C28

It was spring, and although the weather was still cold, Zhuang Li was still packing her luggage, extremely busy. To her, this kind of journey was more like a tour. She suddenly had an idea. The world was so big, so she wanted to take a look. Since she had been in this world for such a long time, she might as well live a free and easy life as Luo Lihua had said. She instructed Qing You to organize the things she wanted to take with him and she rejoiced over this trip. it was not as awkward or repulsive as before when it came to interacting with Xi Cuo.

On the day they set off, Ge Ya had always been sending them out of the Fanbo City, while resenting her inability to be together with them. She actually really wanted to stay together with Zhuang Li all day and go crazy with him, but she also laughed evilly in her heart, hoping that this time, she would give Zhuang Li and Xi Cuo a chance to go out alone and be her sister-in-law when they return.

Zhuang Li was unwilling to just sit in the horse carriage, she chose a gentle red horse, and rode side by side with Xi Cuo.

This scene reminded her of the time when she first came to West Cold many years ago, when she was inside the bandit's carriage. She peeked out the window of the dilapidated carriage and saw a man covered in red. The clothed Ge Ya, was young and arrogant. Traveling with your brother, I have nothing to worry about. That state of mind seemed so simple and precious now.

Riding a horse day and night, it was impossible for Zhuang Li to do so. After walking for four to six hours, she already felt tired, so she got off the horse and went to the horse carriage to lie down. The skin and flesh were thin, but the fragrance was rich. After chewing a few times, she realised that Xi Cuo had been travelling for the entire morning, and then she leaned out of the carriage to hand him one.

Qing You learnt two songs from Luo Lihua. When she was in high spirits, she started to sing.

They slowly followed the flow of the West Cold, and even though it was still winter on the two sides, the coldest days had already passed. In another half a month, they would be able to see the sprouting seedlings.

Set up camp by the river at night and cook with water. Zhuang Li and the rest went back to work. She lit a candle in the felt hut and listened to the north wind outside. Wrapped in a warm velvet blanket, she shared a jug of wine with Qing You.

Xi Cuo had his men bring even more complete things for Zhuang Li than if they were inside the palace. Whenever he slept during the night, he would set up a thick blanket tent outside the city, which was as warm as if he was at home. She also naturally knew that Xi Cuo was being considerate, so he just comfortably lived inside.

In the morning, he asked Qing You to get some water from the river to wash up. She tied her hair behind her head in a ponytail. Along the riverbank, she could see a few families. There was barely any smoke coming from the chimneys. There were only a few scattered little villages.

"In half a day, we'll arrive at Ying Hua City." Xi Cuo reminded her from behind. In the past half month, he had been completely abandoned, and he was in a great mood. Zhuang Li did not ride on the carriage, but rode together with Xi Cuo, preparing to enter the city on his horse.

He saw the tall city walls in the distance. The city gates were open, and a few small traders who had left the city came and went. Xi Cuo handed over the command medallion and documents to the general guarding the gate, and the city gates completely opened.

This was the first time Zhuang Li had travelled with the imperial family's team, although she felt that this trip wasn't much different from a wealthy merchant trip, but once she arrived at the first border of Yinghua City, the news of His Royal Highness's arrival reached the city, the hard city gates opened wide. The merchants and pedestrians on both sides of the road stopped one after another to salute their carriages. I pay my respects to His Royal Highness. The majesty of the royal family was fully displayed in this act of worship. She finally understood that the power of a wealthy merchant and an imperial family were indeed from two completely different worlds …

Zhuang Li suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of excitement and superiority. She unconsciously straightened her body, and it was as if she was suspecting that after being exposed to Xi Cuo's light, a crown had already sprouted on her head in front of the gazes and prostrations of so many citizens.

As the crown prince, Xi Cuo would naturally be treated with the highest etiquette no matter where he went. The mayor personally came to the city gate to welcome him with the holy wine in his hands.

Different from the Fanbo City, the Reflecting Flower City was smaller, but the construction was especially exquisite. Over a hundred years of stone bridges and exquisite statues, they worshipped the Shakyamuni, and there were countless stone caves in the buddhist pagodas outside the city. They grew all sorts of plants that could be used for medicine. Almost every household had their own Xiaoyao's workshop. Most of the houses were made of stone. Some of the rocks had been polished into bricks, and some of the houses were covered with thick leather felt. White smoke was rising from the houses, making them look especially cute and warm.

The mansion they were staying in was actually a three storey stone house. The felt hanging on the house felt especially soft. On the first storey was where the mayor's office handled the chores in the city. Both storeys had his family members living here.

