◇ Chapter 69 (69) Successfully changed, suddenly ambushed
If Eunuch Wen were here, he would definitely praise His Majesty for this great act.
Seeing Lianzhi's stubborn expression, Bai Kang knew she was determined to continue doing this. He knew he couldn't persuade her. Lianzhi would definitely sneak away again anyway, so he thought it would be better for him to follow her and please her. So he said, "You have to promise not to starve yourself. Also, if you go out again, you have to let me follow you."
"You followed?" Lianzhi blinked, her eyes full of the thought, "Do others allow you to do this?"
"You said it too, we can't finish it. We were a little careless, isn't that normal?" Bai Kang shrugged nonchalantly and slowly led him back to the post station. They bumped into Minister Du, who was supervising the militia for him. Minister Du looked at the young man beside him and thought he looked familiar. Fortunately, Lianzhi covered her face with her coat, so she was not recognized.
After returning home, Lianzhi relied on his memory to find the herbs that Princess Mu had used, mixed them one by one, and ground them into powder. Bai Kang stood behind him, watching his skillful movements and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Baby is really amazing, you've learned how to mix medicine?"
"I'm very capable." He Lianzhi said without turning her head.
"I asked you to help me prepare medicine before, but you said you couldn't." Bai Kang clicked his tongue twice.
He had deliberately pretended not to be able to learn that time. He wasn't stupid, and it was impossible for him to be so dumb that he couldn't learn even after the doctor taught him. Lianzhi glanced back, wanting Baikang to stay away and not disturb him. When she saw his hand clearly, her eyes suddenly fixed.
Bo Kang had just washed his hands, and now, looking closely, he saw several bloody scratches on them. There was no bleeding, but the marks were densely packed and still quite noticeable.
Lianzhi held Bai Kang's hand, squeezed it, and then applied the medicine powder on Bai Kang's hand.
"How did it happen? Does it hurt?"
A trace of joy flashed across Bai Kang's eyes. Lianzhi's hands were soft, and his heart softened as he grinned. "It doesn't hurt, it's just a minor injury."
Lianzhi drawled out her tone: "So it doesn't hurt. I was thinking that if you were in pain, I would help you blow on it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bo Kang cried out twice and exaggeratedly: "It hurts again, it hurts again!"
Afraid that he would let go, she took the initiative to hold Lianzhi's hand. Lianzhi glanced at him again, lowered her head and blew twice: "Are you going to shovel mud too?"
"How did you know that?" Bo Kang was shocked.
"It was scratched by a splinter, like someone used a shovel." Lianzhi blew on it again and said with satisfaction, "I applied the compress well, didn't I? It won't hurt the victim this way."
Bai Kang kept his promise and allowed Lianzhi to go out and rescue people, secretly taking him out that night. He saved a lot of food, barely enough to share with the nearby disaster victims. The victims had seen his skills, and no one dared to steal the food anymore. They all waited obediently for him to share the steamed buns.
Not to mention, this time Lianzhi brought a lot of medicine. These disaster victims had been wandering around for a long time, their bodies covered in wounds. Seeing that Lianzhi didn't despise them, helping them apply medicine and bandages and even chatting with them, many people called her a living Bodhisattva. Lianzhi smiled when she heard this, but the lower half of her face was hidden under the veil, so no one could see it.
While distributing food, he mentioned a few recent rumors circulating nearby. These disaster victims had been wandering around for a long time, so they weren't out of touch with the news. Lianzhi roughly calculated that two-thirds of them knew the rumors.
This way, things will be easier.
Lianzhi was discussing this matter with a few disaster victims when a flattering voice came from behind: "Your Excellency, Your Excellency!"
He turned around and saw the man he'd punched earlier grinning at him flatteringly. Lianzhi glanced at him but didn't answer. The man said awkwardly, "Sir, I heard that Mr. Zhao's grain truck from Qizhou County will pass by tomorrow!"
Lianzhi still didn't answer. His expression now was 50% similar to Bai Kang's when he was silent. Even the minor officials of the Ministry of Rites could be frightened, let alone a man who looked powerful but was actually weak. The man smiled awkwardly and left obediently.
"Baby, it's time to go back." Bai Kang reminded from a distance.
