The carriage traveled safely for a while longer. When it arrived around the Tianku Cave, there were many deep pits all around, making it difficult for the carriage wheels to step over them. It could only move forward slowly by winding its way through the pits.

Zhang Xiue was about to get out of the carriage with Nianjie in her arms when Qin Xiaoniang stopped her, asking, "Where are you going?"

"There's a deep pit here, and the carriage is too crowded and moving slowly. I'd better get off."

"It's too cold outside, this won't do!"

Song He'er lifted the curtain and looked outside. The surroundings were covered in snow, and the ground was full of potholes, as if huge rocks had fallen from the mountain and smashed into the ground.

A giant rock?

Song He'er sensed something was wrong. If they walked outside, they would all be crushed to death if their bodies collapsed. It was better to sit in the carriage; it would be slower, but it would be safer.

Thinking of this, Song He'er stopped Zhang Xiu'e, who was about to get out of the car, "Third Aunt, you can't get out. The deep pits next to us are clearly caused by falling rocks. What if they hit your head? Wouldn't it be a disaster?"

After being frightened, Zhang Xiu'e's face turned somewhat ugly, and she quickly stuffed Nian'er back into the carriage.

"Then... Madam Tian is outside too..."

After thinking for a while, Song He'er replied, "Lengthen the reins and come sit inside."

"Okay, I'll go in her place."

As soon as Zhang Xiue lifted the curtain, a soldier jumped up from outside, which really startled Li Qiang's wife.

"The road conditions are bad, so His Highness ordered me to drive the carriage. Please grant me permission, ladies."

Li Qiang's wife didn't dare to make a decision, so she turned her head and stared at Song He'er and Qin Xiaoniang.

"Please, ladies, take your seats." But the young soldier didn't wait for their reply; he rushed to sit in the carriage, picked up the reins, and started driving.

Li Qiang's wife sat back down in the carriage listlessly, exchanged a glance with the people inside, and then fell silent.

The men Jiang Huaifu brought were all top-notch experts. They were not only skilled on horseback, but also extremely adept at fighting on horseback, let alone dealing with the minor troubles on the road.

"He'er, take out the map and let's see where we are."

Song He'er complied with Qin Xiaoniang's request and opened the map that was guarding the bundle. According to the terrain, they were currently halfway up the mountain. If nothing else happened, they should be able to reach the top of the mountain by tomorrow.

"Mother, we seem to be wandering in a place called 'Heavenly Cave' right now..."

Zhang Xiue frowned. "Tianku Cave? What kind of place is that?"

"I don't know, it's probably just a place name..." Song He'er didn't pay much attention to it.

However, after a moment, the carriage was suddenly hit violently, the whole carriage overturned, and the people fell to the snow.

Several younger children cried loudly in fright. Song He'er quickly picked up Huan Ge'er, looked around, and saw that the soldiers beside Jiang Huaifu were in chaos, running back and forth with swords in their hands.

"What's going on?" Song He'er shouted.

A short while later, the sound of horses' hooves came from beside her. Song He'er looked up and saw Jiang Huaifu riding his horse toward her.

When he reached her, he didn't forget to reach out and help her onto the horse.

What happened?

Jiang Huaifu did not answer him, but instead ordered the soldiers behind him: "Get all of them on horseback and charge out of here. Be quick and avoid being attacked by the bears behind us!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Upon receiving their orders, the soldiers quickly mounted their horses, cracked their whips, and galloped away, frightening the children into wailing.

Upon seeing this, Song He'er realized that there were bears lurking here...

Could it be that the heavy blow to the carriage just now was caused by the bear?

How much force would it take to overturn a carriage?

“You’re small, it’s inconvenient for you to carry your younger brother. You should give him to your stepmother,” Jiang Huaifu suddenly said.

Song He'er is indeed very thin, and Huan Ge'er has gained a lot of weight recently. His two thin arms are not enough to hold him firmly, so it would be better to return him to Qin Xiaoniang.

Thinking of this, Song He'er waved to Qin Xiaoniang, who was riding on horseback and looking around.

"Mother, I'm here!"

Qin Xiaoniang turned her head and saw that her two children were safe and sound. She quickly smiled happily and said, "He'er, are you alright? Give me your younger brother. It's too tiring for you to carry him."

Jiang Huaifu rode his horse close to Qin Xiaoniang, and only after safely handing over the child did he spur his horse and gallop straight towards the mountaintop.

"Can you shoot arrows?" the person behind me suddenly asked.

Song He'er was stunned for a moment, unsure how to answer.

If you ask her if she can't, she certainly can.

But if she really knew how to shoot arrows, wouldn't that make her, a mere concubine's daughter, seem too ostentatious? Although her father was the General of the North, as a daughter, she was not valued by her family, so how could she possibly have the skill of shooting arrows?

"I'm asking you a question again! You'd better not try to be clever. We're teetering on the edge of life and death right now." With that, Jiang Huaifu pulled out several sword feathers from behind his back and handed them to Song He'er.

"There is a bow at your feet; pick it up when you've made up your mind."

After much deliberation, Song He'er decided that considering those useless things now was unnecessary; the most important thing was to live a good life.

So he bent down and picked up the bow from under his feet and held it in his hand.

Jiang Huaifu's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I knew you were playing the lamb."

"Your Highness, are you talking about me?"

Is anyone else around here?

"......"

Before Song He'er could speak, a large, grayish-white bear rushed up in front of her, its jaws wide open, ready to attack.

Jiang Huaifu tightened the reins, and the horse lifted its front legs, turned around, and ran towards the side of the bear.

Song He'er grabbed her bow and arrow, quickly aimed at the bear's throat, and fired with lightning speed and precision.

However, the bear's fur was too thick, and a single sword feather was not enough to kill it; it was necessary to strike its most vulnerable spot.

Give me the arrow!

Song He'er handed Jiang Huaifu a feather arrow, then turned around, and the bear charged towards them again.

With a hiss, an arrow flew through the air, and instantly, blood splattered everywhere. One of the bear's eyes was shot out, and it fell to the ground with a thud.

Jiang Huaifu tightened the reins and jumped directly over the bear.

“You have to use your brain to deal with this kind of thing,” Jiang Huaifu said with a smile.

Song He'er's face turned bright red, and she wanted to slap this person. She had just helped him, so why did he say such nasty things? It was simply outrageous!

"Then just leave me here, since you already think I'm a burden!"

......

I'm too tired today, so one update will do. I'll post two updates tomorrow.