AMLFS Chapter 77
by VolareSilently, she tightened the dagger in her hand. With her experiences in the first half of her life, she was not a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken.
“Huaixi, you stay here obediently.”
Zhao Qiongwan said to Song Huaixi, who was sitting in the carriage, and then got up and lifted the curtain.
Qing Shan and Qing Yang, who were driving the carriage, stopped in front of a residence. They were about to report back when a short blade was pressed against Qing Shan’s lower back.
Qing Yang, who was beside him, saw her action and wanted to step forward but was forced back by her gaze.
“Miss Zhao, what are you doing?”
“This isn’t the road to the Northwest! Tell me, who sent you here!”
Zhao Qiongwan’s beautiful eyes were filled with ruthlessness, as if she would take drastic measures if they didn’t tell the truth.
Qing Shan felt the blade against his flesh, and his voice trembled, “Miss Zhao… You’ve misunderstood. It was the Prince… the Prince arranged it.”
“Yes! Miss Zhao. Last night, the Prince’s letter came saying that we were to wait in Hanzhou City and someone would come to meet us.”
Qing Yang also hurriedly explained, “Last night, the Princess Consort had already fallen asleep. Qing Shan and I took turns driving, so we didn’t have time to tell you.”
Seeing that what they said didn’t seem to be false, Zhao Qiongwan put away the dagger in her hand.
She apologized to them, “I was overthinking things. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Qing Shan was still a little scared, “It’s alright, it’s because we didn’t think it through. We forgot to tell you the news.”
Qing Yang was a little emotional, “Miss Zhao, we are loyal to the Princess Consort, how could we harm him!”
Zhao Qiongwan’s face showed apology, “I was too nervous…”
Qing Shan winked at him, signaling him to say less.
Then he said, “The person coming to meet us is already waiting at the residence. Let’s go in quickly.”
After traveling for half a month, everyone was exhausted. The group got out of the carriage and walked towards the residence.
More than a month had passed since the flood, and the plague in Hanzhou City had also improved under Ouyang Tongji’s treatment.
The people began to rebuild their homes.
Walking into the courtyard, it was full of herbs.
A medicinal fragrance wafted over. Song Huaixi was also a little tired from the journey and followed the group forward.
Chun Hua and Zhao Lu got out of the carriage behind and followed him, asking, “Is the Princess Consort tired?”
Song Huaixi nodded. During the days of traveling, he was eating and sleeping in the carriage, and he felt very tired.
It had been a long time since he had set foot on solid ground.
Song Huaixi felt that he could barely open his eyes, “I’m so tired, I really want to sleep in a soft bed.”
Just then, a familiar voice came from the house, “Yo! You guys are pretty fast!”
Song Huaixi, who had just been drowsy, opened his eyes wide. He followed the voice and saw an old man with a white beard standing under the eaves.
He still had a package with many small pockets hanging on his chest.
“Divine Doctor Ouyang!” Song Huaixi exclaimed in surprise.
“Princess Consort, long time no see.” Ouyang Tongji looked at Song Huaixi with a smile.
He warmly greeted them, “Are you tired from the journey? Quick! The rooms are all prepared for you.”
As he spoke, someone led them to the rooms to rest.
Song Huaixi was arranged to live in the wing room of the main courtyard, and Zhao Qiongwan was next to him.
Being really tired, Song Huaixi couldn’t wait to climb into bed as soon as he entered the room. He let out a sigh of relief as his body lay on the soft bed.
He quickly fell asleep.
Zhao Qiongwan was cautious and didn’t rest in the room. Instead, she went out to find Ouyang Tongji.
The spring sunshine was just right in the courtyard. Ouyang Tongji was turning over the herbs that were drying in the courtyard, looking very protective of them.
“Divine Doctor, can you clear up my doubts?” Zhao Qiongwan stood beside him.
“I wonder what doubts Miss Zhao has?” Ouyang Tongji turned around and his gaze fell on her confused face.
His wise eyes were clear, and his voice was old and deep, “It seems that Miss Zhao wants to ask a lot.”
“I guess Miss Zhao wants to ask why I’m here and why Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district asked you to change course to Hanzhou.”
Zhao Qiongwan was a little surprised that he saw through her thoughts. She nodded, “Please enlighten me, Divine Doctor.”
