Chapter 117 It's good that you're alright.
The carriages and horses continued on their way
Song Jin leaned against the side, legs crossed, covered with a small blanket, a brazier in her lap, one hand flipping through a storybook, the other munching on dried meat.
Traveling by carriage can always be a bit boring, but thankfully it's winter, and the carriage provides shelter from the wind and rain. Thick blankets and quilts make it very comfortable to be wrapped in, unlike the stuffy heat of summer.
She watched with great enjoyment and fascination, but it didn't affect her ability to see everything around her at all.
She noticed the person opposite her move, put down her book, and asked, "Awake?"
Previously, it was just her and her mother in their group, so sharing a carriage with Qu Maoze was fine. Now that there was another person, either the three women would share a carriage, or...
Song Jin was thrown out along with this person.
Since her mother still needed Qu Maoze for medical treatment, Song Jin had no choice but to leave with a 'pitiful' expression and come over to 'take care' of her unfortunate future sister-in-law.
More than three hours have passed since they met, and this person had been unconscious the whole time. Now she's finally awake; if she hadn't, Song Jin was planning to give her a couple of acupuncture treatments.
She asked twice, but there was no response.
"Hello?"
Song Jin raised her eyebrows, looking at the person still lying motionless on the small couch.
She was dressed thinly, and her figure was also rather frail. She was half-curled up, wrapped in a thick blanket. As Song Jin spoke, she kept her eyes tightly closed, suppressing her breathing, but her irregular breathing and slightly trembling eyelids betrayed her.
Song Jin raised her eyebrows and quickly figured out why this person was like this.
Her future sister-in-law was also unlucky; in recent years, her relatives had passed away one after another, her marriage had been repeatedly postponed, and now she had come from the capital to live with her uncle. Living under someone else's roof, she was bound to suffer some grievances.
That's why Song Shunzhi took her away at this crucial moment. Song Shang had 'passed away,' he was in mourning, and her mourning period was almost over. Taking her away in the name of her deceased father would prevent any gossip from spreading.
Who would have thought the Teng family would be so audacious as to lock her up and try to replace her with her cousin who looked similar to her? The two looked alike, and Yin Qianxuan hadn't had much contact with the Song family, only meeting them a few times. Two years had passed, so it was normal for her appearance to have changed. Once the new girl entered the mansion, even if they noticed something was wrong, the matter would be impossible to resolve.
Fortunately, Song Shunzhi was reliable. From her few words, he identified the person and found the real Yin Qianxuan, who was being held captive and had already fainted from the fever.
She had been locked up for some time, and then fainted, so she naturally didn't know what had happened. Hearing the sound of wheels turning outside, she assumed that she had been taken away by her uncle's family, and the people in the car were the ones guarding her.
She held her breath, clenched her fists, and although her head was still a little dizzy, she tried hard to think of what to do next.
Although she didn't know where these people were taking her, it certainly wasn't a good place. Thinking of her uncle's intentions, Teng Qianxuan clenched her hands, her breathing became deeper, and she forced herself to calm down.
Calm down, calm down
Judging from the sound of wheel tracks, it's on a flat road, and we're currently in the suburbs.
The sounds were chaotic, coming in bursts, including the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps; it was a caravan, with many people.
A large group of people makes escape difficult, but it's also the easiest way to escape.
Birds chirping, insects humming, and the sound of wind rustling through the leaves in the woods.
...
Song Jin stared at her future second sister-in-law for a while, and seeing that she was still pretending to be asleep, she raised her eyebrows, went over and kicked her with her foot, and said in a rough voice: "Get up now, don't think I didn't see you, don't even think about running away, if you dare to run away, I'll break your legs."
After she finished speaking, she remained motionless.
Wow, quite the actor!
Song Jin cleared her throat and continued, "If you keep pretending to be asleep, I'll stuff a stinky sock in your mouth, haha."
"..."
