After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

The old woman took me to the kitchen, brought me a basin of hot water, and brought me a new face towel, saying, "Second Young Master, call me if you need anything. I'm going out to clean the yard now."

I nodded quickly to express my gratitude.

After I finished washing up and returned to the room, Huo Ming and Qian Li had gone to sleep in the next room. I looked at Gongsun Wen, whose eyes were dark, and asked, "Did you steal last night? Why do you look so bad?"

Gongsun Wen pushed the porridge and egg custard in front of me and said, "Last night, after I sent you to this courtyard, Huo Ming and the others returned to the inn."

I looked at Gongsun Wen in disbelief and shouted, "How could you leave him here without taking me along to join in the fun?"

Gongsun Wen's face turned dark. Last night, the three of them faced more than a dozen thieves and fought them to the death. They almost demolished the inn. Such a big noise didn't even wake me up, and he actually said that he wouldn't take me with him to join in the fun!

Gongsun Wen said angrily: "You sleep like a pig, not even waking up when there is thunder, and you still want to join in the fun? You might as well get yourself killed."

I touched my head awkwardly and said, "I slept too deeply last night. Can you do it during the day from now on? I promise not to sleep." As I said this, I raised my hand and swore.

Gongsun Wen held my hand and said, "I just don't want you to be in danger, so I left you in this small courtyard. Granny Zhao is a family I met when I traveled to Beixiang with my teacher. She is a good person, and you are safe here."

I was about to speak when I heard a commotion outside the door. After a while, Granny Zhao came in hurriedly and said, "Boss Yang, the police are here to investigate."

Gongsun Wen's eyes darkened, and then he said to me: "Eat your breakfast well."

I said "Oh", and then Gongsun Wen stood up and walked out.

As soon as Gongsun Wen walked into the courtyard, he saw a group of officials coming in. The leader saw Gongsun Wen, looked him up and down, and asked, "Where did this young man come from? What are you doing here?"

I don’t know what kind of potion Gongsun Wen used to apply on his face, but it could keep the color from fading for several days and it couldn’t be washed off even with water.

Gongsun Wen looked pale and thin, as if he was seriously ill and about to die. The officials even spoke in a low voice, fearing that a louder voice would scare Gongsun Wen to death.

Gongsun Wen coughed lightly and said, "My Lord, I am a merchant who travels all over the country. I caught a cold and got tuberculosis. I thought I could collect some goods and take my brother back to Dayu to earn some money so that I can find a doctor to treat my illness."

When the officers heard that Gongsun Wen had tuberculosis, they all stepped back. The leader even covered his nose with his hand and said, "There was a bloody incident at Fengyucheng Inn last night. Did you hear anything?"

Gongsun Wen shook his head and said, "We just arrived in Fengyu City yesterday. We originally wanted to stay at the Fengxue City Inn, but there was a botulism incident that killed people at the inn, so the waiter drove us away and wouldn't let us stay, so we rented this small courtyard."

Anyway, the three people in the inn were all dead, so no one would confront Gongsun Wen for making up a story.

The whole Fengxue City knew about the poisoning case, and the shopkeeper was still imprisoned in the jail, but for some reason a bloody incident occurred in the inn that night, and more than a dozen people died. The blood dyed the entire lobby red. The scene was so tragic that even the leading official had been on duty for many years and had never seen such a horrific scene.

The leading officer saw that Gongsun Wen was weak and seriously ill, so he did not connect the bloody case with him at all. He asked a few routine questions and then led the team away.

After the official left, Gongsun Wen said to Granny Zhao, "Yesterday I promised the hunters to buy their furs, but we have an urgent matter to go to Hanhao City. I would like to ask Granny Zhao to buy these furs for me. Here are the banknotes. Take them first. You can pay back the excess or make up the shortfall. We will settle the difference with you when we come back."

Just as Grandma Zhao was about to refuse, Gongsun Wen pressed the banknote into her hand and said, "Grandma Zhao, your son is the best hunter in Snow Wind City. I believe you must know the quality and price of furs. I'll feel relieved if you collect the money for me."

After hearing what Gongsun Wen said, Granny Zhao couldn't refuse. Besides, she could earn money by collecting furs. Since her husband and son died one after another, she had no source of income. Usually, she made some money by renting out the yard. However, Fengyu City was a bitter and cold place. Apart from merchants, few outsiders came to this place, so the yard couldn't be rented out. Now that Gongsun Wen gave this business to her, it would bring her a source of income. She couldn't refuse.

Granny Zhao took the banknote, wiped her eyes, and said, "Since Boss Yang trusts an old woman like me, I will definitely live up to your trust and will definitely keep a close eye on the quality of the leather for you. I will never accept inferior leather."

Gongsun Wen smiled and said, "In that case, I will trouble Granny Zhao."

As he was speaking, a carriage drove in from the door.

The driver, Sun Quan, was from Beixiang and could speak Dayu and Beixiang dialects. He was familiar with Granny Zhao. He jumped off the carriage, smiled and greeted Granny Zhao, then walked up to Gongsun Wen and asked respectfully, "Boss Yang, the carriage is ready. Do you like it?"

Gongsun Wen walked to the back of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and saw a thick snow bear skin spread inside and a thick quilt neatly folded next to it.

Gongsun Wen said with satisfaction: "Very good, just prepare a few more hot water bottles and some dry food and dried meat."

Granny Zhao quickly said, "I have some here. I'll prepare it for you."

Gongsun Wen is not a stingy person. There are only benefits in helping him, so Granny Zhao certainly doesn't want to miss this opportunity.

Sun Quan didn't bother with Grandma Zhao. After all, it was not easy for a woman to live in such a cold and icy place.

When everything was ready and it was already afternoon, the four of us finished our lunch prepared by Grandma Zhao and set off.

Gongsun Wen, Huo Ming and the other two were riding horses. Gongsun Wen pressed me into the carriage and wouldn't let me ride, saying that I would easily get sleepy and it was unsafe to ride a horse.

I didn't think I was prone to sleepiness, but as soon as I got into the carriage, covered myself with a thick quilt and lay down, I fell asleep before I could figure out anything.

Huo Ming looked at the motionless carriage and whispered to Gongsun Wen, "Sir, the second young master seems to be getting more and more sleepy. Why don't you leave him in the courtyard? If he is with you, in case of danger, I am afraid..."

Gongsun Wen glanced at the carriage, tightened his grip on the reins, and finally said, "She is indeed becoming more and more sleepy. We need to ask Dr. Sun to take good care of her after we return to Beijing. I will take care of her if anything happens, and you just need to take care of your own lives. Also, you must call me Boss Yang when you are outside, remember that?"

Huo Ming and Qian Li quickly responded “yes”.

It takes two or three days to travel from Snow Wind City to Hanhao City. If you rush by horse, you may arrive in two days, but it will take three full days by carriage.

I was fully awake and could ride on horseback with Gongsun Wen and the others.

Although Beixiang Kingdom is cold and a blizzard may come at any time, the scenery there is really beautiful.