So it turned out that the Planting Immortal Abode was specially refined by a female cultivator named Immortal Lord Qian Yue, who took pity on mortals struggling to survive. It was designed to provide comprehensive protection for ordinary people.
But after the Immortal Lord disappeared, as time passed, the Immortal Abode drifted through various realms.
Without the power of people's faith, it gradually fell into decline, becoming what it was now.
Although she didn't know what the Immortal Abode had looked like in the past, the current space was more than enough for Zhu Mingqing's needs.
However, this cheat code couldn't just disappear.
She quickly asked, "Little Realm Spirit, how much longer before this place dissipates?"
The Little Realm Spirit replied just as quickly, "Five hundred years."
Zhu Mingqing: …
This was utterly ridiculous—so different species really did have different perceptions of time!
Their "not long" was five hundred years, while her "not long" might be tomorrow!
"Qingqing, would you be willing to restore the Immortal Abode? Little Realm Spirit doesn't want to dissipate."
Hearing its pitiful tone, Zhu Mingqing sighed. Of course, she didn't want to miss out on such a great opportunity: "But how can an ordinary mortal like me restore it?"
This was an Immortal Abode!
She had only ever read cultivation novels before. Even though she had transmigrated into a book, she was still following the mortal route.
Originally, she had been pleasantly surprised to discover she had a spatial storage.
At least she could eat and drink her fill until reaching Guancheng, then use her silver to set up some property and safely weather the chaotic times.
Now they wanted her to restore an Immortal Abode?
Though the pressure was immense, why did she feel this excited, itching to give it a try?
The Little Realm Spirit sensed this and immediately said, "It's not difficult! Besides, there are large amounts of supplies sealed within the Immortal Abode that will gradually appear after restoration."
Things left behind in the Immortal Abode?
Zhu Mingqing's spirits immediately perked up: "Alright, tell me—how do I restore it?"
Just as she finished speaking.
"Mother."
Luo Huai's voice came from outside.
Zhu Mingqing quickly grabbed some greens and wild mushrooms, left a quick "I'll come back tonight," and hurried out.
Her consciousness returned to the outside world. She saw Luo Huai and Fen Tao walking toward her. Looking at the flat ground in front of her, she quickly dug a few holes, then stood up, trying to block their view.
Because she had been squatting for too long, she felt dizzy when she stood up, and her body couldn't help but sway.
Luo Huai was startled and quickly steadied her. Seeing her drenched in sweat, his mood immediately darkened.
"Madam." Fen Tao also took her pulse and, after a moment, let out a relieved breath: "She's just exhausted. I'll brew some medicine in a bit."
Zhu Mingqing couldn't help but grumble inwardly: Tsk, too weak! She definitely needed to exercise more!
Luo Huai nodded slightly without saying anything, but his grip on Zhu Mingqing's arm grew tighter.
Zhu Mingqing: …
"Loosen up." She lifted her arm, and only then did Luo Huai realize he had lost control of his emotions.
His eyes were full of apology: "I'm sorry, I…"
Zhu Mingqing quickly made a stop gesture and gave him a puzzled look. What was going on in this kid's head?
She hadn't even done anything, and he was already blaming himself and apologizing.
It was a bit too considerate.
Gave her the creeps!
…
Seeing them carrying back a pile of wild vegetables, Madam Song sneered: "I thought you'd found something good, but it turns out they're just rotten roots that used to be fed to livestock."
"Second Lady, these are wild mushrooms—very precious things. You couldn't get them now even if you wanted to." Fen Tao had been holding it in the whole way back and finally couldn't help but snap back.
In the past, Second Lady had always bullied her mistress. No matter how angry Fen Tao got, what use was it if her mistress didn't care?
But now her mistress seemed different—no longer the woman who let others bully her and only cried.
Madam Song's face changed: "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?"
Zhu Mingqing set down the ingredients and said slowly, "Fen Tao is now a free person. By status, she should be considerably nobler than you."
