Inner city.
On the silent streets.
Jiang Ning sat in a sandalwood carriage, leafing through a book.
Lü Yi knelt on the carpet beside him and lit the musk incense in the censer.
At the same time, she poked at the charcoal fire, making it burn more fiercely.
For a time, the carriage was pleasantly warm, with a faint fragrance drifting through the air.
Outside the carriage, all was quiet as well.
In this winter colder than any seen in a century, the city's residents had no desire to go out. They huddled at home, waiting for winter to end.
A little less than half an hour later.
Hiss, hiss—
Clop, clop—
The sound of horses snorting came from outside the carriage, accompanied by iron-shod hooves striking the ground.
"It worked!" Jiang Ning sensed the message conveyed through the vassal mark, and joy immediately welled up in his heart.
He set down his book, rose, and lifted the carriage curtain.
Seeing this, Lü Yi hurriedly stood and put on the shoes she had removed onto the separate red carpet by the carriage entrance.
Jiang Ning had always entered the carriage wearing his shoes, stepping on the carpet as he pleased.
But she did not dare do the same.
She knew Jiang Ning treated her well and perhaps did not care about such things.
Yet she had her own rules, and she knew their statuses were different.
After putting on her shoes, she hurried after Jiang Ning as he stepped out of the carriage.
When she lifted the curtain, she saw Jiang Ning scratching the faces of the two Snow-White Scarlet Flame Steeds with both hands. The two steeds continuously rubbed their heads against his body.
Their faces were full of trust and affection.
She also saw that the two Snow-White