Xi Cuo was busy with understanding the population movements of the city in recent years, as well as its grain harvests, in case he needed to formulate a new tax policy and inspect the West Cold soldiers around the city. Giving rewards to the generals guarding the border, Zhuang Li dragged Qing You around the entire city. Because it was the border, there were very few people who came here from the Fanbo City, they couldn't help but think that Zhuang Li's clothing was too dazzling.

She took Qing You on a stroll around the city, and when she was tired, she went to find a house at the side of the city to have a meal. The people here were all very simple and honest, the male owner had gone to the mountains to hunt, while the female owner had cooked two snow chestnuts for Zhuang Li using her family's Xiaoyao stove. It was something that could only grow in the snow. Like snow-white lotus roots, it was buried deep in the thickest part of the snow. Dig them up and melt them in the soup as soon as they are heated. The fragrance is rich, and it also has the function of nourishing and nourishing. People who go to work in the fields like to bring a pot. Zhuang Li had also drank this Snow chestnut soup from the Fanbo City, but it was naturally not as fresh as the one here.

The man brought home two small pheasants the other day. It was at the back of the house, and the owner's two-year-old daughter was squatting by the fence in her thick coat, playing with them, her round little face flushed by the wind.

That pheasant was also extremely good-looking. The fiery red and blue colored feathers on its tail intertwined with a circle of white stripes on its wings, making it look extremely beautiful. The chubby little girl still managed to fall when she was walking, but she had already boldly squeezed through the gap in the fence to chase the pheasant. Very cute.

Such a peaceful and beautiful life was fascinating to Zhuang Li. She seemed to be even happier than she was in the capital.

As the mistress was doing household chores, she was pulling up some household chores with Zhuang Li.

"This is the border city after all. If a war were to break out, this place would definitely be the first to suffer. After all, I grew up here, so I naturally know how many wars have occurred here."

"He should be able to relax, the West Cold Army is not someone to be trifled with."

"That's right, in the last ten years, West Cold has gradually stabilized and we have finally found a few days of peace. I lost my family members in the war and had no one to rely on, so I originally wanted to leave this Ying Hua City forever. Now that I have a husband and children, I feel that my home and roots are both here. So it's never going to leave here. "

When Zhuang Li heard this, wails came from outside the house. Only when she and her mistress ran out did they see that it was the little fat chick who had chased enough pheasants to try to get out through the gap in the fence. She didn't expect that she would be so unlucky as to find a gap in the fence. As a result, she was stuck in the middle of the fence and was unable to move. The pheasant moved beside her as if it was watching a show. Zhuang Li told Qing You to quickly carry the child out while laughing merrily with the mistress.

After dinner, Zhuang Li asked about the nearby places that were worth sightseeing. The Mistress said that there was a Purple Sky Mountain outside the city, there was a temple and a stone room built by a backer inside, and the inside was filled with statues. However, the sky was too overcast. If the sun appeared, she could take a stroll.

When they left the house, Zhuang Li told Qing You to leave them a piece of golden leaf, it was at least their family's half a year's harvest. On the way back to the City Lord's house, Zhuang Li was still thinking about that little family and the little fat girl.

"This kind of life is naturally excellent." When she was distracted, she actually began talking to herself.

"Miss, what did you say was excellent?" Qing You placed a cushion under her legs and even placed a woolen blanket around her legs. Her frostbitten leg had already healed, it's just that Qing You still remembered what the nanny of Tranquil Water told him. Don't let her catch cold. I don't want to get sick when I get old.

"The family you're talking about, don't you think it's good to live like this?"

"Miss, how do you do? But His Highness Xi Cuo cannot live like this with you! "

"What!" Zhuang Li did not expect the little girl, Qing You, to follow him and not learn from him.

At first, she was too lazy to explain, but now, it seemed that it was useless to explain.

It was as if he had agreed. From the King Xiao's Palace to Xi Cuo's army, even to Yinghua City, it was natural for all the citizens who were worshipping her to think that she was Xi Cuo's consort. No wonder they thought this way. She was not a princess of the West Cold, and was not a member of the imperial family either. Carrying such an awkward and unclear title from the Princess Ge Ya Palace of the West Cold royal family, explaining things was extremely strenuous, and it was extremely strenuous for Xi Cuo to bring her here.

But when he agreed to this matter, shouldn't he have thought of it?

Even the City Master of Yinghua City had initially arranged for Xi Cuo to stay in the same room as him.

The mayor kept apologizing before turning around to instruct the servants …

"Hurry and arrange for the future wangfei's room to be next to His Highness Xi Cuo ~"