CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 331: DEPARTURE

Before leaving Luocheng, Yu Xiaolian only informed Dean Ying, saying she was going to the Northern Land to pay respects to her ancestors and look for her relatives lost during the famine, with an uncertain return date.

As for Fu Zihan, although she returned to Luocheng with Jun Yian, Yu Xiaolian never saw her, and she couldn’t go to the Prince Jin Mansion to seek an audience, as Prince Jin had once considered taking her into the mansion, and Yu Xiaolian didn’t dare to loiter in front of him.

Back in the Capital, Fu Zihan often corresponded with Yu Xiaolian, and whenever she needed daily products or skincare items, she would have the Posthouse Officer send them to Prince Jin Mansion in the Capital.

Yu Xiaolian thought Fu Zihan would seek her out right after returning to Luocheng, but surprisingly, Fu Zihan didn’t. It was as if she had forgotten her.

Yu Xiaolian speculated about many reasons for Fu Zihan’s estrangement from her.

Could it be that Fu Zihan inadvertently learned about Prince Jin’s intention to take Yu Xiaolian as a concubine and feared that Yu Xiaolian might share a husband with her in the future, hence resenting her?

However, even if Prince Jin had that thought, Yu Xiaolian didn’t agree, so why would Fu Zihan hold a grudge against her?

Unable to figure it out, Yu Xiaolian simply stopped thinking about it. After all, women’s friendships can start quickly and end just as fast, especially with those petty-minded ones; you never know what you might have done to offend them, leading to a sudden estrangement.

Before leaving, Yu Xiaolian left behind a lot of large bottles of shampoo and conditioner, instructing Zhao Erya to double the original prices.

To outsiders, she explained that the raw materials for making the shampoo were running low, and since these materials were quite rare, the items could no longer be sold at the previous prices.

She had no choice; she wasn’t sure when she would return. Although the items she left behind could sustain for a while, running out of stock in the coming years was inevitable.

"Did you bring the road permit?" Just outside the city gates, Yu Xiaolian handed the reins to Su Jingchen and got into the carriage herself.

"I did. As you said, the permit is for Linzhou." Su Jingchen’s true desire was to head to the Western Regions, but Yu Xiaolian insisted on going to Linzhou first.

Su Jingchen felt that Yu Xiaolian going to Linzhou to find her Witch Clan birth father was quite dangerous.

However, Yu Xiaolian thought that if she didn’t inquire about the method to dispel the Gu Worm from the Witch Clan, it wouldn’t be wise to head to the Western Regions. What if the blue-flowered green Tibetan poppy they mentioned couldn’t actually dispel the Longevity Gu?

Wouldn’t she be wasting several years on a mere weed?

She had to confirm that the green Tibetan poppy was effective before setting off for the Western Snow Mountain.

And to learn everything about the Longevity Gu, she had to delve deep into the Witch Clan.

While driving the carriage, Su Jingchen pulled his cloak tight, as the cold wind seeped into him. Speaking opened his mouth to the wind.

Even if he wanted to discuss the Longevity Gu details with Yu Xiaolian, he couldn’t speak up. Su Jingchen thought it better to save the discussion for when they stopped at the next town to rest.

While in Luocheng, they didn’t feel so cold, but upon leaving, they realized the snow outside was thick. Though the road was carved by wheel tracks, the horse still struggled a lot.

Seeing Su Jingchen breathe warm air into his hands, Yu Xiaolian felt sorry, "Shall I drive the carriage?"

"I’m not cold~" Su Jingchen said, his teeth chattering. He regretted choosing style over warmth and wore thin clothes under his cloak for a less bulky appearance.

Without further ado, Yu Xiaolian tugged Su Jingchen’s arm inside, "I just put two hand warmers in the carriage, hold them for warmth."

He had only been driving for two hours, yet he was numb from the cold. Su Jingchen silently cursed himself.

Despite moments when he secretly circulated his inner strength to warm up, his body continued to tremble, revealing just how cold it was.

Yu Xiaolian might withstand the cold for a short time, but staying outside longer would make her cold too. Moreover, once she felt cold, it would be an inner-to-outer chill.

Don’t ask how Yu Xiaolian knows this; just know she tested it on herself.

Last winter, amid heavy snowfall, it struck Yu Xiaolian that when Yu Changhe found her, she had spent a night frozen in the snow, yet nothing happened to her.

Out of curiosity, she spent a night on a lounger on Zhenpin Pavilion’s balcony in the dead of winter.

At that time, she timed herself and found this body resisted cold damage for four hours.

At four in the morning, Yu Xiaolian woke from the cold, but instead of going inside, she continued sitting on the balcony. Only when she felt like her blood was freezing over, risking frostbite, did she swiftly retreat into her space.

"I’m warm now, you come inside!" After just half an hour, Su Jingchen wanted to swap with Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian pushed him back, "We’re almost at the town ahead, just sit tight, I’m not cold!"

Su Jingchen patted his thick clothes, "I just put my thick coat on, and after holding your hand warmers for a while, I’m fine now. Let me drive."

Yu Xiaolian glared at Su Jingchen trying to grab the reins, "We agreed you’d follow me. You have to listen to me, why are you disobedient? If you’re disobedient, I might just leave you behind."

If Yu Xiaolian wanted to leave Su Jingchen behind, he wouldn’t have any way to resist. Faced with her ’threat’, Su Jingchen could only remain silent and obediently sit back in the carriage.

Though Yu Xiaolian was not afraid of the cold, the wind slapping her face still had an effect.

At this moment, she somewhat regretted traveling now. They should have traveled in spring or summer; both seemed too eager.

Luckily, after driving for about another half an hour, Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen finally reached a small town.

Yu Xiaolian quickly found an inn and handed the carriage to the waiter, then ordered two upper rooms and hot soup and meals.

"I’ll go ask the waiter to feed the horses." Su Jingchen escorted Yu Xiaolian to her room, then turned back to find the waiter, asking him to feed the horses some warm water and good feed.

The waiter took the silver coin Su Jingchen offered and grinned ingratiatingly, "Rest assured, Sir. I guarantee your two horses will be well taken care of."

Su Jingchen returned to the room and asked Yu Xiaolian, "It’s just past noon; are we resting today?"

Yu Xiaolian had traveled this route twice before; this was her third time, so she knew what lay ahead.

Although there’s another small town not far ahead, by the time they reach it, it would be pitch black, and especially with today’s cold weather, there’s no need to struggle against it. Perhaps resting a night here, the weather might be warm and sunny tomorrow!

Yes, as long as there’s no strong cold wind, the weather would be good.

"Sir, the hot noodle soup you ordered is ready." The waiter called from outside the room.