Chapter 106: The Soothing Attempt on the Hundred-Mile Xun Boat...

Under Baili Xunzhou's soothing words, Feng Mian gradually calmed down, and her rapid breathing became even again. Baili Xunzhou half-embraced her and led her back to sit in front of the blazing stove, the warm light casting a hazy golden glow on the two of them.

"Eunuch Qiu Shi is the adopted son of Grand Eunuch Su, who is most trusted by my uncle. He is highly regarded by Grand Eunuch Su. The message he personally delivered should not be false."

“But you’re right, we should be cautious for now.” Feng Mian leaned on Baili Xunzhou’s shoulder. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the Prefect’s Mansion to ask Ninth Brother. If Uncle’s health is really not good, he should be summoned back to the palace.”

Bai Lixunzhou: "Let Shanyi go there, so that the news doesn't get out and cause any complications."

Neither of them could sleep that night. Feng Mian was preoccupied with her uncle and slept very lightly, frequently dreaming of the image of him holding her on his lap as a child and reading to her. Although his love for her had certain preconditions, it was indeed the best love Feng Mian had ever received, protecting her as she grew up safely.

In her dream, she struggled to hold the book with her two small hands, and looked up to ask her uncle how to pronounce a word. Then, drops of blood fell onto her face, and her vision was filled with a glaring red halo.

She woke up with a start, gasping for breath, and was immediately noticed by Baili Xunzhou, who was standing guard beside her. He patted her back and coaxed her back to sleep.

In a hazy dream, she dreamt again of the seven days she was thrown into the Taoist temple by the Empress Dowager.

The ash water smelled pungent and smoky, and when forced down her throat, it made her feel nauseous. However, having not eaten a single grain of rice for days, she could only vomit bile.

The linen fabric chafed her skin painfully as she huddled beneath the closed window. Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing her in its warmth, yet she felt icy cold, as if submerged in a winter's frozen river. She thought she was going to die there.

The door was suddenly kicked open, and Emperor Jiayu, his face filled with urgency, rushed in against the light. He disregarded his imperial dignity, staggered, and knelt on the ground beside her, carefully pulling her into his arms and gently lifting her up.

His embrace, warmed by the sunlight, gradually warmed Feng Mian's body. She turned slightly, burying her cold face in his chest, and felt him raise his hand to cover her ears. He was angrily arguing with the Empress Dowager, and the intense emotions were transmitted to Feng Mian through the trembling of his chest.

Suddenly, everything went quiet. She reached out anxiously to grab Emperor Jiayu's collar, but grasped only air.

The firm embrace I held tightly suddenly vanished, scattering me into dust.

A sudden feeling of weightlessness washed over me.

"uncle!"

Feng Mian shuddered and woke up from his dream.

Her cold, sweaty hands were immediately grasped by a warm one. Baili Xunzhou gently wiped the cold sweat from her fingertips with the corner of his clothes. "Having another nightmare?"

Now fully awake, Feng Mian turned to look at Baili Xunzhou.

To stay by her side, he hadn't slept a wink, his long eyelashes drooping wearily. Sensing Feng Mian's gaze, he raised his eyelashes, his empty eyes, though unable to see, still fixed on the spot where Feng Mian's eyes were.

Feng Mian nodded silently at first, then realized that Baili Xunzhou couldn't see her, and said, "Yes, I dreamed about my uncle..."

His voice was hoarse after a long sleep, and the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. He could not bring himself to speak of the death omen he had seen in his dream.

She was lost in thought for a moment, until Baili Xunzhou, who was worried about her, squeezed her palm and brought her back to her senses. She continued, "I was just too worried... I was afraid that my uncle was really seriously ill and didn't have much time left... If this is just a reason to trick me into returning to the capital, I would be relieved."

