Shen Zhiheng was very familiar with this place. The most important ability for a general leading troops into battle is to grasp the terrain, and he had been here twice before.
After the two slipped inside the wall, Shen Zhiheng pointed in a direction and then crouched down to let Shen Xingmian climb up.
They're truly family; even her mother is worried that she might get tired.
There was no time to dawdle, so Shen Xingmian decisively climbed onto her grandfather's back and immediately experienced the grandeur of a great general—his movements were exceptionally swift and silent.
They headed straight in one direction, and when they arrived, Shen Xingmian discovered that the horses kept there were all plump and strong.
No wonder my grandfather came straight here. For military generals, horses are not only a means of transportation, but also an important strategic resource. You can never have too many.
She dismounted from her grandfather's back, as light as a little butterfly, fluttering past without leaving a single horse behind.
Shen Zhiheng watched from behind, extremely satisfied, and nodded happily.
These horses all have owners; they are usually kept here, and only during hunting season are they sent to those nobles.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they are all top-quality products, after all, they were carefully selected from the entire Lin Yue region, and some were even obtained through trade with foreign countries.
Shen Zhiheng was much happier looking at the horses than at the gold and silver.
Of course, he didn't look down on gold and silver at all, after all, the soldiers' food and clothing depended entirely on them.
However, compared to these animals, he preferred those with intelligence that could fight alongside them.
After acquiring dozens of horses, they immediately went to the adjacent pen.
They keep large animals like deer and sheep here, which are not aggressive at all, so they can be released into the forest later to give those lazy young masters a boost of confidence.
Shen Xingmian didn't stand on ceremony and put them all into her spatial storage.
These animals smell absolutely amazing when roasted, especially since they're all-natural, sprinkled with cumin, chili powder, and salt...
Ouch—it reminds me of the feeling of having my butt burned today.
Slurp.
Shen Xingmian had expected to see ferocious beasts like tigers and lions, but after looking around, he found that there were none at all, not even wolves.
These people are really cautious; they're practically cowards.
Shen Xingmian was finally satisfied after taking all the small animals like foxes, rabbits, and pheasants into her space, and also taking away quite a few unused tents.
Well, this trip wasn't a waste of time, and my legs didn't hurt for nothing.
The two finally went to the tent prepared for the emperor. The tents used by everyone else could be folded up, but the emperor's tent was luxurious and exquisite, and it was inconvenient to fold up. Instead, it had to be cleaned every day, just waiting for the emperor to visit him once a year.
The two went inside and looked around. They saw many luxurious ornaments and put them all, along with the tents, into their spatial storage.
When she finally left, Shen Xingmian was surprised to find that apart from the few rooms that were still occupied, there was nothing left.
Those people are just working people, and it's not easy for them to earn money. Let's just let them off the hook for taking advantage of us.
Nodding in satisfaction, she released the horse and strolled back with her grandfather. Worried that she might feel unwell, Shen Zhiheng deliberately slowed down.
Bathed in moonlight and the night breeze, the two enjoyed this rare moment of relaxation and freedom.
"Grandpa, do you still want to lead troops into battle in the future?"
The supernatural water has a very powerful restorative effect on the body. With her around, Grandpa will definitely live a long and healthy life. It's good to have some aspirations.
"Thanks to our Mian'er, Grandpa's old bones are now strong enough to take down a bear with his bare hands, and he has no problem leading troops into battle."
When my energy wanes in the future, I'll teach the younger generation in the family, so that more leaders and generals will emerge in our family, and that our family's illustrious name won't be wasted."
Shen Xingmian nodded in agreement. People from military families are very honorable and love the frontier and the battlefield. It would be a waste of their talents to make them hide in the mountains and farm.
Since that's what Grandpa thinks, then...
"Grandpa, I plan to wait until we're far away from Beijing, and my eldest uncle and cousin have recovered. Then we'll just run away. Anyway, these locks can't hold us back. The sky is high and the sea is wide; we can go wherever we want."
"Well... what do you think? Should we bring the eldest grandson of the emperor along?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Zhiheng decisively said, "Yes, I will. I already felt regretful and guilty for not being able to save the Crown Prince back then. If I can't even save the eldest grandson of the Emperor, then what use is my life?"
“Mian’er, these things should be planned by us adults, not by you, a child. But this time, the lives of the whole family were saved by you. Your grandfather is very grateful and also feels sorry for you.”
Shen Xingmian immediately shook her head and said, "Grandpa, what are you saying? Doesn't the life of the whole family count as mine? You have raised and cared for me for so many years, it is only right and my own choice to do these things."
As long as you are all well, I'm happy.
The grandfather and grandson were riding leisurely through the open fields, enjoying a rare moment of peace and tranquility, until Shen Xingmian heard a series of "gurgling" sounds.
She looked in the direction of the sound and realized it was her grandfather's stomach growling. Only then did she realize that she hadn't given him dinner yet.
Ugh, she's really something!
"Grandpa, let's have a barbecue here while we're still far away so no one can smell it. I'll also make some small pieces of jerky for you to put in your pocket so you can sneak a bite if you get hungry during the day. My dear grandpa, we can't let you go hungry again!"
Shen Xingmian herself is still a child, but her tone is full of doting affection for children, which makes Shen Zhiheng blush.
"You little brat, you're making fun of your grandpa! You deserve a beating!"
Although he said he was "asking for a beating," Shen Zhiheng's face was full of happiness. He never dreamed this day would come.
He has quite a few grandchildren, but the one he loves the most and worries about the most is his little granddaughter who lives entirely in her own world.
She was the child of his most beloved youngest daughter, and given the circumstances, he couldn't help but give her even more favoritism.
But he never imagined that one day, this favoritism would return to him.
Seeing his granddaughter's closeness to him and his family after she woke up, and the series of measures he took to turn the tide, he felt that this moment was probably the most fulfilling moment of his life.
Shen Xingmian was unaware of her grandfather's inner feelings, but she knew that he couldn't let people go hungry any longer, so she quickly took out all sorts of delicacies she had scavenged in the capital and placed them on the newly laid-out tablecloth.
The windproof camping lamp was hung on the tree branch overhead, swaying slightly in the wind from time to time. The warm yellow halo gave this small world a sense of security, as if it were isolated and enveloped.
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