jdhmnovel Chapter 337 Paying respects to the Princess
Chapter 337 Paying respects to the Princess
Winters in the north are much colder than winters in the south, but summers in the north are hot in a very different way than summers in the south.
The north is dry and hot, with the sun baking the earth. People feel very hot under the sun, but it is very cool when standing in a place where the sun does not shine.
Summers in the south are often hot and humid, leaving you feeling constantly sweaty and sticky.
Zhao Xuan and her group had previously investigated a case in Guze Town in the south and had experienced the southern summer. Although it was already July, the hottest time of the year, they could still barely cope.
However, many of the accompanying personnel suffered from heatstroke as they traveled under the scorching sun.
General Zhou was the main person in charge of transporting crossbows to the northern border. After discussing with General Zhou, Gu Zhanghua decided to travel at night and stop to rest when the sun was at its strongest.
Half a month later, the large army finally arrived at Yancheng, where Qin Shao's army was stationed fifty miles north of the city.
Gu Zhanghua and General Zhou discussed that after resting in Yancheng for a day, they would head to the main camp early the next morning.
But as soon as they arrived in Yancheng, before they could even catch their breath, they heard that the Rongdi cavalry had already started fighting against Qin Shao's northern army.
"Not only that!"
The scout, panting heavily and looking anxious, reported to Gu Zhanghua and the others who were sitting around a tea stall.
"Our army is currently at a disadvantage! The people of Yancheng have spontaneously started to send food and necessities to the front line."
Everyone looked at each other in dismay, not expecting such bad news.
Zhao Xuan could no longer sit still.
"How about I take a batch of crossbows and go find Uncle Qin first, and you can come with me tomorrow morning?"
"no!"
Gu Zhanghua was the first to disagree.
"As a prince leading the expedition, how can I not be at the forefront?!"
"The war has already started, and there will definitely be wounded soldiers. Xuan'er, Hao Xiong and I will go with you!"
"Don't be impatient!"
General Zhou picked up the cool tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp. He fanned himself with one hand, but the more he fanned, the more sweat he slept.
He was tall and burly, and the area of his body exposed to the sun seemed to be proportional to his size. He was panting heavily from the heat, almost sticking out his tongue to cool down.
Seeing the anxious look on the faces of these young people, General Zhou quickly gestured for them to sit down.
"Everyone, have a sip of herbal tea first to cool off! I'll ask the tea stall owner to give everyone a bowl of herbal tea, and then I'll go buy some sesame seed cakes and steamed buns to take on the road."
General Zhou looked around at everyone and slowly arranged the next steps. In fact, he had to be slow and deliberate, because he felt hot when he spoke too fast.
"Five people are still suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. Let them rest in Yancheng. The rest of you will depart in an hour! Your Highness, what do you think of this arrangement?"
"General Zhou is indeed very thoughtful. We will do as you say!"
General Zhou then called the scout over.
"Go and inform General Qin as quickly as possible that the Prince Xian is personally leading the expedition and has come with our convoy of bows and crossbows. Tell General Qin to arrange accommodations for the Prince Xian in advance."
"There's no need to make a big fuss!"
Gu Zhanghua hurriedly waved his hand.
"I'll eat and live with everyone! Little soldier, please don't tell General Qin that the princess and I came together. We want to give General Qin a surprise!"
The scout did not immediately agree. He turned to look at General Zhou, and only after General Zhou nodded slightly did he bow to Gu Zhanghua.
"Yes! I obey my orders!"
After saying this, the scout hurriedly mounted his horse and rode away.
Zhao Xuan nudged Gu Zhanghua with her elbow and chuckled, "Not bad, you don't put on airs like a prince, and you even know how to give Uncle Qin a surprise?"
"When have I ever put on airs? Don't wrong me. I haven't caused anyone any trouble along the way, have I, General Zhou?"
"Hahaha!" General Zhou laughed loudly.
"You didn't cause us any trouble, you only caused trouble for the Princess!"
Gu Zhanghua's face immediately turned into a "囧" (embarrassed/awkward) expression.
Not long after leaving Liyang City, the road became increasingly rugged and uneven, and everyone in the carriage was so shaken that their bones felt like they were about to fall apart.
Zhao Xuan and Shi Shu ran out of the carriage early and rode off on horseback. Hao Xiong also sat at the front of the carriage to drive. Only Xiao Yixian was busy fiddling with her medicines inside the carriage, showing no signs of discomfort whatsoever.
Seeing Gu Zhanghua struggling to breathe from the jostling, Zhao Xuan softened and pulled him out of the carriage. The two rode the same horse the entire way.
