Chapter 80 The Cold of the Capital...
When Ning Lu encountered the ambush before even leaving Changzhou, she had no idea how dangerous the journey would be.
On her journey north to the capital, which took half a month, she encountered three assassination attempts. Only then did she realize how special this person's physique was, and how many people wished to kill him.
In contrast, Xie Qinghe, the one who was assassinated, had a calm and serene expression, knowing that he had witnessed countless such situations in his life.
Her admiration for him went far beyond mere respect.
Most of the time, she only needed to sit patiently with Xie Qinghe in the carriage and wait for things to turn out well.
Only once, when the other side had a large and powerful force, Ning showed up to help, but as soon as they exchanged blows, the other side revealed their names.
Only then did we realize that although Liu Yunying rarely revealed her true face in the martial arts world, her skills and techniques were renowned throughout the land.
Upon reflection, she was shocked to realize that the original owner of this body had also targeted him for assassination not long ago. Ning Lu, who was usually excellent at separating her thoughts from her own, couldn't help but feel a strange sense of guilt.
Dozens of miles from the capital, Ning Lu and Wei Zhan repelled another group of bandits.
Frustrated and annoyed, he muttered to himself, "Even right under the nose of the capital, it's not exactly safe!"
He squatted by the river to wash his hands, then ordered his servants to help him fetch water, boil it, and brew the medicine.
After nearly half a year in Jiangguo, she was finally able to fully adapt to life in this era. She also gradually came to accept that, occasionally, when a crisis was brewing, she would be at a loss and accidentally injure or kill someone while trying to save herself or others.
It's strange, I originally thought it would take me a long time to overcome such a huge psychological barrier.
Unexpectedly, it only lasted a moment.
All it takes is a cold blade aimed directly at the beloved.
Just like, she originally thought that her feelings for Xie Qinghe started from lust at first sight, then went to her subservience for survival, and then settled down in a stable and tacit understanding.
It is very shallow and not complicated.
But as they walked together, she gradually developed more complex emotions.
So much heartache, so much injustice.
Not to mention, the journey was fraught with danger and uncertainty.
The man in the carriage had been ill on and off ever since he left Changzhou.
Night sweats, heart disease, chills and high fever alternated, old illnesses were not cured and new illnesses were added, and several times he was so sick that he could not get out of bed but had to be urged to keep going.
While she was filled with anxiety, she began to feel that he wasn't worth it.
What kind of grand strategy for the country, or the bond between ruler and subject, is worth risking one's life for?
As the water in the iron vessel heated up, Ning Lu quickly washed her handkerchief, took the medicine that Qing Huai had heated, and swiftly slipped inside the carriage.
Even with utmost care, the cold wind still managed to get in, and the person, who was drowsy with their eyes closed, coughed in the wind.
Ning Lu pursed her lips and pressed the hot towel onto his forehead without any hesitation.
"Hold on by yourself."
Xie Qinghe obediently raised his hand upon hearing this.
The two patches of redness on her face finally faded a little, and the few scattered tears that had appeared in her eyes due to the high fever gradually disappeared, and the clear sky returned to normal.
"Let me tell you, with this workload, I'm asking for a raise."
As she spoke, she took a small sip of the medicine in the bowl. While she grimaced, she saw him looking at her obediently with his big, watery eyes.
Ning Lu's heart softened, and she swallowed back the blame that was on the tip of her tongue. She handed him the medicine and said, "It's not hot anymore, drink it slowly."
"Drink as much as you can, don't overdo it."
Finding the air too quiet, she slowly extended her hand in front of him and listed her duties: "Recently, I have been both a bodyguard and a doctor, providing emotional support while also assisting Wei Zhan in making the right decisions."
"Oh right, we also have to scout ahead from time to time."
"For the sake of our harmonious and stable relationship, I strongly urge Lord Xie to carefully consider my salary situation after returning to the capital."
Did you hear that?
Ning Lu talked on and on, but when she didn't hear a reply, she suddenly felt angry and turned to glare at him.
Unexpectedly, the person, holding the medicine bowl with both hands and swallowing it with difficulty in small sips, stopped drinking the medicine when he heard her raise her voice, and slowly placed the medicine bowl on his lap.
"I heard you."
