Chapter 28 An Exception
Adults can't ride in the car openly, so can't the children ride in it?
With that in mind, he went directly to find Luo Qing.
"Lord Gao, that's the Yun family's donkey cart. Those people aren't exiled convicts."
"I am not qualified to ask others to ride in an oxcart for your son."
If it were anyone else, Luo Qing would have slapped them across the face and yelled, "You wish!"
Who has the nerve to think they can take a carriage while being exiled?
How about I just let you take a horse-drawn carriage directly to Lingnan?
But the Gao family has such a powerful Qi family behind them. Maybe one day the second prince will be made crown prince and the Gao family will be pardoned.
How could a lowly escort officer possibly contend with the Empress and the Minister?
"Then talk to them. Don't they have a baby at home? Let the baby ride in the car, they won't object."
For Gao Minglang, nothing is more important than his beloved youngest son.
Luo Qing: ?
No, it's your own son who needs to ride in the car, why are you interfering with other people's children?
"Lord Gao, this isn't appropriate. Her son is an exiled criminal, and the son of the ringleader at that..."
Besides, look at those women in the Xu family; if they make a scene, it won't be fair for you to stay here, will it?"
"Luo Qing, how many years have you and your brother been in these positions?"
Gao Minglang's eyes darkened slightly. Even though he was the one being exiled, his posture made it seem as if he were the official escorting him.
Luo Qing remained silent for a long time before speaking.
"He just became the leader in the last two years."
For people like them, who come from poor families, there is no other way but to start from the lowest level of clerks and gradually climb up to this position.
Moreover, without money or connections, becoming the head of the escorting officials was probably the highest position they could ever achieve in their lives.
"Let me be frank, in a few years, the Gao family will definitely be reinstated. What do you think of the position of a yamen runner in the city patrol office?"
The exiled officials would be gone for several months at a time, enduring hardship and danger on the road, and earning only a small amount of silver.
The city patrol office was different; located in the capital, it was easier for them to come into contact with high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
Even the lowest-ranking yamen runners were vastly different in status from the escorting officials.
Nobody wants to live their whole life like this. Who wouldn't want to climb the ladder?
"Lord Gao, we will naturally cooperate with you, but we can't go too far. How about this, I'll first talk to the Yun family about this?"
"Very well, then I will await Chief Luo's reply."
Luo Qing rushed forward, and Xu Yifei instinctively shielded his sister behind him.
"I wonder what business the official has with my sister?"
"The youngest son of the Gao family has wet shoes and it's inconvenient for him to walk. He would like to borrow your oxcart for a ride. Of course, your youngest son can also ride in it."
Luo Qing said frankly.
Xu Qingyi blurted out in surprise, "Really?"
"Of course, but it's already an exception that you're letting your baby son get on the bus. Don't even think about anything else."
The implication is that it's impossible for you and your daughter to get on the bus.
"Sure! Let your little brother get in the car. Zhao Zhao is a big boy now, he can walk by himself!"
Yun Zhao patted his chest and said earnestly.
"With your uncle here, Zhao Zhao can rest assured!"
Xu Yifei lifted Yun Zhao up and showed that he was still very strong!
Seeing Yun Zhao's sensible appearance, Xu Qingyi felt a little sad, but she could only send her son to the car first.
"Okay, it's fine if my son can get on the bus!"
Having reached an agreement, Luo Qing led Madam Gao directly to the oxcart.
Lu Li stopped and looked at them with a puzzled expression, one hand already reaching for the dart hidden in his belt.
"what?"
Xu Qingyi arrived just then, carrying Yun Huaijin in her arms.
"Zhichun, come and fetch the young master!"
Upon hearing the sound, Zhichun quickly pulled back the carriage curtain. Inside, she and Zhiqiu were sewing insoles and clothes.
"Miss, what's wrong with the young master?"
She hurriedly took the young master in her arms and anxiously checked Yun Huaijin's condition.
"The official has arranged for Xiao Jin to ride in the carriage, and the young master of the Gao family will also be riding in the carriage."
Zhichun was overjoyed to hear that the young master could ride in a carriage.
