The waiter left, his head held high. His heart was a world away from what it had been before. For one need not distinguish between noble and lowly; as long as one possessed a kind heart, they would eventually encounter a benefactor. Tonight was his miracle.
Yun Xiao poked her head out of the room. She knew Wanwan, a person who, though impulsive, harbored no ill intentions.
"Alright, go to sleep. You've apologized, and if you don't sleep now, you won't have time."
Wanwan let out an "ah" and turned back into the room. The door slammed shut, followed by a voice.
"Wan'er, sleep on top."
"I want to be on the bottom," a firm voice replied.
"I said you sleep on top," the command was given. Rustling sounds came from the room, followed by the extinguishing of the lights and sleep...
As the hour of Yin arrived, Liuxing and Jingyun rose and went to their master's room. They called out softly, "Master, it's time. You must get up."
The lamp was lit. Yun Xiao stirred. Wanwan, who had been sleeping beside her, was now on the floor. It seemed Yun Xiao had slept too deeply to even notice Wanwan moving from top to bottom. That girl truly had her principles.
Her mind preoccupied with Murong Chong's matters, Yun Xiao tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She finally drifted into a deep slumber when she could no longer stay awake.
But as soon as she fell asleep, the time had arrived. Fine, she wasn't in the mood to sleep anyway. Yun Xiao sat up. Wanwan had already risen and was attending to her.
"Master, what's wrong? You didn't sleep soundly at all."
Wanwan mumbled, thinking that perhaps the master was unaccustomed to sleeping beside her, so she had secretly slipped down to the floor.
Yun Xiao shook her head. She thought she had been careful, only moving a little for fear of waking her. She hadn't expected the girl to still notice. It seemed she was a night owl.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Yun Xiao dressed herself completely. Wanwan, carrying the medicine box, followed her out. Outside the door, Liuxing and Jingyun bowed their heads upon seeing her: "Master."
Today, they were entering Fengya Pass. They didn't know how severe the plague was. They had heard even the checkpoints were sealed, allowing no one to enter the city unless absolutely necessary.
"Let's go," Yun Xiao nodded, her expression losing its previous smile, replaced by solemnity. "By daybreak, we should be able to reach Fengya Pass."
Even Liuxing and Jingyun were serious and focused. Though mischievous, they were extremely diligent when it came to official matters.
The group quietly descended the stairs. Yun Xiao glanced at the room to the west, her mind recalling the name Ximen Yao. Good, very good.
She curled her lips and walked down.
In the hall downstairs, the shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen. The waiter was asleep, his head resting on the counter. Hearing the movement from upstairs, he looked up, his mouth agape in surprise at seeing them up in the middle of the night.
"Where are you going?"
"Fengya Pass."
Yun Xiao didn't hide it. She was already heading out. Wanwan, feeling guilty towards the waiter after last night's events, threw some silver down and swiftly slipped away.
Liuxing and Jingyun walked past with expressionless faces. The group soon exited.
The waiter picked up the silver from the counter and chased after them. "You really didn't need to give us more."
Yun Xiao waved her hand. "For accommodation."
In the faint light, the waiter stared blankly at the figures walking to the side of the street. The carriage was parked not far from the shop's entrance. There was no dedicated stable, so it didn't require much effort.
Liuxing and Jingyun led the horses, mounting them in one leap. Yun Xiao and Wanwan got into the carriage.
The carriage galloped wildly, becoming a streak of lightning, flying far into the distance in an instant.
The waiter leaned against the doorframe, gazing foolishly, his eyes filled with reluctance...
Daybreak arrived, the morning mist was hazy, and a gentle breeze gently brushed past, slowly dispersing the fog. Withered grass by the roadside sprouted new shoots, and in the distance, mountains rose and fell, adorned with silver cascades and splashing water.
Such beautiful scenery, yet no one to appreciate it. Liuxing and Jingyun whipped their horses, making them run even faster. Along the way, they had run through two horses.
Yun Xiao closed her eyes to rest, simultaneously contemplating how to enter the pass. Her disguised face was calm and serene.
Wanwan sat to the side, occasionally observing her master with a thoughtful expression. Although her heart wasn't particularly sharp and her mind not particularly clever,
It seemed her master had been acting strangely since last night. She began to recall when it started, and suddenly thought of that patient.
The patient was named Ximen Yao. Was the person in the palace a fake? Wanwan's eyes widened, her breathing suddenly becoming heavier. The person beside her immediately noticed and asked with concern.
"What's wrong?"
"Master, is the Ximen Yao in the palace fake?"
She asked, but in her heart, she wondered, even if the one in the palace was fake, what did it have to do with her master? She remembered her master had never met that person.
It had nothing to do with her. Did she need to be so angry? Yes, her master was angry, deeply angry.
"Mm," Yun Xiao responded, saying no more. Although she had suspicions, everything still needed to be verified.
If they met again by chance, she would ask him why he impersonated Ximen Yao and what deep hatred he held for the Yun family's estate. If he couldn't explain, she would never forgive him. Then, the two of them...
Silence fell within the carriage. They had not delayed at all on their journey, heading directly to their destination.
The sun broke through the clouds, scattering ten thousand rays of golden light. And in this golden radiance, they saw the towering city gates.
Outside the city gates, sturdy trees formed a barrier, blocking all entry and exit. Many soldiers walked back and forth, vigilantly gripping the swords at their waists, constantly offering various reasons to the city gate, demanding passage.
Most of these people had family members inside and were unwilling to abandon them at such a time. Even if there was a plague, they were willing to risk death, just like them.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan dismounted from the carriage, observing everything before them.
Even before entering the pass, the surrounding area was permeated with a strong medicinal scent, and the weary expressions of the guards at the gate indicated that the situation inside must be quite dire.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan walked over. The onlookers turned to look at them, as Wanwan was elegantly dressed and charmingly beautiful.
Such a woman appearing in a place with a plague, and in a border region that was constantly embroiled in conflict, it was unheard of to have such an outstanding woman. She must be from out of town.
The dozen or so soldiers guarding the checkpoint also noticed the situation. They raised their eyebrows in surprise. Who were these two people? A dark-skinned, sun-kissed, handsome youth, and a beautiful, charming woman. They were not people who should be here. xxs壹贰
The Prince had issued an order: anyone seen acting suspiciously was to be apprehended.
The dozen soldiers scanned them cautiously and vigilantly.
The person in charge waved his hand, and a few soldiers gathered, whispering amongst themselves. It was a critical juncture, with the Xiliang army launching successive attacks on the city.
Although repelled repeatedly, they might not have given up. The city was plagued by epidemics.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If this chance were missed, it would be difficult to capture Fengya Pass in the future. The Emperor had already issued an edict to transfer troops from nearby.