86: Encounter at the City Gates

Ning Shu made her way back to the Princess Residence, accompanied by a large procession. As they reached the city gates, they ran into a group of troops, leaving both sides stuck at the entrance.

The troops exuded an intimidating aura, making Ning Shu's group seem somewhat diminished in comparison.

"Princess, princess! It's General Duan! It's General Duan!" Yuan Dong exclaimed, spotting the man leading the troops. Ning Shu, perched inside her ornate palanquin, looked genuinely surprised and happy, her eyes glistening with emotion.

However, Ning Shu's expression remained indifferent. It was a classic case of enemies crossing paths. She glanced outside and locked eyes with Duan Xinghui.

She narrowed her eyes slightly at him, noting he was clad in full armor. His gaze was sharp, and his eyes seemed darker than she remembered from the original host's memories.

What struck her as ridiculous was that he was holding a woman in his arms, leading the march while riding alongside her.

Though Duan Xinghui was known for his composed demeanor, Ning Shu found that hard to believe in this moment. She shifted her focus to Er Ya, who was sitting with him. Er Ya had a healthy wheat-colored complexion, but in the Great Yong dynasty, paleness was the standard of beauty. By that measure, Er Ya didn't quite measure up, which surely added to the original host's distress. As a respected princess, losing out to a girl from the countryside must have been a tough blow.

When Duan Xinghui caught Ning Shu's gaze, he noticed her expression was clear and cold. He was the first to look away, urging his horse closer to her palanquin.

"General Duan respectfully greets the Princess and wishes her good health," he said, cupping his fist in salute.

Ning Shu took a moment to size him up. He looked intact, his face a bit slimmer than before. "So, General Duan has returned. You may go ahead and report to His Majesty," she replied, her tone cool and polite but still retaining the aloofness of royalty.

Duan Xinghui's expression shifted. Ning Shu's demeanor frustrated him; he had mentally prepared for the princess's inevitable questions and the ensuing commotion. But her current attitude left him with nothing to work with.

It felt as if she didn't care about him at all, which was a blow to his ego. He was used to the unwavering admiration from Er Ya, but with Princess Jiahui, the gap between ruler and subject was painfully evident.

Ning Shu gave Er Ya only a brief glance. From a distance, she didn't seem pretty; up close, she was even less so. However, her large almond eyes did stand out.

Duan Xinghui had likely noticed Er Ya's lively charm.

"General Duan, aren't you going to enter the city?" Ning Shu asked coolly.

Facing the frigid demeanor of Princess Jiahui, Duan Xinghui felt uneasy. If she had made a scene or cried, he would have felt more at ease—that would have been expected. But her calmness left him guessing her thoughts. She seemed to treat him like a stranger, showing no joy at his return. The dignity she exuded only heightened his frustration, which he had to suppress, leaving him even more unsettled.

Er Ya, nestled in Duan Xinghui's arms, gazed at Ning Shu with curiosity. The poised princess made her feel inferior, especially given her beauty. Er Ya couldn't find the words to capture it; she simply felt that as Ning Shu sat on the lavish palanquin, it accentuated her beauty, making her appear almost ethereal—too stunning to look at directly.

Ning Shu noticed Er Ya's admiring yet nervous gaze, her rough hands gripping the reins tightly.

"Audacious! Who do you think you are to look directly at a member of the imperial family?" Before Ning Shu could speak, Yuan Dong shouted sternly. With her charming and lovable demeanor, she managed to adopt an imposing air befitting her role as the princess's personal maid.