Union

Chapter 143 Separate Actions
Yunying was engrossed in the commotion, especially when the older women said that Prefect Wei was having trouble speaking and his face was stiff, showing signs of a stroke.

Given his current state, his political enemies will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to attack him and drag him down with them.

Whether it was because he was extremely angry or because he had been repeatedly humiliated, Governor Wei was so embarrassed that he simply collapsed.

It was only because Prefect Wei was paralyzed that the prefect of Jinzhou had to be replaced, and that the common people dared to gossip about Prefect Wei's family without restraint.

Otherwise, if Prefect Wei still held power, just look at who wouldn't want to live and would dare to gossip about him in public.

Yunying hadn't expected that Prefect Wei would end up like this, but even after learning it, she felt no pity whatsoever.

This wasn't done by Prefect Wei!
Based solely on Wei Zhizhou's behavior last time, Yunying guessed that he was probably a sycophantic opportunist. In addition, he knew that Wu Liang was bullying good people and was arrogant by nature, yet he did not restrain him. He was clearly unqualified as a prefect.

This retribution he's getting today is the consequence he deserves.

However, with Prefect Wei in trouble, Wu Liang will likely not fare any better.

Yunying was satisfied and in a good mood. Looking at Jinzhou City, she felt that everything about it was pleasing to the eye.

Seeing her fluctuate between joy and anger, between gritting her teeth and being full of interest, the Second Master really had no idea what was going on in her head.

However, there was no gloom on her face, which showed that the shadow left by Jinzhou had disappeared, which pleased the Second Master.

There were many people queuing to leave the city, but fortunately the guards at the city gate only conducted routine checks on the passersby, so the group was not delayed for long and quickly left the city.

After passing Jincheng, heading further north means you've completely entered the northern territory.

Even someone as hot-blooded as Second Master was forced to wear a cotton-padded coat, which shows just how cold it was.

The cold in the north is a dry cold; when riding on horseback, the northwest wind blows straight into one's face. Yunying herself, riding on horseback, is blown about by the cold wind, and her hands, feet, face, and ears are covered in frostbite. Unable to endure the hardship any longer, she finally has to remain seated behind the Second Master.

After traveling for several more days, snowflakes began to fall softly from the sky.

The snow started falling heavily, and by the next day, the river was frozen over. Everything was covered in a blanket of white, a pristine white expanse.

In this kind of weather, it's naturally impossible to travel. The heavy snow has buried the roads, and since they're unfamiliar with the routes, it would be a real problem if they weren't careful and fell into a deep pit or ditch.

The second master then ordered his men to stop at the post station to rest, hoping the snow would stop before continuing their journey.

This break lasted for two days.

Two days later, the heavy snow stopped, but the snow on the roads was still deep, reaching about knee-deep. The snow around the post station was better, as the servants were clearing it, making it barely passable. However, once past the post station, the snow was left uncleared, and for safety reasons, everyone had no choice but to remain at the post station.

Coincidentally, on the very day the snow stopped, Yunying started her period.

Perhaps due to the hardships of her journey, and the frequent periods of hunger and overeating, her body had become increasingly burdened. Yunying's period was starting this time, and she was experiencing severe abdominal pain.

She lay on the bed, her face deathly pale. She clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

Seeing this, the second master was at a loss, pacing back and forth in the room, wishing he could stomp a hole in the floorboards.

He glanced outside twice, but Sui Yu didn't appear. After standing there for a while, the Second Master finally turned around and went to the bedside.

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Yunying into his arms. His large hand, however, slipped inside her clothes through the seam.

A brazier burned inside, so the Second Master wasn't cold. On the contrary, his hands were burning hot, but they couldn't compare to the temperature of the skin hidden beneath his clothes. The moment his fingers touched a strand of Yun Ying's skin, Yun Ying suddenly tensed up, her breath seemingly stopping.

The second master sensed her discomfort and quickly moved his hand away.

He didn't mean to take liberties with her, but his fingers seemed to have their own will, slipping inside her clothes and heading straight for that warm spot.

Finally, the second master placed his palm outside her undergarment and warmed her stomach through it.

Yunying didn't know if she was too uncomfortable or if she felt much better after what the Second Master did. She stopped crying and just silently huddled in the Second Master's arms, letting him do as he pleased.

Sui Yu finally brought over a bowl of ginger and jujube tea.

The second master touched the soup bowl and then held it to Yunying's lips for her to drink.

Yunying complied, but after taking a sip, she complained that it was too hot.

"Drink it while it's hot, sip it slowly, and your stomach will feel better." Second Master rubbed the top of her head and said with some emotion, "Now I regret bringing you all the way here, seeing all the suffering you've endured with me."

