kvmb Chapter 203 We've also come to visit relatives!
Chapter 203 We've also come to visit relatives!
Lu Yangyang gently scraped one side of her face with her fingernail, scraping out a little bit of the medicinal paste that had curled up.
When she went out of the capital to find someone, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to wear a gorgeous mask and parade around the city. So she disguised herself a little, darkened her skin, covered the scars with a layer of medicinal mud that matched her skin tone, and then used her loose hair to cover them up. This way, she would only look like she had rough skin, and you wouldn't be able to tell that she had old scars on her face.
After explaining to Li Duan, she took out a small box from her bosom: "Use this to apply to your face and exposed areas later. Be careful when you're out and about."
Li Duan took the small box with disappointment. "I thought you were all better. Didn't you study medicine with that doctor from Renxintang? You've been studying for over a year, can't you remove the scars on your face?"
Lu Yangyang didn't seem to care much. "It's just a scar. When you're not so concerned, it's nothing special. Whether it's healed or not, what does it matter? Alright, it's good that you're okay. You should get ready first. Since we're going to travel together later, I'll go talk to that Aunt Chen."
Hearing this, Li Duan immediately perked up and nodded hurriedly, "Okay, go quickly!"
Lu Yangyang finally felt relieved after finding Li Duan. She went out and chatted with Granny Chen, only to learn that Granny Chen's family originally ran a small business and owned dozens of acres of fertile land, so their life was quite good. However, fate was unkind, as her only son had joined the army a few years ago and made a name for himself in the military. Two years ago, he married a woman on the border and had a child.
Aunt Chen and her husband originally lived in their hometown, but her husband passed away last year, and her youngest daughter got married this summer, leaving her all alone. So she packed up some of her belongings, hired a few bodyguards, and planned to go and live with her son. No matter how good life was near the capital, it couldn't compare to being with her family. While she was still young, she could help take care of her grandson.
So, among Aunt Chen's group, besides a few guards, there was her younger brother and nephew from her maternal family who were worried about her traveling far away, and an old woman who helped out at home; there was no one else.
Lu Yangyang had dealt with escort agencies quite a bit in the past, and small groups like this, who were visiting relatives, were the least noticeable. So, it can only be said that Li Duan was extremely lucky.
Lu Yangyang slipped a few more taels of silver to Granny Chen, explaining that she was an apprentice at a clinic, knew a little about medicine, and wanted to go with Li Duan to visit relatives at the border. Granny Chen became even more enthusiastic upon hearing this, as country folk are most afraid of getting sick on the road. Lu Yangyang's offer was like a pillow delivered to someone who was sleepy. She immediately agreed to take them along, saying that they were her youngest daughters. She even tried to return the silver that Lu Yangyang had given her, but Lu Yangyang had to persuade her quite a bit before she finally accepted it.
The two sides reached an agreement in a pleasant manner. Early the next morning, Lu Yangyang picked up two sets of old clothes that didn't quite fit from Aunt Chen, changed into them with Li Duan, and disguised themselves as two country girls. They successfully blended into the group visiting relatives and began their journey north.
When they stopped in the next small county town, Lu Yangyang took the opportunity to send two more letters, one to the Princess and one to the Crown Prince, informing them of her trip to the Northwest with Li Duan.
Only then could I finally start my journey with peace of mind.
They didn't travel very fast from the capital to the Northwest, taking almost half a month to reach the Northwest. By the time they arrived, it was already so cold that it started snowing.
At this moment, Lu Yangyang and Li Duan were wearing patched, dusty old coats they had bought on the way, with long braids, their faces and necks smeared with a waxy yellow, huddled on the donkey cart with their hands tucked in, looking exactly like two little girls fleeing from disaster.
The city closest to the garrison's camp was called Yangguan City.
This was also the last line of defense for the Zhao state against the nomadic peoples of the northwest.
When there is no war, the border trade here is thriving and prosperous, but whenever war comes, it is a scene of shocking desolation.
Along the way, before even reaching the outskirts of Yangguan City, they began to see many merchant caravans heading back. Chen Da Niang's younger brother went to inquire and came back saying that Yangguan City was no longer open to entry, so many merchants had to change their route to other cities.
As for why they weren't allowed in, the reason is unknown.
After inquiring along the way, they found no definite news and it was not appropriate to turn back, so they had no choice but to continue heading towards Yangguan City. Finally, at the end of October, they arrived outside Yangguan City.
