“However…” Zhilan picked up a glutinous rice ball and put it in her mouth: “This servant will not tell Master that this was specially given to me by Miss!”
"Hmm...it's filled with red bean paste, Miss, you're so kind!"
Ning Yao smiled and said, "Eat slowly, don't rush. Give me your hand, let me see how your recovery is going."
Zhilan quickly placed the glutinous rice balls on her lap and handed them to Ningyao with her left hand.
"I feel much better. Those refugees were absolutely terrifying back then. They had red eyes and looked like monsters. If it weren't for you, Miss, I would have really gone to see the King of Hell!"
Ning Yao listened to her incessant chatter while continuing to take her pulse.
After a moment, Ning Yao withdrew her hand and said, "It's alright. It was just some superficial injuries. Those refugees have been wandering outside for so long, we don't know what they ate or drank, or if they carried any diseases. Don't forget to take the pills I gave you every day. Tell me immediately if you feel unwell, okay?"
"Yes, yes, I've remembered them all!" Zhilan only ate two glutinous rice balls before carefully putting away the rest.
When they got back to the carriage, Zhi Mei had already dressed Lin Qinglan.
The little girl had woken up and was quietly being held in Zhimei's arms.
Upon seeing Ning Yao approach, her eyes lit up instantly: "Sister!"
Ning Yao saw her face through the dim light.
She didn't look like the girl in her memory, but since she had decided to bring her along, Ning Yao wouldn't go back on her word.
Ning Yao called a small meeting with everyone and talked about her plans for the future.
"We need to pass through Songyang City and exit the city from the south into the mountains. I don't believe that there are only two people in such a large city, Qinglan and I. If they can survive, there might be other civilians, but I don't know what kind of people they are."
"So I plan to go into town after dawn tomorrow. Even if it's daytime, you must be alert, understand?"
No one objected, and they rested on the spot.
Because it was close to Songyang City, there were no villages or houses nearby, and the nearest post station was five miles away.
Finally, everyone agreed to rest at the post station five miles away.
The inn was a two-story building, with a lobby downstairs and guest rooms upstairs.
Just to be on the safe side, everyone chose to sleep on the floor in the lobby.
After tidying up a bit, the bedding was laid out, and the men and women were separated.
It was getting late, so everyone ate something simple and then went to rest.
Lin Qinglan stayed close to Ning Yao, and even when she went to sleep, Ning Yao had to coax her to sleep.
Knowing that she was on duty, the little girl actually volunteered to go with her.
Ning Yao was both amused and exasperated.
"Young lady, go and rest. I'll take over the watch," Hua Yan said calmly.
Ning Yao glanced at her: "Are you sure you can do it?"
Hua Yan nodded: "I've been eating and sleeping well these past few days, and I feel uneasy if I don't do something. Besides, it's just guard duty. If anything happens, I can wake you up."
"Alright then, you'll take over for the first half of the night, and your second brother will take over for the second half."
Hua Yan gave a soft "hmm".
Ning Yao took Lin Qinglan to rest, while Hua Yan sat in front of the fire, lost in thought.
After a moment she chuckled softly, and then fell silent.
Later that night, Ning Jin heard a sound coming from the man's side and got up.
Upon seeing that it was Hua Yan, he frowned: "Why is it you?"
Hua Yan glanced in Ning Yao's direction: "Young lady, you've worked very hard. I'll keep watch for her for the night."
Ning Jin nodded, then sat down by the fire, facing Hua Yan.
"You should go and get some rest."
Hua Yan seemed to snap out of her daze upon hearing this: "Well, thank you for your trouble, young master." With that, she prepared to get up.
"etc!"
"Are you Hua Yan from Nanyuan?"
Hua Yan nodded: "That's right, what's wrong?"
Ning Jin frowned: "Why are you still dressed like this? What's your purpose in getting close to Yao Yao?"
Hua Yan was taken aback, then smiled and said, "If I wasn't dressed like this, what would I be dressed like? I was rescued by chance by you, young lady. I didn't approach you on purpose. If you make such malicious assumptions about me, I will be heartbroken."
Ning Jin's eyes were filled with complex emotions: "You...aren't you a man?"
Hua Yan's smile froze, then she laughed again a second later: "Young master, you really know how to joke. Just because I'm taller, you think I'm a man? That's so unreasonable."
Ning Jin sighed: "Fine, if you don't want to admit it, then so be it. But you'll have to stay away from Yao Yao in the future, after all, men and women shouldn't be too close."
Hua Yan stood up and said calmly, "Young master is overthinking things. I am from Nanyuan, how could I be a man? I am sleepy, please keep watch tonight."
Ning Jin looked at Hua Yan, who had fallen asleep, and felt extremely conflicted.
Of course, he couldn't be mistaken. Back when he led Shen Cile into Nanyuan by mistake, he knew that the most beautiful courtesan in Nanyuan was not a woman, but a man with an angelic appearance.
At the time, he thought it was just a quirk of the people in Nanyuan and was simply surprised.
It now seems that the man dressing as a woman was not Nan Yuan's idea, but probably the courtesan's own, since a woman's identity is not suitable for navigating chaotic times.
As for why he was willing to dress as a woman, Ning Jin had no idea; as long as he posed no threat to her family, that was fine.
Hua Yan, who appeared to be asleep, was in turmoil. His carefully concealed identity had been discovered, and he was extremely uneasy.
Thinking about his current situation, he comforted himself a little: It'll be soon, it'll be very soon!
The next morning, after everyone had finished packing, they set off for Songyang City.
The city gates were wide open, unguarded, and the carriage slowly drove in.
After entering the city, everyone became more vigilant and went straight through the main city road, intending to get out of the city as quickly as possible.
The north and south gates stand opposite each other, connected by a main city road.
I didn't observe the city carefully last night, but now I realize how big Songyang City really is. A main road in the city can accommodate at least five horse-drawn carriages traveling side by side!
The streets are lined with shops, all of which are two or three-story buildings. Every ten meters, there is a street lamp, and between every two street lamps there is a large tree. Almost every shop has a flower bed in front of it, and the layout is very neat.
These traces reveal just how prosperous Songyang City was in the past.
Ning Yao and her group moved quickly, hardly lingering in the city.
"Hurry up, the city gate is just ahead!" Ning Yao said.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a group of people appeared at the intersection ahead. They were emaciated and had knives in their hands.
The people outside the carriage tensed up.
"I knew it! Everyone be careful!"
The carriage slowed down, and Madam Ning and the others inside became anxious.
A middle-aged man dressed in a long robe appeared in front of the crowd. He was unarmed and seemed to be the leader of the group.
"Gentlemen, my master invites you all to his residence for a chat. We hope you will do us the honor!"
Ning Yao squeezed her legs tightly against the horse's belly and took two steps forward: "There's no need for a chat, since we're complete strangers. Please do us a favor and let us leave the city!"
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