maidservant

Chapter 155 The carriage travels north and south, swaying and scattered.

Upon smelling it, Yun Shan noticed the rich and mellow aroma, clearly indicating that it was carefully blended from top-quality medicinal herbs.

It's surprising that Situ Zhen, who is usually very frugal, is so generous.

"Don't look at me like that," Situ Zhen said irritably, as if he could read her mind. "These are just some medicinal herbs I grabbed on the spur of the moment, they weren't recorded in the books."

Under Li Niao's meticulous care, the two days passed quietly. Li Niao personally brewed nourishing medicinal soup, and the aroma of the medicine filled the room, gently wafting into Yun Shan's nostrils.

She would also gently wipe the area around Yunshan's wounds with a warm handkerchief from time to time. The originally hideous external wounds on Yunshan's body had begun to scab over and heal, and those dark red scabs were a testament to the gradual improvement of the wounds.

Her originally bloodless cheeks gradually regained a faint blush, like peach blossoms in early spring, not intense, but heralding the return of life.

Li Niao sat on the edge of the couch, holding Yun Shan's hand tightly, her eyes filled with heartache and a hint of reproachful anger:

"It's thanks to your good constitution that you recovered so quickly. You mustn't treat yourself like this again! Seeing you suffer like this hurts me more than if I were injured myself." As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly.

Yun Shan felt the warmth of Li Niao's hand and her heart was filled with warmth. She slowly got up and tried to walk a few steps in the room. Finding that her legs were fine, she smiled and said, "Now that I can walk, if I stay here any longer, I'll be an ungrateful guest. I want to go back today so that my family won't worry."

Although Li Niao was reluctant to part with Yun Shan, she knew that Yun Shan was eager to return home. She immediately busied herself preparing a comfortable carriage and had thick cushions and blankets placed inside.

Afterwards, she personally escorted Yunshan to Li Mao's door, repeatedly instructing her before parting: "If anything happens, be sure to send someone to tell me."

From afar, Xiaoyue could be seen standing guard at the door with red eyes. As soon as she saw Yunshan, tears welled up in her eyes.

Inside the side courtyard, Xiaoyue carefully examined Yunshan's wounds while speaking with a hint of relief:

"That corrupt official offended the Princess. Fearing repercussions, the people behind him not only failed to protect him but also proactively reported Mei Renxing's numerous crimes of abusing his power for personal gain. Now he has been dismissed from office!"

"That's good, at least I didn't suffer for nothing." Yun Shan forced a smile, trying to comfort Xiao Yue.

Xiaoyue sat down by the bed, gently took Yunshan's hand, and said in a choked voice, "Ashan, you don't have to keep it from me all the time. These days, you go to the clinic before dawn every day and stay there all day. You're clearly afraid I'll worry... Before Grandpa passed away, he said that you must always take care of your own life first. Although separation from loved ones is painful, you must never get stuck in it and not be able to get out!"

Yunshan grasped Xiaoyue's hand in return and nodded solemnly: "I know, elder sister."

Xiaoyue's eyes were full of heartache and worry as she said softly, "This capital city is full of painful memories for you. Why don't you take some silver and have the guards escort you out of the capital to clear your mind? See the misty rain of Jiangnan and the scenery of the northern frontier. A change of environment can also change your state of mind."

Yunshan didn't have any expectations for these things; she simply echoed Xiaoyue's words, "Okay."

I slept for half a day, and the sun had already begun to set.

Yun Shan walked into the courtyard, her fingertips trembling slightly as she held the bone whistle.

A crisp whistle broke the silence, and Zhanqian, dressed in black, landed as lightly as an owl, the wind stirred up by his clothes swirling up a few withered leaves.

"You've been here the whole time?" Yun Shan looked at the other person, her voice tinged with surprise.

Zhan Qian raised his bloodshot eyes, his gaze sweeping over her bandaged wrist: "I've been secretly following you since the day you went to prison."