Gu Zhanghua was behind Zhao Xuan, holding her in his arms. He was so sleepy that he started snoring softly, completely unconcerned.
It was tough on Zhao Xuan, especially traveling at night. She had to watch her step and worry from time to time that she might knock Gu Zhanghua off his horse.
"I promise, I'll definitely learn to ride a horse properly when I get back!"
Gu Zhanghua raised his hand to Zhao Xuan, making a solemn promise.
Zhao Xuan gulped down a large bowl of herbal tea, let out a long, satisfying sigh, and pressed down on Gu Zhanghua's hand.
"Nobody's omnipotent, it's okay, I don't mind the trouble! It's just a bit hot!"
"In the sweltering summer heat, it's no wonder they get hot hugging each other!"
Hao Xiong suddenly said this, then gulped down the water in the water bag and poured the herbal tea into it.
The little fairy doctor, who had been burying her head in organizing her medicine box, suddenly looked up, her eyes wide open.
"Who? Who's hugging someone in broad daylight? I didn't see anything."
Gu Zhanghua pretended to open his arms and hug Zhao Xuan, then grinned at Little Fairy Doctor.
"Now you see?"
Little Fairy Doctor immediately lost interest.
"It's nothing unusual."
Amidst everyone's banter and laughter, the main force set off again and finally arrived at Qin Shao's military camp early the next morning.
Qin Shao, dressed in military uniform, was discussing matters with his deputy generals in the command tent when he heard Ma Si's report. He couldn't help but reach up and rub his ear, thinking he had misheard.
"Who did you just say? Who came to our army?"
"The Wise Prince and His Consort! They've arrived with the procession delivering the crossbows!"
Ma Si quickly repeated it again.
Before the words were even finished, Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan led everyone into the command tent.
Qin Shao was greatly surprised. He quickly got up and came to the group, placing his hands on Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua's shoulders respectively, his eyes filled with a smile.
"Xuan'er, Hua'er, why is it you two?"
"Uncle Qin, I asked the scouts to keep this a secret from you! I'm personally leading the campaign for my father, and Xuan'er is an archer! As for Little Fairy Doctor, I don't need to explain; she's a healer! Hao Xiong is Little Fairy Doctor's assistant!"
Gu Zhanghua excitedly introduced everything to Qin Shao one by one.
Qin Shao laughed and said, "You've all learned to surprise me! Alright, I'll give you a surprise too!"
At this point, Qin Shao said to Ma San, "Go and bring up the people we arrested a couple of days ago!"
Everyone was shocked.
Zhao Xuan hurriedly asked, "Who were you arrested? Were they spies sent by the Yue Kingdom?"
Qin Shao smiled but remained silent, waving his hand to dismiss the deputy generals who were discussing the matter. He then invited everyone to sit down and instructed Ma Si to pour water for everyone.
Zhao Xuan first handed the bundle that Wu Yulan had entrusted to Qin Shao.
"Aunt Lan asked me to bring this to you; it's a new dress she made for you."
Qin Shao did not open the bundle, but casually handed it to Ma Si.
Ma Si, clutching his bundle, looked resentful.
"The General's wife is so thoughtful. My mother, my sisters-in-law, and my sister all asked you to bring some clothes for us brothers..."
Qin Shao interrupted Ma Si in a deep voice.
"Your mother and the others are just being sensible! Did the Prince and Princess Xian come to our army for a vacation? Or to play house and fool around? They each have important responsibilities and important matters to attend to! It's not proper for everyone to ask them to bring things to the army!"
Ma Si shrank back in fright and whispered, "This humble general knows his crime..."
Seeing this, Zhao Xuan sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat sorry for Wu Yulan. Her good intentions had been completely wasted. If Aunt Lan knew, she would be heartbroken.
Gu Zhanghua seemed to have seen through Zhao Xuan's thoughts. He quietly squeezed Zhao Xuan's hand, and when he saw Zhao Xuan looking at him with a puzzled expression, he smiled slightly and whispered something.
“There are some things that we, as the younger generation, are powerless to change.”
You're right.
Zhao Xuan immediately let it go and stopped thinking about things that had nothing to do with her.
At this moment, Ma San led several people into the command tent one after another. When Zhao Xuan saw the person walking at the front, she immediately stood up, rushed to the person in a few steps, and was overjoyed.
"Master Hu!"
This person was Hu Junfeng. He smiled slightly and clasped his hands in greeting to Zhao Xuan.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness!"