276: Exchange (18th Update)
After breakfast, it was time to go ashore.
Two carriages, about a dozen horses, and a mule carrying a wolf and a dog made quite a procession.
Xie Zhinuan asked Xie Yi to play on the soft couch, accompanying him on the side, while Li Hengyi sat on a chair, or Yuanbao stayed with Xie Yi, and she read or recited books on the side.
They even went out for a bit of horseback riding.
It wasn’t particularly difficult for Xie Zhinuan to ride a horse, especially Li Hengyi’s horse, which galloped smoothly without jostling her off. After a while, she had already mastered the knack of it.
In fact, riding a horse just required courage, a gentle horse, and a bit of harmony between horse and rider, holding the reins tightly without feeling tense or fearful-it wasn’t too difficult.
It was just that after riding for a while, Xie Zhinuan felt a pain in her buttocks.
And walked with an odd posture.
While resting in the tea house, many people watched her and then swept her body with suggestive gazes before looking at Li Hengyi.
They quickly averted their eyes and lowered their heads when Li Hengyi returned their gaze with a stern face, no longer daring to look at Xie Zhinuan.
Xie Zhinuan slowly took a seat, feeling sore in her waist and back, and had to sit lightly on the stool.
With Yuanbao holding Xie Yi on the side, Xie Zhinuan felt much more relaxed; Xie Yi did not always stick to her, knowing she wasn’t feeling well, and was very well-behaved.
Yuanbao asked the owner to prepare chicken egg custard, congee, side dishes, and tea.
Xie Zhinuan took a sip of tea and gently exhaled.
“Although riding a horse isn’t difficult, it’s quite bumpy!”
Li Hengyi, upon hearing this, laughed lightly, “You won’t feel sore or in pain once you get used to it.”
Xie Zhinuan found this quite true.
She didn’t argue with Li Hengyi’s comment.
Riding a horse, after all, required getting used to it, “Could you help me find a good horse? I don’t mind if it’s pricey; the main thing is that it’s good. I’m thinking of getting to know it, forming a bond, so it’s more convenient to ride out in the future!”
“Sure!”
Xie Zhinuan rarely made requests, and Li Hengyi would not refuse.
“I will gift you the horse, and in return, you can give me something as well,” he said.
Xie Zhinuan raised an eyebrow.
Looking towards Li Hengyi, she asked, “What would you like?”
If it was something she could give, she definitely wouldn’t refuse.
“A medicine pill!”
“…”
After Li Hengyi spoke, he looked at Xie Zhinuan.
Xie Zhinuan looked back at him.
That medicine pill was inherently valuable; it wasn’t hard for Li Hengyi to know that.
Moreover, everything had happened right under her watch.
“Do you intend to use it?” Xie Zhinuan asked.
“Not for me, but for an old general who once served on the Frontier. He was brave and skilled in battle, still defending our country on the Frontier, only now he’s beset with ailments. I thought, if you’re willing, you could give me a medicine pill, and I’ll send someone to deliver it to him!” After pausing for a moment, Li Hengyi continued, “Zhinuan, it’s not easy to nurture a gener who can intimidate enemies from all directions. I…”
“Yes!” Xie Zhinuan hastily agreed.
Li Hengyi had helped her a lot and never asked for anything in return.
Except that he had a bit of an appetite.
She wondered how many times he must have turned the words over in his mind before he could speak them.
Naturally, she wouldn’t refuse.
If the Frontier was stable, the country could be stable, and the people could be at peace.
“Is one pill really enough? Do you want to ask for a few more? Say it today, and I’ll give it to you, but next time I’ll have to think it over!”
Li Hengyi laughed lightly, “Three pills then. I’ll prepare a batch of medicinal ingredients for you since you want to learn medicine. Shall I also find you a master to start your enlightenment?”
“Deal!” Xie Zhinuan was extremely straightforward.
She was quite pleased with the arrangement.
Li Hengyi was profoundly moved.
If it were anyone else, they might claim such a rare medicine was her dowry.
For the sake of the medicine pills, he might have truly married her.
But she wanted so little.
Chapter 277