Chapter 43: Married into a Distant Land (Part 2)

  The ancient road was not as flat as the modern cement road, and the horse-drawn carriage was not as fast or comfortable as a car. Along the way, Qing Sang was jolted to pieces, his bones all disjointed.

  Perhaps it was this Northern Rong prince who had a change of heart, and so they hurried on day and night. At night, they often slept in the woods or by the roadside, in the wilderness.

  Qingsang and Cao Xiang, Shantao can sleep in the carriage, while others have no choice but to sleep on the ground.

  The grass fragrance and mountain peach didn't want to sleep in the carriage either, not to mention that etiquette didn't allow it, but also because the space inside the carriage was cramped, they didn't want to squeeze with the princess. But Qing Sang saw that they couldn't bear to let them suffer, so she deliberately put on a stern face and used both hard and soft tactics to make them stay, and the two of them stayed in the carriage.

  But when Qing Sang saw the two of them only daring to shrink into a corner and sleep, her heart still surged with a sour feeling. They were all just children after all. If they had been born in the era she was from before, they should have been a group of happy teenagers, basking in the free air at school, living life to the fullest.

  The team traveled for several days and finally stopped at a small town.

  For several days, for the first time slept on a 'bed', Qing Sang felt an unspeakable comfort. Without regard to image, he lay down on the 'bed' with his face up, stretched out a big lazy waist, and even let out a comfortable hum in his mouth.

  Caixiangfu 'served' Qing Sang for a short time, but she knew that Qing Sang was a person who followed the rules and conventions. It was rare to see her so relaxed and carefree, and she couldn't help but reveal a heartfelt smile.

  "Grass fragrance, tell the shopkeeper to boil some hot water, I want to take a bath and relax properly." Qing Sang instructed. Having not bathed for many days, Qing Sang felt that there was an unusual smell on her body.

  Cao Xiang hastily took orders and left.

  "Shan Tao, go find something cool. Best if it's some melons or fruits." Qing Sang said to Shan Tao again.

  It's not that Qing Sang is being pampered, but she wants to enjoy herself. However, this summer day is really unbearable for her. Although it's still early summer, Qing Sang already feels like she can't take the heat. Moreover, the wedding dress is made of thick fabric to show off its luxury, which makes Qing Sang feel suffocated.

  Shan Tao also hurriedly went to look for her.

  It felt so refreshing to take a bath, and it was incredibly comfortable. However, this small town is really remote, and at night, Shantao could only find a few small sour plums in the store, which seemed not yet ripe. I thought Qing Sang would definitely not be able to eat them, but unexpectedly, he ate them with great relish, and while eating, he said that they were so sour that his teeth hurt, which made Shantao's face full of astonishment.

  The sour plum is not edible, the green mulberry can be eaten, but the dishes sent by the restaurant have not been touched much, and after hastily eating a few mouthfuls of rice, let Shantao withdraw.

  "Is Princess's stomach not feeling well? Was it that pear that hurt her stomach?" Cao Xiang asked with some concern.

  "It's okay, maybe it's just the heat and I'm not hungry. It was a tiring journey, let's clean up and get some rest early." Qing Sang said. She had been worried that the Northern Rong prince would come to disturb her, but surprisingly he didn't show up even after a long time, which made Qing Sang feel relieved. But after feeling relieved, she also felt a bit curious - why didn't the Northern Rong prince come to see her? What kind of person was he really?

  The fragrance of grass and mountain peaches was quickly gathered up, and the three masters and servants chatted idly for a while before going to sleep.

  The village is extremely remote, and this inn is also very simple, with very few rooms. The guards can only sleep in the hall, while Cao Xiang and Shan Tao can only spread mats on the floor in their room, and Chang An spreads a mat outside the door to guard Qing Sang.

  It seemed that after days of rushing on the road, he was extremely tired. Even though Qing Sang felt stifling and unbearable, he couldn't overcome his fatigue and fell into a deep sleep.

  The small town at night is exceptionally quiet.

  At this time, however, several black-clad figures quietly jumped onto the rooftop.

  The house was surrounded by eunuchs and guards, the hall was filled with sleeping people, and even the corridors were littered with eunuchs and guards lying horizontally and vertically. Therefore, the black-clad man had to climb in through the skylight on the roof of the house.

