Chapter 277 Crossing the Ling Canal will take you to Lingnan
After traveling for half a month from Jiangling, the exiled contingent entered Yongzhou and was approaching the Lingqu Canal, a key passage across the Nanling Mountains.
Once you cross the Lingqu Canal, you enter the Lingnan region. The rest of the journey is almost entirely by water, saving time and effort.
Old Liao, who was walking at the front, took out a map, unfolded it, and roughly located their position. After walking for another half day, they would reach the Lingqu Ferry.
He shouted, "Everyone, rest here for one hour."
Someone doubted they had misheard and asked uncertainly, "An hour? Mr. Liao, did I hear that right? We really can rest for an hour, not half an hour?"
Old Liao glanced at him and said, "You can rest for half an hour if you want, but we'll continue on our way after that."
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I just can't believe it. Mr. Liao, you said it would be one hour, so it's one hour."
Old Liao glanced at her and said, "The most difficult part, crossing the Nanling Mountains, is over. Next, we will stay on the ship for about half a month before we reach the place of exile."
"Everyone's faces lit up with joy. Great! We'll be there soon instead of walking by boat."
"Everyone says that Lingnan is tough, but I have witnessed the beautiful landscape along the way. I think this trip was worthwhile. If I had paper and pen, I would definitely draw what I saw and heard."
Some people said, "Haha! It's rare that Lord Lu still has the mood to paint. In Lingnan, there is endless wasteland to reclaim and land to cultivate every day. Not to mention whether he can adapt to the miasma there, just this alone would be enough to kill us who have never farmed in our lives. We'd probably die from reclaiming wasteland every day."
The road ahead is bleak. On the way to exile, someone will guide you, provide food and lodging, and ask you to do errands whenever they feel like it. But once you arrive at your place of exile, no one will care about you anymore.
Lord Lu said, "As the ancients said, 'Drink today, for tomorrow we may die.' Who knows, one day the clouds will part and the moon will shine through, and the Emperor will pardon you and you'll be able to return to the capital and be reinstated?"
Wang Youcai also said, “You all study the classics and copy books, teach, and heal the sick. I, Wang Youcai, do business. Our Great Zhou has established the Maritime Trade Office in Guangnan East Road, which is known as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. As long as you have a skill, you don’t necessarily have to farm to make a living. We can farm and do business at the same time, or do some small business, which is enough to support our families.”
Upon hearing this, the people around him nodded in agreement, "Brother Wang is right. With your open-mindedness, you can make a comeback no matter what situation you are in."
Wang Youcai cupped his hands in greeting to the group, saying, "You flatter me, my brothers. If I, Wang Youcai, ever rise again in Lingnan, I will never forget you all."
"I've studied the classics for decades, yet I'm not as open-minded and cheerful as you, Brother Wang. I'm truly ashamed!"
When they learned they were being exiled to Lingnan, they were heartbroken and contemplated suicide. If it weren't for their families, they would probably have been reincarnated by now.
“Hey, I’m still far behind the other gentlemen. I’m just a mere merchant. Money can be earned back. Compared to what you’ve lost, it’s nothing.”
The social hierarchy is: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Officials are bound to be wealthy, and the wealthy have to bow and scrape before officials.
Someone, gazing at the long, flowing river, suddenly recited a poem.
Lu Wenyuan said, "The floating clouds that obscure the sun will eventually disperse, and I will laugh at the turbulent river as I row my boat."
Physician Chen said, "Let's use the rain and wind to soak our clothes as wine, and sing as we walk through the thorny path."
"Brother Wang, aren't you going to say something?"
Wang Youcai waved his hand and said, "How could an ordinary person like me write poetry? I'm afraid of embarrassing myself."
"If you don't know how, just do it randomly. You can also refer to the ancients. Just compose a poem on the spot and be happy."
Wang Youcai coughed lightly, "Why lament the loss of a thousand pieces of gold? Wealth will flow into my pockets in abundance."
Everyone around laughed, "Hahaha!!!"
"Please excuse my poor appearance."
"Don't laugh, don't laugh, what a beautiful poem!"
...
Exhausted from days of travel, the people's numb and lifeless eyes unconsciously revealed a glimmer of hope for the future when they heard their conversation.
The Xiao family set up a pot and cooked a pot of fish soup.
Yun Zhaoxue was in the carriage, six months pregnant, her belly looked like that of someone who was eight months pregnant, and she was often drowsy.
She can lie down or sit without moving.
Yang used a lotus leaf to lift the pot lid, looked at the boiling fish soup, stirred it with a ladle, and saw that the fish meat had turned white.
He said to his third son, "Ce'er, the food is almost ready. Go and call Xue'er down to eat."
"good."
Yun Zhaoxue was still a little groggy when she was woken up. "Have you eaten? So fast? I feel like I just slept for a short while."
“Your sleepiness has been getting worse lately, and your complexion isn’t good either. Are you feeling unwell? I’ve already sent someone to tell Doctor Hua to wait for us in Lingqu Town so he can take your pulse and examine you.”
"I checked her pulse and there was nothing wrong with her body. Maybe it's just because she's pregnant and sleepy."
"I'll only feel at ease if the miracle doctor takes my pulse."
"Hmm, that works too!"
She also felt that her recent excessive sleepiness was abnormal, but she couldn't find the reason. Drinking spiritual spring water didn't help, and the fetal movements in her belly weren't as frequent as they were more than half a month ago. The quietness was somewhat unusual, which made her worried that something might be wrong with the baby.
Yun Zhaoxue alighted from the carriage.
Xiao Xuance carefully helped her walk slowly, afraid that she would slip on the rocks on the shore.
The people around them were eating cornbread, looking around idly. When they saw the couple looking affectionate, they exchanged glances with the people next to them and revealed ambiguous smiles.
On the Third Prince's side, Yun Jiaoyue used embroidery as a cover, repeatedly piercing the small figure in her palm with a silver needle between her fingertips.
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