Chapter 17 The First Night in the Wild
After a period of chaos and turmoil.
"Your Highness, the medicine is ready." Bishu personally oversaw the preparation and carried it over, steadily placing it onto the carriage.
Song Gu turned his head and saw a crowd of people packed inside and out. No matter how spacious it was, it was still just a carriage, and the horses were moving with great difficulty and slowing down.
"Everyone, disperse. Let His Highness get some fresh air." Song Gu dismissed everyone, leaving only Bi Shu, who was carrying the medicine, in the carriage. He then bowed and withdrew first.
As darkness fell, the caravan slowed its pace, anticipating that they would soon be setting up camp and preparing food. Each of the four corners of Qi Chengming's carriage was illuminated by a small bronze lantern, making the interior brightly lit; for example, he could now clearly see the weariness on Bi Shu's face.
"It's too hot, let it sit for a while before drinking." Qi Chengming took the steaming bowl, but instead of drinking the medicine immediately, he prepared to chat with Bishu about everyday things. He asked with concern, "After walking all day, did any of the people who followed fall behind? Are any of them exhausted?"
“His Highness has arranged many donkey carts and mule carts behind, so those who can’t take it can rest in shifts. Most people are just not used to traveling long distances, but that’s alright.” Bishu answered earnestly, without hiding anything or speaking euphemistically, “However, starting tomorrow… the further we go, the more people will be unable to take it.”
She has a very simple personality; she can answer any question Qi Chengming asks correctly, but she is not foolish and has a good sense of propriety.
"You're in charge of logistics, so keep a close eye on everyone these days. For minor ailments, take out the prepared medicine packets and brew medicine for them," Qi Chengming added to Bishu's instructions. "If anyone has an emergency or something that the medicine packets can't handle, just report it directly. Don't worry, the imperial physician and the doctor from my maternal grandfather's family are all here, so don't be afraid to spend money on treatment."
Knowing he was being ostracized, the young imperial physician now had no choice but to be on Qi Chengming's side.
They would be traveling long distances in the coming months, and Qi Chengming couldn't bear to see someone or a group of people fall ill while doctors on one side were overwhelmed with patients, and his own imperial physicians were left idle. Modern values might not be compatible with this era, but Qi Chengming at least wanted to subtly influence his subordinates:
He didn't want to see several people die along the way on a long journey, even if it was a common occurrence.
So, treat him!
"Yes." Bi Shu bowed her head and agreed without asking why the imperial physician had also been forced to work, nor did she offer any words of concern or advice.
Qi Chengming picked up the bowl with satisfaction and drank the medicine in one gulp.
As for the benefits of going to his fiefdom, he's already starting to reap them—
He could sense the subtle tension in the air throughout the day. In everyone's eyes, he was the most powerful; his words carried weight with them. No one openly or secretly looked down on him like they did in the palace. Even his own people, who usually kept a low profile and acted with utmost deference in the palace, were now behaving with utmost respect.
Everyone seems to have relaxed a bit now.
Freedom is such a luxury... He'll rise to the top later.
"Your Highness, please suppress the bitterness." Bishu picked up the packet of sweet chrysanthemum cakes from the small table beside her, wanting to quickly serve His Highness a piece after he finished his medicine, since there was no way to buy candied fruit right now.
"No need," Qi Chengming waved his hand, offering no explanation.
A complex, indescribable blend of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy Chinese medicine flavor surged into his throat. He didn't find it unpleasant; on the contrary, he half-closed his eyes with a sense of pleasure. His sense of taste was certainly not impaired, but he really enjoyed the faint bitterness of herbs—drinking medicine only made him feel uncomfortable for a short while, but the herbal scent he acquired could linger for a long time.
This quirk sounded too strange, so Qi Chengming never told anyone about it.
"Your Highness—" Bi Shu looked somewhat at a loss, her hand frozen in mid-air.
Before my eyes, the pale-faced boy calmly tilted his head back and drank the bitter medicine without changing his expression. He showed no discomfort or strain, and even had a faint smile on his face, as if he were reminiscing.
What is it that I miss?
Bishu wasn't a palace maid who had served the Second Prince since childhood; she had been ostracized and eventually assigned to manage the flowers and plants under the Second Prince's jurisdiction. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but have a vague guess in her mind:
The Second Prince looks too frail. Could it be because he used to drinking bitter medicine as a child...?
