Large snowflakes drifted down in flurries. The captain of the city gate guards glanced at the sky and was about to signal his men to prepare to close the gates when the clatter of horse hooves approached from a distance.
Lifting his gaze, he saw several riders heading straight for the city gate.
"Boss, should we stop them?"
The captain rested his hand on his sword hilt, squinting at the group emerging through the wind and snow. "Stop them? Are we denying entry in Chenping County?"
Despite his words, the captain tightened his grip on the hilt. His sword hadn't been drawn in years—he wondered if it would even unsheathe smoothly.
The riders slowed as they drew near. Hua Zhi pushed back her hood and let out a long sigh of relief upon seeing the gates still open. Thankfully, they had made it in time.
Gu Yanxi urged his horse forward and presented a token. The captain's heart leaped, nearly dropping to his knees in reverence.
Gu Yanxi said gravely, "Lead the way to the best inn in town."
The captain hastily stepped aside with his men.
Gu Yanxi clattered back to Hua Zhi's side. "Let's go. It's getting colder."
Hua Zhi's hands and feet were numb from the cold, and the inside of her thighs burned raw from chafing against the saddle. The alternating sensations of freezing and scalding pain forced her to clench her jaw and keep her mouth shut, afraid a single sound would betray her agony.
She merely nodded in response, nudging her horse's flank to enter the city.
She didn't ask what Gu Yanxi had shown—it was undoubtedly proof of identity. She had no desire to pry into the true background of the man behind them.
The captain escorted the group to the largest inn in the county. After the others entered, Gu Yanxi tossed him a silver ingot. "Keep your mouth shut."
"Yes, yes, sir."
Hua Zhi forced herself into the room, sitting at the table for a long while before her body began to thaw. Rising to remove her cloak, she accidentally tugged at her searing thighs, hissing sharply in pain.
A knock came at the door, followed by Shaoyao's voice. "Hua Hua, may I come in?"
"Come in."
Shaoyao peeked inside, then stepped aside to let the Hua family servants carry in hot water. She promptly shooed them out, slammed the door shut, and hurried back. "Hua Hua, come wash and warm up."
Knowing they had to travel again tomorrow, Hua Zhi didn't resist. She slowly undressed, stepped onto a small stool, and sank into the wooden tub. The hot water stung her wounds, intensifying the pain.
Seeing the severity of the injuries on Hua Zhi's thighs, Shaoyao frowned. "Hua Hua, you can't soak too long. The wounds might fester."
Hua Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, her eyes closed. Five days of hard riding had pushed her body to its limits. Braving such snowy weather had required sheer willpower, and the thought of continuing under these conditions made her legs tremble.
Shaoyao wanted to say more but swallowed her words at the sight of Hua Hua's exhaustion. She fetched her medicine kit and began sorting through supplies—she needed to prepare a salve for Hua Hua. How could they continue tomorrow with injuries like these?
"Shao Yao."
It was Lu Xiansheng's voice. Hua Zhi opened her eyes, stood up, and stepped out of the tub, quickly dressing despite her damp skin. She gestured for Shaoyao to go out while she moved aside.
Shaoyao cracked the door open. "Yan Ge, what is it?"
Gu Yanxi shot her a disdainful look at her wary expression—as if he would barge in.
He opened his palm before her. "For the eldest young lady."
Shaoyao took it, sniffed, and her eyes lit up. Imperial secret medicine!If there's one thing the palace excels at, it's this particular medicine. After all, even noble consorts occasionally make mistakes, and generations of imperial physicians have refined this remedy to perfection. By the Great Qing Dynasty, it could reduce swelling instantly upon application, and most importantly, leave no scars. Perfect for Hua Hua.
With a bang, Shaoyao closed the door and rushed back, pulling Hua Hua down onto the bed. As she tried to remove Hua Hua's trousers, she said, "Hua Hua, let me apply the medicine. Rest tonight and you'll be much better by tomorrow."
Accustomed to her impulsiveness, Hua Zhi cooperated by removing her trousers and took the medicine from her hand. "I'll do it myself. Is this from Lu Xiansheng?"
"Yes, he has plenty of good stuff. Don't stand on ceremony with him."
Only among close friends could one dispense with formalities, and she hardly had that kind of relationship with Lu Xiansheng. Hua Zhi mentally noted this favor as she applied the cool, soothing ointment. The burning sensation vanished immediately. Regardless of its efficacy, she was grateful for this relief alone.
Shaoyao looked smug. "Feels good, doesn't it? Isn't the medicine great?"
"Much better." The medicine dried quickly. Feeling it had set, Hua Zhi touched it lightly, then put on her trousers and got out of bed to move around. Her body felt significantly lighter.
As she opened the door to ask the servants if the meal was ready, she saw Gu Yanxi approaching with two servants carrying large trays, each bowl covered with a lid.
"Have some hot food."
Hua Zhi opened the door wider to invite him in. The servants set out the dishes and removed the lids, revealing steaming bowls.
"While traveling, we needn't stand on ceremony. Please join us, Lu Xiansheng," Hua Zhi offered.
"Then I'll gladly accept." Gu Yanxi sat down without hesitation. The portions were generous, far more than two young women could finish.
After the warm meal, they brewed tea brought from home. Hua Zhi raised her cup. "Let me toast you with tea instead of wine, to thank you for your help along the journey and for the medicine—it works wonderfully."
"You're too kind, Miss Hua. Considering how my ward freeloads at your family's estate, it's the least I can do."
The freeloader shot him a glance but didn't expose him.
Hua Zhi smiled and patted Shaoyao's head—a soothing gesture that made Shaoyao immensely pleased and even more dismissive of the Heir. Hua Hua would treat her this way, but never him!
Gu Yanxi glanced at her and brought up what concerned Hua Zhi most. "Chenping County is the dividing line. South of it is still manageable; snow usually arrives about ten days later. But once we head north, the snow will only get heavier. This year, for some reason, it's started earlier than usual, with heavy falls. Our journey will likely be delayed."
Hua Zhi frowned. "Could we end up with nowhere to stay?"
"Possibly. Bring the topographic map."
Hua Zhi unfolded the map. Gu Yanxi pointed to a section of the route ahead. "The northern regions are desolate. There are only two relay stations along this road. In fair weather, it's manageable, but in this cold, even if we push ourselves, the horses can't take it. Our pace will slow regardless, making it impossible to reach them in time."
Hua Zhi shook her head. "We can't camp outside. A night in this weather would freeze us to death. Are there any inns?"
"There are, but as they say, harsh lands breed ruthless folk. It's best not to get involved with them. If you trust me, Miss Hua, I know of a place we can go.""Since Lu Xiansheng is willing to travel thousands of miles with me and endure such hardships, how could I not grant him even basic trust? Please lead the way, Lu Xiansheng."
Gu Yanxi's eyes held a faint smile, the corners of his lips slightly upturned. Shaoyao felt their heir appeared so uncharacteristically gentle at this moment.
PS: I have full-day meetings today and tomorrow, so there won't be double updates. When exhausted, I'll read your comments - they are Kongkong's source of motivation. Muah to all the ladies!
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