At the time of the hour of Sheep, Xiao Huzi and Su Jingyue returned from the academy. As soon as they entered the door, they said to Yu Xiaolian, "Sister, the teacher said that this year’s Autumn Examination might not happen."
"Hmm?" Dean Ying had just told her yesterday to create more math test papers, "What happened? What’s going on?"
Xiao Huzi took off his schoolbag, placed it on the table, about to answer Yu Xiaolian, when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Sun Manjiao sitting next to her aunt.
"Manjiao sister? Oh dear..." Xiao Huzi ran excitedly over and grabbed Sun Manjiao’s hand, "Manjiao sister, why are you here? Where is Manzhi? Where are Manyuan and Man’yin?"
Sun Manjiao had just stopped crying, but upon hearing Xiao Huzi inquire about her younger siblings, she began to cry again.
Yu Xiaolian let them catch up and pulled Su Jingyue into the yard, "What’s going on? What happened?"
The Autumn Examination is a major affair for the nation, not something easily canceled or postponed.
Su Jingyue said, "Dean Ying said there’s chaos both in the south and north, so the Autumn Examination might be postponed or canceled, but nothing’s been finalized yet.
It’s estimated that by the end of August, we might get specific news.
I also heard some academy members gossiping that the Emperor has taken in a new Princess Consort Dai, who is a miracle doctor, and that the Emperor’s illness has been cured by her.
It’s said the Emperor is now more spirited than before and recently decreed that all the princes from various regions must return to the capital immediately for instructions."
Yu Xiaolian frowned, so does this mean Prince Jin is also being summoned back to the capital?
Then the disaster relief in the Northern Land will surely fall onto Jun Mobai’s shoulders.
Even though Yu Yanran has died, are some things still following the original storyline?
Yu Xiaolian sighed, if even the Autumn Examination can’t proceed normally, then Great Liang truly is in chaos.
With the thought of possibly traveling far tomorrow, Yu Xiaolian felt it necessary to take leave from Dean Ying, so she went to Taotao Residence, got two bottles of white liquor and two packs of white sugar, two packs of fire-roasted peanuts, two bars of soap, and went to Dean Ying’s home.
Dean Ying thought Yu Xiaolian came to inquire about the Autumn Examination and reiterated the hearsay he’d mentioned before.
What Dean Ying said was similar to what Su Jingyue explained, and Yu Xiaolian nodded, indicating she understood.
Dean Ying said, "Our academy is for enlightening children and juvenile students; the Autumn Examination doesn’t concern us. You should continue as you usually do and not worry." Updates are released by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
Yu Xiaolian quickly said, "I didn’t come about the Autumn Examination..."
She requested leave from Dean Ying, and it was a long leave at that.
If she really goes to Bohai City, she might not return in two or three months.
That’s under the condition of having a carriage; without it, like the Sun Fifth Master’s family, walking on foot could take half a year!
Even if the Autumn Examination occurs as scheduled, she likely won’t make it back in time.
After dinner, the Yu Family held a meeting for over two hours, discussing how to rescue the families of Sun Fifth Master and Sun Fourth Master.
Yu Changhe didn’t feel comfortable with Yu Xiaolian going alone, even with Li Meng and Li Lie, and wanted to accompany her.
Yu Xiaolian disagreed; why take so many people? More people mean crowding the carriage, plus Yu Changhe’s legs are inconvenient. Aside from being strong, he doesn’t have skills, so he wouldn’t be much help.
Yu Xiaolian knew Yu Changhe actually didn’t trust the Li brothers, Li Meng and Li Lie.
But Yu Xiaolian felt at ease. From her observations over time, she thought the Li brothers were very loyal. Somehow, she had a sense of trust in them and felt they were reliable.
If it were up to her, she’d just bring Li Lie along, but they all disagreed.
It’s not nearby; it’s too far. If it was nearby and just Yu Xiaolian going out alone, they wouldn’t stop her.
This is Bohai City, so far away.
In the spring, their family took the carriage all the way, without walking a step, and it still took two months. That was even taking the water route, the shortcut!
Yu Xiaolian, eager to reach Bohai City quickly, had a bold idea: to ride a horse.
Riding a horse is surely faster than taking a carriage.
She had ridden horses at modern equestrian clubs, but whether ancient horses were as easy to handle was unknown.
But Yu Xiaolian wanted to try it.
She thought dressing as a young man and galloping on a horse would look very cool.
But she didn’t dare tell Yu Changhe or Mrs. Sun this idea, as they surely wouldn’t agree.
Yu Xiaolian decided to take action first and inform them later.
She secretly asked Li Meng and Li Lie to go to the cattle and horse market to buy horses.
Good horses, three of them.
Not forgetting to remind them that the horse for her should be gentle and short.
After the Li brothers took their orders and left, Yu Xiaolian also took enough milk powder from the supermarket to leave for the two little ones.
Then she went to the government office and got road permits for three people.
After carefully storing away the road permits, she went to Taotao Residence and replenished the goods with Zhao Erya overnight.
The next day, Yu Changhe got up early and had the cart ready. When he went to call Yu Xiaolian, he found her room empty, as well as no sign of the Li brothers.
Zhao Erya informed Yu Changhe that as soon as the city gates opened, Yu Xiaolian had left with the Li brothers, wearing black men’s clothes and riding a horse. She reassured Yu Changhe.
Yu Changhe was almost fainting; this little girl, why are you so wild? And you even rode a horse?
Although the matter was urgent and riding a horse is faster, would your backside withstand it?
Riding for one day might be novel, but ride for three to five days, and see if you can still walk!
But they had already left, and all Yu Changhe’s ramblings couldn’t reach Yu Xiaolian.
The autumn wind was brisk; Yu Xiaolian rode her horse joyfully, her high ponytail fluttering in the wind, giving her a somewhat heroic bearing.
When they first left the city, Yu Xiaolian’s horse rode slowly, and Li Meng and Li Lie reluctantly followed Yu Xiaolian on her equestrian ’walk.’
But as Yu Xiaolian rode, she became bolder, gradually loosening the reins.
Then she simply patted the horse’s rump, urging it to speed up.
Once the horse began to run, Yu Xiaolian sang with great pride, "The hooves head south, the people gaze north. The people gaze north, the grass is lush and green, dust flies..."
The seemingly docile chestnut horse under Yu Xiaolian, hearing her invigorating song, seemed encouraged and swiftly outpaced the Li brothers, taking the lead.
They spurred their horses on and reached the border between Yu State and Lu State in just six days.
In truth, they could have been faster, but after several days of horseback riding, Yu Xiaolian lost the initial exuberance she had when setting out.
She felt as though her backside was no longer her own; from the top of her head to her lumbar spine, to her backside, to her thighs, every part ached as if about to rattle into pieces.
Every morning when leaving the inn, she dreaded seeing the chestnut horse, feeling cramps in her legs.
She no longer wanted to be a heroine!
She wanted to be a lady, being a lady is better. No, carriages are better, she wondered what possessed her to insist on riding to Bohai City.
After two more days, by the time they reached Caozhou, Yu Xiaolian abandoned any thought of riding a horse. After finding an inn to stay, she asked Li Lie to buy a carriage.
The next day, with the three horses pulling the cart, and the Li brothers safeguarding them outside, Yu Xiaolian was happily lying comfortably in the spacious carriage.
Two words—comfortable!