Teng Qianxuan could no longer pretend. She slowly opened her eyes, which were still red and blurry from the cold. She blinked a few times and cautiously surveyed the situation inside the carriage.
First, there was the fabric of her quilt, soft and thick, with exquisite and vibrant peony patterns, clearly the work of a top-notch embroiderer. Not to mention the spaciousness of the carriage, every piece of wood and material exuding the quality of genuine gold and silver.
My uncle's family doesn't have that kind of money.
She sat up abruptly, meeting a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, clear and bright, looking at her with a half-smile.
Teng Qianxuan was speechless for a moment, and after a while, she asked in a hoarse voice, "Song... family sister?"
The Song family's affairs have been making headlines for the past few months. Even though she was far away, she had heard some of the news and knew that the Song family had a new young lady, the daughter of the Prime Minister Song, who looked remarkably like him.
Coincidentally, Teng Qianxuan had met Song Shang during her years in the capital and remembered him.
In an instant, she understood what was going on.
She thought she had no hope.
Years have passed, and her cousin, who already resembled her, could easily pass for someone who had simply grown up by dressing up. In reality, they hadn't met many times; their last meeting was two years ago, and before that, they had only met a handful of times.
She was engaged at fourteen, and only a few days later, she went to her father's post. But within a month, tragedy struck: her father died at fifteen, her mother left at seventeen, and her husband passed away at nineteen. Year after year, she went from a young girl to a woman in her prime. Her former friends married and had children, and she lived in constant fear.
At first, she worried that the man would break off the engagement, leaving her destitute. Later, she worried that she would become a burden to him and have little peace. Just when she finally saw hope, she was betrayed by her relatives.
Teng Qianxuan gripped the blanket tightly, her heart churning with emotions, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears. Thinking of that person from her memories, a pang of sorrow surged within her.
Seeing her like this, Song Jin quickly moved back, leaning against the carriage, and said warily, "What are you doing? Your crying has nothing to do with me, don't even think about telling on me."
She wasn't buying it.
Teng Qianxuan's grief subsided, and she said with a wry smile, "Sister Song, you're overthinking it. I'm just overjoyed. I thought I'd have to go down to be with my parents this time, but I didn't expect this..."
At this point, she tightened her grip on the blanket, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the carriage curtain, her eyes filled with anticipation, a look of both joy and shyness on her face.
Song Jin rubbed his arms: "Alright, I'll go get help."
As she spoke, she was about to pull back the curtain and call for someone.
Teng Qianxuan quickly grabbed her, biting her lip, "No, don't shout."
She had been locked in a small side room for several days, and without even looking closely, she knew how badly she was behaving.
His hair was disheveled, his clothes were a mess, he was yelling and screaming, he couldn't be more disheveled.
By age, Teng Qianxuan is no longer a young girl; she is twenty-one years old this year. However, in reality, she has been observing mourning for her parents since she was fifteen, rarely going out year after year, and spending her days in contact with calligraphy and painting.
It's really hard to stay calm.
Song Jin was pulled along by her, raising her eyebrows to sized up this future second sister-in-law. She had to admit, although that woman seemed indifferent to her five sons, she was actually the best in every way.
Leaving aside Yang Yanjun, whom Song Xingzhi chose, aside from her poor eyesight, her appearance, family background, and abilities are all top-notch. She has a strong and straightforward personality, which complements Song Xingzhi's patience and gentleness.
As for Teng Qianxuan, she was graceful and beautiful, gentle and intelligent, generous and composed. Even when she was framed by her own family and didn't know what the future held, she remained calm and composed upon waking up. She didn't act desperately, quickly understood her situation, and remained neither humble nor arrogant.
She and Song Shunzhi will definitely get along well.
Of course, despite her composure, after experiencing such a major event, there was still a hint of panic and fear in her eyes. Song Jin sized her up, her eyes darting around, and waved her hand: "Fine, I won't scream, just let me go first."
Teng Qianxuan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she let go of her somewhat embarrassedly, about to explain.
