Once they left the prefectural city behind, the countryside gradually opened up, with several miles between each village or town.
As this was the main road into the capital, plenty of merchant caravans came and went along it. Occasionally, wandering knights carrying sabers and swords passed in groups, putting the Hua residence's guards on alert. Niao Niao would also poke its head out for a look.
Dressed in a guard's robes and wearing a bamboo hat against the sun, Ye Jingtang rode beside Hua Qingzhi's carriage. He felt as though he were back escorting merchant caravans for the Escort Agency. The Eastern Lake Circuit was far more peaceful than Liangzhou, however, and the journey had been uneventful and leisurely.
Inside the carriage beside him, Hua Qingzhi and Green Pearl sat amusing themselves with Niao Niao.
On long journeys in the past, Hua Qingzhi had always passed the time playing board games, painting, and reading inside her carriage. But with Ye Jingtang right there, she clearly could not settle her mind. Her eyes kept straying toward him outside the window. She wanted to chat but feared the servants would get the wrong idea, so she never quite found an opening.
Green Pearl was quite perceptive. Seeing that her young lady could hardly flirt with a guard, she sat by the window herself, leaned an arm against the sill, and asked:
"Hua An, would you like some tofu?"
"I... hm?"
Ye Jingtang froze and glanced at the fresh-faced Green Pearl, hesitating to speak.
Green Pearl covered her lips with her sleeve and laughed. "Not that sort of tofu. Dried tofu made at home. Want some?"
Ye Jingtang thought Green Pearl was rather bold. With guards both ahead and behind, flirting with his young lady's maid was clearly inappropriate, so he politely declined: