Chapter 862: Chapter 858: Frail

Xie Jingchen’s bundle for finding someone hasn’t been packed yet, but the bundle specifically prepared for eating pastries is already ready.

Hmm.

Xie Jingchen has only one bundle, packed with three sets of brocade robes.

Su Jin packed a big box with eight sets of skirts, eight sets of jewelry, and also Rouge and face powder.

Just like that, Xingxing still feels it’s not enough.

Su Jin, “…”

Xie Jingchen, “…”

Watching Xingxing holding a quilt out, Su Jin exclaimed, “Bringing the quilt too?”

“Of course, we need to bring the quilt,” Xingxing nodded.

“When we entered the Capital from Qingyun Mountain, madam prepared a set of bedding for the young lady. No matter where you stay, always sleep with your own quilt.”

Having brought the quilt, two pillows were also moved.

Though it’s a hassle, being able to sleep in your own quilt when you’re away from home is a good thing, so Su Jin didn’t stop her.

Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead.

He figured it would be more convenient to directly invite the pastry chef to the Capital to make pastries for her.

After spending an afternoon, Xie Jingchen’s bundle was easy to carry on his back, while the things Xingxing packed for Su Jin needed two carriage loads.

Su Jin thought too many things were brought, some of which were really unnecessary, but Xingxing righteously insisted, “Of course, we have to bring them.”

“It might take several days to find someone. When the Emperor travels, he uses over a dozen carriages.”

“The young lady is a Princess, only bringing two carriages is already very few.”

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen.

What could Xie Jingchen say? He just hoped they wouldn’t tell the Emperor, or else the Emperor would certainly send a troop of guards.

However, Su Jin had no intention of telling the Emperor, nor did the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion plan to inform him, otherwise her travel plans would surely be thwarted.

She certainly wouldn’t be going just to eat pastries as Xingxing said; she just wanted to go out for a stroll.

Now, while Xie Jingchen is still here, it would be impossible to go once he leaves for the border.

The next day, after breakfast, Xingxing called for people to start loading the items onto the carriage.

The Prince and Princess Consort, being informed by their servants, summoned Xie Jingchen for questioning.

The Prince and Princess Consort knew that Xie Jingchen was instructed by the Emperor to find Princess Fuqing, but the lineup clearly wasn’t just him traveling. Of course, it might be because Su Jin had never traveled out before and didn’t know that carrying too many things was inconvenient. Since Xie Jingchen wouldn’t criticize her, they called him to understand the situation.

Xie Jingchen replied truthfully, “She wants to go with me to find Princess Fuqing.”

The part about going specifically to eat pastries, Xie Jingchen really couldn’t say.

The Princess Consort said, “Isn’t letting Jinjim go making too much of a fuss?”

The Prince thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think we can stop it now, let her go.”

Since the Prince had relented, naturally the Princess Consort wouldn’t insist.

Not only was the Princess Consort worried about Xie Jingchen’s safety while traveling, but now there was one more person to worry about with Su Jin joining.

The Prince, feeling uneasy, then assigned two Hidden Guards to ensure Su Jin’s safety.

Meanwhile, Su Jin was traveling in a carriage, heading grandly out of the Capital.

She reached the city gates before the Emperor and Mrs. Tang learned she had left the Capital to look for someone.

The Emperor angrily said, “Why didn’t anyone hold her back?!”

Eunuch Fu sighed inwardly.

With the Princess’s temperament, it’s easier said than done to hold her back.

Eunuch Fu advised, “Please calm down, Your Majesty. The Princess is blessed. With her personally going to find Princess Fuqing, she’ll surely find her and bring her back.”

Since she had already left the Capital, the Emperor could only let Su Jin go.

Even though he knew Xie Jingchen could protect Su Jin, the Emperor still wasn’t completely at ease.

Thus, he sent eight guards and also assigned the Hidden Guard who had just been relieved of the Gu Worm.

