"Alright, alright, let's not say things like that in the future. Let's eat this steamed egg custard and get on our way. If he's willing to give it to us, then let's eat it. Let's not burden others or make ourselves look pretentious."
Qin Xiaoniang nodded and did not ask any further questions.
The soldiers brought by Jiang Huaifu were all highly skilled in martial arts and worked quickly. In less than half an incense stick's time, they had finished packing up all the tents and luggage.
Song He'er and the others' carriage had been damaged in several places during the fight last night, and now it always felt drafty and chilly when traveling.
Qin Xiaoniang lifted the curtain and looked back, seeing Jiang Huaifu's large entourage following closely behind.
"He'er, I have a bad feeling about this, you know...."
Zhang Xiue quickly interrupted her, "Alright, alright, stop jinxing it! What could possibly happen!"
Song He'er kept her head down in thought and didn't take Zhang Xiu'e and the others' words to heart.
It wasn't until he touched the jade pendant at his waist that he suddenly remembered something.
Shen Jiadai had previously said that she had arranged for assassins on her way out, and that she should take out the jade pendant to save her life if necessary.
Were these people sent by her?
That shouldn't be the case. Jiang Huaifu is so intelligent; how could he not see through these people's origins, and why would he deliberately keep the deceased's identity a secret from her?
It's unlikely that she deliberately protected Shen Jiadai, since Jiang Huaifu didn't like her and had no reason to do so.
Forget it, let's not think about it anymore. Fortunately, none of them are seriously injured. As long as we get past this snow mountain and arrive in Xinzhou safely, that will be a blessing.
When Qin Xiaoniang saw that her daughter hadn't spoken or drunk any water for a long time, she immediately felt worried.
She quickly took the kettle from Chun Di's hand, poured a bowl of warm water for Song He'er, and handed it to her.
"He'er, drink some water to soothe your throat. You haven't slept much all night, are you tired?"
Song He'er came to her senses, stood there stunned for a while, took the bowl from Qin Xiaoniang's hand, and replied, "Mother, I'm fine, I'll just lean here for a while."
Zhang Xiu'e sighed as she looked at Song He'er's extremely pale face. She had never seen her so listless since leaving the General's Mansion.
"He'er, you must speak your mind. Don't keep it bottled up inside, or you'll easily get seriously ill."
"Third Aunt, I'm really fine, you don't need to worry about me..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song He'er really felt dizzy, and her vision became blurry.
Suddenly, my body went limp, and I lost consciousness.
Qin Xiaoniang quickly protected Song He'er, preventing her from falling onto the carriage, and then ordered Li Qiang's wife outside to stop the carriage.
"What happened?"
"Stop the car immediately! He'er has fainted!"
Li Qiang's wife quickly stopped the carriage in the middle of the road, then turned and got into the carriage.
Song He'er's already pale face turned even paler, and her hands and feet became icy cold.
Although she was still wearing the cloak given to her by Jiang Huaifu, the clothes underneath were already tattered and could not keep out the cold wind at all. No wonder she fainted; it turned out that she had caught a cold and developed a high fever.
"No, quickly put her down and cover her with a warm blanket. I need to go downstairs and make her a bowl of thick, hot soup. Oh, and did you buy some ginger?"
Qin Xiaoniang was so concerned that she didn't understand what Li Qiang's wife had said.
I'm asking you a question!
"Oh? I bought it... but there's no brown sugar!"
"If there's nothing, then so be it! We'll just boil some ginger water and drink it. We can't get medicine here anyway, so we'll just have to make do with this."
As she spoke, Li Qiang's wife jumped off the carriage and began preparing things to start a fire.
Jiang Huaifu noticed something was wrong, jumped off his horse, and came over.
"What happened? What are you doing?"
Li Qiang's wife was startled; it was the first time she had spoken to Jiang Huaifu at such close range.
"Your Highness, someone here is sick, and I would like to make some ginger water for her to drink."
Who is it?
"ah?"
"I'm asking you a question, why are you panicking?"
"Yes... Miss He'er."
Jiang Huaifu glanced at the pot on the ground and said coldly, "Does drinking ginger water really help?"
"..."
"I have brought my personal physician with me. Tell him to come and take a look."
Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
Li Qiang's wife gasped, secretly relieved that she hadn't said anything that would offend him!
Jiang Huaifu was indeed decisive and efficient. Before Li Qiang's wife could even squat down, an old-looking man from the Western Regions walked over.
He stood in front of the carriage and bowed respectfully.
"Ladies and young ladies inside, I have been invited by His Highness to treat a young lady named He'er. May I ask if it would be convenient for me to come in?"
Qin Xiaoniang paused for a moment, then turned her gaze to Zhang Xiue.
"The doctor Your Highness invited?" Zhang Xiu'e asked softly.
"yes……"
"This carriage is too crowded, let some of us get off."
"good."
After saying that, Zhang Xiu'e, Huan Ge'er, and several other children jumped off the carriage.
Qin Xiaoniang, Chunrao, and Chundi were left alone inside to rest.
The imperial physician boarded the carriage, respectfully placed his medicine box aside, and then took out a gauze scarf, draping it over Song He'er's wrist.
Qin Xiaoniang watched him from the side. The imperial physician seemed a little nervous, with beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"It's nothing serious, just a slight cold. I have some medicine later, I'll bring it over. Just one dose should be enough."
Qin Xiaoniang nodded and replied politely, "Thank you for your trouble."
"No need for thanks. This is just my duty as a physician. Besides, I was entrusted by His Highness. You are too kind, madam."
Qin Xiaoniang remained silent, and the imperial physician took the opportunity to exit the carriage.
After a while, another soldier came over with several sets of clean clothes.
After putting it down, he didn't say a word and simply turned and left.
Zhang Xiu'e looked at them and saw that they were all women's clothes, presumably gifts for Chun Rao and Song He'er.
"Take these clothes and let them change. Their health is the most important thing. Don't think about anything else," Li Qiang's wife reminded him from the side.
Zhang Xiue nodded, picked up her clothes, and got into the carriage.
Chunrao was still not in good spirits. She leaned against the carriage and pretended to be asleep. No matter who spoke to her, she would only give a few words of reply.
"Let's stick the old clothes we took off on the carriage to block the wind!"
As she spoke, Qin Xiaoniang began to cut with a knife.
"Zhang Niangzi! Someone is looking for you!" Li Qiang's wife suddenly called out from outside.
………
Today's first chapter is finished. The female lead hasn't fallen in love! Family interests outweigh personal feelings; this is the female lead's basic premise.
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