Su Qingyu was practically crying her eyes out.
Why did she have to be so talkative earlier? If she hadn't asked so many questions, things would have been fine. Now, that one question had directly added a new subject to her future curriculum.
The poor girl was completely stunned by her own misfortune.
Su Qing, however, didn't care about any of that. These things were meant to be taught to the girl sooner or later anyway. Since the child had shown a spark of interest now, there was no harm in starting her education early. Besides, teaching always progressed from the simple to the complex; Su Qing wasn't worried about her not being able to learn. The girl was quite bright, after all.
Although Su Qingyu was speechless, she knew she couldn't change Su Qing's mind. She silently shut her mouth and began drawing little circles in her mind to vent her frustration. As she drew, she eventually drifted off to sleep. She was, in the end, just a child. After running around with Su Qing for so long, she was exhausted. Once she hit the bed, it didn't take long for her to fall into a deep slumber.
Seeing that Su Qingyu was asleep, Su Qing gave up the bed to the restless sleeper. She sat by the window and began to drink. Watching the people coming and going on the street was her way of passing the time.
Although Su Qing had already acquired the items she needed, Ao Ying and the others hadn't finished their shopping yet. Su Qing had taken on the most difficult task, but in a way, it was also the simplest. While buying horses was hard, it was the only thing she had to do. Ao Ying and the others, however, had to purchase a wide variety of miscellaneous supplies. Combined with a woman's natural talent for shopping and Su Qing's instructions not to rush, it wasn't surprising that they were returning late.
Su Qing wasn't in a hurry. Whether they returned early or late, they would be back eventually.
Before long, the sky began to dim, and Ao Ying and the others returned. Ao Ying pushed open the door to Su Qing's room and walked in, seeing Su Qing staring blankly out the window. She knew that when Su Qing had nothing to do, she often dazed out in what Su Qing called 'energy-saving mode.' Ao Ying understood the meaning behind it and why she did it; controlling multiple different bodies was, after all, extremely difficult and draining.
"Sister Su, we're back," Ao Ying announced.
Su Qing turned her head, nodded, and asked, "How was it? Did you get everything?"
Ao Ying nodded. "Yes, we've basically bought everything on the list."
"What about Li Yichou and the others?"
"They've mostly finished their shopping as well, so there shouldn't be any problems." Ao Ying sat down beside Su Qing and asked, "By the way, Sister Su, is the matter with the horses settled?"
Su Qing nodded. "I've got them. There were a few twists and turns, but it didn't reach the point where I had to use unconventional means."
The 'unconventional means' Su Qing referred to was actually having her original body send a batch of horses over to ensure their journey could continue. Since she had so many bodies and her main body was usually quite idle, it wasn't strange for such tasks to fall to her true self.
"That's good then." Ao Ying let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, where's Qingyu?"
"She fell asleep out of boredom," Su Qing smiled. "I wonder if the girl will be able to sleep tonight."
"She'll probably wake up in the middle of the night," Ao Ying analyzed with a helpless shake of her head.
"Then the girl will sleep with you tonight."
"..." Ao Ying was speechless for a moment. "Sister, you really know how to dump trouble on me!"
Su Qing laughed, giving Ao Ying a look of 'I believe in you,' which only made Ao Ying more helpless.
"You should be the one to watch her, Sister," Ao Ying declined. "After all, you're the more reliable one."
As they were chatting, there was another knock on the door.
"Come in," Su Qing called out casually.
The door opened, and Jin Xin and the others filed into the room. For a moment, the small room felt rather crowded. Jin Xin didn't say much after entering; she simply handed a gourd to Su Qing and said, "I've prepared a gift for you, Sister."
Su Qing took the gourd and looked at it with suspicion. "What kind of medicine are you selling in this gourd?"
"Don't worry, it's not an aphrodisiac."
"I didn't ask if it was that..." Su Qing's mouth twitched.
Jin Xin clearly understood her own image in Su Qing's mind. However, the more Jin Xin said that, the more suspicious Su Qing became. What on earth had this woman put in the gourd?
"So, what exactly is inside?" Su Qing asked curiously. Even though Jin Xin said it wasn't an aphrodisiac, Su Qing still wasn't at ease; she had to know for sure.
"You'll know once you smell it, Sister," Jin Xin said with a smile.
Su Qing raised an eyebrow and finally opened the stopper to take a whiff. Her brow furrowed instantly. "Is this... wine?"
"Yes. I noticed you haven't been in the best spirits lately, Sister, so I specifically got you some Tiger Whip Wine to strengthen your Yang!" Jin Xin said with a faint smile.
Su Qing: "..."
Well, whatever scheme this woman had was now blindingly obvious. She let out a helpless sigh and said, "I am a woman..."
"It doesn't matter!" Jin Xin shook her head. "It's all about increasing endurance!"
Su Qing rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Fine, I get it. I'll take it."
Su Qing didn't want to continue this 'dirty talk' tournament with Jin Xin. If she kept going, the things coming out of Jin Xin's mouth would only get weirder. It was better to stop arguing.
"Make sure you remember to drink it~" Jin Xin said seriously, looking at Su Qing.
"I will, when I remember," Su Qing replied perfunctorily.
Jin Xin, seemingly unaware of Su Qing's dismissiveness, nodded with a smile. "You have to tell me after you've drunk it!"
Su Qing could only nod again before saying, "Jin Xin, go find the waiter and order some food. I'm getting a bit hungry."
