Li Hengyi sat inside the carriage and felt a refreshing scent of cold bamboo wafting in, instantly easing the dull ache in his chest considerably.
He gently lifted the carriage curtain and the fragrance of cold bamboo became stronger, but when the breeze came, it dispersed!
"Master…"
The servant immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully and carefully helping him down from the carriage.
Li Hengyi frowned, his gaze sweeping around.
The suffocation in his chest worsened, and his expression grew more impatient.
But when nature calls.
"Go and get ready!" Li Hengyi ordered in a deep voice.
His voice was cold and clear, like an eternal iceberg, chilling to the bone.
"Reporting back to Master, everything has been arranged, please!"
"Hmm!"
Li Hengyi took a step.
He couldn't help but think again of that refreshing scent of cold bamboo, unsure where it had drifted from, yet so pleasant that it could soothe his longstanding chronic illness.
Meanwhile, on the carriage.
Old Yuan was giving Xie Zhinuan a crash course in ancient knowledge, "Ordinary people are not allowed to use carriages, at most they can use donkey carts or mule carts. Only officials, the wealthy and noble families can afford to use carriages, let alone two horses. Even for a wealthy merchant, a certain amount of silver must be paid to earn the privilege of using a carriage!"
"..."
Xie Zhinuan sighed.
But thinking about it, she understood.
Even in the twenty-first century, aren't there some cars that common people cannot use, let alone afford?
She tore off a piece of steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth, listening to Old Yuan and the donkey cart owner chat idly.
"Once we pass the intersection up ahead, we'll be close to Zhao'an County town!" Old Yuan said cheerfully.
It had been almost three months since he'd seen the children, and he was indeed missing them a bit.
Xie Zhinuan smiled.
She wondered what this county town would actually be like?
Elsewhere
Li Hengyi and his entourage had also reached the intersection.
"Master, which direction should we head in?" Duobao inquired.
Li Hengyi, sitting inside the carriage, pondered for a moment before replying, "Fengping County!"
"Yes!"
Duobao understood.
Great General Xie Qian was headed to Fengping County to retrieve his sister, who had been lost for ten years and was directly related to him by blood.
The closer they got to Fengping County, however, the less and less he could detect the scent of cold bamboo.
"..."
Li Hengyi leaned on the cushion, his brows growing even more furrowed.
He had considered changing course to Zhao'an County, but having not seen Xie Qian for several years, ultimately the bond of old friendship triumphed over the unrealistic desires in his heart.
Liang Family of Fengping County
Xie Qian looked at the girl in front of him who had cried until her eyes were red and swollen and then carefully examined the jade pendant in his hand. The writing on the pendant, worn over many years, was already blurred and the jade itself was smooth and lustrous, especially since a piece was missing from the corner.
The jade was of high quality, identical to that of his and his two brothers, and after asking a few more questions, Liang Shuyue also produced a set of tiny clothes.
At the sight of the clothes, even the resolute and steady Xie Qian could not help but have his eyes well up with tears.
These were the clothes his little sister had been wearing when she went missing, which he remembered clearly.
"Little sister!" Xie Qian called softly.
Liang Shuyue murmured with a gentle voice, "Brother!"
Xie Qian gently took her into his arms, "Brother has come to take you home!"
"Mmm!" Liang Shuyue nodded.
Xie Qian gave the Liang family a sum of silver, an amount so large it could support ten Liang Shuyues, and the Liang family was so overwhelmed with joy that they were nearly fainting.
That very day, he took Liang Shuyue, no, now Xie Shuyue, to the posthouse, where the finest clothes had already been delivered. Insisting that she couldn't leave her wet nurse and maid behind, she brought them along.
Xie Qian, thinking of his sister who had been lost for ten years, did not refuse and allowed her to bring the two along. He had planned to travel overnight, but upon learning that Prince Jian Li Hengyi was coming to Fengping County, he decided to stay back to meet his old friend.
He told Xie Shuyue to rest early.
"Prince Jian?" Xie Shuyue asked.
The maid Cuicui hurriedly interjected, "That's the news we've heard!"
"..."
Xie Shuyue fell silent, and with her wet nurse Jiang Shi's persuasion, she refrained from any rash actions.