The concubine enters the palace? The princess empties the palace and goes into exile with the baby

The next day.

Song Yao and the others continued on their journey.

This time their destination is Duyang Town.

Duyang Town is very far away from them now. Even if they take a carriage, it will take half a month to get there.

However, no matter how far the journey is, Song Yao and the others have to move forward without any complaints.

They walked on the road for three days, and on the seventh day of the New Year, it started to rain.

At first it was just a light rain, so Song Yao ignored it and let everyone continue walking.

As a result, the rain continued to fall until they settled down in the evening.

The rain didn't get heavier, it was just a drizzle.

The weather is still very cold now, so it is impossible to set up camp outside and it is impossible to sleep in the carriage. Song Yao can only ask everyone to move slowly.

I hope to encounter a village before the hour of Hai.

Perhaps God was blessing Song Yao, as they actually came across a village after walking for less than an hour.

But it was still raining at this time.

After the carriage stopped, Song Yao asked Song Zizhou to find out the situation.

Song Zizhou called Song Qing and they got off the carriage together.

Because it was raining, Song Yao and the others could only wait in the carriage.

Soon, Song Zizhou came back.

But his clothes were almost wet.

"Ayao, there are only five households in the village. The others have moved away. We can stay here tonight." Song Zizhou said, feeling a little happy.

They don't have to stay outside tonight anymore.

"Okay!" After Song Yao asked Song Zizhou and Song Qing to get on the carriage, all the carriages entered the village.

The village is shaped like a semicircle, and every household builds their house on the arc of the semicircle. In front of the house is a spacious open-air dam.

On the left side of this open-air dam, there is a thick old locust tree.

Under the old locust tree is a well.

Song He whispered, "Sister, that locust tree is really thick. If three people gathered together, they would probably be able to hug it."

Song Yao glanced at the locust tree, then returned her gaze to Song He. "It's late at night, stop talking so much, and just go."

The big locust tree was so big that it was as thick as a large iron basin. It would take at least four or five people to hug it. What made her even more surprised was that it was winter now, but the big locust tree was still lush and leafy. The trees everywhere had become bare, but it was still lush and leafy. Isn't that strange?

So Song Yao usually wouldn't point fingers at things like this, because she knew very well that all things have spirits, and that big locust tree was so thick, it must have been alive for at least hundreds of years, or even thousands of years.

You should not talk nonsense anymore.

When they entered the village, two people came.

An old man and an old woman, both over 60 years old.

They were very easy-going and friendly. They greeted them right away and said that they would let a few of them stay at their house, and the others would live in the two houses next door so that they could be closer and take better care of them.

So, Song Yao, Song He, Song Silan and others moved into the old lady's house, and the others moved into the two houses next door.

Although this place is remote and poor, the old lady keeps the house very clean.

The old lady asked, "Girls, have you eaten yet?"

Song Yao smiled and said, "Grandma, we've already eaten. Thank you. We're really sorry to bother you so late."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "It's okay, just don't be disgusted."

Song Yao still kept a smile on her face, "Why would I dislike it? I actually think it's quite heartwarming."

"I'm glad you don't mind," the old lady said. "Then please sit down first. I'll make the bed for you. Of course, after my son and daughter-in-law left, this room hasn't been occupied for a long time. I clean it regularly, but I don't light the fire or make the quilt."

"Okay." Song Yao said, "Ah He, go and help."

"Okay!" Song He responded, and after handing Xiao Suisui in her arms to Song Yao, she went to make the bed with the old lady.

Old Master Liu brought some firewood into the house. Seeing Song Yao and the others standing, he asked them to sit down, and then carried the firewood to another room.

After a while, Mr. Liu came out.

Song Yao asked, "Grandpa, do we all have a kang here?"

Old Man Liu nodded, his face still showing a gentle and kind expression. "It's too cold. We have to light the kang, otherwise we won't be able to sleep at night! Come sit down and warm yourself by the fire. I roasted some sweet potatoes for you to eat later."

"Thank you very much, grandpa." Song Yao said politely, and invited Song Silan to sit down by the charcoal brazier and warm themselves by the fire.

Mr. Liu asked, "Miss, what's your last name?"

Song Yao said, "Grandpa, please excuse me for calling you Song."

"Oh, oh." Old Master Liu nodded repeatedly. "Miss Song, there's something I want to tell you. Did you see that old locust tree outside?"

Song Yao's expression began to grow serious. "I see, Grandpa, that tree must be quite old, right?"

"It's more than just a few years old," said Old Man Liu. "That old locust tree has been there for a thousand years. No matter how cold or hot it gets, it always remains lush and flourishing. It's very spiritual and has protected the village for many years. Since you're outsiders, I'm going to tell you something: you must never do anything to harm it. You must always maintain a respectful attitude towards it, understand?"

Even if Mr. Liu didn't say it, Song Yao knew that she had to be respectful of the thousand-year-old locust tree. After all, many things don't disappear just because you don't believe in them.

On the contrary, they have always been there, you just can't see them.

Song Silan asked, "Grandpa, you just said it protected the village for many years. What's going on?"

Old Man Liu said, "During this year's drought, three waves of bandits and refugees arrived, trying to steal our food. Suddenly, the weather changed, and when the clouds dispersed, all the bandits and refugees were dead! We all know it must have been that old locust tree that protected us. The fact is, no one in the village has ever been sick since they were born. You'll see tomorrow. The elderly who remain in the village are all very strong. Even those in their nineties can still work in the fields. This is because the old locust tree protected us."

It’s just a tree spirit, how can it protect people?

If Song Yao hadn't heard what Mr. Liu said today, she would definitely not have believed it, but now, she believed it.

Not only did she believe it, Song Silan also believed it.

Song Yao asked, "Then why are there only a few families like yours left in the village? What about the young people in the village? Why did they leave?"

Old Man Liu said, "There was a drought at the time. There was no food to eat and no water to drink. In addition, there were bandits and refugees everywhere. They were very scared and fled the famine."

Song Silan frowned and asked, "Didn't the old locust tree protect you?"

Old Man Liu said, "It just protects us from being persecuted and sick. It didn't help us with the natural disaster."