A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Early the next morning, Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Qianwen woke up to find that the room where they lived was guarded by soldiers.

"Miss, the place where Hongqi and I live is also the same. It's full of the Third Prince's people." Chu Xia said in a low voice when she came in to serve.

"Where is Tao Baiwan's room?" Lin Qinghuan asked in a low voice.

"That's right. The third prince asked a female doctor to serve inside. I guess he doesn't want the eldest girl to go there and worry about it anymore." Chu Xia glanced at Xiao Qianwen and said.

"Wen'er, you came back too late yesterday. I saw that you were too tired and didn't ask in detail. How is her injury?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"They are all the best herbs for healing wounds. With the help of Senior Doctor Yuan Li, we don't have to worry about anything."

Xiao Qianwen yawned and said that she was really exhausted these days.

"Where is Aping?" Lin Qinghuan suddenly remembered Ning Sijue's servant and turned to ask Chuxia.

"I checked secretly, he's fine, and the guards with him are in the room on the first floor." Chu Xia said in a low voice.

"The Third Prince is making such a big fuss and has people guarding me. Is he afraid that I'll run away? My husband hasn't even returned yet, so where can I run away..."

Lin Qinghuan said with a frown, and suddenly looked at Xiao Qianwen in horror.

"Does the Third Prince want to stop Big Brother and the others from doing what they are going to do?" Xiao Qianwen suddenly said.

"So, we become his bargaining chips?"

Lin Qinghuan said uneasily, then looked towards the door in panic when there was a sudden knock on the door.

When Xiao Yi and Ning Sijue arrived at Cen Yao County, they saw Cen Yao County Magistrate Xiang Tianwen, who had been waiting for a long time, as soon as they entered the official post station.

"Lord Xiao and the Sixth Prince have been traveling all the way and are exhausted. I have already arranged accommodation for you in advance." Xiang Tianwen stood up and saluted the two of them.

"Thank you for your concern, sir." Xiao Yi nodded.

"Cenyao is a very cold place, unlike Jinhan where it is warm all year round. I am sorry for the hardship you two endured along the way."

Xiang Tianwen continued to greet.

"Lord Xiang is a noble son of a noble family. For so many years, he has braved the hardships of serving as the governor of a county in this cold and windy place. We are only here on official business. The hardships we have endured are nothing compared to what Lord Xiang has endured."

Xiao Yi said meaningfully.

"We are all working for His Majesty and the court. How can we say we are suffering? Sir Xiao, the Sixth Prince, please."

Xiang Tianwen looked to be no more than thirty-five years old, but his expression showed neither emotion nor joy.

Tuyan County.

Lin Qinghuan sat in the carriage, looking at Ning Chengxian opposite him with a serious expression. He had never wanted to see Ning Chengxian so much, the man whom he had called "third brother" several times.

"Do you know why this county is called Tuyan?" Ning Chengxian said.

Lin Qinghuan shook his head in confusion.

"Forty years ago, a general used earth and stone attacks to defend this county town despite being nearly starved of food. He held out for four days and four nights before reinforcements arrived, protecting the thousands of unarmed civilians in the city."

Ning Chengxian helped Lin Qinghuan get off the carriage, and the two of them came to the foot of the city wall.

"That general was a great hero. He was able to protect the city and its people in such a desperate situation. He deserves great respect. I'm sure he was given a high rank and a high salary."

Lin Qinghuan and Ning Chengxian walked up the stairs to the top of the city wall.

Because of his father, Lin Qinghuan sincerely admires the generals who kill enemies on the battlefield.

"If he were still alive, he could have been given a higher rank and a higher salary. Unfortunately, when the reinforcements arrived, he sacrificed himself to the city, delaying the process."

Ning Chengxian said as he leaned against the wall and looked into the distance.

"Sacrificing himself for the city, could the Third Prince be referring to General Xiang Yan?"

Lin Qinghuan suddenly remembered that Lin Muchang had mentioned this person when he told them stories about heroic deeds when they were young.

"You know him at such a young age?"

Ning Chengxian asked with some surprise.

