PNB Chapter 207 On the Road
Chapter 207 On the Road
After just two days of bumpy carriage travel, Li Xiaonuan seemed to fall seriously ill. Motion sickness is a kind of unimaginable torment for ordinary people. She had barely eaten anything these past two days, fearing that she would vomit it all up as soon as she ate.
Wei Yu watched anxiously from the sidelines, but had no good solution. Qi Ji did try to give Li Xiaonuan acupuncture a few times, but it only provided temporary relief. When the carriage started to bump around again, Li Xiaonuan still couldn't bear it.
Seeing that Li Xiaonuan looked haggard, Sang Moyun suggested, "Miss Li, why don't you ride a horse? Maybe you won't feel so bad if you ride a horse."
Li Xiaonuan forced a smile, shook her head, and replied, "Miss Sang, I can't ride a horse. Let's just keep going like this. I can bear it. The sooner we reach the capital, the sooner I can be free."
Wei Yu's eyes shone brightly, and with a wicked smile, he said to Li Xiaonuan, "I'll take you horseback riding; you don't need to know how to ride."
Zhou Liufei glanced at Wei Yu and said to Li Xiaonuan, "You can sit outside the carriage. It won't be too uncomfortable if you're not stuffy inside. Don't worry, I'll protect you and make sure you don't fall out."
Watching the two secretly exchanging blows, Li Xiaonuan felt her head throb even more. These past two days, whenever she stopped to rest, she had to deal with these two who had somehow gotten into a serious rivalry.
"Thank you both for your kindness. But I think I'd rather stay in the car." This was a simultaneous rejection of both of them.
Sang Moyun suddenly chuckled and suggested, "Miss Li, how about I lend you my husband for now? He can keep giving you acupuncture, and you won't feel so uncomfortable all the time. But you have to return him to me when we get to the capital."
After Sang Moyun finished speaking, she reached out and nudged Qi Ji, who was sitting next to her. Qi Ji, with a dark face, said very rudely, "Sang Moyun, watch your mouth. Who's your husband?"
Sang Moyun chuckled twice, ignoring Qi Ji's changed expression, and instead turned to Wei Yu, raising an eyebrow and saying, "Brother Yu, I don't think you have a chance. However, if you can help me deal with Qi Ji, I'll try to help you. How about it, deal?"
Wei Yu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Qi Ji, and said, "I also think it's unlikely for you. Qi Ji isn't someone you can entrust your life to, so don't waste your time on him. I'll handle my own affairs; I don't need anyone's help."
Li Xiaonuan pretended not to hear what they were saying. She rested her head on her knees and softly asked Zhou Liufeng, "Brother Liufeng, do you think we might come across a peanut field on the way?"
Zhou Liufeng handed the cleaned cogongrass to Li Xiaonuan and said, "I don't know about that, I've never walked this path. Here, take a bite of the cogongrass to cleanse your mouth. Although this cogongrass isn't as tender as the ones by the stream, it tastes sweeter."
Li Xiaonuan obediently took the Imperata cylindrica root, chewed it carefully, and absorbed the moisture. Surprisingly, after chewing a few, she really felt much better in her stomach.
Wei Yu watched the entire interaction between Li Xiaonuan and Zhou Liufeng, his brows furrowed deeply. Wei Yu was a domineering and assertive person, and his concern was naturally not gentle. However, Zhou Liufeng's concern was revealed in a calm and understated manner, gradually seeping in.
At this moment, Wei Yu deeply sensed the impending crisis. He had never imagined that one person could so subtly and gradually move another. That kind of emotion, which gradually seeps into a person, is something that no external force can shake.
"Brother Liu Fei, you know so much." Li Xiaonuan sincerely felt that Zhou Liu Fei's way of dealing with emergencies was very down-to-earth and practical.
Zhou Liufeng smiled knowingly, then handed the porridge on the table to Li Xiaonuan. Li Xiaonuan sat up, placed the remaining piece of Imperata cylindrica root she was chewing on the table, and slowly drank the porridge. This time, Li Xiaonuan didn't feel that strong nausea anymore. Soon, she finished the whole bowl of porridge.
