Chapter 5: 5. Chapter 5: Constant Perils and Vigilant Prevention

Chapter 5: Beset by Worries, Tread Carefully

Madam Wen did not seem surprised. "How is everyone at home?"

"Three were injured, though only superficial wounds," Dai Dongwen replied. "Those people already know the young master is not at home; they will surely pursue us along the way."

Madam Wen looked toward the group of Imperial Guards. "It seems His Majesty foresaw this."

"Madam, the house and the family business cannot be abandoned in a moment. The young master's safety is the current priority. Please, let us accompany the young master."

"You know as well as I do what kind of people the General's clansmen are," Madam Wen said. "As long as there is no one in charge at home for even a single day, they will dare to barge in. If the Meng estate cannot be held, Changqing will have no path of retreat."

Dai Dongwen took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Very well. I will remain at the Meng estate and ensure the young master's retreat is secured, but please, Madam, take them with you."

Madam Wen’s gaze fell upon the other family members. Just as she was about to speak, the voice of Meng Changqing came from the tightly sealed carriage, "Uncle Dongwen, come in and speak."

Madam Liang had already stepped down from the carriage. Seeing Madam Wen nod at him, Dai Dongwen took long strides and climbed aboard.

As soon as Dai Dongwen entered, he nearly stepped on his young master's head.

He saw Meng Changqing lying face down in the center, head pointed toward the exit.

Dai Dongwen pulled his foot back just in time and sat down, pressing himself against the carriage wall. "Young master, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Meng Changqing turned her head to face him. "I left in a hurry last night and brought few people. It wasn't that I didn't have time to notify more people to pack, but that I could only bring so many."

"The family is in a difficult position now. I am not yet of age, the clansmen are waiting for an opportunity to strike, and there are those in both the inner palace and the imperial court who hate me. The only one who can protect me is His Majesty."

"The reason His Majesty protects me is out of pity. If I show that I am not so pitiful, His Majesty will inevitably grow wary."

"General Meng and the three young masters all died for the country, leaving only you as the sole seedling." Anger welled up in Dai Dongwen. "I don't even know whose world we are guarding. Our absolute loyalty is laid out right before his eyes, yet he still feels the need to guard against you."

"The heart of an emperor is always fickle." Meng Changqing steered the topic back to the people she had brought. "His Majesty allowed me to select one hundred Meng family soldiers as my personal guard. Once I reach Liangzhou, I will naturally have people to use. The home needs people more than I do by my side."

"The Meng family soldiers are far away at the border. On this journey..."

"There are Imperial Guards protecting us along the way," Meng Changqing said. "If His Majesty cannot even protect me, then his throne won't last many more days."

"Young master, even if they are people sent by the Emperor, you must remain vigilant. There is no guarantee that there aren't other factions among them."

Meng Changqing nodded and then instructed Dai Dongwen, "Do not let any idlers enter the house. Even the servants in the estate must be guarded against; do not let them near my study or my mother's quarters."

"Compared to someone taking my life outright, I am more afraid of something suddenly appearing in the house."

Dai Dongwen nodded solemnly. "I have noted it."

"Right!" Dai Dongwen slapped his thigh. "From the capital to Liangzhou, we must pass through Wanzhou. Xi Bei returned home to handle his eldest brother's funeral; he should be in Wanzhou now. I will send a letter immediately, asking him to wait for you at the post stations along the route."

Xi Bei was Meng Changqing's martial arts master. Half a month ago, he received a letter from home saying his eldest brother was critically ill and likely wouldn't live much longer, and he wanted him to return to see him one last time.

Just yesterday, Xi Bei sent word that his brother had passed away and that he would wait until the funeral was over and family affairs were settled before returning to the capital.

Now it was simpler; he wouldn't need to return to the capital, just wait along the route.

Outside the carriage, Doctor Hu held a food box and urged them repeatedly, "How much could they possibly have to say? If we wait any longer, the medicine will be cold."

"I suppose there are family matters to discuss."