  A burst of clashing steel and the hubbub of pursuit shocked everyone awake.

  Qingsang was in a daze, thinking she was dreaming, and didn't wake up immediately. It wasn't until Cao Xiang gently pushed her that she suddenly opened her eyes and clearly heard the fighting sounds outside.

  "What's going on?" Qing Sang asked.

  "Go and take a look," said Cao Xiang.

  "Don't go, go to the 'door' and see if Chang An is there?" Qing Sang didn't know what had happened outside, but she thought it was dangerous and naturally couldn't let Cao Xiang take risks. Chang An slept outside and didn't know how he was doing, so she asked Cao Xiang to go to the "door" and take a look.

  Cao Xiang walked to the front of the 'door', slowly opened the door, saw Chang An's back, and finally let out a breath, relieved. Stretched out his hand to explore outside the 'door', patted Chang An's back.

  Chang An turned his head and heard Cao Xiang say that the princess was calling him, so he quickly entered the house.

  "What happened outside?" Qing Sang asked, relieved that Chang An was unharmed.

  "Regarding the princess's words, a mysterious assassin somehow snuck into the prince's room and attempted to assassinate him. Fortunately, General He and the prince were staying in the same room and discovered them just in time. The guards are now apprehending them," Chang An briefly said.

  "Oh? Someone wants to stab the prince, is he injured?" Qing Sang asked.

  "Don't worry, Princess. The prince was not injured." Chang An thought Qing Sang was worried about the Prince of North Rong, after all, he was the princess's husband.

  Qing Sang was not worried, but instead had a wicked thought emerge. If the prince died, she wouldn't have to marry into the Northern Rong after all.

  This thought startled her herself. When did she become so bad? In fact, she was not completely resistant to going to Beijiang. At least, she could see Qingbi there. Yes, being able to see Qingbi was the only thing she looked forward to on this trip.

  Wait until it's safe outside before going out, Qing Sang lay back on the 'bed' again.

  After a while, it finally quieted down outside. Someone knocked on the door and asked, "Is the princess all right?"

  By the sound of his voice, Qing Sang knew it was He Yan.

  Chang An hastily opened the 'door' and stood at the 'door' to reply: "The princess is fine, just got startled, now she's asleep."

  "It's all right now, the assassin has been eliminated. Please report this to the princess." He Yan said, and then turned around and left.

  Chang An turned his head to look inside the house, saw Qing Sang lying on the 'bed' without making a sound, knowing she didn't want to talk, so he didn't say anything else, went out of the house and closed the door.

  The grass fragrance and mountain peach are also good at observing words and expressions, and they lie down in harmony.

  Inside and outside the house became quiet again.

  At this time, Qing Sang opened her eyes and looked at the canopy above her head, dazed and lost in thought. For a moment, she had no sleepiness. She hadn't expected that this journey to her husband's home would also be full of danger.

  Who wants to assassinate the prince of Beirong?

  The next day, I was woken up early by the noisy commotion. With so many people packed into this small inn, it's no wonder that the noise of getting up was loud. Qing Sang shook her head, which was still in a daze, and washed her face with the water brought by Shan Tao, only then did she start to feel somewhat awake.

  Cao Xiang wanted to dress her in a wedding gown, but Qing Sang was afraid of the heat and had her wear simple and light clothing instead, saying they could change when they arrived at Duo Sai City.

  Cao Xiang had already noticed that Qing Sang was afraid of heat, so she followed orders and changed her into a short skirt and a thin gauze jacket.

  All the way, Cao Xiang and Shan Tao kept fanning Qing Sang, but she still felt sweaty and sticky all over.

  Arrived at night and stopped in the wild. In order to prevent last night's incident from happening again, the guards tightened their vigilance.

  The grass fragrance sees Qing Sang not using a handkerchief to wipe her face, knowing that she is sticky and uncomfortable, so she called Chang An to find some water.

  Chang An hurried away.

  In an instant, Chang An came back with his head hung low.

  "What's wrong?" Cao Xiang asked.

  "I thought of going further away to find water, but was caught by the patrolling 'guard' and sent back." Chang An sighed.

  "Speak with them properly, Princess wants to use water." Cao Xiang said.

  Chang An said, "I did say that, but they said without the general's order, no one is allowed to go anywhere. I wanted to see General He, but the guard said General He had important business with the prince and was not seeing anyone for the time being."

