The guards burst into laughter, all with expressions of anticipation for a good show.
This reminded Yu Xunmei of the lingering memories of that day. Her fingernails dug deep into her palm as she gripped the reins tightly, oblivious to the pain, her vicious gaze sweeping over the crowd on the city wall.
She raised her riding crop and pointed it at Lin Yinan, "Fine! You vicious woman, you just wait, I'll make you kneel down and beg me!"
The guards beside her shouted, "How dare you! Do you know that this is the eldest daughter of the Yu family in Nanzhou Prefecture? How dare you lowly people insult her?"
Another man stepped forward and pounded on the tightly closed city gate, making it bang loudly.
Lin Yinan didn't take the Yu family or the Gou family seriously at all.
"Since they are so eager to die, then let them have their way."
A murderous glint flashed in Yunye's eyes. He waved his hand, and immediately guards on the city wall raised their arrows and aimed them at them.
Hearing the commotion, the people working in the fields all grabbed their hoes and shovels and came over, surrounding Yu Xunmei and the others.
The guards quickly shielded her, asking, "What do you want?"
Yu Xunmei's eyes swept over the people around her with a sinister glint. "Let's go!"
She cracked her whip, startling the horse. It neighed and raised its front hooves high, galloping forward like a headless fly.
People dared not stop them, and to avoid harming innocent people, they all made way for them.
As Yunye watched Yu Xunmei ride away, he said in a deep voice, "This person probably won't let this go."
"It's alright, let her come at us." Lin Yinan withdrew his gaze, then looked towards Xihe County and said, "I wonder if Yun Mo and the others have a successful trip."
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, Yunmo can handle it," Yunye reassured her.
"I hope so."
Lin Yinan and Qianxia went down the city wall and returned to the county government office.
Lin Chunni and the others had already peeled all the fruits and squeezed out the juice. Lin Yinan added the appropriate amount of sugar and fermented wine according to the ratio.
Smelling the rich fruity aroma, Yunying swallowed hard, "Third Sister-in-law, when can we drink it?"
"I'm afraid you won't get to drink at your wedding," Lin Yinan joked, putting aside the matter of Yu Xunmei.
As dusk fell, only a sliver of the setting sun lingered on the horizon.
Yu Xunmei and the others couldn't reach their next place to stay and had to camp in the wilderness.
The guards busied themselves setting up tents, gathering firewood, and boiling water.
Yu Xunmei sat on a rock, watching the setting sun while munching on dry rations. She was thinking about how to ask her father for manpower when she got back. She wanted to trample all those who had humiliated her in Longtan under her feet.
"Miss, please have some water. It's been cooled down for you."
A guard eagerly handed Yu Xunmei a jar of warm water, a fawning smile on his face.
Yu Xunmei took the jar, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, then threw the empty jar back to the guard.
"Young Miss, please feel free to ask if you need anything else."
The guards were extremely ingratiating, their eyes darting restlessly over Yu Xunmei's body.
Yu Xunmei glanced at him sideways and said, "Get lost. Don't you even know who you are? How dare you show your face in front of me?"
After saying that, he turned his head away, not even bothering to give the guards another glance.
The guard left dejectedly. He was a servant born into the Yu family, and his mother was a minor steward in the inner courtyard. He was naturally well aware of Yu Xunmei's affairs. His attempt to curry favor with her was simply to become her lover.
The head guard pulled him aside and warned, "Master instructed that the young lady's trip must not be compromised in the slightest. You'd better behave yourself."
The group hurried and finally arrived at Yongqing City.
The guards had originally planned to stay in Yongqing City for three days to rest, but they were dumbfounded when they arrived.
Yongqing City was packed with a large number of refugees, both inside and outside the city, making all the streets impassable.
"Young Miss, what should we do? We can't get into the city anytime soon?" The head guard, who had returned with the scouts, bowed and reported to Yu Xunmei.
"Since we can't get in, then we won't go in." She turned her horse around and said impatiently, "Let's change course and go to Shigong City."
After saying that, Yu Xunmei took the lead and rode off for a long distance.
"Follow us! To Shigong City!" The guard leader quickly mounted his horse and gave chase.
If the leader paid attention, he would have noticed that although there were many refugees in and around Yongqing City, they were all following the procession out in an orderly manner.
They heeded the Chen family's advice and went to their final settlement—Longtan County.
Yu Xunmei and his companions traveled through the night and arrived at Shigong City early the next morning.
Before even entering the city, she dismounted and shook her legs, which had gone numb from sitting.
"Young lady, you look travel-worn. Where are you headed?"
A clear, melodious voice rang out behind Yu Xunmei, pleasing her eardrums.
Yu Xunmei slowly turned around and saw a tall, handsome man with a sculpted face, slightly upturned peach blossom eyes, and a slightly upturned corner of his smiling lips. He stood behind her with an air of nonchalance, curiously observing her. Every gesture he made exuded the noble air of a young master from a prestigious family.
A gentle ripple seemed to spread through her chest, softly tapping at her heart.
Having seen countless men, Yu Xunmei knew that although this man was not as good as Yun Er, he was not far off.
With her mind racing, she lowered her eyes slightly, feigning shyness.
The head guard stepped forward and bowed to the man, saying, "We are from the Yu family of Nanzhou Prefecture, and this is the eldest daughter of the Yu family."
The man snapped out of his daze, his heart filled with joy, and quickly bowed, saying, "So you are Miss Yu. My apologies. I am Ye Shang from the Ye family of Shigong City. May I ask where you come from and where you are going?"
“Young Master Ye is very polite. You have nothing to do at home, so you came out for a stroll. You have gone quite far and plan to rest in Shigong City for two days before heading back home.” Yu Xunmei said, her gaze subtly sweeping over Ye Shang.
Ye Shangdao said, "It is fate that we met, Miss. Today I will do my best to be a good host. I know where the best inn in the city is. Please follow me, Miss."
As she spoke, she brought it from the front. The head of the guards wanted to refuse, but was stopped by Yu Xunmei's fierce glare.
Yu Xunmei would never refuse such a stunningly handsome man offered to her.
The group mounted their horses and, led by Ye Shang, arrived at the largest inn in Shigong City.
After washing up, Yu Xunmei changed into a set of fine clothes and went out with Ye Shang. She ordered her guards to stay at the inn to rest, and she didn't bring any of them.
Seeing that she dared to go out with a strange man without any guards, a dark glint flashed in Ye Shang's bright eyes.
As expected, Yu Xunmei and Ye Shang started dating as soon as they met.
Two days later, she left Shigong City with her guards.
Although she was reluctant, she had to go back. Yun Er had become her unforgettable white moonlight, the cinnabar mole in her heart.
She was determined to win!
"You know what you should and shouldn't say when we get back, right?" Yu Xunmei warned the guards as they approached Nanzhou Prefecture.
The leader replied, "Understood!"
Longtan County Government Office.
"Third sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, my third brother is back!" Yunying excitedly ran into the yard.
Yunmu gave her a reproachful look, "You're about to get married, and you're not mature enough."
While breastfeeding her child, Lin Yinan asked, "Has everyone returned?"
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