Chapter 356: Chapter 366, Meticulous
On each venture into the mountains, some people were lost, and although the compensation was generous, those were lives and innocent citizens at that.
Yun Jinnian, although wealthy with ample Silver, hoped that he could lead these people into the mountains and also bring them back out safely.
"Your Highness, don’t hesitate any longer, take me with you!"
"It’s very cold in the mountains!"
"I can wear more clothes, and besides, you get used to the cold of the mountains after a while!"
Having failed to find the Snow Lotus on several trips, Chu Yu was also anxious.
"Fine, when the time comes, stay close to me!"
"Okay!"
When Han Tianci heard that Yun Jinnian was also going into the mountains, he said, "Sister, I want to go too!"
Yun Jinnian shook her head slightly, "Tianci, wait until we find the Snow Lotus, then you can enter the mountains. I’ll teach you how to cultivate the Snow Lotus then, but you can’t follow us up the mountain now!"
"But..."
Yun Jinnian ruffled Han Tianci’s hair, "Listen to me, wait for your sister to come back!"
In the end, Han Tianci agreed to stay behind with Prince Yanjun, and Han Zhong also stayed to look after Tianci. Yun Jinnian brought only Hemei and Henuan, originally she did not plan to bring them, but there were some things she only trusted Hemei and Henuan to do.
So, before venturing into the mountains, Yun Jinnian had Qian Mama come over, "Assign four people to protect Hemei and Henuan. I don’t want them to suffer the slightest mishap!"
Qian Mama immediately appointed a male and a female guard to protect Hemei, and another male and female guard for Henuan, with the rest protecting Yun Jinnian.
The preparations for this mountain journey were quite thorough.
Cotton clothes, cotton-padded jackets, blankets as well as charcoal, kerosene, and Yun Jinnian’s medicine chest.
A total of fifty people.
Among them were ten men brought by Hu Lao San, and the rest were Chu Yu’s and Yuwen Ya’s men.
The group still followed the orders of Chu Yu and Hu Lao San. Yun Jinnian dressed very warmly, even her shoes were waterproof for the snow. Upon reaching mid-mountain, the horses were kept in hastily built sheds.
They could only walk by foot further up the mountain.
Yun Jinnian, not knowing Martial Arts, was carried in turns by three female guards.
Mid-mountain was exceedingly cold, especially after nightfall when it was easy to get lost. Generally, people would find a place to rest. Fortunately, Chu Yu and his men had been here a few times before and quickly entered a previously discovered cave, where they set up a stand and cooked a pot of meat and bones to eat with steamed buns. Yun Jinnian sat on a stone cushioned with a wool blanket, sipping hot soup in small sips.
Chu Yu sat beside Yun Jinnian, also sipping soup, and said softly, "You can sleep by the fire later, rest assured, I will watch over you!"
Yun Jinnian nodded slightly, "You should also rest for a while, just have people take turns patrolling."
"Okay!"
Chu Yu felt joy in his heart from Yun Jinnian’s concern.
After drinking the meat soup, Chu Yu said, "The further we go up the mountain, the colder and harder the journey becomes. Tomorrow, I will carry you."
"You are our guide, how can I ask you to carry me!"
"I’m not really the guide. Hu Lao San and his people are. Plus, Yuwen Ya has also been here several times, he knows the way. Although Qian Mama and her group are highly skilled in Martial Arts, they are not familiar with the mountains, as it’s their first time here. It’s safer for me to carry you!"
Yun Jinnian thought for a long while before finally nodding in agreement.
Focusing on drinking her meat soup.
Undoubtedly, Chu Yu was meticulous, fearing that Yun Jinnian, being a woman, would find it difficult to relieve herself in the mountains, he even prepared a potty. After hastily setting up a cover, Yun Jinnian used it for a quick relief, while he sent the men far away and guarded the spot where he could still see, leaving Qian Mama and several others to protect her.
Yun Jinnian was extremely grateful and touched.
So, when it was time to sleep at night, Yun Jinnian arranged for Hemei and Henuan to sleep beside her, close to the fire for warmth.
Chu Yu looked at Yun Jinnian, who was only showing her head, and smiled softly.
The tension from not finding the Snow Lotus finally began to ease a bit.