After dinner, Sheng Jinyan began teaching the princesses how to light a fire to keep warm.
"We'll sleep in the carriage tonight, but the firewood must not be allowed to run out, nor should it be too big, or it will catch fire."
The four princesses listened very seriously, imitating him, and began to start a fire near the carriage.
Sheng Jinyan dug several earth channels leading to the bottom of the carriage. Then he built a fire mound, using the heat from the fire to transfer warmth under the carriage.
This way, neither would the carriage catch fire, nor would they lose warmth.
Shi Zhenxiang was truly impressed this time. She rarely gave a sincere thumbs-up. "Your Majesty, you are so versatile."
"With you here on this journey, Your Subject feels completely at ease."
Sheng Jinyan felt gratified by her trust.
But he still said, like a straight man, "You can't just rely on me. You still need to learn some skills yourself."
"Starting tomorrow, you'll follow me and learn to start a fire and cook."
"Including hunting in the mountains, you have to learn that too."
Shi Zhenxiang...
No, couldn't he let her suffer a little less?
Couldn't she just lean on him and enjoy the shade?
Shi Zhenxiang looked aggrieved. "Your Majesty, Your Subject is a defenseless woman. How could I possibly do those rough tasks?"
Sheng Jinyan, as if pretending not to understand, directly handed her a dagger. "Here, now you have an inch of iron."
"This dagger is very sharp for killing chickens. Tomorrow you'll kill one for me to see."
Shi Zhenxiang...
This dog emperor.
What does he mean?
So, not bringing a maidservant out means he wants her to act as a maidservant, right?
She's not doing it!
She snorted, "You don't dote on me at all."
"What kind of man makes a woman work outside?"
After saying this, she turned her back and didn't look at him.
Sheng Jinyan didn't expect her to get angry; he didn't quite understand.
"Isn't it good to let you kill a chicken?"
"I saw the children having a lot of fun killing them."
He had originally thought she would want to kill one too.
Shi Zhenxiang really could not fathom his thought process.
But she still clearly refused, "Your Subject cannot carry on shoulders or pick up with hands. If you find me useless, then send me back to the palace. Find someone else who can kill chickens and do chores to accompany you."
Sheng Jinyan understood the meaning behind her words. He clicked his tongue. "Look how lazy you are."
"You don't know about the women at the border pass. Each one is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and they are also excellent at housework."
Just let her do a little bit of work, and look how spoiled she is.
Shi Zhenxiang did not reply.
Anyway, she was not going to do it.
Her mother said that once you become a housewife for a man, you'll be a housewife for life.
Anyway, she was not going to start that precedent.
Seeing that she refused, Sheng Jinyan didn't actually force her. "Fine, since I am here, there's no need for you to do those rough chores."
Having said that, he lay down and looked at her seductively curved back, unable to suppress a stirring of desire.
After all, this woman was soft all over.
Although he was not a lustful person, every time he was with her, he couldn't help wanting a bit more.
Sheng Jinyan swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and was just about to reach out to embrace her.
But then the princesses burst in. "Father Emperor, Imperial Consort~" The four little ones crowded together in between them.
The Third Princess and Fourth Princess, being younger, directly lay down on Sheng Jinyan.
The Eldest Princess and Second Princess apparently also couldn't bear to sleep on Imperial Consort, so they also hung themselves on Sheng Jinyan.
Sheng Jinyan only felt a weight on his chest.
Wow, even though the four princesses were small, their combined weight was not light.
Especially since the little ones usually ate a lot; they were all solid.
Sheng Jinyan was suddenly pressed so heavily he couldn't breathe.
He had no choice but to toss them to the middle so he could catch his breath.
The desire that had been stirring was instantly doused.
Alright, let's sleep chastely.
The several nannies were keeping watch outside. Seeing their family happily squeezed together, they couldn't help but smile.
That night, the three nannies took turns sleeping and occasionally adding firewood, so they had a good night's sleep.
The next day, Sheng Jinyan took the initiative to drive the carriage, letting the nannies sleep.
Shi Zhenxiang also came out to drive the carriage, letting the three nannies catch up on sleep so they could take care of the children well at night.
Sheng Jinyan didn't expect her to be able to drive a carriage. He was quite surprised. "You know how to drive a carriage? When did you learn?"
He had thought she was delicate and couldn't do anything.
Shi Zhenxiang was a little proud. "My father taught me."
In her original world, she also liked horseback riding and archery, so driving a carriage was a piece of cake.
Seeing that she was indeed driving well, Sheng Jinyan nodded in satisfaction.
He thought to himself, as expected of his woman; being skilled in horsemanship made her very compatible with him.
They were truly a perfect match.
After driving the carriage all day, the nannies had rested well and came to take over.
Since they were traveling on mountain roads, they still cooked dinner in the mountains at night.
This time, Sheng Jinyan brought back a small wild boar.
Although there wasn't much meat, it was just enough for one meal.
Wild boar meat rendered into fat was delicious.
The princesses were so greedy that they drooled.
Shi Zhenxiang, however, wanted to eat roasted meat.
Seeing that she liked it, Sheng Jinyan immediately gratified her. He got iron skewers and started roasting meat for her.
The freshly caught wild boar meat was exceptionally tender. Shi Zhenxiang had brought her own seasoning, and sprinkled it on the roasted meat. The aroma was intoxicating.
The princesses also ate with great enjoyment.
After eating and drinking their fill, looking at the moon in the sky, Shi Zhenxiang suddenly felt that this kind of trip wasn't so bad after all.
Although tiring, it was quite pleasant.
No need to kneel and bow every day, nor to follow those old-fashioned rules.
And no need to deal with people; it was quite free and easy.
Sheng Jinyan nodded in agreement. "Indeed, days without attending court are truly free."
But they had come to do one hundred good deeds. They had been out for so long and hadn't done a single good deed yet."
Just then, people suddenly appeared on this mountain path.
Sheng Jinyan immediately alertly extinguished the firelight and quickly buried all the bones to conceal the smell.
He told the children to wait in the carriage.
After the firelight was extinguished, the sound of urination could be heard from a distance.
One of the men sniffed. "Did you smell the fragrant meat?"
Another man sniffed. "No? Only the smell of burning fire."
Probably some mountain folk burning a fire.
The other person, however, didn't quite believe it. "I smell like wild boar meat."
His companion still said he didn't smell it.
The two started chatting. "I heard recently there's a noble person leaving the palace. The boss heard about this and wants to inquire for information to rob some silver."
"But after inquiring for a long time, they haven't found out which noble person is traveling."
Sheng Jinyan was surprised.
He didn't expect that news of his leaving the palace had spread so quickly?
But it hadn't been spread that it was him, the Emperor, who was traveling. He wondered how it was being spread.
However, these bandits were truly audacious, daring to even want to rob him.
If they really tried to rob him, he would not be polite.
Shi Zhenxiang also heard some sounds in the carriage, but not clearly.
Only after the two men left did Sheng Jinyan follow them.
After a long while, he still hadn't returned.
The princesses saw that Sheng Jinyan hadn't come back, and they were very worried. "Imperial Consort? Why hasn't Father Emperor returned yet?"
Shi Zhenxiang comforted them. "Perhaps he followed to see where those two went."
"Don't worry, your Father Emperor is very capable. Let's just wait patiently."
The Eldest Princess nodded obediently. "Yes, we won't hold Father Emperor back."
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