Chapter 258: The process was completely wrong, but the result was completely right

The most primitive, most profound emotion of humanity is fear.

And if one were to ask about the most primitive, most profound greeting......

It must be "Have you eaten?"

A human life lasts no more than a hundred years, yet the fear of hunger has persisted for countless millions of years.

It is a fear carried deep in the soul—primitive, simple, yet it treats every daring soul who comes before it with equal ruthlessness, striking without fail.

Thus, Du Shanü, the one who spoke those words, still did not know how to respond, while the listener had already burst into tears.

Hungry.

Hungry.

How could one not be hungry?

He had been escorting people all the way from Yongzhou's Cang Cheng to Lofty Peace, then back from Lofty Peace to Yongzhou; amidst the constant warfare and horse turmoil, their remaining money and grain were already scarce, and after entering Yongzhou's territory, the two of them had nothing left but a thin bottom layer in their food sacks.

At that time he could still console himself, thinking home was just ahead; if he tightened his belt and endured another day or two, he would soon be able to return and eat his fill.

But the disturbance seven days prior completely shattered his illusions.

Originally there was little dry rations; the old man went to give alms to the famine victims and was beaten, and in the chaos his food sack was also lost.

A single sack of dry rations, two stump cakes, and a distant unclean stream—these became everything the two relied on to survive.

If the master does not come, if the master does not come......

"Wuu, wuu......"

Chen Er's choked voice rang out before the horse's hooves; he bent over the ground and once again could not help but burst into loud sobs.

And in his palm he was clutching the last tiny bite of a stump cake.

Du Shanü had heard of this cake before; it was said to be a standard military ration, several centimeters thick and weighing several catties, with holes drilled through for string, normally hard and durable, with one piece hung on the chest and another on the back, and in critical moments it could even be used to block arrows.

It earned its name because its cross‑section resembles a tree stump, and the "dun" in Dun Cheng's name derives from this.

A little over a hundred years ago, Dun Cheng was not yet a city but merely a small village dedicated to making stump‑cake rations for the Yongzhou prefectural army.

When someone settled there, a village gradually formed, complete with markets, inns, taverns......

Finally, it slowly evolved into a city.

Many have also heard that Dun Cheng began from humble origins, yet many remain unaware——

All things in fact begin from humble beginnings.

A pool is formed by water that accumulates and lingers.

A chronic illness develops from a minor ailment left untreated.

And the world......

is nothing but a gathering of countless common folk.

Du Shanü sighed inwardly, swung down from her horse, but this time her movements were far less nimble than before:

"I've arrived, so there's no need to keep crying. By the way, you wrote that you'd be coming back together with the old man—where is he?"

Chen Er wiped his tears haphazardly, smearing the dust on his face back and forth, making him look ever more disheveled:

"If speaking of the master, that old man lies beneath the old tree stump behind me; he looks kind‑eyed and benevolent, yet bears an air of nobility—I dare not neglect him…… Hey! Master! Master, are you alright?!"

After dismounting, Du Shanü faintly felt something was off with her body; after just two steps she nearly tripped over the weeds, but having not gone far, she quickly grabbed the reins and steadied herself.

Chen Er scrambled up from the ground, only then seeing clearly that today his master's face was much paler than before, devoid of color, and he immediately grew anxious:

"Master......?"

He blamed his poor eyesight for not being able to see clearly.

Could the master have already been injured on the way here?

Then, then what about these people......

"What's all the fuss about?"

Du Shanü, having kept her constitution in good shape these past days, relaxed a few breaths and then reacted:

"These past few days I've overexerted myself, came riding in a hurry, and was also a bit anxious—that's why I just twisted my leg."

Perhaps it's from spending too much time with Chinu.

Or perhaps Du Shanü is simply the sort who can keep her chin up even when the sky falls.

Though she felt awful, she absolutely refused to let anyone see her as a joke.

She knew in her heart that her sore waist, legs, and whole body were from riding these past days.

As for the abdominal pain......

It should be her monthly period.

Anyway, as long as she's not dead, it's probably just a minor thing.