It would be too dangerous for the two of them to go out alone, and they would easily be discovered. Lianzhi didn't stay long. She stuffed the last steamed bun into the hands of the child beside her and quickly ran to Bo Kang. After they were a little further away, she took off her veil.
"So stuffy." Lianzhi's face flushed. The autumn air was damp and cold after the rain, and the soaked veil made it even colder. He relayed the man's words to Bo Kang: "That guy probably wants me to rob Mr. Zhao and then share the food with them."
He didn't even recognize the current officials in Qizhou, let alone Mr. Zhao. Bai Kang knew what Lianzhi wanted to ask: "Mr. Zhao is a wealthy businessman from the Zhao family business in Qizhou. I've heard of him in Rongcheng. He has a bad reputation and is a bully. Baby, we can't rob a car. No matter where the grain comes from, when we get to Qizhou, we'll tell the Qizhou prefect and let them solve it themselves."
Lianzhi had no intention of carjacking. She just wanted to help if someone overestimated their own abilities and tried to carjack a car.
"When can we leave?" Lianzhi asked.
"As long as it doesn't rain tomorrow, we can set off tomorrow afternoon," Bai Kang said confidently. Lianzhi nodded and pulled her robe closer around her. The wind was a bit strong, and it was too cold outside. Lianzhi tugged at Bai Kang's sleeve, signaling him to quicken his pace, but behind him there was a rustling sound.
The sound was unusual, not just the sound of wind.
Someone is following!
Lianzhi's face paled, and as she turned, she caught a glimpse of the hem of the fleeing figure's clothing. They weren't running fast, and Lianzhi could tell at a glance that one was the man from earlier, and the other was his companion. Bai Kang reacted even faster, quickly covering his face and holding him tightly in his arms.
Bai Kang frowned and stared into the distance, hesitating whether to chase after him.
"They should have seen it." Lianzhi patted his hands, signaling him to calm down: "It's okay, they can't beat me. Besides, I didn't say I'm not from the North Sea."
Bo Kang sighed and pulled him back. After a while, he stared at him and laughed again. Lian Zhi frowned: "What are you laughing at?"
"I think you're amazing," Bo Kang said. He was actually happy. When he first returned to the capital with him, he'd pretended he couldn't fight or ride a horse. Now he was telling him everything.
Lianzhi raised her head slightly: "Of course. Good compliment, praise it again."
The next day, the rain stopped. Judging from the weather, the downpour must have completely passed, and their journey would be much smoother. The official road had been largely cleared. Bai Kang went to discuss the afternoon's preparations, while Lianzhi stayed in the room to pack her bags. Yu Yao sat on the bed, looking around, and suddenly asked, "You just like the Shangshu of Daning."
"No. He likes me." Lianzhi quickly replied.
But she saw that Zhuzhu was not uninterested in that man. Yuyao knew that he was a bit hypocritical and said, "If you like him, you can marry him and take him back to the North Sea."
Yu Yao was impatient. Seeing that he didn't say anything, she became anxious again: "You said you returned to Daning for a reason, but you won't stay here forever, right?"
"He won't leave with me..." Lianzhi said halfway, suddenly alert, and shouted to the door: "Who?"
Outside the door, Bai Kang pushed it open and came in. Seeing Yu Yao was there, he quickly looked away and said, "It's time to go."
Outside the post station, the marriage procession was ready to depart, with more than a dozen carriages lined up in an orderly manner, and guards and officials standing quietly nearby. As Lianzhi was about to board a carriage, she suddenly noticed several familiar figures hiding behind a tree not far away.
He wasn't surprised. The two men who saw his face yesterday must have known his identity. Would their marriage party soon be the only people from the North Sea region around here? Lianzhi didn't pay much attention, but she felt something was amiss.
Looking closely, those people were indeed staring at him secretly, but they kept turning their heads to look elsewhere.
Lianzhi followed their gaze and saw a large box on the steps. The box was dirty and broken, and he thought it was something from the post station.
"Bring that box over here. Be careful." He said to the guard beside him.
The guard nodded and took two people to carry the box over. He carefully opened it and saw what was inside. His breath caught and he shouted excitedly, "Prince! Princess! There's food inside!"
