Journey to the Imperial Capital (10K)

The high-speed train sped along smoothly at three hundred kilometers per hour, the scenery beyond the windows unfurling like a flowing painting.

Neat fields glowed with soft gold beneath the afternoon sun. In the distance, winding rivers curled gently around hills and villages like silver ribbons. The occasional town dotted the landscape, red walls and gray tiles exuding the warmth of everyday life, together sketching the tranquility and vitality unique to this era.

The North China Plain was still enveloped in the lingering heat of late summer at the end of August. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows in dappled patterns, filling the carriage with brightness and warmth.

The light fell across the tables, armrests, and even the passengers' collars, as if everything had been covered by a soft filter.

The air conditioning was set just right, completely shutting out the heat outside and creating a comfortable, cool space.

Some passengers rested with their eyes closed, while others spoke in low voices. The atmosphere was quiet and orderly. Every so often, an attendant pushed a service cart past softly, offering drinks and snacks, the stainless-steel trolley reflecting the faint glow of the overhead lights.

Chen Xi and Li Jingyi sat in adjacent business-class seats, their spacious surroundings affording them ample privacy.

Li Jingyi sat by the window, her gaze shifting from the rapidly receding scenery outside to Chen Xi beside her.

She wore a light-blue silk blouse that day, the fabric airy and translucent, shimmering softly like water beneath the sunlight. Paired with off-white casual trousers, the outfit made her look fresh and elegant.

Her long hair was loosely pinned behind her head, a few stray strands falling casually beside her neck. They occasionally brushed her cheek with the train's faint vibrations, making her seem even gentler and more graceful.