Actually, she knew she couldn't keep it a secret for long, but under the current circumstances, she would try to do so for as long as possible.
After arranging the family affairs, Yi Qing left with Xue Miao'er and Gan Ermei. They took a rented carriage and quietly left the city disguised as ordinary people.
"Why are they here?" Yi Qing looked at Chang Zhiyuan and Lu Tianzuo beside Xiao Jinghan.
Since Xiao Jinghan returned to the capital, these two had rarely appeared. Yi Qing thought they had found other ways out.
"Since the general is going to Li City, we naturally can't be absent." Lu Tianzuo rubbed his hands, looking as if he had been pent - up for a long time.
"Where have they been before?" Yi Qing was curious. According to their military merits and status, they wouldn't just go back to their own homes after the war, would they?
"Previously, the emperor appointed them as inspectors to inspect the local defenses and the training of the imperial guards." Xiao Jinghan said simply. In fact, they were sent to check if the local forces would pose a threat to the court.
As they were talking, the Duke of Di arrived. The Duke of Di only brought Gu Changze and a long, narrow box.
"Greetings to the Duke." Everyone bowed.
Yi Qing stood there looking very out of place. She had never bowed when seeing her grandfather, and she had forgotten about this etiquette.
"It's getting late. Let's set off quickly." The Duke of Di looked at Yi Qing. "Shall I leave Bai Yutang with you or put it in my carriage?"
"I'll take it." Yi Qing thought her grandfather was interesting. He had directly put Bai Yutang in the box, saving her the trouble of thinking of other ways.
Chang Zhiyuan whistled, and several horses pulled carriages over. The carriages were much smaller than ordinary ones, and each could only seat two or three people.
There were a total of four carriages, and there were no coachmen.
"I didn't expect you to bring the Black Riders." The Duke of Di was surprised.
"But they are clearly chestnut - colored." Yi Qing thought her grandfather's nerves might be affected by the poison and he couldn't distinguish colors.
"The Black Riders is an honor for the military horses. Only those horses with strong builds, long - lasting endurance and sufficient explosive power can be selected. Moreover, they are very obedient and can pull the carriages on their own." Xiao Jinghan explained to Yi Qing.
Yi Qing had been to Li City before and had even worked as a military doctor there, but she didn't know about the Black Riders.
Everyone got into the carriages. The box containing Bai Yutang was placed in Chang Zhiyuan's carriage. Then the group galloped out of the capital.
The emperor stood on the highest point of the palace, looking in the direction of Li City. Xiao Jinghan had never asked for anything before, but this time he begged to go to Li City. The emperor always felt that there was something he didn't know.
The queen opened the letter and the prescription written by Yi Qing. After reading them, she smiled slightly and then burned the letter and the prescription.
She couldn't tell whether she wanted the emperor's heart or his person now. "Muyu, I'm going to Jinsheng Temple to pray for the emperor. Go and ask the astrologer to choose an auspicious day."
Muyu was surprised. She didn't know what Mrs. Xiao had said to the queen that made the queen suddenly decide to go to Jinsheng Temple. "Your Majesty, there are many new concubines in the harem. Is it a good time for you to go now..."
"Go!" The queen was very decisive.
"Yes." Muyu didn't dare to say anything more.
The carriages pulled by the Black Riders were fast, but they jolted so much that Yi Qing wanted to curse. Fortunately, there was a thick palm mat and two layers of mattresses below, which prevented people from being shaken apart.
The last time she went to Henan, the journey was more leisurely and she could enjoy the scenery. This time, she finally understood why people said it was much better to stay at home than to travel.
"If you're not feeling well, we can slow down and take a rest on the way." Xiao Jinghan saw Yi Qing's miserable look.
"No." Yi Qing gritted her teeth.
The last time Yi Qing came to Li City, the city was full of war. Now it was a well - fortified city. It seemed that Xiao Jinghan had managed Li City very well.
They didn't go to the General's Mansion but stayed in an inn in the city to rest first.
Yi Qing was dusty all the way, but she still didn't forget to cut Bai Yutang once a day. They reached the border city in only twelve days. This speed was really fast.
"Yi Qing, if you have the guts, kill me." Bai Yutang had no temper with Yi Qing now.
Yi Qing didn't know what method she had used to make Bai Yutang weak all over. She didn't even have the ability to commit suicide.
"I don't have the guts." Yi Qing wiped her dagger. "Maybe you can't exchange for the antidote of the purple glass, but you should be able to exchange Bai Chengyi out."
"Don't daydream." Bai Yutang was confident.
"I know what you're relying on, but don't worry. You'll soon know what despair is." Yi Qing said as she closed the box.
Xiao Jinghan took Chang Zhiyuan out. Bored, Yi Qing took Lu Tianzuo and Xue Miao'er out for a stroll.
"Let me tell you, the most famous thing in Li City is mutton. The roasted lamb leg is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The roasted lamb chops are so tender that they melt in your mouth. The basin of mutton is fragrant but not greasy, and the mutton offal soup is also a must - try..." Lu Tianzuo introduced non - stop.
In the capital, he was overshadowed by his elder brother, but Li City was his territory. He knew Li City very well.
Yi Qing was hungry just listening to Lu Tianzuo. Along the way, she saw that many shops had a character "Ping" hanging. Was it the Ping family?
She suddenly thought of Ping Xinian. There had been no news of her since Yi Qing left the capital. That woman was not one to give up easily.
Just as she was thinking like this, she saw Ping Xinian and a man enter a low shack.
"What's that place?" Yi Qing pointed to the shack and asked Lu Tianzuo.
"Don't look down on that place. Most of the people living inside are Beidi pharmacists."
"Doctors?" Yi Qing thought that the Beidi people were practicing medicine in Li City.
"No, they are selling medicine. There are many precious medicinal materials in Beidi. Now the border market between Beidi and the Great Jin is not open, and only a few people are trading in Li City." Lu Tianzuo whispered. "Although the court doesn't allow it, these things are mostly what the dignitaries want, so ordinary people just turn a blind eye."
Yi Qing suddenly understood. "Let's go and have a look."
Lu Tianzuo didn't want to go, but he still followed.
The shack was very low, and people had to bow their heads to enter. Yi Qing walked in and couldn't see anything from the outside, but she was sure that this was not a place for selling medicine. There was not even a trace of the smell of medicine.
Xue Miao'er was curious and directly bowed her head and went in. A group of men inside immediately turned their heads and looked at her. She felt uncomfortable and turned around and came out again, covering her chest in fright.
"What's wrong?" Yi Qing saw Xue Miao'er's expression.
"What's so interesting about a group of big men." Xue Miao'er said boredly.
"A group of big men?" Yi Qing had clearly seen Ping Xinian go in. "No women?"
"No." Xue Miao'er said very definitely.
Yi Qing thought it was impossible. "Lu Tianzuo, go in and have a look. Make sure if there are any women inside."
Lu Tianzuo nodded and lifted the thick felt curtain and went in.
There were indeed no pharmacists here. They were all Beidi merchants, exuding a smell of cattle and sheep.
"Want to eat?" A man sitting in the middle gestured to the mutton in front of him, but his expression was very unfriendly.