Not only did she suffer from menstrual cramps, but she also developed chilblains on her hands, face, and ears. Anyone who has had chilblains knows that it's fine in cold places, but as soon as the surrounding temperature rises, the chilblains become unbearably itchy.

He caught her scratching her chilblains several times, sometimes even rubbing one boot against the other, trying to make the chilblains on her feet feel better.

She had previously suffered from ulcers on her groin, but she still rode horses every day, and the skin on that spot developed a thin callus before she stopped complaining of pain.

Second Master held Yunying in his arms, saying, "I really regret it. If I had known it would be this difficult, I would have kept you in the county government."

The second master's hot breath sprayed onto Yunying's ears and cheeks, the heat making Yunying's skin tighten and causing her to involuntarily shrink back.

She sensed the Second Master's genuine frustration and couldn't help but reach out and touch his cheek.

Second Master lowered his head and let her touch him; Yunying even touched his ears and hair.

Yunying said, "It's alright. I came to the capital not because you ordered me to, but because I wanted to come myself. The capital is so prosperous. I'm so happy to be able to spend the New Year here."

"lie."

"Really, I'm not lying to you. Besides, you can see the snow scenery. I quite like snow. In the past few years in Yungui County, I haven't seen a single snowflake. To be honest, I miss it."

"Lie to me again."

Yunying laughed, "Why are you so hard to please? Oh dear, go away a bit, I'm drinking soup, you're making me a little itchy, and I keep wanting to laugh."

"Then I'll stay away from you."

That's what they say, but Second Master's actions were completely different.

Of course, he also pulled his head back slightly. As for his body, he was holding Yunying in his arms, so where could he possibly retreat to?

As the two were talking, Yunying finished her ginger soup.

After drinking a bowl of ginger soup, I instantly felt a warm sensation in my abdomen.

Yunying lay back down on the bed, feeling drowsy.

But when my body felt warm and my stomach felt a little better, my hands, feet, face, and ears started to hurt again.

Feeling upset and agitated, she felt like crying again.

Second Master knew she was in a lot of pain, but you really can't scratch chilblains. Especially since she was a young lady who cared a lot about her appearance, if it left a scar, she would live the rest of her life in self-pity. "I'll put some ointment on it for you, and the itching will stop soon. Go to sleep, and you won't know anything when you're asleep."

As he spoke, the Second Master took Yunying's hand. He massaged several acupoints on her palm, pressing them gently until Yunying's breathing became shallower and shallower, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.

After Yunying fell asleep, the Second Master took a white porcelain bottle from the low table beside the bed.

There was a white ointment in the porcelain bottle. The second master poured it into his palm and carefully applied it to Yunying's frostbite.

She had two chilblains on her face, her left ear was also frostbitten, and her hands had many chilblains, with almost all of her joints frostbitten. Even so, she had been wearing thick fur gloves the whole way, keeping her hands completely covered inside the gloves; otherwise, her hands would probably have frozen off.

After wiping these, the Second Master took Yunying's small feet out from under the covers.

She wore snow-white silk stockings. After hesitating for a moment, the Second Master finally took off the stockings, revealing her fair and delicate little feet.

Yunying wasn't short, but her feet weren't particularly large. Her feet were fair and delicate, with well-proportioned and clean bones. The skin on the tops of her feet was jade-white, and her toenails were painted with bright red nail polish…

The contrast between red and white was so vivid and intense that it made the Second Master's heart pound and his breathing quicken.

However, on these jade-like feet, which can be described as works of art, there are two chilblains.

The red, swollen marks were all on Yunying's little toes, staining the white jade and making those who saw them feel uncomfortable.

The second master poured out some more ointment to apply to Yunying. At this moment, Yunying, whose feet had suddenly been freed from the confinement of her silk stockings and exposed to the cold air, struggled uncomfortably and showed signs of waking up.

Second Master quickly took her feet in his palms and comforted her, "Go to sleep, I'll put some ointment on them, you'll feel better soon." He gently touched her toes to keep them warm.

Perhaps she was calmed down by the Second Master, or perhaps her feet were back in a comfortable environment, Yunying stopped struggling after a while.

Second Master didn't dare to waste any more time. He quickly applied frostbite cream to her feet, put silk stockings on her, and then tucked her feet back into the quilt.

There was another knock on the door, and Sui Yu brought over two hot water bottles. "Here you go, they're filled with freshly boiled water, enough to last until tomorrow."

Second Master took the hot water bottle and waved for Suiyu to leave quickly.