Seeing that Li Xiaonuan had finally drunk the porridge, Sang Moyun nudged Wei Yu's arm with her elbow and gave him a teasing look. Wei Yu pretended not to see it and subtly swept the thatch on the table onto the floor.
Qi Ji witnessed the entire process of Wei Yu taking action. He suddenly smiled, and childhood memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. In truth, there was no awkwardness between him and Wei Yu at all.
After dinner, as usual, Li Xiaonuan and Sang Moyun took a walk in the nearby mountains. Don't ask why. Everyone needs to use the restroom sometimes, and that's the most inconvenient thing when you're traveling. Even though there's a toilet in the car, could you really do it under everyone's watchful eyes?
When Li Xiaonuan and her companion returned, they saw Prince Jing sitting with a woman, chatting happily with Wei Yu and the others. Zhou Liufeng, arms crossed, leaned against a tree trunk beside the carriage, looking somewhat out of place.
Li Xiaonuan walked over and patted Zhou Liufeng's arm. Zhou Liufeng was still very alert. Just as Li Xiaonuan was about to pat him, all the muscles in his body tensed up instantly.
Sensing Zhou Liufeng's stiffness and restraint, Li Xiaonuan couldn't help but sigh. He still harbored a knot in his heart, a knot she couldn't untie. However, at least Zhou Liufeng hadn't excessively rejected her advances, and that was enough.
"Brother Liu Fei, who is that person?" Li Xiaonuan asked.
“That’s Prince Jing’s daughter, Princess Qingning. Speaking of which, you recognize her. She’s the Chi Yao you knew before. Chi Yao is just a temporary identity she’s using. I heard the real Chi Yao is about to become a nun,” Sang Moyun interjected.
Li Xiaonuan looked over there. The maid standing next to Princess Qingning was not the one she had always kept by her side. As if sensing something, Princess Qingning also looked in Li Xiaonuan's direction.
"Miss Li, come and sit here quickly," Princess Qingning called out to her cheerfully.
Li Xiaonuan subconsciously shook her head, then quickly squatted down and bowed, replying, "Thank you for the invitation, Princess. I won't go over there; I'd like to take this opportunity to rest for a while."
Princess Qingning raised an eyebrow as she watched Li Xiaonuan bow. Her previous two encounters with Li Xiaonuan had been very harmonious. But Li Xiaonuan's current demeanor clearly indicated that she was drawing a line and keeping her distance. Could it be because she knew her identity?
Qingning furrowed her beautiful eyebrows, glared at Qi Ji who was pretending to look up at the sky, and then glanced at Wei Yu who was intently watching Li Xiaonuan. At that moment, she suddenly felt a sense of repulsion towards Sang Moyun next to Li Xiaonuan.
"Father, I'll just share a carriage with Li Xiaonuan later, you don't need to arrange anything else for me." Qingning's spoiled nature was thus unleashed.
“No, Li Xiaonuan gets carsick, it’s inconvenient for you to ride in the same carriage as her.” Wei Yu refused without even thinking.
Just kidding, how could he possibly wander around outside the princess's carriage? Wei Yu was hoping to take this opportunity to improve his relationship with Li Xiaonuan. He was practically dying of frustration these past few days, always seeing Zhou Liufeng stealing the spotlight.
"Father~" Qingning glared at Wei Yu with wide eyes, then pouted and acted coquettishly towards Prince Jing.
With just one word, Qingning softened Prince Jing's heart. Normally, Qingning would call him "Father." Today, hearing her call him "Father" twice felt incredibly strange to him.
“Qingning, Li Xiaonuan really gets carsick, so it’s not good for you to squeeze in with her. Besides, her carriage isn’t good either. You can ride in the same carriage as your father. I usually ride horses, so the carriage is free for you.” Prince Jing glanced at Wei Yu and then spoke.