Just then, the carriage seemed to slowly come to a stop.
Suddenly, a head peeked in from outside the curtain. Xiao Dezi reported, "It's too dark. The commander said we won't arrive in Yichuan until early tomorrow morning. We'll have to camp by the main road tonight. He's here to ask for Your Highness's opinion."
"And the kitchen maid came to ask what His Highness wanted to eat for dinner," Xiao Dezi added with concern. "The imperial physician said it would be best to eat something light."
"Let's set up camp. No need to come in. I'll go out and talk to him." Qi Chengming stood up and got out of the carriage with a strong push. His bones were almost falling apart after sitting all day. "The conditions are simple. Have the kitchen make some congee and side dishes, but make sure there are enough."
I've heard that the imperial palace has always adhered to the principle of fasting when sick. There's some truth to this, for example, for stomach or kidney ailments. But it doesn't mean all illnesses require starvation; some types of hunger actually boost the body's immunity… Qi Chengming only knew that one needed to be well-fed to have the strength to recover. For the sake of the nobles' health, the imperial physicians would exaggerate their illnesses even when they weren't sick.
Now that he's in charge, he's not going to go hungry—not to mention he doesn't feel any discomfort from the fever at all, and he's so strong he feels like he could eat eight big steamed buns!
Qi Chengming stood on the carriage frame, gazing into the distance.
The sky was as black as ink. In those days, there was no light pollution in the night sky, and the stars shone brightly, creating a serene and beautiful scene.
Looking around, they found themselves on a desolate road in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by darkness. The only light from the lanterns of the convoy stretched out like a winding river of fire, seemingly endless.
In the darkness, Commander Mao, dressed in cloth armor, stood beside the carriage and bowed: "Your Highness, I have followed your orders and deployed sentries at various points before and after. The Imperial Guards are also encamped around the women, children, and palace servants at night. Youzi has taken a group of men hunting to give everyone a good meal."
Commander Mao was a burly man with arms as big as a horse's and a waist at least two sizes thicker than Qi Chengming's. At first glance, his intimidating presence was comparable to that of a bear. He was like a movable door, giving people a sense of security.
Among the hundred Imperial Guards assigned to Qi Chengming this time, several of them were already junior leaders of ten-man teams. They competed in two rounds and elected each other without any controversy, choosing him to lead the team.
Beneath Chairman Mao's thick beard, his expression showed great respect for the young boy before him.
This wasn't just out of approval of his future master; it was mainly because of... the words the Second Prince had instructed him before he left.
This Second Prince, who was not well-known in the palace, was actually well-versed in military strategy. He had his own unique understanding of how to march and deploy troops, how to set up sentry posts, and how to establish camps for defense. His understanding was slightly different from the system commonly used by the military, yet it was still present in some way, as if it were a new method that had been born from it.
The more Chairman Mao listened, the more he found it brilliant, and he was immediately convinced.
...No wonder he is the grandson of the Marquis of Weiyong!
"Yes, immediately arrange for people to select a location and dig a changing pit. This is also very important," Qi Chengming added without changing his expression or showing any arrogance.
He diligently studied the reward books given by the system for half a month; they weren't just for show.
Those were the essence of modern people absorbing the wisdom of their ancestors, so it was no surprise that they could subdue the commander of the Imperial Guard so easily.
Another half hour passed.
The vehicles and people behind could be vaguely seen catching up one after another. As the convoy closed in, they began to set up simple marching tents on the desolate ground, centered around the elderly, women, and children—these were hastily made by Chief Steward Song according to Qi Chengming's instructions. Outside the tents were the convoy and horses, and further out were the imperial guards taking turns on sentry duty and a dozen or so kitchen staff bustling about with fires lit.
Those resting lay or sat, and the first group of prominent figures, having caught their breath, brought their food boxes or bowls to the stove and lined up under the organization of the Imperial Guards—such as Xiao Dezi, Steward Song, and Master Huang. Conditions were extremely harsh; apart from Qi Chengming, whose meal was prepared and brought to him separately, everyone else received no special treatment and had to fetch their own food.
The aroma of rice porridge mingled with cooking smoke, wafting far above the convoy, along with the crackling scent of meat on the grill. Aunt Fang from the kitchen led everyone in quickly cooking rice and putting it in the pot, simmering several large pots of thin porridge. Eunuch Zhang tirelessly baked vegetable pancakes, and together with the roasted venison brought back by the Imperial Guards, this was tonight's dinner.
