Chapter 10 A lonely city
Luo Jin hurried into the room, took out the jar of honey and the jar of fireflies, and placed them on the table respectively.
The window was open to the outside, and she leaned forward to close the window. The window was a little old and not very flexible. Since she couldn't use force when grabbing the inside, she leaned forward to grab the window frame outside.
Suddenly, a sound of footsteps came from behind her. Startled, Luo Jin’s body leaned out too much. Her feet slipped and her body uncontrollably fell out of the window.
She closed her eyes in fear, only to feel her hand being grabbed by another slightly cold hand, pulling her back to the ground. The feeling of stepping on the ground again made her open her eyes with peace of mind. She turned to look at the person who held her.
She turned around a little too fast and the jar closer to the table edge was caught by her skirt and it fell to the ground with a "pop".
In front of her was a handsome boy in a green shirt, with cold and indifferent eyes, looking at her with doubt.
Hundreds of fireflies flew around them. The dots of fluorescence made the dark room looked like a dreamy galaxy with stars.
The boy's eyes reflected dots of fluorescence. He whispered: "It's so beautiful."
Luo Jin was a little embarrassed, "Is... that right?"
Why did he praise her for her beauty as soon as they met? It was embarrassing...
The boy nodded and said, "It's quite beautiful to see so many fireflies flying at night."
Luo Jin: "..."
She coughed awkwardly and asked, "Who are you?"
"Jiang Mo." The boy said, "Who are you? Why are you in my room?"
"My name is Luo Jin," she quickly tried to make an excuse to explain why she was here, "I live next door. I went...to the wrong room."
She looked at the window, "There's a ghost outside, so I want to close..."
Jiang Mo nodded gently, without any intention of asking further questions. He walked out the door and said, "Let's go!"
"Where...where?"
"Close the window for you."
Luo Jin said "Oh". She took two steps and remembered that she had brought a jar of honey, so she ran back holding the honey jar and followed Jiang Mo to her room next door.
The window of her room was open. Jiang Mo walked up and leaned over to close the window.
The "ghost" outside the window stared at the two people in the room in a daze and instantly disappeared into the sky.
"Thank you." Luo Jin said.
"You're welcome." Jiang Mo left the window and walked toward the door, "Goodbye."
At this time, He Xiao hurriedly walked in from outside. He was relieved to see that Luo Jin was fine. He looked at Jiang Mo and pretended not to know him, "Who is..."
Luo Jin also acted dumb, "He is... the guest next door. He came... to help close the window."
Jiang Mo directly introduced himself, "I am Jiang Mo, the fifth prince of Xiyuan Kingdom."
He Xiao smiled and said, "So it's your Highness, Fifth Prince! Excuse my rudeness!"
Jiang Mo continued to walk toward the door. When he reached the door, he looked back at He Xiao and said lightly, "General, did you have fun tonight?"
The figure disappeared from the door.
He Xiao was a little embarrassed, "It seems... he has seen through it."
"Indeed..."
...
The next day was the agreed negotiation day. The convoy lined up outside the inn, ready to set off to the agreed location, Jiuxianlou.
Chai Heng bought a few new carriages in the city, so Luo Jin could take a carriage to Jiuxianlou instead of riding a horse. Just as she was about to get on the carriage, she saw Jiang Mo coming out of the restaurant.
Chai Heng politely stepped forward and greeted him, "Good morning, your Highness, Fifth Prince."
Jiang Mo bowed slightly, "Good morning, your Highness, Second Prince."
Chai Heng said, "We are leaving for Jiuxianlou, would your Highness, Fifth Prince like to go with us?"
He was just being polite, not expecting Jiang Mo to be at ease riding in his carriage.
"Then...must trouble you." Jiang Mo responded.
"Then we'll go first...En?" Chai Heng didn't catch on for a moment, "Is your Highness, Fifth Prince willing to...go with us?"
"Must trouble you." Jiang Mo repeated.
As he spoke, he walked toward the carriage that Luo Jin was sitting in and got on without hesitation.
Luo Jin didn't expect him to be so bold, to dare to get on the enemy's carriage. She didn't know what to say for a moment. Seeing him get on the carriage, she could only stand up politely and greeted.
Chai Heng followed him into the carriage.
The newly bought carriage was not as big as the previous one and could not fit a couch. Still, the space inside was definitely not small. It was more than enough for seven or eight people.
The three people sat in the carriage and the atmosphere was indescribably weird. As enemies, it felt strange to sit in the same carriage and head to the same place for the same purpose. But it wasn’t easy to start negotiations at this time. After all, the people hadn’t arrived yet and the timing wasn’t right.
But if nothing was said, just sitting in a carriage like this would feel very awkward.
Chai Heng coughed, "I heard that Fifth Prince is a master of chess, why don't you play a game with me?"
Jiang Mo said, "Then please teach me, Second Prince."
Luo Jin understood what he meant in seconds. A game of chess would take at least half an hour. There would be no awkwardness if they didn't talk while playing chess. It could even be said that playing chess didn't require talking. After playing a round, they arrived at the destination and solved the extremely awkward atmosphere.
However, she had a feeling that it was awkward for her and Chai Heng. Jiang Mo seemed to be very comfortable from the beginning and not embarrassed at all.
As long as he wasn't embarrassed, others will be embarrassed, right?
Facts have proved that Luo Jin was still too optimistic.
