However, seeing Xiao Liuli's increasingly dispirited face, Lin Zaozao couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Xiao Liuli, you are who you are, why do you have to be like others! What do you think manliness is? Is it being able to wield a heavy sword like Dashan? Or being able to kill enemies on the battlefield like Murong Hai? Or becoming a famous assassin like Gu Shan?
Xiao Liuli, you are you. Since young, your health has been weak, you simply can't become like them.
Moreover, the things they have experienced aren't something an aristocrat like you could imagine.
Although your physique is poor, your mind is extremely clever. Xiao Liuli, your physique may be inferior to theirs, but you can defeat them with your intellect.
Comparing your weaknesses with others' strengths isn't a wise thing to do."
"Sister, am I really that clever?" Xiao Liuli asked expectantly.
"Of course you're clever! Xiao Liuli, back in Border City, looking at the complex distribution of supplies and personnel already gave me a headache. But you were actually able to handle those tedious matters in an orderly fashion. If that's not being clever, then there is no one clever in this world."
Having gotten Lin Zaozao's affirmation, Xiao Liuli's eyes immediately became radiant, making his whole being even more vibrant.
"Sister, can I always follow you then, and help you handle those trivial matters around you?"
"You can, of course you can. But Xiao Liuli, let's make this clear first - no matter how big the issue, our health comes first. Also, don't doubt yourself anymore in the future. Those by my side should always be optimistic and positive. No matter what happens, we have to take things easy. By maintaining an optimistic and positive attitude, the flowers we see will be more beautiful than others'."
"Alright, sister."
"Okay, stop talking, you're not even eating while talking. Xiao Liuli, if you don't want to eat the pancakes, we can eat something else. I see you having difficulty swallowing them."
"No need, sister. These pancakes are really delicious. I'll take it slow, I'm bound to get used to them sooner or later."
Lin Zaozao looked at Xiao Liuli who buried his head to gnaw on the big pancakes, and couldn't help but heave a long sigh. The young master who was usually pampered had become so crude under her care.
But thinking about how Ji Fengtian said Xiao Liuli's health was improving day by day, Lin Zaozao felt assured.
Oh well, being crude isn't so bad! As long as he's healthy, that's the most important.
After everyone had rested, they continued on their journey. Han Ye was looking through some documents and making notes, but after taking a look, Lin Zaozao immediately lost interest.
She really couldn't muster any enthusiasm for such petty, trivial matters. Coupled with sitting in the carriage the whole time, she felt the bumpy ride making her butt sore.
Just as Lin Zaozao was secretly massaging her butt, she saw Nan Yu riding his Chasing Wind, walking alongside Lin Zaozao's carriage.
Looking at Chasing Wind, Lin Zaozao's eyes immediately lit up with envy.
In all her life, she had never ridden a horse before!
"Nan Yu, handsome brother Nan Yu!"
Hearing Lin Zaozao's voice, Nan Yu rode Chasing Wind to the side of her carriage.
"Princess Mingzhu!"
"We knew each other first, just call me Zaozao! Hearing Princess Mingzhu makes me feel like the revolutionary camaraderie between us has weakened."
Although Nan Yu didn't understand what revolutionary camaraderie Lin Zaozao was talking about, he still obliged and called out "Zaozao" according to her words.
"Nan Yu!"
"What's the matter?"
Seeing Lin Zaozao's excited expression, Nan Yu's body stiffened, asking puzzledly.
"Nan Yu, do you think I look good now?"
Lin Zaozao blinked her eyes and asked enthusiastically.
"Good, very good." Nan Yu stammered in reply.
"Then see, am I still fat now?"
Lin Zaozao stood up in the carriage and sucked in her belly hard, showing Nan Yu her "tiny waist".
"Zaozao, you're not fat at all now."
Nan Yu lowered his head, ears slightly red.
"Heeheehee! Since I'm pretty now, and not fat either. Then..."
Lin Zaozao's eyes shone as she looked at the Chasing Wind under Nan Yu, and said loudly.
"Nan Yu, didn't you say only beautiful people can ride your Chasing Wind? I've gotten thinner now, and better looking too. So can you let me ride Chasing Wind for a bit? I've never ridden a horse my whole life!"
Lin Zaozao's words extinguished the glimmer of hope Nan Yu had in his heart.
Nan Yu gave a wry smile.
Just now, what exactly was he hoping for?
"Nan Yu, can I ride your Chasing Wind now?"
"You can."
After speaking, Nan Yu dismounted and reached out his hands to Lin Zaozao, intending to carry her down.
Seeing Nan Yu's outstretched hands, Lin Zaozao paused for a moment, gave Nan Yu a smile, then lifted her skirt and jumped down by herself.
"Nan Yu, it's just getting off a carriage, I'm not delicate enough to need someone carrying me."
Lin Zaozao moved past Nan Yu and went to Chasing Wind's side. She first stroked Chasing Wind's mane and got acquainted with it.
"Chasing Wind, although I'm not a peerless beauty now, I'm still a cute one. So be good and let me ride you for a bit, okay?"
Seeing that Chasing Wind was unresponsive, Lin Zaozao patted its neck and said to Dashan who was standing by.
"Dashan, give me a boost, I want to ride the horse."
"Alright, young master."
Dashan went to Lin Zaozao's side and lifted her up onto the horse's back with both hands.
Lin Zaozao, who had just gotten on the horse's back, had eyes full of excitement.
Dammit! Adding up her previous and current lives, she had finally gotten on a horse.
But before Lin Zaozao could fully relish her excitement, Chasing Wind shook its neck and tried to buck her off.
"Crap, Dashan, save me!"
Before Lin Zaozao's body could tilt, Dashan had swiftly pulled her off the horse's back.
"Wretched beast, daring to harm the young master, deserves death!"
