Chapter 373: This Dog Can Handle It

Yuan Jiaqi carried a Basket, Qiao Mai gently patted the little girl's head, smiled, turned around and returned to the inn with Xianggong.

She used a large basin, picked out the good fruits, washed them clean, and the two ate face to face.

"Children from poor families grow up early to be heads of household, these fruits are not bad,"

"Madam, do you intend to take her?"

"No, if so what about her grandmother?"

"I, as her husband, even thought the madam's heart had softened,"

"I like diligent, kind, simple children, and am willing to give them some fortune,"

Yuan Jiaqi was startled, recalled that she had just patted the little girl's head, and said, "So that's how it is."

When dusk fell, the rain hadn't stopped, the Old Emperor and the Empress took a nap, feeling quite refreshed, Qiao Mai gave some of the fruits to the two, and the rest to the guards and Servants.

Shall we get more familiar with this dog? From now on, catching a wild rabbit or hunting can rely on it?

Ten days after leaving the capital, they needed to take the waterway; otherwise the roads were difficult, requiring crossing massive mountains.

From above it looked down, seeing humans eat so deliciously, it couldn't help but swallow saliva, jumped down, and came to Qiao Mai's side.

"They're all local rich merchants, aren't they?"

The Black Dog Food Guard gave the humans a glance, bared its teeth at them, indicating this is mine, you may not covet.

Qiao Mai nodded, then asked, "Do you know what the Governor of Liangzhou likes?"

"Since ancient times, officials protect each other; the fees tyrants collect are also turned over to the authorities. The Emperor did send people to clean up once, but that was ineffective; the old ones disappeared, yet new ones emerged, and the wicked can never be completely swept away."

The Black Dog Food Guard brushed past and plunged into the River Water, disappearing from sight; everyone lost their appetite and stared at the water's surface.

"I, Zhuang Tie, have met you all."

The boat journey would take over ten days, but fortunately none of us get seasick; the hired boat is large and steady.

Qiao Mai smiled sweetly and gave a glance.

A fish of about ten jin, the guards took care of it, skewered it with iron spikes, and Qiao Mai reluctantly got up, placed the fish on a charcoal brazier to roast, sprinkling seasoning on it as it cooked.

A fish weighing over ten jin, the guards prepared it, skewered it with iron spikes, Qiao Mai reluctantly got up, placed the fish on a charcoal brazier to roast, sprinkling seasoning as it cooked.

"How could that be? I had dispatched the Golden Dragon Guard, sweeping from south to north, dealing with a large number of people."

"We are merchants; we want to hear what kind of tyrants exist in Liangzhou City, so we can prepare early."

"We'll see."

Zhuang Tie laughed as he tucked away the silver, "That guy, on the surface he has two sleeves of Qingfeng, but in reality his household has one wife and eight concubines, all beautiful. I heard he has a patron in Jingcheng, his wife even has connections to the royal family. He only likes silver and women, everything else is not good. Yet he never goes into the brothel; the eight concubines are all daughters of wealthy merchants."

Zhuang Tie laughed and put away his silver, "That fellow, on the surface he seems modest, but in fact his household has one wife and eight concubines, all beautiful. I heard he has backing in the capital, his wife is even connected to the royal family. He loves silver and women, nothing else. However, he never goes into the brothels; the eight concubines are all daughters of wealthy merchants."

Yu Bao, after consulting the Old Emperor, began arranging the vessels.

Zhuang Tie was not polite, sat down directly; Yuan Jiaqi poured him a cup of tea, and he took a sip.

The four sat at the bow, looking at the mountains and waters, feeling truly pleasant; the journey had been smooth, with no troublesome events.

At this point everyone wondered, when did Fu Wang's consort bring her pet out?

Moreover, winter jujube and Longxue also came forward, and Qiao Mai fetched a large basin of Spiritual Energy herbs for two horses from a pocket space; looking at Heizi, she felt a slight headache.

Fragrance filled the air; Heizi's mouth kept drooling, and the others kept swallowing saliva.

Rain drummed all night; early the next morning the sky finally cleared.

"Mother-in-law, I'm not boasting, but enlightened rulers like me are indeed few."

The Heizi on the carriage roof, Qiao Mai never bothered with it; it also doesn't care for food lacking Spiritual Energy.

"Good tea! I wonder what you all would like to hear?"

"Master, I'll catch one myself, will you roast it for me?"