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice filled with self-reproach, "The general's last order before his death was to protect you, yet I've let you suffer so much."

Yun Shan gently shook her head, the moonlight casting a silvery frost on her pale face: "This was my own carelessness, how can I blame you?"

She suddenly remembered something and asked, "I wonder if you'd be available? I'd like to discuss something with you."

"Madam Li has already told me."

Zhan Qian interrupted her, the sword at his waist clanging softly with his movement. "Military orders are absolute; no matter where you are, I will never leave your side."

Three days later, as dawn broke, Xiaoyue had a sandalwood chest filled with clothes loaded onto the carriage, with several silver notes tucked at the bottom. The female doctor, Liao, held Yunshan's hand, repeatedly giving her instructions. The two chatted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the aroma of medicine mingling with the scent of cosmetics filling the air.

"Are you really not going to rest for a few more days?" Xiaoyue asked, her eyes filled with worry as she held onto the carriage shaft.

Yunshan lifted the carriage curtain embroidered with twin lotus blossoms, revealing a reassuring smile: "It's just some minor injury, nothing serious."

Before he finished speaking, the glossy steed trotted along, and Zhanqian, who had just landed on its back, threw his luggage into the sedan chair.

The wheels of the cloud cart creaked as they rolled over the bluestone pavement.

"Where to?" Zhanqian asked.

Watching the city gate gradually shrink, Yun Shan said softly, "Let's go straight."

Zhanqian silently pulled on the reins, the sound of hooves mingling with the wind, echoing on the empty official road.

They handed over the pass and passed through the north gate.

The further north you go, the colder the weather becomes.

Throughout the journey, Zhanqian remained silent, as did Yunshan.

Sometimes, the two might spend the whole day with little conversation, simply finding a couple of inns to rest at night and eating simple meals during the day.

One day, a sandstorm arose, and Yunshan heard a whooshing sound outside the carriage.

Yunshan lifted the curtain and saw Zhanqian leaning against his horse, tilting his head back and gulping down a mouthful of strong liquor. The north wind, carrying the smell of alcohol, blew against her face, and a pang of sorrow rose in her heart.

"What did General Lin often do when he was young?" Her voice was torn apart by the wind.

Zhanqian paused, his hand holding the wine jug trembling, a hoarse voice escaping his throat.

As each sip of strong liquor went down, those long-forgotten memories slowly unfolded.

When the name "Gu Hou" was mentioned, his knuckles holding the teapot suddenly turned white.

"He's your own brother?! He went to Nanyi with Lin Xiao?" Yun Shan looked at the other person's tense profile and suddenly realized how heavy this pain was.

"No news means he's still alive!" Zhan Qian jumped to his feet, startling his horse into a neigh. His voice held an almost obsessive determination. "He must be trapped somewhere, unable to return."

Yunshan looked at his red-rimmed eyes, her throat tightening with emotion: "Yes, he must be alright."

The two sat side by side on the carriage shaft, the strong liquor steaming in the cold wind, but it couldn't warm their hearts.

The north wind was still too biting; Yunshan felt the wind getting into her mouth, causing her teeth to ache.

After enduring the pain for one day, the next day the pain became so intense that he couldn't speak.

She took out the Sanhuang Qin Dan from her bag and swallowed it with cold water. After the medicine took effect, she was only able to drink half a bowl of porridge.

Zhan Qian looked at her pale face, his gaze sweeping over the gradually lowering, yellowing mountains in the distance. Yun Shan was, after all, a woman, and she had been exhausted both physically and mentally lately. If she went to a cold place again, she might develop a chronic illness.

After packing his bags, he suddenly said, "If you have nowhere to go, come with me to Nanzhou to take care of some business!"

"Okay." Yun Shan looked at the horizon and nodded gently.

The carriage turned around, the dust it kicked up gradually dissipating into the twilight, carrying two wounded souls into the distance.