Both the escort team and the exile group traveled along the Official Road. The Zhou family had set off a day earlier, so Zhao Nuan deduced they would inevitably encounter them by the evening of the first day or the second day at the latest.
On the first day, the escort team accommodated Zhao Nuan and the other couple, covering only thirty li before stopping at an Official Post Station for the night.
Li (Surname unknown) helped A Yan down from the carriage and advised Zhao Nuan, “Sis, rest well tonight. We’ll need to pick up the pace starting tomorrow.”
“Of course. With the weather growing colder each day, it’s better to move faster.”
Zhao Nuan stood for a while, watching the merchants unload their goods before tending to the horses.
She plucked a blade of grass and placed it in the curious Zhou Ningyu’s hand, then guided his small hand with hers to feed the horse.
“Mommy’s good boy, let’s give the horse some grass. These little horses work hard carrying us all this way.”
Her playful words to the child not only surprised Li (Surname unknown) briefly but also made Zhang (Surname unknown) and Bai (Surname unknown) look up at her.
The young and carefree Bai (Surname unknown) remarked, “Sister Zhao is so kind. Besides us escorts, few people appreciate how hard horses work.”
He then shot a glare at the two guests hired by Shunhui Escort Agency.
Earlier that day, when a horse had defecated on the road, the woman had complained and cursed incessantly.
Looking into the horse’s moist eyes, Zhao Nuan was reminded of the ox she had raised as a child and sighed, “They understand everything—they just can’t speak.”
Hearing this, Zhang (Surname unknown) affectionately patted one of the horses. “My old partner here is almost ready to retire. Just as you said, sis, they know everything.”
When escort agency horses grew too old to work, they were either slaughtered or sold. Zhang (Surname unknown) was deeply reluctant to part with this aging horse.
Yan’er approached and asked, “Uncle Zhang, how old is it?”
“It’s sixteen years old,” Zhang (Surname unknown) replied as he brushed the horse’s coat, his eyes reddening. “It used to be a warhorse.”
Zhao Nuan’s gaze sharpened. She had known all along that Zhou Qingci wouldn’t randomly assign her to just any escort team.
But she didn’t probe further. If the journey went smoothly, they would remain mere passing acquaintances.
Yan’er continued questioning, “Were you the one who rode it into battle?”
“No, its previous owner sold it to me.”
“Then its owner—”
“Yan’er,” Zhao Nuan called her daughter to stop. “Don’t disturb Uncle while he’s working.”
She now had a clearer picture. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she took Yan’er back to their room to rest.
Coincidentally, an older woman at the Official Post Station kept a goat and, seeing Zhao Nuan with a child, came to ask if she needed goat’s milk.
“Please bring two bowls. Make sure to boil them thoroughly. Add some sugar to one and serve the other with a plain boiled egg.”
Impressed by her decisiveness, the woman praised her before leaving, “Ah, Madam, you’re truly wonderful, treating your daughter just as well as your son.”
Zhao Nuan smiled without responding.
Soon, two bowls of boiled goat’s milk were delivered.
Yan’er wrinkled her nose at the pungent smell and stayed far from the table.
Amused by her reaction, Zhao Nuan said, “There’s sugar in it. Drink it while it’s hot—the smell will be less noticeable.”
The journey was arduous, and she worried most about the children’s endurance, so she seized every opportunity to nourish them.
Back at the Hou Estate, whenever Zhou Ningyu’s wet nurse had a cold and couldn’t breastfeed, he was given goat’s milk. Now, the little one grew excited at the familiar scent, waving his arms and legs happily.
Zhao Nuan peeled the boiled egg, separated the yolk, scooped a spoonful of goat’s milk, dipped a fingernail-sized piece of yolk into it, and fed it to Zhou Ningyu.
The little one would open and close his mouth and it was gone, then waited for the next spoonful.
If Zhao Nuan moved too slowly, he would make whimpering noises.
By the end, the little fellow was milk-drunk, forcing down each sip before immediately closing his eyes to sleep.
But upon hearing the spoon clink against the bowl, he would instantly force his eyes open and part his lips.
Zhao Nuan’s heart ached with bittersweet emotion—this child who should have been living in jade-paved luxury now struggled even to drink a bowl of goat’s milk.
After finishing the milk, both children were too sleepy to keep their eyes open.
Yan’er curled around Zhou Ningyu in her arms, her eyelids drooping heavily as she stubbornly insisted: “Mother, you should rest early too.”
Zhao Nuan patted her shoulder: “Alright, mother will join you shortly.”
When both children’s breathing settled into steady rhythms, Zhao Nuan bolted the door, placed the bundle and scissors within easy reach, and lay down fully clothed at the edge of the bed.
“Knock knock knock”
“Who’s there!”
Scissors gripped in her reverse hand, Zhao Nuan sat up abruptly.
“Sister Zhao, it’s me.”
“Brother Li, what brings you?”
Li Kui stood outside scratching his head: “Time to get moving.”
Only then did Zhao Nuan notice the dawn light whitening the window, chagrined at having slept so deeply: “Oh, I’ll get up right away.”
In those few moments of conversation, Yan’er had already dressed herself in outer garments and slipped down from bed.
She took the still-damp cloth from last night’s face-washing to wipe her own face, then flipped it over to press against Zhou Ningyu’s face.
Zhao Nuan quickly stopped her: “Ah now, let your younger brother sleep. Give it to mother.”
The cold cloth against her face sent a shock through Zhao Nuan, jolting her fully awake.
Li Kui had barely taken his seat downstairs when he saw the mother and two children descending, his face registering astonishment.
“Sister Zhao, so quick?”
Zhao Nuan looked somewhat abashed: “First time riding in a carriage this long—every bone aches. Have I delayed you?”
Now it was Li Kui’s turn to feel embarrassed, his face flushing as he stammered: “N…not at all, I woke you early intentionally.”Typically, Living Person Escorts needed repeated reminders—to avoid delaying the journey, they’d be roused early to prepare.”
Understanding dawned on Zhao Nuan, her eyes curving into smiles: “Since we have time to spare, Yan’er, go order five bowls of vegetarian noodles. We’ll set out warm and satisfied after eating.”
She wanted to build rapport with the escorts but avoid showing wealth, so treating them to simple noodles was most appropriate.
The three escorts understood perfectly, everyone cheerfully gathering around a table noisily slurping noodles.
The youngest escort, Bai, kept glancing at the child in Zhao Nuan’s arms, his eyes revealing longing: “My wife is pregnant too. After this job, I’ll take six months off to care for her during childbirth.”
“Really!” Zhao Nuan affectionately kissed Zhou Ningyu’s forehead, offering Bai congratulations: “May you have a healthy baby boy.”
“Heh, boy or girl either way. I rather hope for a daughter, well-behaved like Yan’er.”
In just one afternoon yesterday, talkative and lively Yan’er had charmed all three men into unstoppable smiles, nearly forming cross-generational friendships.
Zhao Nuan stroked Yan’er’s head: “This girl…”
Her bond with Yan’er was extraordinary.
When she first transmigrated, she’d been terrified and directionless. But Yan’er’s first cry had connected her to this unfamiliar era.
After the noodles, they waited quite a while longer.
Weiyang Escort Agency and Xingyi Escort Agency were growing impatient.
Escort Chen from Shunshui Escort Agency kept apologizing: “Sorry elder brothers, I’ll go hurry them along.”
Another half-hour passed before Zheng Wenqing and his wife from Shunshui Escort Agency finally made their belated appearance downstairs.
He grumbled under his breath, “What’s the rush? The fog hasn’t even lifted yet, it’s still early.”