Starting from Qinghe County, we go all the way north along the official road. The further north we go, the colder the weather becomes. The northwest wind often blows, making it very cold.
Bai Jingtao's fleet expanded a lot. In addition to the original servants, a team of cooks, a team of grooms, a team of maids, and a team of handymen were added.
There were now seven carriages. Except for Zhou Rushuang, who was alone, Bai Jingtao and Meng Zhiyuan often shared one, and Mr. Dong took one alone.
The other four vehicles were all "baggage" for this trip, as well as the stone tablets that Bai Jingtao had excavated from Pei County. They were all loaded on the carriage, and the group headed for Shangjing in a mighty manner.
Although the Chen Dynasty raised troops in Chen, after the world was pacified, three capitals were built. The upper capital was located in the Bohai Sea, which was in the extreme north where it was bitterly cold all day long. The middle capital was located in Yanzhou, and the lower capital was located in Jinling.
Among the three capitals, Shangjing is the largest, and the royal court of Dachen is located in Shangjing.
Although civil and military officials have proposed many times to move the capital to Zhongjing or Xiajing, they have all been rejected by the current emperor.
And His Majesty the Emperor said: "If I hadn't guarded the capital, I'm afraid this bitter cold land would have been lost sooner or later."
"It's better to build the capital here, so that we can guard the country."
From then on, no minister suggested moving the capital.
Qinghe County belongs to Yanzhou and is still thousands of miles away from going to Beijing. The return trip, according to Bai Jingtao's method, will probably take more than half a year.
Meng Zhiyuan stretched out in the carriage, opened the curtains and took a look outside. He had already passed the boundary of Yanzhou. There were luxuriant withered grass on both sides of the road, and occasionally broken ice could be seen in the ruts. The weather was extremely cold.
"Bai Laoliu, are you tired of writing these things every day?"
Bai Jingtao didn't even raise his head, still tracing the inscriptions wholeheartedly. Although the carriage bumped and shook, it did not affect his handwriting at all.
"How is the princess these days?" Bai Jingtao asked.
Ever since they took Zhou Rushuang and Mr. Dong on their way back to Beijing, Zhou Rushuang's mental state had gradually declined.
For this reason, Mr. Dong, Bai Jingtao and Meng Zhiyuan tried their best to cheer Zhou Rushuang up, but with little success.
Meng Zhiyuan shook his head: "It's still the same. The princess's thoughts are obviously on that Zhao Cheng."
Bai Jingtao felt a wave of irritation in his heart. As soon as he started writing, a black spot formed. This copybook was considered damaged.
He simply threw the pen aside and said to Meng Zhiyuan.
"Zhiyuan, tell the truth, what's so good about Zhao Cheng? Why does the princess always miss him so much?"
Meng Zhiyuan shook his head: "I don't know. But I know that if the princess continues like this, she may fall ill."
Bai Jingtao sighed helplessly.
Suddenly, the flute sounded leisurely, and it was still the song "Return to the Dreamer".
"The situation in Shangjing is complicated, and various forces are intertwined. If the princess doesn't cheer up, she may be targeted as soon as she arrives in Shangjing."
"Although it has been so many years, it is inevitable that some people are still paying attention to this. Isn't it a little hasty for the princess to return to Beijing?"
Meng Zhiyuan analyzed it more thoroughly, and Bai Jingtao also knew that Meng Zhiyuan was right, but he still wanted to take Zhou Rushuang back to Beijing with him.
"I'm going to persuade the princess." Bai Jingtao stopped the carriage, got out of the carriage and walked towards the carriage where Zhou Rushuang was.
The weather was cold, and Bai Jingtao shivered involuntarily as soon as he took a few steps.
He walked to the carriage and said: "Princess, I wonder what Princess has been thinking about these days? Should she go to Meng Zhiyuan's place or me?"
Bai Jingtao was talking about the arrangements for Zhou Rushuang's stay. Because of Zhou Rushuang's sensitive identity, Bai Jingtao could only feel at ease with the Bai and Meng family. Moreover, privately, he preferred to have Zhou Rushuang be with him.
The sound of the flute stopped, and Zhou Rushuang's somewhat cold voice came from the carriage: "I want to live alone."
Bai Jingtao frowned: "Princess Princess, you must know that your identity is particularly sensitive. Once you return to Beijing, you will definitely attract the attention of interested people. If they think of King Lu..."
Zhou Rushuang asked, "Then why are you guys coming to me? Isn't it good to just let me live a quiet life in Qinghe County?"
Bai Jingtao wrapped his clothes tighter and said as he walked: "The return of the princess to the capital is an arrangement made by King Lu's legacy. As followers of King Lu, we must naturally abide by King Lu's wishes."
"Also, the Chen Dynasty seems to be like an iron barrel now, but there are undercurrents and people's thoughts are changing. If the princess does not adapt early, become familiar with the princess's identity as soon as possible, and shoulder the burden left by King Lu, then... …”
Bai Jingtao didn't say the next words.
If Zhou Rushuang delays in fulfilling his role as princess, many people will be exposed, and it may even shake the foundation of the Bai and Meng families.
Zhou Rushuang was silent in the carriage. These days, almost every day, Bai Jingtao and Meng Zhiyuan would take turns telling her the whole story of the Three Kings Rebellion fourteen years ago.
These followers of King Lu at that time, fourteen years after King Lu's death and defeat, still upheld King Lu's legacy and continued the unfinished business.
Zhou Rushuang couldn't understand these important events of her family, country, and world, so she focused on the surrounding scenery.
Although it has been a long way from Yanzhou to now, Zhou Rushuang's heart still remains in the small courtyard in Fenghuangli, Qinghe County.
The struggle for dynasty and the ups and downs were all too far away for Zhou Rushuang. Her only reason for following Bai Jingtao was that she did not want her identity to implicate Zhao Cheng.
Bai Jingtao didn't hear Zhou Rushuang's response in the carriage, so he thought she accepted his statement and felt slightly relieved.
"Princess Princess, as long as you have confidence, we will definitely assist the Princess with all our strength and regain what should belong to King Lu."
"For this reason, please cheer up the princess, stop playing the flute, and look at the books I gave to the princess. Many secrets of the past are recorded in them."
"There is also the new identity of the princess. We have already arranged it. Please be familiar with it as soon as possible. We cannot reveal any flaws, otherwise the enemy will take advantage of it."
"If the princess still thinks that she is the Zhou Rushuang who lives in the ruined temple, then I am afraid that it will harm you, the princess, and everyone who is close to the princess."
After hearing this, Zhou Rushuang finally blinked and put down the flute in his hand.
"My new identity..."
In so many days, this was the first time that Zhou Rushuang took the initiative to talk about his identity. Bai Jingtao was overjoyed and said, "Yes, princess, in order to deceive others, we have set a new identity for the princess according to King Lu's legacy."
"In the future, the princess must be familiar with and adapt to this leisurely status. Otherwise, it will definitely arouse some people's suspicion. In that case, we will all be exposed."
