Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The end of summer has melted away and early autumn has arrived.

Jia Cong led the artillery escort team out of Jinling City. The sky was high and the air was fresh, and the trees on both sides of the official road had begun to turn golden.

Five four-horse mule carts pulling heavy artillery marched at the front of the team, escorted by three hundred musketeers.

In the wide carriage at the end of the team, a pair of figures sat together.

Jia Cong was wearing a moon-white robe with silver bamboo patterns and a white jade hairpin, looking fresh and handsome.

The person next to him was pretty and beautiful, as graceful as an orchid, with a heroic look between her brows.

Her clothes were exactly the same as Jia Cong's, and for a moment it was difficult to tell the difference.

But her appearance and demeanor were slightly different from Jia Cong's youthful beauty.

She is more delicate and pretty like a girl, with skin as smooth as cream, eyes as bright as autumn water, and waist as slender as a willow.

If it weren't for her unconcealed slender curves and the pure and charming look in her eyes, at first glance, she would look 70% similar to Jia Cong.

Jia Cong decorated the interior of the carriage very comfortably, with a thin felt mattress, pillows and soft quilts, and a small elm table in the middle with a teapot, cups, and a basin of pink, juicy soft peaches.

There are even two bunches of fresh wild flowers stuck on the wall of the car, giving the entire car a lively atmosphere.

Qu Hongxiu looked at the furnishings in the carriage and said with a smile, "You have decorated the carriage so beautifully. It looks more like you are going on an outing than going on an errand."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "The artillery is very heavy, and our speed of travel is much slower than usual. We will often miss the inn along the way and have to camp in the wild.

We can’t let Sister Xiu sleep in a tent with a campfire like those soldiers. Although these people outside are trustworthy, Sister Xiu should not show up unless it is absolutely necessary.”

We stayed in the carriage at night, which was fragrant and warm. "

After hearing this, Qu Hongxiu blushed slightly.

This time, Jia Cong asked her to help him and be his substitute in critical moments.

She knew that Jia Cong asked him for help because she was the person he trusted most in Jinling.

Moreover, I am most familiar with his behavior and habits, and being his substitute gives me conveniences that others do not have.

She had read the letters from Gusu and the secret letter from Xu Qinniang investigating the senior military officers of the Wei Army, and knew that this trip to Gusu would be unpredictable.

The reason why Jia Cong was confident in asking her for help was because he was used to traveling around the world and had good skills. Even if he encountered risks, he was fully capable of protecting himself.
Except for the ten trusted musket guards around Jia Cong, no one else knew that there was another person hiding in the carriage besides Jia Cong.

……

Since we have to stay in a carriage when camping, Jia Cong will naturally come with us...

Qu Hongxiu glanced at Jia Cong and saw that there seemed to be nothing unusual when he said this.

I suddenly felt something strange in my heart, and couldn't help but think that if it was Keqing, this little bastard would definitely not be so nonchalant.

But Jia Cong said, "According to the time, Jiang Liu should have delivered the memorial to the palace a few days ago. The emperor has always acted decisively and quickly, and I'm afraid he has already issued an order.

I taught Jiang Liu a method so that he could learn the content of the reply as quickly as possible and transmit it to Jinling immediately using Feiyu. I estimate that Jinling will receive the news within a day or two.

The artillery is being transported slowly, so we can slow down the process a bit so that the Jinling branch can receive the message more quickly and get it to me."

Qu Hongxiu saw Jia Cong talking eloquently, thinking carefully, and planning, and he seemed to enjoy it.

I am a grown-up girl sitting next to him, but this fool doesn't even say anything personal. Who wants to listen to him talk about these things?

……

Later on the journey, the accompanying firearms soldiers and civilian laborers discovered that Lord Jia from the Firearms Department was a slow person. The team would stop to rest after less than two hours of walking.

The artillery was not to be towed very fast to begin with, and this made its speed even slower.

However, Jia Cong was the highest commander of the team. Since he was not in a hurry to travel, others were naturally happy to relax. No one would be stupid enough to come up with some stupid suggestion to speed up the journey.
As a result, they set out early in the morning and did not enter Zhenjiang until it was almost dark.