Her voice was calm and indifferent, yet it stabbed right through the heart.
"You…" Madam Song nearly fainted from rage. The girl beside her looked annoyed and said, "Why waste words with those people? My hair is all messed up—come fix it for me."
"Yes, coming right away." Madam Song quickly replied, then glared at them and said, "You'll get what's coming to you!" before turning away.
Zhu Mingqing couldn't help but glance at the girl. This was Luo Dan, the only daughter of the second branch.
She was plain-looking but extremely vain, and always loved snatching Fourth Brother's things.
Mother and daughter were cut from the same cloth—they took pleasure in bullying others.
So much trouble on the very first day, and there was still a long road ahead.
No, she needed to split the family!
"Mother, don't be angry." Luo Huai tried to comfort her.
Zhu Mingqing shifted her gaze to him and began pondering how to successfully separate the household.
…
Dinner was uniformly rice porridge—one bowl per person, not enough to fill anyone up. Whoever was still hungry had to spend money to buy food from the guards.
Chang Wu was the one who cooked the porridge. Their dinner tonight was the same thing, and it really had no flavor.
He couldn't help but sidle up to Liang He: "Captain, today's the first day we left the capital, and we're sleeping out in the wild. The brothers haven't had enough to eat. How about we light a fire and add an extra meal?"
Liang He glanced at the other men, saw their low spirits, and nodded in agreement.
They had been traveling year-round, escorting prisoners, and had prepared a horse pulling a flatbed cart loaded with some daily necessities, along with food and seasonings.
The fresh pork they had bought when leaving the capital was meant to be eaten within the next day or two, otherwise it would spoil over time.
The group of over twenty people didn't seem tired at all and started bustling about again—some lit the fire, some fetched water, and others set up the pot and washed the vegetables.
"I just learned a new dish from my old mother this time. I'll make it for you all in a bit," Chang Wu said cheerfully.
Liang He chuckled, "You? I'd be grateful if you could just cook it through."
To be fair, this group had no cook, and Chang Wu was the only one with a bit of culinary skill, but every time he made something it was half-raw, let alone flavorful.
They could only make do, at least getting a hot meal on the road to exile.
Chang Wu was confident this time he'd do well. But the moment he dropped the large chunks of meat into the pot, flames shot up instantly.
Liang He immediately directed everyone to put out the fire, cursing as he did, "You blasted fool!"
Chang Wu hurriedly offered an apologetic smile. He remembered this was the right step, so why didn't it seem right?
"Mother, how should we handle these things?" Luo Huai looked at the ingredients scattered all over the ground, his face full of distress.
He wanted to help, but he truly didn't know how to cook.
Zhu Mingqing said calmly, "Wait." She continued watching the officers.
Before long, a strange smell drifted through the air.
Sure enough, as she had expected, these people weren't very good at cooking.
After all, someone with real culinary skill wouldn't come to endure this kind of hardship.
She stood up, brushed off her clothes, and prepared to walk over.
Luo Huai couldn't help but call out, "Mother, what are you going to do?"
Although these officers were behaving normally, if they were provoked, there would be no place to plead one's case.
"Don't worry, I'll be back in a moment."
Zhu Mingqing slowly walked toward the officers. The others noticed her too, especially Madam Song, who wore an expression of someone eager to watch a good show.
"Lieutenant Liang, I have some cooking skills. Would you like me to help?" Zhu Mingqing looked at Liang He with a sincere expression.
Liang He was skeptical: "You know how to cook?"
The legitimate daughter-in-law of the Prince Luo's manor, knowing such lowly skills?
Zhu Mingqing sighed, casting a seemingly fearful glance toward the Old Princess Consort, then showed a pained expression:
"Before, my mother loved eating the food I made, so I learned a few things.
Don't worry, if I ruin it, I'll compensate you.
If it turns out well, could you lend me your tools for a bit? My child and I would also like to have a proper meal."