Jin Xin nodded and turned to find the waiter. Once she was gone, Ao Ying rubbed her own cheeks and said, "I... I'll go help with the ordering. Jin Xin might not know what Su Qingyu likes to eat."
Su Qing didn't say anything, just nodded and let her leave. She knew Ao Ying was just feeling embarrassed after hearing Jin Xin's outrageous remarks and needed a moment to cool down. Although Jin Xin wasn't targeting her, Ao Ying was still too thin-skinned; even just listening made her blush.
Su Qing sighed; Jin Xin and Ao Ying were truly at two opposite extremes.
After the two left, Su Qing shook her head. She looked at Hu Lin'er and Li Yichou, who were still there. "Is there anything else?"
Li Yichou shook her head. "I just followed Jin Xin in to see what was happening. But Miss, do you really not intend to respond to Sister Jin Xin's expectations? Don't you like girls? Since she's being so proactive, why are you so unwilling to make a move?"
Su Qing rolled her eyes. "Just because I like women doesn't mean I'm a loose person!"
"But isn't Sister Jin Xin good?"
"She's great. But we haven't reached the point where we can do those things yet!" Su Qing said helplessly. "You people, just how loose do you think I am?"
Li Yichou laughed, offered an apologetic bow, and scurried away. Only Hu Lin'er remained by Su Qing's side.
She poured Su Qing a cup of wine—not the Tiger Whip Wine, but the inn's Ten-Mile Spring. As Su Qing's maid, it was her duty to serve her. While pouring, Hu Lin'er said, "I believe Miss isn't that kind of loose woman..."
"You really think so?" Su Qing was quite pleased to hear this. After all this time, she finally found someone who knew the rumors but wasn't influenced by them.
Hu Lin'er nodded. "Yes. Miss just has a weakness for beauty and likes to flirt with pretty girls, but she isn't the type to just casually do those things with anyone!"
"..."
Great, the 'weakness for beauty' part was still stuck to her. But at least it was better than the current rumors.
"Actually, I'm not even that obsessed with beauty."
"..." Hearing this, Hu Lin'er gave her a subtle look. The number of girls around Su Qing already required more than two hands to count. Who would believe she wasn't obsessed with beauty?
Hu Lin'er only believed that Su Qing wasn't a 'loose' woman. Anything more than that, she didn't buy. However, she wasn't going to argue with Su Qing; she wanted to leave a good impression. Besides, she actually hoped Su Qing would have a 'weakness' for her... Although she had been terrified before, after being with Su Qing for so long, she found that life with her was actually quite good. It was much better than being with her father. This life was warm and peaceful, far better than the days spent hiding and running.
"By the way, Miss, how is my father doing lately?" Hu Lin'er asked, thinking of her father.
In response to her question, Su Qing recalled for a moment and nodded. "Your father is doing quite well. Nothing special has happened. Why? Do you miss him?"
Hu Lin'er shook her head. "No."
"Really?"
"No... I prefer being by your side, Miss. I only asked out of a sudden curiosity about his current situation."
"His situation hasn't changed; he's still living in the town."
Hu Lin'er nodded and fell silent, quietly placing the wine cup before Su Qing. Su Qing didn't say more, simply taking the cup and drinking again.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the next morning. Although many things had happened the previous day, none of them affected their departure. After settling the bill, the group boarded their carriages, ready to set out again.
Su Qing, Su Qingyu, and Coal Ball sat together, with Hu Lin'er acting as the driver. The rest of the group occupied the other carriage, with Li Yichou at the reins. Both were reliable types, so leaving the driving to them was reassuring.
On the carriage, Su Qingyu leaned against the window, watching the people walking along the road. After walking for so long yesterday, she finally realized that riding in a carriage wasn't nearly as tiring.
"By the way, Miss, where are we heading?" Hu Lin'er asked.
She had forgotten to ask yesterday. Now that they were departing, she remembered they hadn't decided on a destination.
Su Qing replied, "Let's go to the capital of this country. It shouldn't be affected by the fires of war for a while."
Su Qing had made this decision while at the Princess's manor. When asked today, she gave her answer without any hesitation.
"The capital?" Hu Lin'er nodded. "Understood, Miss."
With that, Hu Lin'er gave a shout of "Jia!" and the carriage set off. Although she had never been to the capital, it didn't matter—their shopping list from yesterday included a map of the country. They just had to follow it.
The white horse pulled the lead carriage, with Li Yichou's carriage following closely behind. The two carriages moved one after the other toward the city gates.
Before long, they reached the heavily guarded city entrance.
'The security has tightened significantly... It seems the Princess has made some kind of firm resolution,' Su Qing thought to herself. She didn't know what the Princess's plans were; she only hoped everything would go smoothly for her. At the same time, she had to find a way out of the city first.
"Would everyone in the carriage please step down for inspection?" a soldier said, stopping the carriage.
Su Qing nodded and stepped down. However, as soon as the soldiers saw her face, they immediately said, "So it is Divine Doctor Su! Our apologies!"
Su Qing was surprised. "You know me?"
"Yes, the Commandery Princess specifically gave orders. She said if Divine Doctor Su wished to leave the city today, we were not to make things difficult for her," the soldier explained. "Oh, and one more thing, Divine Doctor... the Princess left something for us to give to you."
Su Qing raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The Princess is very thoughtful. What did she ask you to give me?"
"A messenger falcon." The soldier brought a birdcage to Su Qing. "And this, a letter the Princess left for you."
Su Qing looked at the cage and then the letter, finding it quite interesting. After accepting the falcon and the letter, she said, "I have received them. Please convey my thanks to the Princess."
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