They left the Academy at dawn.
The carriage was nicer this time. Not because the Zhao family had sent a better one, but because Mo Tian had quietly arranged for an imperial escort carriage to deliver Zhao Lingxi to the capital. Nobody questioned it. Nobody dared.
Lan Yue sat inside the carriage with Zhao Lingxi while Liu Ruyan and Chen Mei rode at the back. Zhao Han had been left at the Academy under Tang Xiaoli's care, which Lan Yue was only slightly nervous about.
"If she feeds him nothing but dumplings for three days, he'll survive," Lan Yue reasoned.
"She'll also teach him how to blow things up," Zhao Lingxi said.
"He's a smart kid. He won't actually blow anything up."
"Tang Xiaoli is a terrible influence."
"She's the best friend we have right now."
Zhao Lingxi didn't argue with that. She turned to look out the carriage window, watching the mountain scenery roll past.
