The prisoners are escorted by the Qingyun Guard. You are my close guard, so you don’t need to worry about other matters.”

Shen Yu sensed a hint of reprimand in his words and replied obediently, “Yes, I understand.”

But she couldn’t help but remind him, “Your Highness, it may not be smooth sailing to escort Liang Jianfang and the others to the capital this time.”

Xie Tingzhou gestured for her to continue.

Shi Yu said, “As long as Liang Jianfang is alive, there will definitely be people in Shengjing who can’t sleep at night. If someone wants to silence him, they will most likely take action on the road.”

Xie Tingzhou flicked his finger along the teacup and said, “What do you think?”

Shi Yu hesitated for a moment, then saw a teapot on the table and poured some tea on it, using her fingers to draw a rough map.

“Here is Yanliang Pass. On the way from Yanliang Pass to the capital, there are several places suitable for ambushes…”

As she spoke, she explained and marked out several places suitable for ambushes.

She grew up on the border, and she didn’t know how many times she had traveled from Yanliang Pass to the capital. She was already familiar with the route.

Xie Tingzhou listened quietly.

He hadn’t rested well these days. Several times during the day when he wanted to fall asleep, he was awakened by Shi Yu’s horse hooves.

He half-closed his eyes and looked at the young man in front of him, not knowing where his mind had wandered.

“Your Highness?” Shi Yu looked up.

Xie Tingzhou returned to his senses, “I got it. You can go down.”

Shi Yu frowned unintentionally, just as she stood up, she heard Xie Tingzhou say, “Do you play chess?”

“Huh?”

“Do you play chess?” Xie Tingzhou asked again.

Shi Yu looked at the chessboard on the table, “A little, but not very well.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Xie Tingzhou raised his finger slightly, motioning for her to sit.

Shi Yu took the white pieces, and Xie Tingzhou took the black ones.

Xie Tingzhou played extremely well. Every time Shi Yu made a move, he almost immediately followed suit without much thought.

The warmth inside the carriage, coupled with the tapping sound of the chess pieces, made people drowsy.

Shi Yu was completely focused. Every time Xie Tingzhou seemingly casually made a move, it forced her into a dilemma.

At first, it was fine, but later, she became slower and slower. After Xie Tingzhou made a move, she held the white piece for a long time without moving, staring at the chessboard without blinking, trying to find a way out.

After a while, she raised her head, “I surrender.”

As the words came out, she realized that Xie Tingzhou had already closed his eyes leaning against the soft pillow.

His nose was quite straight, his eyebrows and eyes were handsome yet cold, and his hair scattered on the moon-white robe, black and white intertwined like ink stains.

He seemed defenseless, as if one could end his life with just a reach of the hand.

After watching for a while, Shi Yu gently put down the chess pieces in her hand.

When she left, Xie Tingzhou opened his eyes, showing no signs of fatigue.

“I closed my eyes to rest, and he didn’t make a move against me,” Xie Tingzhou said to Xifeng, who had just come in.

Xifeng’s expression was serious, “Your Highness shouldn’t take such risks.”

Xie Tingzhou glanced at him, “Don’t you think I’ve lost all my martial skills like everyone else?”

Xifeng said, “I dare not.”

“The identity of this person is still doubtful. I don’t know which faction he comes from.”

“But I observed his swordsmanship, which seems to be in the style of Master Jun Song,” Xifeng said.

“But not entirely, and there’s a hint of the Shi family’s spear technique. It seems like a mixture of several styles, too diverse,” Xie Tingzhou also wondered.

Interesting. Xie Tingzhou seemed to be smiling.

In the past few years, he had been indulging in luxury and pleasure in Beilin. It had been a long time since he had encountered such an interesting person.

It made him want to peel off layer by layer of his skin and see what was hidden inside.

氍毹（qú Shū）: an ancient woolen cloth or carpet.