Moreover, it is located in the wilderness, quite far away from the nearest village or town, so it is no surprise that we missed the inn.

The accompanying soldiers could not eat hot meals, and although they had some complaints, they had been in the army for many years and were used to suffering, so they did not care too much.

The team found a sheltered open space surrounded by woods on three sides. After a while, tents were set up all over the place and bonfires were lit.

Jia Cong took advantage of the darkness and dim light to get off the carriage, took a quick look around, and then got back into the carriage.

Seeing Qu Hongxiu lighting candles in the car, the warm light of the flames made her pretty face look exceptionally beautiful and charming.

She opened the car window a little and used the flame of the tea stove to toast the dry food.

When the dry food was heated up, she poured a cup of light tea and handed it to Jia Cong.

Qu Hongxiu is not like Keqing, who was born in an official family and is good at needlework and cooking.

Her father died when she was young, and she had to travel around the country, often sleeping in the open.

Even though she was now an imperial merchant and had no problem wearing fine clothes and eating delicious food, she still didn't care about such simple meals and tea, and she handled them skillfully and appropriately.

She said apologetically, "Brother Cong, I am clumsy and not as capable as Keqing. I can take good care of your appetite. Please just eat as much as you can."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Sister Xiu, what are you talking about? I am not a spoiled nobleman who can eat delicious food or plain tea.

When I practiced martial arts with you in the courtyard of Xinchun Street, the big bowl of tea you cooked was more refreshing than the beautiful porcelain tea in Rongguo Mansion. "

Qu Hongxiu lowered her head and leaned against the tea stove, speaking softly, "You only know how to say nice things, it's better if you really mean it in your heart."

Jia Cong said seriously: "Of course I think so. It's no problem to eat your roasted dry food and drink big bowls of tea every meal."

Qu Hongxiu laughed out loud and said, "Just your words, all these years have not been wasted.

But I won't treat you badly. I will learn some skills from Keqing. Even if I can't prepare delicious food, I can still give you some hot soup and hot dishes."

……

Jia Cong said, "Sister Xiu, these 300 musketeers were transferred from the Shenjing Firearms Battalion. They have never been on duty in Liaodong and are not familiar with me.

Apart from two brief encounters, they had never seen me before. I would not show up during the day these days so that they would not have too much impression of my appearance.

At that time, if Sister Xiu tries not to leave the carriage, she can pass herself off as the real one.

The ten personal guards accompanying me have been through life and death with me in Liaodong, and they are all trustworthy people, so there is no need to worry."

As Jia Cong spoke, he suddenly looked at Qu Hongxiu carefully.

Seeing his burning gaze and the flickering candlelight in the carriage, Qu Hongxiu felt her heart beating wildly for no reason.

She is an expert in martial arts and is not a weak woman. Even Jia Cong was taught his skills by her.

Over the years, the two of them had no idea how many days they had spent alone together, but today, facing Jia Cong's strange gaze, she actually felt a little scared and uneasy...

Jia Cong said with a smile: "Sister Xiu is wearing the same clothes as me, and she is so pretty, she looks about 60% like me.

It’s just that my manners and demeanor aren’t quite the same yet. If I could imitate them a little more, even if I stepped out of the carriage, I would be able to fool people who don’t know me.”

Qu Hongxiu was amused by him and wrinkled her nose. She said, "How shameless! If you want to boast about your good looks, you don't have to say such things."

Then he asked, "Tell me, how do I learn your manners and expressions..."

Jia Cong said slowly: "First of all, the voice and tone of speech, daily habits and behaviors, such as walking posture, and..."

Qu Hongxiu memorized all the tricks Jia Cong told him, and secretly pondered how to imitate them.

She knew that this trip to Suzhou was crucial for Jia Cong to complete this imperial mission, so she naturally didn't want him to make any mistakes because of her.

After Jia Cong finished explaining all the things that needed attention, he suddenly thought of something and quickly glanced at Qu Hongxiu.