  "Never mind, Cao Xiang. The general is also thinking of our safety. Help me out to get some fresh air." Qing Sang said after hearing the conversation between Cao Xiang and Chang An, moved by their kindness, and not wanting to cause any more trouble.

  Cao Xiang hastily turned around and supported Qing Sang.

  Chang An then took over the reins and let Qing Sang get down.

  At this time, the night color is growing and thickening, and the mountains and fields are still filled with strange and soft sounds.

  Qing Sang took a deep breath.

  Shan Tao brought over some dry rations. Qing Sang randomly ate a bit of the wind-dried rice cakes with water from the canteen. The taste of these dried rice cakes was really not good. When they set out, they didn't bring much dry rations and some snacks had already been eaten up. Along the way, there were only desolate mountains and forests, and even when they finally arrived at a small town to rest, all they could get was some dried rice cakes.

  Alas, Qing Sang sighed in her heart, this road is already so rugged and difficult to walk, what kind of scene would the North Expedition be?

  "The fragrance of grass, let's take a walk together near here!" Qing Sang said.

  The grass fragrance saw Qing Sang's face covered with a layer of 'yin' haze, knowing she was depressed, so he didn't persuade her, thinking that walking near should be fine.

  The fragrance of grass brought her a veil, and the two went out of the garrison.

  The faint moonlight quietly pours onto the grass, as if dissolving everything in its milky white glow. The gentle brook babbles, like a song being sung. A cool breeze blows by, carrying the fragrance of green grass.

  "Grass fragrance!" Qing Sang exclaimed in a daze.

  "Is the slave here?" Cao Xiang hastily replied.

  Qing Sang was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "I only now realize that your name is so beautiful."

  The fragrance of grass couldn't help but glance at the green mulberry tree.

  Qingsang knew she was puzzled and smiled: "Have you smelled the fragrance of this grass? The name 'Grass Fragrance' is really good."

  Cao Xiang only vaguely understood the meaning of Qing Sang. However, she had never read books since childhood, and it was still a bit difficult for her to grasp this kind of artistic conception.

  Qing Sang walked a few more steps and said, "Cao Xiang, this sound of water seems to be very close."

  "It should be nearby."

  Qingsang followed the sound of the water and walked away.

  Before long, a gurgling brook appeared on the grassy ground, rippling with folds of white light. The moonlight spilled onto the water's surface, exceptionally serene.

  "Princess, let me go get you a wet handkerchief. You wait here." Cao Xiang felt that the farther they strayed from the troops' campsite, the more unsafe it was, and she was worried, so she advised.

  "Since we've come all this way, it doesn't matter these few steps, let's go." Qing Sang didn't listen to Cao Xiang's persuasion and walked straight past.

  Removed her veil and scooped up the cool creek water to splash on her face, suddenly feeling refreshed and invigorated.

  "Hey Cao Xiang, come and wash up too." Qing Sang sat on a rock, taking off her shoes and socks as she called out.

  Cao Xiang looked around and didn't find anything unusual, then squatted down, scooped up some water to wash his face.

  At this moment, Qing Sang only heard Cao Xiang hum a low and dull sound, then fell to the ground, and a man in black stood in front of him.

  Qing Sang stood up in horror and forgot that his feet were in the water. He suddenly got up, and his feet slipped, causing him to fall into the creek.

  Although the creek water was shallow and only reached his ankle, Qing Sang still got completely soaked from head to toe in this fall, looking disheveled and embarrassed.

  The man in black sneered twice and stepped forward, wanting to grab Qing Sang who was struggling in the water.

  At this critical moment, a black shadow flashed out. The man in black had not yet reacted when he fell straight into the water, pressing down on Qing Sang's foot, motionless.

  Qing Sang was so frightened that she let out a series of shrill cries and hastily pulled her foot out from under the black-robed man.

  People at the scene heard the cry and rushed over.

  The black shadow saw the situation and flew up onto a tree, disappearing from view.

  "Grass fragrance! Grass fragrance!" Qing Sang rolled and crawled out of the water, helped up the unconscious Grass Fragrance on the shore, and shouted with a crying tone.

  It's all her fault, she had to come, if something happened to Cao Xiang, she would never be at peace for the rest of her life. Qing Sang hugged Cao Xiang who was still unconscious and cried while thinking.