Before departing, Lang Huan opened the medium-sized pouch she carried. Inside were the golden serpent scale and the ring she had brought down from Bai Yuan Mountain. At first, she planned to give them to the Eldest Princess. But every time she looked at those items, the image of Lang Ruhua appeared in her mind—too vivid as if the woman was still standing beside her.
She didn't understand it herself. Why did that woman's shadow appear whenever she looked at Feng Yao? The smile, the gaze that should have long faded… all of it returned, tightening around her heart. In the end, Lang Huan buried both items in a safe place.
The journey back was nothing like their first arrival at Bai Yuan Mountain. There was no grand escort, no royal emblem—only a modest guard team and a large carriage pulled by Bai Fei's fast horses. After a brief discussion, Lang Huan and Master Xuan Kai agreed to take a quieter, more secluded route. They hoped it would spare them from further complications.
Along the way, Feng Yao glanced out the carriage window and noticed Lang Huan struggling to stay awake on her horse. "Lang Huan come here…" she called, motioning for her to get into the carriage.
"What is it, Your Highness?" Lang Huan asked as she stepped inside.
"Here… rest for a while." Feng Yao closed her book and placed it beside her. She lightly patted her thigh, "Come… lean on me. You must be exhausted."
Lang Huan smiled—it was truly good to have a wife. The moment her head settled on Feng Yao's lap, the exhaustion she had held back washed over her. Her body eased, and within seconds her breathing steadied into sleep, as if this were the one place she could allow herself to let go.
When she woke, the first thing she saw was Feng Yao's gentle smile. Still half-drowsy, she pushed herself upright.
"Your Highness… do you regret going to Bai Yuan Mountain with me… and returning with nothing?" Lang Huan asked quietly.
She gently brushed her fingers through Lang Huan's hair. This little brat had asked the same question countless times, yet Feng Yao always answered her softly.
Perhaps because Lang Huan feared she would be disappointed. "I regret none of it. The treasure of Bai Yuan Mountain has an uncertain origin—it would only bring disaster. Besides, no one has ever been able to prove it truly exists. Let it be nothing more than a myth."
A faint smile touched Lang Huan's lips. For all of Feng Yao's cruelty and unpredictable temper, her mind… was clearer than most who claimed to be wise.
"If you hadn't destroyed the map, we could've gone back someday." Lang Huan muttered.
Feng Yao arched an eyebrow. She leaned in and pinched Lang Huan's chin between her fingers. "If I hadn't destroyed everything, your life would be in danger. My brother would never let you go so easily. You're the only one who knows the treasure's whereabouts."
Then the beautiful woman slowly released her chin. "Rather than thinking about a cursed treasure, why don't you accompany me for a bath?" She looked toward the mist rising between the winter trees.
---
After several days on the road, their journey was finally halted by a group of familiar faces. Wang Hu and Zhou Ming stood at the front, backed by dozens of elite soldiers.
"Young Master," Wang Hu announced, bowing slightly, "we are here to escort you and ensure your safety until you reach the Duke Mansion."
Lang Huan's eyes darkened.
After hearing the truth from Lin Ruochen about her father, she no longer believed a single word from them. Zhou Ming was not here to protect her. He was here to assist the Fourth Prince… and capture the Eldest Princess.
They were at a severe disadvantage. And once they entered Luo City, every bit of Feng Yao's authority would be stripped away under the accusation of killing the Emperor.
Lang Huan clenched her fists—hard enough that a faint crack rang from her joints—as she prepared to strike first and carve out a path.
Before she could move, a calm, unhurried voice drifted from inside the carriage. "Lang Huan, Duke of Huguo is being very considerate. Do not refuse his kindness…"
Lang Huan snorted With a single leap, she dropped from her horse and stepped into the carriage, her expression dark and stormy.
"Don't fight them. Aren't they your loyal guards?" Feng Yao coaxed gently, noticing the displeasure on her face.
"But they're clearly here to arrest you," Lang Huan replied, her jaw tightening.
The Eldest Princess remained perfectly composed. "Arrest me? How could they?"
"I'm your wife, my fate is tied to your family. If I am sentenced… the Duke of Huguo's household will be implicated as well."
A cold chill crawled up Lang Huan's spine, it was followed by the faintest smile. Feng Yao's logic was ruthless, but irrefutable. Now that the marriage had been sealed, any punishment placed upon the Eldest Princess would drag the entire Duke of Huguo's household into the abyss.
Without warning, Lang Huan pulled Feng Yao into her arms and kissed her, fierce and desperate as if sealing a vow with her very breath. "As long as I'm here, they won't touch you.," she whispered.
Feng Yao's eyes narrowed in quiet curiosity. "Even if you must stand against your own father?"
Lang Huan almost said he is not my father—the words surged up her throat but remained trapped behind her teeth. In the end, she swallowed them back and said, 'I'm not afraid of anyone.
Outside the carriage, Zhou Ming and Wang Hu exchanged uneasy looks. The expression on young master's face told them everything—they could already guess he had learned the truth, and that their true mission was not "escort."
"She is my wife," Lang Huan said coldly as she vaulted back onto her horse, "If a single finger is laid on her… I'll make sure they regret it."
The two men stiffened. The Lang Huan before them was no longer the childish young master they once knew. Her aura was calm, heavy, and dangerous—like a sword that had finally tasted blood.
"My apologies, Young Master," Zhou Ming said cautiously. "We are only following the orders of Duke Huguo."
They intentionally invoked the duke's name, hoping Lang Huan would hesitate and lower her stance. Instead, her expression darkened even further.