After hesitating for a while, he said, “Sister Xiu, men and women have different body shapes, so… you need to cover it up a little better.

Otherwise, no matter how similar others are, it will be easy for others to see through it.”

Qu Hongxiu was slightly stunned when she heard this, and subconsciously looked down. Her pretty eyes were filled with anger, and she grabbed Jia Cong's ears and shouted in a low voice: "You little bastard, you actually... actually dared to tease me!"

Jia Cong frowned and explained in a low voice: "Sister Xiu, how dare I tease you? I am telling the truth, isn't it?"

"You still said that!"

"Sister Xiu, my ears hurt. You almost pulled them off."

Qu Hongxiu has been practicing swordsmanship for many years, so her hands are quite strong. Although she had controlled her strength, Jia Cong still felt pain.

He subconsciously reached out to push it away, but accidentally lost his balance and both of them slipped into the carriage.

The candle on the table also fell over. Jia Cong's heart skipped a beat, and he was worried that the carriage would catch fire. He hurriedly reached out to extinguish the candle, but his hand was burned painfully by the hot wax.

The carriage suddenly became dark, and Jia Cong felt something soft pressing on his left hand. It was Qu Hongxiu's slender waist that he held in his hand.

When the two of them fell just now, Qu Hongxiu happened to half-lean in his arms. Jia Cong felt that his left ear was still being pulled by her, but the strength had long since disappeared.

His heart suddenly trembled, and his left hand, which was pressed down, couldn't help but gently hug the other's slender waist. It was soft and elastic, and it felt very good.

Qu Hongxiu's voice trembled a little: "Brother Cong, what are you doing..."

She struggled a little, but it seemed to have no effect, so she let him hold her. The two of them snuggled up to each other unconsciously. The carriage was silent, and the darkness was filled with panicked sweetness.

After a long while, the turbulent and confusing emotions slowly calmed down, but they made people want to continue to indulge in them like a demon, and neither of them wanted to wake up.

Jia Cong suddenly asked, "Sister Xiu, you didn't put on rose-scented rouge today."

"I want to pretend to be you, how can I put on rouge?"

"But I still smell the scent of perfumed rouge."

"You're talking nonsense again. I haven't even put on any rouge, so where does the rouge scent come from?"

"I really smelled it. Is it my illusion? Let me smell it carefully again."

The dark carriage was filled with a sweet and intoxicating scent. Qu Hongxiu felt Jia Cong approaching her. She could clearly hear his breathing and heartbeat, as well as her own.

"Brother Cong, you are not allowed to do this, um..."

Qu Hongxiu felt flustered, but her hands involuntarily hugged Jia Cong's neck.

……

A night of love turns into a sweet dream, and all the spring breezes turn into rain.

Qu Hongxiu had no idea how much rouge scent Jia Cong had smelled that night, if she had not promised him so solemnly.

You must keep your mind calm at the critical moment, or you may lose all the pleasure to Jia Cong.

The sky outside the car window turned slightly white, and Qu Hongxiu woke up from a deep sleep.

She found that at some point, a pillow was placed under her head and a thin blanket was covering her body.

Noticing the steady breathing sound beside him, he turned around and saw Jia Cong lying on his side next to him, sleeping soundly.

His eyebrows were as majestic as distant mountains, and the lines of his nose and mouth corners were as smooth as spring water. In the dim morning light outside the car window, he was indescribably dazzling.

She turned sideways and stared at him blankly for a long time before she was willing to slowly stand up.

He then gently covered Jia Cong with his thin blanket.

Thinking of what he said last night, her face flushed. She stood up, opened the package, took out a bundle of white cloth from it, and took off her clothes with her back to Jia Cong.

When Qu Hongxiu stood up, Jia Cong was awakened and turned slightly.

The faint morning light outside the car window shone through the gaps in the car curtains, casting a dim and bright color.

In the dim light, Jia Cong saw a naked back, the skin was as crystal clear as jade and as white as snow, the lines of the waist were slender and delicate, amazingly slender and enchanting.

