Lucky Farmer Girl: I rely on metaphysics to support my family

Chapter 826 Patterns
The journey is not always smooth sailing.

When they were still more than halfway to Beijing, the group came to a valley in the middle of nowhere.

As night fell and they couldn't reach the next post station, Zhou Sicheng had no choice but to order them to find a suitable place to camp and spend the night.

The valley is relatively flat and has a stream nearby, making it an ideal campsite.

However, the weather in late autumn can change in an instant. After nightfall, a northerly wind suddenly blew up, and soon large raindrops began to pelt down.

The rain came down suddenly and fiercely, extinguishing most of the campfire in the camp in an instant.

The officers and soldiers hurriedly set up the tarpaulin tent.

Each family hurriedly drove their carriages to a sheltered spot and covered them with thick felt.

Even so, the cold air can still seep in through the cracks.

Inside the Tang family's carriage, Wang Shi and Tang Bojun shared one carriage. Even though Wang Shi wrapped herself tightly in her cloak, she still felt a bit cold.

Originally, the two masters could manage to stay in the carriage at night, but now that it's raining, they all need to get into the carriage, otherwise no one's body could take it.

So Wang Shi, her two daughters, and two maids shared a carriage, while Tang Bojun and a few servants who drove the carriage made do.

The two old women who accompanied the carriage could make do in the back carriage where the luggage was loaded.

On the women's side of the carriage, Zhuxi and Hongyu checked that the windows were closed tightly and took out the spare thick blankets.

Tang Wan took out several hand warmers from the bundle she had brought and gave them to her mother and sister.

Seeing this, Madam Wang sighed, "Wan'er is indeed very thoughtful."

Tang Wan smiled modestly and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Mother!"

Actually, she had taken it out of her spatial storage before getting off the carriage, avoiding anyone, but she didn't need to explain.

Tang Wan then took out several packets of ginger candy from her bundle and had everyone put them in their mouths to ward off the cold.

"It looks like this rain is going to last for a while," Wang muttered to herself.

She wrapped herself in a blanket and held a hand warmer in her hand, only then did she feel a little warmer. She was really worried that the others traveling with her would not be able to stand it and would get sick.

Tang Wan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked outside.

The officers and soldiers, wearing raincoats, were busy in the rain reinforcing the tents.

She noticed that some of the other carriages in the group seemed to be leaking.

"Mother, don't worry, we're fine here. We don't know when the rain will stop, so let's wait and see," Tang Wan replied calmly.

Tang Wan thought for a moment and whispered a few words to Zhu Xi.

Zhu Xi understood, picked up the rain gear, and carrying an oil paper package, braved the rain to walk quickly toward the large tent where Zhou Sicheng and his group were temporarily taking shelter.

"Lord Zhou, esteemed gentlemen, my young lady sent some herbal tea to warm you up. It's a chilly rainy night, so please share some hot tea to warm yourselves up," Zhu Xi said respectfully to the gentlemen.

Zhou Sicheng accepted it and said to Zhuxi, "Please thank your young lady for her thoughtfulness on my behalf."

He gained a new appreciation for the thoughtfulness of the second young lady of the Tang family. The medicinal tea had arrived at just the right time; it was exactly what was needed in this kind of weather, yet none of his group had prepared such a thing. He truly hadn't expected that an autumn rain could be so chilly at this time of year.

"Yes!" Zhu Xi replied, bowed, and withdrew.

The rain lasted for almost an hour before gradually subsiding and turning into cold drizzle.

However, the group decided to spend the night in the carriage and did not intend to make any more moves, even though the tents they had set up outside would not be enough to keep them warm after the rain stopped.

Meanwhile, in the War King's Mansion, far away in the capital.

The study was brightly lit, and sitting in front of the War King was an old man with white hair and beard, who was none other than Fu Ming, the former director of the Imperial Observatory who had retired to his hometown.

A while ago, Zhan Yi received an order to invite Fu Ming, the former director of the Imperial Observatory who had retired to his hometown. His original intention was to bring the rubbings on parchment for the old gentleman to see if he could find any clues.

However, when Fu Lao saw the rubbing, he felt unsure and decided to go to the capital with Zhan Yi to see the original parchment.

At this moment, Fu Ming's withered fingers stroked the half-piece of parchment, his brows furrowed, and he murmured, "These patterns are indeed not found in the Central Plains. When I traveled through the wild southwestern lands, I seemed to have seen similar carvings on the ruins of an ancient altar, but I only caught a fleeting glimpse of them and did not investigate them in depth."

The War King had always thought that this parchment was related to the Southern Desert, but he didn't expect it to be from the Southwest. So he asked, "Elder Fu, are you talking about the Southwest? Not the Southern Desert?"

Fu Ming nodded slightly and replied affirmatively, "It is indeed the southwest. I have not misremembered."

Upon hearing this, the War King stopped dwelling on it and continued to ask, "Does Elder Fu know what this item might be used for?"

Fu Ming looked down at the parchment, pondered for a long time, and slowly shook his head: "Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness. What is recorded on this item is probably not benevolent. In the southwest, there are many ethnic groups, and their beliefs were diverse in ancient times. Some worshipped the righteous gods of nature and mountains, while others worshipped evil spirits. This parchment has a sinister aura, and it seems more like a fragment of some kind of evil ritual map, or a key to a forbidden place. As for the specific connection, it is difficult to say."

The War King was slightly disappointed, but then he thought that at least there had been some progress and some clues. If it weren't for Elder Fu's deciphering of these things, he was afraid that he would have thought of the problem in the southwest.

Immediately afterwards, the War King saw Fu Ming ask with a worried expression, "I wonder where Your Highness obtained this item? Such evil objects are often deeply involved, so we must be extremely careful."

Upon hearing this, the War King's heart sank.

Feng Yongnian was from the southwest and secretly raised assassins. The Southern Desert delegation had another secret mission. These clues, these seemingly unrelated things, are very likely connected in some way.

Although he thought this in his heart, the War King did not show it on his face. Instead, he solemnly bowed to Fu Ming and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Fu."

Then the War King paused for a moment, and still instructed, "However, this matter is of great importance. I hope that Elder Fu will stay in the manor for a few days. If there are any new discoveries or if you remember anything, please inform me at any time. In addition, please keep today's events a secret."

Fu Ming nodded knowingly and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I know what is important and will not divulge a single word to anyone."

"Of course I trust you, sir!" the War King replied calmly. "You must be tired today, sir. Please go and rest in your guest room."

Upon hearing this, Fu Ming rose to take his leave, and the War King instructed Zhan Yi to arrange a guest room for Fu Ming.

After everyone left, Zhan Wang stood alone by the window, deep in thought. The situation was becoming increasingly perplexing, but no matter what, he had to keep a close eye on Feng Yongnian and Nanmo.

So when the battle was about to end, the War King instructed, "Send more men to keep a close eye on Feng Yongnian and see if he has any contact with the southwest. As for that charity, without alerting them, find out about their internal training content, whether there are any unusual rituals, or symbols similar to those on this parchment."

"Yes!" Zhan Yi readily agreed.

"Also, keep a close eye on the envoys from the Southern Desert!" the War King continued, still not entirely at ease.

Zhan Yi quickly responded, bowed, and withdrew.

It's updated! Thank you everyone for your support!