After finishing her meal, Yun Qingluo took her medicine, went to the restroom, and then went back to sleep.
Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon.
After lying in bed for two days, Yun Qingluo finally felt better.
These past two days, seeing that Yun Qingluo was listless, Yun Ziheng and Yun Ziyu made some little things to cheer her up, and even rode their horses to a distant town to buy her hot roasted chestnuts.
Moreover, her roasted chestnuts are shell-less.
Mo Beichen peeled the fruit and placed it on a small plate for her to eat, and Yun Qingluo was happy to be fed.
On the third day, Yun Qingluo finally recovered completely. Although she felt weak, she looked to be in good spirits.
But heavens beheld them, and a heavy snow began to fall outside.
Yun Qingluo had planned to go horseback riding to relax these past two days, but the heavy snow ruined her plans.
The snow kept falling, the snowflakes fluttering down like goose feathers, and soon the guards outside looked like snowmen.
When the carriage stopped, Yun Qingluo found a sheltered spot and brewed a large pot of ginger soup to warm everyone up and ward off the cold.
Yun Qingluo, wrapped in a cloak, sat by the fire drinking ginger soup, while Mo Beichen watched her from the side.
Those intense gazes were impossible to ignore. Yun Qingluo raised her eyes and said coquettishly, "Why are you always staring at me? Aren't you tired of looking?"
Mo Beichen's eyes were full of affection, "How could I ever get tired of looking at you?"
Yun Qinglu rolled her eyes at him. "Tone it down."
Mo Feng reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the snow is getting heavier. There's a village to our right. Should we rest here for a while?"
Mo Beichen looked at the snow outside the cave, which was as thick as fog, making it impossible to see into the distance. He nodded in agreement.
Mo Feng went down to make arrangements, and after drinking the ginger soup, the group set off again.
Not far along, a small village came into view, and the familiar atmosphere of daily life made Yun Qingluo feel very welcome.
At the village entrance, two men stood guard. Seeing the approaching carriage and guards, they became more vigilant.
"Who are you, and what brings you to our remote mountain village?" a man holding a hoe asked warily.
Mo Feng stepped forward to explain his reasons, but was refused. "You'd better leave quickly, we have nowhere to stay here."
Mo Feng took out ten taels of silver and handed it over. A hint of hesitation flashed in the eyes of the two men, but they still refused.
Seeing that they were unmoved by his words, Mo Feng had no choice but to report back to Mo Beichen.
The two stepped out of the carriage, and Yun Qingluo stepped forward in a good-natured tone and said gently, "Brothers, my husband and I are heading south to visit relatives, but we have encountered a blizzard. Please take us in for a few days. We will leave as soon as the snow stops."
The two men still disagreed, which puzzled Yun Qingluo. Just then, an old man came over, and the two men respectfully called him the village chief.
Seeing that Mo Beichen and Yun Qingluo were dressed in ways that clearly distinguished them from ordinary people, the village chief sighed and said, "Young master, madam, it's not that we're unwilling to take you in, but to be honest, bandits will be coming to our village in the next few days. You'd better leave quickly."
Yun Qingluo and Mo Beichen exchanged a glance. Mo Beichen asked in a low voice, "The county government office is fifteen miles away. Why don't you go there to report the case?"
Before the village chief could speak, a man said with disgust, "They're all in cahoots. The bandits come into the village but don't kill anyone; they just rob people of food and money. The government doesn't care at all."
Mo Beichen's face turned cold, and the temperature around him plummeted. The three people opposite him glanced at Mo Beichen in alarm.
Yun Qingluo tugged at Mo Beichen's hand, and Mo Beichen concealed his aura. Yun Qingluo asked curiously, "Then why don't you take your belongings and leave this place to seek refuge elsewhere?"
"Madam is joking. In this cold weather, the village is mostly inhabited by the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled. The world is vast, but there is nowhere for us to stay. Moreover, even if we were to leave, the authorities would arrest us and bring us back, warning us never to leave the village again."
Mo Yu gritted his teeth, "What a corrupt official! He eats and drinks the people's food, but does nothing right. I'll go and chop him up."
Mo Feng pulled Mo Yu back, "Don't be impulsive, don't cause trouble for the young master."
Yun Qingluo looked up at the village chief and said, "Village chief, we've taken care of this matter. Please give us a place to stay."
The village chief sighed, "Why are you doing this? The bandits won't show any mercy to outsiders. You'd better leave quickly."
Looking at the village chief, who seemed to care about them, Yun Qingluo thought of the village she had lived in as a child and couldn't help but sigh.
If the village's food and money are stolen, how will they survive the harsh winter? People will surely die.
"Village Chief, he is the current Regent, so you can rest assured." Yun Qingluo revealed Mo Beichen's identity. The snow was so heavy that it was making her uncomfortable; she wanted to go inside.
"What? The Regent? I heard that the Regent went to the southwest to provide disaster relief with an imperial edict. Could you be the Regent and his wife?" The village chief was still somewhat incredulous.
Mo Feng took out the Regent's waist token, and the three of them hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.
Yun Qingluo stopped him, saying, "No need for formalities. It's just that we can't reveal our identities for the time being. We hope the village chief and the two elder brothers can understand."
"Yes, yes, we understand, young master, madam, please come in." The village chief said tremblingly, then turned to the two men and said something, after which the two men turned and left.
The village chief led them to a courtyard and said, "The people who lived here were killed by bandits last year because they refused to hand over their grain rations. This courtyard has been abandoned ever since, but it is quiet. Please rest here, young master and teacher. It has been cleaned up."
Yun Qingluo nodded her thanks, "Thank you for your trouble, Village Chief."
Mo Beichen glanced at Mo Feng, who understood and led the village chief out.
Seeing Mo Feng talking to the village chief outside, Yun Qingluo pushed Mo Beichen inside.
The two older brothers followed behind, without saying a word.
He didn't speak until they entered the room, "Luo Luo, why did you deliberately reveal the prince's identity?"
Yun Qingluo looked around the room, looked at the clean bedding and furnishings, nodded in satisfaction, and casually said:
“Two forces have been following us all the way. Now we’ve moved into this village where bandits could attack at any time. Brother, do you think those people will remain indifferent?”
"You mean they'll infiltrate the bandits and take advantage of the chaos to assassinate us?" Yun Ziheng sat down at the table.
Yun Qingluo nodded, "They haven't been able to find an opportunity to make a move, but now that the opportunity is right in front of them, it would be strange if they didn't take it."
Mo Beichen looked at Yun Qingluo with appreciation, his eyes gentle. "Luoluo is right. It's been snowing heavily these past few days. We'll have to stay here and take this opportunity to get rid of them. Once the snow stops, we need to speed up our journey."
These past two days, apart from resting at the dilapidated temple, they have been traveling day and night. Every day they delay, the people there will suffer for another day.
Yun Qingluo knew that Mo Beichen was anxious. In his previous life, he only had her and the people in his life. He was worthy of everyone. It was she who was sorry to him.
Knowing that Mo Beichen had something to discuss with his elder brothers, Yun Qingluo took Mo Feng and Mo Yu to the kitchen next door to cook.
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