His voice was low, soft, and gentle, like that of a newborn lamb.
"It's enough that you heard it."
This made her seem a bit petty. Ning Lu cleared her throat awkwardly and muttered softly, "That emperor had better have something important that he can't do without you, otherwise I'll kill someone if I get angry."
She has always been outspoken, and he was used to it. He didn't bother to restrain her words with any rules or etiquette, so he just listened silently without making any judgment.
"I'm really, really angry."
A menacing voice came from above, and Xie Qinghe's swallowing of the medicine stopped abruptly once again.
This time, he didn't dare to look up, but quietly hooked the hem of her dress and gently swayed it to comfort her.
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the gates of the capital, where Wei Chun and his entourage were already waiting.
Their group was no longer dressed as before; they were all dressed in new clothes and traveled light, suggesting they had arrived much earlier than expected. After a quick tidying up, they were just waiting for Xie Qinghe to arrive.
The capital city is right before us, and its prosperity far surpasses that of Changzhou.
While Wei Chun was reporting back to Xie Qinghe, Ning Lu took the opportunity to jump off the carriage and wander around.
Unlike the southwest, the climate in Beijing is humid and not as cold.
Although it was December, the wind didn't feel biting cold.
No wonder Wei Chun and Wei Zhan always advised him to return to the capital to recuperate.
The land occupied by the imperial family is of the highest quality, whether viewed from the perspective of feng shui or geographical science.
In no time, a steady stream of people came into view, and all sorts of clothes and gadgets she had never seen before flooded her eyes.
Just as she was about to follow, she saw several fair-skinned, beardless men dressed in brocade and silk hurrying past her, heading in the direction of Xie Qinghe.
Stumbling past the carriage, Ning Lu quietly turned around to look.
The leading man bowed and kowtowed, speaking to Wei Chun and Wei Zhan in a high-pitched, respectful, and submissive voice.
"Your humble servant Wu Quan, by order of His Majesty, is here to respectfully welcome Your Excellency, the Grand Chancellor."
Inside the carriage, all was quiet. Wu Quan crouched even lower, his robes pressed to the ground, not daring to move, and added in a low voice, "My lord must be tired from the long journey. As His Majesty instructed, I have warmed the sedan chair and laid out three layers of soft cushions, and am waiting beside the carriage. There is also my lord's usual ginseng tea inside, which is warm but not hot, to relieve the dryness of the journey."
All was quiet; you could even hear the rustling of fabric and the wind rustling the curtains.
The atmosphere was oppressive, and even Ning Lu, who was used to being unruly, felt a bit nervous, and nervously shifted her weight.
After a while, a sound finally came from inside the carriage.
Xie Qinghe's voice changed from its previous gentle and mild tone to a cold and icy one, devoid of any emotion, and even carrying an aura of domineering power as if looking down on ants.
"His Majesty only instructed you to deliver a sedan chair and ginseng tea?"
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has issued another decree. Physician Luo is already waiting in the palace and has instructed me to ensure Your Majesty's safe entry into the palace, prioritizing your rest. His Majesty said that all matters should be discussed after Your Majesty has rested properly, and there is no need to rush."
A cold laugh, neither too loud nor too soft, escaped his lips, followed by Xie Qinghe's calm yet chilling voice: "Your Majesty is considerate; I understand."
Wu Quan trembled, his fingertips pressed against the side of his robe, and he dared not respond.
The short sentence conveyed not a trace of gratitude from the subject, but rather sounded like he was dealing with the most trivial matter.
It's fine if Lord Xie dares to speak like that, but I, a mere eunuch, would never dare to report in such a manner.
The Grand Chancellor was known for his bad temper, so Wu Quan dared not continue speaking and could only kowtow repeatedly.
The man's head slammed into the cold, hard ground with a dull thud.
Ning Lu shuddered, rubbing her forearms with her arms crossed, and looked at Wu Quan, unusually refraining from offering any kind words to defuse the situation.
She wasn't a perceptive person, but she understood their intentions: this wasn't a well-prepared welcome; they were there to intercept someone.
The new emperor in the palace, a benevolent ruler, wanted Xie Qinghe to go see him immediately after his arduous journey, so that he could continue to manage the court for him with all his heart and soul.
