After school, the group went to the imperial kitchen for a delicious meal.
As dusk fell, Guan Guan returned to his residence, while Sun Huohuo was dragged by Sun Ren to the training ground for a night run.
Yun Duoduo had a very happy day. Days spent with friends are always filled with joy.
...
In the following days, with some time left before departure, the group was busy making arrangements, packing their luggage, and instructing the shop assistants to look after the shop and take good care of the customers.
As always, Chu Dunshi sent food to Miss Ziwan. He sent her almost everything from the specialty pastries of Manxianglou, to the dishes and drinks of Manjiuhonglou, and the food and drinks of the teahouse.
Today's lunch was sesame rolls, hawthorn cakes, and milk sauce dumplings; tonight's dinner will be eight-treasure wild duck and Buddha's hand golden rolls.
Tomorrow at noon, we'll have crispy sparrows and auspicious rolls; in the evening, we'll have tiger-skin peanuts, milky white grapes, snow mountain plums, and candied peaches.
The day after tomorrow will feature red plum blossoms, stir-fried squid strips, and bean flour buns, with a different dish every day.
One evening before their departure, Yun Yishu brought Shi Tou to the painting studio and happened to run into Chu Dunshi delivering a food box. Yun Yishu joked, "Brother Chu, are you no longer sending the servants? Are you going by yourself now?"
"That shows sincerity."
Chu Dunshi waved his hand repeatedly, "I'm going now, I'll be right back."
...
On the night before his departure, Yun Yishu came to Fushuang Palace, closed the door, and discussed things with Yun Duoduo inside.
Looking at the bundle on the table, he examined it carefully: clothes, handkerchiefs, loose silver and banknotes, dry food, a water bottle, a dagger, and several bottles of essential common medicine powder.
"I think I brought everything; there's nothing I forgot."
Yun Yishu said this while tying up the bundle.
"Hmm, wait a minute, let's take this pill with us too. I made it specially; it can cure all poisons. Who knows what we might encounter on the road?" Yun Duoduo took out a small brown box from the cabinet. "Let's take this bottle with us too."
He then placed a white bottle in the package.
"The poison you made?"
Yun Yishu asked in a low voice.
"Yes, if we encounter bandits or assassins trying to rob us, this poison will definitely knock them out."
Yun Duoduo winked at Yun Yishu, raised her eyebrows, and looked smug.
"Oh, right, these two bottles of medicine also need to be sent to Grandmother and Father."
"The imperial physicians in the palace are useless," Yun Duoduo pouted.
“We’re going to be gone for a long time this time, and I’m worried about my father and grandmother.”
Yun Yishu nodded.
"Have Ah Xiang deliver it to Fu Shuang Palace in a bit."
...
On the appointed day, Yun Duoduo, Yun Yishu, Chu Dunshi, A Xiang, Shi Tou, Zi Wan, and two guards set off for Jiangnan.
Yun Duoduo and Yun Yishu came out in the Empress Dowager's carriage.
After leaving the palace, the two bid farewell to the Empress Dowager.
Yun Duoduo and Yun Yishu rode in one carriage, A Xiang and Shi Tou rode in another carriage, and Chu Dunshi and Zi Wan rode in yet another carriage.
Two guards sent by the Empress Dowager, each on horseback, were there to protect the group's safety.
The group carried enough dry food and water bottles. Occasionally, when they ventured into the forest, Ziwan would pick some familiar fruits and share them with everyone.
After traveling for a while, Yun Yishu felt that the horse was getting tired, so he suggested, "Let's rest for a bit."
He waved to signal the coachman to stop, and the two guards dismounted and fed the horses some hay and water.
"Master, where did you hire those two guards from?"
The group sat together eating dry rations. Chu Dunshi turned to look at the two guards feeding the horse, nudged Yun Yishu, and asked hesitantly, his eyes darting back and forth between the guards.
"Why did you hire two mute people?"
Yun Duoduo almost spat out the mouthful of tea in her mouth.
"They're not mute, they just don't talk much," Yun Yishu said with a smile.
“Brother Chu, if you accept it, they will hear you.”
Chu Dunshi was so frightened that he quickly covered his mouth with his hand and stuffed pastries into his mouth.
Yun Duoduo turned to look at the two guards' reactions, only to see that they remained calm.
[As expected, she's someone from the Empress Dowager's side.]
Those who practice martial arts have better hearing and eyesight than ordinary people. They don't talk much on the road and focus their attention on observing their surroundings.
The group stayed at a nearby inn that night and continued their journey during the day.
...
After traveling for several days, the group discovered that the scenery had completely changed, filled with the gentle and peaceful atmosphere of small bridges, flowing water, and traditional houses.
We're almost at Shengze.
Ziwan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. Having grown up in Jiangsu, she was very familiar with this area.
The group continued on their way, intending to find an inn to rest and recuperate before venturing further in the next day.
The guard in front suddenly saw a figure blocking the road and stopping the carriage. He asked warily, "Who goes there?"
Upon hearing the sound, Yun Duoduo and Yun Yishu exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with anxiety. Could it be that ruthless bandits had appeared?
I've heard that there are many ruthless bandits who rule the mountains in this area, and they come here specifically to rob officials and merchants. The imperial court has been trying to suppress and regulate them for a long time, but with little success.
Yun Yishu gripped the dagger at his waist, while Yun Duoduo pulled out poison from her bosom. Both of them looked tense.
"Brother, please save my father! He's been bitten by a snake!"
Hearing the shouts, Yun Duoduo lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw a man in tattered clothes supporting an old man on the ground, pleading in a hoarse voice.
"What happened?"
Yun Yishu got out of the car when he heard the shouts and saw an old man lying on the ground, with a young man helping him up.
"Please, please save my father! Let us get off the carriage and go into town for treatment! He's been bitten by a snake!"
Yun Duoduo got out of the car to check. She looked down at the old man's leg where he had been bitten by a snake. She looked up at the young man and was about to ask him how long he had been bitten when she suddenly noticed his swollen lips and purple face. She asked anxiously, "Did you suck blood from the wound?"
"Yes." The young man nodded.
How long has it been since your father was bitten?
Yun Duoduo's expression tensed up.
"Just now."
"Ah Xiang, bring me the antidote!"
Ah Xiang rummaged through her package and pulled out a brown bottle, handing it to Yun Duoduo. "Shi Tou, tear off a strip of cloth for me."
Stone forcefully tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and handed it to Cloud.
Yun Duoduo gave the old man the medicine and tied a strip of cloth around the wound on his leg near his heart. "The poison has stopped for now, but you need to go to the clinic as soon as possible."
"Sucking the wound like that is useless; in fact, it will poison you."
He handed him an antidote pill, saying, "Take this first, then help the two of you into the carriage. We'll go to the clinic first!"
"Sister Ziwan, you know the way, let's find the nearest one!"
After taking the medicine, two guards helped the young man and the old man into the carriage, and Yun Duoduo followed them in.
Inside the sedan chair, the young man was extremely grateful to Yun Duoduo for saving him, his eyes red with emotion: "Thank you so much for saving me, young lady. I am deeply grateful."
He was about to kneel down as he spoke.
"There's no need for such a grand gesture; it was nothing more than a small act of kindness. Why were you bitten by snakes? And why are your clothes so tattered?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
