After getting ready, the group set off. Zhu Xiu and the others from Songlin Village wanted to see them off, but Song Zhuiyan refused.
"We might set off any day, but it'll be in the next few days. Please keep an eye on the pastry shop. We'll settle the accounts when Tantan and I get back."
"What about the grain harvest and pigsty on the estate? Who takes care of them?" Zhu Xiu was very worried, fearing that things wouldn't be well arranged at home while they were away from Fengcheng.
“The people in charge are all trustworthy. They were the same people who took charge when we went to the old capital, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Song Zhuiyan explained with a smile, knowing she meant well.
Zhu Xiu nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said with a blush, "There's something I didn't want to say now, but since you're leaving, I'll tell you in advance."
"Hmm? What's the matter? Why are you so serious?" Song Zhuiyan looked at her curiously.
"I've been feeling tired and hungry a few days ago, and the smell of meat makes my stomach upset. I saw a doctor who took my pulse and said I'm pregnant, already two months along." Zhu Xiu said with a happy expression, gently stroking her flat belly with one hand, clearly looking forward to the baby.
"Really? Congratulations! That's really something, but it's also very timely. You've only been married for less than a year and you're already pregnant. Uncle Zhao must be overjoyed!"
Song Zhuiyan was genuinely happy for her. Zhao Zhongnian was someone she could entrust her life to, and once they had a child, their lives would surely get better and better.
Thinking that she might not be able to return for a while, Song Zhuiyan took out a fine jade pendant and placed it in her hand.
“We don’t know if we’ll be back when you give birth. Take this jade pendant; it’s for the child.”
Zhu Xiu initially wanted to refuse, but when she heard that it was for the child, she didn't say anything more and accepted it directly.
"By the way, now that you're pregnant, try to avoid going to the Zhang family. Zhang Qingling is a bit crazy and has fits of madness every now and then. Who knows what kind of foolish things she might do? Be careful," Song Zhuiyan advised with some concern.
Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "My husband said the same thing to me. I know what to do. Actually, it's not that I like going to the Zhang family. I just like Zhang Hui. I go to see him every time."
However, she will not go to the Zhang family alone again. Zhang Qingling's personality is too unpredictable, so she should avoid her. If she wants to see Zhang Hui in the future, she should have her husband bring her home.
“I won’t take Qiuping with me. She’s feeling sad right now. When you have time, come visit me at my place and talk to Qiuping. She’s a very sensitive child.”
Song Zhuiyan felt very reluctant to part with Qiu Ping, but reason prevailed. Taking another child on the road would increase the risk, so she decided against it.
"Okay, I'll remember it. Don't worry. Be careful on the road. Sigh, it's such a long journey, the two kids must be suffering."
After saying that, she realized it was inappropriate and quickly changed her words, saying, "Why did I say all that? I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's nothing. I know you well enough. You meant well, how could I possibly misunderstand you?"
Everything was arranged in Fengcheng. The group left in the morning. The twins were wrapped in small blankets and slept soundly, not even waking up when they got into the carriage.
A few days later, when Ye Mozhen visited again, he learned that Ye Moxun had already left Xifeng. As for where he went, the servants of the Zhong family were too tight-lipped to get any clues.
"That's outrageous! They really don't respect us at all. Well done!" Ye Moshu felt humiliated again and was so angry that he wanted to curse them out.
Ye Mozhen remained silent, thinking that this was for the best, saving him the trouble of pretending to persuade them. In this way, they could return to the capital tomorrow.
On the way, baby Zhong Jingheng lost patience in the carriage. He twisted his little body, trying to get up from Caiqing's arms, and kept looking out the window.
From the first day he woke up in the carriage, he disliked the slightly cramped space inside, even though Ye Moxun had the carpenter make the carriage as large as possible.
There were three horses pulling outside, but the little guy was still unhappy about it. He was used to being wild and had been running all over the yard since he could walk. He couldn't stand staying in the carriage for several hours at a time.
At first, Song Zhuiyan tried to reason with him, "Heng'er wants to see his father, but his father is in a very far place. The only way to get there is by carriage. If you don't take a carriage, you won't be able to see your father."
After understanding the meaning behind the words, he patiently remained quiet for an hour, but children don't have that much patience. Afterwards, he quickly forgot why he had to ride in the carriage for so long and only thought about getting off and having fun.
This guy is difficult to deal with when he's awake. Luckily, he's young and sleeps about half the time. For example, he might be awake for a few hours in the morning, but he'll definitely sleep all afternoon, and he can continue sleeping after dinner.
However, he had only been awake for a short while, and after eating some snacks, he insisted on lying by the window to look at the scenery outside.
Helpless, they could only put a small wooden stool under him so he could stand on it and look out. Caiqing held him up to prevent him from falling.
“Big birds, insects, and lots of people.” Heng’er read out everything he saw.
It's normal to encounter people on the official road, but you need to be careful around many people. Song Zhuiyan peeked out and indeed saw many people.
Song Tantan and Ye Moxun were in another carriage. They would occasionally come to ride in this carriage, but neither of them came over at the moment.
Song Tantan had good hearing and had already heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from behind. She lifted the curtain and looked back, only to see that it was a caravan, and the carriages were carrying some kind of goods.
At first glance, the group of people, a motley crew, numbered around two hundred, which was quite a large group.
We're on the same road as them, and I haven't noticed anything wrong yet, so I'll just leave it at that and not bother each other.
Behind the caravan, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes looked thoughtfully at the two overly large carriages in front. In addition to the two people driving the carriages, there were two other people riding horses behind them.
They're clearly guards, specifically there to protect the people inside the carriage. It seems these people are quite important.
The carriage is so big, but there are only a few servants and guards. Aren't you afraid something might happen on the road?
This area is not peaceful, especially since we have to pass through a canyon ahead, and bandits roam the mountains on both sides of the canyon.
When he led his caravan through this area, he always had to bring at least ten guards; otherwise, he wouldn't dare take this route.
The profits from this shipment are substantial, enough to cover several of his trips, but he has to pass through this area. He wouldn't take the risk if it weren't for the potential to make a fortune.
"We'll be passing through a canyon ahead. I've heard it's not a safe place, so everyone should be on guard." Ye Moxun was clearly familiar with the area.
Upon hearing this, Song Tantan felt that this would not work. "We can't just drive the carriage there directly. What if someone throws stones down from the mountain? We should send someone to scout the situation first."
"Why don't we let the caravan go first, stop and rest for a while, have something to eat, and then continue our journey?" Ye Moxun suggested.
"Alright, let's do it this way." Song Tantan immediately told Tian Qi to drive the carriage to the side of the road and stop it. Then she jumped off the carriage and told the other carriage to pull over as well.
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