After speaking, Dashan's hand slapped towards Chasing Wind.
"Stop stop stop, Dashan, don't hurt it!"
Lin Zaozao strenuously pulled Dashan back and glanced at the pale-faced Nan Yu.
"Dashan, Chasing Wind is loyal to its master, it's quite normal for it to dislike me. It's Nan Yu's companion, you can't hurt it."
"Young master, if I hadn't grabbed you just now, it would've bucked you under its hooves."
"It's fine, it's fine. It's my first time riding, not riding well is normal too. Also, Chasing Wind clearly has great spirit, it being loyal to its master is normal as well!
I can't ride Chasing Wind, I can ride other horses. After all, we have quite a few horses here."
After speaking, Lin Zaozao scanned around to see which horse she could ride.
"Princess Mingzhu, ride my horse!"
Lin Zaozao looked at Nan Yin's horse, it was a beautiful date red horse.
"Sister Nan Yin, I'll just ride it for a bit. If it's unwilling, I'll get off."
"Alright. Princess Mingzhu, let me help you."
So Lin Zaozao held Nan Yin's hand for support. But the moment she sat on the horse's back, it immediately reared up.
If not for Nan Yin reacting swiftly to pull her off the horse's back, Lin Zaozao would've been bucked off by the horse.
Standing on the ground, looking at the suddenly irritated horse, Lin Zaozao felt dejected.
How was she so repulsive to horses? Chasing Wind wouldn't let her ride, and now this horse wouldn't either!
"Young master, do you want to ride this horse? It's the most docile horse."
Looking at the extremely tame horse Dashan led over, Lin Zaozao refused to believe she couldn't ride a horse her whole life.
But when Lin Zaozao approached the horse and was about to mount it, the horse immediately neighed agitatedly.
Seeing the suddenly irritated horse, Lin Zaozao even started doubting her affinity with horses.
She swore she had never done anything to offend horses! Why did they dislike her so?
Chasing Wind and Sister Nan Yin's horse still allowed her a brief ride, but this one!
It became so agitated the moment she got near it.
Could it be that in her previous life she was someone who set horses free, wielding a whip to do something cruel and unforgivable to the horses?
"Young master, would you like to ride this one? This pony is quite tame."
Lin Zaozao turned her body early to look at the pony Dashan led over again. When she took a step closer, the pony became agitated again.
"Damn it! Do I owe you guys something from my previous life? Can't you make an exception and let me get on for a bit? I'm not fat anymore now, I won't be too heavy for you!"
After Lin Zaozao spoke, looking at the still irritated ponies, she squinted her eyes and said fiercely,
"Could it be that you are like Chasing Wind, only allowing beauties to ride you? If so, then neigh for me. If not, I'm going to ride you right now."
As soon as Lin Zaozao finished speaking, the ponies surprisingly neighed in unison.
Looking at the neighing ponies, the black lines on Lin Zaozao's forehead could knit a sweater.
Damn it, although she had a doll face now, she was not ugly at all!
"Fuck! You donkey-born things! Turns out you are not ponies, but mules! I'm currently as lovely as a flower. How could I be so ugly that I can't ride you! You guys are surprisingly rejecting me, such a beauty who would make flowers ashamed!"
Just as Lin Zaozao was so angry she was shaking, all the ponies suddenly became agitated. The pony closest to Lin Zaozao was now uncontrollably rearing up.
Seeing the guards desperately trying to control the ponies, Lin Zaozao wisely kept her mouth shut.
Damn it, today she really utterly disgraced herself!
To be despised by ponies like this, she must be the first person in history!
But she didn't look ugly now! Could it be that she had bad horse karma that ponies extremely detested her?
Just when Lin Zaozao was extremely depressed watching the frenzied ponies, the screams behind her made Lin Zaozao quickly turn her head back.
"Wolves!"
"Get away quickly, be on guard!"
"Control the horses, don't let them panic!"
"Protect the princess properly. Shoot down the giant wolves with arrows!"
Hearing the guards' screams, Lin Zaozao looked in the direction of the sounds and saw two shadows, one black and one white, sprinting towards her side.
When Lin Zaozao could clearly see the two shadows, she swiftly stopped Nan Yu and Nan Yin who were about to unsheathe their swords.
"Zhao Cai! Jin Bao!"
Seeing the black and white giant wolves running to her side, Lin Zaozao's eyes instantly widened.
Some time ago, because she was busy, she left Zhao Cai and Jin Bao for Uncle Zhang to raise.
But it had only been a short while! Did Zhao Cai and Jin Bao eat fertilizer that they grew so big?
Lin Zaozao compared their height. These two wolf cubs had already grown to above her waist. These two huge fellows were more robust than young calves.
Looking at Zhao Cai and Jin Bao rolling over to show their bellies to her, she turned to Uncle Zhang walking towards her and asked puzzledly.
"Uncle Zhang, what did you feed Zhao Cai and Jin Bao? How did they grow so quickly?"
"Girl, it's not that I fed them well, but because Zhao Cai and Jin Bao are the Wolf King's cubs. Once they are past infancy, they will rapidly shoot up in height."
Hearing Uncle Zhang's words, Lin Zaozao looked at Zhao Cai and Jin Bao acting coquettishly on the ground to her. Then looking at the nonchalant Uncle Zhang, she couldn't help laughing.
What do you mean they grew fast!
If Zhao Cai and Jin Bao grew in height so quickly, then they must have become skinny right!
But now! Looking at these two chubby wolf cubs, as fat as calves, where did the not feeding them well come from!
People do say there are no old folks who can't fatten up children and pets. Dashan was raised by Uncle Zhang to become tall and strong. Even these two little wolf cubs were raised by Uncle Zhang, and astonishingly fattened up by a whole circle or two.
