In the early morning, before the sun has fully risen, the earth gradually awakens in the gentle morning light. The air is fresh and moist, carrying the fragrance of soil, green leaves, and flowers. Taking a deep breath, one can almost feel the vitality and life of nature. A gentle breeze blows by, carrying away yesterday's dust and fatigue, bringing hope and energy for a new day.
Ling'er secretly went to Meng Zhelan's house before her family got up. Yesterday, she had already loaded all her luggage onto the carriage, prepared plenty of dry food and water bottles, and asked the village carpenter to make two covered wooden buckets, which she filled with water and placed at the back of the carriage.
Meng Zhelan bolted the door but didn't lock it; she figured she wouldn't be coming back. The three of them got into the carriage and left.
Li Xi is becoming increasingly skilled at driving the carriage. After a few trips with Uncle Liu, she's become quite adept at it. It's unbelievable that she can drive a carriage now; in her previous life, she didn't even have a driver's license. In just three or four months here, she's almost mastered all sorts of martial arts. Bows and arrows, broadswords, whips, sticks, woodcutting knives—they all seem to come alive in her hands, wielded with incredible power, as if they could move on their own.
After driving the carriage through the county town to the main road, they paid the toll. The clerk inspected the horses and carriage, and finding nothing amiss, let them pass. They galloped for about a hundred li to reach the second post station, figuring that Ling'er's father probably wouldn't catch up. The three of them stopped on a flat grassy area outside the post station to rest briefly.
Ling'er took out a simple pot, intending to cook some porridge. After eating dry rations for two hours, all three of them felt nauseous. Meng Zhelan watched the horses grazing, threw them a handful of beans to mix with their food, and checked them over; they seemed fine. The horses' condition directly affected their travel speed.
Li Xi went outside for some fresh air; there were a few houses nearby where people were resting. Only officials could stay at post stations; ordinary people could pay to travel on the official road, but they couldn't stay at post stations.
The official roads were flat, wide, and regularly maintained. Coupled with high traffic volume and checkpoints, bandits dared not act rashly, making them relatively safe. Some commoners, unwilling to spend money or for other reasons, would choose to take side roads. Over time, these side roads became ordinary roads. However, compared to the official roads, the side roads were in poorer condition, lacked regular inspection and maintenance, and were more prone to safety problems.
They now have enough money to last them a long time, so they chose to take the official route.
"Hey, did you know? I heard that General Shen is preparing to return to the capital. Ten years ago, he was ordered to defeat the Tubo and pacify the Western Xia. Now that the external threat has been eliminated, he will return to the capital to claim his credit and receive a reward," a tall, fat man said to his companion.
"Such great news has already spread throughout Jingyuan. I have to go and see what's going on in the capital this time. They'll be heading back to the capital next spring. There are still three or four months left, so I'll have plenty of time," the short, stout man laughed heartily, and the other three echoed him with smiles.
The group of people were dressed in long robes and mandarin jackets, wearing straw hats, cloth belts around their waists, and hemp shoes or cloud-patterned boots on their feet, looking every bit the merchants. Their carts were piled high with goods, so they were indeed businessmen. The men ate steamed buns with water, and perhaps thinking about the goods they were selling, they tasted the hard buns as if they were delicacies.
"You good-for-nothing! You eat a lot but do little, and you're so clumsy. I asked you to boil some water, but you knocked the whole pot over!" Steward Qian was so angry he almost fainted. This strong girl had been sold to a brokerage firm by her father. His master's family was short of people, so they sent him to buy some servants.
Seeing that this girl was tall, strong, and capable, he bought her. Who knew that after only two days she would be useless at everything, and would eat everything without leaving a trace. Her appetite was equivalent to that of five people. So he decided not to let her serve in the yard anymore, and instead took her out to run errands and deliver goods with him. She was quite strong, but she often broke things.
Back in the prefectural city, he sold her off. Was he buying a maid? He'd bought a tyrant; he couldn't even beat her. Steward Qian secretly decided.
