Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 78

“Sigh. She left her soul behind in the hunting grounds.”

“Huh? Who did?” Chuqing asked, confused.

Xia Heng raised her chin toward the Xiao Family’s camp.

“Tsk, tsk. The suffering of love…”

Before Chuqing could make sense of that, Xia Heng dragged her away to help.

They washed the schisandra berries they had just picked, then added licorice root, red dates, and rock sugar and simmered the mixture for a while.

Once the solids had been strained out, their simplified schisandra drink was ready.

It could dispel cold, replenish vital energy, ease the lungs, and suppress coughing, making it perfect for this weather.

Cang Chuli had just returned to his tent, wiped away his sweat, and changed clothes when Mo Qing appeared on his left holding a cup of plain tea.

Mo Bai appeared on his right, presenting a bowl of the fruit drink in both hands.

Were they trying to fill his stomach entirely with water?

He accepted both and took one sip from each.

When Xia Heng learned what had happened, she was speechless. She had told Mo Qing and Mo Bai that there were two drinks, but she had never told them to serve both at once!

It was not her fault that she enjoyed making these things. Water and soup were hardly the same.

If she had milk, she could even make milk tea!

Who could resist a hot drink in such cold, windy weather?

Another cart of game was hauled back. Cang Chuli’s pile was visibly much larger than anyone else’s.

The guards processing the animals worked without pause, skinning and butchering with precise cuts.

Xia Heng watched with great interest. Seeing her curiosity, one of the guards explained as he worked.

“The animals are bled when they’re loaded onto the carts.

“If some are brought back alive, though, they can be kept and raised for a while.”

He grasped a rabbit by the scruff and lifted it.

“Look at this one. It’s perfectly healthy. We’ll put it in a cage later.”

“…When dressing a deer, you have to be careful not to cut that tendon. It’s valuable.”

Then he patted the tiger Cang Chuli had killed, regret in his eyes.

“This hide is a pity. The arrows punched too many holes through it. Otherwise, we could have removed it whole.”

Xia Heng looked over and felt the loss as well.

Honestly. That could have become Cang Chuli’s new mattress next year.

When Madam Xiao saw her daughter return carrying two rabbits, she assumed Xiao Yaqing had hunted them herself.

She immediately handed them to the servants to be processed.

Xiao Yaqing paid no attention.

Her mind kept replaying everything Dongfang Wei had said in the woods.

What did he mean by telling her not to marry yet because there were no worthy men in the capital?

What did he mean when he said he had not contacted her because he wanted her to live well?

What had he said in the part she had failed to hear?

The more she thought, the angrier she became.

What was hidden in all this that she was not allowed to know?

Tsk! Did that man not have a mouth? Or had he only grown half of one? Why could he not explain himself clearly?

“Miss Xiao.”

A Tujue guard approached outside the tent, interrupting her thoughts.

“First Prince Huyan sent this game to you.”

Xiao Yaqing’s gaze chilled. She refused.

“Please thank the First Prince for his kindness, but my family is small and my father has already hunted plenty. We could not finish all of this. Please ask the First Prince to take it back.”

Although Xiao Huan was the Minister of Revenue, his years in business escorting shipments had made him quite skilled at riding and archery.

Among the civil officials, he had brought down the most game.

“Miss, the First Prince has sent some of his game to every household. If you alone refuse it, this lowly one will find it difficult to report back!”

Xiao Yaqing leaned out to look.

Sure enough, several Tujue guards were distributing rabbits and pheasants among the various households.

After considering the matter, she finally told Wuyue to accept the gift.

A banquet would be held in the hunting grounds that evening. The Emperor generally bestowed roast meat and fine wine.

Not everyone would receive such gifts, however. The officials therefore prepared food of their own, lest their tables look embarrassingly empty.

Madam Xiao ordered the servants to roast the dressed rabbits along with the pheasants her husband had hunted. They would serve those at the banquet later.

It was quite some time before Xiao Yaqing remembered that she had promised to bring Xia Heng game.

Feeling guilty, she walked to the edge of Cang Chuli’s tent and found Xia Heng making chicken soup.

After haltingly explaining what had happened, she found Xia Heng completely calm.

“Mm. I guessed as much. You looked so lost when you returned that I knew Chuqing and I would starve tonight if we waited for your game.”

Chuqing was washing the dried mushrooms they had brought. Once soaked in hot water, they could be added to the soup.

The aroma already had her nearly drooling.

Xiao Yaqing said sheepishly, “It was my fault. Something happened, and I completely forgot.”

Xia Heng gave a noncommittal hum.

Making herself at home, Xiao Yaqing sat on the folding stool beside her and added a piece of charcoal to the little stove.

“Ah Heng, I have a friend…”

Xia Heng could not resist glancing at her.

Ah, the classic “asking for a friend.”

“This friend has a childhood sweetheart. They were very close when they were young.

“Then my friend suddenly moved away, and that childhood sweetheart truly never contacted her again.

“She recently moved back. They saw each other from a distance a few times but barely spoke.

“Then, not long ago, the childhood sweetheart told her not to rush into marriage because there were no worthy men in the capital.

“He also said he hadn’t contacted her because he wanted her to live well…”

Xiao Yaqing hesitated.

“Do you think that was sincere? Was he telling the truth, or is he simply stringing me—my friend—along?”

“How could there be no worthy men in the capital? Our General is a worthy man!” Chuqing objected from the side.

“Your friend’s childhood sweetheart is ignorant!

“And what does he mean by ‘wanting her to live well’? Who does he think he is?”

Xia Heng hurriedly stuffed a piece of chicken into Chuqing’s mouth.

You are far too honest. Do you have a death wish?

Chuqing tasted it, then spat the chicken out.

“Ah Heng, you forgot the salt…”

After taking the salt jar and sprinkling some over a separate piece for Chuqing, Xia Heng turned to “this friend.”

“Which proves that people really do need mouths.”

Xiao Yaqing nodded in heartfelt agreement.

“If you don’t understand, ask!”

Xiao Yaqing stopped nodding.

“What?”

“I don’t even know your friend’s childhood sweetheart. If your friend doesn’t know what he means, she should find a chance to ask him clearly!

“Some people will never explain themselves unless you force them to.”

Xia Heng pursed her lips and considered the matter.

“If that still doesn’t work… has your friend considered finding a different boyfriend?”

Xiao Yaqing immediately waved her hands.

“He isn’t her boyfriend! He’s her childhood sweetheart!”

“Right, right. Her childhood sweetheart. But has she considered replacing him with one who has a functioning mouth? Who can tolerate guessing all the time?

“A sweet tongue and hopeless devotion are the finest dowry a man can possess!”

Xia Heng felt she had truly become bold. She actually dared undermine the official pairing.

But honestly, he was only an emperor. She did not feel he was quite good enough for her sister.

His health was poor, he was busy all day, and countless people wanted to drag him off the throne.

Apart from being handsome and rich, he did not have many advantages.

Her sister was beautiful, wealthy, capable, and educated. Who could she not have?

After listening, Xiao Yaqing found the argument strangely persuasive.

Before talking to Ah Heng, she always wondered whether she herself was the problem.

After talking to Ah Heng, she felt the Emperor was not quite good enough for her.