The mutton noodle soup in the inn suited Wei Dongling's taste quite well. She ate a big bowl full and then carried another bowl upstairs to feed Jingzhe.
After carefully examining the injuries of Luo Xunlong and Jingzhe, Wei Dongling planned to stay for a few more days to recuperate before returning to the capital. However, Luo Xunlong and Ruan Niang were afraid that she might cause more trouble, so they insisted on packing up their things and setting off early the next morning.
So early the next morning, everyone bid farewell to the innkeeper's wife and headed back home.
Wei Dongling drove the carriage all the way, her heart filled with joy.
It turned out that even if she didn't say anything, Yu Zixi had no intention of attacking Hanzhong City at all. The two packets of powder he gave her were of sufficient quantity. In just the time it took to have a meal, they had completely paralyzed the Iron Cavalry Army.
Wei Dongling felt extremely guilty when she thought of the stab she gave him.
When she hadn't avenged her family's feud before, Yu Zixi had helped her all the way.
Now that Yu Zixi was trying to break up the Crown Prince's faction, she had traveled thousands of miles to stab him, almost killing him.
So much blood had flowed at that time, but there was not a single trace of change on his masked face. In fact, his face must have been contorted with pain. The more Wei Dongling thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Maybe she should learn embroidery well and embroider a decent sachet for him?
The journey back was not as hasty as the journey there. Considering that there were injured people in the carriage, everyone took their time and enjoyed the trip like they were on a sightseeing tour. They would stay in an inn when they came across one and go out to look for local delicacies wherever they went. If it was too late to reach the next city, they would build a bonfire at night, cook some delicious food, and sleep in the carriage wrapped up warmly.
Luo Xunlong loved wine. Under the pretext of buying some to give to Uncle Li when he got back, he couldn't help but buy a lot of local good wines everywhere, which made Ruan Niang and Cui Huan very unhappy.
He was still injured and refused to listen to advice. He insisted on stealing a drink. This man was really a headache.
Jingzhe mostly just lay still. He was seriously injured, but his constitution was quite miraculous. He recovered quickly, which once left Ruan Niang, who was checking his wound, dumbfounded.
Shangguan Yun was silent all the way. Wei Dongling knew his worries. He would have to marry as ordered by the emperor when they got back, but she could only sigh and didn't know how to comfort him.
On the fourth day of their journey, they checked into an inn. It was the same inn where they had met the Xiliang prince last time. Wei Dongling insisted that the beds in this inn were very comfortable and refused to go back until she had stayed for one more night. Everyone had no choice but to follow her wishes.
It wasn't until a group of people checked into the inn in the evening that everyone finally understood.
The people who came were Yu Zixi's carriage!
Wei Dongling opened the window on the second floor and greeted the carriage downstairs, waving and smiling, "Yo! Isn't this cute little Tian Qi? What a coincidence!"
When Tian Qi saw Wei Dongling, he was about to bow in salute. Behind him, Ruochen, dressed in red, lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage. She glanced at Wei Dongling and giggled, "Indeed! You're everywhere!" Without waiting for Wei Dongling to reply, she stuck out her overly proud chest and swayed into the inn.
Alas, comparing people makes one mad! Wei Dongling quickly closed the window and rushed downstairs to greet Yu Zixi.
Yu Zixi was carried upstairs by Tian Qi. When he saw Wei Dongling running towards him, he smiled with his eyes bent into crescent moons, and his bright eyes sparkled like stars.
In the room, Wei Dongling was holding a handkerchief to wipe Yu Zixi's wound and asked, "Have all the Iron Cavalry Army retreated?"
Yu Zixi lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. With a look of love in his eyes, he smiled and said, "Shouldn't my wife say that she misses me first?"
Tian Qi, who was standing beside them, suddenly realized that he was in the way. He turned around and quietly closed the door as he left.
Wei Dongling nodded seriously and said, "I do! I've been thinking about you all the way."
Yu Zixi pulled Wei Dongling into his arms and took a gentle sniff of the fragrance on her body. Contentedly, he asked, "When have I ever failed to do what I promised my wife?"
Wei Dongling giggled foolishly. She leaned over and slowly kissed his forehead bit by bit.
Yu Zixi wasn't satisfied. He grabbed her lapel and kissed and nibbled on her lips for a long time before finally letting go contentedly.
Wei Dongling was a bit dazed from his kisses. She simply struggled out of his embrace to check his injury.
In the candlelight, the wound on his abdomen was long and deep. Wei Dongling's face turned pale as she looked at it, and she felt extremely self - reproachful.
"Humph! Vicious woman!" Yu Zixi complained coquettishly, "Tell me! How are you going to compensate me?"
Wei Dongling sat on the edge of the bed and lowered her head pitifully. She replied carefully, "I, I'll embroider another sachet for you, okay?"
Yu Zixi snorted and said, "I only like this one. I don't want any other!"
Wei Dongling's face darkened. She asked again, "Then I'll cook something delicious for you?" She thought to herself that she would make some barbecue later as an apology to him.
Yu Zixi glanced at her and suggested with a naughty smile, "Otherwise, you can take off your clothes and seduce me like last time?"
Wei Dongling:......
Yu Zixi continued seriously, "Although it looks a bit small on the outside, actually..."
The warm and beautiful atmosphere in the room instantly disappeared. Hearing this, Wei Dongling flew into a rage and pounced on him. She bit and beat him while roaring, "Yu Zixi! I'm going to strangle you tonight!"
Her voice resounded through the sky, and the whole inn could hear it.
Yu Zixi begged for mercy pitifully, "Wife, I was wrong! I'm really wrong! I was just joking with you! Ah - it hurts!"
They fought and played for a while before finally calming down and hugging each other tightly.
The next day, the group set off in a grand manner and headed back to the capital.
Ten days later, everyone finally returned to the capital after a long and tiring journey.
At the entrance of the Su Mansion, Wei Dongling craned her neck to look at Yu Zixi's carriage. She saw him lifting the curtain and smiling at her. Wei Dongling nodded, got off the carriage, and watched his carriage leave.
Wei Dongling straightened her clothes, stepped forward, and knocked on the copper ring of the gate. She shouted loudly, "Grandpa Su! Grandpa Su, I'm back!"
She shouted for a long time, but no one answered. Maybe everyone was busy with business in the shop?
Wei Dongling and Cui Huan looked at each other and were just about to turn around and leave when the gate creaked open. A beautiful woman in her thirties, dressed in silk, walked out.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. There was actually another woman in the mansion? When did this happen?
The woman sized up the people outside the gate from head to toe. She curtsied and said softly with a smile, "Is it Miss Wei who's back? Please come in quickly!"
Wei Dongling raised her eyebrows and asked, "Who are you? Why are you in the Su Mansion? Where are the other people in the family?"
The woman nodded and replied, "I'm the concubine that Second Master Lin took in a few days ago. Miss, you can just call me Concubine Liu. The other people in the family are all busy with business in the shop. These two days, the shop near Lanshan Temple has been extremely busy!"
This Concubine Liu had fair skin, was beautiful, and well - maintained. Her silk clothes perfectly outlined her slender waist. Her makeup was fresh and delicate, and her head was adorned with a dazzling array of hairpins and rings. It seemed that she must be extremely favored by Lin Baiwan.
Wei Dongling nodded and didn't say much. She led everyone into the mansion.