Just like when they arrived, the same number of carriages returned.

Qu Zhiwen, Wan Mingjun, Chen Shi, Kang Shi, and others escorted He Yanxiu and Su Yujin to a point more than ten miles outside the city gate.

After some pleasantries and gifts, they reluctantly parted ways.

The carriages slowly moved forward along the official road.

Ai Cao and Qing Kui were particularly excited in the carriage.

Although they were happy in Hedong Prefecture, they were naturally even happier to be home.

Su Yujin was also happy to be returning to Qinghe, after all, she had lived there when she first arrived in this world and had acquired so many properties.

To her, that was home.

Her own home.

However, Su Yujin was also somewhat unhappy because of the carriage.

Her carriage wasn’t uncomfortable; in fact, it had been repaired in Hedong Prefecture, and the cushions on the seats had been replaced, making it more comfortable to sit in.

Compared to He Yanxiu’s spacious and comfortable carriage, hers was simply inadequate.

Moreover, due to the summer heat, He Yanxiu’s carriage had ice on it…

Should she find some excuse to go see the Second Master?

Just as Su Yujin was planning how to enjoy the comfortable carriage, it stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

Before Su Yujin’s question could even finish, Xing’an had already run to the carriage. “Miss Su, the Second Master requests that you ride in his carriage with him.”

A perfect opportunity!

“I’ll go right away.”

After quickly tidying up her cushions and fan, Su Yujin boarded He Yanxiu’s carriage.

Upon entering, a refreshing atmosphere greeted her, a stark contrast to the heat outside and the stuffiness of her own carriage.

This carriage even had chilled fruit and cooling tea.

Even He Yanxiu, with his eyes closed in rest, looked completely at ease, clearly enjoying the journey.

“Waaaaah, being a master is so much fun!

When she would have earned enough money to reclaim her slave status, she would travel far away and live like this!

Her carriage would be even more comfortable than this one!

But for now, she needed to hitch a ride in Second Master’s carriage.

Come to think of it, Second Master was quite considerate of his servants…

Lost in thought, Su Yujin heard He Yanxiu speak, “Why don’t you continue the story you told last time?”

The journey from Hedong Prefecture to Qinghe County would take more than ten days, a good way to pass the time.

Su Yujin, “…”

So he had ulterior motives, not just genuine consideration.

It seemed she had praised Second Master a bit too much this time .

But even if he did have ulterior motives, she was telling Second Master stories, and he got good food, drink, and a comfortable carriage—it was fair.

There was nothing wrong with that…

So, she’d tell him.

“Yes, Second Master.” Su Yujin cleared her throat, but just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed.

That story… it wasn’t finished!   

On the way here, she had already recounted the latest part she had read, and she knew nothing about what happened next.

“Ahem!” Su Yujin’s eyes darted around. “Second Master, the storyteller hasn’t finished the story yet, and I don’t know what happens next…”

“I see.” He Yanxiu’s face immediately showed disappointment. “In that case…”

He couldn’t ask her to leave this cool carriage!

Su Yujin quickly said, “I do have another ordinary story about a mortal cultivating immortality. Would you like to hear it, Second Master?”

The words “Then you can rest here for a while” had already slipped to his lips, but He Yanxiu swallowed them back. “Alright.”

Cultivation of immortality mostly involves fortuitous encounters, extraordinary talent, or a bizarre background. A story about an ordinary person cultivating immortality…

Might be interesting?

Su Yujin cleared her throat and, based on her memory, began to tell the whole story.

The carriage swayed along the way, but Su Yujin’s gentle words and vivid descriptions made it less tedious.

What made things even less boring was Su Yujin’s occasional displays of culinary skills.

Whenever they could not find an inn or village to stop at and rest during the midday breaks along the journey, Su Yujin was always able to make delicious dishes with the limited ingredients she had on hand.

For example, there was the fragrant Jiaohua Ji

There was also Zhútǒng Kǎoyúmade from fish caught from the river, stuffed into hollowed-out thick bamboo tubes nearby, and roasted over the fire.

There were succulent stir-fried meat slices cooked on heated stone slabs.

And then there was Shítóu Mó, flatbreads baked among hot stones until they became irresistibly crisp and fragrant…

This made He Yanxiu suddenly realize that this wasn’t just a journey, but a travelogue, with new expectations and new discoveries every day.

It was precisely because of this that the journey, originally planned for half a month, took a full twenty-five days.

“Second Master, we’ll be returning to the capital more than ten days later than expected. Is that really alright?” Xing’an asked with some concern.

“It’s alright,” He Yanxiu said dismissively.

Although his wrist had mostly recovered and the splint had been removed and his rib injuries were almost completely healed, he was still, in essence, a patient. It was normal for a patient to feel unwell and travel slowly.

If there was any hindrance, it was only that one matter that had caused some delay.

He Yanxiu lowered his eyes. “Where is that person now? Where was he sent?”

“He was sent to Qinghe County a few days ago and has been secretly detained without any leaks,” Xing’an replied in a low voice. “The men Second Master instructed us to prepare are all ready and can depart at any time.”

“Judging by the time, it’s about time. Have someone prepare to leave. Travel slowly on the road, leaving some clues, but not too many. They should still appear cautious. “

He Yanxiu said. “The people should be sent in batches, with a few days’ difference between each batch. He’s always been suspicious, so this suits him perfectly.”

“Yes,” Xing’an replied. “I’ll go and do it right away.”

Watching Xing’an go to work, He Yanxiu scraped the foam off his teacup with the lid and took a sip of tea.

The tea was fragrant and refreshing, a rare find.

Enjoying tea like this was most comfortable, only lacking a good show.

But good things might be late, but they would eventually come.

He Yanxiu couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips.

—-

He Yanxiu and Su Yujin arrived at the residence in Shuanggui Lane, Qinghe County, in the evening.

After instructing the other guards and attendants to settle into an inn in the county town and to head to the capital early the next morning, He Yanxiu stayed in Su Yujin’s courtyard for a few more days.

Firstly, Su Yujin needed to carefully examine his recovery.

Secondly, He Yanxiu wanted to wait for that person’s itinerary.

(End of Chapter)

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Here is a recipe from India similar to that of meat cooked on a stone.

These breads look so unique

The famous beggar’s chicken makes an appearance