CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: HOW COULD FU SHINIAN STAND IT

"Then I should send another letter." Cheng Yuanshan said, recalling something very important, he asked Fu Shinian, "On this journey, we have no carriage. Can you ride a horse?"

They are bearing a heavy responsibility, not enjoying leisure. To make haste, naturally, they must all ride horses.

The saved space is all used for carrying provisions.

Fortunately, because the horses have to carry a lot, they do not travel fast.

Fu Shinian, having previously hidden among the convoy’s goods and secretly followed till now, understood the pace of the procession, so she said, "I can."

She is only average at horsemanship, not as talented as Fu Mingzhu in riding and archery, but that doesn’t mean she can’t do it.

Simple horse riding is not a problem.

Cheng Yuanshan sighed again, accepting fate, "Follow me closely along the way, don’t wander off."

"When we reach the town, I will get you a carriage." Cheng Yuanshan added.

"No need." Fu Shinian said, "I’d rather you get me a set of male clothes. This way, I won’t stand out in the convoy."

"If there’s a carriage, others might talk if they find out." Fu Shinian said, "After all, now Uncle Cheng is working for the court."

Cheng Yuanshan looked at Fu Shinian with a complicated expression, full of helplessness, "So you knew."

Fu Shinian dryly chuckled twice, feeling that she was indeed causing trouble for Cheng Yuanshan.

But this time, she had no choice but to come.

Besides following Cheng Yuanshan’s group, she could think of no better way to reach Ganning without involving others.

Once in Ganning, since Cheng Yuanshan and his group must continue to the Northwest army, they won’t be able to stay.

This way, she wouldn’t worry about Ganning’s epidemic affecting Cheng Yuanshan and his men; she could enter the city alone.

All this, Fu Shinian had planned long ago.

Cheng Yuanshan had someone bring a horse for Fu Shinian to ride.

Meanwhile, he quickly wrote a letter and sent it back to the capital via carrier pigeon.

For people like them, who do business outside for years, when there’s a message that needs immediate delivery, human messengers are sometimes too slow. If the distance is relatively close, they would choose well-trained carrier pigeons.

The letter, tied to the foot of Cheng Yuanshan’s pigeon, flew to a receiving point in the Cheng family’s area in the capital.

The shopkeeper saw it was to be sent to the Fu Mansion, and the message tube was marked with an urgent red.

Not daring to delay, he hurriedly took the letter to the Fu Mansion.

When the shopkeeper arrived at the Fu Mansion, Madam Fu had just received a letter from Fu Shinian.

It turned out Fu Shinian had secretly slipped the letter to Fu Changqin, who had been studying at the Marquis’s house.

Finally, with Xiao Chengyu not around and no one watching him, he took a storybook from his bosom to relax for a moment.

Who would have thought that along with the storybook, a letter fell out from his bosom?

Fu Changqin, curious, opened it and was utterly shocked.

Yet he could not tell others that Fu Shinian had left home.

Worried that it would harm Fu Shinian’s reputation, he had to feign a stomachache, excused himself from Mr. Changshan, and hurriedly returned home.

After reading the letter Fu Changqin brought back from Fu Shinian, Madam Fu was worried but then received the letter from the Cheng family’s shopkeeper.

Knowing that Fu Shinian is currently with Cheng Yuanshan, Madam Fu slightly sighed in relief.

But only slightly.

Fu Shinian, a girl who had never traveled far, was following Cheng Yuanshan’s convoy alone, without family protection.

Even with Cheng Yuanshan there, it was hard for her not to worry.

Moreover, this trip was not a leisure trip; it was for transporting supplies, and the journey was bound to be hard.

How could Fu Shinian endure it?

"Can we send someone quickly to catch up with them?" Aunt Cheng asked.

Madam Fu shook her head, "This is impossible. Transporting military supplies can’t have outsiders involved, and Shinian is a girl. Even if someone finds out, they would just say she was being playful. But, if the Fu family sends people, it would be different."

"If there is any mishap with the supplies, both the Fu family and the Cheng family would be implicated." Madam Fu said, "Now, we can only wait for Shinian to return safely with the convoy."

At this, Madam Fu could not help but say angrily, "When she comes back, I will punish her severely!"

"She has been spoiled at home; now, she dares to leave a letter and run away! Doesn’t she fear causing trouble for the Cheng family?" Madam Fu said angrily.

Aunt Cheng advised from the side, "Shinian has always been sensible; she won’t trouble the convoy."

"Now, as long as we know Shinian is safe, we can be a bit more at ease." Aunt Cheng said, "Madam, why don’t you also send a letter to my brother, writing down any instructions, and remind him to send letters home if convenient, so we can regularly know Shinian’s situation and feel more at ease."

"Yes." Nanny Yu also said, "The Cheng family’s shopkeeper is here, and Madam can write a letter for him. He knows how to send it to Mr. Cheng."

Madam Fu nodded, saying to Nanny Yu, "Please keep the shopkeeper here for a moment."

"Yes."

Madam Fu then asked Ting Qin and the maids to bring her paper and pen, ground ink, and quickly wrote a letter, adding a few reproachful words to Fu Shinian before giving it to the shopkeeper.

"Don’t worry, Madam, I will make sure the letter is delivered safely." The shopkeeper said.

During the convoy’s journey, Cheng Yuanshan received the carrier pigeon sent back by the shopkeeper.

With Madam Fu’s entrustment on his mind, regarding the scolding words about Fu Shinian that followed, Cheng Yuanshan directly handed the letter to Fu Shinian.

"Your sneaking out scared the family." Cheng Yuanshan said.

In the Fu Mansion, Madam Fu had reprimanded the servants and kept the news sealed, not allowing anyone to know about Fu Shinian secretly following the convoy, to protect her reputation.

Seeing what Madam Fu had written, Fu Shinian knew she would face punishment when she returned.

But that’s a matter for later.

For now, her priority is to safeguard Xiao Chengyu.

At night, the convoy entered a town to rest.

Cheng Yuanshan sent someone to the clothing store to buy a few sets of young men’s clothes based on Fu Shinian’s measurements.

The next day, Fu Shinian changed into her newly bought male attire.

She rode on a horse, blended into the crowd of the convoy, and became inconspicuous.

What added to the effect, without makeup and her petite frame, from a distance she genuinely looked like a young boy.

What surprised Cheng Yuanshan was that Fu Shinian could keep up with their pace and hadn’t complained.

Although Fu Shinian looked obviously tired, she still gritted her teeth and persisted.

Cheng Yuanshan had suggested taking a break, fearing Fu Shinian couldn’t persist, but she refused.

"I can do it." Fu Shinian said, "Since I decided to come along, I can’t hold you back. I keep my word."

She persevered, not wanting to be a burden, and another reason was her hope to reach Ganning as soon as possible.

Seeing Fu Shinian persist, Cheng Yuanshan said, "If you can’t hold on, don’t force it; your health is most important. Be sure to tell me, and we can rest for a bit, it’s no problem."

Fu Shinian nodded, "Alright."