As the team grew larger, Mrs. Tang also felt uneasy and sent more people to go.

Su Jin, “…”

Xie Jingchen, “…”

Do they need to be so extreme?

Xie Jingchen felt they were all seeing Su Jin as far too fragile.

Though she didn’t practice martial arts and couldn’t even subdue a chicken, she could use poison.

Seeing the Hidden Guard, Su Jin remembered something she hadn’t dealt with and said, “I forgot to tell Qin Hanhan that the protective Gu she gave to Xingxing is at Princess Qi’s place. She should find some time to go to the Ministry of Justice Prison to retrieve the Gu Worm.”

After leaving the palace and parting with Qin Hanhan yesterday, Su Jin only remembered this matter.

Busy packing, she didn’t send Xingxing to the Marquis Jingguo Mansion, and she wasn’t suitable to tell the other maids.

Back then at the Prince Qi Mansion, she said she didn’t know how to retrieve the Gu Worm, only mentioning that someone in Southern Border could do it.

Now saying this clearly blemishes her credibility.

Xie Jingchen said, “Let’s let Princess Qi keep it for a few more days. There’s no rush, we can handle it when we return.”

Since Xie Jingchen said this, Su Jin didn’t dwell on it.

She just thought that since it’s Qin Hanhan’s protective Gu, keeping it close at hand is reassuring.

However, she was now the Heir of Marquis Jingguo’s wife, always accompanied by people wherever she went, with quite a few Gu Worms on her. Considering she gave it to Xingxing, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The sky was blue, the clouds white, Su Jin lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, the air was fresh and sweet.

Seeing Su Jin struggle while looking out, Xie Jingchen stretched out his hand, pulling Su Jin from the shafts onto the horse’s back.

Both of them cast thoughts of Princess Qi and the protective Gu aside.

No one expected—

Just by delaying a few days, when they returned, Princess Qi’s situation was already beyond saving.

Su Jin and Xie Jingchen rode on the same horse while Xingxing and Bi Zhu sat in a carriage.

Bi Zhu was ecstatically happy.

Because in the vast Agarwood Pavilion, she was the only maid chosen to be taken out like Xingxing.

Although she was taken out with the purpose of doing rough work, with clothes needing washing.

But Bi Zhu didn’t see it that way, after all, she had chores to do even in Agarwood Pavilion.

Being chosen in the morning to go out with Su Jin and experiencing the envious looks from other maids and women in Agarwood Pavilion, Bi Zhu still felt exuberant.

In Agarwood Pavilion, Bi Zhu had the closest relationship with Xingxing.

Now traveling together, sharing food and lodging, their relationship grew even closer.

The trip for Su Jin was mainly about sightseeing with finding people as a secondary goal.

Had it been only Xie Jingchen, he could have galloped day and night to reach the town where Princess Fuqing went missing by midday the next day.

But with Su Jin accompanying, it took four whole days.

Even then, when the carriage stopped, Su Jin still rubbed her shoulders, complaining of fatigue.

Xie Jingchen honestly didn’t know what to say to her. Was it worth traveling so far just to eat some pastries?

Looking at Su Jin, Xie Jingchen asked, “Back when you entered the Capital from Qingyun Mountain, how many days did it take you?”

Qingyun Mountain is much farther away.

Su Jin shrugged; who knows how many days it took her?

But she was curious, so Su Jin looked towards Xingxing.

Xingxing replied, “It took twelve days.”

“The young lady has become more delicate now. It would take at least half a month to travel from Capital City to Qingyun Mountain now.”

“…”

Su Jin’s mouth twitched.

What do you mean she’s become delicate?

She just hasn’t gotten used to sitting in a carriage yet.

Though the official road is wide, it’s so far better compared to the past life.

Living extravagantly is easy, returning to frugality is hard.

Xingxing stood on tiptoe, looking forward, pointing far ahead, saying, “Young lady, the pastry shop is right up front.”

“Come on, let’s go take a look.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep