“Who else wants to cook and eat it the way I do? I still have some seasonings here—come and get some.” Cheng Yao added ingredients to the pot as she called out to everyone. “These spicy seasonings can drive out the cold and are good for your health.”
More importantly, she had added some spirit spring water.
Many of them were still recovering from injuries. After traveling for so many days, they were nearly at their limits. They needed the spirit spring water to give them a boost.
She had discovered today that the spirit spring in her space had risen a little more. That meant the good deeds she accumulated by saving people also caused the spirit spring water to increase. Since it benefited both herself and others, she naturally intended to do more of it.
Everyone’s eyes lit up with delight, and they could hardly believe it.
“Really? Hao Ting’s wife, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“My goodness, Yao’er, you truly are a fairy sent by Heaven to save us!”
Everyone was deeply grateful to Cheng Yao. The despair that had weighed on them earlier vanished, and they all began building stoves and starting fires.
But after Constable Wang heard that the Black Armored Guards might have been wiped out, his face turned whiter than snow. The hand gripping his sword hilt trembled faintly.
The Black Armored Guards were the emperor’s personal guards and one of His Majesty’s most trusted forces. Now, they had all died within the region through which he was escorting the exile convoy. This was a catastrophe of epic proportions!
Once the higher authorities came after him, he feared he would lose his head. It was even possible that the entire exile convoy would be buried with them!
“It’s over! We’re all finished…” Constable Wang muttered to himself, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he completely lost his composure.
Then he turned around and saw a group of people gathered around Cheng Yao’s fire, eating with great enthusiasm.
He did not know whether to be angry or amused. “Are you people not afraid of death? A catastrophe is hanging over our heads, and you’re still eating?!”
Cheng Yao’s calm voice sounded beside him. “Constable Wang, what’s done is done. Panicking won’t help. The most urgent thing now is to leave this place as quickly as possible.”
Constable Wang abruptly turned toward her, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Madam Cheng, what do you suggest?”
“Take a detour.” Cheng Yao was brief and to the point. “Pretend we know nothing. We never came here, and we never saw any Black Armored Guards. We’re simply an exile convoy traveling along our assigned route. Although we encountered some difficulties and dangers along the way, everything is normal.”
Constable Wang’s eyes brightened. This truly was the only way out at present. But then he hesitated and looked in the direction where Zhu Zhixin and Wang Bohai had disappeared.
“What about Bailiff Zhu and Bailiff Wang…?”
The corners of Cheng Yao’s lips curved into a meaningful smile. Lowering her voice, she said, “Constable Wang, those two were merely ‘borrowed’ from you by Commander Zhou of the Black Armored Guards. There was never an official written order transferring them to your command. They were not assigned officers of this exile convoy.”
Constable Wang froze, then instantly understood.
That was right! Commander Zhou had only given the order verbally and had left behind no written documentation. He had recorded the two men in the convoy’s files, but before those records had been submitted to the authorities for verification, Zhu Zhixin and Wang Bohai still belonged to the Black Armored Guards.
In other words, even if the two of them died out there, it would be an internal matter concerning the Black Armored Guards—or they could have been attacked by bandits. It had absolutely nothing to do with Constable Wang or the exile convoy!
Once he understood this, Constable Wang felt as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His eyes immediately hardened with resolve. He drew a deep breath, straightened his back, and shouted to the uneasy convoy, “Listen up! This place is no longer safe! Everyone pack up at once. We’re traveling through the night! We’ll avoid the woods ahead and take the small road to the west!”
Cheng Yao hurriedly said, “No, Constable. Everyone has gone all day without a drop of water. You have to let them eat something, or they’ll collapse from hunger on the road.”
Constable Wang glared at her. After gritting his teeth and stomping his foot, he finally relented. “Then you have half an incense stick’s worth of time. Hurry!”
Everyone felt as though they had been granted a reprieve and thanked him one after another.
Cheng Yao divided the dried chilies, pepper, ginger, fennel, star anise, and a small piece of hot-pot base into individual portions and handed them out. The bailiffs were too lazy to wonder where she had gotten the ingredients and asked her for portions as well.
“If you don’t have salt, come and borrow some from me.”
Knowing that the people in the convoy could not go without salt for too long, Cheng Yao contributed that as well.
As for the other ingredients, they had to find those themselves.
Some used dried fish; others gathered wild vegetables from the roadside grass, or added the wild Chinese yams and kudzu roots they had dug up earlier. In short, anything edible was tossed into the pots.
Before long, the riverbank was filled with a rich, savory aroma.
Cheng Yao was bending over to sprinkle a handful of chopped mushrooms into the pot when she caught sight of Zhan Haoting watching her without blinking. Her fingers paused. She straightened, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and smiled warmly. “Are you hungry? It’ll be ready in a moment.”
Zhan Haoting gave a low response, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but his gaze never left her.
His features were deep and commanding, and his presence was intimidating. Yet whenever his eyes fell on Su Wan, all the sharpness in them melted away, leaving behind only an overwhelming tenderness. It was like warm water infused with honey, slowly spreading through his gaze.
From the moment they had set out on the road of exile, she had risked her life to protect him. Now that he had finally recovered somewhat, she still treated him with such gentleness and consideration, giving him the warmest support.
He had lived a rough life, accustomed to passing through storms of blood and steel. He had never imagined that one day someone would risk her life for him, allowing him to eat a hot meal she had prepared in peace. Even the warmth and homeliness in the air seemed sweet.
Perhaps, just as his clansmen had said, she really was a fairy sent by Heaven to save him and the entire Zhan clan…
“Mother, look at Big Brother! His eyes are practically glued to Sister-in-law!” A bright laugh rang out beside Cheng Yao’s ear. Zhan Qingrou approached with a coarse porcelain bowl in her hands, her head bobbing atop her twin buns, her tone full of mischief. “Sister-in-law is cooking, but Big Brother looks at her as if she were some priceless treasure. He can never get tired of looking at her, and now he’s made her all embarrassed!”
Cheng Yao’s cheeks grew hot. She shot Zhan Qingrou an exasperated look, then added pork, fresh fish slices, Chinese yam, and dried bean curd sticks to the pot.
Hearing this, Madam Zhan looked up. Her eyes were filled with affection and satisfaction as she gazed at the couple.
The entire clan had been stripped of their possessions and sent into exile without a single copper coin to their name. Her son had even been beaten half to death.
She had thought that even if her family managed to survive, they would spend the rest of their lives struggling through hardship. She had never expected them to meet a girl as wonderful as Cheng Yao—someone who did not disdain them for their poverty or disability, and who could care for the whole family so well even on the road to exile, warming her son’s heart from within.
Her son must have burned incense for several lifetimes to marry such a divine wife.
Madam Zhan smiled and patted the back of Zhan Qingrou’s hand. “Don’t talk nonsense. Your brother is simply cherishing your sister-in-law.”
“Everyone adores Sister-in-law! But look at Big Brother’s expression. He looks as if he wants to devour her, bones and all. It’s really a bit much.” Zhan Qingrou shuddered and muttered, “It’s frightening.”
The young girl was straightforward and innocent. The moment the words left her mouth, everyone present burst into laughter.
Cheng Yao flushed crimson and glared fiercely at Zhan Haoting.
Amid the laughter and merriment, Constable Wang came over rubbing his hands together. “What delicious thing is Madam Cheng making? The smell is making my mouth water.”
“Constable Wang.” Cheng Yao hurriedly greeted him and lifted the lid of the pot. A wave of steam carrying a rich fragrance billowed out.
“I made hot pot. There’s meat, vegetables, and dried ingredients inside. Have a taste.”
