Phi-Fic Chapter 114 War and Peace Talks
Chapter 114 War and Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Cui Miao'er's disheveled return to her lodgings attracted the attention of many people.
"Cui Miao'er, what happened? Why are your clothes torn?"
"Could it be that you've been bullied?"
Cui Miao'er didn't dare to say what had just happened. She walked silently to her resting place, hugged her son Jinbao, and wiped away her tears without saying a word.
Seeing this, Yao Shanyun knew something was wrong.
Cui Miao'er has been throwing a tantrum these past few days because she can't find her family. She knows that the Cui family has been following the group all along, and she also knows that Cui Miao'er has been using her own rations to help the Cui family. After all, the two families are related by marriage, so she just turns a blind eye.
The Cui family disappeared without a trace in Qingzhou. Her eldest son went to inquire with the second leader of Black Tiger Stronghold, but after asking around, the second leader found that no one had ever seen the Cui family.
Even the local tyrant of Black Tiger Village had never seen it. Where in this vast land could they possibly find it? But Cui Miao'er was solely focused on her family and insisted that her eldest son go and search for it. Could she possibly agree to that?
Even risking your life, you probably still won't find it.
The poor eldest daughter-in-law had lost her father, brother, and sister-in-law. When she threw a tantrum, the family would just pretend not to see it. But today, for some reason, she argued back when asked to do chores. After saying a few words, she turned around and left. Yao Shanyun didn't want to bother with her anymore.
Who knew that going out would cause another incident.
Seeing Cui Miao'er constantly complaining about her miserable life while holding Jinbao's hand, she pulled Meng Wan'er aside and asked what had happened.
Meng Wan'er looked troubled. She disliked Ji's sister-in-law, but how could a woman keep her reputation if such a thing was said?
She mumbled, "My sister-in-law ran into a fool and was probably frightened. Don't worry, Auntie, we beat him up pretty badly."
Upon hearing this, and considering Cui Miao'er's torn clothes, Yao Shanyun knew exactly what it meant. Her chest heaved a few times, and she forced a smile at Meng Wan'er.
"Thanks to you girls, Miss Ling is really amazing. She taught you to be smarter than some adults."
Meng Wan'er could only smile and remain silent.
Miss Ling taught techniques that could harm people; what does that have to do with intelligence? Both of them knew who the "not intelligent" person was.
Seeing Yao Shanyun turn to leave, Meng Wan'er couldn't help but remind her, "Auntie, it's best if you don't have any contact with your sister-in-law..."
Yao Shanyun's expression went blank, her head buzzed, and she almost lost her balance.
She staggered, turned around and hurriedly returned to her own place. Seeing that Jinbao was still being held in Cui Miao'er's arms, the anger that had been suppressed in her chest suddenly burst out.
Rushing to the mother and son, she grabbed Jinbao and slapped Cui Miao'er hard across the face.
Yao Shanyun shouted angrily, "You dare to touch your son after having contact with refugees? Do you want to get him killed too?! Just wait, I'll settle the score with you later!"
Cui Miao'er has been married into the Ji family for many years. Although she is always scolded by her mother-in-law, she has never been beaten. Even Ji Dalang has never laid a finger on her.
This was the first time she had ever been slapped, and she sat on the ground, unable to recover for a long time.
After hearing Yao Shanyun's words, she belatedly realized what she had just done and felt a sense of lingering fear.
She didn't want to leave the team, and subconsciously regarded her son as a lifeline, thinking that he could support her, so she clung to him tightly, forgetting that she shouldn't have contact with other people.
Yao Shanyun didn't look at her again. She quickly called Zhao'er to find Jinbao other clothes and Sanlang to bring over freshly boiled water.
After the clothes were brought over, she took Jinbao into the simple tent made of oilcloth, quickly took off Jinbao's clothes and changed him into new ones, while throwing the old clothes into a wooden basin filled with boiling water.
