Chu Chu listened with rapt attention and couldn't resist asking, "What happened next? What became of those earthworms?"
"The earthworms are perfectly fine... I admitted my mistake."
"Did she forgive you?"
"Partially..."
"What do you mean by partially?"
"She returned my outer garment but burned the inner clothes..."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded thoughtfully. No wonder he couldn't ride a horse properly wearing only an outer garment.
Chu Chu said seriously, "You must not have apologized sincerely enough! Little Chili isn't a petty person!"
"Her heart isn't small - she's full of tricks..." Jing Yi said with a resentful look toward Xiao Jin Yu. "You knew she was here, why didn't you tell me?"
"If I had told you earlier, you would have run away long ago..." Xiao Jin Yu looked Jing Yi up and down. "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself through merit - do you still have the strength for it?"
"What is it?"
"Disguise yourself and infiltrate the military camp."
If not for his painful knees making him reluctant to move, Jing Yi would have jumped up. He stared wide-eyed at Xiao Jin Yu. "Infiltrate?!"
"Don't understand? Just pretend to be an ordinary soldier and blend in with them without being discovered."
Jing Yi's voice trembled. "Your Highness, you do know that's General Leng's military camp, right?"
The mere thought of his father-in-law, who despite being over sixty could still wield a long sword with formidable power, made Jing Yi's legs go weak. And now he was being asked to infiltrate the camp of this man renowned throughout the land for his strict military discipline? If he were discovered...
"General Leng has met you less than three times, totaling less than half an hour altogether. If you're careful, he won't recognize you."
"No, no..." Jing Yi waved his hands frantically. "Even if he doesn't recognize me, Leng Yue will!"
"Just hide properly."
"I don't know how to fight, and my legs still hurt. How am I supposed to pretend?"
"Perfect chance to pretend to be a wounded soldier."
Jing Yi looked like he was about to cry. "If you want to know something, why not just have Leng Yue pass along the message? Why make me infiltrate?"
"Leng Yue is too conspicuous - she can only investigate openly. The ghosts are in the shadows, so we need covert investigation."
Jing Yi took deep breaths, one after another, before finally looking pitifully at Xiao Jin Yu. "Your Highness... if General Leng catches me, you'll save me, right?"
"Hmm..."
Jing Yi pressed, "What does 'hmm' mean?"
Xiao Jin Yu's brows relaxed slightly. "That depends on the situation."
"..."
☆、68 Roasted Whole Lamb (Four)
As soon as Jing Yi limped out with a mournful expression, Chu Chu moved close to Xiao Jin Yu and tugged at his sleeve. "Your Highness, when will we reach the military camp?"
"Not far now," Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly, gently stroking her face. "Tired from riding in the carriage?"
Chu Chu quickly shook her head. "Not tired."
Xiao Jin Yu smiled somewhat sheepishly. "I'm a bit tired... The Liangzhou post station is just ahead. Let's rest there for two days before going to the camp, alright?"
Chu Chu seemed to want to say something but stopped herself. Pressing her lips together, she looked at the exhaustion Xiao Jin Yu couldn't conceal and nodded firmly. "Alright."
******Chu Chu had seen several courier stations on her way to the capital, all with high walls and heavily guarded. She assumed the Liangzhou station would be equally imposing, but upon stepping down from the carriage, she found it to be a dilapidated compound built in the desolate wilderness. Earthen walls enclosed a few low, poorly maintained huts, with only a wooden plaque bearing the words "Liangzhou Courier Station" hanging from the lintel as proof of its identity.
By the time they reached the station, dusk had fallen, and the wind whipped up coarse sand. The sound of hoofbeats echoed clearly across the uninhabited plains. Before the horses had even come to a halt, an elderly stationmaster with a thick beard hurried out to greet them. Seeing the eight guards dressed uniformly as Imperial Guards, he paused in surprise. Then, as a young woman alighted from the carriage, followed by two guards carrying a pale-robed young man in a wheelchair, the stationmaster grew even more bewildered. Noting the young man’s frail appearance and how he coughed uncontrollably from the dust as soon as he left the carriage, the stationmaster quickly ushered them into what could barely be called a front hall.
The stationmaster served hot tea to Xiao Jin Yu and Chu Chu. Waiting until Xiao Jin Yu’s coughing subsided and his breathing steadied, he cautiously asked, "Your Excellency... have you come from the capital?"
Xiao Jin Yu gave a slight nod.
Frowning, the stationmaster eyed him with skepticism. "This humble official has received no notice of any capital officials arriving these past few days..."
"I had not intended to stop here, but I fell slightly ill along the way... My apologies for the disturbance."
Anyone with eyes could see the clear signs of illness on Xiao Jin Yu’s face, yet the stationmaster’s brow remained furrowed. "Then... may I ask Your Excellency to present your official credentials? This humble official must record your visit."
"I’m afraid I don’t have official credentials..." Xiao Jin Yu produced a gold token from his robes. "Would this suffice?"
The stationmaster took the palm-sized gold token and examined it carefully by the lamplight. Seeing the character "An" engraved on the front, he was still puzzled. But when he turned it over and saw the pattern on the reverse, he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Zhou Qi, Stationmaster of Liangzhou, pays his respects to Prince An! I failed to welcome you properly and have been neglectful in my duties. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness..."
"The fault lies with me for not announcing my arrival earlier. Thank you for the hot tea, Stationmaster Zhou... Please rise."
The stationmaster scrambled to his feet, trembling as he returned the token with both hands, his voice quivering. "This humble official will prepare rooms for Your Highness at once..."
"Thank you for your trouble."
The stationmaster glanced at Chu Chu, who had been attentively caring for Xiao Jin Yu since their arrival. "Might I ask, Your Highness... how many rooms should I prepare?"
"One room for each of the eight guards... My consort and I will share one."
"Understood, understood..."
The interior of the room was as plain as the outside, but it was evident the stationmaster had done his best to tidy it. For a place to sleep, it was comfortable enough.
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