There are four prefectures in the north of Jozhao, namely Liangzhou, Quzhou, Liaozhou and Yanzhou.
Among them, Liangzhou is the most difficult, and Yanzhou is the northernmost. Qi Xiao's hometown, Hanyuguan, is just outside Yanzhou City.
To be honest, even Qi Xiao didn't expect that the team could reach the Northland within seven days and have a good night's rest before entering Liangzhou.
After all, the imperial army and the 800 elite soldiers from the camp on the outskirts of Beijing can march in a hurry. He and his men can march in a hurry, but what about the high-ranking doctors who stay in the capital all year round, and the most delicate Princess Zhaoming in the team?
Qi Xiao's position for them was very simple. He did not ask them to march in a hurry, but only asked them not to slow down the team's original speed.
As a result, as soon as he made this request, he was met with ruthless opposition from Feng Xi.
"Running so slowly, are you going to provide disaster relief or collect corpses?"
Qi Xiao: "..."
After Feng Xi's rebuke, the other officials who originally wanted to say that the speed was a bit fast and could it be slower, immediately shut up obediently.
As a result, the disaster relief team led by the dignified princess actually had not stayed in an inn since they left Beijing. Whether they were princesses or soldiers, sleeping in carriages with carriages, and sleeping in shacks without carriages, they arrived three to five days earlier than originally planned. destination.
"Oh, oh, slow down, slow down, I'm such an old man..."
"Quick, help me go to the house and lie down, my bones are about to fall apart every day."
"I'm going to have a good night's sleep tonight. How many times have I rested for two or three hours before leaving again?"
…
In the small square in front of the inn, all the officials and doctors who got off the carriages were as white as paper. Those in worse condition were supported by their own servants, while the better ones still had some strength to chat with their colleagues.
"Old Lin, who do you think our emperor should send to provide disaster relief? Is Princess Zhaoming really good? We haven't even entered the Northland yet, and Mr. Li Ge and Judge Shi are almost defeated by her..."
Liu Wanshi, the Minister of Industry, quietly pulled Lin Qiandao, the Minister of Household Affairs.
The two of them were Jinshi in the same subject and had a good relationship. It happened that the imperial examination was conducted by the old Duke Xie Boyuan that year, so the two of them could be regarded as the old Duke's disciples.
They also knew that in addition to their ability, the emperor chose them this time because of their relationship.
After all, no matter what Zhaoming said, she was still the granddaughter of their teacher. If they didn't help her properly, let alone her career, her reputation would be ruined after she returned to Beijing.
"Who says it's not the case? Before we left, our colleagues all congratulated us and said that we had received a good job. But who doesn't know that Princess Zhaoming is just a showman, and she blocked the way of the crown prince and the fourth prince this time?"
Lin Qian, the Minister of Household Affairs, sneered while instructing people to count the supplies.
Yes, if they follow Duke Zhaoming to get such a job that even the crown prince and the fourth prince want to compete for, they will have half a foot on the position of minister, and their future will be limitless.
But no matter how unlimited the future is, it must be enjoyed with life!
"Why……"
Liu Wanshi lowered his head and lamented, what can he do?
They are honest people who were born in the imperial examination, have a weak foundation, and are not willing to take sides. Don't they have to do whatever the emperor arranges?
"But you don't need to be downcast. As for the princess's body, she may be even worse than Mr. Li Ge and the others."
Lin Qian gestured to the largest carriage over there with his eyes, and his tone was unusually teasing.
Isn't that right? Princess Zhaoming has been hiding in the car almost every day during these days of rushing, and she hasn't gotten off yet.
Not only Liu Wanshi and Lin Qian were looking over there, but even the imperial doctors were not in a hurry to enter the inn, fearing that they would sit down and rest while the princess came to call for help.
It’s surprising that such a pampered princess is having an easy time these days!
They even suspected that the other party had wanted to slow down a long time ago, but they didn't dare to say it out of shame.
Just like now, it was probably because she was afraid that they would see her embarrassment that she refused to get out of the car.
And when Qi Xiao, who was dressed in black clothes, jumped out of the carriage and stood in front of the carriage with a complicated expression, the officials watching the excitement became more sure of what they were thinking.
Look, look, princess, she is really showing off her strength~
As a result, they saw Qi Xiao rubbing his eyebrows, his sharp and cold facial features softened and he smiled:
"Feng Xi, are you sure you don't want to spend the night at the inn?"
"don't want!"
The girl in the car said decisively:
"It's just one night, why do I have to climb up and down? Is it because I feel uncomfortable in the carriage? Or do I have nothing to do?"
Qi Xiao moved with emotion:
"But it's cold in the carriage."
Feng Xixiao reasoned:
"I am not afraid of the cold."
Qi Xiao: "..."
God knows, Princess Zhaoming, who was originally spoiled and could not bear the slightest hardship, now wants to continue sleeping outside in the carriage because she is afraid of trouble...
If they were in Shengjing, Qi Xiao would have left her alone, but they were in Beidi, and there were still countless pairs of eyes staring at them.
"Tomorrow we will enter Liangzhou City. I will arrange for people to clean all the carriages tonight, including yours. Feng Xi, didn't you just listen to me as promised?"
Feng Xi in the carriage tilted her head:
"Is there any? If so, I will withdraw it."
Qi Xiao: "..."
The people watching the excitement around sneered, thinking that a certain princess was probably staggering and unable to walk. When they asked Qi Xiao to hug her, Qi Xiao stopped trying to comfort Feng Xi and turned to Qin Zhui beside him:
"Except for a few adults and the imperial doctor, everyone else set up camp around the princess's carriage and vowed to protect the princess's safety to the death."
Feng Xi, who was slumped in the car like a salty fish, wishing she could stay outside as a target: "..."
As a result, before Qi Xiao took a few steps, the girl in the moon-white brocade dress put on a maple-colored cloak and got off the carriage feeling refreshed.
"How can this be done? I am serving the country and the people, and you are a courtesy corporal. How can you hinder others and prevent them from having a good rest just because you want to sleep in the carriage? Where is my room? You lead the way!"
As he spoke, he trotted to catch up with Qi Xiao, which was in sharp contrast to the adults limping beside him.
A doctor with sharp eyes could tell at a glance that not only was she not being shaken, but she was also well rested with a rosy complexion.
Officials: "?"
Don't we follow the same path?
Feng Xi naturally didn't know what they were thinking and didn't care. She just felt that compared to the carriage surrounded by soldiers, the post room seemed more suitable for the enemy to attack.
After all, there was only a small spot outside the room, so Qi Xiaodingtian asked two big men to guard the door for her.
Of course, there will definitely be a large number of defenders outside Qi Xiao's cautious inn, but compared to being directly surrounded by the defenders, the maneuverable space inside the inn is much larger.
With this idea in mind, Feng Xi ate and washed early, and then lay quietly on her bed.
Just as she expected, at three o'clock in the morning, flames shot into the sky outside the house, and the originally orderly defenders under Qi Xiao soon fell into chaos.
