In the east of Su City, two figures wearing veiled hats emerged one after the other from a courtyard, escorted by someone.
One of them was clearly a woman from her figure. Graceful and light-footed, she seemed to leave lotus blossoms with each step. The other had a tall and slender frame. Despite wearing coarse cloth clothes, there was an air of otherworldliness about him.
"The weather will be bad tomorrow. It's not suitable to enter the mountains. You'll have to wait one more day. I'll wait for you two at the north gate at dawn the day after tomorrow," said the man who had seen them out.
Song Yihuan nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."
After bidding farewell to the man, Song Yihuan and Feng Tingyun beside her left and headed towards the small courtyard they had rented temporarily.
"Come to think of it, Brother Feng seems to know a great deal about the Western Rong, the Northern Di, and Yanyun. Back in Xile Town, after Brother Feng treated Xuan'er, he knew that Xuan'er had been poisoned by a herb from the Northern Di. This time, thanks to Brother Feng remembering that there are herbs in Yanyun that can cure Father's illness, I finally have some hope," Song Yihuan said.
Feng Tingyun was blind, but he walked as if he were on flat ground without the need for a walking stick.
"A doctor who heals the world should naturally travel all over," Feng Tingyun replied.
Song Yihuan smiled but didn't press further. Feng Tingyun had lived in seclusion with them in Jian City for four years and had never mentioned his past.
Since he didn't want to talk about it, Song Yihuan naturally wouldn't ask. However, she could tell that Feng Tingyun was not from the Yu State.
This time, she would go to Yanyun for the medicine with Feng Tingyun. Qi Lei, Song Yixuan, and Xiangxiang would stay in Su City and wait for news.
When they were out today, apart from going to the pharmacy to get medicine for Qi Lei, they also needed to find a guide to lead them over the mountain that connected Su City and Yanyun.
Walking on the streets of Su City, Song Yihuan was slightly absent-minded as she overheard the conversations of the local people.
After faking her death and fleeing from the capital all those years ago, the border had been embroiled in war. Ji Lingchuan had led the border troops to resist the enemy, and the war had lasted for four years.
The alliance army of the Northern Di, the Western Rong, and Yanyun had occupied three cities of the Yu State, but Ji Lingchuan had led his men to recapture them one by one. The name of this war god of the Yu State was becoming more and more well - known among the common people.
Since she and Qi Lei had traveled north to the border in search of medicine, she had heard many praises and stories about Ji Lingchuan from the common people on the way.
Although they hadn't seen each other for years, that person always seemed to be still living by her side.
Her interest in the border came from the "Yangshan Miscellany" written by Ji Lingchuan. Unfortunately, the book stopped being updated after covering Xingzhou and Liaocheng. Presumably, Ji Lingchuan was too busy with the war to write more.
Apart from Su City, there were two other cities bordering Yanyun, but Su City was the farthest from Liaocheng, which was why they had chosen it.
Although she had avoided the cities where she might run into Ji Lingchuan, she still didn't dare to let her guard down. When going out, she disguised her face and wore a veiled hat so that others couldn't recognize her.
But as she walked on the streets of Su City, she always subconsciously looked in a certain direction, the direction of Liaocheng, the front line of the war.
"We've been out for so long. I'm sure Xiangxiang must be bored. How about buying him some snacks?" Feng Tingyun suggested.
Song Yihuan came back to her senses and looked in the direction he was pointing. There was a pancake stall in the distance. She couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Feng has such a sharp nose. You can smell it from so far away. I think it's you who wants to eat, right?"
There was a hint of laughter in Feng Tingyun's voice. "After being out for so long, I am indeed a bit hungry."
Feng Tingyun had white hair and a handsome face, but he had a cold and aloof personality. However, he had a well - hidden secret. He was fond of delicious food, especially sweet treats. Every time he came across something he liked, he couldn't move on. He was more like a child than Song Yixuan and Xiangxiang.
Song Yihuan walked over and bought pancakes for everyone in the family, then went back home with Feng Tingyun.
As they approached the small courtyard, they could hear Qi Lei coughing from afar, but something seemed missing.
Feng Tingyun also said, "It's unusually quiet today."
Yes, Xiangxiang was a lively and energetic child who loved excitement. It was rare to hear him be so quiet. Could something have happened to him?
Worried, Song Yihuan subconsciously quickened her steps and headed towards the small courtyard.
When she pushed open the door, she let out a sigh of relief.
Xiangxiang was sleeping in a rocking chair, and Song Yixuan was sitting beside him, reading a book while watching him.
Hearing the noise, he stood up and said to Song Yihuan, "Sister, Master, you're back."
"We're back."
When she took off the veiled hat, a beautiful and charming face was revealed, but there was a large birthmark on her face, which was Song Yihuan's disguise.
Xiangxiang seemed to smell the aroma. While he was sound asleep, his little nose twitched, and he opened his eyes and woke up.
Seeing the most familiar people in front of him, Xiangxiang was overjoyed. He immediately sat up from the rocking chair and rushed towards Song Yihuan. "Mother, Mother, you're back! Xiangxiang missed you so much!"
After cuddling with Song Yihuan, he rushed towards Feng Tingyun. "Master Father, what delicious food did you bring for Xiangxiang? It smells so good!"
The quiet small courtyard became lively again because of Xiangxiang's waking up. Song Yihuan finally felt completely at ease. Focused on Xiangxiang, she didn't notice that Song Yixuan looked a bit strange.
Next door to the small courtyard, listening to that most familiar voice speaking the gentlest words, Ji Lingchuan's eyes welled up with tears, and his heart ached terribly.
Four years. I've finally found you, Song Yihuan.
This time, I won't let you have a chance to escape from me again.
Song Yihuan didn't know that there was someone lurking next door, eyeing her covetously. After returning home, she did as she usually did. She played with Xiangxiang, checked Song Yixuan's studies, talked to Qi Lei, and told him about the scenery in Su City.
The whole small courtyard was filled with laughter and a warm atmosphere, seemingly free of worries, which was really enviable.
It snowed in Su City the next day. Song Yihuan didn't go anywhere. She stayed at home with Qi Lei and Xiangxiang, preparing the luggage they would need for the trip to Yanyun.
The snow didn't last long. As the guide had said, it stopped after just one day.
Early the next morning, Song Yihuan comforted Xiangxiang, fed Qi Lei his medicine, and then set off with Feng Tingyun, carrying their luggage.
Before leaving, after some thought, she didn't disguise her face further. She just put on the veiled hat to cover her face.
After a day of snow, the ground was slippery. Song Yihuan and Feng Tingyun walked very carefully, so it took them quite a while.
The city gate was right in front of them. As long as they passed through it, they could leave. At that moment, there came the sound of footsteps and horse hooves from behind.
Two teams of soldiers in armor suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked them at the city gate. Then, a deep voice that she would never forget came from behind.
"Where are you two going?"