"So many people opposed him raising me back then, but he still overruled everyone and personally raised me." Feng Mian's voice trembled slightly. "Chu Jinglian always disliked me because he felt that my uncle always favored me. I know that for a daughter who adores her father, it's naturally unacceptable to have her father love someone else's daughter the most. But in order to live a better life in the palace, I kept taking advantage of this..."

“You were just a child back then.” Baili Xunzhou pulled her closer to him and coaxed her gently, “The palace is such a cannibalistic place. Without His Majesty’s protection, how could you have survived? Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

"Besides, the affection between you two far outweighs this little bit of selfishness."

He gently rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice calm and reassuring, "Don't be afraid, Father, Mother, and I are all waiting for your return in the Northern Frontier."

He understood the fear of being sealed away. She didn't have many relatives to begin with, and each loss was an excruciating pain. He wanted to stay by her side, but given his status, without the Emperor's decree, he couldn't enter the capital. He could only keep making promises to her, trying his best to put her at ease.

"Sleep a little longer," he coaxed, gently stroking her back. "If you get enough rest, you won't be too tired if we really have to set off tomorrow."

In his comforting embrace, Feng Mian finally fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up in the morning, Shanyi had already returned with the message.

"When I arrived at the prefect's residence, I saw the young marquis packing his things. The Prince of Qin sent someone to urge him to return home, also because of His Majesty's serious illness. The young marquis said that the Fifth Prince was also urgently summoned back by His Majesty."

The last glimmer of hope was shattered. The news of Emperor Jiayu's serious illness was finally confirmed.

Feng Mian swayed slightly, then quickly gave the order, "Pack your belongings, keep everything simple, we'll depart immediately."

When Qiu Shi's father-in-law arrived at Cang Gong Temple again, Feng Mian's luggage had been basically packed.

Even the young eunuch accompanying him was stunned and blurted out, "So fast?"

Qiu Shi's father-in-law glared at him, and he realized he had spoken out of turn, so he fell silent and lowered his head.

"Little Stone is ignorant of etiquette; please forgive him, Your Highness."

Feng Mian waved his hand, "It's alright. I just wonder if Father-in-law has rested enough? If we set off immediately, will his body be able to handle it?"

"Your Highness has taken note," said Eunuch Qiu Shi, bowing. "This servant is ready to depart at any time."

It was best not to let the people know that Emperor Jiayu was seriously ill, so as not to cause unnecessary panic. So the only thing said to the outside world was that the New Year was approaching and the princess was going back to the capital to visit him.

The people were reluctant to part with her and spontaneously gathered, following her to the city gate in a large group. They all urged her to "come back soon, Princess!" and added, "There's no need to rush. Just walk slowly on the road. The Princess's health is the most important thing!"

The murmurs of the people offering their advice gradually faded away. With reddened eyes, she carefully tied the fox fur cloak around Feng Mian's shoulders, took her hand, and bid her a reluctant farewell. "Take good care of yourself on the road. No matter what happens, your health is the most important thing. Don't be too heartbroken or hurt yourself, understand?"

Feng Mian nodded, choking back tears. Liu Jixue stepped forward and handed a bag of bottles and jars to Wu Liu behind her. "I made some pills for daily maintenance. Remember to take some on the way, so that you don't get seriously ill from traveling in the freezing cold for days."

"Okay, thank you, Xue." She hugged Liu Jixue and then walked towards Baili Xunzhou, who was standing quietly by the carriage waiting for her.

She reached out to pull his cloak tighter, then gently touched the ribbon covering his eyes, saying with great regret, "It seems I can't be with you to regain your sight. If Uncle is alright, I will definitely come back before the New Year. Remember to take me ice skating then."

“Okay,” he said, firmly grasping her cold hand and stroking her wrist with his fingertips. “I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Feng Mian gently wrapped her arms around his waist, stood on tiptoe to hug him tightly, and whispered in his ear, "Tell your uncle to be careful."

“Okay, neither my father nor I will let him take any risks.”

