Chapter 94 Encountering a Deer
[Mother is so smart! Yes, she wants to keep him!]
Xia Miaoyuan waved her fists excitedly.
The second prince saw Han Qingbo's face full of disbelief and couldn't help but said, "Brother Han, you heard it right. My mother asked you to go back to the capital with us. Are you willing?"
Han Qingbo stared at the ground blankly, still without saying a word.
[He must have some concerns. After all, mother only said to go to the capital, and didn't promise anything else. How will he live in the capital?]
[The prices in the capital are high. Food, clothing, housing and transportation all require silver. One hundred taels of silver will not support you for long.]
Xia Miaoyuan looked at Han Qingbo's expression and keenly perceived his difficulties.
Because in Xia Ruonan's previous life, she was also a poor child who came to Beijing from a small place to attend university.
Her parents favored boys over girls and refused to pay for her college tuition, so she had to apply for a student loan. She had to work part-time during the winter and summer vacations and after school to support her living expenses.
She suffered a lot during her four years in college. It was common for her to stay in her dormitory and eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables secretly. She was reluctant to throw away the few clothes she had even when they were washed white, and buy new ones.
"Han Qingbo, after arriving in the capital, I can arrange for you to live in the Xuezi Pavilion."
"The Xuezi Pavilion accepts students from poor families but with excellent character and academic performance. The food and accommodation there are all free of charge, and are paid for by the court."
"And there are schools and teachers there, who will teach you for free."
"You can rent out the land in your hometown, move to the Xuezi Pavilion, and study there with peace of mind."
When Han Qingbo heard the word Xuezi Pavilion, he suddenly raised his head and his eyes lit up.
"I am willing, I am willing!" Han Qingbo shouted excitedly.
The queen glanced at her daughter gratefully, and couldn't help but kiss her chubby cheek deeply.
Having lived in the palace for a long time, far away from the sufferings of the people, she had just ignored Han Qingbo's difficulties. If it weren't for her daughter's reminder, she would have almost lost a future counselor.
With the help of County Magistrate Sun, Han Qingbo took care of all the chores in just one hour. He packed a small bag, got on the carriage, and followed the empress and her entourage.
Because the empress and her entourage stopped and walked along the way, it took seven days to reach the destination that was supposed to take four days.
At noon on the eighth day, Sang Qi lifted the curtain and reported happily: "Your Majesty, we have arrived in Qinghe County!"
"Oh, that's great. Once we enter Qinghe County, we are very close to Lingyun Peak." The second prince showed an excited expression.
[What? Qinghe County, Lingyun Peak? 】
Xia Miaoyuan was shocked to hear these two place names.
She remembered that Lingyun Peak was where the female doctor Yin Xizi lived in seclusion.
[I thought, it was an autumn outing, but you actually walked so far. It turns out that you went to visit Yin Xizi under the guise of an autumn outing! 】
Xia Miaoyuan curled her lips at the queen with some dissatisfaction.
The second prince looked out of the car window and suggested: "Mother, it's noon already. We seem to be a long way from the county town. Why don't we stop and eat some dry food before going."
"Okay, as you say," the queen smiled slightly.
The group took out their food, picked up some branches, dug a hole in the ground to make a fire, put the pot on it, and cooked a simple meal.
Xia Miaoyuan, accompanied by the second prince, "explored" on the nearby grass.
She trembled and stepped her chubby feet on the grass, taking each step seriously.
"Great, sister! You are walking more and more steadily!" The second prince squatted opposite her, clapping his hands exaggeratedly to encourage her.
Suddenly, Xia Miaoyuan stopped and she heard a strange sound.
She listened carefully and it sounded like the bleating of a lamb, but much clearer than the voice of a lamb.
[What's that sound? Is there a wild animal nearby? ]
[What could it be? ]
Xia Miaoyuan stood still and stretched out a small hand to her ear to gather the sound.
"Sister, what are you doing?" The second prince looked at Xia Miaoyuan in confusion.
Seeing Xia Miaoyuan's attentive listening, he asked softly, "Did you hear any sound?"
Xia Miaoyuan nodded immediately.
The second prince also imitated his sister and gathered the sound with his palm.
"Ah, I heard it too!" The second prince smiled at his sister in surprise.
"Golden Tiger, Silver Leopard!" The second prince called his two personal guards over.
The four of them walked quietly in the direction of the sound.
"Your Highness, you and the little princess stop first, I'll go and take a look first."
After the four of them walked for more than 20 meters, they vaguely saw the bushes in front of them moving, so Jinhu suggested that they go and check it out first.
In less than a cup of tea, Jinhu came back trotting.
"It's a deer, a small deer!"
[Oh my God, there is a deer today, second brother, let's go and take a look! ]
Xia Miaoyuan excitedly grabbed the second prince's hand.
The second prince picked her up and walked over quickly.
In the two-foot-high weeds, a chubby sika deer was wailing.
One of its front legs was caught in a trap set by the villagers and it couldn't move.
The sika deer saw several people approaching it and screamed even louder in fear.
[Oh my God, it's so pitiful! Second brother, let's save it.]
Xia Miaoyuan tugged at his brother's robe.
"Golden Tiger, Silver Leopard, this little deer is so pitiful, please help it open the trap." The second prince ordered.
The trap was very powerful and clamped very tightly. The two guards worked together to pry the trap open.
The fawn's front leg finally came out of the clamp. It stood up and ran as if it had been pardoned. But after running a few steps, it fell to the ground.
Silver Leopard went forward to check and said, "The front leg is broken. It can't run anymore."
[It's too tragic. The front leg of a wild sika deer baby was broken. Alas, it's hard to survive in the wild with a broken leg. I'm afraid it will die before its leg heals.]
Xia Miaoyuan's eyes turned red with sadness. She walked tremblingly to the fawn and stroked it lovingly.
The fawn was not frightened this time, but turned its head and gently licked Xia Miaoyuan's chubby hand.
"Oh, this deer likes the little princess." Jinhu said happily.
"Yes, this little guy is really smart." Yinbao echoed.
[Second brother, can you take the fawn back? If you leave it here, it will die.]
Xia Miaoyuan raised her head and looked at the second prince eagerly.
"I want... I want... Maomao..." Xia Miaoyuan said a few words with difficulty, and then stretched out her hand to hold the fawn's neck.
"Miaoer, do you want to take it back?" The second prince asked softly.
[Yes, yes, second brother, you are really smart.]
Xia Miaoyuan nodded vigorously.
"Okay, then we'll take it back and heal its wounds." The second prince looked at his sister with a smile on his face.
Xia Miaoyuan happily raised his two chubby hands and clapped them.