Chapter 13: Rendezvous in the Valley

  "County Master!" Qing Luan called out in a low voice, but before she could stop him, Chu Sunyang had already chased after and stopped Zhu Yuanshan, who hadn't gone far, and asked directly: "Where is the person who delivered the medicine?"

  Zhu Yushan was startled by her urgent and flustered movements, and after a moment's pause, he said, "The thing was sent over by the guard at the east camp gate. As for the person... probably they're there too!"

  Behind her, Qing Luan rushed over and handed the cloak in her hand to Chu Youyang, wrapping it around his body.

  Chu Youyang hastily grabbed the two bottles in his hand and rushed towards the direction of the camp gate.

  Qing Luan was still being punished and didn't dare to leave on his own, but Zhu Yuanshan didn't dare to be careless and quickly followed him.

  When Chu Youyang rushed to the camp gate, everything was normal there, with only one team of guards patrolling back and forth.

  As she ran over, everyone was extremely vigilant and hastily paid their respects, "Greetings, Young Mistress!"

  Yesterday, because of privately releasing Chu Yuanyang from the camp, the leader was also punished with five military clubs.

  "Hmm!" Chu Yan didn't bother to respond to them, and instead walked past the roadblock, wandering back and forth on the mountain path in front of the camp gate, looking around left and right. However, the surroundings were desolate and empty, with not a single person in sight.

  "Didn't someone come to deliver something to the county lord's manor earlier? Where is he?" asked Zhu Yuanshan.

  "He's gone," the soldier replied, "He just dropped everything and left."

  Chu Nanyang's heart felt a little disappointed that he didn't catch up with the person. He turned back and asked, "What kind of person was that?"

  "It was a girl, probably around 12 or 13 years old." The soldier scratched his head and recalled carefully, "She came over when the sky wasn't fully bright yet, I don't remember her exact appearance, but she looked fairly decent."

  "Is it a girl?" Chu Youyang pondered, "Besides leaving these two bottles of medicine, did she say anything else?"

  "There's nothing, just leaving things behind, saying it's for the county master." The soldier said, thinking for a moment and then asked, "However, she just left not long ago, if the county master wants to see her, I'll go catch up with her?"

  "It's all right!" Chu Yan Yang shook his head and raised his hand to stop him.

  In her past life, she and Yanling Jun didn't have much to do with each other, but she could still see through his character a bit. Since he didn't ask anyone to leave a message behind, it meant that there was nothing worth saying, so chasing after him would be pointless anyway.

  But now she was very curious about Yanling Jun's identity.

  Of course, just out of curiosity.

  Settling his mind, Chu Yunyang then instructed Zhu Yuanshan, "Father is busy with military affairs, so there's no need to specially report this matter to him."

  "Yes!" Zhu Yuanshan thought for a moment and felt that it was no big deal, so he nodded in agreement.

  Chu Youyang put away the medicine bottle and returned to his own tent.

  The following days were quite eventful for the Nan Hua side. First, one of Cheng Nan En's loyal subordinates was caught attempting to assassinate Rong Xian Yang. Then, news spread that Rong Xian Yang's nephew, Rong Wei, had died unexpectedly after falling off his horse. Later, while re-examining military accounts, Rong Xian Yang discovered evidence of Cheng Nan En's corruption, including embezzlement and purchasing rotten grain to pass off as good quality. Many other shady dealings were also exposed within the army, causing complete chaos. In the end, they decided to raise a white flag and close the camp gates for internal rectification.

  Zhu Mianyang wasn't clear about the specific situation on that side, but in these few days, she was being taken care of by Zhu Yi'an and Zhu Qi'fang, who took turns to press her down in the tent to recover from her injuries.

  The wound medicine brought by Yanling Jun was indeed effective, and in just five days, the wound had scabbed over and healed extremely well. The surrounding area, which had originally been red and swollen, had also largely returned to normal, leaving Qingteng overjoyed as she changed her bandages.

