In the carriage, Lin Zaozao was feeling depressed as she flipped a tael or two of silver coins over and over again in her hand.
Meanwhile, Xiao Taohua and Xiao Liuli were sitting quietly in the corner of the carriage, giggling to themselves.
Today, just as Lin Zaozao had suggested, they had passed through Canglan Country's checkpoint in plain sight. They had thought they would be discovered by the soldiers!
Throughout the journey, they had been nervous, thinking that if they were caught by Canglan Country's soldiers at the checkpoint, then Lin Zaozao would barge through with them.
But unexpectedly, Lin Zaozao had thrown a tantrum right in front of the soldiers, so much so that the soldiers did not even realize that the stubborn, unreasonable rich lady before them was actually the eminent medicinal sage Lin Daxian whom they were supposed to catch, as depicted in the portrait.
Luckily Lin Zaozao had guts and created a ruckus in front of the soldiers just now. All of them had been extremely nervous, afraid that the soldier would recognize Lin Zaozao.
But unexpectedly, Lin Zaozao had pestered the soldier right in front of his face, managing to prevent him from recognizing her as the fat medicinal sage in the portrait.
Hearing Xiao Taohua and Xiao Liuli giggling softly, Lin Zaozao did not even glance at them.
Ever since she had cried over her baby face yesterday, those two had sneered at her no end.
Humph! Those two were heartless creatures.
They simply could not empathize with the pain she felt. Those who transmigrated were supposed to gain peerless beauty, weren't they?
Yet she was stuck with the same baby face before and after transmigration.
Putting the coins into her money pouch, Lin Zaozao grumbled to herself inwardly. She had spent a tael or two to help divert that soldier's illness for a while.
This transaction was not a loss for her at all.
Just as Lin Zaozao had hung her money pouch on her waist, Uncle Zhang suddenly stopped the carriage.
"Girl, the people meeting us have arrived."
Right after Uncle Zhang finished speaking, Lin Zaozao swiftly opened the carriage curtain and jumped out.
When she looked up and saw the familiar person on horseback, she could not help crying out in surprise.
"Nan Yu, pretty boy!"
Hearing this familiar voice, Nan Yu who had been sitting sternly on the horse opened his eyes wide in shock.
He looked over and saw a cute, chubby young lady dressed in finery enthusiastically waving at him from the carriage.
Could this be...
He must have misheard!
Just as Nan Yu shook his head slightly, Nan Yin who had been standing beside him and another brawny middle-aged man immediately walked to the front of Lin Zaozao's carriage and knelt on the ground, saying in a loud voice.
"This is Han Country Major General Nan Yin coming to welcome Princess Mingzhu home!"
"This is Han Country Lieutenant General Li Zuo coming to welcome Princess Mingzhu home!"
Seeing the two kneeling people, Lin Zaozao immediately put away her smile and solemnly said,
"You may rise."
"Thank you, Princess Mingzhu!"
"Thank you, Princess Mingzhu!"
Lin Zaozao looked at Nan Yin and Li Zuo who were standing up, then looked at the mighty entourage before her. Crouching down, she softly asked Uncle Zhang,
"Uncle, please don't tell me all these people have come to meet me?"
"Girl, if not for Han Country still being in an isolationist state now, I would have thought this entourage too small!" Uncle Zhang sighed softly.
"Uncle, aren't there too many people already? Mobilizing so many to meet me is such a waste of money!"
Looking at the large group of people ahead, Lin Zaozao could not help but purse her lips. She really did not expect that after transmigrating, there would come a day when she would receive such grand treatment.
Just look at those soldiers in armor and the horses they were riding.
Those horses were all strong and sturdy, making her - someone who had never ridden a horse - also yearn to ride one!
Just as Lin Zaozao was eyeing those horses covetously, Uncle Zhang jumped down from the carriage and held out a hand to her.
"Come, girl, come with Uncle."
"Alright!"
Grabbing Uncle Zhang's hand, Lin Zaozao directly hitched up her skirt, preparing to leap down in one swift movement.
But before she could act, Uncle Zhang had swiftly lifted her under both armpits and carried her down.
Once on the ground, Uncle Zhang led Lin Zaozao forward until they reached a high ground. Only then did he take Lin Zaozao's hand and turn to face the stern-looking soldiers, declaring loudly,
"I am former Supreme Commander Zhang Qianlou. I have been wandering among the common folk with Princess Mingzhu for over ten years. Now, I have finally safely brought our Princess Mingzhu back.
Our Han Country will regain its position as the leader of the three countries, thanks to Princess Mingzhu's return."
Right after Uncle Zhang finished speaking, all the mounted soldiers dismounted and knelt on the ground, shouting loudly in unison,
"Welcome home, Princess Mingzhu!"
"Welcome home, Princess Mingzhu!"
...
Hearing these deafening cheers, Lin Zaozao immediately felt her prestige increase.
