Blossom in Adversity

C75. Traveling Together (Part 2)

Chapter 75: Traveling Together (Part 2)

Large snowflakes floated down, and the captain of the soldiers at the city gate looked up at the sky. He was about to signal his brothers to prepare to close the city gate when the sound of galloping hooves grew closer.

Looking up, he saw several riders heading straight for the city gate.

"Sir, should we stop them?"

The captain gripped his sword handle, squinting at the group of people in the snow. "Stop them? Are we not allowing anyone to enter Chenping County?"

Although he said this, the captain still tightened his grip on the sword handle. This sword had not been drawn for many years, and he wasn't sure if he could still pull it out.

As the group approached, they slowed down. Hua Zhi adjusted her hood, relieved to see the city gate still open. Gu Yanxi rode forward and presented a token in front of them. The captain was startled and almost kneeled on the spot.

Gu Yanxi said in a deep voice, "Lead the way to the best inn in the county."

The captain quickly led the way to the side with his men.

Gu Yanxi rode back to Hua Zhi and said, "Let's go, it's getting colder."

Hua Zhi's hands and feet were already numb from the cold, and the inside of her thighs were sore from the saddle rubbing against them. The alternating sensations of cold and hot made her grit her teeth to prevent herself from crying out in pain.

She simply nodded and urged her horse forward to enter the city.

She didn't ask Gu Yanxi about the token he had shown earlier, assuming it was a form of identification. She had no interest in prying into the true identities of the people behind them.

The captain led the group to the largest inn in the county. After the others had entered, Gu Yanxi tossed a silver coin to the captain and advised, "Keep your mouth shut."

"Yes, yes, sir," the captain replied.

Hua Zhi struggled to walk into the room, sitting at the table for a while to relax her stiff body. She stood up, removed her cloak, and accidentally brushed against her burning thigh, causing her to gasp in pain.

There was a knock on the door, and Shao Yao's voice was heard, "Huahua, can I come in?"

"Come in," Hua Zhi replied.

Shao Yao peeked inside, signaled for the servants from the Hua family to bring in hot water, then shooed them out, closed the door, and rushed back. "Huahua, come and warm up with a wash."

Knowing they had a long journey ahead the next day, Hua Zhi didn't resist and slowly undressed before stepping into the wooden tub. The hot water stung her wounds, intensifying the pain.

Shao Yao frowned at the severity of the wound on Huazhi's thigh, "Huahua, you shouldn't soak for too long. The wound may worsen."

Hua Zhi nodded with closed eyes. After five days of continuous riding, her body was exhausted, relying solely on willpower to endure the harsh weather. The thought of facing more of the same weather on the journey ahead made her feel weak in the knees.

Shao Yao wanted to say more but seeing Hua Zhi in this state, she swallowed her words. She took out her medical kit and prepared a medicine for Hua Zhi. She needed to treat the wound before they could continue their journey the next day.

"Shao Yao."

It was Mr. Lu's voice. Hua Zhi opened her eyes, quickly got out of the tub, put on her clothes, and gestured for Shao Yao to leave.

Cracking the door open, Shao Yao asked, "Yan-ge, what's the matter?"

Gu Yanxi glanced at her and felt irritated by her guarded expression. He pushed the door open and entered. He held out his palm in front of Shao Yao, saying, "For the young lady."

Shao Yao took a whiff and her eyes lit up. It was a secret medicine from the palace!

Among all the medicines in the palace, this one was highly effective, especially for reducing swelling without leaving any marks. It was a perfect remedy for Hua Zhi's condition.

After closing the door with a bang, Shao Yao rushed back to help Hua Zhi onto the bed. She began to undo Hua Zhi's pants, saying, "Huahua, let me apply the medicine for you. Rest for the night, and you'll feel much better tomorrow."

Hua Zhi was used to Shao Yao's straightforwardness and complied with her, removing her pants and taking the medicine from her, asking, "Is this Mr. Lu's medicine?"

"Yes, he has plenty of good things. Don't be shy to accept his help," Shao Yao replied.

Only family members could be so informal. She and Mr. Lu were not that close. Hua Zhi made a mental note of this favor and applied the medicine to herself. The cool feeling of the medicine instantly relieved the burning sensation. Regardless of its effectiveness, Hua Zhi felt grateful for this act of kindness.

Shao Yao smirked, "Feeling better now? Isn't the medicine excellent?"

"Much better," Huazhi replied. The medicine dried quickly, and she put on her pants, feeling much lighter and more comfortable as she moved around.

As she opened the door to check on the meal preparation, Hua Zhi saw Gu Yanxi approaching with two servants carrying two large platters, each covered with lids.

"Eat something hot," he said.

Hua Zhi welcomed him inside, and the servants arranged the food, revealing steaming bowls under the lids.

Hua Zhi invited, "There's no need to be formal when we're away from home. Join us, Mr. Lu."

"Then I will respectfully obey your command." Gu Yanxi didn't hesitate, taking a seat and noticing the generous portions of food that even two young ladies couldn't finish.

After a hot meal and a pot of tea brought from home, Hua Zhi lifted her cup and said, "A toast to Mr. Lu for his help along the way and for the effective medicine."

"You're too kind, Miss. And for this favor, I must repay my share," Gu Yanxi replied. "I am the one who eats for free at the Hua family."

Someone who ate free rice looked up at him but did not expose him.

Hua Zhi lifted her head and smiled, gently patting Shao Yao's head. The comforting gesture made Shao Yao feel appreciated and less concerned about the status difference. Hua Zhi would treat her this way, but she wouldn't treat the Shizi in the same manner!

Gu Yanxi glanced at her and brought up the matter that concerned Hua Zhi the most. "Chenping County is a dividing line. South of Chenping County is still fine, with snow expected to arrive in about ten days. But as we head north, the snowfall intensifies, and this year, the snow has come earlier and heavier than usual. This may delay our journey."

Hua Zhi frowned, "Will we encounter situations where there's nowhere to stay overnight?"

"Yes, bring out the map."

Hua Zhi unfolded the map, and Gu Yanxi pointed to a section of the route ahead, "The northern regions are desolate, with only two inns along this stretch. In good weather, there shouldn't be an issue. But in this weather, both man and horse will struggle, and the journey will be significantly slower – it's impossible to rush through."

Hua Zhi shook her head, "We can't camp outside. A night in this weather would be fatal. Are there any inns?"

"There are, but it's best to steer clear of them. As the saying goes, poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people. If you trust me, I have a place in mind."

"If Mr. Lu is willing to endure hardships for a thousand miles with me, how could I not trust him at least this much? Mr. Lu, lead the way."

Gu Yanxi's eyes held a hint of a smile, and his lips curved upwards, making Shao Yao marvel at how unusually gentle the Shizi seemed at that moment.