Chapter 23: Sixth Lady Knows the Way, Prince Plans
Liu Niang changed Xiao Tao's clothes. Xiao Tao's eyelids moved and she slowly woke up, but she was so weak that she couldn't even speak.
Liu Niang originally wanted to feed Xiao Tao a few bites of sesame cake, but Ji Suxian simply slapped her hand away and broke the mung bean cake into pieces and fed them to Xiao Tao.
"Eat it yourself, don't let the child choke."
"Thank you very much, thank you very much..." Liu Niang was holding the pancake in her hand. She was very grateful in her heart, but she was still a little timid when she spoke. "Miss, I have a question. I wonder if I can ask it?"
Ji Suxian looked at Xiao Tao, who was eating in a daze in Liu Niang's arms, fed her some saliva, and gave her a look.
"ask."
"Young Master and Young Madam previously sent someone away with a map, but did they explore the way to Luzhou City?"
"Why? Do you know the way?"
Ji Suxian's voice sounded normal, but Liu Niang was panicked.
She quickly explained, "I mean no harm! I just don't know how to repay you. If you really want to go to Luzhou City, I know a road. It was trampled out by a large group of refugees trying to escape. A carriage can pass through! It hasn't been marked on the map yet, so those two might not be able to find it. Look, find the way..."
Liu Niang's voice became increasingly quiet. Ji Suxian noticed her abnormality and lowered her voice: "So, are you willing to lead us?"
"I am willing!"
Liu Niang heard the soothing tone in Ji Su's words and nodded heavily, her eyes gleaming. "Young Lady and Young Master and Young Madam are willing to save me and Xiao Tao, two humble servants. Xiao Tao and I are both deeply grateful!"
Ji Suxian did not agree directly. He called a female guest into the carriage to take care of Xiaotao, and asked Liu Niang to follow him to find Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu.
At this time, Bai Xiaoye and Lu Heying also happened to come back, both of them had some dirty mud on their bodies.
Bai Xiaoye bowed and clasped his fists towards the carriage, "Master, Madam, we haven't found any other viable way."
The two people in the carriage were playing chess and didn't say anything.
Seeing Ji Suxian and the woman who had been following them and refusing to leave, Lu Heying asked her, "What are you doing?"
When Liu Niang heard this, her hands, which were already tangled together due to nervousness, clenched even tighter.
Ji Suxian rolled her eyes and said, "Go away. This is Liu Niang. She knows the way and can take us to Luzhou City."
In the carriage, the white chess piece in Shang Yuwan's hand stopped in mid-air.
Her heart moved, her eyes shifted a little to the left, and she tilted her head slightly, "You two should go and pack up first and rest for a while."
Xiao Qingxu smiled lightly and said nothing.
Lu Heying and Bai Xiaoye looked at each other, said goodbye in unison and left.
Shang Yuwan put down the white chess pieces and got off the carriage. She was wearing a light green long dress and her eyes were as calm as water, which made Liu Niang, who was becoming increasingly nervous, gradually relax.
But the first sentence Shang Yuwan said made her face change drastically.
"You've been following us for so long, with no clear identity or purpose. If it weren't for my little sister's compassion for you, would you really think I'm a good person?"
Liu Niang's heart sank suddenly. She knelt down with a thud, slamming her head down hard. "I have no ill intentions! I can't do anything! Xiao Tao has had a fever for several days. If she doesn't get treatment, she will die!"
Shang Yuwan stood straight, her gaze fixed on the kneeling Liu Niang, her chin not lowered at all. Her expression wasn't murderous, but it wasn't friendly either. She looked at Liu Niang as if she were a weed.
The noise was quite loud, but everyone else ignored it. Those who were not full continued to eat, and those who were cleaning up were still cleaning up.
Xiao Qingxu's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, seemingly lost in thought. He crossed his legs, his hands resting on his knees, his right hand, resting on top, tapping it occasionally.
Ji Suxian didn't speak up to defend Liu Niang. She leaned against the side of the carriage, thinking to herself, "The material of this dress...it seems like it can't be worn again after washing." Never mind, she'll see if she can buy another set once she gets to the city. It doesn't matter if the material is a little worse. She didn't bring many clothes with her this time.
Shang Yuwan said indifferently: "Why did you decide to follow us?"
Liu Niang's whole body was shaking, and her words were not very steady: "Xiao Tao's body can't hold on any longer. If I don't take a gamble, Xiao Tao will die!"
