Chapter 7: Have Some Shame!

The fine, dense snow fell heavier and heavier. After six consecutive days, a thick layer had already accumulated on the road.

The refugees, already suffering from hunger and thirst, were even more tormented by the biting cold and starvation. Many elderly, weak, and infirm travelers collapsed along the way, unable to rise again, leaving a trail of wailing in their wake.

Yu Linlang lifted a small gap in the curtain, reaching out to take a crystal-clear, translucent snowflake, feeling its chill against her fingertips.

Since they had cleared two carriages overnight five days ago to make arrangements for the young General Zhao, the interior of their carriage was now piled with over a dozen crates of flowers and plants.

The master and servant often had to huddle together on one side, leaving no room even to place a charcoal brazier.

To allow Yu Linlang to rest a little more comfortably, Jiu Jin slept outside with the driver at night.

Through the freezing winds and driving snow of the night, they survived solely on bowls of ginger soup.

"Young General Zhao has brought more men to collect some grain again. He said they'll cook some millet and bean porridge tonight."

Jiu Jin stomped the snow off her legs and huddled into the carriage, bringing a bowl of ginger soup to Yu Linlang.

"Following your instructions, we donated our last four bags of millet. It’s just a small gesture of goodwill."

Yu Linlang nodded.

"Sigh, even though we brew three large vats of ginger soup every night, there are just too many refugees. There isn't enough to go around."

"Do your best," Yu Linlang said indifferently, showing little emotion.

The world is full of pitiable souls, as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river; to claim one could help them all would be nonsense.

"I heard there is a young lady from the Li Estate ahead who gave up her own traveling carriage for the hungry. Many people are kneeling and calling her a living Bodhisattva."

Yu Linlang nodded again, her expression noncommittal.

Jiu Jin lifted a corner of the cloth curtain and pouted toward the window. "Look, that Miss Li has been standing there for a long time. She just stands there in the howling wind without getting tired."

Yu Linlang’s gaze swept past, pausing on the elegant Miss Li, who stood with her swan-like neck held high, before settling on a carriage positioned slightly behind her.

"It is said that the Imperial Court has dispatched two pacification envoys to coordinate disaster relief. The person in that carriage is the heir to the Marquis of Xuanping's estate from the capital."

Yu Linlang shook her head. "That Marquis of Xuanping's estate must be a place lacking imperial favor."

"What do you mean, Miss?" Jiu Jin asked curiously.

"If the imperial grace were bountiful, why would they dispatch someone whose illness is bone-deep and whose life hangs by a thread to come out and seek death in the dead of winter?"

"Should we send someone to investigate his background?"

"Why would I investigate him?" Yu Linlang replied, sounding somewhat exasperated. "He is merely a dying man; what does he have to do with me?"

She reached out and tapped the young girl's forehead. "Stop being so suspicious all day. Get some rest. At this rate, we'll need two more nights to reach the city."

However, in the middle of the night, Yu Linlang was awakened by a series of arguments.

Rubbing her throbbing head, Yu Linlang stretched her limbs. "Who is making such a racket outside?"

"Miss, it's the daughter of Governor Li! She has caught a cold and wants to ask you to come take a look!"

Nanny Hu raised her voice to a piercing pitch, urging urgently, "Come down and look quickly! This girl Jiu Jin is being far too impolite!"

"What? I already said my lady is not a doctor! If you're sick, go to a clinic or a pharmacy. Coming here in the middle of the night to disturb my lady's rest—that is the true impoliteness!"

"If you dare to lift this curtain without permission, I'll chop off your hands, you old rogue!!"

With Jiu Jin's sudden roar, the two old women who were trying to force the curtain open retreated sheepishly.

Yu Linlang lifted half the curtain herself, her gaze sweeping coldly over the crowd beneath the carriage.

Nanny Hu led several maids to push the driver aside. Standing before Jiu Jin were two powerful-looking old women, presumably servants from Governor Li's household.

"Miss Yu," Nanny Hu stepped forward, her words coming out like a rapid-fire cannon, "saving a life is like fighting a fire! Please, hurry over and check on her. That Miss Li's father is a colleague and friend of our Master; you must do your utmost to treat her."

Yu Linlang raised her eyelids slightly. "The lady is of noble status. Someone like me, who only possesses rudimentary medical knowledge, would likely be unfit for the role of a physician."

The woman from Governor Li's household stamped her foot in anger. "Is it not because the roads ahead are blocked by refugees, making the carriage move so slowly that we cannot enter the city immediately, that we have come to beg Miss Yu?"

"What kind of attitude is that when asking for help? Who are you trying to intimidate?"

The other woman was much more tactful. Seeing the situation, she quickly knelt on the ground with a "thud" and wailed, "Miss, you are merciful and compassionate! Please, save my lady!"

Yu Linlang remained calm, waving her hand. "Fine, I will go and take a look. However, I only know the basics of medicine, and I have no suitable drugs on hand."

"Do you actually have the confidence to treat my lady or not?" The constant excuses infuriated one of the women, who flew into a rage.

Yu Linlang shook her head very calmly. "How can I have confidence when I haven't even seen the person?"

"Go carry the Third Young Lady over here," the woman from the Governor's estate said coldly. "Call more maids and old women to tidy up the carriage so my lady can lie down comfortably."

Jiu Jin's mouth hung wide open, seemingly speechless at the sheer audacity of the people before her...

Nanny Hu, however, had already led several maids forward, bowing and scraping as they complied. "Yes, yes, of course."

"Yes, my foot!!" Jiu Jin snapped back to her senses, her chest nearly exploding with rage. "If you want a medical consultation, then have one. What is this? You're acting like a temple hosting a banquet! Does the Li Governor's estate think they can just swoop in and take over?"

"How dare you speak like that? That is the daughter of the Governor! How is this 'swooping in'?" Nanny Hu tried to grab Jiu Jin, but the latter raised a fist and struck her, leaving half of the old woman's face frozen in shock.

"Don't touch me!" Not satisfied with one punch, Jiu Jin rained several more blows down on Nanny Hu's head. "I thought you were the dog raised by the Governor's wife? Since when did you become the dog of the Governor's estate? They haven't even given you a bone to gnaw on, yet here you are barking and wagging your tail. Have you no shame?"

The two women from the Governor's estate turned pale with rage and looked up at Yu Linlang. "Miss Yu, this girl's fists and her mouth are far too fierce."

Yu Linlang actually gave them a faint smile. "You ladies overpraise me."

It was an ordinary face, yet this smile was like the first thaw of snow, rippling like clear water, leaving Mu Feng—who had specifically run down from the carriage to watch the commotion—momentarily dazed.

"Brother, brother!" He jumped onto the carriage in high spirits, speaking with great excitement. "The girl in the carriage opposite and even her maid are quite interesting! I've never seen such a formidable girl; she starts hitting people the moment she disagrees! Do you think if I sent someone to buy her, the young lady would be willing?"

"Peeping at women arguing in the middle of the night is not the act of a gentleman. And wanting to buy a maid who has been trained since childhood in a noble household—you are being ridiculous! If you are truly that idle, return to the city early for me and regroup with Lord Lu." Mu Zhao leaned against the side with a faint expression, a hint of fatigue in her eyes.

Mu Feng shrunk his head back. "I won't."

"I promised Mother before I left that I would stay by your side every step of the way to monitor your health at all times."