Qin Junyao smiled, "There won't be a next time. Did you keep the medicated water?"
Liu Yu nodded, "I kept some, Madam. We didn't travel with anyone else. How was the medicine put into the water?"
"I don't know. The water is saved. I'll ask Doctor Sheng when we return."
As the two spoke, Dengzijui, who had hidden money and checked for traces, returned.
This place was not safe to linger. The group walked for an hour before finding an open space to rest.
Qin Junyao ordered the soldiers to start a fire and have a good meal. She called Dengzijui, Biandan, and Huaniang to gather around a bonfire.
"The mastermind behind my kidnapping is Sui Ren. He hired the bandits from Daqingshan, Yan Song. The charred corpse you buried was Qian Duo, and she was Sui Ren's person."
Qin Junyao's brief words conveyed a huge amount of information.
Dengzijui snapped a twig in his hand, "Madam, why would Sui Ren want to capture you?"
"I'm not sure, but the plan was disrupted by Qian Duo. Originally, they were supposed to transfer me away last night. I don't know what method Qian Duo used to prevent those people from showing up."
Qin Junyao didn't want to mention farming in the Gobi to them. Knowing who the mastermind was was enough.
"Later, some things happened, and I hid. Qian Duo set fire to the room where I was imprisoned and committed suicide."
"Madam, let's go back and arrest Sui Ren," Biandan said, his sallow face appearing somewhat terrifying in the firelight.
He liked things to go smoothly, but he disliked a complete rout. He, Cheng Biandan, was determined to capture Sui Ren and feed him ten catties of rhubarb.
Qin Junyao shook her head, "This matter will be put on hold for now. Let's go to Northwest City first. Arresting someone without evidence will only give them an excuse. Revenge is a dish best served cold; there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"Huaniang, thank you for this time."
Huaniang smiled gently, "I was still a step too late, but seeing Madam safe puts my mind at ease. Madam shouldn't go to Northwest City, should she?"
"It's fine. I think the medicine this time was unusual, which is why Yan Song and the others were affected. I doubt the same trick will work a second time."
Dengzijui rose and clasped his fists in salute to Qin Junyao. He would use his life to protect Madam's safety on the rest of the journey.
After resting for the night, four people were dispatched the next morning to escort Huaniang back. This was not the time to get to know Huaniang.
Qin Junyao asked Dengzijui to take her to the burial site of the three sacrificed soldiers.
A bowl of wine, three sticks of incense. This was all Qin Junyao could offer now. Once things were settled, she would bring them home with great ceremony.
For the next five days, Qin Junyao supplied everyone with water, and their food consisted of provisions brought from Yangshu Village.
It wasn't that they had to be this cautious, but there were a large number of refugees on the road. To avoid any accidents, they had to travel this way.
These refugees were either guarding water sources in exchange for food or surrounding villages demanding food.
They were different from the refugees fleeing with Qin Junyao in those years.
The refugees with Qin Junyao had already been starving in the Central Plains for over a year and were accustomed to hunger. They might want to cause trouble, but their strength was limited.
These people had only starved for over a month, and they were at the stage where they could not endure hunger and had the strength to do bad things.
Therefore, Dengzijui and his men proceeded with extreme caution.
Fortunately, the person sent ahead to Northwest City to report had returned with reinforcements.
"Sister-in-law, why didn't you stay in the village and do some tree planting or dyeing cloth? What are you doing here?" Suozi, who came to meet them, unleashed a torrent of words upon seeing Qin Junyao.
Even with achievements, one couldn't be reckless and play with their life.
Qin Junyao's light remark silenced Suozi, "Deputy Officer Zhou doesn't want grain anymore? If not, I'll turn back now."