jdhmnovel Chapter 329 Children Leave Beijing
Chapter 329 Children Leave Beijing
On this day, a fine drizzle fell from the sky, as if even the heavens were grieving for this parting. The fine rain, like silk threads, gently sprinkled on the city gate, adding even more desolation and sorrow to the already melancholic scene.
Canglan Jingcheng and Canglan Jingyao stood at the city gate, bidding farewell to their mother, Su Nuannuan. Su Nuannuan stood quietly under the oil-paper umbrella held by Jinse, looking at the two children with endless love and reluctance in her eyes.
"Mother, we're leaving." Canglan Jingcheng and Canglan Jingyao said in unison, their voices carrying a hint of reluctance.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly and instructed, "Be careful on the road. When you reach the border town, remember to write to your mother to let me know that you have arrived safely."
"Don't worry, Mother!" Canglan Jingyao, wearing a straw raincoat, had a bright smile on her face. "Once we reach the border, I will write to you as soon as possible to let you know I am safe."
This time, they decided not to travel by carriage but to ride horses. This would not only increase their speed but also allow them to better appreciate the scenery along the way.
"Jingcheng, as your older brother, you must take good care of your younger sister along the way." Su Nuannuan turned her head and gently instructed Canglan Jingcheng.
Upon hearing this, Canglan Jingcheng nodded repeatedly and bowed respectfully to Su Nuannuan, replying, "Your son will follow Mother's teachings and will take good care of my sister. Please rest assured, Mother."
Su Nuannuan smiled as she looked at Cang Lan Jingcheng, her eyes filled with relief. Then she turned her gaze to the four people following behind them and said softly, "Yaoqin, Muge, Lord Qu, General Xiao, the journey ahead is long. May you have a safe trip and arrive safely."
Upon hearing Su Nuannuan's words, the four people all bowed to her to express their gratitude and bid her farewell.
The four people, all dressed in straw raincoats, returned Su Nuannuan's greeting in unison, then mounted their horses with practiced ease.
Once they were all securely seated on their horses, Cang Lan Jingcheng waved his hand, and the group sped off like arrows towards the border town, the sound of hooves echoing in the air as they gradually faded into the distance.
Of the four, the one named Qu Jing was going to serve as the prefect of a western border town. The original prefect, due to his advanced age, had already retired to his hometown.
As for General Xiao, he is naturally Yaoqin's older brother and also Canglan Jingcheng's master—Xiao Yanfang. This time, he was ordered by the Emperor to go to the western army to take over the position of general of a unit. The original general unfortunately sacrificed himself heroically on the battlefield.
As for Canglan Jingcheng, he did not receive special treatment because of his status as a prince. Instead, he started from the lowest level of the army, just like an ordinary soldier.
Canglan Jingyao was assigned to assist Qujing in developing the border town, and was also responsible for preparing a female army that could both fight and heal the wounded.
However, to Su Nuannuan's surprise, Qu Jing took away the flowers she had carefully nurtured, along with the flowerpot and soil, without a sound.
"Your Highness, let's go back too! The Prince and Princess have already gone quite far." Jinse gently reminded her mistress, who was still staring in the direction the Prince and Princess had left.
"I don't know how long it will be before I come back," Su Nuannuan said slowly, a hint of melancholy in her voice.
Jinse didn't reply; she simply held the umbrella steadily above Su Nuannuan's head, shielding her from the fine rain.
Su Nuannuan stood quietly for a while, as if time had frozen. Her gaze was somewhat blank as she looked into the distant rain, seemingly lost in thought. However, in the end, she sighed softly, as if she had made up her mind, and resolutely turned around, walking away with light steps.
"Let's go!" Her voice was as soft as a feather falling, yet it echoed in the silent air, carrying a hint of indescribable melancholy.
Back in the carriage, Tingxue had already prepared a steaming cup of ginger tea. She hurriedly stepped forward, handed the teacup to Su Nuannuan, and said with concern, "Your Highness, please have some ginger tea to warm your stomach."
Su Nuannuan took the ginger tea from Tingxue, gently blew away the steam, and then tilted her head back to drink it all in one gulp. The spicy flavor of the ginger tea spread in her throat, bringing a warm sensation. After finishing, she handed the teacup back to Tingxue, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"Your Highness, are we going to the Prince's residence or the Princess's residence?" Li Desheng asked, sitting on the carriage shaft, cracking his whip.
Su Nuannuan thought for a moment, then replied, "They've all left, and there's nothing interesting about staying in the manor. Why don't we go to my dowry estate?"
"Alright! Your Highness, please sit tight." Li Desheng responded, then cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly started moving, the wheels making a soft sound on the wet ground.
Li Desheng was quite familiar with the route to Su Nuannuan's dowry estate, as she had taken everyone there for a visit in the past two days.
"Eunuch Li, I never expected you to be such a skilled driver!" Jinse, sitting inside the carriage, exclaimed through the window to Li Desheng, who was driving.
Upon hearing Jinse's praise, Li Desheng quickly and humbly replied, "In response to Miss Jinse, before serving the late Emperor, I was a coachman in the palace responsible for the imperial carriage. Later, thanks to the late Emperor's favor, I was fortunate enough to be kept by his side to serve him."
"I see, then you are so lucky!" Jinse said with a delighted smile.
At this moment, Tingxue, who was standing to the side, seemed a little hesitant. She asked Su Nuannuan softly, "Your Majesty, are you planning not to return to the palace?"
Su Nuannuan shook her head and replied with a smile, "I'm not going back. I've finally come out for a while, and I don't want to go back to the palace so soon. Besides, whether it's in the manor or in the mountains, this is the perfect time to have fun."
After listening, Tingxue nodded in understanding. However, Jinse reminded her from the side, "Your Majesty, do you think we should send someone back to the palace to report to the Emperor, so as not to worry him?"
"There's no need for that. His Majesty has naturally sent people to secretly follow me. Why would I need to send someone back to inform him of such a trivial matter? After all, I am his elder, and he should know about this little thing," Su Nuannuan said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Jinse was utterly astonished. Her eyes widened as she stared at Su Nuannuan in disbelief, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, how did you know that the Emperor had sent people to follow us? This servant did not notice anything at all!"