The jade arms were raised gracefully, twisting and turning, and a roll of white cloth was used to wrap the icy skin and bones layer by layer, which was a breathtaking beauty.

Looking up along the back, there is a bright red blood mole on the back of the neck, the size of a little fingertip and shaped like a petal, just like a red plum blossom in the snow, which is stunning.

Jia Cong didn't dare to look again, for fear of being noticed by Qu Hongxiu and fearing that his ears would be ravaged again.

……

When it was bright, the campsite started to become bustling. Everyone started cooking. After breakfast, the team set off again.

The two people in the car, after last night's excitement, became closer than ever.

From time to time, they whispered and talked endlessly. Jia Cong also had to smell the scent of Qu Hongxiu's rouge from time to time, and his ears could not avoid being gently rubbed.

When the sun was at its highest point in the sky, a man on horseback caught up with the group and specifically asked to see Jia Cong.

The man was brought to the carriage by the personal guards. He was none other than Wang Dequan, who was in charge of the Xinchun branches in Suyang. Due to his busy schedule in Jinling recently, he was temporarily transferred to Jinling by Qu Hongxiu to help.

Wang Dequan approached the carriage and whispered, "Third Master, the message from Shenjing Feiyu was just delivered to Jinling Xinchun Branch at midnight yesterday. I set out overnight and finally caught up with you."

When Jia Cong heard that a letter had finally arrived from the capital, he was cheered up. He took the secret letter from Wang Dequan that was handed into the carriage and copied the entire letter in beautiful small regular script.

The wording was exactly the same as Gu Yankui's reply to him, which fully repeated the content of Emperor Jiazhao's reply.

Most of the information was similar to what Jia Cong had expected, but there were also a few pieces of information that were completely beyond his expectations.

He looked at the date on Gu Yankui's reply, which was only earlier than the time when the imperial edict left the palace.

According to the itinerary, the imperial edict might be delivered to Nanjing in about five days.

Now that he knew the full content of Emperor Jiazhao's reply, he had a clear plan of what to do next and no longer had any worries.

Moreover, he knew the content of the emperor's reply five days earlier than anyone else, which gave him a huge advantage in terms of the priority of information.

Jia Cong gave Wang Dequan a few instructions, and he rode away again.

As Jia Cong was the chief official of the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Works, it was not uncommon for someone to send him messages along the way.

The musketeers and civilians in the team could all see this scene, but no one cared.

……

In the carriage, Qu Hongxiu was reluctant to leave. She combed and tied up Jia Cong's messy hair from last night, and took out a set of casual clothes prepared in advance to help him change.

Jia Cong said: "The ten guards around me have been through life and death with me in Liaodong. They are trustworthy people and they know the whole story.

They will help Sister Xiu to cover up and protect her, and they should stay out of the carriage less often and walk slower. They only need to rush to Gusu in five days... "

When the sun was at its zenith, Jia Cong's personal soldiers suddenly gave an order, saying that Jia Jianzheng had caught a cold the night before and was feeling unwell, so he should rest for half a day before setting off again.

The musketeers and civilian laborers who followed the team naturally had no objection. Since Jia Jianzheng didn't need them to hold him back and force him to move forward, everyone was willing to be free and easy.

By the time all the soldiers and civilians found a cool place to sleep, the entire camp became quiet.

There was only a young man dressed as a laborer, carrying a bucket, staggering to the nearby stream to fetch water.

In a wood not far from the artillery camp, in the shade of the trees, four horses were tied.

Three people were resting under a tree, and one was looking at the camp at the edge of the woods. He didn't care at all about an inconspicuous laborer who left the camp carrying a bucket of water.

They would not have noticed that the laborer walked to a nearby stream, observed it carefully, and after making sure it was safe, he threw the bucket into the dense weeds.

Walking quickly towards a nearby valley, Wang Dequan, who had just left, was waiting here with his horse as instructed by Jia Cong.

Jia Cong took out the map he carried with him, looked at it carefully several times, and then determined the route.

The two of them rode together, taking the hidden path in the forest, and galloped towards Gusu. (End of this chapter)