Yuan Jiaqi carried a plate, feeding her own daughter-in-law, and looking at Heizi with complaint, questioning how the Master could let a dog serve the pet instead of eating.

"After you go, if you wish to pursue a trade, first gather information; never act rashly, don't worship the wrong mountain or enter the wrong temple, or you'll have to pack up and leave."

It truly is a time of peace and prosperity; even thugs are fewer, local officials still work for the people, and they march under the banner of a merchant convoy without alarming the local authorities.

"So if we enter Liangzhou, what should we pay attention to?"

Yuan Jiaqi took a silver ingot weighing ten taels from her sleeve and said, "Frankly, we also don't want to take a detour."

Qiao Mai waved to the captain, and a tall, burly man walked over.

"Probably you've already heard that you travel incognito, so you keep your tail tucked and don't dare to show your head, right?"

To gauge the people's conditions, the party didn't head straight south, but detoured from the southwest toward due south, planning to travel the southeastern waterway northward, stay in the north until April or May, then loop back to Jingcheng for a circuit.

"Evil tyrants? Hehe, how to say, which industry doesn't have them? Ports have their own forces; we boatmen must regularly pay them protection fees; streets have their own tyrants; setting up a market requires paying them protection fees; as long as we don't provoke them, they'll obey; their protection fees are just that, not to the point of killing."

What does this proud thing want to eat? Everyone is also watching Heizi.

"Indeed, Liangzhou City, plainly speaking, is his realm; he is the Local Emperor there. A strong dragon cannot overpower a ground snake; ordinary people can't provoke them, even high officials from Jingcheng must be cautious."

According to the map's marked scenic spots, we set out to explore.

Based on Heizi's rank, the seasonings she sprinkled on it were all infused with Spiritual Energy.

"We'll see, we'll see."

"Hmm, this Jingcheng also has it,"

"That fellow," Zhuang Tie glanced at them, seeming thoughtful.

The caravan moved slowly; upon reaching a city, they would dismount, sample the local specialties, and chat leisurely with the townsfolk.

Zhuang Tie picked up the silver, drained the tea in his cup in one gulp, then stood and gave the four a deep look before leaving.

Half an hour later, Heizi seized its food, ran up to the carriage roof to eat; the guards, looking at the several‑meter‑high roof, were utterly impressed.

The Empress and Qiao Mai, with the others, cooked on the spot and rested, turning the fish they caught into a delicious dish; everyone enjoyed a feast.

This dog can handle it; it's more agile than a cat.

When they came upon beautiful scenery, they set up camp on the spot, guarded by a great master like Qiao Mai—what more could they desire?

【61】 Sometimes a few would go fishing; the Old Emperor rarely fished, but this time he got hooked, and Yuan Jiaqi kept him company.

She used a talisman to make several wagons comfortable; only the horse‑riding guards enjoyed that damp heat, and none uttered a complaint.

The emperor said proudly, "How is it? How does my realm look?"

Five wagons, in one night, were quietly pulled into a space by Qiao Mai; she said nothing, and no one dared to ask.

In two minutes, a dark silhouette burst out of the river, holding a fish that large in its mouth, and Qiao Mai's face darkened.

The farther south they went, the hotter and more humid the climate became; fortunately the wagons were dry, otherwise Qiao Mai truly could not endure such weather.

"Hmm, Captain Zhuang, the long road is quite boring; could you tell some interesting stories about Liangzhou?"

Damn, it's so big, how come it doesn't crush you?

Two guards hurried over, "We'll go handle the fish,"

Yuan Jiaqi handed over Ten Taels of Silver again, "Thanks, Captain, for the information."

"Alright, go catch it."

"Only a few towns have passed? Let's eat, drink, and have fun; it's just the beginning."

Some necessary ceremonial rites were left outside; everyone rested for a night, and the next day they went to the dock, rented two boats, and the next stop was Liangzhou City.

The emperor pursed his lips, frowned, and let out a cold snort.

"If it's truly as he says, I'll uproot him completely; even that backing mountain won't spare him."

"Don't get angry; look again before speaking. Here, drink tea; this calms the fire."

The emperor sighed, "Sometimes you know a person's face but not their heart; many wear one mask in front and another behind. I'm not a deity either. Once we enter Liangzhou, the mother‑in‑law must not stand by and watch, okay?"

(End of Chapter)