The next second, Song Jin, who had just agreed so readily, suddenly turned around, pulled back the carriage curtain, and poked her head out.
As dusk fell, the caravan moved forward, with some guards riding in oxcarts and mule carts, while others rode horses. Their overall speed wasn't particularly fast, but considering the alternation of day and night, it wasn't slow at all in those days.
She craned her neck and looked around, but didn't see Song Shunzhi. No matter, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Second Brother, Second Brother, your fiancée is awake—"
Teng Qianxuan: ...
As soon as the sound faded, the sound of horses' hooves approached.
Clearly, out of concern for his fiancée, Song Shunzhi rode alongside the carriage the entire way, without returning to rest inside.
Song Jin pulled her head back, glanced at Teng Qianxuan's indescribable expression, smiled slyly, waved her hand, and then swaggered out of the carriage, leaping off the curtain to run back and bother her mother.
Teng Qianxuan was speechless, but as the sound of horses' hooves drew closer, her anxiety increased. Looking at the somewhat chaotic carriage, she bit her lip, wanting to tidy up, but not knowing where to begin. She could only run her hand through her hair, only to find it greasy. Her hand froze, and she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve.
As expected, his face was still covered in oil and sweat.
Thankfully it's winter now; if it were summer...
Teng Qianxuan shivered and quickly tidied herself up until a slightly deep voice came from outside the carriage: "Is it convenient for you to come in?"
She bit her lip, looking down at her disheveled appearance. She wanted to call someone back, but the words wouldn't come out. Finally, she closed her eyes, resigned to her fate, and said, "Come in."
The curtain was lifted, and Song Shunzhi stepped briskly in through the footstool.
The two last met two years ago, when Teng Qianxuan's grandfather passed away. She had no relatives left in the capital, and although her maternal uncle's family extended an invitation, she declined the Song family's offer after much deliberation and came to Changdu Prefecture alone, where she has remained for two years.
Two years have passed, and Song Shunzhi has matured considerably. He has become a bit broader, and his eyes and brows have gained a more resolute look. He has completely shed his boyishness and now looks like a mature and determined good man.
In contrast, Teng Qianxuan's hair and clothes were disheveled, she was sweating, and her skin was red from the cold, making her look particularly disheveled.
She bit her lip, her feelings quite complicated.
The difference in social standing between the Teng and Song families has always been significant.
When her father was still alive, although he was capable and came from a poor family, he rose to the rank of a third-grade official in just over ten years, making him a rising star in the court. However, he was by no means comparable to the Song family.
Now that her parents have both passed away, her family is worlds apart from the Song family; otherwise, her uncle and his family wouldn't have done such an absurd thing.
Looking at her long-lost fiancé, Teng Qianxuan didn't know what to say.
Song Shunzhi didn't think as much as she did. He got into the carriage, walked up to her, and reached out to press his hand against her forehead. Even in the cold winter, her forehead was still a little hot, and she hadn't yet recovered from her illness.
In the freezing cold, she lay on the cold stone bricks, with no maidservants around to care for her. If he had found her any later, who knows what might have happened to her.
Despite his anger, Song Shunzhi felt even more sorry for her. He lowered his voice and said, "You still have a fever. Take some more medicine in a bit. There's an inn in about an hour. Get a good rest tonight. We'll probably be traveling for the next few days, so I'm sorry to trouble you."
Tears welled up in Teng Qianxuan's eyes instantly, and she couldn't hide her fear and apprehension: "I'm not wronged. It's my good fortune that you came."
Song Shunzhi was a man of few words. He had four brothers, each more troublesome than the last, with vitality like cockroaches, requiring little care. And with Song Jin's arrival, it was even more of a problem.
He was somewhat at a loss. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and wiped away her tears, whispering, "Don't cry. Things will be alright once we get to the capital. Those people won't appear in front of you again."
