Chapter 28: The Journey To The Capital
When Xiao Zhi woke that morning, her head was pounding relentlessly. She groaned and pressed a hand to her forehead. Her mouth was dry, her temples throbbed, and the world seemed to spin.
"What… happened last night?"
She rubbed her eyes, and she could smell the faint scent of wine clinging to her sleeves. She vaguely remembered music, laughter, lanterns glowing like stars, and then… Ruhan's face, so close to hers.
Her heart skipped a beat. Wait. Did I… do something stupid?
A knock came at the door.
"Princess?" Ruhan's voice was smooth, composed, and annoyingly calm. "We'll be leaving soon. The mayor has sent a carriage for us."
She scrambled up and quickly dressed in the clothes laid out for her. She didn't know who had prepared them, since she no longer had a maid, but there was no time to think about it. When she opened the door, Ruhan was already waiting. His Tughril robe was neatly pressed, his hair tied back in traditional Tughril style, his face unreadable except for the faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"You look… awake," he said in a teasing tone.
"Barely," she muttered, still feeling irritated with the throbbing in her head. "Ruhan, did I… do something bad last night?"
He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Define bad."
Her eyes widened. "You know what I mean! Just tell me!"
Ruhan only smiled, that small, mysterious curve that always made her nervous and annoyed at the same time. "You should try remembering on your own. Memories taste sweeter when they come back slowly." With that, he turned and walked down the stairs.
"Ugh, stop being so mysterious," she snapped, following him. "I'm serious!"
He didn't answer.
Xiao Zhi glared at his back the entire walk to the carriage waiting in front of the inn.
The mayor was there too, waiting politely as a gesture of respect to the princess and the Tughril envoy.
"The carriage is ready, my lord. It is not royal, but it will carry you safely to the capital."
"It is more than enough," Ruhan said with a polite bow.
Xiao Zhi added her thanks, smiling sincerely. "And the festival… it was beautiful. Thank you for insisting we stay."
The mayor laughed. "Ah, I didn't insist. It was the young lord's eyes that gave him away. He would have agreed no matter what you said."
Ruhan's ears went slightly red. Xiao Zhi blinked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? Is that so?"
"The mayor exaggerates." He took her hand and helped her into the carriage, dismissing her comment.
The carriage left the city by midmorning. Inside, the steady roll of the wheels and the gentle sway of the carriage made the silence between them feel comfortable.
Ruhan leaned back, calm and faintly content, as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders.
"You look… happy,"
Xiao Zhi's eyes narrowed. Her gaze was sharp with suspicion, trying to read what he wasn't saying.
"I had a good stay in this city."
"Hmm." She studied him closer, chin propped on her hand. "You're hiding something."
"Am I?" He lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes. And you're not denying it, so that proves my point."
He chuckled softly. "You talk too much for someone who doesn't remember last night."
She gasped. "So something did happen!"
"Maybe," he said, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Maybe not."
Her cheeks burned. She crossed her arms, staring stubbornly out the window. "I hate you sometimes."
"I'll take that as affection." The smile didn't falter.
She pretended not to hear him, but her ears turned pink anyway.
By dusk, the outline of the Tughril capital appeared on the horizon, stone towers rising from the sand, banners of red and gold fluttering in the wind.
They did not enter the city immediately. Ruhan asked Duran to steer the carriage off the main road toward a small hut nestled near a cluster of grassland.
"Why are we stopping here?" she asked, peering out the window.
"If we go straight to the capital, we will arrive at the palace by night," Ruhan explained. "It's not good to arrive so late. We will rest here for the night and leave tomorrow morning. That way, we will reach the palace at a proper time," he paused and added a faint smile, "for a grand entrance."
There was something in his tone that made her chest tighten. "What do you mean?"
Ruhan did not answer. Xiao Zhi hated the way Ruhan always talked in riddles.
The hut was small and clearly unused for a long time. The wooden walls were worn, and the air smelled of old wood and smoke. Dust lay in the corners, and the floor creaked when they stepped inside.
Duran started a small fire, breaking dried wood into pieces.
"You should eat." Ruhan handed her a small box the mayor had provided. "Don't worry, it's not a snake."
Xiao Zhi gave him a suspicious look, knowing Ruhan too well. When she opened the box, she saw a flatbread with some dried fruit. She let out a tiny smile and took a bite.
She chewed slowly, eyes drifting to him again. His hands were steady, his expression calm and unshakable. The silence between them was thick, but oddly comforting.
"Ruhan," she murmured after a moment, still nibbling on her food, "once we reach the capital… what happens then?"
"I will take you to the palace and report to the Khan. You will be safe there."
"Safe," she repeated, barely above a whisper. Her gaze dropped to the flatbread in her hands, but her voice trembled slightly. "And after that…?"
He did not answer immediately. Then quietly, "After that, I am not sure. Maybe prepare for your wedding?"
The air between them grew heavy again. The fire crackled, and Xiao Zhi found herself watching his face. The tired calm, the faint shadows under his eyes. Without thinking, she said, "You always look so composed, even when everything is falling apart."
He turned his head to meet her gaze. "If I don't stay calm," he said softly, "who will protect you?"
Her heart stuttered.
He noticed her silence, and a knowing curve tugged at his lips. "You're blushing, Princess."
She blinked. "I—I was not—"
"Yes, you were."
Heat crept up her neck. She looked away quickly, pretending to poke the fire with a stick. "Do not flatter yourself."
Ruhan stood, brushing the dust from his cloak, and stepped closer until she could feel his warmth.
"Do you really not remember last night?" he asked out of nowhere.
She hesitated. "No… should I?"
He chuckled softly. He said nothing more and simply lay down to rest.
Xiao Zhi hated that. She did not press him. She knew it would be useless anyway. If Ruhan did not want to answer, no one could make him. She lay down too, still frowning at the firelight before finally drifting off to sleep.