coobybook Chapter 297 Finally back
Chapter 297 Finally back
After more than ten days of traveling with frequent stops, Li Xiaonuan's convoy arrived just in time for the eve of the Lunar New Year.
She calculated the distance and knew she wouldn't make it back to the village for New Year's Eve.
To be honest, the imperial carriage and entourage were indeed a burden. They should have been back in Mincheng in just over half a month.
However, the procession had to stop at each prefecture and county to receive the congratulations from local officials, which inadvertently delayed the procession by half.
Therefore, at the dinner table on the eve of the Lunar New Year, Li Xiaonuan spoke to the head eunuch and a guard captain sent by the emperor:
"Granny, General, if you keep delaying like this, I'm afraid I, a powerless princess, will have to run away. I know you look down on me. To be honest, I don't care about this princess status at all."
"But all of this was bestowed by the Emperor and Empress, and I have no way to refuse. If you continue to make things difficult for me, I might just write a letter to complain and make you regret it."
"If I remember correctly, before he left, the Emperor instructed you to get my family back to the village before New Year's Eve. Should I charge you with dereliction of duty right now?"
"Although I don't have any real power, the Empress said that as long as I don't commit the serious crime of treason, even if I kill or set fires, she can still protect my family's lives. Of course, the people I kill must be those who deserve their fate."
Li Xiaonuan deliberately emphasized the phrase "deserved punishment".
As expected, the once arrogant and haughty head steward and the ever-expressionless head guard both sheepishly replied that they dared not after hearing this.
Li Xiaonuan didn't care whether they actually listened to her or not, and issued an order: "Starting tomorrow, we must set off at the second cockcrow, and try to avoid those county and prefectural government offices along the way. As for stopping for food and lodging, if you can't make it in time, you'd better find a place to eat in the wild. Also, put away all those ceremonial guards and get on your way properly. If you don't get back to the village before the third day of the new year, I will punish you for dereliction of duty. I still have that right."
Hmph, if we don't give them a hard time, those people will really think they're pushovers.
The old woman and the head guard exchanged glances, then both lowered their heads and silently agreed.
Li Xiaonuan still didn't have much hope. However, the "beating the mountain and shaking the drum" tactic might be useful.
If those two continue to do as they please and show no respect for Li Xiaonuan, then Li Xiaonuan will not be so polite.
At worst, she could just tie those two up and leave all the disobedient people in the area.
Anyway, Sang Moyun and her daughter's entourage were still in the convoy. As long as Li Xiaonuan abandoned those people and traveled light, they could naturally return to the village by the third day of the Lunar New Year.
That's right, Sang Moyun and her daughter traveled south with Li Xiaonuan's convoy this time.
"Li Xiaonuan, I didn't expect you to be so capable. You should have done this a long time ago. That way, we wouldn't be stuck halfway through the festival now," Sang Moyun said with a grin, hugging Li Xiaonuan's arm.
“We have to give those people a chance to prove themselves, right? Otherwise, if I had reacted to them from the start, and they had cried foul, I really wouldn’t have been able to refute them.” Li Xiaonuan smiled bitterly.
Many things need to ferment before they ripen and fall into place, and things naturally come to fruition.
"Li Xiaonuan, when did you become so smart? Before, you were so meek and submissive. You had no opinions of your own and were always led by the nose by those people and things," Sang Moyun asked with a puzzled look as he followed Li Xiaonuan back to her room.
Li Xiaonuan's smile became even more bitter: "Yes, thinking back to my past self, I had too many concerns, so I was always hesitant and always led by the nose. But it's different now. I've taken everything lightly now, and my family has been well taken care of. What am I afraid of? Of course, I'll live however I feel comfortable."
"That sounds really appealing. Li Xiaonuan, after we go back to the village, can my mother and I stay at your house for a while?" Sang Moyun's biggest worry right now is the accommodation issue.
“Didn’t Qi Ji give you an address? He said that once you arrive in the prefectural city, he’ll go to the clinic and have someone take you and your daughter there to settle in.” Li Xiaonuan chuckled to herself.
It turned out that Sang Moyun was pestering Qi Ji, not only because she wanted Qi Ji to treat her mother's illness, but also because she had special feelings for Qi Ji.
Now it's the other way around. Ever since Sang's mother recovered from her illness, Sang Moyun has been disliking Qi Ji and avoiding her.
Qi Ji even asked Li Xiaonuan the reason in frustration.
"Tch~~ Who cares about him? My daughter and I don't need his help. Li Xiaonuan, tell me, are you going to let us stay at your house or not?" Sang Moyun was a little uncomfortable for a moment. But she quickly questioned Li Xiaonuan.
Li Xiaonuan shook her head. Although she didn't know what had happened between Sang Moyun and Qi Ji, it was certain that the two had developed feelings for each other.
“Sure, why not? My brother wrote to me before saying that our new house is finished. They moved in before the New Year. I’ll be generous and lend you my old house.” Li Xiaonuan couldn’t help but joke.
The joy of following the established procedures had long since replaced the mental stress she felt in the capital. Therefore, Li Xiaonuan was now quite relaxed.
Sang Moyun could tell that Li Xiaonuan was just joking, so he didn't refute her.
"Fine, an old house it is, it's better than sleeping on the streets." Sang Moyun pouted deliberately, looking aggrieved.
At dawn the next day, as soon as the rooster crowed for the second time, Li Xiaonuan's convoy was indeed ready to set off.
As Li Xiaonuan sat in the car, her longing to return home grew even stronger.
Despite the long journey, both Mrs. Su and Mr. Li were in very good spirits.
Of course, that is, if we can ignore Su's injured leg.
Fortunately, the Empress gave Li Xiaonuan several bottles of secret palace medicine, which was very effective in treating burns.
Along the way, the scabs on Su's legs had healed considerably.
The thinner scabs have begun to fall off, revealing the pink, tender new skin underneath.
Fortunately, Li Xiaonuan's words still carried some weight. No, it should be said that Li Xiaonuan still had some value to the emperor.
So, after seven days of rushing, the caravan entered the border of Yongzhou Prefecture.
According to custom, this time, no matter how much Li Xiaonuan resists, the ceremonial procession must be set up.
And so, two more days passed before the group finally returned to the prefectural city.
Looking at the officials guarding the city gate and the onlookers, Li Xiaonuan felt a headache coming on.
After another round of tedious formalities, Li Xiaonuan finally took her leave of the officials and returned to the village.
Of course, Li Xiaonuan could tell that some officials were quite impatient. After all, it was only the third day of the Lunar New Year, not yet time for the government offices to open.
When Li Xiaonuan returned to the village, she was once again bowed down by the villagers of Zhoucun, which made her even more helpless.
To make the villagers feel more at ease, Li Xiaonuan decided to abandon the carriage and get off to wish them a Happy New Year.
“Princess, you are of noble birth now. You must not lower yourself to the status of those ignorant commoners.” The head steward, who had been by Li Xiaonuan’s side ever since they entered the city, said sternly.