"Madam, you are the mistress of the Meng family. What family business can't be discussed with you?"

Madam Wen said, "Changqing is the master of the house."

The carriage curtain lifted, and Dai Dongwen jumped down. He said to Madam Wen, "Madam, we are returning to the estate now. You and the young master must also hasten your journey. Everything will be settled once we reach Liangzhou... Hm? Doctor Hu, why are you here?"

"You ask why I'm here?" Doctor Hu climbed into the carriage with a gloomy face.

Meng Changqing waved at him. "Yo, Doctor Hu, why are you in such a bad mood so early in the morning?"

"Can one be in a good mood when saddled with a disobedient patient?"

Meng Changqing understood; he must have seen her get out of the carriage earlier. "It's nothing, it's nothing. The wounds on my back are just superficial; a few days of rest will be enough."

"Superficial wounds?" Old Hu snorted. "Twenty strokes of the palace paddle can kill a person. You are so young, and if you are beaten like this and don't recover properly, you will be left with hidden injuries."

Hidden injuries, so be it. Meng Changqing didn't care.

She didn't intend to live long anyway, as long as she could outlive that batch of elderly clansmen in the capital.

However, there was no need to say such things out loud.

Of course, aside from that one time she got up to walk a few steps, she had been very well-behaved afterward.

Except for when she couldn't hold back the need to relieve herself, she spent the rest of the time lying flat and recuperating.

She was young, after all, and with a doctor accompanying her, Meng Changqing's wounds healed rapidly.

Half a month later, Meng Changqing's party reached the border of Fengxia Town in Wanzhou.

The scabs on her back had already begun to fall off.

Only then did Doctor Hu permit her to get out and move around.

Meng Changqing had been terrified by the long recovery; she had spent every day sleeping in the carriage until she felt like she was being flattened.

Today, finally seeing the light of day, she was so happy that even her movements while drinking medicine were much more agile.

She tilted her head and gulped it down, coughing several times afterward.

Madam Liang smoothed her back. "Can't you slow down?"

"I can't slow down, I have to seize the time to go down and walk." Meng Changqing handed the empty bowl to Madam Liang. "By the way, Mother, have you made contact with Master Xi?"

"Little Dai went to the post station ahead to inquire."

The carriage curtain lifted, and a gust of cold air rushed in.

Meng Changqing wrapped her cloak tightly around herself. "Bafang! Laicai!"

As she shouted, the cold air entered her throat, and she coughed a few more times.

The two men who were starting a fire not far away heard the commotion and immediately ran over.

Bafang was quick-tongued. "Oh, young master, you've finally come out. We thought you were just going to lie there all the way to Liangzhou."

"Get lost, don't curse me."

Laicai was more observant; he helped Meng Changqing out of the carriage. "Young master, are you feeling better?"

"I must be feeling much better, otherwise Doctor Hu wouldn't have let me out." Meng Changqing said, "Accompany me for a stroll nearby."

"It's windy, lean on me." Laicai turned sideways to block the wind for her.

Bafang squeezed in front of Laicai. "I'll block it too. The two of us will form a human wall for you."

The two of them walked beside Meng Changqing like crabs, their movements so comical that they were truly eye-catching.

Soon, someone walked over.

It was Little Dai, the son of Dai Dongwen, leading Xi Bei toward them.

"Changqing!" Xi Bei grabbed Meng Changqing. "The Emperor beat you?"

"Master." Meng Changqing bowed to him, then moved her limbs. "He gave me ten strokes, but it's mostly healed now. Look."

"How dare he beat..."

Before he could finish, Madam Wen, who had walked over, said, "Master Xi, do not be blindly biased. It was Changqing who struck the Crown Prince first."

Xi Bei had his own theory as a rough man. "Since when do adults intervene in children's fights? He's just bullying Changqing because she has no father!"

Hearing these preposterous words, Doctor Hu paused in his hand-wrapping of the medicine packets and asked Madam Wen, "Taking such a person as a master, aren't you afraid he'll teach Meng Changqing to be a simpleton?"