Though Nankou Pass was neither as large as the capital nor as bustling as some counties, Mei Liang felt the air here was fresher, cleaner, and invigorating.
Perhaps one day, if she could exact her revenge and survive, she might leave the palace's red walls behind and catch a fleeting glimpse of ordinary life—just once.
"She did not notice Xiang Long Wei's gaze fixed on her. Seeing the quiet longing in her eyes, a faint smile tugged at his lips. She had once spent three years in the palace before dying within its walls, and now, having been reborn, he realized how much she must have missed the outside world."
His thoughts were interrupted as Míng Měi and Dé Fēi approached. "Your Majesty, I think we should settle in an inn first. Standing here draws too much attention. And we still need to buy horses and clothing," Míng Měi said.
Her voice carried a strange balance—soft, pleasant, almost coquetting, yet tinged with an icy reserve that made it both alluring and authoritative.