  "With this development, after the wound heals, it shouldn't leave a scar." On that day, after changing the bandage, Qingteng's face was full of joy, but when he shook the medicine bottle in his hand, his expression turned bitter. "That person is really stingy, since they sent medicine to the young miss, they should be more generous. This remaining amount can only last for two days at most, but even if the young miss' wound heals quickly, it will take at least half a month."

  "Haven't you heard the saying 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'?" Chu An Yang glared at her with annoyance, "You're being given something for free and yet you're still picking faults, it's as if everyone owes you a favor."

  "The slave is also anxious for the young lady." Qingteng rolled her eyes, and her charming eyes sparkled, "Young lady, you don't take it seriously now, but after a year or two, when you're married to the county master, you'll realize that being anxious will be too late."

  "What nonsense are you spouting? If this gets back to the Crown Prince, watch your tongue." Just then, Qing Luan entered from outside and overheard this, her face immediately turning cold.

  Qingteng and Qingluo were both personal maids of Zhuo Jinyang, and they were the same age as her. Qingluo was ordinary in appearance and didn't speak much, having followed Zhuo Jinyang for only two years, but in reality, she was a secret guard placed by her father; whereas Qingteng had grown up accompanying her, with a face that was exceptionally beautiful, a slender figure, and a curvaceous body, being a genuine beauty.

  After the older brother of her past life had an accident, Chu Mianyang volunteered to come here and guard the border in order to maintain the dignity of the East Palace. Originally, she wanted to leave the two girls in the capital and marry them off to settle down, but they insisted on not leaving her side and stayed with her in this harsh and cold place for six whole years. This friendship, Chu Mianyang remembered deeply.

  Qingteng smiled and looked careless, burying her head to pack things up.

  Qing Luan seemed to have something difficult to say, hesitated for a moment before taking out the thing hidden in her sleeve and handing it over to Chu Muyang, saying: "Young Master!"

  Chu Youyang stared at the two new small porcelain bottles in her hand, momentarily stunned.

  Beside him, Qingteng's eyes lit up as he hastily grabbed it and opened it to examine. After taking a look, he exclaimed in surprise: "Ah, isn't this what they call 'heart has a spiritual connection'? I was just muttering that the young mistress's medicine wasn't enough, and now it's delivered right to my doorstep, haha!"

  Qing Luan's eyes were filled with worry, yet she was hesitant to speak.

  Chu Youyang swiftly got out of bed, put on his boots and headed outside.

  "Princess!" Qing Luan hastily caught up.

  Qīng téng bù míng suǒ yǐ, xīn li qi guài yě gēn le qù.

  Translation: Qingteng didn't understand, so he felt strange and followed them too.

  Chu Nanyang rushed out of the tent and ran straight to the east camp gate. This time, she didn't disappoint her. From a distance, she saw a blue-clad maid wandering on the mountain road at the gate.

  Chu Songyang let out a sigh of relief in his heart and walked over quickly.

  "Your Ladyship!" The soldiers hastened to pay their respects.

  The little maid turned her head, smiled brightly, revealing a pair of deep dimples on her cheeks, cute and lovely, "Nu Bi Shen Lan, pays respects to the young lady!"

  "Is this medicine what you sent?" Chu Jiu Yang said, shaking the bottle of medicine in his hand at her.

  "It was the master of my house who asked me to pass it on to the county lord's daughter, thank you for not rejecting it, please accept it." Shang Lan said, blinking her big watery eyes, looking innocent and harmless.

  Chu Youyang pinched the medicine bottle in his hand, thought for a moment, and said: "I want to see him now, is it convenient?"

  "Yes!" The deep blue bird nodded, as if it had been prepared for this. "My master is free at the moment, but he can't come here conveniently. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you, Your Highness, to follow me to Lianhuo Valley."

  Qing Luan's expression suddenly tightened, just as he was about to say something, Chu Sunyang had already ordered, "Prepare the horses!"

  Digression

  Handsome guy, walking away...