Liu Niang looked around, "Young Madam, when Madam saw that I stopped the carriage and didn't send anyone to step over me, I guessed that Young Madam is a kind-hearted lady, so, so I..."
Liu Niang was so panicked that she couldn't speak. Suddenly she fell silent, knelt on the ground with her head bowed, and trembled.
Shang Yuwan still stared down at her, and a cool breeze blew through her hair.
She finally spoke, her tone softening: "So that's how it is, Liu Niang, please get up quickly."
As he spoke, Shang Yuwan seemed to take off his disguise, with a gentle and compassionate look on his face. He bent down and helped Liu Niang up. Seeing this, Ji Suxian also stepped forward to help her.
Liu Niang was still trembling, and she mustered up the courage to secretly glance at Shang Yuwan's face.
"Don't be afraid, Liu Niang. We are not violent villains." Shang Yuwan smiled softly, with some helplessness, and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the mud on Liu Niang's face.
"We're here to find our family. Although my husband is sick, he's worried about me traveling so far alone, so he's come with me. There are so many refugees in and around Luzhou City, and I'm afraid... That's why I had to resort to this desperate measure and test you."
Xiao Qingxu in the carriage: "......"
Ji Suxian: “…”
Her sister-in-law is indeed a powerful person. No wonder Brother Xiao likes her so much that he wants to give his life to her - although it is not a good life.
Liu Niang's eyes were stunned. After being hit hard by Shang Yuwan, she immediately became tender and affectionate, and obviously did not react.
Shang Yuwan bowed to her and said, "I may be a little shameless, but I still hope that Liu Niang won't mind."
Liu Niang was startled and waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, no, no! It's my fault! Young Madam, there's no need to do this!"
Shang Yuwan first smiled apologetically, then asked cautiously, "Then, Liu Niang, are you still willing to take us to Luzhou City?"
"Yes! I am willing!"
Liu Niang seemed to have fallen from the sky to the ground in a few breaths, and then she turned around several times on the ground before she could barely stand still, but she did not forget what she had to do.
"Miss and Madam saved me and Xiaotao. As long as I can be of any use, I will do my best!"
"Really?" Shang Yuwan's eyes lit up and she excitedly shook Liu Niang's hand. "Thank you so much, Liu Niang!"
"Ah, yes, I will help Madam go to Luzhou City!"
Liu Niang felt a pair of warm hands tightly holding the palms and backs of her hands, and two blushes appeared on her face for a moment.
Shang Yuwan reacted and quickly let go, "Sorry, I get a little excited easily."
Liu Niang waved her hands repeatedly, "It's okay, it's okay, the young lady is a good person, Liu Niang knows it!"
"It's getting late now. Why don't you go see Xiao Tao first, Liu Niang? We'll set off tomorrow."
Shang Yuwan was very understanding: "My family has disappeared since the flood in Luzhou City began. Although I am anxious, I also understand Liu Niang's concern for Xiao Tao. It won't be too late for us to set off tomorrow."
When Liu Niang heard this, she felt even more grateful. "Then, I'll go see Gu Xiaotao first. Tomorrow, I'll take the young lady by the fastest route!"
"Okay, then I won't bother you any more. Little sister, take Liu Niang to change her clothes..."
Shang Yuwan tricked Liu Niang away, and the expression on his face slowly returned to his usual calm state.
She got into the carriage and continued her chess game with Xiao Qingxu.
"You doubt her?"
Shang Yuwan responded calmly, "Don't you doubt her too? Her hands are rough and have thick calluses, but they're not from practicing martial arts, they're from years of hard work."
Xiao Qingxu put down a black chess piece and asked, "Who do you think it will be?"
"Who else but him could play it so convolutedly?"
Shang Yuwan was initially unaware of the appearance of Liu Niang. She thought she was just a poor person who was desperate for her child. It was only when Ji Suxian brought her over and said that she could help them go to Luzhou City that she became suspicious.
After Shang Yuwan put down the white chess piece, he supported his chin with his left hand, picked up another white chess piece from the chess pot with his right hand and played with it in his hand.
"Our Crown Prince is quite good at having fun."
"How do you say that?"
Xiao Qingxu raised his hand and put down the black chess piece, and Shang Yuwan followed closely behind and was not at a disadvantage.
"He thought we were righteous knights trying to redress the Shang family's case, so he secretly sent a refugee with a child to test us. If we rescued him, it would mean we cared about the people, which would be a flaw."
Shang Yuwan's eyes gradually turned cold. "There are more refugees in Luzhou City than just Liu Niang and Xiao Tao."
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