Chapter 11: Have a piece of cake!

Chapter 11: Have a Biscuit!

Everyone except Meng Changqing was puzzled. Why say things like that?

Wasn't this just discouraging the soldiers from following her?

Xi Bei coughed twice, about to offer Meng Changqing a word of advice, when he heard Meng Changqing say, "If you withdraw now, there will be no punishment."

Before, a single sentence had only caused a few dozen people to leave.

Now that these words were out, only thirty people remained on the scene.

Meng Changqing counted twice; it was exactly thirty people.

Xi Bei leaned over and said to Wei Fangyun, "Lord Wei, please trouble yourself to call the others back."

Wei Fangyun nodded, "I will do it right—"

Before he could finish, he heard Meng Changqing ask loudly, "Why aren't you leaving?"

Xi Bei really wanted to knock him on the head. If not for the concern that his injuries hadn't fully healed, he would have actually done it.

The thirty soldiers standing below the high platform looked at one another. One of them, standing in the front row, stepped forward.

This man was wearing armor and holding a long spear. He said, "I am Yang Zheng, a Tunqi Captain. I once served under General Meng, and I am willing to follow Young Master Meng!"

As his words landed, the remaining twenty-nine people also shouted, "We are willing to follow Young Master Meng!"

They didn't call her Lord Meng, but Young Master Meng. It was clear that her father had truly been a good man; thirteen years after his death, there were still people willing to abandon their futures to work for his 'son.'

"Good!" Meng Changqing said excitedly, "I will take you all. Hurry back to your tents to pack your bags. We leave the camp in the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn."

"Yes!"

The crowd surrounding the high platform dispersed. Wei Fangyun frowned and said, "Changqing, the Emperor ordered you to select one hundred men from the Liangzhou barracks. Regardless of whether they are willing or not, once you have chosen them, they cannot defy the imperial decree.

Why did you pull this stunt, only taking thirty people?"

"Uncle," Meng Changqing corrected, "I only took thirty for now. As for the remaining seventy, I will come to collect them next time."

"Very well. If you find yourself short-handed once you reach Beishan County, send me a letter at any time, and I will send the rest of the men to you."

"Many thanks, Uncle."

By the time the men were selected, it was past lunchtime. Wei Fangyun truly hadn't thought to arrange a meal for them. He urgently compiled the information of the thirty men into a booklet, handed it to her, and let her leave.

Leading the thirty men out of the camp, Meng Changqing had her master verify the list while she hid in the carriage to eat a biscuit.

The small curtain on the carriage window was lifted by the wind, and in that instant, Meng Changqing happened to meet Chu Mufeng's gaze.

Chu Mufeng had seen her eating a biscuit!

Chu Mufeng, riding on his horse, feigned a cough and awkwardly turned his head to look elsewhere.

Meng Changqing quickly wiped the crumbs from her mouth. From her few biscuits, she picked the smallest one, wrapped it in oil paper, and passed it out through the window. She whispered, "Lord Bai must be hungry too. Have a biscuit to tide yourself over."

Chu Mufeng hesitated for a moment, then steered his horse closer to the carriage and accepted the biscuit from her hand. "Many thanks, Lord Meng."

Before long, her master, Xi Bei, came over and said, "Changqing, the names and places of origin all match. Let's return to the city!"

"Return to the city."

The return trip was much slower than the journey there. Without Wei Fangyun urging them on, and with a squad of thirty people following behind—twenty of whom had no horses and could only walk slowly—it took time.

Inside the post house, Doctor Hu was once again blocked by Laicai.

"I don't need the Madam's reward, alright? Just let me go." Doctor Hu, carrying his luggage, was about to step out.

"No." Laicai stood firmly in the doorway. "The Madam said you must accept this reward."

"Then bring the reward here!"

"I can't. The reward is with the Madam."

Doctor Hu was so angry he slapped the table. "Then let me see the Madam! Why must you be left here to torture me!"

"I can't. The Madam has things to attend to right now; she will have time to see you later."

"When is 'later'? I've been waiting since this morning!"

"Don't be impatient," Laicai advised him. "In any case, I won't move. Anger harms the body; why make things difficult for yourself?"

Doctor Hu looked at him and gave a thumbs up. "Fine. I finally understand why Meng Changqing doesn't take you with her wherever she goes."

Laicai: "Because I am sufficiently steady. That's what the Young Master said."

"Laicai." Madam Wen's voice sounded from outside the door. She was being supported by Liang Jiujiu as she walked toward them.

"Madam, you've finally come. This blockhead has been blocking me all day." Before Madam Wen could speak, Doctor Hu immediately threw out his lines about leaving.

"Doctor Hu, please don't be impatient. Please look at this letter." Madam Wen took a folded letter from her sleeve. The envelope was still sealed; it clearly hadn't been opened.

Doctor Hu remained wary of the letter. "What is that? Forget it, I don't..."

"It would be best if you took a look. This is the reward I want to give you." Madam Wen stepped forward and placed the letter in Doctor Hu's hand.

As soon as Doctor Hu looked down, he saw the writing on the envelope. Wasn't this his wife's handwriting?

He quickly tore it open to read. The gist of the letter was: Knowing you went to Liangzhou, we mother and daughter have also set out. We are currently halfway there. We hope that after you receive this letter, you will wait at the post house in Liangzhou City.

Doctor Hu pointed at the contents of the letter and asked Madam Wen, "Why?"

Madam Wen said, "There is more than one road from the capital to Liangzhou. I was worried you and your wife and daughter would take different paths, so it is better to wait here."

Doctor Hu's anger flared. "I have been wholeheartedly devoted to your Meng family. Why would you trick my wife and daughter into coming here?"

"It was not a trick. I corresponded with your wife and told her about the situation Changqing is facing. Your wife also believes it is better for you to stay in Liangzhou." Madam Wen knelt before Doctor Hu. "I implore you to stay. Without you, she has no one to seek medical advice from.

I dare not be greedy and ask you to stay by her side at all times, I only ask that you protect her for one more year.

Once she is a little older, regardless of whether she can return to the capital then, I will never stop you again."

Doctor Hu's hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, then clenched again. He did not dodge Madam Wen's kneeling, which meant he was destined not to dodge this request. "One year. I will only stay in Liangzhou for one year, and I will only stay within Liangzhou City. Unless Meng Changqing is about to breathe her last, no matter the situation, make her come here herself for treatment."

"Many thanks, Doctor Hu." Madam Wen took another folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Doctor Hu.

"What is this now?"

"I have rented a pharmacy for you in Liangzhou City. This is the contract." Madam Wen said, "While you are here for the year, you can also run the shop and sell medicine to make a living."

Doctor Hu gritted his teeth. "Madam is truly meticulous in every calculation."

Meng Changqing calculated the time; it was around four in the afternoon when she finally saw the city walls of Liangzhou Prefecture.

"Young Master, there are many people gathered at the gate ahead. It's unclear what is happening," Bafang, who was driving the carriage, reported from outside. "Master says he will go ahead to take a look."

"Go ahead."

Before long, Xi Bei returned. "The city gate is blocked. Those people are refugees who came from the East Gate. Fearing they might break into the city and cause trouble, the guards at the gate dare not open it."

(End of chapter)