Rong Qingqing rested in the tent for a while. When she came out, the aroma of fish soup and roasted chicken wafted from the open space.
"Your Highness, it's inconvenient to be out in the wild, so we'll have to make do with this." Jiang Zhou personally ladled out a bowl of fish soup and handed it to Rong Qingqing.
Rong Qingqing took the bowl, looked at the snow-white fish soup inside, and said in an exaggerated tone, "You're complaining about having fish soup?"
Jiangzhou knew how much the Emperor loved her, so he was somewhat cautious when facing her, afraid that he might not take good care of her and displease her, which would betray the Emperor's trust in him.
Hearing her words, his tense expression relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips. "I'm glad Your Majesty doesn't mind."
Rong Qingqing shook her head, then sat down on the ground without any hesitation. "When you're out and about, Commander Jiang, there's no need to be so formal. Sit down. We still have a lot of work to do."
"Yes." Jiang Zhou sat down as instructed.
The Imperial Guards nearby brought over the roasted pheasant.
Jiang Zhou tore off a chicken leg for Rong Qingqing, and then tore off another for Doctor Xu.
Dr. Xu took a sip of the hot fish soup in his bowl, took a bite of the fragrant roasted chicken leg, and sighed with great satisfaction, "Soup and meat, this is truly one of life's greatest joys!"
"Dr. Xu is absolutely right!" Rong Qingqing nodded in agreement, and then slurped down a big mouthful of fish soup.
Jiangzhou and the group of Imperial Guards felt much more at ease seeing how approachable the Empress was.
While Rong Qingqing and the others were gathered around the fire, drinking soup and eating meat, in a small town twenty miles away, in a simple inn, the innkeeper and waiter were staring longingly outside.
They are waiting for a "target".
According to their route, if they were to find lodging, they would have to come to this town, and this is the only inn in the town. So, once they arrive in the town, they will inevitably choose this inn.
Based on the timeline, the person should arrive around this time.
However, they waited until dark, but the so-called "target" did not appear.
But then he thought that perhaps the time estimate from above was wrong, so he patiently continued to wait for the "target" to appear.
They waited and waited until the store closed, but the "target" still hadn't appeared.
The waiter looked at the shopkeeper, "What if they're not coming?"
"Impossible. When her father is critically ill, how could a daughter not be anxious? Given his doting affection for her, he will surely send her to Suzhou. Judging by the timeline, she should arrive here by tomorrow at the latest, if not today," the shopkeeper said confidently.
The waiter frowned: "But what if we still haven't seen the person we're waiting for by tomorrow? Should we keep waiting?"
"If we still haven't seen them by tomorrow, it means they might have changed their route or decided not to stay overnight and instead choose to camp in the wilderness. But given how pampered they are, it's unlikely they would choose to camp in the wilderness instead of finding lodging." The innkeeper was no longer certain.
According to calculations, after receiving the letter today, the "target" they are waiting for will definitely be unable to contain himself and will rush to Suzhou. Given the distance from the capital to here, the "target" should arrive around evening.
However, it's already past midnight, and there's still no sign of them.
The two of them couldn't help but feel a little restless.
"Wait another day. If they still haven't appeared, return to Xuzhou and ask for instructions from above," the shopkeeper said in a deep voice.
"That's the only way," the waiter nodded.
Rong Qingqing had no idea that because she was in such a hurry, she had actually escaped a disaster.
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