While the taste can't be guaranteed, the portion is definitely large and filling.
"...Delicious!" Qi Chengming was truly hungry. His dinner tonight consisted of specially prepared yellow rice, shredded pork and mushroom porridge, stir-fried leafy greens, and a bowl of steamed egg custard.
Although the food tasted delicious and was quickly devoured by Qi Chengming, he looked up at the group of people sitting on the ground in the distance eating and felt a little hungry again. He couldn't help but say, "You don't need to make these for me separately tomorrow... I'll just eat porridge and pancakes with everyone else."
Even the simplest palace meals were prepared with great care—when the kitchen staff dared not be careless. Qi Chengming initially enjoyed the food immensely for the first half month, trying out various dishes to his heart's content, but as the meal progressed, he began to find it increasingly bland.
His tastes were set in stone; if he didn't eat them for a while, he'd start craving his usual porridge and steamed buns. And don't forget, Wang Shuo also brought him seven or eight jars of pickled vegetables and preserved meats—it certainly wasn't simple.
He'll eat it with white porridge and fragrant wild vegetable pancakes, it'll be so delicious!
"Your Highness, that's too much...!" Xiao Dezi was somewhat shocked, but when he saw the Second Prince's gaze fall on the Imperial Guards and palace servants in the distance, he suddenly realized and automatically replied, "...Okay."
What do the local folk tales say again? "Treat the virtuous and humble with respect."
Whether His Highness wanted to further subdue these subordinates or simply wanted to eat something light because he wasn't feeling well, he simply agreed!
And so the first night passed.
Qi Chengming didn't need to sleep in a tent; he slept on a carriage covered with layers of soft bedding, which was even more comfortable than a bed. He chased away Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, who insisted on staying to keep watch: "The Imperial Guards are stationed every few steps, both openly and secretly. I don't need you to stay tonight."
"Your Highness, please let me keep it. You're still sick," Xiao Dezi pleaded, his face full of worry.
They all agreed that His Highness had been suppressed and tormented for too long, and this sudden release finally allowed him to relax, causing him to collapse and develop a high fever. Fortunately, the imperial physician said it was nothing serious, and His Highness's condition actually improved after this ordeal; his fever subsided after taking the medicine.
Xiao Dezi was afraid that His Highness would develop a fever again in the middle of the night, and he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't stay by his side.
"Then bring the curtain over," Qi Chengming suggested. There was still plenty of coarse cloth to set up the tent, so he directed Xiao Dezi to prop the curtain up on the roof of the carriage, and then tied the other end of the rope diagonally down to the empty carriage shaft, forming a simple triangular tent on the outside of the carriage frame.
Little Dezi can sleep sideways on the carriage frame as long as he brings over his bedding. Aside from having to be careful not to fall off if he rolls over too much while sleeping, he's perfectly fine.
After Xiao Dezi lay down, silence finally returned to his ears.
Qi Chengming looked at the dark ceiling of the carriage and sighed softly: "..."
He still felt a little unreal; he had just left. On the first day of the trip, all sorts of minor frictions and problems arose within the convoy, but none of them were serious. According to Commander Mao, they wouldn't arrive in Yichuan until tomorrow morning…
Qi Chengming silently calculated the distance from the capital to Yichuan in his mind.
In other words, they covered less than forty li (about 20 kilometers) on the first day, which wasn't slow for a caravan. Qi Chengming was somewhat taken aback.
We'll have to travel by water from now on.
Walking dozens of miles every day, even the healthiest person would be exhausted after a few months.
'Go to sleep.' Qi Chengming closed his eyes and silently told himself this.
I still need to get up tomorrow to estimate the route and continue thinking about how to make money.
...Is there anything they can do on the road?
A note from the author:
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When we set up camp and eat later—
Imperial Guard (constantly glancing in that direction): Is that the Second Prince? Eating communal meals with us?
The servants under his command (whispering): Is this prince really that approachable?
—He really did eat with everyone, no matter what kind of meal it was!
Qi Chengming (with a smug, unambitious smile): Burp, home-cooked meals are still the best.
Besides, didn't I give you special treatment? I had extra food! Can't you see that?
Xiao Dezi (heartbroken): A plate of stir-fried vegetable leaves and a few eggs, and that's considered an extra meal?? My Your Highness!
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