The door of the thatched hut was in disrepair for many years and had no bolt, so it could never be closed properly.
Yan Ning walked to the door and opened the slightly ajar door, but there was no one there. Only Ming Xin's voice came, "Chen Shao, stop slacking off! Hurry up and move, or we won't be able to get back to the manor before dark!"
Because the gate was too narrow, the carriage stopped outside the gate, while the cellar was behind the thatched hut. At this moment, Mingxin stood by the carriage and shouted loudly.
The coachman, Chen Shao, emerged from behind the thatched hut, his eyes flickering as he looked at Yan Ning. Yan Ning's heart sank; a bad feeling welled up inside her.
She turned back to You Yuanzhi and quickly instructed him, "You will stay in the capital for the next few days. I will bring Xiang'er out so that you can run away together and leave this troublesome place, the Fucha Mansion!"
Overcome with excitement, You Yuanzhi grabbed Yan Ning's arm and asked, "Is what you're saying true?"
Yan Ning shook off You Yuanzhi's hand and unconsciously glanced at Chen Shao standing by the carriage. She lowered her voice and said, "Just be patient and wait! Also, don't act rashly and disturb the peace of the Fucha family! Otherwise, it will harm you and Xiang'er!"
Yan Ning's heavy words echoed in You Yuanzhi's ears, and he was somewhat astonished. In less than two years, the once innocent and aloof Yan Ning had already taken on the air of Lady Fucha, yet her stunningly beautiful face showed no trace of comfort.
The Fucha family mansion is a pit of fire, a pit of fire filled with wealth and gold. If Yan Ning can really bring Xiang'er out and let him take her away from the troubles of the Fucha family mansion, then he is willing to let go of his hatred for the Fucha family mansion.
At the feet of Yan Ning and Ming Xin lay vegetables covered in frost. Even with her cloak wrapped tightly around her, Yan Ning still felt the chill seep into her skin.
The dishes on the carriage alone weren't enough for Chef Wu to pick and choose from. But if Yan Ning didn't take these back, she wouldn't be able to explain her whereabouts to Fukang'an. And Chen Shao, who was driving the carriage, also made Yan Ning wary.
The sky was growing darker, but the three were still dozens of miles from the capital. Because the carriage was carrying vegetables, it was moving even slower.
The carriage jolted violently, and the two men lurched forward.
"ah······"
As Mingxin screamed, she didn't forget to grab Yan Ning, who was falling out of the carriage. Yan Ning's head hit the cold carriage body, and the blood froze at the edge of the wound before it could flow out.
The light was too dim, and Chen Shao couldn't see the road ahead. He drove the carriage into a mud pit, and the wheels got stuck. He jumped off the carriage and helped Yan Ning and Ming Xin out. With a troubled expression, he bowed to Yan Ning and said, "Madam, the carriage is stuck in the mud. Please rest for a moment, and I will push it out right away!"
Mingxin helped Yanning to a safe spot, then Chen Shao asked her to drive the horses. It was freezing cold; everything was piercingly cold. Chen Shao breathed on his hands and pushed the wheel. The horse, however, wouldn't cooperate; just as the wheel was about to come out, it backed away, causing the wheel to sink even deeper. The previously frozen mud shattered, and muddy water mixed with ice splattered all over Chen Shao's face.
The pain felt like being struck by a cold arrow, and Chen Shao was burning with anger. However, Mingxin was Yan Ning's dowry maid, so he dared not say anything and could only wipe his face, saying, "Miss Mingxin, you must make sure the horse runs smoothly this time!"
Mingxin agreed, but she was, after all, a weak woman, and could not resist the horse's tantrums. The wheel once again fell heavily from Chen Shao's hands.
His cold face was indistinguishable, whether it was red from the cold or from anger. His hands were raw and peeling from being rubbed by the sharp edges of the wheels, and the cold wind made his teeth clench so hard they reached the back of his head.
The night was pitch black, and Yan Ning couldn't see what was going on between the two of them, so she could only look forward. She was bumped by Chen Shao, who suddenly stepped back, and her leg scraped against the icy stone. The pain shot through her, and Yan Ning's face, frozen stiff, couldn't even twitch.
Upon hearing Yan Ning's soft exclamation, Ming Xin immediately moved from the front of the carriage to the back, following the sound.
As Chen Shao stepped back, he realized he had bumped into something soft, but he hadn't expected it to be Yan Ning. Upon learning that he had bumped into Yan Ning, a cold sweat dripped down his face. His complexion was a mixture of red and white.
Mingxin wanted to check Yan Ning's injuries, but the moonlight was so cold that even a shadow was hard to see. How could she possibly see the wounds?
The two servants were at their wits' end. They were in the middle of nowhere, with no one around. If the three of them stayed there until dawn, they would either freeze to death or suffer from frostbite.
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