Chapter 238 The Escape Duo

Master Qiu still decided to go to Dali Temple.

Madam Zhao, the eldest wife, complained: "Ever since the Earl's Mansion offended the treacherous minister and caused you, sir, to lose your official position, you haven't had a job since. On the contrary, it was Third Brother who became a recipient of a salary because of Sixth Miss. Now that something has happened, Third Brother only knows how to cry, while you are the one running around. You talk about how we share both glory and loss, but it turns out that we have no share in the glory, but we truly share the loss!"

She was furious. Qiu Heng had done something good, and she was going to be made a county princess, while her own father would get a fifth-rank official position. Qiu Heng had gotten herself into trouble; she had imprisoned the old lord, and the entire lord's mansion might be ruined.

"What can we do?" Master Qiu was also unhappy. "Mother is dissatisfied with Father and it seems she's not going to care. I'm the eldest son, and if I don't step forward now, people will say I'm irresponsible and unfilial, making it even harder for me to get ahead in the future. Besides, I have to see Father and hear what the Emperor thinks."

If only his father's title is taken away, although it's painful, at least he can still live on. But if his family is confiscated and he is exiled, then it's all over.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao thought it made sense: "Then, sir, go ahead."

In the Cold Fragrance Residence, the maids and servants all had red eyes, and the atmosphere was filled with sorrow and despair. In contrast, Fangzhou remained calm, making pastries in the kitchen.

Looking towards the small kitchen, Qingluo asked with some concern, "Granny Yu, why isn't Sister Fangzhou reacting at all? Will she do something foolish?"

Granny Yu also felt that something was wrong with Fangzhou.

Fangzhou knew firsthand how deep the relationship was between her and the Sixth Miss. It would be understandable if she cried and made a fuss upon hearing that the Sixth Miss was in trouble, but it would be abnormal if she had no reaction at all.

Fearing that Fangzhou might do something rash, Granny Yu moved closer to her and asked, "Fangzhou, are the pastries ready?"

"It'll be ready soon."

"What kind of snack is it? I saw that it contained mutton filling before."

"These are mutton-filled lotus leaf dumplings," Fangzhou said, lifting the steamer lid and placing the steamed dumplings one by one onto a plate. He then carried them to the main room and placed them on the table.

"Try them all. If there's anything you don't like, tell me and I'll adjust it. When the girl comes back, she'll be able to eat the perfect dessert."

The group exchanged glances, but Granny Yu spoke first: "Fangzhou, if you're upset, just cry it out. Don't keep it bottled up inside."

Fangzhou smiled and said, "I won't cry. I'll wait for you to come back, Miss. You promised that when you come back you'll eat the new snacks I've learned to make."

"Sister Fangzhou—" Qingluo held Fangzhou's hand.

"I really don't want to cry. I believe the girl will come back."

While in the south, the girl disappeared for only ten days, but when she returned, she had become proficient in the art of incense and highly skilled in martial arts. She often couldn't help but wonder if the girl had some extraordinary encounter, becoming a half-immortal, half-demon, or even half-ghost?

But she only thought about it; she would never ask. She was afraid that, like in those folk tales, once she asked, the person whose mistake was exposed would realize their problem, and then trouble would ensue.

It's just falling off a cliff, it's okay, the girl will definitely come back.

If he doesn't come back—Fangzhou bit her lip hard.

If the girl doesn't return after three months, she will go to Xijiang to find her and personally go to the foot of that cliff to take a look. If the girl has been left there, she will take her home, not to the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion in the capital, but to the beautiful Yunfeng Village.

The girl said that Fangzhou and Aheng would stay together forever.

Qingluo was younger, and seeing Fangzhou's certainty, she began to believe him: "Then I will learn how to comb hair properly from Granny Wang, and when you come back, I will comb your hair into a very beautiful bun."

Granny Yu and Granny Wang exchanged a glance, trying hard to hold back their tears.

In the remote border town, the weather was freezing cold, but the tavern was packed with people, drinking and chatting enthusiastically.

The door opened, bringing in a gust of cold wind, and a young couple walked in.

The people in the tavern glanced at the noise, but most of them looked away.

"Two jugs of wine, two bowls of noodles," one of the men said.

"What would you two like some snacks to go with your drinks? Our specialty is braised mutton—"

Before the waiter could finish speaking, the man said, "No need."

The waiter swallowed his words, glanced at the two men, and pursed his lips.

So poor and disheveled, yet he dares to come to the tavern? Is he trying to freeload?

After thinking about it, the waiter said calmly, "The price is four hundred and twenty coins."

He quoted this price based on the most expensive wine in the store, hoping to scare the two men away.

Sure enough, the man frowned: "So expensive?"

"Yes, it is that expensive. If you two want—" The waiter's eyes nearly popped out when he saw the silver ingot the man handed him.

Why would someone casually offer such a large ingot of silver without any snacks, and then order two jugs of wine and two bowls of noodles?

The waiter took the money and went to get the wine. At a table in the corner, a few people looked at each other.

In the noisy environment, people spoke in hushed tones without worrying about being overheard by strangers. One of them whispered, "They looked like two refugees, but they turned out to be two fat sheep."

"Maybe the money was found on the street. There's been a lot of trouble lately, and a lot of people have died."

If a robber accidentally falls to the ground while fleeing, and the body is not found by the robbers, or if both sides die together, wouldn't that be a lucky person who finds the body?

"Let's take another look."

"The noodles are here!" the waiter called out, placing two large bowls in front of the two men.

The bowl was piled high with noodles, and there were a few cabbage leaves.

Qiu Heng's eyes lit up when she saw this bowl of noodles, which had no oil or grease, and she ate it with gusto.

I spent half a month recuperating in the mountains, eating boiled and roasted meat for half a month, until I felt nauseous at the sight of meat.

Xue Han was the same.

The two buried their heads in their noodles, wolfing them down in a flash, and then had another bowl after finishing.

The people at the corner table exchanged malicious glances.

It seems they were just two fools who got lucky and got a sum of money and couldn't wait to fill their stomachs. If they had any skills, they wouldn't have looked like they were starving ghosts after eating some vegetarian noodles.

It's just the two of them!

In a brief exchange of glances, the group identified their target for robbery.

"Would you like another bowl?" Xue Han asked, seeing that Qiu Heng had finished her second bowl.

Qiu Heng shook her head: "I'm full, let's go."

They drank only half of the two jugs of wine, poured the rest into a water bag, and then left the tavern.

It was cold and windy, but fortunately the two had animal skin clothing to keep warm, though they looked more like refugees.

"There's a horse market further ahead. Let's pick out a couple of horses there, and then settle in a bigger county town," Xue Han suggested after asking around.

"good."

The men leading the horses exchanged knowing glances.

"Did you hear that? There's still money to buy horses, but we can't even get one horse each."

"Two idiots, actually asking us for information."

"Hurry up and catch up, don't let him get away."

Although it was called a small town, it actually consisted of only a few dozen scattered houses. Qiu Heng and Xue Han quickly walked out and saw frozen soil and withered trees everywhere.

"Xue Han, when do you plan to reveal your true colors?"

Xue Han chuckled: "Right now, I haven't seen anyone on this road."

Before the words were even finished, a shout came from behind: "Stop!"

(End of this chapter)