The corpse-driving boy was just a small episode for Jiang Si and it passed quickly, but she learned from Long Dan that the boy's name was Yunchuan.
From beginning to end, Elder Hua showed no extra enthusiasm for either the two Northern Qi people or the corpse-driving boy.
She had only one thing in mind: to bring Jiang Si back to the clan as soon as possible.
The group finally arrived at a small border town.
Compared to the prosperity and nobility of the capital, the small town is much simpler, but there are many people coming and going. Some are wearing the clothes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and there are also women in colorful skirts with high waists, who are graceful and slender, full of exotic style.
Long Dan had been to this border town before. Walking beside the carriage, he said to Jiang Si: "Although this is a small town in our Great Zhou, it is a mixed crowd. There are many foreigners who come here to exchange supplies or trade with the people of Great Zhou."
Jiang Si looked at Elder Hua and said, "The Wu Miao will be here soon, right?"
Elder Hua nodded, feeling relieved as if a huge stone had been lifted off his shoulders. "We are very close. I have already decided on a place to stay. Let's go there first."
Jiang Si smiled and said, "It seems that Elder Hua has already decided that I will come with you."
Elder Hua raised his eyebrows and reminded, "Since we are already here, you should call me Hua Chuan to prevent the news from leaking out."
Seeing that Elder Hua avoided the question, Jiang seemed not to care and nodded in agreement.
Under the guidance of Elder Hua, the carriage went around and around and stopped at an inn.
"It's right here." Elder Hua was the first to get off the carriage.
The four of them entered the room they had reserved. Elder Hua glanced at Long Dan and Lao Qin and said, "I'm going to go back to the clan first. You wait for me for half a day."
"Half a day is enough?" Long Dan asked.
"That's enough. You'd better not move around before I come back. Especially the princess, you must wait in the house."
Jiang Siping responded calmly: "Hua Chuan, just go and come back soon."
After Elder Hua left, Jiang Si said to Long Dan: "When Elder Hua comes back and takes me into Wu Miao, you and Lao Qin will definitely be left here——"
Long Dan interrupted, "That won't do!"
Lao Qin also frowned and said simply, "It's a risk."
Jiang Si smiled and said, "It's not really an adventure. If they need my help, they will definitely ensure my safety."
"But what happens after what you ask for is accomplished?" Long Dan asked.
"After completion——" Jiang Si glanced out the window.
Unlike the bleak winter in Beijing, it is much warmer here and one can glimpse the lush green outside the window, which is very pleasant.
Jiang Si pulled out a letter from his sleeve and put it into Long Dan's hand: "There may be some trouble after it is completed, but I will do my best to solve it. You don't have to worry about it. After I leave with Elder Hua, I will find the prince and give him this letter."
Yu Jin came to the south to look for Jiang Zhan's "corpse". It turns out that the couple lived not far from each other.
Jiang Si certainly would not hide her whereabouts from Yu Jin. To her, Yu Jin would always be the closest person to her.
Long Dan looked at the letter in his hand and could not bring himself to say that he wanted to go to Wu Miao with Jiang Si.
He had also been to the south, and because of Yu Jin, he had dealt with the Wu Miao people. Of course, he knew their strange rules.
Rather than following the princess to Wu Miao and being stopped by someone, it is better to complete the princess's request and let the master know that the princess is coming.
"What about Lao Qin?" Long Dan asked, as he was worried about letting Jiang Si go to Wumiao alone.
Jiang Si glanced at Lao Qin and said with a smile, "Lao Qin needs me to keep an eye on someone."
"Who?" This time, Lao Qin and Long Dan asked in unison.
Jiang Si raised his finger and pointed at his own face, saying word by word: "The real Ah Hua."
Elder Yihua was cautious and eager to bring her back to Wu Miao, but now he left her in the inn and went back alone. Jiang Si had already guessed the intention.
When Elder Hua comes back, he probably won’t be alone anymore.
Long Dan didn't understand for a moment and repeated, "The real Ah Hua?"
Jiang Si glanced at him and said with a half-smile, "Yes, the real Miss Ah Hua."
Long Dangan smiled and explained, "It's not easy to address you in front of outsiders."
The princess still calls him Ah Long. Has she ever considered his personal safety?
Jiang Si's face straightened: "Lao Qin, if Elder Hua comes back with Ah Hua, you will pretend to leave with Long Dan and secretly keep an eye on Ah Hua for me."
Lao Qin nodded emphatically.
The three of them waited until evening, when Elder Hua finally came back.
Long Dan looked behind Elder Hua, but there was no one there.
He couldn't help but glance at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si waited quietly for Elder Hua to speak.
"Please step aside for a moment. I have something to say to your princess alone."
At Jiang Si's signal, Long Dan and Lao Qin went to the next room.
Jiang Si took a sip of tea, looking calm and relaxed: "Hua Yan, can we go now?"
Elder Hua sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, took a breath and said, "I brought Ah Hua here."
Jiang Si raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Elder Hua continued, "But Ah Hua didn't know that you were asked to pretend to be the Saint of our tribe."
Jiang Si was a little surprised: "Elder Hua is going to keep this a secret from Ah Hua?"
Elder Hua forced out a helpless smile: "Princess, you don't know the status of the Saint in the hearts of my people. If Ah Hua knew that someone was pretending to be the Saint, it would easily cause trouble."
"So that's how it is." Jiang seemed to understand.
Elder Hua warned, "So don't meet Ah Hua later, Princess. I will take you away quietly."
"Why would Ah Hua stay in the inn alone when she doesn't know anything?"
"Princess, there is no need to worry about this." Elder Hua was obviously unwilling to let Jiang Si know too much.
Jiang Si smiled indifferently: "Then Long Dan and Lao Qin——"
Elder Hua interrupted Jiang Si's words with a serious expression: "They can't follow."
Although Jiang Si had anticipated this and made arrangements, he showed dissatisfaction at this moment: "How can I guarantee my safety if Elder Hua doesn't allow me to bring anyone with me?"
"I understand your concern, but if they go, they will attract attention. If their origins are not explained clearly, something unexpected may happen. I'm sure the princess doesn't want to see any twists and turns, right?"
Jiang Si hesitated for a long time before nodding: "Well, let them stay. I hope Elder Hua will not forget the oath he made."
Elder Hua smiled and said, "Of course, Princess, don't worry. Please tell them."
Not long after, Jiang Si and Elder Hua quietly left the inn and headed for Wu Miao.
Wu Miao was not too far from the small town. When the sun had set, leaving only a few streaks of red clouds in the western sky, the two arrived at the entrance of the village.
Standing in front of the familiar village, Jiang Si's eyes flashed with nostalgia.
It was here that she met Yu Qi and later became his princess consort.
Now, after many twists and turns, in her past and present lives, she has come back as another girl, Ahua.
Just as the village gate was about to close, the gatekeeper saw Elder Hua and greeted him with a smile: "You're back so soon, why don't you take Ah Hua to walk around the city for a while?"
"We've bought the things." Elder Hua said casually and walked in with Jiang Si.