“Well, you Li Kui! Weiyang Escort Agency is considered a major agency, yet you actually go back on your word like this. When I return to the capital, I will definitely report this to your boss.”
Escort agencies were very united, and Weiyang Escort Agency was somewhat of a small leader among agencies in the capital, so competition among the Escort Chiefs was naturally fierce.
Thus, if someone seized upon this point, Li Kui would definitely be punished.
Zhao Nuan lifted the carriage curtain, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed in anger: “The Yunzhou I’m heading to is 1,100 li from the capital. After four or five days on the road, we’ve only covered 200 li. At this pace, I won’t make it to Yunzhou in time for the New Year.”
“Moreover, the further north we go, the colder it gets. We might even have to travel on icy roads, which would slow us down even more. You can wait, but can the child in my arms wait?”
“That’s right, Escort Chief,” Xiao Bai said with a worried expression. “My wife is waiting for me at home.”
Li Kui knew that Zhao Nuan was not only rushing for her own sake but also helping him out of a tight spot, so he cupped his hands in gratitude.
“Sister Zhao, I truly apologize. If you ever need to commission an escort again, I’ll definitely give you a discounted price to make amends.”
After saying this, he mounted his horse.
“My apologies to both of you. Until we meet again.”
As luck would have it, two days later, three mounted officials galloped past on the Official Road.
When they crossed paths with the Hou Estate group, they cast gloomy glances at the Zhou family.
Though it was only for a moment, the Zhou family members felt a chill run down their spines.
They recognized us—they’re looking for Zhao Nuan.
Although the court might not know that Yu’er was still alive, Prime Minister Sun, being cunning and experienced, would surely investigate every servant returning home from the Hou Estate.
Zhao Nuan, traveling with two children, would be even more likely to be exposed.
Lin Jing trembled like a leaf, but given that she had suffered humiliation, it was normal for her to be afraid of officials.
Zhou Wenrui gripped his wife’s arm, forcing her to calm down.
Four days later, these three officials stopped the Shunshui Escort Agency just as they were about to enter the gates of Pingwan Prefecture.
The lead official took out a portrait and asked, “Have you seen this person?”
The portrait only showed a woman with her hair styled in a married woman’s bun and a five- or six-year-old girl.
The four members of the Shunshui Escort Agency shook their heads—they hadn’t seen her.
“Think carefully. Are you sure you haven’t seen her? She probably left the city around the same time as you.”
“Ah!” Dai Shi’s eyes lit up. “We’ve seen her, we’ve seen her.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Ah,” Dai Shi shook off her husband’s hand, a smug smile on her face. “Do you think it could be that Zhao wench?”
The two escorts exchanged glances. “Well… she doesn’t really look like her.”
Dai Shi’s husband caught on and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes! The escort team that left the capital with us had a woman. I think she looks a bit like the woman in the portrait.”
“Well…” The two escorts from Shunshui Escort Agency ultimately didn’t speak up to refute them, as they still held a grudge against Weiyang Escort Agency.
Upon learning that Zhao Nuan and the others had continued north, the officials glared at Dai Shi and the others. “If you dare deceive us, watch your heads.”
With that, the group spurred their horses and rode off.
Meanwhile, Zhao Nuan and her group had already reached Yangbao Town, 800 li from the capital, and were bidding farewell to the people from Xingyi Escort Agency at the crossroads.
Especially Guard Yuan from the Xingyi Escort Agency, who solemnly bowed to Zhao Nuan: “Thank you for your help along the way, Sister Zhao.”
On the second day after parting ways with the Shunshui Escort Agency, Guard Lei from the Xingyi Escort Agency injured his arm in a fall and could no longer control the horses.
Zhao Nuan didn’t want to leave them stranded halfway, fearing they might be exposed if they encountered anyone tracking her.
So she gritted her teeth and had Yan’er take care of Zhou Ningyu while she learned to drive the carriage from Guard Lei.
When struggling to survive, people can unleash great potential. In just half a day, Zhao Nuan was able to handle the carriage herself.