The curtain of the carriage window was lifted from the inside, and Xie Qinghe was sitting on the couch, not even glancing at anyone.
The wind in the capital was warmer than in Changzhou, but his health was even worse than it had been in Changzhou.
Xie Qinghe frowned and bowed slightly, silently pressing his hand to his chest, his expression impatient.
“My old illness has relapsed, and I am feeling unwell. I fear that I may pass on my illness to His Majesty.”
Wu Quan hurriedly said, "His Majesty knows that you have been traveling while ill. Although he is eager to discuss matters with you, he still cares about your health and has specially instructed me not to rush you. Just wait until you have recovered before you can move into the palace in a sedan chair."
Pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth.
Too lazy to waste words with him, Xie Qinghe lazily glanced out of the carriage and looked at Ning Lu, who was standing with her hands behind her back and head down, focused on the pebbles under her feet. His tone suddenly softened and became gentle: "Serving His Majesty, I should do my best. However, the people who accompany me have suffered along the way, so I can't let them wait in vain in the palace with me."
His words were simple, yet his attitude left no room for argument.
Wu Quan was so intimidated by this aura that he trembled and dared not refute it again.
Xie Qinghe, this newly risen nobleman, is someone you absolutely cannot afford to offend, and you also have to do the job of serving the true dragon emperor in the court.
Knowing that he would not get an answer by asking again, and not daring to get up rashly, Wu Quan finally spoke again with trembling hands: "This servant dares to ask Your Excellency, when will Your Excellency feel a little better and be able to move? This servant will then report to His Majesty."
The profile hidden behind the curtain disappeared into the shadows, and there was no more sound.
Wei Chun deftly lowered the carriage curtain, nodded slightly to Ning Lu, and gestured for her to get in and set off.
Only then did Wu Quan and the people behind him realize that the woman they had just passed was the person Xie Qinghe had mentioned as his companion. They were suddenly terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.
Ning Lu leaped onto the carriage, spread her arms around the charcoal brazier to warm herself from the cold, and kept turning her head to look at Xie Qinghe.
He had changed his clothes at some point; the dark official robe made his face appear even paler, but it also gave him an air of indifference and aloofness.
Even though she wasn't part of the tense scene just now, her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.
Once she had calmed down a bit, she said slowly, "If you weren't planning to go, why did you change your clothes?"
Her eyelashes, which had fallen into the shadows beneath his eyes, trembled slightly. Xie Qinghe looked up and saw through her nervousness.
"I always have to project an air of authority, so you know I'm quite useful... cough... so you won't... dislike me..."
"He's talking nonsense again."
Ning Lu put down the hot water bottle, leaned closer to him, and held his limp hand hanging by his side to warm it.
She skillfully followed the acupoints, massaging the meridians in his palm. Seeing him frown and groan softly, she smiled smugly, but her heart tightened inwardly.
The eunuch's Tai Chi was excellent, but she still managed to grasp the most crucial information.
Physician Luo...
If she remembered correctly, Wei Chun and Wei Zhan often mentioned him, and even the medicine he often used was prescribed by that imperial physician.
In her opinion, if someone truly cared, the most important thing was to send the imperial physician directly to their home.
This emperor had a very narrow vision.
I really don't understand why someone as smart as Xie Qinghe would risk his life for him.
As always, her little face was open and honest, her anger was written all over her face, and her little hands pressed down even harder.
Xie Qinghe smiled, turned his large hand over, and took her hand in his palm, patting it gently to comfort her.
As the carriage entered the city, the outside world became increasingly noisy and bustling.
A variety of strange and wonderful hawking cries filled the air, capturing Ning Lu's attention.
She immediately perked up, pressed her face against the window, and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside.
Before she could even get a clear look at the street scene, she felt a force descend from the sky, grabbing her collar and pulling her back.
She lay on her back on him, the bitter smell of medicine descending from the sky.
"Xie Qinghe, what are you doing!"
"Once you're settled, let Qinghuai and Qingzhi show you around carefully."
"I'll just take a look."
"Not now."
Why not?
She sat up, fixed her hair, and found the man strange.
His eyes were filled with sadness, and he spoke slowly and deliberately.
"My reputation is bad, it will only cause trouble."
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