Chapter 749 Qin City

After Lin Yuesha chased after Jiang Baozhu, Bai Youran took Xiaohe and Ruyi off the carriage to hide.

The scene was chaotic. After a brief fight, the two sides seemed to realize they had been tricked and suddenly retreated. Then another group of people took over the goods.

"Miss, who are these people?"

Xiaohe stood up and helped Lin Yuesha warm herself by the fire; tonight was destined to be sleepless.

"One of our own."

Lin Yuesha first went to the carriage to check on Jiang Baozhu, and then chatted with Doctor Liao for a few words. Jiang Baozhu was too frightened and had also fallen and injured herself, so she needed to rest for a while and it would be best if she stayed in Qincheng to recuperate.

Qingxing and Qi'er were poisoned, but fortunately, they were treated in time and their lives were not in danger.

Lin Yuesha couldn't sleep. When Jiang Baozhu woke up at dawn, a huge weight was lifted from her heart, and she instantly fell asleep.

She slept so soundly, perhaps because she knew that the pockmarked man was by her side, that Lin Yuesha felt particularly at ease. When she woke up, the sun had already set, and the group had already arrived in Qincheng.

"We're not at the inn?"

Lin Yuesha sat up and found herself in a boudoir, decorated elegantly, unlike the simple and monotonous feel of the inn. Moreover, upon closer inspection, the decorations and furnishings looked very familiar to her.

"Miss, you're finally awake."

Bai Cha brought over warm water for washing up and used a handkerchief to wipe Lin Yuesha's face. Long Jing, who was standing nearby, squeezed forward and interrupted, "Miss, these ornaments were all found by the young master in Qincheng, modeled after your boudoir in the capital."

Due to limited resources, an exact replica could not be found, so a similar substitute was used.

When has he ever been to my bedroom?

Lin Yuesha stopped abruptly after speaking, filled with regret.

Before leaving the capital, Pockmarked Face left without saying goodbye. Qingxing and Qi'er let the wolf into the house, so Pockmarked Face did go to see her. At that time, she was lying on her back, drooling in her sleep, and didn't notice at all.

"Longjing, you need to change your name."

Lin Yuesha used to instruct her maids on all sorts of rules before going out, and the two maids kept nagging her. Lin Yuesha was tired of it, but now that they were in Qincheng, Longjing was the one who broke the rules.

"Miss, you yourself said that the only way to repay a life-saving grace is with your body. Young Master Qi has saved you many times. I think you should stop struggling, right?"

It's better to face reality sooner rather than later. Young Master Qi is definitely a good match for our young lady.

Furthermore, Qin City is a hub connecting the northwest and the north. The people there are generous and open-minded, but they are very strict with unmarried women. If they want to go out, they have to use the identity of a married woman.

"Nonsense! Your young lady's face is so tender and delicate, she's still so young, how could she possibly play the role of a married woman?"

Lin Yuesha protested mainly because the women's hairstyle was too difficult to comb and very troublesome.

“Miss, there are countless girls in Qincheng who marry at the age of fifteen, so it’s not appropriate for you to dress like a married woman, not because…”

Longjing glanced at his young mistress's chest, his meaning unspoken.

Miss has such a good prescription, yet she doesn't know how to take care of herself. As her maid, I'm so worried.

Her address of Qi Heng as "son-in-law" was not a rash or unethical statement, but rather a deliberate act, intended to convey her good intentions to the young lady.

"An insult, an absolute insult!"

Lin Yuesha stamped her feet and beat her chest. She often joked around with the maids, but now that she was putting on airs as a young lady, no one was afraid of her.

Yes, in recent months, she has grown taller but lost weight, so much so that she has lost her curves.

The prescription was available, but it was a bitter medicine. Lin Yuesha wanted to give up after drinking it for a few days, but in order to maintain an elegant and graceful figure, she decided to persevere.

After washing up, it was time to light the lamps.

Lanterns were hung on the trees in the yard for lighting, and the aroma wafted from the large kitchen in the front yard in all directions.

Lin Yuesha, wrapped in a cloak, stood in front of the door, sniffed, and smiled, "It's mutton soup."

"Miss, you have a keen sense of smell. I've heard that sesame cakes with mutton soup are a specialty of Qincheng. Young Master Qi has specially invited a chef from a century-old restaurant to let you taste the master chef's skills."

With the war in full swing, Young Master Qi was working non-stop, so busy that he was practically running around on his hands and knees. Yet, he still managed to meticulously arrange his young mistress's daily life, which made Bai Cha and Long Jing find his pockmarked face particularly pleasing to the eye.

"Where is Sister Baozhu? Are Qingxing and Qi'er here too?"

Before the meal, Lin Yuesha was still worried about Jiang Baozhu and the two maids.

The Wei family's assassins are known for their underhanded tactics; otherwise, Qingxing and Qi'er wouldn't have been so badly injured.

Recalling the events of last night, Lin Yuesha had to reflect on herself; she had panicked and had made mistakes.

“Miss, this is your first time experiencing this, and you have done a very good job.”

Bai Cha advised Lin Yuesha not to take the blame upon herself. If anything was not handled properly, it was because she and Longjing were unable to help and instead dragged everyone down.

"Miss Jiang woke up for a while in the afternoon in the courtyard next to yours, then fell asleep again. Qingxing and Qi'er urgently needed detoxification, so Doctor Liao took them to a branch of Shennong Baicaotang."

Seeing that it was almost time, Bai Cha went to the front yard to fetch the meal.

In the late evening of the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the people of Qincheng start to light fires in their homes, and wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys. Occasionally, one can hear a few familiar local accents calling for their children to come home.

The courtyard is surrounded by ordinary people, adding a touch of everyday life to the space.

Lin Yuesha walked around the courtyard, her breath coming out in white puffs. Having spent some time in the capital, she was no longer able to adapt to the harsh winter.

The sesame cakes were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. When broken open, they contained salt and pepper and five-spice powder. After taking a few bites of the sesame cakes and pairing them with mutton soup, Lin Yuesha ate with great relish. It was so delicious that she didn't want to talk, as it would take too long to finish her meal.

After the meal, Lin Yuesha felt warm.

“Miss, the food in Qincheng is different from that in the capital, and also different from that in our northern region.”

Bai Cha inquired about some things from the head chef in the front yard and then shared what he had learned: "The people here like to eat flatbread and noodles."

The homes of the people in the city were too cramped to keep cattle and sheep, but the villagers in the surrounding villages all raised sheep, donkeys and horses. The donkeys and horses were used to transport goods, and the sheep were slaughtered for meat.

When it's cold, people eat mutton to warm and nourish themselves. This is how the people of Qincheng have lived for generations. They have a unique recipe for cooking mutton, which has no gamey smell and is tender and fragrant.

Lamb spine can be used to make hot pot with meat, roasted lamb, lamb ribs and legs, braised lamb liver, spicy and sour lamb offal, and stir-fried lamb with scallions. There are many ways to eat lamb.

"White tea, you really know how to appreciate food."

Last night's commotion greatly frightened Bai Cha and Long Jing, especially Long Jing. She hid in the cave, which was pitch black inside, and she touched the cold coffin, fearing that the lid would suddenly be opened.

"When I'm thinking about food, I don't want to think about anything else."

Longjing shook his head. The group would have to stay in Qincheng for a while, and his young lady would have to continue contributing to the military supplies.

Heading northwest from Qincheng, the area is sparsely populated, with a vast desert stretching out before reaching the border cities, where war rages and the people suffer immensely.

From this perspective, the preparation of military supplies had no choice but to take place in Qincheng.