Feng Mian snuggled against his warm embrace for a while, then decisively got into the carriage, afraid that if she lingered any longer, she would be even more reluctant to leave.

The cart slowly started moving, its wheels rolling over the dirt road, and the majestic city tower gradually shrank into a silhouette. Bai Lixun's boat remained facing the direction the carriage had gone until the princess walked to his side and patted his shoulder, indicating that the carriage had already disappeared from sight.

It was still early spring and chilly when they arrived, but by the time they returned, it was already deep winter. Both trips happened to coincide with the harsh winter season in the north. Fortunately, Liu Ying and Wu Liu had experience and made sure the carriage was well-ventilated, with the silver charcoal brazier burning all day and the hand warmers being changed frequently.

Feng Mian was eager to return home, and the caravan traveled day and night. Fortunately, Liu Jixue had prepared medicine with him, and Feng Mian did not fall ill even after traveling all the way to the border of the northern frontier.

At noon that day, the caravan stopped again to rest, preparing to have lunch before heading to the next post station. Everyone set up their pots and started cooking, preparing the ready-to-eat soup dumplings they had taken from the soup dumpling workshop when they left Yunzhong County, and a warm aroma filled the air.

Feng Mian pushed the window open halfway, her gaze falling on Xiao Shitou, who was busy running around beside Eunuch Qiu Shi not far away. These days, she had noticed that whenever they stopped to rest, this eunuch named Xiao Shitou would stare at her carriage as if he wanted to say something, but he never came to talk to her, which she found a little strange.

"Firefly." Feng Mian beckoned to Firefly and whispered a few words in her ear.

A moment later, Liu Ying lifted the hem of her skirt and got off the carriage. She ran excitedly to Commander Lu and asked him for a large pot of cooked soup noodles.

Commander Lu was taken aback: "Miss Liuying, there are only three of you in the carriage. Can you eat all this?"

"The princess has a good appetite today and wants this much. Just give it to me."

Commander Lu was worried but had no choice but to comply with her wishes and fill the earthenware basin, which was as big as three human faces.

"This is such a big bowl, let me carry it over for you..."

Just as Commander Lu was about to start eating, Liu Ying quickly took the pottery bowl away, saying, "No need, no need, I can manage. Commander, please eat your meal."

Commander Lu watched as Liu Ying ran away quickly with her little steps, and when she passed by Eunuch Qiu Shi, she started wailing, "Hot, hot, hot! Little Stone, hurry up and help me carry this!"

Little Stone, whose name was called, hurriedly dropped the bowl in his hand, stepped forward to hold the earthenware basin, and followed Firefly toward the princess's carriage.

Commander Lu: "..."

If you'd said so earlier, why didn't you ask him for help? Girls' minds are really strange.

Liu Ying pushed open the carriage door, flashing a big smile, "Grandpa Little Stone, could you please help me carry this upstairs? It's too heavy for me to carry up."

Little Stone just nodded repeatedly, carrying the earthenware basin into the carriage. Firefly followed behind him, naturally closing the carriage doors behind her.

Little Stone kept his head down, not daring to look around. He put down the pottery basin and was about to leave when Feng Mian gently called out to him.

"Little Stone, is there something you want to tell me?" Feng Mian looked at Little Stone inquiringly.

Little Stone was startled and trembled slightly. He glanced nervously and hurriedly in the direction of the carriage door, looking bewildered.

"Don't be afraid, I won't tell anyone..."

"Your Highness, you should leave quickly," Little Stone suddenly said in a breathy voice.

Feng Mian was taken aback: "What?"

"Please leave quickly...don't go back to the capital..." Little Stone repeated quickly, his hands trembling slightly. He staggered back to the carriage door and suddenly called out, "Thank you, Your Highness. I have already eaten, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave!"

He hurriedly pushed open the door and left. In the instant the car door opened and closed, Feng Mian caught a glimpse of Qiu Shi's father-in-law's wary and suspicious gaze through the crack.