Zhuang Yatou didn't care and let him scold her. As long as he provided food, she was fine. She couldn't stand being hungry. She was always hungry at home. Her father had sold her because he had gambling debts.
Li Xi looked at the sturdy girl and gestured to herself, noting that she was even taller than her. Weren't maids in ancient times supposed to be thin and small? This girl was as strong as a little tiger, seemingly possessing inexhaustible strength. With that kind of physique, she could easily become a martial arts master. Li Xi found this girl quite interesting and couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.
Li Xi turned her attention to the post stations. It is understood that ancient post stations were typically located along major transportation routes to ensure the rapid and convenient transmission of information and goods. Post stations were generally managed by a postmaster, usually a local landowner or official, who was responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the station and providing excellent service. The services offered by post stations included providing horses, carriages, food, and lodging to ensure that officials and soldiers could reach their destinations quickly.
If there were inns near the post station where ordinary people could stay, that would not only increase tax revenue but also make it easier for them to travel. Right now, they have to find an inn nearby to stay overnight after traveling another fifty li along the official road.
When traveling, location is very important; safety comes first. Therefore, Li Xi always wore men's clothing when she went out. The original owner of this body had an androgynous appearance, with delicate features, soft lines, and an elegant temperament, while also possessing some characteristics unique to men, such as strong facial features, powerful eyes, and well-defined muscles.
Since her parents' death, the original owner of this body had always dressed as a man when going out, which undeniably brought her considerable convenience. Li Xi's male disguise was even more convincing than the original owner's, and most people couldn't tell the difference. Her secret, of course, lay in the makeup techniques she learned in modern times, which were practically like plastic surgery.
After walking around, Li Xi returned to Meng Zhelan and the others. By then, Ling'er had prepared the meal. They ate flatbread and drank rice porridge, enjoying the beautiful scenery of nature. It felt like they were camping.
"Xi'er, do you think my father and the others will come after us?" Although she left gracefully, she was afraid that something bad might happen, and she was also afraid of causing trouble for Meng Zhelan and the others.
“What are you afraid of? By the time your dad finds out you’re missing, we’ll probably be long gone. Besides, your dad might not even want to look for you. Right now, they’re trying to get your sister married to Chen Junsheng. If you’re gone, they’ll probably be even happier,” Li Xi said.
“Yes, Ling’er, Xi’er is right. Don’t worry. Anyway, they don’t know our true identities. People have to live for themselves. Even though running away from home is unconventional, if we’re forced into a corner, do we have to jump into the fire?” Meng Zhelan said earnestly.
Hearing their words of comfort, Ling'er relaxed. She had been filled with anxiety throughout her journey, and for the first time in her seventeen years, she had mustered the courage to live for herself. Although the future was full of unknowns, she was willing to try. Many years later, Ling'er often sighed with gratitude, saying that she was fortunate to have been brave back then, which led to her current life.
After the three of them had eaten and drunk their fill, they rested in the carriage for half an hour before setting off again. A thick cushion was laid out in the middle of the carriage, and Meng Zhelan and Ling'er lay on the benches on either side, while Li Xi lay on the cushion and fell asleep soon after. When they bought this carriage, they had thought about being able to rest in it, so they specifically chose a large carriage with strong functionality, which was just right for two horses to pull together.
She hadn't been asleep for long when the sound of clashing weapons and the screeching of metal rang out from the post station, waking Li Xi with shouts. She drove the carriage into the woods and hid it, telling the two of them to stay put and not wander off.
She quietly approached the vicinity of the post station, then leaped up into the trees to hide. She feared she might have been robbed by bandits, so she dared not move about recklessly, lest she encounter reinforcements from either side, given the uncertain situation on the road.
That's how it was described in TV dramas and novels before. Now, a fierce battle is raging inside; a dozen or so men in black and a dozen or so soldiers are locked in a brutal fight. The men in black wield sharp blades, moving nimbly and attacking swiftly, while the soldiers, armed with spears and broadswords, are in well-organized formations, advancing and retreating in perfect order. In the chaos, it seems a few people have managed to escape from the inn…
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