Lianzhi was also stunned.
The broken wooden box was filled to the brim with dry food, enough to last them two more days. The time for departure had arrived, and the guards closed the car door and hurriedly carried the box back to report. Before leaving, Lianzhi opened the car window and glanced back. The victims had indeed left.
"Was it given to us by the owner of the inn?" asked Yu Yao opposite.
Lianzhi shook her head and was silent for a moment, then said to Arus beside her, "We have to give them the food."
These grains were most likely obtained by those disaster victims. He could understand the victims' desire to rob the car, and it would be more useful to give these grains to the disaster victims than to leave them alone.
"Why give it to us?" he asked to himself.
Even if I wanted to thank him...but, hadn't I already discovered that he was from the North Sea? Would I still be grateful to him then?
Lianzhi looked at Arus and urged him to return the grain to the victims. Although he didn't want to mention the Minister of Rites, Arus hesitated for a moment before saying, "No need for me to go. The Minister of Rites has already been dealt with."
Lianzhi was stunned: "Huh?"
Speaking of Bo Kang, Arus became sarcastic. "Just now, a few disaster victims came to deliver food. The minister saw them and has already taken people to investigate. The food was stolen from a nearby grain truck. They said you saved their lives, thank you very much. The money for the food has been paid. The people from the Ministry of Rites said they will take the disaster victims into Qizhou City."
What Arus didn't mention was that after Bai Kang apprehended the men, he inspected the grain on the spot and discovered it was from the Zhao family's own stockpile, which Mr. Zhao had intended to transport nearby and sell at a high price for a profit. Bai Kang, anxious about where to buy grain, immediately bought some and distributed some to nearby disaster victims.
Once we bring them into Qizhou City, we'll find them a place to stay.
But if he said that, wouldn't that just elevate the Minister of Rites's impression in Helian Zhulan's mind? He wouldn't say it. Seeing Lianzhi's eyes redden, probably because she was very touched, he racked his brains to think of words to comfort her, but then he remembered with frustration that he rarely spoke to Lianzhi properly.
"Why are you here?" Lianzhi looked at him aggrievedly and said loudly, "You're so annoying. Go away."
Arus was so angry that his face turned green. He sat down in a distant place with his back turned. Lianzhi secretly wiped away tears. What he didn't want to say or admit was that he actually thought, "It would be better if it was Bai Kang sitting in the car."
If Bai Kang was here, he could shed tears openly and be moved for a while. He didn't want to cry in front of anyone other than Bai Kang.
And Bo Kang will definitely comfort him.
He wiped away his tears and looked up, only to find Yuyao looking at him with a playful expression. He could tell what she was thinking at a glance. Lianzhi said unconvincedly, "If you want to marry someone from Daning for me, then you should find someone from Daning too."
When this was mentioned, the smile on Yuyao's face disappeared: "I'm not interested in Daning men."
After saying this, fearing Lianzhi would bring it up again, she immediately closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. They were expected to arrive at the official post station in Qizhou City tonight, which was still a long time away. The atmosphere in the carriage was awkward, and Lianzhi also closed her eyes for a nap. He hadn't rested well at the post station to begin with, and the carriage was more comfortable than the bed there, so he was actually feeling a bit sleepy.
Just as he was falling into a daze, he suddenly heard a whistle and the roar of the guards outside the carriage: "There's an ambush! Everyone, protect the princess and prince!"
As he finished speaking, a feathered arrow flew through the air and lodged itself deeply into the top of the carriage. The horse, startled, stopped and neighed.
"Enemy attack!"
The guards near the carriage immediately surrounded it, but they could not withstand the dense rain of arrows. Some of them broke through the siege, and some of them were nailed to the carriage. The horses were frightened and fled in panic.
A hail of arrows descended, with the North Sea Territory troops bearing the brunt of the blow. The guards at the front, too late to react, were already wounded and fell to the ground. Lianzhi and Yuyao quickly hid under the carriage, quietly listening to the noises outside.
【Author’s words】
Some babies said they still like the name Lianzhi, so I will replace the names of some of the places mentioned above tomorrow. (If two characters are missing, more content can be added.)
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