Instead, Su Yuer stepped forward and politely bowed to Madam Ye, uttering pleasant words.
"General's wife, don't fret. I'll take excellent care of Yunjiao. If I encounter Ye Yining, I'll see to her as well. We're setting off now; there's no need for you to accompany us."
Madam Ye nodded gracefully,
"I apologize for the inconvenience. I'm not worried. I entrust her care to you."
Su Yu 'er, who was typically quite a handful to look after, displayed remarkable magnanimity in that moment.
After bidding farewell to Madam Ye, she inquired about Ye Yunjiao's well-being before departing.
Not long after their carriage departed, Ye Hanxiao, who had been away for a while, returned.
"Mother, where's Ye Yining?"
Madam Ye handed a bag to him anxiously,
"Ye Yining went to Jun Jiuji's estate. I've stationed someone to guard outside. I informed them that she and Jun Jiuji have already left for Cloud Border City. You must depart quickly! Did you retrieve Yunlai?"
Ye Hanxiao nodded,
"I instructed Yunlai to wait outside the city. She didn't enter."
"Then, take the items your father gave your sister and set off immediately. Otherwise, I'm concerned you won't catch up with them. To be brief, when you reach Cloud Border City, you must look after Ye Yining. Pay attention to Yunjiao; this child has become quite mischievous."
After a series of instructions, Madam Ye hurriedly pushed her son out without even offering him a sip of water.
Ye Hanxiao felt no qualms and promptly mounted his horse to pursue Jun Jiuji's entourage.
On the other side,
The carriage from Jun Jiuji Manor split into two groups near Shangxi Mountain. One group took the official road to Cloud Border City, while the other group followed a smaller route.
Ye Yining and Jun Jiuji were seated in an outwardly ordinary yet luxuriously appointed carriage, choosing the smaller path.
Ye Hanxiao, who had rushed over, missed the opportunity to meet with his sister due to this choice.
Ye Yining didn't ponder the decision to take the smaller road much, but after an hour of travel, their carriage seemed to have circumvented Ningxi City's official route.
"Are we passing through Happy Peace City to reach Cloud Border City?" Ye Yining inquired curiously.
"The roads in Ningxi City are well-maintained," Jun Jiuji softly explained. "Traveling by carriage is more comfortable. If you're tired, take a nap. Tomorrow, we'll use a smaller path to reach Cloud Border City more swiftly."
"Oh! Then I'll take a nap!"
Perhaps due to the carriage's stability or the soothing atmosphere around her, she quickly drifted into slumber.
Beneath the moonlight, Jun Jiuji observed Ye Yining's serene sleeping face and gently kissed her forehead before closing his eyes to rest.
When Ye Yining awoke, it was already the following morning.
The sun beamed brightly, and the carriage was parked beside a stream.
Observing Jun Jiuji conversing with someone nearby, she disembarked slowly, washed her face at the clearest spot, and sat down to rest.
Jun Jiuji soon joined her. He bent down slightly and lifted the young girl seated on the ground.
"The ground is cold."
Ye Yining felt somewhat awkward. She wasn't particularly delicate.
Though she didn't mind Jun Jiuji's attentiveness, she wasn't accustomed to such meticulous care, as if she were a fragile porcelain doll.
"Why just us? Where are Ye Ze and the others?"
Ye Yining noticed that after the person who had spoken with Jun Jiuji departed, only the two of them remained. Even the coachman had disappeared.
"Let them prepare some food. Ye Yining, we'll be traveling with the escort agency's personnel later. You know how to address me, don't you?"
Ye Yining looked at him uncertainly.
"Jun Jiuji?"
Jun Jiuji lifted her chin and planted a soft kiss on her lips, coaxing her gently,
"Call me husband."
Ye Yining's face turned crimson suddenly. What if she couldn't say it?
"Can I call you something else?" She tried to negotiate with him.
Jun Jiuji raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You can use another term, but you understand what's expected, right?"
As he spoke, he tenderly pressed her pink, sweet lips, conveying his desire.
Ye Yining grasped his intention, but she made no move.
Someone seemed to be pushing his luck repeatedly this time. She simply lowered her head and pretended not to understand.
Seeing that Xiao Ye Yining was ignoring him, Jun Jiushi reached out and carried her back into the carriage.
Without waiting for the little girl in his arms to object, he had already kissed her lips assertively.
The little girl with his seal was incredibly sweet, and he found himself addicted to her with just a kiss.
Yet, he didn't forget his purpose.
"Choose, call me husband or Ninth Brother."
He was particularly concerned about Ye Yining addressing someone as Brother Mo Huanchong. He wanted a different way for her to address him, making it clear that she was his.
"Husband" was undeniably the most intimate form of address.
When Ye Yining heard Jun Jiuji's choice, she opted for the latter.
"Ninth Brother!"
Her voice was slightly urgent and tender, akin to a kitten cautiously climbing a wall. Jun Jiuji's heart fluttered, and it felt like his entire being was melting.
The way Ye Yining called him Ninth Brother was undeniably sweet and lovely, incredibly pleasant!
For some inexplicable reason, it made him feel like his heart was being tickled, causing an itch deep within.
He took a deep breath and gently caressed her soft hair.
"I'll go with that from now on."
Ye Yining nodded obediently.
But in the next moment, her thoughts were disrupted by Ling Gui's words.
"Master, after kissing Jun Jiuji, you gained a merit value."
Ye Yining was left speechless.
Even Ling Gui struggled to comprehend and speculated,
"Perhaps it's because Jun Jiuji harbors deep affection for Master. If you love someone more than life itself, treating them better is akin to saving their life. It might be considered a merit!"
Upon hearing this explanation, Ye Yining's emotions became exceptionally complex.
Was she genuinely that remarkable?
Worthy of someone's love to the depths of their being, to the point of it being etched into their very existence?
At that moment, a peculiar notion crept into her mind: Could Jun Jiuji have fallen in love with the wrong person?
Or perhaps, he had mistaken her for someone else.
Contemplating the possibility that he might have confused her with someone else left her oddly disheartened.
During breakfast, Ye Yining found her appetite lacking and refused to eat after just a few bites.
Initially, Jun Jiuji assumed it was due to her poor appetite. But as he realized that she wasn't looking at him and seemed distant, his heart sank.
The atmosphere around them grew noticeably colder.
As the carriage resumed its journey, Jun Jiuji finally gave in and pulled her into his arms.
"Why are you feeling upset?"
He believed that since Ye Yining had started opening up to him, she wouldn't withdraw so suddenly.
Ye Yining gazed at him with mixed emotions. Had her feelings been that transparent?
"Are you regretting our marriage?"
As he voiced this concern, Jun Jiuji's demeanor unintentionally grew icier, and his voice dropped lower, as if he commanded some profound force from the heavens and earth, making it hard to breathe.
Ye Ze, who was driving the carriage ahead, and Xue Ying, who was nearby, felt extreme anxiety.
It seemed as though the master's chilling ailment was about to take hold!
The future princess consort had a unique talent for provoking the master's ire.
Failing to provide a satisfactory response, they couldn't bear to imagine the consequences.
Ye Yining felt flustered. Seeing Jun Jiuji's anger, she hastily shook her head.
"No, I don't regret it… I… I just can't comprehend why you love me."