Chapter 46: Fiefdom Struggle (Part 4) Update
In the wilderness, a group of people and horses galloped forward under the unobstructed sunlight of early summer.
Except for the time in late autumn last year when they followed the young Marquis of Xiguan to sweep through two cities and thirteen counties in Xiguan County, this was another long-distance journey led by the young Marquis of Xiguan himself.
But whether it was Jin Jie, Xiying, or everyone else in the team, they all clearly realized that this trip was very different from the one last year.
Although they swept the entire territory for more than a month last time, they did walk through some roads that they had never heard of before.
But the overall direction can still be judged. They are constantly moving between one civilian settlement after another.
Obviously not this time.
From the very beginning, Liu Ziye, Jin Jie and Xiying each coordinated and led the team, heading towards the most vast, uninhabited high-altitude permafrost and Gobi complex area in the central and western part of Xiguan County, which is also one of the sources of the Shuochuan River that passes through Xiguan County.
The road is not smooth, and there are many places that are not suitable for galloping.
Everyone had to either ride slowly or simply dismount and walk while holding the horses.
Although Xiying is a royal guard and has practiced martial arts since childhood, he has rarely experienced such hardships in the wild.
Jin Jie followed Liu Ziye all the way, always waiting for Liu Ziye to speak again and express her extreme tiredness and unbearableness.
Whether on horseback or on foot.
He always found a way to make her feel more at ease.
However, on the first day, their young marquis seemed to be under great attraction. Even though it was difficult to walk along the road, under the wind, sand and exposure to the sun, she just took the hat she carried with her and tied the straps tightly to block the sun.
Occasionally he would take a short break, then take a deep breath and continue to lead the team forward.
He was not like before, unwilling to exert any more effort after just a few moves.
The days in early summer were getting longer, and we walked for nearly six hours before night finally fell.
A group of people chose a sheltered place with a small hillside behind it and set up camp.
Liu Ziye's face was tired but he was still in good spirits as he spoke to the people accompanying him.
She waited until her tent was tidied up by Jin Jie and Xi Ying before she went in.
The curtain fell, blocking the view of the other guards outside the Marquisate, and Liu Ziye collapsed in an instant. He didn't even bother to avoid being embarrassed, and directly collapsed on his sleeping bag like a noodle in front of the two people.
She waved weakly at the two of them: "Bring me some food... and hot water."
Then he sighed to himself: "Ah... I'm going to die, am I still alive?"
Xiying had just been stunned by the young marquis's astonishing performance today, but now, suddenly seeing the young marquis he was so familiar with, he couldn't adapt...
She just instinctively responded to Liu Ziye's order: "Okay, Xiying will go get some food and hot water for the young marquis."
Jin Jie had originally planned to go out with Xiying, but after thinking about it, he stopped and looked at the young Marquis of Xiguan, who was lying face down on the blanket, breathing hard. He asked tentatively, "Is there anything wrong with the young Marquis?"
Liu Ziye's tired eyelids felt like they were hung with lead weights. He could hear Jin Jie's questions, but he could hardly even look at them.
He just said lightly, "My thighs... my calves... my feet, my arms... my hands. I feel uncomfortable everywhere."
Jin Jie was silent for a moment. Based on his understanding of the young Marquis of Xiguan's physical condition, it was perfectly normal for him to have such a reaction after a full day of high-intensity, rapid marching. He squatted down and tentatively untied the straps on Liu Ziye's boots.
Liu Ziye seemed to feel his movements, but he just stood there and let him do it.
She really didn't have the strength to even move a finger.
Jin Jie silently removed Liu Ziye's boots one by one, his movements extremely cautious, but the boots were too tightly attached to his legs and feet, making it difficult not to pull any skin or muscles. He clearly heard Liu Ziye gasp several times in pain.
It wasn't until he carefully took off his socks that he saw, not surprisingly, several bright red blisters on the soles of his feet and toes that were rubbed open.
At this time, Xiying finally brought in the freshly boiled hot water. When she saw the young marquis's feet exposed to the air with mottled scars on them, she couldn't help but gasp!
