Chapter 337: Arriving at Yannan City

Xiao Moting explained, "The carriage just hit a mud pit and jolted heavily. I didn't hold you properly for a moment and you bumped into the carriage wall."

Bai Wei's consciousness gradually cleared.

Only then did she realize she was actually lying in Xiao Moting's arms.

The clean, crisp scent of Xiao Moting rushed toward her.

At this moment, Xiao Lujing lifted the carriage curtain and asked with an expressionless face.

"There was a big pit on the road just now, are you two alright..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Xiao Moting holding Bai Wei in an intimate posture.

The three of them met each other's eyes.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Xiao Lujing froze for a moment, then swallowed the words in his mouth and immediately let go of the curtain.

"Cough, I didn't see anything."

Bai Wei's face turned hot in an instant.

She immediately sat up straight.

Bai Wei wanted to pull away, but suddenly, an arm reached over and wrapped around her waist.

Before she could recover her senses, she was pulled back into Xiao Moting's arms.

Xiao Moting held Bai Wei's waist, letting her lean against his chest.

He lowered his head, his eyes vaguely burning.

"The journey has been exhausting; you should rest well and pay no mind to others."

Xiao Moting was usually reserved and rarely this bold, so Bai Wei was also stunned, "But..."

"It is fine." Xiao Moting raised his hand and gently stroked her eyelids, "Rest a while."

In any case, the Beijiang Army knew about his and Bai Wei's affairs, so there was no need to hide it.

Bai Wei was tired from the jolting and also felt a bit sleepy; seeing him say this, she simply leaned against his chest and closed her eyes to rest.

The warm, broad chest gave one a special sense of security.

She reached out, gently wrapped her arms around Xiao Moting's waist, and closed her eyes.

Two days later.

The caravan finally arrived outside Yannan City.

Yannan City was the center of the entire Yannan Region; merchants gathered in the city, and it was very prosperous.

General Yuan's mansion was also in the city, and it was said to be built with grandeur and magnificence.

Qin Zhan held the horse whip, acting as the driver.

He looked up at the city gate ahead, then turned his head and lowered his voice.

"We have arrived at Yannan City. This is the heart of the Yuan Family Army; we must conceal our tracks and must not expose our identities."

"Understood."

Several Beijiang Army soldiers also perked up one after another.

Bai Wei also looked up, taking the opportunity to adjust the veil on her face again so it wouldn't be blown up by the wind.

They had already penetrated deep into Yannan, and the Yuan Family Army was everywhere.

If their whereabouts were exposed, even if she brought out advanced weapons, it would be very difficult to escape from the heavy encirclement.

Outside the city gate ahead, many merchants were crowded at the entrance, waiting for inspection.

A group of government soldiers stood at the city gate, checking the merchants entering the city one by one; only after verifying their identities could they enter the city.

The caravan also drove over, lining up behind the crowd, waiting to enter the city.

There were many merchants and commoners entering the city all around, and everyone was chatting idly out of boredom.

"... The Yannan Region has been in a drought for so long that there is no harvest in the fields. When will the Heavens finally bring rain? If it doesn't rain soon, we will all starve to death."

"Isn't the National Preceptor going to pray for rain for us? His magical powers are boundless, he will surely succeed."

"Sigh, don't mention the National Preceptor Zhou. I heard he fell seriously ill months ago and has been staying behind closed doors in his mansion, recuperating; he has no energy at all to pray for rain for us."

"This illness of National Preceptor Zhou is quite severe; I heard he is almost dead."

Bai Wei sat in the carriage, hearing the discussion of the commoners around her, and couldn't help but freeze.

What?

Zhou Yanli was actually this ill?

Almost dead?

How could this be?

Bai Wei had thought that Zhou Yanli falling ill and refusing visitors was just a common minor ailment; she hadn't expected it to be so serious.

She still remembered that when she first met Zhou Yanli, he was dressed in white and his attacks were ruthless.

If Bai Wei hadn't been carrying a gun, she likely would have had her neck snapped by Zhou Yanli that time.

The National Preceptor was so powerful, knowing astronomy and geography—what kind of illness could keep him bedridden for three months, to the point where he didn't even have the energy to manage Yuan Canghai colluding with the Fusang Ronin?

Bai Wei was astonished in her heart; she looked up and ahead.

The line was still some distance from the inspection point at the city gate, so she could take the opportunity to ask the surrounding commoners about the situation.

"Xiao Moting, let's ask the commoners and see what they know about the situation."

"Alright." Xiao Moting nodded and gestured to Qin Zhan.

Qin Zhan understood; he flipped down from the carriage, and while loosening his clothes and fanning himself, he pretended to be chatting idly and approached a group of people nearby.

"Brother, we are cloth merchants from out of town. What is the situation in Yannan City like now?"

These few people were commoners in the city, and they turned their heads upon hearing this.

"Are you here to sell cloth?"

"That's right." Qin Zhan was dressed as a carriage driver, and after traveling for several days, he looked dusty and disheveled. "On the way here, we heard that the National Preceptor was ill, and we also heard that a group of Fusang People had come to this city. Is there any truth to this?"

At the mention of the words "Fusang People," the expressions of the few people immediately turned grave; they looked at each other and hesitated to speak.

"This... we aren't sure either. You should ask someone else."

Qin Zhan saw this and knew that the other party did not want to talk.

He immediately took a few cucumbers out from his bosom and handed them over with a chuckle.

"Brothers, I brought these on the road. It's a small token of my appreciation; take them and have a taste of something fresh."

The cucumbers were taken by Bai Wei from the Warehouse for everyone to have as breakfast.

Qin Zhan hadn't finished eating his, so he brought the cucumbers along.

When those people saw the cucumbers, their eyes immediately lit up.

"Cucumbers? These are truly rare items. Yannan has been in a drought for so long; to think you could still get such fresh cucumbers!"

"These cucumbers are so succulent; it's not easy to buy them. Where did you get them?"

"Don't be polite, take them and have a taste." Qin Zhan held the cucumbers and enthusiastically shoved them into the hands of the few people. "We travel north and south for business; getting some cucumbers, radishes, or the like isn't difficult."

The other party hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the cucumbers.

Qin Zhan took the opportunity to ask, "Brothers, do us a favor and tell us about the situation in the city."

The other party looked around and lowered their voice.

"I'll only tell you this; don't go spreading it around after you hear it."

"Certainly, certainly." Qin Zhan nodded quickly.

"The current General Yuan in Yannan City is getting along famously with a bunch of Fusang People and even treats them as honored guests. These Fusang People are rude and unreasonable; they charge around the streets and, relying on General Yuan's backing, even rob people and snatch people away in the city, making life miserable for us commoners."

Qin Zhan feigned surprise. "Fusang People? Why have they been staying in the city all this time? Doesn't Zhou dislike the Fusang People? Won't he do something about it?"

"Sigh, don't even mention Zhou. He fell ill three months ago and has been staying in his residence without coming out." As the person spoke, they also sighed. "There is a rumor in the city that Zhou is very ill and won't live much longer. It is precisely because Zhou is sick and cannot manage things that Yuan Canghai is so unscrupulous and mixes with the Fusang People."