Chapter 222 Small Station
Liu Li listened to the sound of reading coming from the carriage in front, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
No way, no way, can't you let me take a break?
Liu Ji was so excited in the academy, and now he is on his way and he is reading a book?
Da Zhuang listened to the five fathers and sons reading their own books. He felt his ears buzzing and inexplicable anxiety in his heart.
So he tentatively suggested: "Second Young Master, why don't you take advantage of the good weather and read some books?"
Liu Li's mouth twitched slightly, and he said firmly: "No!"
In fact, he has a very stable mentality. After all, it has been ten years since he started studying there. If it weren't for the accident two years ago where his legs were broken by horse bandits, he would have definitely passed the preliminary examination and the provincial examination last year.
Now that he has recovered from his injury and successfully passed the preliminary exam, he himself is not surprised.
As for the provincial examination, Liu Li was also confident.
The teacher has said that he should keep a good attitude and perform as usual.
In addition, he has been studying for so many years and now he finally has a chance to take a break. Liu Li just wants to relax along the way, appreciate the different beautiful scenery in other places, and face the provincial examination with a relaxed attitude.
However, with the sound of reading rising and falling from the carriages in front, Liu Li gradually wavered. He held out for less than two quarters of an hour, and amid Da Zhuang's helpless regret, he picked up the book with a painful look on his face.
But you know what, reading a book actually calms my mind, and even this shaky journey seems to go by faster.
Before the sun set, the two families' carriages successfully stopped next to the post station.
The post station here was set up for officials, and only people from the court could go in to stay for free, change horses, etc.
But passing merchants and travelers could spend some money to stay overnight at the inn, or order a meal and hot water for washing in the lobby.
However, this is based on the premise that the inn still has the capacity to accommodate guests, or that no court officials are staying there tonight.
If it is a major transportation route, there will be private inns next to the post station where ordinary people can stay for the night.
But the probability of encountering such a thing is very small, and it can only be found on the smooth road leading to the capital.
Qin Yao parked the carriage and asked the four brothers and sisters to get off and take a walk.
After sitting in the carriage for a whole day, my legs and feet will become numb if I don't move them.
The four brothers and sisters, who were full of energy when they set out, had now lost all their energy due to the fatigue of the journey. The older one, holding the younger one's hand, jumped off the carriage and looked around at this strange place.
Because of the unknown, I was subconsciously a little timid. I stayed close to my parents and didn't say a word.
This is a very small inn, surrounded by dense bamboo forests, which block out the already limited sunset light, making it even darker.
An official road that could accommodate one horse carriage passed through the bamboo forest. The post station was built beside the official road and consisted of only two simple wooden houses.
The slightly larger one is the lobby of the inn. One third of it is the living room and counter, with a set of old tables and chairs.
The remaining half is covered by a bamboo screen, which should be a bunk bed for rest.
There was no one inside, but the door was open. Perhaps the postmaster in charge of the post station had left for some reason.
There was also a small, semi-open-air stable with an old brown horse tied in a pen, its cloudy eyes staring at the people on the roadside.
Sanlang shrank timidly behind his father and held on to the corner of his clothes.
Liu Ji rubbed his son's head with his backhand in amusement, "Don't be afraid, it's tied up, it won't bite you."
Sanlang had a tearful face and became even more frightened. The horse would bite people!
Da Zhuang was guarding the carriage while Liu Li came over to join Qin Yao's family. He looked at the two small houses in the dim bamboo forest ahead. He didn't know whether it was because the people in the inn didn't light lanterns, so it seemed dim, or if it was just his own psychological problem, but he always felt it was eerie.
They were not court officials and had no right to stay in the inn, but if they wanted to stay next to someone for a night, they had to at least inform them.
But now, Liu Li was a little afraid to get close, and muttered softly, "If I had known that we just passed by that town, I would have gone into the town and stayed at the inn."
When you are away from home and are unfamiliar with the place, it is normal to make occasional mistakes in judgment.
Qin Yao was thinking about completing today's mileage. Liu Li also thought that the weather was very good today and there was no rain at night. It would be safe to sleep in a carriage or a tent. Thinking that they could save some accommodation costs, they decided to continue to rush to the post station.
But now, standing by the roadside and looking at the lonely, deserted post station, I still feel a little regretful.
Liu Ji looked at the people parked on the side of the road and asked tentatively, "Why don't we go over and take a look first?"
Qin Yao nodded. She had to take a look to avoid scaring herself.
Qin Yao arranged for Liu Ji and Da Zhuang to stay there with the four children and wait. She carried an inconspicuous quiver and bow, gave Liu Li a wink, and the two of them walked towards the deserted and dim inn together.
Before leaving, Qin Yao signaled Dalang to be alert.
The tacit understanding cultivated in the deep mountains and dense forests made the young boy immediately understand. He drove his younger brothers and sisters onto the carriage, secretly holding the dagger hidden at his waist, standing beside the carriage, always paying attention to the official roads and bamboo paths around him.
This calm and composed look was quite similar to Qin Yao, which made Da Zhuang secretly amazed. Even if the villagers came, they would probably think that this was a real mother and son.
Night gradually fell, and from time to time one or two unknown bird calls were heard in the woods. Liu Ji raised his eyebrows, and was affected by the strange atmosphere. He subconsciously moved closer to Da Zhuang, looking eagerly at Qin Yao and the other person who had already walked to the entrance of the post station.
"Is anyone there?" Liu Li asked, standing at the door.
There was no response from inside. He glanced at Qin Yao and raised his voice again to ask loudly: "Is there anyone there?!"
The only answer he got was a gust of wind that blew in from the back of the house through the window and toward the front door, mixed with dust. Liu Li wrinkled his nose uncomfortably, and it was a bit choking.
He couldn't help but sneeze.
Qin Yao's eyes changed instantly. She raised her nose and smelled a faint smell of blood.
Seeing Liu Li was about to step in, she blocked him with her arms and said, "I'll go, you wait for me outside."
"What, what's wrong?" Liu Ji then realized that Qin Yao's expression was not right. Her eyes were particularly sharp, like an eagle hunting in the sky, which made him feel uneasy.
Qin Yao did not explain, because she was also confused. She left Liu Li outside and walked into the dim and dilapidated inn alone.
As soon as she entered, Qin Yao saw a pool of what looked like blood on the empty table.
It was the kind of blood stain that was left behind as if someone had tried to cover it up by wiping it with something, but in a hurry and panic, they didn't wipe it completely clean.
Looking at the various furniture and objects that were carefully arranged neatly in the inn, as well as the clean counter, it was not difficult to judge that the bloodstain was left not long ago.
Qin Yao listened carefully for a while and was sure that there was no one in the room.
She took a few steps forward and found a few drops of blood.
Following the blood trail all the way to the back door, Qin Yao raised her hand to open the back door to continue checking when the horse in the stable next door suddenly snorted.