"Thank you, sir! And, that young lady..."
"It's already a good thing that Xiao Jin can get on the bus. Zhi Chun, take good care of Xiao Jin!"
Worried that she might anger Luo Qing, Xu Qingyi quickly interrupted Zhichun.
Seeing Luo Qing's somewhat impatient expression, Zhi Chun hurriedly nodded.
"Yes, Miss, don't worry, we will take good care of the young master, and the young master of the Gao family as well! Don't worry!"
Gao Xi was lifted onto the oxcart, immediately kicked off his soaking wet shoes, and scurried inside.
"Hey, Xi'er, be careful!"
Madam Gao was startled and craned her neck to look inside.
"Please rest assured, Madam Gao, I will put some charcoal in the carriage now, so Young Master Gao will not catch a cold!"
Zhi Chun nodded slightly and, following Xu Qingyi's instructions, carried Yun Huaijin into the carriage.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Madam Gao was not an unreasonable person, but since this son was her youngest child, she naturally doted on him.
"Quickly draw the carriage curtain, do you want to freeze this young master to death?"
Zhi Qiu covered Gao Xi with a blanket, and Gao Xi buried his head in it, shouting loudly.
Zhichun was somewhat unhappy, but she didn't say much.
After all, it was because of this young master Gao that his young master had a chance to get on the oxcart to avoid the wind.
They're just serving a disobedient young master. The fake young lady from before is no different from this young master. They're experienced people too.
Having achieved her goal, Yun Zhao nestled comfortably in her uncle's arms.
Every now and then, he would break off a couple of pieces of jerky from his small bag, secretly stuff them into Xu Yifei's mouth, and then leisurely stuff them into his own mouth.
Xu Yinan looked at her chubby little cheeks and couldn't help but tease her.
"Zhaozhao, you're being unfair! Your eldest uncle gets dried meat, but your second uncle doesn't!"
"That's because Uncle is holding Zhaozhao. Uncle is working so hard, Uncle isn't!"
Yun Zhao smiled and tightened his purse, shaking his head as if he was only giving it to his uncle.
"Second brother, wait until you've trained well before you try to take Zhaozhao from your elder brother!"
Xu Yifei lifted Yun Zhao up and tossed her high into the air a few times, making Yun Zhao giggle.
"Alright, big brother, you wait and see. From today onwards, I'll start exercising properly!"
Watching her two younger brothers play with the child, Xu Qingyi felt a great weight lifted from her heart.
The family of several people were laughing and chatting, hardly resembling an exiled group.
If you didn't know better, you'd think they were out for a spring outing!
Wu Lianzhen's arms were almost numb from holding the child. The happier the Xu siblings were, the angrier she became.
“Husband, look, even the Gao family’s eight-year-old son has gotten on the carriage. Our Qian’er is Xu Qingyi’s own nephew, yet he can’t even get a sip of hot water!”
Xu Yiyuan's leg wound was still throbbing, which made him even more resentful.
"You think I don't want to sit there? The Gao family clearly has someone backing them up. Didn't you see how well the officials treated them?"
Madam Xu was in excruciating pain all over her body, but she couldn't bring herself to beg Xu Qingyi.
The morning was delayed for too long, and the officials were only allowed a quarter of an hour to rest at noon, not even having time to boil some hot water.
Xu Qingyi glanced at the two cars and immediately gave Zhichun some instructions.
"Zhichun, you and your men cook some hot food here, and the other car can follow first."
"Alright, Miss, what about the constable's share..."
"Prepare it. Even if you don't give us anything, you have to give us some silver. Otherwise, if the officials get upset, we'll have nothing."
Xu Qingyi was well aware of their current predicament; they had to please the officials no matter what.
"Sister, thank goodness you prepared two cars, otherwise, if the young master of the Gao family were in the car, we wouldn't have been able to split up into two groups."
Xu Yiyan sighed.
"This wasn't prepared by me; it was Zhichun and the others who did it."
As soon as Xu Qingyi finished speaking, Zhichun was also stunned.
"Miss, didn't you tell us to prepare an extra oxcart?"
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