Chapter 201: Message

"Hey, you two girls look familiar. Have you been to our store a few days ago?"

At noon, the stall owner selling mutton soup greeted the first customers of the day with a towel draped over his shoulder and smiled at Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan.

Zhu Lan smiled and nodded at him, then glanced at Mu'er who was sitting opposite him.

"Boss, three bowls of mutton soup and three steamed buns."

"Okay!"

Soon, the soup and steamed buns ordered by Zhu Lan were served. The three of them feasted on the food while chatting about the customs and culture of the northern border.

Zhu Qingyan used the last piece of steamed bun to swirl it around in the bottom of the empty soup bowl, and said with a feeling of unfulfilled desire, "Alas, it's a pity that I won't be able to eat mutton like this when I return to Jiangzhou."

"Then why don't we stay one more day and leave tomorrow." Zhu Lan said, looking at Mu'er, "It just so happens that I also want to visit Yunzhou City more and buy some local specialties to bring back."

"But don't you have to rush back to prepare for the Spring Examination?" Mu'er asked, putting down her chopsticks.

Zhu Lan smiled and said, "It's only one day, it's not a big deal."

Mu'er looked a little embarrassed, but Zhu Lan's idea was reasonable and she couldn't find any reason to refuse, so she had to agree.

"Well... okay. But you are not familiar with Yunzhou, and this place is close to the border, so there may be trouble sometimes. For safety reasons, it is better for us to act together."

"That's great." Zhu Qingyan was happy. "It seems that I can have another meal of this mutton soup!"

"But if we go to the east of the city in the afternoon, it will be too troublesome to come back to this stall to drink mutton soup." Zhu Lan thought about it and turned back to call the stall owner.

"I'm here!" The stall owner came over immediately with a smile on his face. "What do you want, young lady? This mutton soup is not to your taste?"

"The soup is delicious." Zhu Lan smiled politely, "Could you trouble the shopkeeper to send three more bowls of mutton soup with steamed buns to the inn where we are staying tonight?"

Zhu Lan said this as he took out a copper coin from his purse.

"I've paid the money first, and the extra money is for running errands. Thank you for your help."

The stall owner took the dozen copper coins with both hands, bowed and asked, "That's easy, but I don't know where you are staying?"

"I'll write it down for you in case you make a mistake and we can't have the soup."

"No problem, just wait a moment!"

The stall owner immediately went to the stove, tore off a piece of paper from his small account book, and gave it to Zhu Lan.

Zhu Lan took the paper, and Zhu Qingyan beside him said, "Stall owner, please give me some more tea."

The stall owner turned around to add water, while Zhu Lan had already written down the name of the inn and his room number in front of Mu'er.

Mu'er looked carefully at every word she wrote and did not find anything unusual.

After writing, Zhu Lan folded the paper and handed it to Zhu Qingyan. Zhu Qingyan nodded, stood up and walked to the stall owner who had his back to the others, "This is our address. You can deliver it here in the evening."

Zhu Qingyan took advantage of the time to turn sideways, gently pinched the slip of paper he had prepared long ago with two fingers from his sleeve, and stuffed it into the stall owner's hand.

Then he took his tea and walked back to his seat.

The three of them left the mutton soup stall and went for a stroll in the east of Yunzhou City. They returned to the inn when it was getting dark.

…

"Knock knock knock--" A series of rapid knocking sounds came from the wooden door that had been in disrepair for a long time and was still covered with cobwebs, interrupting the tranquility in the Taoist temple.

Su Huai frowned and opened the door. He looked at the stall owner selling mutton soup in front of him and asked, "Who are you?"

"Mr. Su, you don't know me, but I have heard of you!" The stall owner politely took out a note from his pocket.

"This is a note that a few customers left in our small shop. It said that they would send this paper to you."

Su Huai was a little puzzled, "What guest?"

"It's some girls."

After the stall owner gave a general description of their appearance, Su Huai knew they were Zhu Lan and the other man.

"Thank you, I understand."

After the stall owner left, Su Huai stood at the door and opened the note.

In addition to the location of his Taoist temple, there was also a short poem written on it.

Su Huai read the poem over and over again, his eyes looking into the distance.

"The desert... military camp... girl?"

He lowered his brows and let out a long sigh.

Alas, I had originally agreed not to leave the mountain...but who can blame me for still owing someone a favor?

What a hassle.

…

"Are you sure that Mr. Su will help us?"

In the room of the inn, Zhu Qingyan slowly pushed the written note in front of Zhu Lan.

Zhu Lan wrote a reply after burning it.

When he borrowed the book from Su Huai that day, Su Huai said that he owed him two favors, and lending him the book was considered as repaying one of them.

At that time, Zhu Lan thought that they would never see each other again, so he didn't take Su Huai's words too seriously.

I didn't expect that I would need his help again so soon.

…

The next morning, Mu'er gently knocked on Zhu Lan's door and asked if they were ready to leave.

The door was opened, revealing Zhu Lan's somewhat haggard face.

"What's wrong?" Mu'er asked curiously when she saw her like this.

"Qingyan suddenly felt unwell last night. I'm afraid we will have to rest in Yunzhou for two days." Zhu Lan said helplessly.

Upon hearing that Zhu Qingyan was ill, Mu'er walked over with some worry, but also a bit of suspicion in her heart.

Zhu Qingyan had practiced martial arts with the young lady before, so logically he shouldn't get sick so easily. Could it be...

Mu'er frowned slightly. Zhu Qingyan on the bed did not look well. She glanced at Zhu Lan and saw that she looked haggard as well, as if she had taken care of Zhu Qingyan for half the night without any rest.

But this does not rule out the possibility of pretending to be sick. Are they trying to delay time?

Zhu Qingyan was lying on the bed, his voice weak: "Maybe I ate too much yesterday and hurt my stomach..."

So Mu'er tried to probe: "But the Sixth Prince is still waiting for you to return to Jiangzhou to report... Since you are not feeling well, how about we take a carriage instead?"

"The carriage is slow and not conducive to her recovery. In my opinion, it is better to wait for two more days until she is well again, and then we can set off on horseback."

Mu'er didn't say anything. She sat sideways on the edge of Zhu Qingyan's bed, slowly pulled her wrist out from under the quilt, and placed two fingers on it.

"You know medicine?" Zhu Lan was a little surprised.

Mu'er raised her eyes and smiled, "I've learned a thing or two from the old doctor in the army. If Qingyan is really seriously ill, let's rest for two days."

Although she was not an expert in taking the pulse, she could still tell whether the patient was sick or not.

According to the prince's intention, it would be fine if Zhu Lan and the other two returned to Jiangzhou peacefully. If they did anything unusual on the way, they would not be allowed to return so smoothly.

After all, the journey from Northern Xinjiang to Jiangzhou is long, and it is possible that something unexpected might happen on the way.

The pulse from her fingertips was steady and strong, and Mu'er's eyes suddenly became gloomy.

Although she and Zhu Qingyan had a brief friendship as classmates, her heart would always be loyal to the prince alone. If anyone tried to hinder the prince's plan, she would eliminate them without hesitation.