Thus, Guard Lei helped her take care of the two children while she drove the carriage for him.
Zhao Nuan and the others only allowed enough rest time for the horses at night, plus half a day’s stop in Jing Town to deliver goods. The rest of the time, they traveled day and night.
Racing along the road, they covered ninety li per day, nearly doubling the distance compared to the first four days.
Zhao Nuan bowed slightly: “When traveling far from home, there’s no need to be so particular. If I ever fall into hardship and meet you two in the future, I hope you’ll spare some simple food and tea for the sake of our shared journey.”
“Hahaha, Sister Zhao’s magnanimity rivals any man’s! Let us part here now, until we meet again.”
“Brothers, until we meet again.”
After speaking, the people from the Weiyang Escort Agency also cupped their hands in salute before whipping their horses to continue the journey.
But Zhao Nuan never expected that less than an hour after parting with the Xingyi Escort Agency, the usually obedient and well-behaved Zhou Ningyu suddenly started crying uncontrollably.
Escort Chief Li thought the child was tired of being cooped up in the carriage, so he took him on horseback for a gallop to amuse him, but still couldn’t stop the crying.
Zhao Nuan tried holding and comforting him, even getting out and walking with him, but nothing worked.
Just as the child was crying so hard he seemed about to lose his breath, she suddenly remembered a rumor she’d once seen online: when living creatures block the road, there must be a reason.
“Brother Li, was there a rabbit on the road earlier?”
“Hahaha, rabbits storing food for winter are common.”
As he spoke, a snake suddenly appeared on the road.
“Whoa…”
The carriage stopped, and everyone looked at each other in surprise. Seeing a snake in winter – that wasn’t common.
Zhao Nuan looked grave: “Brother Li, could we delay for one day and stay overnight in Yangbao Town?”
Better to believe it exists than to risk disbelief.
Li Kui glanced at his two companions inquiringly. Guard Zhang subtly glanced at Zhao Nuan before nodding in agreement.
But Xiao Bai frowned with difficulty, anxious to complete the job and return home.
Zhao Nuan steeled herself and proposed buying their carriage, ending her escort contract with them.
Li Kui and Guard Zhang objected almost immediately.
“Sister Zhao, that’s not how things are done.”
“Yes, if word got out, it would ruin the escort agency’s reputation. We’ll follow your suggestion and return to Yangbao Town for the night.”
Before turning the carriage around, Li Kui looked at Xiao Bai: “Originally this trip was estimated to take twenty days outbound and ten days returning. Now we’ve covered two-thirds of the distance in just ten days. Don’t be too unreasonable.”
“Yes, Escort Chief.”
Xiao Bai scratched his head. While he was genuinely eager to return home, the employer had said before departure that this job would take about a month, and he’d accepted it because the pay was generous.
“Are there any side roads? Let’s take the side roads back.” Zhao Nuan felt uneasy looking at the Official Road.
“There are. I’ll lead the way.”
Guard Zhang drove the carriage at the front, very familiar with the route.
Strangely enough, as they turned back, Zhou Ningyu stopped crying.
Just as they were heading back, the two men from the Xingyi Escort Agency waiting to enter the city were frowning deeply.
Guard Yuan watched the three dust-covered officers riding into the distance and lowered his voice: “Xiao Lei, do you think the person in the portrait is actually Sister Zhao?”
Guard Lei spat angrily, “Damn it all! Wu’an Marquis Manor has always had a good reputation. Those bastards…”
Ahem! Guard Yuan coughed twice. “But why are they looking for Sister Zhao? I heard that aside from a married daughter and a voluntarily confessed illegitimate son, everyone from the Zhou residence has been captured.”
The two pondered for a long moment before suddenly locking eyes, both seeing shock in each other’s gaze.
Rumors in the streets said someone had died the very night the Hou Estate was raided. It was said the wet nurse serving the First Madam was frightened and jumped into a well while holding the estate’s only young heir.
The bodies weren’t recovered until the next day, already bloated beyond recognition.
If Zhao Nuan came from the Hou Estate… then the child in her arms…