“Dearest, the road is getting narrower.”2

Li Yuan heard a gentle whisper by his ear. Opening his eyes, he saw the dark interior of the carriage. Lowering his gaze, he noticed Sheng'er sprawled across his right leg, fast asleep. Across from him was his goddaughter, Tang Nian, resting with her eyes closed.0

The sight warmed his heart and made him feel at ease; these were the people he wanted to protect.0

The voice belonged to Xue Ning, who sat beside him on his right, their shoulders touching. At some point, she had angled her head to peer warily out the window.0

Outside, a fine spring drizzle fell, turning the flat official road into mud. The carriage wheels spun rapidly, flinging dark flecks of sludge off into the distance.0

They’d already departed Hidden River Province.0

Li Yuan didn’t follow Xue Ning’s gaze, because in the rain just outside were a translucent chameleon parakeet and nine ordinary birds flying...0