"Dad once told me that this old General Xiang was good friends with my great-grandfather, and that they fought against the enemy together many times. So this is the place where Dad mentioned the old general guarded the isolated city. I only found out after visiting here twice."

Lin Qinghuan was a little surprised that he had actually visited the legendary place twice.

"General Lin actually told the stories of these people who have been forgotten by history to the younger generation. This really surprised Cheng Xian."

Ning Chengxian smiled and said, but Lin Qinghuan could feel that he was genuinely happy.

"Third Prince, you are wrong. What is the meaning of those forgotten by history? Father often urged us, the children of the Lin family, to remember the old general's unyielding spirit in the face of danger. My brother An Cai has always regarded him as a respected elder. I believe that the people of Tuyan County and their descendants will always remember him."

Lin Qinghuan said seriously.

"Your words really make me feel foolish. He is my great-grandfather and the person I admire most. When I was young, I often heard my mother talk about his military life. Now standing here, I feel deeply moved."

Ning Chengxian said as he looked at the snow in the distance.

Lin Qinghuan nodded and stopped talking, looking at the endless snow and ice in the distance.

When Lin Qinghuan returned to her room in the official inn, Chu Xia and Xiao Qianwen hurried forward to hold her back.

"Sister-in-law, are you okay? Did the Third Prince bully you?"

Xiao Qianwen has been anxious since Lin Qinghuan was personally asked to leave by Ning Chengxian early in the morning.

"I'm fine. I just went to the city wall with him to drink some northwest wind and look at the scenery."

Lin Qinghuan patted Xiao Qianwen's arm.

"Princess Minghui has woken up." Xiao Qianwen said.

"Thank God, she finally woke up. Let's go see her."

When Lin Qinghuan heard this, the heavy stone in his heart fell to the ground.

Tao Baiwan's room was downstairs from Lin Qinghuan's. Accompanied by Ning Chengxian's two maids, the three of them went to Princess Minghui's room.

"you're awake?"

Lin Qinghuan looked at Tao Baiwan who was getting up and being helped by the female doctor to drink medicine.

"Are you disappointed that I actually survived?" Tao Baiwan waved his hand to signal the female doctor to leave.

"My sister-in-law has worked hard to take care of the eldest princess all the way. I'm afraid you are too worried." Xiao Qianwen said from the side.

"Could she be so kind?" Tao Baiwan asked disapprovingly.

"You saved my husband's life, so it's my duty to take care of you. After all, our Xiao family owes you a great favor."

Lin Qinghuan said as he sat on the stool beside Tao Baiwan's bed.

Tao Baiwan glanced at Lin Qinghuan's pregnant belly and remembered that he had promised Xiao Yi not to be angry with her. He would wait until Lin Qinghuan gave birth to the child safely before marrying him as his co-wife, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

"You don't need to keep mentioning how I saved him, and you don't need to repay me. I'm tired, the three of you can go out now."

Tao Baiwan's complexion wasn't very good, and he looked very weak.

The three of them also closed the door and left the room.

"It's really strange. According to her personality, if she heard that I was coming to repay her gratitude, she should have tried every possible way to embarrass me. Why is she so considerate and actually asked me to leave? Hasn't she figured out how to torture me yet?"

After Lin Qinghuan returned to the room, he spoke to Xiao Qianwen.

"I see that although she is awake, she is still not feeling well, or she doesn't have the energy to argue with the girl yet." Chu Xia said.

"Maybe. I have to be mentally prepared. Tao Baiwan didn't grow up eating vegetarian food." Lin Qinghuan said angrily.

"Why hasn't Hongqi come back yet after buying some fruit?" Xiao Qianwen said casually.

"Hongqi can go out?" Lin Qinghuan asked with some surprise.

"Yes, we thought the third prince wanted to confine us, but he didn't have that intention. Even Hongqi and Aping were able to enter and leave the official inn freely." Xiao Qianwen said.

"He took me to the city wall today, and now I understand. Humph, we can be free in this Tuyan County, but there is an invisible net in the sky that makes it impossible for us to escape."

What is Tuyan County? In this entire county, everyone from the County Magistrate Wang to the soldiers guarding the gate are surnamed Xiang. Why would Ning Chengxian detain them all in this small official inn?

