155, Knowing the Fun (5th Update)
“Miss Xie, if you’re feeling tired, we can switch places!”
“No need!” Xie Zhinuan hurriedly voiced her refusal.
Her current position was quite comfortable, with armrests on both sides and thick, soft padding that was fine to lean against for sleep.
Li Hengyi grunted in acknowledgement, not insisting, and instead handed an orange to Xie Zhinuan, “Offering flowers to Buddha!”
“Thank you!”
Xie Zhinuan took the orange, peeling and eating it in small bites.
Just as she finished the orange, Li Hengyi passed her a handkerchief, making her feel somewhat embarrassed.
She simply pretended to sleep.
Elbow propped on the armrest, palm cradling her chin, she closed her eyes.
She was only pretending, but gradually, she truly fell asleep.
Li Hengyi glanced at the incense burner before uttering a low command, “Pull over to the side!”
“Yes!”
The carriage quickly came to a stop, and Li Hengyi got out, instructing the silly girl before leaving to make Xie Zhinuan comfortable for sleep; the silly girl immediately went forward to tidy up the main seat, then lifted Xie Zhinuan to bed.
“Silly girl?” Xie Zhinuan called out groggily.
“Mm, it’s me!”
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhinuan felt at ease and closed her eyes, falling asleep again.
The silly girl placed her on the bed, which was amply sized; even with Xie Zhinuan lying down, there was still room to spare. The silly girl then pulled a thin blanket from the drawer and covered Xie Zhinuan with it, before respectfully retreating to a small stool by the door to sit down.
Li Hengyi then got on the carriage, taking the seat Xie Zhinuan had previously occupied.
The carriage took off once more.
At the crack of dawn, they arrived at Zhao’an County.
The carriage went directly to the Governor’s Office.
The County Magistrate, upon hearing the message from below, knelt immediately upon seeing Li Hengyi’s carriage.
Inside the carriage, it was very quiet.
Li Hengyi glanced at the still sweetly sleeping Xie Zhinuan, who had completely succumbed to sleep, the incense ash in the burner now cold.
Over these past three years, his nights had been sleepless; the incense contained a strong component to aid sleep, and it was normal for Xie Zhinuan, smelling it for the first time, to be sleeping so soundly.
“Drive the carriage inside!”
“Yes!”
The carriage was driven into the County Governor’s Office, with the county official promptly following.
Li Hengyi gave the silly girl a look before descending from the carriage first.
The county official approached respectfully, “Greetings to Your Highness!”
Li Hengyi swept a glance at him, standing by the carriage without a word.
Inside the carriage
The silly girl approached Xie Zhinuan and lightly pricked her fingertip with a silver needle.
“Ouch!” Xie Zhinuan cried out in pain, opened her eyes, saw the ceiling of the carriage and quickly came to her senses, sitting up abruptly to look at the silly girl, then at her surroundings, and anxiously asked, “How long have I slept here?”
“A long time!” the silly girl whispered.
“…”
Xie Zhinuan frowned.
She was a good sleeper, but she wouldn’t normally sleep without any awareness.
“Miss, we have arrived at the county town!” the silly girl reminded her.
“Okay!”
Xie Zhinuan got up, thinking that she should wait until everything was dealt with before she questioned the silly girl.
She straightened her clothes and tidied her hair before leaving the carriage.
The county official’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Xie Zhinuan emerge from the carriage.
He hurriedly sneaked a glance at Li Hengyi.
Li Hengyi gave Xie Zhinuan a slight smile, “Awake?”
“Mhm!”
Xie Zhinuan nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed.
She wondered if she had been grinding her teeth, talking in her sleep, or drooling while she slept.
Li Hengyi thought about whether to lend a hand to Xie Zhinuan, but she had already dashed down from the carriage.
Xie Zhinuan, wearing trousers, descended from the carriage with ease.
“Have someone prepare some water for you to freshen up and eat something before we make our inquiries,” Li Hengyi reminded her.
“Alright!” Xie Zhinuan agreed shrewdly.
After all, at this moment, she needed to give Li Hengyi full face on his own turf.
Chapter 157