Thinking of her maternal uncle's family, Teng Qianxuan felt a pang of grief, her voice choked with sobs: "How could they do this? My mother was his own sister. She was still thinking of them when she passed away..."
Song Shunzhi listened patiently to her incoherent ramblings, looking at her red eyes with undisguised pity and heartache, yet mindful of the difference between men and women, until she uttered an apology.
He couldn't hold back any longer and pulled her into a tight embrace, gently patting her back: "It's alright, it's really alright, I'm just glad you're okay..."
**
From Changdu Prefecture to Yong'an City, it would take about ten days if you traveled day and night without stopping.
Unfortunately, it's winter now. It was fine when we left Andong County, but as we headed north, it started snowing lightly when we reached Canghong County, making the roads muddy. Further north, the rain and snow continued without stopping, especially after entering Yong'an territory.
In the deepest parts of the snow, it was knee-deep, making it difficult for vehicles and horses to pass.
This is still the main road on flat ground, maintained monthly. If it were other small paths or mountain trails...
The chariots and horses were stuck, the weather was freezing cold, and wild beasts were attacking...
Song Jin, dressed in a thick coat and leather boots, sat on his horse, squinting at the howling figure on the distant hillside. He gripped his longbow tightly, slowly drew it back, and released it. The arrow pierced the air like a spark, cutting directly through the snow.
"Awooo—"
The wolf pack howled in anguish, and having lost their alpha, they gradually scattered and retreated.
"This year is the coldest in nearly five years."
Qu Maoze sat by the car, looking out the window. Snowflakes fell little by little, covering the world. Everything was white. If you looked closely, you could see trees weighed down by the snow and small houses.
Another year of disasters.
Niu Tielan had never seen snow before and was quite looking forward to it. Along the way, she was practically bundled up like a bear, her hands and feet completely covered, her face red from the cold.
She looked at Song Jin, who was riding a bicycle, and said worriedly, "Why don't you come inside? It's cold outside. There are so many guards and bodyguards; you'll be fine."
Song Jin smiled and simply reached out her hand.
Niu Tielan instinctively grabbed it; it was warm and slightly hot.
Song Jin grinned, "Don't worry about me, Mother. Quickly lower the curtain; look how cold you are!"
They carried charcoal in their carriage, but burning it inside was still unsafe, and with only blankets and such, it was quite cold.
Seeing her like this, Niu Tielan didn't try to persuade her, but only said, "Then be careful yourself, and call us if anything happens."
Song Jin smiled and said, "Okay, I know. You should rest now."
Niu Tielan then shrank back inside; the wind outside was freezing, and her face was almost cracked.
Qu Maoze shook his head, gave a few more instructions, and then drew the curtain.
Song Jin shrugged, glanced at the distant mountains, and put away her bow and arrows with some regret.
If only those wolves were a little bolder and came closer, she could have retrieved them. Wolf pelts for a cloak, wolf meat for tigers—how wonderful that would have been! Too bad they were too far away.
She had been away from the capital for over a month, but the heavy snow in Yong'an City made finding food difficult, and she wondered how her tigress was faring.
Song Jin held the reins and rode along the road, constantly scanning the surroundings. If any wild animal peeked out, he would immediately shoot it with an arrow to prevent the hungry creature from dismounting and startling the horse.
Continuing on this journey, they finally entered the territory of Yong'an City on the twenty-third day after they set off.
The towering mountain range loomed ahead, and against the white backdrop, a golden shadow, like a golden sun, stared intently at the long procession below. Its golden eyes held the ruthlessness of a wild beast. It stood atop the mountain, watching the convoy until it spotted something. Its tail slowly rose, and then it roared to the sky.
"roar--"
With a tiger's roar, snowdrifts scattered across the mountains as it leaped swiftly toward the convoy.
The branches and leaves swayed, and the mountain snow trembled.
As Song Jin rode on horseback, watching the golden tiger traversing the snow-capped mountains, a slight smile crept onto his lips.
We've arrived at Yong'an City.
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