"How desolate!" Zhu Changle exclaimed as she looked at the so-called... pavilion, which was nothing more than two planks put together. She doubted it could even support someone sitting on it without collapsing. It hardly deserved to be called a pavilion at all.
And where was the post station? Zhu Changle couldn't see any sign of one.
She wanted to chat with some locals, but every time someone poked their head out and saw their group, they would turn tail and run. The speed at which they fled made Zhu Changle wonder if the people here had all learned some kind of lightness kung fu technique.
Looking at the sides of the mountain path, she noticed that even the smallest patches of level ground had been cleared for planting. No matter how tiny the corner, a small green plot breathed life into the landscape.
"Oh!" Zhu Changle suddenly realized, "Look, everyone! The soil here seems to have thawed long ago. When we left the capital, the ground was still frozen!"
"You're just noticing now?" Dingding lightly tapped his horse's tail with his staff. The horse snorted and trotted a few steps forward. "The weather's been getting warmer the further we've come."
Zhu Changwang, whose carriage curtain had remained open the whole time, smiled at their conversation. "It is indeed much warmer here than in the capital, and the winters aren't as long."
"Big brother, don't tell me you chose to come to Yunbei just for this reason," Zhu Changle teased.
"That's right," he replied.
"What?" Zhu Changle had only been joking, not expecting her brother to actually confirm it. She rode her horse up next to his carriage and asked earnestly, "Is it because this kind of weather is better for your health?"
Zhu Changwang pushed her head away playfully. "The river doesn't freeze here, and being near the sea has its advantages."
Qiuli turned to look at him upon hearing this. Rivers and seas meant water routes, but to use the river, they'd first need to open up the way through Gu'an.
"Big brother, can you really use the river?" Zhu Changle asked.
"I can use the river that connects to Gu'an."
Zhu Changle grinned mischievously, bringing her face close to her brother's. "Quick, say something nice and praise me. Then I'll help you make it happen."
"Our little Changle is unrivaled in beauty and loveliness, filial and obedient, outstanding, accomplished in both literary and martial arts, perfect in every way, erudite..."
"Stop! Take out that last one and replace it with something else."
Zhu Changwang obliged good-naturedly, "Not erudite then. Peerless, empathetic, so beautiful she could make fish sink and wild geese fall from the sky, as radiant as the moon and puts flowers to shame, capable of toppling kingdoms with her beauty, with eyes like a painting, orchid-hearted and talented, graceful as a jade..."
"That's enough, you two," Lady Zhang called out from behind, unable to bear it any longer. She tapped on the carriage. "Changwang, aren't you afraid you'll bite your tongue?"
"Mother!" Zhu Changle protested, "Big brother is just telling the truth about me. I really am peerless, beautiful enough to topple kingdoms, perfect in every way... What else was there?"
"Erudite," Dingding chimed in.
"Right, erud— Dingding, are you asking for death?" Zhu Changle snapped.
"Hahahahaha!" Dingding laughed so hard that his horse startled, lurching forward a few steps before he quickly reined it in. He turned his horse around to tease his friend. "You accepted all those other compliments, why not this one too? What are you afraid of?"
"The other words are facts, but this one isn't. I'd feel guilty accepting it," Zhu Changle replied.
"Put your hand on your heart and say that again," Dingding said with an indescribable expression.
Zhu Changle actually slapped her chest hard, making herself cough. "What big brother said is the truth. I really am that amazing!"
Dingding stared at her with wide eyes, then turned to Lan Ping. "Who is this thick-skinned person? Do you know her? Because I certainly don't."
Lan Ping nodded. "I'm not very familiar with her at the moment either."
"Don't worry, we'll get familiar when the time comes," Zhu Changle waved dismissively. She turned back to her brother with hopeful eyes. "Any more compliments?"
Zhu Changwang's face was full of mirth. "I'm out of praise."
"I suppose that's enough for now." Zhu Changle patted her chest again. "Don't worry, I've got this covered. I'll make sure that river gets connected no matter what. It's ridiculous! We're all citizens of the same country. This isn't just neglect, it's abandonment!"
Getting worked up over her own thoughts, Zhu Changle reined in her horse to wait for the carriage behind to catch up. "Father, you need to take these people back under your wing and care for them properly, just like you raised me. Aren't you their parent official?"
"Let's hope it's not exactly like raising you. That's too worrying. Raising them should be easier than raising you."
"Father, you're breaking my heart." Quick as lightning, Zhu Changle grabbed her father's beard. "Want to reconsider that statement?"
"Pfft..." Lady Zhang couldn't hold back her laughter. She covered her mouth, intending to look away but found she couldn't bear to miss this spectacle, so she continued watching.
Zhu Maonian raised his hand to swat his daughter's, but seeing her threatening tug, he wanted to laugh yet felt it would undermine his fatherly authority. He glared at her instead. "Stop this nonsense. Let go."
"I won't."
By now, people were poking their heads out of carriages both in front and behind to watch the show. Dingding and Lan Ping went even further, riding their horses alongside to not miss a moment of the drama. As for Qiuli, he had been the quickest, securing the best spot to watch — right beside Zhu Changle.
Zhu Changle pouted and pretended to cry. "Father, am I really so difficult to raise? I'm so well-behaved, so obedient, so sensible, so lovable... I'm clearly your most caring little cotton-padded jacket."
Zhu Maonian was torn between laughter and exasperation, but his heart softened with each of her words. Wasn't it true? The easiest to raise in the family was indeed this youngest one.
"Come on, Father. Repeat after me," Zhu Changle blinked innocently. "Changle is the easiest to raise."
Lady Zhang nearly burst out laughing again. To cause mischief and then offer a way out — truly a caring little cotton-padded jacket.
Zhu Maonian couldn't help but smile, looking at his youngest daughter who had momentarily made everyone forget how dire the situation in Yunbei was. "Yes, Changle is the easiest to raise."
Satisfied, Zhu Changle let go of his beard, making sure to show her open palm. "See, Father? Not a single hair fell out!"
Zhu Maonian glared at her once more before lowering the curtain, blocking out the view from outside.
"Hehe." Zhu Changle felt like putting her hands on her hips in triumph. One move and victory was hers. That's how amazing she was!
Qiuli opened his fan and looked down at the two characters written on it. Suddenly, he smiled. Some of those long string of compliments Zhu Changwang had showered on her weren't entirely inaccurate.
The county office was still far off. Zhu Changle lay sprawled on her horse, swaying back and forth with its gait. Just when it looked like she might fall off, she'd sway back into place.
Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder. Zhu Changle looked towards Qiuli. "What is it?"
Qiuli pointed at the sky. Zhu Changle sat up and took a look. Dark clouds were gathering rapidly. She bolted upright. "This is going to be a big rain, isn't it?"
They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, with no dwellings or people in sight. As far as the eye could see, there wasn't even a place to take shelter from the rain.
"Aunt Feng, Aunt Feng, quickly ride ahead and see if there's anywhere we can take shelter!" Zhu Changle called out.
Aunt Feng galloped off. Zhu Changle looked up at the sky once more. "Let's pick up the pace."
But the rain came too fast and too heavy. By the time they reached a place with houses, everyone was soaked through, and even the interiors of the carriages were damp with rainwater.
Zhu Changle exchanged a glance with Dingding. With a bright smile on his face, Dingding went to try and ingratiate himself with the startled household. Despite his young age, his baby face made it easy for people to let their guard down when he smiled.