No wonder ancient emperors enjoyed standing high up being cheered on by the masses.
Indeed, just hearing herself being welcomed home a few times already made her feel elated.
Goodness! This feeling was so awesome!
After the sounds died down below, Uncle Zhang coldly asked Nan Yin,
"Nan Yin, why do I not see people from Fengshuo Country here to welcome the Princess? Is this how they ask for help?"
"General Zhang, the plague in Fengshuo Country's border city has suddenly become severe. To contain the plague, the Fengshuo imperial family has sent all members of the Divine Doctor Clan to Fengshuo Country.
Now, the Empress of Fengshuo Country has sent the entire Divine Doctor Clan into the border city.
Moreover, Princess Qianyue of Fengshuo Country has ordered that if the Divine Doctor Clan cannot control the plague in the border city, then Fengshuo Country will take the most direct approach and burn down the border city."
"Bastards!"
Uncle Zhang said furiously.
"There are over twenty thousand people in the border city, plus the Divine Doctor Clan members who went in. There are almost thirty thousand people in the border city. So many lives cannot simply be burned to death just like that."
Right after Uncle Zhang finished speaking, Lin Zaozao quickly walked up to Nan Yin and pulled her hand urgently asking,
"Sister Nan Yin, you said the Divine Doctor Clan is in the border city now?"
"That's right, Princess Mingzhu."
"The Divine Doctor Clan - aren't those Xiao Baobei Fantian's clansmen? His clansmen are now in the border city, so where is Fantian? Does he know about the situation in the border city?" Lin Zaozao asked anxiously.
"Princess Mingzhu, Divine Doctor Ji Fantian went into the border city alone a few days ago.
The border city now only allows entry, no exit. Most critically, the border city has had no water, food or medicine for over ten days.
Even with the Divine Doctor Clan's miraculous healing abilities, they cannot possibly save the people in the border city without any medicine.
Moreover, the Divine Doctor Clan members were carried into the border city."
"Carried in? What do you mean?" Lin Zaozao asked coldly.
"Princess Mingzhu, the Divine Doctor Clan members had their Achilles tendons severed before entering the border city, so they cannot walk."
"What? Which son of a bitch did this? Severing their Achilles tendons renders the Divine Doctor Clan unable to heal others!"
"We do not know either, Princess."
Lin Zaozao took a deep breath after hearing Nan Yin's words. No, she had to stay calm now and not panic.
"Sister Nan Yin, my husband Fantian is also in the border city! If Fengshuo Country's dogs really burn down the border city, won't they burn Fantian to death too?"
"That's right."
Upon hearing Nan Yin's affirmative reply, Lin Zaozao instantly lost her cool.
No wonder they had left her prematurely. They must have learned about the border city's predicament.
Ji Fantian would never abandon his clansmen. Moreover, the Divine Doctor Clan's people had their Achilles' tendons cut before being sent into the border city.
However, wasn't Ji Fantian simply going to his death by entering the border city alone without sufficient preparation?
But considering the Divine Doctor Clan's people were now all inside the border city, it was understandable that Ji Fantian would act rashly.
After all, how many people could remain calm when their loved ones were facing life and death?
Now, only she could save Fantian.
She was now Han Country's Princess Mingzhu, the future Empress of Han Country.
She had to stay composed and not act in haste.
Because her mother had said that if she handled things in a hurried manner, everything would be ruined.
Thinking of this, Lin Zaozao forcibly calmed herself and turned to look at Uncle Zhang.
"Uncle Zhang, do we have enough medicinal materials and food here?"
"Yes. Because we knew Princess Mingzhu would return, we prepared ample fodder and medicinal ingredients ahead of time for any contingencies," Nan Yin replied.
"Can our people here match the border city's guards for a fight then?"
"Yes! I can guarantee that once we engage the border city guards in battle, we will certainly prevail," Uncle Zhang confidently stated.
After all, apart from the soldiers, most of the people here to welcome Princess Mingzhu were elite warriors handpicked from thousands.
"Good. We will set out for the border city posthaste now. If that damned Princess Qianyue of Fengshuo Country has burned down the border city, there would be nothing we could do even if we arrived," Lin Zaozao said.
"Princess Mingzhu, please!"
As Lin Zaozao looked at the consistently respectful Nan Yin and Nan Yu standing behind her, she currently had no mood to catch up with them and ask why they were no longer escort guards but here instead.
After Lin Zaozao sat in the carriage again, Xiao Taohua had already resumed his male attire, while Xiao Liuli still wore female clothing and sat quietly in the carriage.
"Uncle Zhang, Dashan, let's hurry to the border city. I'm afraid we'll arrive too late and Fantian will lose his life."
"Young master, please sit securely. I'm going to start racing now."
"I'm settled, Uncle Zhang, please go ahead quickly."
As soon as Lin Zaozao finished speaking, the carriage under her buttocks sped forward rapidly.