After hearing what Yao Shanyun said, the people resting near her house silently moved away from the Ji family.
It's not that they're heartless; this is also explained in the "Twenty Articles".
Hearing the commotion, Shan Qiyu rushed over to help. He used a wooden stick to press all the heavy things into the water, and then asked Ji Sanlang to boil them before he felt at ease.
Meng Bochang also rushed over. His granddaughter, Meng Wan'er, had already told him what had happened. They really couldn't interfere in this matter and could only wait for Ji Dalang to return with the water.
The Ji family was in a great mood. Meng Fuqing took out chestnuts and asked Meng Ali and Meng Ranran to peel them together, while he carried two wooden buckets and walked towards the pond.
As she walked, she carefully observed the refugees by the pool and noticed that many of them were eating rat meat. Their sallow and emaciated faces regained their smiles because they had meat to eat.
Perhaps it was because of these rats that they did not covet Meng Fuqing and his entourage's ostentatious procession.
Although he hadn't seen anyone visibly dejected along the way, Meng Fuqing remained vigilant, determined not to let his guard down regarding the "Twenty Articles."
Carrying two buckets of water back to their lodgings, Meng Fuqing saw Qi Liang's figure in the distance.
She poured water into the pot, asked Pan'er, who had come to help her, to watch the fire, and then went to find Qi Liang and the others.
Now, they boil their water whenever possible. Wherever the convoy goes, it's like a locust swarm sweeping across the land, leaving the surrounding vegetation completely devastated.
"Miss Meng is here?" Du Zhong called out loudly, "I was just about to send someone to fetch you!"
His gaze swept around; Xie Jin wasn't there, only Mu Sheng was. Mu Sheng was also the one who led Qi Liang and the others to Yezhou City.
Meng Fuqing couldn't help but wonder, as she didn't seem to have seen Xie Jin today.
The thought flashed through her mind, and she nodded to Du Zhong, "Tell me about the situation in Yezhou City."
Mu Sheng looked at Meng Fuqing, recalling the scene he had just witnessed when he saw the young master. His face, hidden by the mask, showed obvious worry. He moved his lips and then pursed them, deciding to focus on the matter at hand and speak first.
"There are checkpoints ten miles outside Yezhou City. Weapons are not allowed to be carried into Yezhou City. They must be checked by the checkpoint sentries. Before entering the city, a doctor must take your pulse and examine you to confirm that you have no illness before you can enter the city."
A person nearby added, "The woman who blocked the road is right. It costs one or two taels of silver per person to enter the city, and three taels of silver per cart. You can't even stay overnight inside."
Mu Sheng continued, "I went to Yezhou City and learned that the reason why the Hu people have been unable to enter the capital for so long is that the once famous Duke of Wei has returned to the battlefield and saved the situation. The Duke of Wei is good at defense, and the two sides are deadlocked."
The inability to transport relief supplies out of the capital was one of the reasons for the martial law in Yezhou. The two sides now appear to be preparing for peace talks.
Peace talks?
Perhaps the Hu people's rear was raided, their supplies were insufficient for a protracted war, and they were also plagued by frequent natural disasters. They probably wanted to make one last exorbitant demand before proposing peace talks.
For some reason, Meng Fuqing felt that the Emperor of Great Yan would probably make concessions.
Du Zhong cursed, "You sons of bitches, you're all cowards."
Qi Liang knew what Meng Fuqing cared about most. He leaned against the tree with his arms crossed, his tone tinged with schadenfreude, "Meng Fuqing, selling grain to refugees is probably not feasible. If the refugees find out we have surplus grain, word will spread and the government will only take notice of us."
Seeing his gloating, Meng Fuqing smiled and said, "After the war is over, we'll be too conspicuous and can't keep taking the main road. How about you carry the carriage across any places that the carriage can't pass?"
Qi Liang's expression twisted for a moment, then he straightened up and remained silent.