Du Shanü cursed inwardly, yet her body had already sunk into a crouch, lifting the half‑mat of grass curtain before her——

Inside, there lay an elderly man about sixty years old.

At this moment the old man's eyes were tightly shut, his complexion flushed and feverish, his whole body exuding a low fever that would not dissipate.

Chen Er called out a few more times "old father," but the man had clearly fallen into unconsciousness, his mind utterly unclear, unresponsive to any surrounding stir.

Du Shanü's gaze fell on the old man's exposed right ankle, where the flesh bore a dark bruise and uneven texture—an old injury left by a heavy blow, with fresh and old marks intertwined in the folds of skin, especially conspicuous.

The rustling wind swept the edges of the grass curtain, the old man's feeble breath rose and fell weakly; he lay limp beside the withered wood, yet his extraordinary bone structure could not be concealed.

His brows and eyes were gentle, his visage upright.

Even though his injuries prevented him from mustering any anger, one could still sense a broad, kindly, refined and dignified aura about him—far from that of an ordinary rustic.

Du Shanü pondered for a few breaths, while gesturing with her hand to the cavalry accompanying her to take the man away, and asked:

"Where did you encounter the Deposed Crown Prince Huan?"

Seeing help arrive, Chen Er felt a great relief; he was stuffing the last piece of stump cake from his palm into his mouth to fill his belly, and upon hearing the question he could not help but cough out a sound.

Cough cough cough—What does the master say?

What Deposed Crown Prince? I, I don't know!

The content of the earlier letter was indeed somewhat lacking.

Thus, upon hearing this, Du Shanü was also momentarily stunned:

This old man before me is the Deposed Crown Prince, Zhu Huang.

You actually didn't know his identity all this time? Then why did you bring him back?

It's fortunate she previously thought Chen Er was clever, knowing to bring her a Deposed Crown Prince Huang back to legitimize her status.

As it turns out, now it's fine—how come Chen Er seems to know nothing at all?

Chen Er, as if struck by lightning, with difficulty swallowed the bun in his mouth; upon hearing this, he almost cried:

No, I don't know, I really don't know!

Our Chen family, counting up eight hundred generations, hasn't even seen a county official a few times, let alone a prince!

This humble one knowing that the Yin dynasty's surname is Zhu is already thanks to the former emperor's benevolent rule; how could I possibly know the Deposed Crown Prince's name?

That's true.

Seeing Du Shanü's brow slightly relax, Chen Er hurriedly explained:

This old man is someone I met when I previously went to visit the old residence of the Yu family in Chong'an; he would carry fruit into the city to sell for several days straight, and after selling out he would buy some incense and go to offer sacrifices at the now vacant Yu Family Lane.

I, seeking information, ran into him several times; he also noticed me, and one day he stopped me, asking why I had come here, what the reason was...

Chen Er, upon mentioning this, was obviously somewhat hesitant, but after all he still said:

I said my master had ordered me to investigate the Yu family's affairs in Chong'an, and he asked who my master was.

I'm not an idiot; how could I casually talk about my master's affairs! So I only told him that my master had married someone from Chong'an who also bore the surname Yu, feeling homesick, and thus came specifically to inquire.

He immediately pressed me to ask which member of the Yu family I was; I also didn't dare say, but the last time I happened to send my mother to Cang Cheng, I chanced upon seeing my master accompanied by his husband and a certain man with a silver mark on his lower lip walking and laughing on the street; I thought his appearance was rather distinctive, so I just blurted out.....

After that, Du Shanü could no longer bear to listen.

What is called 'the process all wrong, the result all right'?

This is it!

The Deposed Crown Prince Huang is a contemporary of Taizong; hearing Chinu say, the other party once also loved Yu Baobao's mother—how could he not know Yu Baobao's facial feature?

No wonder they insisted on coming along; it turns out they came specially to seek Yu Baobao!!!

?? Here comes, here comes, Zhu Huang also comes! (*^▽^*)

? I actually still quite like him, provided he's not soft-hearted......