Lin He drifted off to sleep, lost in thought. It wasn't a long nap; the pastry shop closed, the maids and stable boys retreated to the back courtyard, and Lin He was jolted awake. Seeing that darkness had fallen, she rose, confirmed with Ziyu that everything was packed, and then sent the girl to arrange for the evening meal.

Before dawn the next day, everyone in the pastry shop was already up. Ziyu brought water for Lin He to freshen up, mentioning that the Second Young Master had been waiting in the courtyard for a while. All the luggage had been loaded onto the carriages; they were just waiting for them to depart.

Lin He didn't delay. She scrambled out of bed and looked at the clothes Ziyu had selected. She hadn't intended to wear them, but Ziyu insisted, so Lin He reluctantly put them on. After finishing her toilette, she went out and indeed found Wen Ningxuan sitting in the courtyard. Lin He inquired, "You arrived this early? Must we rush on the road so soon?"

"Yes, we need an early start. This journey is rather urgent, and I fear we can't afford much delay. Did you rest well last night?" Wen Ningxuan asked, looking at Lin He.

Lin He's attire today was slightly different from usual. Given the urgency of the journey, Lin He hadn't let Ziyu style her hair elaborately; she merely used a pale pink ribbon to tie it back, letting the rest of her locks fall freely down her back.

Wen Ningxuan gazed at the Lin He before him. She wore a light pink dress, unadorned by ostentatious headwear, her face free of cosmetics. A white sash cinched her waist, upon which a tiny lotus blossom was embroidered. Pale pink lotuses were also embroidered beneath the hem of her pink skirt, lending her a transcendent, delicate beauty. Wen Ningxuan’s dark jade eyes fixed upon her. A faint blush rose on Lin He’s cheeks, followed by a smile as she asked, "Is there something amiss, Second Young Master?"

Wen Ningxuan snapped back to attention, letting out a light chuckle. "Are you ready? If so, let’s depart." With that, he led the way forward.

Ziyu, trailing just behind Lin He, laughed softly and whispered, "Miss, I told you so! This ensemble suits you perfectly. Look how pleased the Second Young Master is."

Lin He shot Ziyu a sidelong glance and smiled, saying nothing. She surveyed her own outfit; the effect was indeed quite pleasing. Originally, thinking of the travel ahead, Lin He had intended to keep things simple, but Ziyu had insisted that this was all that was left, the rest having been moved to the carriage. Otherwise, she would have had to fetch something from there. Lin He decided it was simpler to let the girl dress her like this. However, judging by Wen Ningxuan’s reaction, it had turned out rather well, and Lin He felt a small surge of private delight.

The entourage was noticeably larger this time. Wen Ningxuan and Lin He, along with Ziyu and a stable boy, occupied the rear carriage. The carriage ahead carried three men, none of whom seemed particularly old; the eldest couldn't have been over twenty, and the youngest looked about fifteen or sixteen. Seeing Lin He, they respectfully greeted her, "Miss."

Lin He looked at them with curiosity. They didn't appear to be merchants, nor did they resemble ordinary house servants or guards. Yet, they showed profound deference to Wen Ningxuan. Lin He glanced towards Wen Ningxuan, who nodded at her. Lin He returned the acknowledgement, and the men swiftly moved toward the forward carriage.

Once they were settled, Da Bao gave a few instructions outside, and the carriages set off. Lin He was still pondering those men when Wen Ningxuan chuckled lightly and spoke, "These are men we can rely on entirely. They grew up with me, each possessing certain skills. They have spent time in that region and are familiar with it. We need their assistance there this time, so I brought them along. Besides, it’s wise to be prepared for any trouble on the road."

Hearing this, Lin He began to understand. These men must be what were known as trusted confidantes—individuals more loyal than mere house servants. It was much like how, in the stories she watched on television, ancient emperors always maintained covert guards dedicated to them; this must be a similar arrangement. Of course, these men were likely not as dramatically capable as those legendary personal assassins, but they must be fiercely loyal. In affluent households these days, it was common to have such personnel. No wonder Wen Ningxuan was reluctant to bring servants along wherever he went; these men were surely far more reliable than any typical maid or footman.

Noticing Lin He’s silence, Wen Ningxuan asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, just curious. Since you have so many capable people to deploy, why weren't they present the last time we traveled together?" Lin He inquired.

Wen Ningxuan smiled faintly. "They were already in place the last time. They had been stationed there for some time before we arrived. Otherwise, how could they have located suitable premises so quickly? There’s still one there now, managing the Cai Die Xuan shop. They usually keep out of our direct sight, so you wouldn't know them."

"There are many?"

"Four of them: Ling Xiao, Ling Tian, Ling Xuan, and Ling Xiang. Ling Xiang is the manager at Cai Die Xuan. If you need any of them to handle a task, just give the order."

"Anything at all? What precisely can they do? Moreover, aren't these men yours? May I really command them?" Lin He asked.

"Anything you wish. You will learn more about this, He’er, in time. You can call upon them whenever you need to."

Lin He nodded. This was certainly interesting. In her previous life, watching programs, she’d always thought it was quite dashing for wealthy people to have bodyguards constantly attending them. Now she could experience that feeling herself, savoring the sensation of being truly affluent. Lin He smiled inwardly at the thought.

This journey proved considerably more strenuous than the last one. The previous travel had been quite relaxed; this time, it could be described as starting before sunrise and working until the lamp was lit. On the first day, they checked into an inn just as darkness fully enveloped everything, a time when Lin He was usually preparing for bed at home. On the second day, while Lin He was still nestled deep in sleep, she overheard Ziyu muttering that Ling Xiao and the others had been waiting downstairs for nearly an hour. The Second Young Master had said it was fine, but Ziyu felt embarrassed. Every time she carried water up and down, those men’s eyes seemed to fix on her, as if the delay was entirely her fault. Unable to bear it, Ziyu woke Lin He.

Lin He felt she couldn't delay everyone for her own sake, so she struggled out of the warm bedding. As she stepped out, Wen Ningxuan saw her, instructed Ziyu to serve Lin He breakfast quickly, and they hurried off. Less than an hour into the carriage ride, Lin He was overcome with sleepiness. She leaned her head against Ziyu and dozed off. Lin He slept comfortably, noticing a faint, subtle scent of mint beside her. She wasn't sure how long she slept, but when she woke, she thought Ziyu was truly wonderful; resting against her was so soothing.

Just as she was about to praise Ziyu, she looked up and realized something was amiss. The person beside her wasn't Ziyu—it was Wen Ningxuan. Why had he moved over here? Still groggy from sleep and somewhat disoriented, she simply stared blankly at him.

Wen Ningxuan noticed Lin He waking up, slightly bewildered and not fully alert. The carriage was moving swiftly, swaying gently. Fearing she might be jostled, he reached out and gently gathered her into an embrace, saying, "You didn't sleep well last night? Sleep a little longer. I'll wake you when we are close."

Lin He paused for a moment before reacting. She raised her head slightly and adjusted her posture. Wen Ningxuan let his arm drop and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping anymore?"