Chapter 3: 3. Chapter 3: Taking You to a Better Life

Chapter 3: Taking You to a Better Life

“Oh, there’s no need for that,” Meng Changqing said. “I’ve learned a few tricks from Dr. Hu over the years. I can treat these kinds of superficial wounds myself.”

“A doctor cannot treat themselves; how can you tend to your own injuries?” Madame Wen leaned over and lifted the carriage curtain. “Jiujiu, why haven’t you come up yet?”

Liang Jiujiu looked up. “I think Dr. Hu seems to be in a very bad mood.”

“He’s worried about his family. Once we reach Liangzhou, I will have someone bring his family over as well.”

Liang Jiujiu brought the medicine and sat down beside Meng Changqing. “It’s just the right temperature, drink it quickly.”

Meng Changqing truly hated drinking herbal medicine.

It was too bitter.

And it wasn’t just bitter for a moment; the bitterness lingered and lingered.

Even after she finished it, the taste would spread throughout her mouth. Even if she burped in the middle of the night, that flavor would rise up from her throat.

There was no help for it; with her mother staring at her, she could only bite the bullet and drink it.

“I still don’t know why we had to leave the capital overnight,” Liang Jiujiu said, setting the empty bowl aside and waiting for the two of them to give her an explanation.

“The Emperor’s will is unfathomable…”

“Madame!” Before Madame Wen could finish, Liang Jiujiu interrupted her. “Let her say it herself.”

Meng Changqing gave an awkward smile. “I just used a bit too much force while playing around with the Crown Prince.”

“Used force? You kicked His Highness the Crown Prince?” Liang Jiujiu was incredulous. “Where did you get such audacity?”

Madame Wen placed a hand on her shoulder. “You can’t blame Changqing.”

“Madame is always too indulgent with her, which is why she is so lawless, daring to use violence against the Crown Prince.” Liang Jiujiu turned to Meng Changqing. “You should remember your status.” Her voice dropped very low. “You are different from others; how could you be so reckless?”

“Mother, we don’t need to be that cautious,” Meng Changqing said. “If I really just stood there and took the abuse without fighting back or speaking up, who in the palace would ever take me seriously?”

Meng Changqing tried to reassure her. “Oh, don’t be so pessimistic. Although Liangzhou isn’t as prosperous as the capital, it’s far away from it.

Those people who want to make our lives miserable won’t even be able to get close to us.

The Emperor sent me to Beishan County to be the Magistrate; that makes me the master of a county. To say something disrespectful: the mountains are high and the road is long, and the Emperor’s orders are hard to reach. I’m not going there to be a mere magistrate; I’m going to be a local emperor.”

“We will definitely live more comfortably in Beishan County than we did in the capital,” Meng Changqing promised. “Mother and Auntie, rest assured, I will take you to live a good life!”

Liang Jiujiu sniffled and tucked away the handkerchief she had been using. “Fine. In another two years, you’ll be grown up. Being away from the capital is just as well—it keeps you away from the strife.”

Madame Wen said to Liang Jiujiu, “I know you aren’t one to care for worldly goods. As long as our family is together and safe, it doesn’t matter where we are; it will be fine.”

“What time is it?” Meng Changqing suddenly asked.

“It’s almost the Hour of the Ox (1:00 AM – 3:00 AM).”

“Then you should go and rest,” Meng Changqing said. “We’ll start our journey early tomorrow. Let’s try to reach Beishan County before the end of the year; let’s not spend the New Year on the road.”

Madame Wen said, “I will handle everything, don’t you worry about it. Just focus on healing.”

Meng Changqing looked up at her. “Then many thanks, Mother.”

“Let’s go,” Madame Wen said to Liang Jiujiu. “Let her get a good night’s sleep.”

“Yes.” Liang Jiujiu exited first, waited by the carriage, and helped Madame Wen down.

Once everyone had left, Meng Changqing felt wide awake.

In the pitch-black carriage, only a faint sliver of light filtered in through the gaps.

The numbness in her back had worn off, and now it burned with pain, while her mouth was still filled with the taste of that medicine.

For these thirteen years, not a single day had passed without feeling stifled.

