"Long live!"
Zhu Changle heard the sound and came running over, "Father, what's the matter?"
Zhu Maonian handed her the small porcelain vial that his daughter had given him the night before. "Didn't use it."
"Father, you keep it just in case. This medicine is precious. Dingding struggled for two years to trick the stingy old monk into giving her these ten pills." Zhu Changle wrinkled her nose, clearly dissatisfied, rolling her eyes inwardly countless times. The old monk's elixir was so rare that no amount of money could buy it. For her to have tricked him out of ten pills wasn't just letting it slip - it was a flood.
Zhu Maonian guessed that this medicine must be precious. Although Changle had spent more time with her master than at home over the years, from her actions he could see that she was knowledgeable and broad-minded, paying little attention to ordinary things. But hearing the words 'precious' from her mouth, he knew he had still underestimated it.
He did not insist on returning it. He was well aware that on this journey, their task was to protect themselves to the greatest extent possible without becoming a burden to Changle.
"Let's go, let's go." Just as she was about to mount her horse, Zhu Changle remembered something and dug out a box of ointment from her pack. She scooped out a blob and rubbed it onto the palm of her hand, then haphazardly applied it to her face, releasing a faint fragrance. Dingding came over and sniffed, "Afraid Little Golden can't find you?"
"Yes, it's been too far from me. With this scent, it can follow the trail and ditch Little Lid to find me." Zhu Changle sighed, "Without it, my combat power is cut in half."
"You mean your destructive power?"
"Well, it's all the same anyway. I just miss it. It's eight years old now and this is the first time it's been away from me for so long! It must miss me too." She mounted her horse, patting Little Tail's back with a hint of petulance. Why hasn't Master emerged from seclusion yet? Without Little Golden and Old Golden around, she felt bullied...
"Neigh..."
Zhu Changle leaned down to hug the horse's neck and mumbled, "I only have you left, Little Tail. You have to be clever and help me watch the horses, okay? Kick anyone who doesn't behave."
Dingding had already mounted her own horse and turned a blind eye. Of all Zhu Changle's qualities - her shamelessness, generosity, and sense of righteousness - her innate talent for being spoiled took the cake. Unlike others who whined and complained in a soft, delicate voice, all she had to do was pout and anyone would be willing to give her anything. This 'anyone' included Zhu Maonian and Lady Zhang. After years of training, at the first sign of her pouting, they would run for their lives to avoid carelessly promising her something.
Zhu Changle lay on the horse's back, thinking of her master for a moment before sitting up with a smile and shouting, "Let's go, let's go!"
The caravan set off again. After going a short distance, they did indeed see Qiuli slowly riding on horseback ahead of them. Zhu Changle grinned and smugly raised her chin at Dingding, with an 'I told you so' look.
The carriages passed by Qiuli one by one, with Zhu Changle riding alongside him.
Qiuli's horse was also a divine steed, and the two horses snorted and strained against each other, itching for a race. Zhu Changle laughed heartily, gently stroking her horse's neck in reassurance. "Finally found a worthy opponent for a competition. Qiuli, shall we let them race later?"
Qiuli nodded, lightly tapping his horse's back twice with his fan, and the horse immediately calmed down, much more obedient than Little Tail who was still neighing and egging them on.
"Behave yourself and learn from him, so proper and refined."
Qiuli gave her a look that said, 'As the master wishes.'
"Changle," Zhu Changwang called out, gesturing for his sister to come over.
Zhu Changle immediately rode her horse to him.
"Look at this." He handed her a newly drawn map. She still had the old one, but looking at the markings her Big Brother had made, she calculated that they were less than thirty li away from their destination.
"Got it." She passed the map to Qiuli, who nodded after examining it.
"You take the rear."
Qiuli nodded again.
Zhu Changle liked people like this - efficient and straightforward. She was happy to owe a favor to someone like him.
"Little Changle."
"Yes?"
"Protect yourself. If you can't preserve everything, choose the most important thing. Do you understand Big Brother's meaning?"
"Big Brother..." Just as Zhu Changwang thought she was going to make some promise, she said, "You don't look too well. Did you not rest properly last night? Don't overthink it. No matter how smart you are, you can't turn into a martial arts master overnight. On this journey, I'm the most useful one. I can say that now."
"Hmm?"
Zhu Changle tossed the map back at him, then rode a little further away. Once she was sure Big Brother's fan couldn't reach her, she yelled loudly, "Bookworms are useless!"
"..."
The carriages in front and behind raised their curtains, and the two other Zhu scholars turned to look at the arrogant figure mounted on the tall warhorse.
"You see, I dare say it! You read so many books but they're no use now. Books can't kill people. I may not like reading, but I can beat them until they're crying and peeing themselves! Ha ha ha! This time, the illiterate me is more useful than you scholars. I'm so happy!"
"Changle," Zhu Changwang leaned out the window and beckoned with his finger, "Come here."
"No, I'll get hit."
"You really won't come?"
Zhu Changle shook her head vigorously. She wasn't stupid.
"Then I'll come out."
"Big Brother... you can't do that..." Zhu Changle's face fell. Dingding always said she was shameless, but what did he know? Against her Big Brother, she had never won.
"Hmm?"
Zhu Changle leaned down to negotiate with her brother, "Can I hit myself instead?"
"How would you hit yourself? One hand slapping the other?"
"No, like this." Zhu Changle raised her palm and swung it forcefully toward her face. It looked powerful, but when it reached her face, all the force was gone. She feigned being struck heavily, tilting her head to the side while pantomiming spitting out non-existent blood. The comical display made Zhu Changwang unable to hold back his laughter.
He tapped her lightly with his fan and said, "Later I'll tell you if bookworms are really useless."
"Can I take that back before it's too late?"
"Did you say it wholeheartedly just now?"
Zhu Changle nodded honestly, "Very wholeheartedly."
"Then I want to be that wholehearted just once." Zhu Changwang let down the carriage curtain, and as he looked down at the map, the smile gradually faded from his lips. His little Changle was more considerate than anyone.
Outside, Zhu Changle went to seek support with a pout. Zhu Maonian lowered the curtain before she could reach him, and Lady Zhang's amused voice came out, "You got yourself into this mess, you deal with it yourself. Old Madam won't help you this time."
Zhu Changle turned to the Old Madam, who waved her away and closed the curtain decisively.
Changle then sought help from her Second Brother, "Second Brother, look..."
"I'm a useless bookworm."
Watching the swaying curtain, Zhu Changle felt like a little pitiful thing. She scanned around, but Dingding wouldn't even look at her. She approached Qiuli, "I've been abandoned."
Qiuli's eyes twinkled with amusement at the way the Zhu family interacted, so different from what he knew about them.