Their young marquis has never suffered such hardship since he was a child!
His feet were worn out like this, but he managed to hold on all day without making a sound!
He quickly brought the water over, wanting to get closer to check on the injuries of their young marquis.
Unexpectedly, just as he got a little closer, an arm stretched out and stopped him from moving forward.
Jin Jie stood at arm's length from him and said, "Give me the water, no need to come over."
Xiying didn't think too much and subconsciously handed over the basin of water.
Jin Jie, still holding the young marquis' ankle with one hand, steadily took the basin with the other and placed it on the edge of the couch. He then expertly wrung out the handkerchief in the basin with one hand and gently cleaned the broken skin.
With the young marquis's "hiss" gasp, Xiying also woke up from her trance.
Suddenly I realized that I am the young marquis’ personal guard!
How come this kind of close service job was snatched away by Jin Jie, who has already been in the limelight!
He reacted and stepped forward and said, "Let me do it..."
Jin Jie ignored his words and said without turning his head, "Go and see what the young marquis is cooking for dinner."
"I...why are you..."
Xiying wanted to say "Why don't you go", but after seeing Jin Jie's extremely meticulous and careful cleaning of the broken blisters for the young marquis, which was completely different from usual, he quickly silenced his words.
If it were him, he would have been clumsy and would have made the young marquis scream in pain.
It's not like it is now. Although he groans occasionally in his mouth, his whole body is still soft and comfortable, and he is obviously enjoying it.
Xiying lowered her eyes, turned and walked out of the tent.
Humph, I didn’t know you had this skill, you’re pretty good!
It seems that if I don’t want to be squeezed out by Jin Jie in the future, I have to upgrade some more skills!
After all, it is a long journey and the supplies you carry with you are limited.
A team of about thirty people set up four tents in total.
Liu Ziye's room was located closest to the slope, and the other three rooms were arranged in front in order, one for defense and the other to provide an extra layer of wind protection.
Two bonfires had been lit in the small open space between the four tents.
While boiling water for the young marquis, they began to cook the corn porridge they had brought with them. Zhang Shan, Xia Wu, and the others went out to hunt game and dig wild vegetables, while the others took turns watching over the campfire and resting.
Xiying walked over, looked at the porridge cooking in the pot, and simply sat down next to it and took over the job of watching the fire.
Seeing Xiying coming out, Xia Wu came over and asked in a low voice: "Is the young marquis okay?"
"Not very good."
Xia Wu sighed: "Alas, why is the young marquis doing this? We don't care whether he can endure hardship or not, right?"
Xiying nodded involuntarily. Anyway, all he cared about now was whether the young marquis suffered.
Inside the account, Liu Ziye had hardly moved since he entered the account.
Jin Jie had already pricked or cleaned the blisters on her feet one by one, then dragged her across the basin and immersed her in hot water to relieve fatigue while washing her feet. He pressed the meridians on her ankles, soles of her feet and calves to relieve the pain.
If you look at the person lying on the blanket again, you will find that Liu Ziye has already fallen asleep tiredly and comfortably.
The feet were dried and a cooling plaster was applied to the several broken blisters.
Jin Jie packed up the basin and rag and stood up. Before leaving, he paused and turned his eyes slightly.
A windproof oil lamp had just been lit in the tent. In the dim light, a pair of pupils as dark as the abyss fixed on the face of the sleeping person for a moment, then floated across like a drop of water, lifted the curtain and walked out.
Liu Ziye took a light nap for half an hour and was awakened by Xiying who brought him corn and wild vegetable porridge and half a roasted rabbit leg.
She was tired and wanted to sleep, but she was also very hungry. She forced herself to stay awake and sat down to eat dinner.
Thinking about the next few days of traveling, I can't help but sigh.
Forget it. She should find another way to show off her authority in front of her core team!
At night, the campfire provided a rest area.
Except for those on duty, everyone else went into their own tents. When they were out, no one looked down on anyone else. Everyone lived together, huddled together as if they were sleeping on a big bunk bed.