In the back hall of County Magistrate Wang's government office, Ning Chengxian sat in the seat of honor, and next to him sat a man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a mask.

"Third Prince, in one day, Cen Yao and the other two noble ladies from Jin Han will know that Princess Changping and Miss Xiao are already in our hands." County Magistrate Wang said with a bow in the hall.

"Hmph... I'll take care of this matter for you. Next time you send someone to send a live spy to Jin Han, there's no need for you to come see me again."

Ning Chengxian said lightly, beads of sweat appeared on Wang Junshou's forehead, and he quickly knelt down with his hands clasped in response.

"I guarantee with my entire family's lives that there will never be a next time."

"Second uncle, you have worked hard on the journey." Ning Chengxian said to the man who was about 27 or 28 years old sitting next to him.

"That girl..."

Xiang Quan looked up and could see a pair of bright eyes through the mask. Although they were uncle and nephew, they were only three years apart in age.

"As long as Fourth Uncle doesn't let her die, there's naturally no problem." Ning Chengxian said softly.

"He is a ruthless person, very much like the eldest princess back then."

After Xiang Quan finished speaking, he stood up and left, but on his waist was a slender sword that had never been unsheathed.

Lin Qinghuan and his companions were also very bored as they were wandering around the long streets of Tuyan County. Now they were trapped in the county town and had no news about Xiao Yi and Ning Sijue. They had hoped to meet Ning Junze, after all, they were family members, but now they had waited and waited but he didn't show up.

"Girl, are you tired?"

Chu Xia asked as she supported Lin Qinghuan as they walked.

"I'm not tired. My belly is so small, not as heavy as my older sister's. If I hadn't taken off my robe, who would have known that I was two people in one? It's really cold here. Look at the streets, everyone is wrapped up like a leather ball. It doesn't seem like they are walking around, but rather rolling around."

Lin Qinghuan sighed as he looked at the passers-by coming and going wearing various thick fur robes.

"Sister-in-law, when you describe it like that, I suddenly want to laugh."

Xiao Qianwen looked around, then looked at herself, and then chuckled.

"Yes and no? I used to lament that Luofeng's winters were too cold and the thick clothes were ridiculously heavy. Now, compared to Tuyan County, it's like spring all year round and the fabrics are so comfortable."

Lin Qinghuan tugged at the thick scarf around her neck and complained weakly.

"Girls are weak, so they naturally need to wear more clothes." Chu Xia said with a smile.

Lin Qinghuan stopped in front of a stall selling candied haws.

"Is this the place where Ning Sijue bought me candied haws?"

Lin Qinghuan asked as he looked at the food.

"Girl, your attainments in eating are truly exceptional. You can even recognize this."

Chu Xia looked at Lin Qinghuan with great admiration and said.

"There are words engraved on the sticks used to string the candied haws in his house." Lin Qinghuan held up the candied haws in her hand and showed them to the two of them.

"How did sister-in-law discover such details?" Xiao Qianwen asked, looking at the delicate wooden stick.

"Try eating five strings of candied haws in one afternoon. Even if there are carvings on the sticks, I can tell you how many petals they have."

After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, he stuffed the candied haws in his hand to Chuxia and walked towards the calligraphy and painting stall next to him.

"Girl, I've already paid, don't you want to eat?"

Chuxia asked Lin Qinghuan from behind while holding the candied haws.

"Let me rest for a few months before eating."

Lin Qinghuan waved his hand without turning his head.

Xiao Qianwen whispered to Chu Xia.

"I'm afraid I got hurt from eating it once."

Then the two of them caught up with Lin Qinghuan with a smile, and the backs of the three girls disappeared at the intersection where the road turned to another street.

"Fourth uncle is also interested in beautiful women?"

Ning Chengxian and Xiang Quan sat on the second floor of the restaurant and watched the three girls playing downstairs for a long time.

"Who is she?" Xiang Quan asked.

"Your arrow nearly made her a widow."

Ning Chengxian said.

"Oh, really? Then I should shoot more accurately next time."

Xiang Quan looked at Lin Qinghuan's back, holding the teacup until she disappeared, then took a sip of tea.