Five minutes later...
"Thank you for your teaching." Jiang Mo bowed.
Chai Heng awkwardly returned the greeting, "Your Highness, Fifth Prince's chess skills are really... exquisite."
Luo Jin couldn't let them end the game easily, otherwise the atmosphere would return to the same as before. She smiled, "How about... play another game?"
Chai Heng winked at her, "No... His Highness, Fifth Prince must be tired."
He was tired! It was just asking for trouble.
"I'm not tired," Jiang Mo sat down and tidied up the chess pieces, "Come!"
Chai Heng sighed in his heart and sat back at the chess table with an attitude of facing death.
Three minutes later.
"Thank you for your teaching!"
"..."
Luo Jin sat next to him and dug with her toes a carriage, which had three bedrooms and a living room.
Since they couldn't expect Chai Heng to continue playing chess to kill time, she planned to find a topic to talk about to ease the embarrassment. But what topics did she have in common with the prince of the enemy country?
"Your Highness has taken the trouble to come to Sand City to negotiate. Come to think of it, the relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince must be good, right?" Luo Jin said, As expected of brothers!"
"Not good." Jiang Mo said.
"Your Highness is joking. If you aren't so close, why would you be willing to travel so far to save people?"
"Because of the imperial edict."
"..."
Luo Jin could understand that the Crown Prince might not have a good relationship with other princes, but... could this be said? Generally speaking, they should pretend to be friendly on the surface, right?
Couldn't he just say something polite? Wouldn't it make the atmosphere more awkward if he said it directly?
Not taking others’ suggestions?
Chai Heng coughed dryly and tried to change the subject, "Does the Fifth Prince like Cuju? If there is a chance in the future, let's play Cuju together?"
"Won’t happen." Jiang Mo replied.
"..."
Luo Jin had to admit that Jiang Mo was really a talent. He was invincible in terms of killing a conversation with one sentence.
The atmosphere couldn't be more awkward.
Jiang Mo suddenly said, "Can I ask a question?"
Since he was willing to take the initiative to break the awkward atmosphere, Chai Heng was naturally happy to do so and immediately said, "Yes, Fifth Prince, please ask."
"She..." Jiang Mo pointed at Luo Jin, "Is she your lover?"
Luo Jin: "..."
Chai Heng: "..."
Alright, the atmosphere could get more awkward.
Chai Heng blushed and waved his hand quickly, "No, she's just a little maid."
Jiang Mo asked in confusion, "You don't treat her like a maid. There's no need to bring a maid to the negotiations between the two countries."
Luo Jin explained, "Because I... I'm his lucky mascot, I mean the lucky star. It's just like the amulet you pray for in the temple. He thinks I'm blessed and can bring good luck and auspiciousness. That’s why he brought me along, that's all."
Jiang Mo nodded slowly and then asked, "Why not just bring the amulet? It doesn't take up space."
Chai Heng: "..."
Luo Jin: "..."
They all had the same feeling: the first time they chatted with someone and wanted to cry for help!
Fortunately, the driver called out at this time, "We have arrived at Jiuxianlou!"
Both Luo Jin and Chai Heng felt saved and there was light in their eyes.
Both of them almost immediately fled from the carriage.
The convoy of Xiyuan Kingdom had arrived first and reserved the restaurant. From the door, it could be seen that the place had been cleared and there was no customer.
Seeing Jiang Mo getting off the carriage of Dongyuan Kingdom's convoy, Xia Wenxian controlled his emotions after much difficulty and got off to salute. Jiang Yan wanted to stay in the carriage and was unwilling to get off. However, he was dragged off by Xia Wenxian.
Jiang Mo began to introduce, "This is the Second Prince of Dongyuan Kingdom, and this is... the lucky mascot."
He Xiao got off the horse, walked up, and introduced himself, "I am He Xiao."
Just hearing this name, Jiang Yan's tears were about to come out. He developed relatively late, and his current height was considered small among his peers. In his eyes, He Xiao seemed like a giant and looked very scary.
Xia Wenxian bowed, "I am Prime Minister Xia Wenxian. I have always wanted to meet you!"
"I have always wanted to meet you!" He Xiao bowed politely, "Let’s go in, it's almost time."
The group entered the restaurant together and went up to the largest private room on the second floor. The original furnishings had been cleared out. Eight square tables were lined up in the middle of the room, forming a long table with tea and snacks on it.
The representatives of the two countries sat on both sides. In addition to the two princes, Jiang Mo and Jiang Yan, and the prime minister there were a few ministers sitting on the side of Xiyuan.
The Dongyuan Kingdom was headed by Chai Heng. He Xiao sat next to him, while Luo Jin was arranged to sit on the other side. Sitting next to her was Yue Qinghai, who swept the people of Xiyuan with a murderous gaze before falling on Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan's tears were already gathering in his eyes. He didn’t dare to look up at Yue Qinghai and sat down in his seat with his head down.
Both parties sat down and officially began the negotiations.
"Where is Crown Prince?" Jiang Mo asked first.
Chai Heng said, "Crown Prince is in a safe place. There were waves of assassins along the way. Afraid of Crown Prince getting hurt, he will arrive later."
Jiang Mo nodded, "I see, then... what are the conditions for exchanging for the Crown Prince?"
Chai Heng took out a map and pushed it to Jiang Mo, "The condition is that the circled part belongs to Dongyuan Kingdom."
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