When the clansmen visited, she had to be on guard; when she entered the palace, she had to keep her tail tucked between her legs.

She couldn’t relax for even a moment.

But now, it was all good.

She was going to Beishan County, far away from the capital from now on.

What she said about being a local emperor wasn’t just to comfort her mother; that was exactly what she intended to do.

Once she got there, she would first establish her own base, and from then on, she would just lie flat.

When others made money, she would take bribes; when others attended court, she would sleep.

A wonderful life was finally about to begin!

Dreaming of her bright future, Meng Changqing drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, Liang Jiujiu came to the carriage to check on her, and she woke up as soon as the carriage moved.

“What time is it? Are we about to set off?”

“Madame has ordered breakfast to be made. Do you need to relieve yourself?”

Meng Changqing nodded; she was indeed bursting.

“I’ll help you up.”

The carriage was equipped with a chamber pot. Meng Changqing leaned on her aunt with one hand and the carriage wall with the other, struggling to stand up.

Just as she was letting her guard down, she suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from a distance.

“The carriage ahead, is it the Magistrate of Beishan County, Meng Changqing, and her family?”

A loud, masculine voice came from behind. Meng Changqing hurriedly pulled up her trousers.

Seeing the cold sweat on her forehead from the pain, Liang Jiujiu whispered, “Don’t worry. Your mother is outside; no matter who it is, she can handle it.”

“Judging by the sound of the hooves, it seems to be someone from the military.” Meng Changqing threw on her cloak and, supported by Liang Jiujiu, stepped out of the carriage.

Looking behind the carriage, there was indeed a squad of men in armor, riding military horses.

Judging by their attire, they were likely the Emperor’s Imperial Guards.

Meng Changqing couldn’t figure out what these people were here for.

Could the Emperor have rescinded his order?

That seemed unlikely; if he had, they wouldn’t have addressed her as the Magistrate of Beishan County just now.

Was it… that she had kicked the Crown Prince into disability?

Seeing Madame Wen walking toward them, Meng Changqing quickly called out, “Mother!” Don’t go over there.

Madame Wen understood the emotion in her eyes, but she knew better than anyone that this was a hurdle they had to cross.

So she said to Liang Jiujiu, “Help the Young Master back into the carriage.”

Meng Changqing leaned against the carriage, refusing to get in, staring fixedly at the squad of men.

This was a disaster she had brought upon herself; she had no right to run.

The leader of the group, seeing Madame Wen approach, dismounted and bowed respectfully. “I am Imperial Guard Chu Mufeng. By the Emperor’s order, I have brought eleven Imperial Guards to ensure the safety of Magistrate Meng.”

Madame Wen immediately knelt in the direction of the capital. “Many thanks to His Majesty. I, Meng Wen-shi, hereby kowtow in gratitude for His Majesty’s grace.”

After Madame Wen finished her formal kowtow, Chu Mufeng said, “Madame, please rise. His Majesty also has an item that he wishes for me to hand over to Magistrate Meng.”

By this time, Meng Changqing had been helped over by Liang Jiujiu.

Even though every step felt like her back was being rubbed with sandpaper, she forced a calm expression onto her face.

“I am Meng Changqing, greetings, Lord Chu.” Meng Changqing bowed with cupped hands.

Having heard his name, Meng Changqing understood his identity.

The second son of Prince Rui, Chu Mufeng.

‘Chu’ was his mother’s surname.

When Meng Changqing was idling away her time in the Eastern Palace, she had heard gossip about him.

Knowing it was him, Meng Changqing was certain that these people couldn’t be here to kill her.

Chu Mufeng was, after all, of royal blood; he wouldn’t be tasked with murder and silencing.

“Magistrate Meng.” Chu Mufeng pulled a black token from his robes. The edges of the token were heavily scratched, and a single character, ‘Meng’, was carved into the center.

Seeing this token, Madame Wen froze.

This was the command token of the Meng Family Army from years ago; whoever held this token was the Commander-in-Chief of the Meng Family Army.

After Changqing’s father died, this token had been reclaimed by the Emperor.

Now that the Emperor had given it to Changqing, what could it mean?