It had just snowed, and the ground was still a bit slippery. The sky was also gradually darkening.
The group couldn't help but worry. If they couldn't get into the city and it snowed, they would be in trouble. It was freezing cold here, and they couldn't travel at night.
However, as expected, they were stopped as soon as they approached the city gate.
The soldiers guarding the city shouted at the group, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Aunt Chen's younger brother hurriedly stepped forward, explained his purpose, and even secretly slipped some loose silver to the soldiers guarding the city. However, the soldiers refused outright: "There are orders from above that no one, regardless of who they are, is allowed to enter Yangguan City. You'd better leave before it gets completely dark!"
"This, this..." Chen's brother didn't expect that the other party would not even accept the money, which made things difficult.
He had no choice but to return to the donkey cart and shake his head at Aunt Chen. Aunt Chen immediately panicked: "What, what should we do? Has something happened? How could this be?"
"Yangyang..." Li Duan also realized something was wrong and called out to Lu Yangyang in a small voice.
Lu Yangyang looked at the city gate with a somber expression.
She found it strange when she encountered people who couldn't enter Yangguan City these past two days. She thought it was just that caravans weren't allowed in, but now it seems that it's not that simple. A city would never close its gates without a reason; something must have happened.
Just as she was filled with doubt and uncertainty, a voice suddenly came from the city gate: "What happened?"
"Boss, they are a few people who came to visit relatives. I have already told them to leave before it gets dark," the soldier guarding the city hurriedly replied.
Upon hearing the reply, the person glanced over. The two sides weren't far apart. The person paused for a moment, then strode over, exclaiming in surprise, "Mother? Uncle? Why are you here? Didn't I write a letter saying I wasn't coming?"
"Pingyuan, Pingyuan, is it really you? Is it really you?" Aunt Chen looked at the voice and the person who came, staring at him in disbelief. She was a little hesitant to recognize her son whom she hadn't seen for several years.
When her son left home, he was only fifteen or sixteen years old. Now he is in his early twenties. Not only has he grown taller, but his face has also lost its childishness and turned into a strong and resolute young man. Tears welled up in Chen's eyes. She reached out her trembling hand to touch her son, but she was afraid that she had mistaken him for someone else.
Chen Pingyuan's eyes also reddened, and he knelt down with a thud: "Your son is unfilial and has caused your mother worry. I was unable to be by your side to fulfill my filial duty when your father passed away. Your son is guilty."
Aunt Chen finally recognized her son, hugged him, and burst into tears.
Lu Yangyang also quietly got off the car with Li Duan.
After the mother and son had cried for a while, Chen Da Niang's younger brother asked, "Pingyuan, get up quickly. We can talk about it when we get back. But when we went to ask earlier, they said they wouldn't let us in. What happened?"
Chen Pingyuan then stood up, looking at his mother and uncle with a mixture of apology and embarrassment: "Mother, Uncle, I'm so sorry, I really can't say this, but there are orders from above that no one is allowed to enter or leave Yangguan City at will, and I, I can't disobey the military order. Here, you wait here, I'll find someone to help me ask for leave, and I'll take you to a nearby post station to settle down for the night. It might snow after dark here, and the road is difficult to travel and very dangerous."
"What? We still can't go in? What about Qingniang and the child? Pingyuan, your mother has come all this way, shouldn't she at least see her daughter-in-law and grandson?" Aunt Chen looked at her son in disbelief, holding his hand and looking at him expectantly.
Chen Pingyuan was filled with remorse: "I'm sorry, Mother. Military orders are hard to obey. Our general gave the order himself."
Aunt Chen's eyes dimmed instantly.
At this moment, Lu Yangyang suddenly asked, "What is your general's name?"
Chen Pingyuan looked at the little girl who had suddenly appeared in surprise. He thought she was his younger sister, but he clearly remembered that his mother had written at the beginning of the year, saying that his sister would get married after the mourning period in the summer.
"Who are you? Why are you asking about our general's name?" Chen Pingyuan immediately became wary.
“We sisters have also come to visit relatives. What? Can’t people know your general’s name? There shouldn’t be such a rule in the laws of the Great Zhao,” Lu Yangyang retorted.
Chen Pingyuan was speechless; the laws of the Great Zhao Dynasty did not contain such a provision.
He could only reply with a frustrated expression, "Our general's surname is Sheng, and his given name is Junyao."
Lu Yangyang nodded and took out a dagger from her pocket: "Then take this and tell him that his sister is looking for him."