In the conversation with Ouyang Tongji, Zhao Qiongwan learned that the rebels in Hanzhou had already been brought under Zhao Fangye’s command. The people of Hanzhou were also very grateful for the great kindness of Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district.
Hanzhou was on the only way to the Northwest. Song Huaixi and his group had traveled a long distance and were exhausted. Hanzhou was the best choice to find a safe place to rest.
In addition, Song Huaixi’s group didn’t have many people traveling with them in order to avoid attention. Now that Zhao Fangye had already confronted the court and even held the Crown Prince Zhao Jingshuo hostage.
Song Huaixi was in a dangerous situation and needed someone to protect him, and the men and horses in Hanzhou were a very good force. It just so happened that they could go with Song Huaixi all the way to the Northwest, killing two birds with one stone.
Only then did Zhao Qiongwan understand Zhao Fangye’s good intentions. She was even more worried about Zhao Fangye and their situation.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Ouyang Tongji reached out and stroked his beard, “Miss Zhao doesn’t need to worry. Presumably, in two days, your family will be reunited.”
This was also why he had not returned to the mountains.
Because he promised Zhao Fangye to save Song Zigen’s life again.
During their stay at the residence, Song Huaixi ran around the courtyard with Little Wolf, as if he had been restrained for a long time and finally had a chance to run wild.
Little Wolf was also restrained severely, and directly became overexcited. It ran around the courtyard and accidentally kicked over the herb rack that was drying in the courtyard.
The herbs scattered all over the ground, and Song Huaixi and Little Wolf were stunned.
“Oh no! My herbs!” Ouyang Tongji heard the noise and hurried out to check.
Seeing the herbs all over the ground, his eyes went dark.
He hurried forward to check his precious herbs.
Seeing him so anxious, Song Huaixi knew that he had done something wrong. He reached out and pressed Little Wolf’s head, saying to it, “Shh! Shh!”
Then he ran to Ouyang Tongji’s side and squatted down to pick up the herbs that had been knocked down by Little Wolf, his dark eyes filled with sincere apology.
“I didn’t mean to! Did I knock over your herbs? I’m sorry…”
Picking up the herbs that had been knocked away on the ground, Ouyang Tongji was heartbroken.
He glanced at him and said, “Fortunately, the Princess Consort and you were still holding back, so my herbs wouldn’t be completely gone.”
Song Huaixi didn’t understand the sarcasm in his words and thought he was comforting him.
He said stupidly, “Really? That’s good, that’s good.”
“Did the Princess Consort bring a puppy with him when he went out?”
Ouyang Tongji was a little speechless by his words.
He glanced at the little earth dog squatting at his feet and saw that he liked it very much. He rolled his eyes and a wicked prank appeared in his heart.
He pretended to stroke his beard and said to him in a gloomy voice.
“Well, it’s alright. It’s quite obedient. Puppies of this month are best used to make dog meat casserole, it’s the most nourishing. You knocked over my herbs, so use it to compensate.”
As soon as Song Huaixi heard this, the smile on his face instantly disappeared. He immediately stood up, bent down and hugged Little Wolf tightly in his arms.
He took several steps back and looked at Ouyang Tongji with a wary expression.
Song Huaixi said defensively, “You can’t eat Little Wolf! Little Wolf is mine! You’re not allowed to eat it.”
Ouyang Tongji spread his hands and stood up, his eyes curved and pretending to be greedy, he deliberately said.
“Then what should I do? My herbs are worth a thousand gold. If you don’t let me eat it, you have to pay with gold. Do you have gold?”
Now, Song Huaixi was in a dilemma.
He knew that he had made a mistake first, so it was not good to deny it. But he didn’t have gold. He didn’t want Little Wolf to be eaten either.
Holding Little Wolf tightly in his arms, Song Huaixi frowned and said, “No… no gold… don’t eat Little Wolf… please don’t eat it…”
At the thought of Little Wolf being eaten, Song Huaixi’s nose turned sour. His eyes were glistening with tears.
But he didn’t have gold to compensate Ouyang Tongji, he was really embarrassed.
If he had known, he wouldn’t have brought Little Wolf to play in the courtyard, and a feeling of self-blame spread in his chest.
Ouyang Tongji saw that his goal had been achieved, but before he had time to be happy, he was interrupted by a low voice.
“Divine Doctor Ouyang, why bother arguing with a child? If you want gold, just ask this Prince.”