Chapter 134 Encountering Kongming (Part 1)

When I left Hua Yingxiong's medicine hut, I discovered that the four guards from the Prime Minister's residence who had been following me were no longer there. It must have been Empress Fu who ordered them to be dealt with.

When I returned to the Prime Minister's residence, the carriage was already waiting at the gate. I went back to the residence to find Baozi and pack my luggage.

"Mom, are we leaving Xuchang?" Baozi asked as he watched me pack my bags.

"Okay." I didn't turn around and kept tidying up.

"You don't want your dad anymore?" Baozi blurted out, his words never failing to shock.

I choked a little and turned my head. "The immortal is sick. Let's go to Yizhou to see him."

“Oh,” Baozi nodded, “but I can’t bear to part with Long Nose and Squeak.”

I stumbled again, and helplessly turned back to look at the enormous creature blocking the window. That elephant was the "long-nosed" one Baozi had mentioned. After weighing the elephant for Cao Cao last time, Baozi had told his father that he wanted to have another pet...

Then, turning my head again, I looked at the little mouse with the silver chain around its neck scurrying around my feet. Do you remember it? It was mentioned above… that's my pet, "Zhizhi"…

"Take Squeak with you... the long-nosed carriage can't fit it," I said dejectedly.

"Okay," Baozi nodded, turned around, and looked at Yanzhi in a serious manner, "Beautiful sister, I'll trouble you to take care of Long Nose for me."

Rouge smiled and nodded.

After collecting our luggage, along with Baozi and his pet Zhizhi, we quietly slipped out of the mansion.

"Fairy Sister..." Before we even left the mansion, a girl in blue stopped us.

"Xiang'er?" I was startled, blinked, and looked closely. Before me stood a petite and charming young woman, none other than Cao Cao's daughter, who had questioned whether I was a demon from the very first time we met... and a demon who wasn't pretty enough at that...

"Fairy sister, where are you going?" Xiang'er blinked her long eyelashes and stared curiously at the bundle in my hand.

I cleared my throat, ready to lie.

"Xiang'er." He Yan appeared behind Xiang'er without her noticing.

He wore a magnificent brocade robe, his black hair was tied up high, his fair skin had a slight rosy glow, and his eyes were full of charm.

"Brother Yan!" Xiang'er called out happily, revealing her girlish charm.

“I’ve written a poem. Shall we go and see it?” He Yan said to Xiang’er without looking at me.

"Great! Xiang'er loves Brother Yan's poems the most!" Xiang'er was so happy that she completely forgot about my presence and rushed forward.

With his hands behind his back, his splendid figure slowly followed the cheerful girl away. After a few steps, He Yan paused slightly, turned to the side, and looked at me with his dark eyes.

I was stunned for a moment, then quickly clasped my hands in thanks and smiled as I struck the classic "thank you" pose from martial arts dramas.

Those dark, unfathomable eyes swept straight past me, then turned away and slowly followed the girl away, without even glancing at me.

A troublesome child...

I touched my nose, grabbed Baozi, and turned to leave the mansion.

Outside the Prime Minister's residence, Hua Yingxiong was already waiting for us inside the carriage.

"Mom, can I ride Mantou?" Just before getting on the bike, Baozi stuffed Zhizhi into her wide sleeve and made another request.

"Steamed buns?" I looked completely bewildered.

"The little pony that Brother Zijian gave me!"

My eyebrows twitched a few times, and I shook my head seriously, "No."

Once on the carriage, the journey was smooth and unimpeded. We left Xuchang City and headed straight for Yizhou.

A light drizzle followed, and after walking for a while, we came to a section of rugged mountain road.

The continuous spring rain stirred up a storm of emotions, and the road ahead was muddy and slippery.

"Baozi, sing a song to cheer yourself up," I said, leaning against the cushion, feeling utterly bored.

"There's no one better than a mother in the world..."

Baozi's clear, crisp voice echoed through the mountains, making me smile with delight. Baozi's flattery was so sweet.

Hua Yingxiong looked at me with disbelief and a smug expression, shaking his head, "His skin is more than three feet thick..."

I completely ignored his voice and smugly accepted my fate.

The carriage suddenly jolted violently and came to a stop.

"Giddy up! Giddy up!" The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage swayed but still wouldn't move.

