Because of the detour, it took an extra day to reach Tongcheng, a place that should have taken three days.
The group had no choice but to speed up their progress.
On the evening of the fourth day, Tongcheng was within reach.
About five miles outside of Tongcheng, Xie Zhi and Lin Xuan stopped their horses.
Yuan Yao got off the carriage.
Xie Zhi smiled brightly: "Little Yao'er, we'll take you this far. Be careful on your way to Huaishui City."
We're waiting for you in the capital; please come back soon.
Lin Xuan sat up straight on the horse with a stern face and didn't say a word.
Looking at the two young boys, Yuan Yao felt quite reluctant to part with them.
However, the thought of soon seeing the Ninth Prince made her happy again.
She waved with a smile: "Xie Zhi, Lin Xuan, thank you for bringing me here!"
Thankfully, you were all there; I'm so happy to have you all with me along the way!
"Besides being happy, is there nothing else?" Xie Zhi asked with a smile.
"What?" Yuan Yao tilted her head.
"You heartless little brat!" Xie Zhi spurred his horse and said, "Let's go!"
"Xie Zhi..." Yuan Yao called out to him.
Xie Zhi calmed the somewhat restless horse and turned around: "What's wrong?"
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just wanted to call you!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhi laughed so hard his eyes disappeared.
Lin Xuan said in a muffled voice, "Let's go."
The horses neighed, and the backs of two young boys, one in black and one in blue, disappeared into the twilight.
Only when they were out of sight did Yuan Yao stop smiling, revealing a hint of melancholy.
How can you say "I can't bear to part with you" to my face?
Saying it will only cause more sadness...
"Princess..."
Danqing stepped forward, a hint of worry in his eyes.
Yuan Yao gazed at the city gate so close at hand: "Tonight, we'll enter the city first."
The group entered the city gate before nightfall.
To avoid drawing too much attention, Yuan Yao only brought thirty people with him, and they entered the city separately.
The rest of the people camped near the dilapidated temple outside the city.
As the carriage entered the gates of Tongcheng, Jing'er asked in confusion, "Princess, if we don't enter the city and travel through the night, we can save a lot of time."
But why stay overnight in Tongcheng?
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Buy grain."
Buying grain?
Jing'er suddenly realized: "Oh, so the princess also wants to buy some grain to transport away!"
“Yes.” Yuan Yao glanced at the inn on the street: “This one will do!”
The carriage stopped, and Danqing, accompanied by two assassins, entered the inn.
A moment later, Danqing lifted the carriage curtain: "Princess, I have already had food and hot water prepared. Shall we go in first?"
Yuan Yao glanced at the long street.
Tongcheng is not far from the capital and is considered a fairly large city.
As night fell, the streets didn't quiet down; instead, they became even more lively.
Yuan Yao pondered for a moment and said to Dan Qing, "Let's go for a stroll first."
She doesn't have much time left.
Danqing hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Then let's go for a stroll..."
The group of people split into several groups.
Some went to buy rice, some went to buy noodles, and some went to buy horse-drawn carriages and the like.
Yuan Yao and her group went to buy other things...
As night fell, lanterns hung on both sides of the street, illuminating the long street brightly.
Along the way, there were stalls selling snacks and all sorts of trinkets.
Yuan Yao had Danqing ask for directions, and the carriage headed directly towards the market.
At this time of day, the market isn't crowded, but there are a lot of stalls set up...
Yuan Yao brought a large group of people, which attracted a lot of attention as soon as she entered the market.
A woman asked with a smile, "Miss, you're so cute, are you here to buy something?"
A stranger complimented her on how cute she was!
If complete strangers praise her for being cute, then she must really be cute!
Yuan Yao smiled especially sweetly: "Yes!"
The woman, seeing how well-behaved the girl was, liked her very much and picked up a bright green object from beside her: "Look, do you like this?"
corn?
Yuan Yao's eyes lit up.
How could she not have thought of that?
Yuan Yao asked happily, "Excuse me, do you have a lot of corn here?"
"So much!" the woman exclaimed happily. "My father-in-law farms outside the city; he has several acres of land! And the crops are just starting to sprout!"
Several acres?
That's wonderful!
Yuan Yao said, "Boss, I'll take your corn!"
"Really?" the woman exclaimed with delight.
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Really!"
The woman stood up, wiped her hands on her skirt, and said awkwardly, "Miss, my family has plenty of corn. When do you want some? I'll have my father-in-law and husband pick some."
These things should be done sooner rather than later.
Yuan Yao decisively replied, "Tonight!"
She summoned an assassin: "Take some silver, go out of town, find Da Shan and the others, and make them work hard tonight..."
He then summoned another assassin: "Take my token and go to the garrison officer in Copper City to borrow horses and carriages. Make sure you borrow the best ones..."
Da Shan was the leader of the bandits in Eagle Beak Mountain.
The two assassins accepted the order and went about their business.
Yuan Yao continued browsing in the market.
She brought a lot of rice and flour, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the bandits she encountered along the way!
These mountain bandits were tall and strong, and they had an even bigger appetite!
One person can eat two pounds of rice in one meal!
My heart aches...
At least, thinking that they would be of great help in Huaishui City, Yuan Yao wasn't so heartbroken.
With the corn in hand, Yuan Yao strolled around for a while longer.
During her visit, she discovered that the market in Tongcheng sold a fairly complete range of products.
Yuan Yao bent down next to a vegetable stall.
The vegetable seller was an elderly woman with gray hair.
When the old woman saw someone coming, she looked up and asked, "Young lady, are you here to buy groceries?"
"Mmm!" Yuan Yao nodded and asked, "Grandma, how much are your potatoes and sweet potatoes?"
The mother-in-law looked her over, somewhat surprised: "You...you still recognize potatoes and sweet potatoes?"
This little girl is so tiny, with fair and delicate skin, chubby cheeks, and as pretty as a porcelain doll. Who knew she knew so much…
Beside her, Jing'er said proudly, "Grandma, my young lady knows so many things!"
Hearing this, the mother-in-law smiled kindly: "In that case, these potatoes and sweet potatoes are for you. They were just dug this year, take them home and have a taste."
As she spoke, she took the potatoes and sweet potatoes with her calloused hands and was about to hand them to Yuan Yao.
“Grandma, no need to see me off.” Yuan Yao stopped her with a smile: “I guess you have even more sweet potatoes and potatoes at home, right? I want to buy some, lots of them…”
That night, the bandits of Eagle's Beak Mountain were divided into groups: one group was assigned to pick corn, and another group was assigned to dig potatoes and sweet potatoes...
The next day.
The ten-tael cartload of goods was carefully loaded.
The bandits, sporting dark circles under their eyes, stood in the morning breeze, munching on meat buns, full of energy, their eyes sparkling: "Little Princess, we'll follow you from now on! Please..."
With the princess by my side, I'll never have to worry about going hungry again!
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Following me isn't out of the question, but... let's see how you perform first!"
Judging by performance?
You absolutely have to perform well!
Three days later...
After changing horses and traveling day and night, we finally arrived at Huai River City!
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
The city wall ahead resembled a giant beast slumbering in the mist.
"Princess, someone's here!"
Outside the carriage, a bandit's loud roar could be heard.
Is anyone there?
Yuan Yao yawned and lifted the curtain: "Who is it? So early..."
As dawn breaks, beneath the city walls, in the mist, a lone red figure stands, forlorn and forlorn.
Yuan Yao opened her eyes wide in surprise: "Father!"
It's Daddy!
Her father has come to pick her up!
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