Sui Yu clicked her tongue twice, turned around and took a step, then looked back at Second Master, "Won't you wake up from the heat at night with two hot water bottles?"

Second Master gave him a cold look, and Sui Yu awkwardly touched his nose. "I was genuinely curious, not trying to cause trouble. Besides, aren't you staying tonight to keep Miss Yunying company?" If you stay, what's the point of using a hot water bottle?

Second Master said in a low voice, "You worry too much. Mind your own business."

Sui Yu: "Tsk, you really have a lot of patience."

Afraid that Second Master would kick him, Sui Yu ran out as fast as he could.

……

The snow lessened, and then it stopped.

The snow had not melted, the roads were impassable, and the group was stranded at the post station.

Three more days passed, and Yunying's period was almost over. The snow outside finally showed signs of melting.

The Second Master was finally about to depart for the capital. Upon receiving the news, Yunying naturally hurriedly packed her clothes.

Unexpectedly, after instructing the servants on these matters, the Second Master returned to his room and said to Yunying, "You don't have to leave yet. You can go to the capital a few days later."

Yunying suddenly frowned. "What do you mean? Do you mean I shouldn't travel with you and you should leave me behind?"

Second Master nodded. As Yunying looked at him silently, waiting for his explanation, Second Master explained gently, "It's not that I want to leave you behind, it's just that several prefectures ahead have experienced heavy snowfalls. The roads are slippery and difficult to travel, and I'm afraid you'll fall off your horse."

He could easily take her with him, the two of them riding together. But while the snowfall itself wasn't cold, the melting snow was; the real hardship lay ahead. She hadn't fully recovered, so he wanted her to rest at this inn for a few days until she was better before setting off again.

Of course, when they set off again, he didn't want her to ride a horse, but rather a carriage.

Her chilblains were just beginning to improve, and he couldn't bear to see them keep recurring. If that happened, he feared it would leave a chronic condition that would recur every year.

The second master tried his best to persuade her, but Yunying remained silent.

Second Master knew that Yunying could be very stubborn at times. Many things could only be understood by her own efforts; his frequent and repeated advice sometimes failed to achieve the desired effect.

But the second master truly felt sorry for her and couldn't bear to see her continue to suffer.

Second Master hugged Yunying and coaxed her, "You've agreed, right? Okay, right, Yingying?"

Yunying finally relented and agreed to stay at the post station for a few more days. She also agreed to change to a carriage later to avoid the wind, snow, and frost.

Even though she was the one who benefited, the Second Master acted as if he was the one who got the advantage, laughing heartily as he spun her around in a big circle.

As soon as Yunying landed, she couldn't help but punch Second Master twice, saying, "You scared me to death!"

"No, no! I just think you're so obedient; you do whatever I ask you to do."

Yunying glared at him angrily, "You're not happy that I'm obedient? Of course I'm obedient, since I'm the one who benefits. It's my body, and I love beauty. I don't want to go out every winter with a face full of chilblains."

"No, I used the imperial medicine on you. As long as you don't get cold again, your frostbite will be cured very quickly..."

The two chatted on and on, and finally settled the matter.

Second Master will lead his men on their way first, while he will leave behind a dozen or so men, led by Mo Xue, to escort her to the capital.

Seeing that the Second Master was leaving almost all the guards to her while he himself only took three or five people with him, Yunying was unwilling and advised him, "Take a few more with you, don't make me worry about you."

“I have martial arts skills for protection, and I also have two personal guards given to me by my father for covert protection. These people are enough to keep me company. As for you, if I leave, you shall follow Mo Xue's arrangements in all matters. If you feel unwell, inform Mo Xue immediately so he can fetch a doctor for you. Also…”

The Second Master repeated these instructions over and over again until Yunying memorized them all. Only then did he mount his horse, looking back every few steps, and lead his group away into the distance.

Yunying saw the Second Master off at the post station, and after he left, she stood at the entrance of the post station for a long, long time.

It wasn't until Mo Xue came to urge her to go back to her room to rest that Yun Ying reluctantly returned to the post station.

As Yunying stepped onto the stairs to the second floor, she couldn't help but look back at the entrance of the post station.

Just then, there was the neighing of hooves, and someone shouted "Whoa!" in a hoarse voice, then reined in the horse.

Yunying's heart leaped into her throat, and she stared intently at the commotion outside the door.

But then a messenger carrying a thick bundle walked in from outside the door.

The man was a big, burly fellow. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Quickly bring me a bowl of hot noodle soup. It's so cold out there, my nose is going to freeze off!"

Yunying felt a sense of relief settle in her chest, slowly withdrew her gaze, and walked back to her room.