Chapter 141 This family is really good at having children!
Dust billowed along the official road as a carriage slowly moved forward.
The coachman cracked his whip, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the roadside, and suddenly grinned.
Not far away on the road, a man was carrying a child on his back with a coarse cloth on his back, tightly holding a four or five-year-old child in his right arm, and holding the hand of a thin, pale girl of about ten years old in his left hand, as he struggled to walk.
Not far in front of the man, a tall woman rode a fine horse with a girl sitting on its back.
The driver couldn't help but joke, "This family is really good at having children!"
Upon hearing this, the maid Xiaochun immediately lifted the carriage curtain with great interest and looked in the direction the coachman was looking.
Seeing the man's disheveled appearance, she turned to the car and said, "Miss, look! That man is carrying several children on his back and in his arms. He looks so pitiful!"
Upon hearing this, the young lady inside the carriage slowly straightened up from the soft couch.
She wore a purple ruqun embroidered with Suzhou embroidery, the hem of which was embroidered with lifelike butterfly and peony patterns.
A filigree and jeweled gold hairpin was inserted diagonally into her jet-black hair bun, with delicate pearl tassels hanging down her temples, swaying gently with her movements, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.
Her fox-like eyes were slightly upturned, and her eyebrows and eyes carried a natural gentleness. Her every move exuded a unique charm.
She leaned closer to the car, casually lifting a corner of the curtain with her fingertips, and following Xiaochun's pointing finger, glanced at the "family" on the roadside.
After seeing it clearly, a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I think she deserves it! She didn't have the ability to raise them, yet she had so many. She's just asking for trouble!"
Xiaochun's tone carried a hint of sympathy, "But the children suffer so much, they're all so thin, like little kittens, it's so pitiful to see them..."
Xue Nanzhi said impatiently, "We live in a chaotic world, and there are plenty of pitiful people. Who are we to be so kind to? Making money is the most important thing. Let's hurry on our way, or we'll run out of time."
She was about to look away, but as the distance closed, she suddenly sensed something was amiss.
Although the woman on horseback was dressed in coarse cloth and tight-fitting clothes, she sat high on the horse's back with her back straight, and her whole body was surrounded by a cold pressure that kept strangers away, which was definitely not the kind of person an ordinary farm woman would have.
The man on the ground, though disheveled, moved with a steady and powerful motion when he lifted his arm to hold the child, and his eyes swept over the carriage with a sharp, wary look, clearly indicating that he was no ordinary refugee.
More importantly, there was no intimacy between the two as husband and wife; instead, they seemed more like... master and servant.
With a slight thought, she called out to the driver as the carriage approached them, "Stop the carriage!"
Upon hearing the sound, the coachman reined in the carriage, which came to a steady stop by the roadside.
Xue Nanzhi leaned lazily against the window frame, her elbows propped on a soft cushion. Her fox-like eyes swept over Chen Yanqing and Li Yuanzhao with a smile, her tone warm as if she were meeting an old acquaintance.
"Young man, where are you headed with your family?"
Chen Yanqing had become more vigilant as soon as the carriage approached.
At this time, Weizhou was in dire straits, with refugees besieging the city outside and food shortages rampant inside.
The wealthy families outside the city had already fled south in terror, dragging their entire households along, not even bothering to take much of their valuables...
The carriage traveled slowly along the official road, without any guards or showing any sign of panic. Instead, it exuded a sense of composure and fearlessness.
Aren't you afraid of being robbed by disaster victims?
He glanced at Li Yuanzhao before answering, "To Weizhou."
"What a coincidence?" Xue Nanzhi's eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly, the pearl tassels at her temples swaying gently with her movements. "We're also heading to Weizhou! If you don't mind, why don't you get in the carriage and travel with us? It'll save you some walking."
Seemingly hesitant, she added, "Seeing you taking care of so many children, it must be very tiring for you. It's just a small favor."
Chen Yanqing glanced at Li Yuanzhao again, and seeing her tacit approval, he no longer hesitated, bowed and thanked her, saying, "Then I will respectfully accept your offer. Thank you for your kindness, Miss."
Although Xiaochun was puzzled as to why her young mistress was suddenly so enthusiastic towards these people, she was also secretly delighted and quickly jumped out of the car to take the child from Chen Yanqing's arms.
Chen Yanqing tied the horse to the back of the carriage before boarding it with Li Yuanzhao.
He froze as soon as he stepped into the carriage.
The carriage looked simple and unadorned from the outside, but the interior was surprisingly spacious. Even with the addition of six people, it did not feel crowded at all, and people could even move around comfortably.
It's almost as grand as the princess's imperial carriage.
After boarding the train, Li Yuanzhao casually sat on a cushion in the corner, his gaze subtly sweeping across the entire carriage.
The cart floor is made of rare South Sea rosewood, and the floor is covered with a Persian cashmere carpet.
These two items alone are worth a fortune.
Then look at the pure white jade cat that the young lady is holding. It is rare and precious, and not something that ordinary wealthy families can afford.
He's no ordinary person.
Xue Nanzhi was also secretly observing the two of them. The woman remained silent, yet she exuded an aura of authority that only someone who had long held a high position could possess.
This made her even more certain that the two people were definitely not ordinary people.
In the center of the carriage was a small pear wood tea table with several plates of fruit and snacks, as well as a pot of steaming tea.
The children had never seen such exquisite food before. Their eyes lit up instantly, and they stared at it timidly, not daring to approach.
Xiaochun loves children, and upon seeing this, she immediately smiled and waved, "Come here, children, come to your sister, and I'll peel some grapes for you."
Xue Nanzhi did not stop them, but simply picked up the white porcelain teapot on the table and poured a cup of hot tea for Chen Yanqing and Li Yuanzhao.
The tea soup is clear and has a faint aroma; it is a top-quality pre-rain Longjing tea.
She pushed the teacup in front of Chen Yanqing and said with a smile, "Young man, you are so young, yet you have so many children. It's really amazing."
"Miss, you've misunderstood," Chen Yanqing quickly explained. "These children are orphans we found on the road."
"Found them on the road?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xue Nanzhi's eyes. "Young man, you are truly kind-hearted. In this day and age, it's good enough if you can take care of yourself, but you are willing to take in these helpless children. You are truly remarkable."
Chen Yanqing was a little embarrassed, "Miss, you flatter me."
If Li Yuanzhao hadn't asked him to take him along, how would he have dared to act on his own?
Xue Nanzhi then asked, "May I ask how the young master is addressed?"
"My surname is Chen, and my given name is Yanqing."
“Chen Yanqing…” Xue Nanzhi repeated softly, her smile deepening, “What an elegant name.”
Chen Yanqing politely replied, "May I ask how you are addressed, Miss?"
Xue Nanzhi picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly said, "My surname is Xue, and my given name is Nanzhi."
When Li Yuanzhao heard the name, he glanced at her, then turned to Chen Yanqing beside him, a barely perceptible sneer flashing in his eyes.
Chen Yanqing felt that the name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.
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