After noon, the weather began to get gloomier. Shu Yao folded her thick cloak and leaned on the shoulders of her wet nurse, Mama Liu, and fell asleep. As the carriage bumped, the quilt covering Shu Yao's legs slid down a bit.
, Mother Liu stretched out her hand to pull up the stall, and suddenly heard the crisp sound of horse hooves outside from far to near.
The convoy here suddenly became chaotic. The second uncle of the Li family, Li Cunyi, who was clearing the way outside, directed all the servants to stop and give way. Although the Li family is originally from the capital, they moved to the south two generations ago. Now,
Shu Yao's father is the governor of Yongzhou. Except for the eldest daughter Li Shuya who married, he has no relatives in the capital. This trip is from south to north, and the more you get to the capital, the more cautious you are. After all, the capital is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
There are high-ranking officials everywhere in this place. It would be a big deal if one of them accidentally offends someone.
The carriage Zhanzhan stopped at the side of the road. Shu Yao woke up, opened her hazy eyes, and adapted to the dim light in the carriage for a while. Then she sat up straight and asked Liu's mother in a low voice:
"What's going on?"
"I think it's some big shot borrowing the passage. Let's leave him alone. We'll leave when they pass by." Mother Liu pushed back the loose hair around Shu Yao's ears and said in a low voice.
The maid Qiu Shuang, who was also in the car, saw that Shu Yao had woken up, and reached out to take the hand stove from her arms, trying to replace it with new charcoal.
It's so cold today that even if you're bundled up tightly, with a charcoal pot burning in the car and your hand covering the stove, it's still freezing.
Shu Yao moved her frozen feet. She wanted to take off her shoes and put her almost unconscious feet on the charcoal basin to roast them. However, due to etiquette, she didn't dare to do so.
.
She brought her hands together and shook each other. Her cold fingertips touched the warm palms. After moving a few times, she felt a little better. The sound of horse hooves outside was louder, crisp and rapid. However, except for the sound of horse hooves, there was no sound.
Hear a little bit of human voices.
Shu Yao felt a little curious, and slightly lifted the car curtain to look outside. This was an incredible sight, and she happened to see a person wearing a black chainmail, with a golden shining armor on the chest, and a bright red tassel on the top of the head and a black iron armor.
A sharp contrast, riding on a tall black shiny horse, full of chilling aura, and a pair of sharp eyes that just collided with hers, so frightened that she quickly put down the car curtain, her heart pounding.
stop.
Mother Liu saw her pressing her chest with her hand and said in confusion:
"What's wrong?" After saying that, he was about to open the car curtain and look out. Shu Yao hurriedly held down Liu's mother's hand and said:
"Don't look, it's okay, there are soldiers outside."
Mother Liu said softly, took the hand stove installed by Qiu Shuang, put it into Shu Yao's hand, gathered her cloak around her, and said:
"The capital is heavily guarded and passing troops is normal. Don't be afraid. It will be fine when we enter the Duke's Mansion."
The hand stove was hot. Shu Yao's hand holding the hand stove tightened, and her pounding heart gradually calmed down. I knew in my heart that what Liu's mother said meant that she no longer had to worry about safety on the road, but when she entered the Duke's Mansion, she really felt
Are you okay? It's been a year since my sister married into the Duke's mansion, and there are only a few letters. Although they all talk about how prosperous the Duke's mansion is and how she has no worries about food and clothing, for some reason, Shu Yao just feels that her sister's words are unsatisfactory.
Now this trip has further proved her suspicion. Thinking about her father's vague instructions before and the haste when she went out, Shu Yao felt panicked and confused. She touched the stove, sighed softly, and asked
Mama Liu said:
"Mom, how do you think my brother-in-law is doing?"
Mother Liu lowered her head and thought for a while. According to the situation of the eldest girl's news received in the house, her uncle probably wouldn't be well. But she couldn't say it so bluntly, so she had to say carelessly:
"What can happen? Let's wait until we enter the Duke's Mansion and take a look. Besides, you still have skills, and you might be able to lend a hand."
Shu Yao shook her head and said:
"I don't know how to treat everything. My sister said in her letter that my brother-in-law suffered a trauma. How can I treat trauma?"
Mother Liu was silent. Qiu Shuang was still young and didn't know how to turn around. She couldn't help but say:
"Mom, if you know something, just tell me. If my uncle really wants something to happen, we should make plans in advance."
Mother Liu angrily hit Qiu Shuang's head several times with her finger, and said bitterly:
"How do I know anything! Is this what you can say? If you say something like this again, be careful that I tell the second master outside and let him sell you on the spot!"
After a long drive and a tiring journey, Qiu Shuang was a little confused at first. Seeing that Mother Liu looked serious and the lines at the corners of her mouth became deeper, she knew that Mother Liu was really annoyed, so she didn't dare to talk back, so she lowered her head and played with the small teapot.
Mother Liu was angry that she didn't have a palace and could speak without restraint. She also reflected on her usual neglect of discipline over the maid. After being angry for a while, she sighed in her heart. Why didn't she want to make plans in advance, but what plan could she make?
After all, the eldest girl is married in a serious manner, can he still take her back with him?
Several people in the carriage were filled with melancholy. The sound of horse hooves outside gradually faded away, and the sky became darker. They saw that a heavy snowfall was coming. The convoy started moving again, not wanting Shu Yao's car to be too close to the roadside because of the avoidance just now.
With this movement, the wheel on one side accidentally got stuck in the snow on the side of the road.
Li Cunyi directed several servants to dig out the snow and push the carts. The air was fogging outside, and everyone's hands and feet were almost frozen. It was difficult to push the carts out of the snow ruts, and the convoy continued on its way.
After all this trouble, when we arrived at the inn ahead, heavy snow was already flying all over the sky, and the sky had already turned dark.
The post station is a two-story building with a front and back yard. There are many red lanterns hung up. In this snowy night, the stars are dotted, exuding a warm beauty. Seeing the convoy coming, someone has already come out to greet them. After asking for their identity, the post guard showed a smile on his face.
Feeling embarrassed, he said to Li Cunyi:
"I apologize to Mr. Li! There are many people passing by tonight and the weather is bad. There are really not enough guest rooms. There are only two lower rooms left and none of the upper rooms are left."
Li Cunyi handed the horse's reins to another postman at the post station, tightened his cloak tightly, and said tentatively:
"Can you ask the adults who are already staying here to move? There are actually women in the car, so it would be okay if they are all older men."
The postman couldn't make up his mind, so he led Li Cunyi and others into the house first, called for tea, said wait a moment, turned around and ran inside to ask the postmaster.
Everyone outside came into the yard, unloaded the carts, tied up the horses, and after entering the house, they rubbed their hands and found charcoal pots to warm themselves over the fire, and called the postmen to order hot soup and noodles.
The scene was quite lively for a while. Shu Yao followed Li Cunyi. A green cloak hung down to the soles of his feet, making gentle ripples as he walked. He wore a hat on his head, with a long circle of white raccoon fur on the brim.
It was slightly red, almost burying her face, revealing only two big and black eyes, with long eyelashes flickering, a little timidly. With the cover like this, the power barrier was not needed at all.
Behind her were Liu's mother and Qiu Shuang, who chose a table in the corner and sat down. After a while, the postman served hot tea and moved a brazier closer.
Qiu Shuang took out Shu Yao's usual cup and poured a cup of tea for each of Li Cunyi and Shu Yao. Shu Yao brushed the raccoon hair around her face, held the cup and took a sip. The tea was rough and a little bitter.
, I don’t want to drink anymore, I just hold it to warm my hands.