In Liu Ziye's tent at the innermost side, Xiying and Jin Jie took turns guarding the tent door as usual. Another person who had a chance to rest lay down in a corner of the tent far away from the young marquis to rest.
On the second day, Liu Ziye, who finally got enough sleep, finally felt like himself again.
Although my muscles are still sore, at least I can feel it again.
However, when she insisted on putting on her shoes and socks, stepped into her boots and tried to stand up, she felt a piercing pain in the blisters.
Liu Ziye's face turned pale and he grabbed Xiying's arm, barely preventing himself from collapsing again.
"Young Marquis!" Xiying shouted anxiously.
Jin Jieren, who had been outside the tent helping to break camp, heard the commotion and, after lifting the curtain, stepped in. Looking at the young marquis's expression and the situation with Xiying, there was nothing he couldn't understand.
Xiying was trying to persuade him, "Young Marquis, your son is a precious person. He has been carefully cared for since he was young. How can he endure such hardship? How about Xiying carry you out?"
Then Liu Ziye, whose face turned pale from the pain, sternly refused: "No!"
Even if she didn't try to establish her authority in front of her subordinates, there was no need for her to behave in such a disgraceful manner in public!
She continued, "Everyone has been riding all day and has done more than me since setting up camp. How come everything is fine?"
After saying that, she endured the pain and suppressed the distortion of her face, shook off Xiying's arm, and prepared to continue walking forward.
The piercing pain and uncontrollable thighs betrayed her once again.
The next second——
Liu Ziye felt dizzy and his gaze shifted from the ground where he was about to land back to the tent in front of him.
Yes, it's a curtain.
Just as she was about to fall face down on the ground, Jin Jie, who came over, lifted her up.
"Young Marquis. We are all people who have been practicing martial arts and traveling all year round. Thick calluses have already grown on the soles of each of our feet, so it's okay." Jin Ji's calm voice sounded above her head.
Then he said, "Young Master, if you want to strengthen your body, there is plenty of time to go. There is no need to rush now."
Although his own person was lifted up by the captain of the private guards, with her feet off the ground to avoid stress on her wounds, Liu Ziye found that Jin Jie had been standing still and did not rashly carry her out of the tent.
He was waiting for his approval.
He temporarily avoided the risk of stepping forward and causing the wound to break again, but he did not dare to act on his own.
After realizing this, Liu Ziye's anger dissipated a little. However, even though she was in high spirits, Jin Jie's seemingly caring behavior still made her uncomfortable.
Her face was a little cold, and she said, "Put me down."
"yes."
Jin Jie was not troubled by his rash action, but calmly put her back on the ground.
Liu Ziye's feet touched the bottom, and she slowly freed herself from the support provided by Jin Jie's arm. She endured the pain on her soles, adjusting to the pressure for a while before finally stabilizing herself. She resisted the urge to grin and walked out of the tent, taking slow steps.
Xiying was so shocked by the incident that her mouth opened wide.
Seeing that the young marquis had rejected Jin Jie, he felt proud. As he followed Liu Ziye out of the tent, he also gave Jin Jie a few cold looks.
I told you not to meddle in other people's business!
Look, you still have to be disciplined by the young marquis!
However, as soon as they arrived outside the tent, Xiying saw their young marquis exchanging brief greetings with the guards.
With a very natural expression, he used the force of his own horse that Jin Ji brought over to climb up.
Apparently, today is another day for the young marquis to take a break from riding Jin Ji’s mount!
Look at Captain Jin’s mount. As soon as the young marquis sat on it, it trotted around briskly.
That arrogant, complacent, and affectionate attitude! The young marquis hasn't been on your saddle for just a few days! And you've already made him so anxious!
The private guards seemed to have already accepted this scene, and each of them was doing their job, packing their belongings and getting ready to set off.
Yui: ...
Where does this Jin Jie's mind and tricks come from?
Even his horse was like a spirit. Was there really any chance he could catch up with him in this lifetime?
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