"What's wrong?" I asked, lifting the carriage curtain.

"Madam, the carriage is stuck in the mud!" the coachman reported, wiping the rain from his face.

I looked down at the road. The continuous drizzle had softened the soil, and the carriage was stuck in the mud, unable to move an inch.

"Mom, there's a restaurant over there!" Baozi pointed to a banner that was soaked by the rain not far ahead.

I looked at the words; they recognized me, but I didn't recognize them.

"What does it say?" I asked Baozi, looking down at him.

“Restaurant!” Baozi pointed to the two characters “上” and read them out in a serious manner.

My lips twitched slightly. So this restaurant's name was simply "Restaurant"...

"We've almost finished the provisions we prepared for the journey, so let's eat first," Hua Yingxiong said, looking up at the sky. "This rain isn't going to stop anytime soon, so let's give some money to the shopkeeper and ask him to help push the carriage."

I happened to be eating dry rations and finding them tasteless, so I quickly agreed.

Baozi had no objection.

As soon as I got off the carriage, I accidentally stepped into the sewage, and a chilling, damp feeling shot straight up from the soles of my feet to my heart.

I couldn't help but shiver.

Hua Yingxiong got off the carriage behind me. He looked at me, then suddenly grabbed me from behind. I screamed in fright.

Suddenly, the world spun around, and I was thrown onto his back.

"Hey! Put me down!" I struggled and yelled.

"How long are you going to walk at your slow pace? It'll be faster if I carry you across," Hua Yingxiong said calmly.

"Ugh! You can hug me, you can carry me on your back, but why are you carrying me on your shoulders?!" Waaah... My image, my image in front of Baozi... (Student: You, who's trying to maintain a good image?)

"My embrace is reserved only for my beloved..." Hua Yingxiong said slowly as he strode forward.

“Carry me! Then carry me!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"arrive."

After another dizzying spin, I found myself sitting perfectly fine in the restaurant.

My feet were soaking wet, and I was shivering from the cold. Even as I shivered, I kept glaring at Hua Yingxiong.

The coachman had already entered the restaurant carrying the steamed buns.

"Give me a pot of wine." Hua Yingxiong walked straight to the bartender and eagerly ordered a pot of wine.

"Drunkard!" I spat.

He took the wine, but then turned around and handed it to me.

"I don't drink." I tossed my head irritably. Drinking leads to trouble... I gave Baozi a resentful look; Baozi was born under the influence of alcohol... Alcohol leads to promiscuity...

Hua Yingxiong stared at me for a long time, then suddenly reached out his hand.

I stared wide-eyed in disbelief as he reached out his devilish hand and poured a mouthful of wine down my throat, the spicy taste making me cough repeatedly.

"Have some wine to warm yourself up." Hua Yingxiong looked at me with satisfaction as I coughed, my face flushed, and turned to order food. "Waiter, prepare some rice and dishes for us!"

I feel dizzy and my vision is blurry. I can't see people clearly.

The restaurant was very lively, mostly with merchants and travelers stopping for a meal.

"Mom, your face is so red," Baozi said, snuggling up to me.

I let out a burp, speechless.

"Shopkeeper, may I ask which way to Xiangyang?" A very gentle and pleasant voice suddenly rang out, like a clear spring.

The store fell silent as everyone looked up.

The voice sounded so familiar that I craned my neck to look.

He was a young man, handsome and dashing, with a noble bearing. He wore a turban and a black robe, and held a white feather fan in his hand. His eyes and brows were gentle and warm.

I blinked my blurry, drunken eyes. This person looked so familiar...

"Xiangyang? Xiangyang is quite far from here..." the hotel replied.

"I have a bad memory and got lost, please excuse me." The man laughed, looking somewhat shy.

"Lost?! Sir, you have quite the skill to get lost all the way from Xiangyang to here... That's quite a feat..." The innkeeper couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Everyone in the hotel burst into laughter.

The man wasn't angry; he continued to smile, displaying a good temper.

"Laugh! What's so funny!" I slammed my hand on the table, my tongue tumbling out. "What's so funny about getting lost!"

The man turned to look at me, a smile playing in his gentle eyes.

I blinked, and through my blurry vision, I saw a pair of gentle, smiling eyes—they looked so familiar…