Gu Qinlan awoke in excruciating pain; she had never experienced such intense agony before.
If she hadn't been biting a handkerchief in her mouth, she would have burst into tears.
The pain was so intense that it was unbearable.
Fuyu and Hongye watched her sweating profusely, their hearts aching with tears streaming down their faces, wishing they could share her pain.
Luo Feng then said from the side, "Madam, there is a medicinal herb that can put you into a deep sleep. Would you like to take it? However, this herb is extracted from a highly poisonous flower. Although it can temporarily relieve the pain, it will cause some damage to the body."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlan shook her head slightly, her expression revealing deep worry.
Although they have temporarily escaped danger, no one can predict what the future holds. If the refugees were to track her down while she is asleep, she worries that no one in the Zheng family would be able to uphold the dynasty.
And let's not forget what Luo Feng once mentioned: the damage that drug does to the body should not be underestimated; its severity is evident.
Luo Feng knew her concerns, so he comforted her, "Madam, you must grit your teeth and persevere. This pain will take at least two days to ease slightly."
Gu Qinlan's face was pale, but she nodded resolutely, enduring the excruciating pain with all her might.
The time spent enduring the pain seemed exceptionally long, and Gu Qinlan didn't know how she managed to get through it.
Fortunately, no refugees came to disturb them during these two days.
Zheng Huiyi and Zheng Huaiyu did not disappoint her. They arranged the chaotic servants in an orderly manner and made a meticulous plan for the distribution of food.
During this time, Princess Duan and Lady Liang stayed by Gu Qinlan's side. Seeing her in such terrible pain, the two couldn't help but burst into tears and cried uncontrollably many times.
On the third day, Gu Qinlan felt that the pain in her ankle had lessened.
Although she was still in pain, it no longer made her feel like she was going to faint.
After the pain subsided, Gu Qinlan immediately summoned Sang Qian, "We've been in the valley for several days now. Have you thoroughly explored the surrounding environment?"
Sang Qian nodded in response: "Behind this valley is a sheer cliff tens of feet high, steep and precipitous. Unless one has wings, it is impossible to climb up from the back of the mountain. You, Madam, have personally experienced the terrain in front of the valley and know how treacherous it is. The entrance is narrow, less than a foot wide. As long as we set up checkpoints at the entrance and lay some traps and weapons, it will be almost impossible for those refugees to break in."
Gu Qinlan finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Then these defensive measures will be arranged by you, and the servants in the manor will all obey your command."
Sang Qian clasped his hands in acceptance of the order: "Your subordinate will do his utmost to defend the valley and ensure that no one in the Prince Duan's residence is injured or killed."
Gu Qinlan told him to go about his business, and then summoned Zheng Huiyi and Zheng Huaiyu.
They had been busy for the past two days. Although the valley provided safe shelter, the living conditions were indeed harsh, and both of them were covered in dust.
Gu Qinlan gently brushed the dust off their heads and asked softly, "We don't yet know how long we'll need to hide in the valley. It might be just three to five days, or it could be several months. Therefore, we must be prepared for a long-term stay. What are your plans?"
Zheng Huaiyu pondered for a moment and said, "Mother, I think if we want to make long-term plans, it would be best to have the servants build some simple huts outside the cave. Although the cave can accommodate many people, it is not convenient enough."
Zheng Huiyi pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "Regarding food supplies, we brought about four thousand catties of grain. It sounds like a considerable amount, but in reality, this grain can only sustain us for two or three months. Not to mention, we currently have nothing but grain; we haven't even brought oil, salt, soy sauce, or vinegar. We might be able to manage in the short term, but if this continues, we will inevitably face difficulties. Therefore, I am considering cultivating a few vegetable plots in this valley to grow vegetables to alleviate our immediate needs. At the same time, it would be best if someone could risk going down the mountain to explore the nearby prefectures or towns to see if we could purchase some oil, salt, and necessary warm clothing and bedding."
It was early winter, and the temperature in the mountains was getting colder.
The clothes they wore when they fled were barely enough to keep them warm, but as the weather grew colder, without enough warm clothing and blankets, they obviously couldn't last long.
Gu Qinlan smiled with satisfaction: "What you are considering is indeed a problem that we urgently need to solve. However, the situation outside is still unclear. Sending someone to buy oil and salt might be able to conceal our whereabouts, but buying clothes and bedding would be too conspicuous."
"Therefore, we can only rely on the resources in the mountains for warm clothing and bedding."
Upon hearing this, the two women, who came from wealthy families, looked puzzled. "Relying on the resources in the mountains?"
How can these things provide warmth in this valley full of trees and weeds?
Gu Qinlan explained, "There are countless trees in the mountains. After these trees are cut down and dried, they can be used as fuel to start a fire and keep warm. In addition to trees, many wild animals also live in the mountains, and their fur is the best material for keeping warm."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes lit up: "That's right, their fur can keep them warm, and their meat can also be used as food."
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly: "That's right. After Sang Qian completes the defensive deployment, we'll have him lead everyone deep into the mountains to hunt."
"In addition, the water source issue cannot be ignored. With so many of us, the drinking water supply is of paramount importance."
Zheng Huaiyu interjected, "There is a water source in the valley, but the water volume is limited. Perhaps we can try digging a well."
Gu Qinlan nodded in agreement: "Then we will immediately arrange for people to begin digging a well."
Seeing that Gu Qinlan looked a little tired, Zheng Huiyi said with concern, "Sister-in-law, you should rest well first. Leave these matters to me and Huaiyu. My aunt and the two cousins-in-law have accumulated a lot of experience in farming and land reclamation. If we encounter any difficulties in the process, we will definitely ask them for advice."
During their years of exile, the Jiang family endured hardships and accumulated a wealth of survival wisdom.
Over the past few days, they have provided the Zheng family with many valuable suggestions and resolved a number of thorny issues.
Gu Qinlan intended to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to further train the two of them, so she simply let go and allowed them to take full responsibility for these tedious tasks.
She lay peacefully in the cave, recuperating for several days. Under Luo Feng's meticulous care, Gu Qinlan's sprain recovered remarkably quickly, and just ten days later, she was able to move freely in the cave with the help of crutches.
In the span of ten days, the valley underwent tremendous changes.
Outside the cave, two rows of sturdy sheds were erected one after another. The sheds were sturdy, durable and exceptionally thick. The servants of the mansion moved into these sheds one after another.
Inside the valley, two vast vegetable plots, each covering an area of two acres, have been cleared out and planted with various vegetable seeds purchased from farmers at the foot of the mountain.
A well was also successfully dug. Although the well opening was small and the water quality was not abundant, it was enough to meet their daily drinking needs if used sparingly.
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