The setting sun slanted low as pedestrians came and went along the street. A carriage left Skywater Bridge and followed the straight avenue toward the towering Imperial City in the distance.
Dressed in black robes of Water-Cloud Brocade, Ye Jingtang sat outside the carriage with a whip in hand. The red sun on the horizon reflected in his eyes, and his profile resembled that of a carefree wandering knight.
Beside him, the big Niao Niao, who had run around with Perfected Person Xuanji only to miss out on a meal and get kneaded by the Empress Dowager instead, crouched at Ye Jingtang's side as in their escorting days, humming a Liangzhou tune:
"Coo-chirp-chirp~..."
Compared with the carefree man and bird, the atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat tense.
Clad in green, Luo Ning leaned beside the window with her arms folded. Her face was as unapproachable as ever, but she looked a little wilted.
When Ye Jingtang returned earlier, he had caught her red-handed. Knowing she was in the wrong, Luo Ning had scarcely dared snap at the little scoundrel and had therefore been entirely obedient, partly for fear that he would make her taste her own medicine, and partly in hopes that he would deal with Third Madam.
But after understanding how the Little Jade Radish was used, Third Madam had been too embarrassed to play so adventurously in front of her, agreeing only to let Ye Jingtang have his way next time they were alone.
She certainly refused to accept that. After a long tussle failed to overcome Third Madam, she could only compromise and have Third Madam hang the Waist Bell around her slender waist and dance to liven things up.
Later, they discovered that the bell rang when Third Madam rode a horse too, with a