In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

As soon as the blade left the cloth, Yang Xuan's shoulders and back tensed almost imperceptibly.

This was extremely light.

It can be seen that it can be extended.

It's not that he isn't in pain.

They've long since developed the ability to keep their pain to themselves.

As the layers of cloth were peeled away one by one, Uncle Wen took a low breath.

Last night's ordeal was too intense; the few marks that had just healed started to bleed again. Although they weren't completely closed, they were far from safe.

Wen Bo lowered his voice:

"My lord, if we don't stop today, I'm afraid the heat will return in the evening."

Yang Xuan said:

"Then we'll talk about it tonight."

"It's not time to rest yet."

Yanhe continued working with his hands, but said calmly:

"Now is certainly not the time to rest, but if we really wear people down, then there won't be anyone left to orchestrate the scheme."

"I'm not Uncle Wen, I won't keep telling you nice things to save my life."

"I'll only ask you one question."

She slowly pressed the new medicine onto her face, her tone as steady as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"From now on, will you have to risk your life alone, or will you need to help others as well?"

Yang Xuan remained silent for a moment.

Outside the carriage, a horse snorted softly, and people spoke quietly by the shed. A breeze blew in through the gaps in the curtains, easing the stuffiness inside the carriage.

He then said:

"Naturally, it's done by someone else."

"Then don't burn yourself out first."

After saying this, Yanhe stopped talking and focused on applying the medicine and securing it with layers of new cloth.

Ah Fu was squatting by the car door, still holding his breath, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but secretly peek up.

He always felt that ever since they left Chang'an, the way the young master and the princess spoke to each other had gradually changed.

It's not softer.

It's actually harder.

But this kind of toughness isn't the kind of toughness that's used in the Prime Minister's residence, where every word is a direct and forceful rebuttal.

It's like both of them know they're on the same page, so neither of them has time to say nice things; they can only say the most effective ones.

After the medicine was changed, Uncle Wen handed the small inventory booklet into the car.

"My lord, while we're at a break, I'll take stock of everything I can count today."

"The cash, loose silk, medicinal herbs, leftovers from exchanging travel permits, and fodder for the carts and horses are all here."

Yang Xuan took it but didn't flip through it right away.

he asks:

"Is anything missing?"

Wen Bo paused for a moment.

"Not on the surface."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the people in the car all shifted.

It's not on the surface.

That means things may not be truly clean in secret.

Yang Xuan then spread out the inventory list.

Wen Bo's calligraphy wasn't particularly beautiful, but it was extremely steady.

I remember each and every detail in great detail.

The amount of silver, the number of loose coins, the number of packets of medicinal herbs, the contents of each cart, the horses that ran over last night, and the horses that should be slowed down today—all of this is clearly listed.

He didn't watch it quickly.

But as you turn the page, you gradually gain a better understanding.

The amount of money wasn't much.

It was even tighter than he had anticipated when he was in Chang'an.

The amount of medicine was not small.

However, it cannot withstand two more upheavals like those at Yongxingyi.

The carts and horses can still manage now, but if we have to stop for fodder and lodging along the way a couple more times, the true strength of this troop will be revealed.

As for the most important thing, it's not in the accounts.

In people.

Yang Xuan closed the inventory list, looked up and asked:

"Who looked back first after leaving the station this morning?"

Afu was taken aback, then his spirits lifted.

"I'll remember."

"The two servants in front of the horse were alright; although they looked back, they were focused on the road."

There are three people with the most restless minds.

"One of them was an old maid who used to work with the back cart; her surname was Liang."

"In the first quarter of an hour after she left the post station, she looked back three times, as if she was always afraid that someone would catch up with her."

"Another one is that young man who was trembling a bit last night, on Tuesday."

"As soon as the main vehicle rounded the bend, he reached for the bundle in his arms."

"There's another one, Dong Liu, who originally came from the Prime Minister's residence and was said to know how to take care of livestock."

"This man is not particularly noticeable, but this morning before he left, he asked Uncle Wen a couple of questions, asking if he wanted to set up a stove in the wild tonight if he didn't stay at the post station."

"It's like asking about the stove with your mouth, but asking about the way in your heart."

Wen Bo nodded upon hearing this.

"I saw Granny Liang too."

She's not a bad person.

"It's fear."

"The first thing this kind of person does is mess up, not their hands, but their mouth."

Yanhe put the medicine bowl aside and suddenly spoke:

"Then let's start by separating them from the mouth."

Everyone in the car looked at her.

Yanhe's expression remained unchanged.

"We don't all need to be loyal to each other."

"It can't be obtained even if you beg for it."

"But at least we must first distinguish who can approach, who can be observed, who can be used, and who can only be ordered to follow."

"If we don't divide them up first, any slip of the tongue by anyone later could be more deadly than those few horses lying in wait on the main road."

Cui Shen, who had been waiting outside, heard the discussion inside the carriage reach this point, lifted the curtain half an inch, and whispered:

"The princess is right."

"After night fishing last night, I kept thinking that although we look like a team, our hearts are not in the same place."

"If we really want to divide it, it can probably be divided into four layers."

Yang Xuan raised his chin.

"explain."

Cui Shen stepped into the carriage but did not sit down; he simply stood by the door.

"The first level is where your life is already tied to the line."

"Afu, Pei Zhao, Wen Bo, Cai Fan... and me."

"For people at this level, there's no need to test their loyalty anymore; now it's just a matter of who can handle the most."

"The second group consists of those who have already traveled this far with the vehicle. Although they may not dare to risk their lives, they know that they are even less likely to survive if they leave the main vehicle."

"This floor is usable."

"But someone has to keep an eye on things, and someone has to keep them in check."

"The third level consists of people like Granny Liang and Zhou Er."

"They're not bad, they just sway when the wind blows."

"If you give him a reassuring word today, he can stay calm for half a day; but if you let him hear something bad tomorrow, he can stir up the morale of half the team."

"This layer must not be approached."

"The fourth floor..."

Cui Shen paused for a moment after saying this.

"The fourth level is those who follow along the way, but are always looking to see which way the wind is blowing more smoothly."

"These people may not have betrayed anyone yet, but if things really come to a critical point, their first thought will not be to hold on, but to find a way out for themselves."

Whether Dong Liuxiang is on this level or not remains to be seen.

The car fell silent.

Yang Xuan suddenly smiled.

"These past few days, Mr. Cui has really started to show some signs of being in charge."

Cui Shen gave a wry smile.

"I wouldn't dare."

"But my fate has followed my husband south. If I don't hurry up and learn something useful, I'll seem worthless."

Ah Fu listened in stunned silence.

He used to judge people based solely on their appearance, deciding who he liked and who he didn't.

Hearing these words now, I realize that the same group of people can be divided into so many layers in my mind.

Pei Zhao then lifted the curtain and entered, placing his waist knife across his lap and leaning against the carriage door, saying:

"If it is really divided into four layers, then the third and fourth layers cannot be mixed together."

The third level is being soft-spoken.

"The fourth layer is the bone slippery layer."

"If a person who is soft-hearted is afraid and suppressed, they may still be able to continue."

"People with slippery bones are different. If you give them a way out, they will take that way out as the right path."

That's a more direct way of putting it.

It's also colder.

Wen Bo glanced at Pei Zhao but did not refute him.

Because although this statement is harsh, it is not wrong.

The team has long since passed the point where anyone could lead them on their journey.