Chapter 119: Departure

Chapter 119

Departure

On the day of departure, a long procession of carriages was lined up outside the residence. The entire area was bustling with activity. Male servants were loading chest after chest into the carriages, all filled with the children’s belongings. Nie Shuang and her attendants had very few personal items. Since they would be traveling for over a month, Nie Shuang couldn’t rest easy if anything were forgotten. With the Hou and Elder Furen also accompanying them, the amount of luggage increased even more. They had many acquaintances in the capital and naturally had to bring gifts. Of course, the Hou bought a large supply of Lü Cui tea, Hong Bao, and Mo Cha Fen from Xiangyun Tea House. Despite Nie Shuang’s refusal to accept payment, the Hou insisted on paying in full, even rejecting any discounts.

The only maids traveling with them were Xiao San, Xiao Tong, A’Yi, and two wet nurses. The Hou and Xu Shi brought their own guards from the manor, so the services of Shen Nong Protection Agency were not needed for this trip. As departure time approached, Da Shi, Wang Dongpo, Yan Zhan, and Jiang Ru arrived with male and female servants to see them off. Mu Rongying quietly wiped away her tears. Ever since her mother had passed away, Nie Shuang had taken care of her like a true older sister, and the three children had filled her days with joy and laughter. When Nie Shuang saw her tears, she gently scolded her, not meaning it seriously.

“Yingying, why are you crying? I’ll be back soon.”

Hearing Nie Shuang’s words only made her cry harder. Just then, Kang Wang approached. Seeing her tears, he felt an inexplicable ache in his heart. If not for the crowd, he might have taken her in his arms to comfort her. Instead, he acknowledged the Hou and Xu Shi before turning to the two women.

“Your Highness,”

They greeted him in unison. After that, Nie Shuang excused herself to attend to final preparations, leaving Kang Wang to step closer to Mu Rongying. The skin around her eyes and nose was still flushed, her damp lashes clumped together, making her curve lashes even more apparent. She looked both pitiable and endearing.

“You’re not a child anymore. Don’t make her worry,”

He said softly, not with reproach but simply to encourage her to stop crying.

“Yes, Your Highness,”

Mu Rongying replied. She was about to excuse herself to wash her face when Kang Wang handed her a handkerchief.

“Wipe your face first.”

His tone and demeanor weren’t exactly comforting, yet it somehow made her feel at ease. Mu Rongying, feeling slightly embarrassed, accepted the handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears. She was about to offer to wash and return it to him, but Kang Wang took it back from her hand and tucked it into his sleeve.

Before long, everyone was ready to depart. Unlike before, Kang Wang did not join Nie Shuang’s carriage but followed in a carriage marked with the seal of Wang’s palace. Mu Rongying also planned to accompany Nie Shuang to see her off, so she had her own carriage prepared for the return journey. She shared a carriage with Nie Shuang and the children for the outbound trip. As soon as they boarded, Bao Bao, like the little puppy attached to its owner like he always was, crawled over to snuggle with her. Mu Rongying picked him up onto her lap and hugged him tightly, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Bao Bao, without you, your aunt will be so lonely,"

Bao Bao, snuggled against her soft chest, didn’t understand why his aunt seemed so sad. On this journey, he behaved much better than when he was with his father, simply enjoying the sound of Aunt Yingying’s voice chatting with his mother. Her embrace was soft and fragrant, just like his mother’s.

As the carriage traveled far beyond the city limits, the lead carriage carrying the Hou came to a stop. Mu Rongying, holding Bao Bao, stepped down first. The little boy glanced around and immediately recognized the familiar surroundings. Every time they came here, someone would leave. His face scrunched up, and he looked up at his aunt with teary eyes. Mu Rongying gently stroked his head.

"Bao Bao, we have to say goodbye here. Aunt will miss you so much."

Da Ge bit his lip, his eyes welling with tears. He couldn’t believe it. What he feared was becoming real—was his aunt really going to leave him too? Nie Shuang soon stepped down from the carriage, followed by the Hou and Xu Shi, who joined to bid farewell to those seeing them off.

While the Hou was chatting with Kang Wang, Nie Shuang took Mu Rongying aside to speak privately.

"Yingying, I’m not worried about the business I’ve entrusted to you, but I’m more concerned about Kang Wang. If I’m not here, you and Kang Wang will not...It’s not that I would oppose it if there were, but right now, he still has many obstacles to overcome. Besides, you still want to focus on business, right? If it ever becomes necessary, just remember to take precautionary medicine."

Her voice dropped to a near whisper at the end. Mu Rongying’s face turned bright red, and she could barely meet her adoptive sister’s eyes.

"T...That would never happen. His Highness is a man of virtue. He would never have such improper thoughts. He’s only been kind to me, helping out of concern. Please don’t worry, Sister Nie Shuang. Even if you’re not here, nothing you fear will happen."

Nie Shuang looked at the young girl with fondness. She was only sixteen and, despite being born into a complex family and understanding the intricacies of power, she was still naive about matters between men and women. It wasn’t her fault. Kang Wang was indeed the gentleman she described, and wouldn’t take advantage of women. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have maintained his honorable conduct for so long. But Mu Rongying was no ordinary woman—she was the very one Kang Wang had set his heart on. However, Nie Shuang had already given her warning; now, it was up to Mu Rongying to handle the situation.

As Nie Shuang took Bao Bao from Aunt Yingying’s arms, the little boy reached back for her, babbling for her to come along. Mu Rongying stood where she was, shaking her head with a gentle smile. Bao Bao’s expression fell, and as his mother turned to climb into the carriage, he looked back from her shoulder, tears streaming down his face as he bit his lip. Seeing him cry, Mu Rongying couldn’t help but cry along with him. Watching them depart as a family left her feeling overwhelmingly lonely. Even after the carriage door curtains fell, she remained standing there, watching until the procession of carriages disappeared from sight.

Mu Rongying turned to head back to the city in her carriage, but before her stood only Kang Wang’s carriage, waiting alone. She looked at him, slightly bewildered.

"I told them not to follow. We’re headed in the same direction anyway. I’ll take you back myself."

Mu Rongying curtsied in thanks, though she felt a bit uneasy to face him after hearing Nie Shuang’s earlier words. Besides, she had planned to cry her heart out once she was in the privacy of her own carriage. Now, unexpectedly riding in Kang Wang’s carriage left her feeling awkward.Kang Wang courteously helped her up into the carriage. Once she was seated, he followed suit. Both of them were impeccably composed, both in appearance and demeanor, making them seem like a perfect pair. The carriage moved slowly, and the two sat in silence, neither initiating a conversation.