Chapter 964 - 958: Eavesdropping
Marquis Dongxiang’s horse purchase, Su Jin is well aware.
Because the one hundred thousand taels of Silver was still handed over to Marquis Dongxiang by her.
Before Marquis Dongxiang used the one hundred thousand taels to buy horses, the Emperor got involved, and gave her a Red Book Iron Certificate back.
Unexpectedly, rolling a Red Book Iron Certificate was easy, but the process of buying horses turned out not to be so smooth.
Now the border is already at war, yet the horses have not been sent, this is too problematic.
It takes a thousand days to raise soldiers, using them for just one moment.
The combat power of cavalry far exceeds that of infantry, and the Flying Tiger Army would be even stronger with the help of war horses.
Once the fighting halts, sending the horses afterwards limits their usefulness, plus maintaining thousands of split-horses is quite an expensive upkeep.
No wonder the horses couldn’t be delivered on time, fearing the blame from Marquis Dongxiang, the Li Family even specially invited Old Master Zhou to act as a mediator, given her father’s temperament, unsure how his anger might flare.
Yet just this one heir of a horse-rearing family, strolling alone in the streets late at night, isn’t that too unusual?
Could it be that during the lantern festival, the heir that got robbed was him?
But... why is he wandering alone in the street?
And so coincidentally ran into her?
Su Jin really couldn’t figure it out, nor could Housekeeper Zhou.
However, he thought perhaps it’s the deep blessings of Princess Consort Zhenbei that keep bad things turning into good ones.
No matter the reason for rescuing the Young Master Li, it’s a tremendous favor for the Li Family.
Seeing Young Master Li happily playing on the wooden horse, Su Jin rubbed her forehead and said, "The child got lost, the Li Family must be extremely anxious right now, quickly send someone to inform them to come pick him up."
Housekeeper Zhou promptly sent someone to take care of it.
Although they sent someone to inform the Li Family, Su Jin and Housekeeper Zhou discussed it, deciding to head toward the departure direction.
Taking a slight detour to the border would only delay at most a day, but waiting at the inn would take two or three days.
Thus, Su Jin stayed one night at the inn, then continued her journey.
Meanwhile, in the military camp.
A carriage steadily stopped in front of the camp, soldiers blocked the path to inquire.
The maid lifted the curtain and said, "It’s the Heir of Marquis Jingguo’s wife, quickly report to the Heir of Marquis Jingguo."
The soldier hesitated, then turned to report.
At that time, in the camp, Chu Shun and others were drilling the troops.
Although the weather was beginning to warm, the wind still felt chilly.
Even in such weather, training could cause sweat to pour, showing the intensity of training.
More sweat in training, less blood on the battlefield.
A spear swung mightily, finally landing with a thud, leaving a dent in the ground.
In the distance, a soldier ran over and said, "Young Master, your wife is here."
Chu Shun was wiping sweat, paused puzzled, "My wife?"
The soldier neither nodded nor shook his head, replied cautiously, "A carriage came outside the camp, claiming to be your wife."
The Prince NanAn and Heir of Marquis Beining approached, "Could it really be sister-in-law who arrived?"
"Why would she come to the border?" Chu Shun wondered.
Though puzzled, it didn’t dampen his spirits.
He tossed the spear to a soldier and hurried outside the camp to verify if there was a mistake.
He truly couldn’t believe it.
Brother Jingchen had an incident, sister-in-law left the Capital early heading to the border to find her husband.
They waited again and again, sister-in-law never came.
Now sister-in-law hasn’t come, but his wife has?
Chu Shun hurriedly ran to the camp’s front, Qin Hanhan was outside the camp idly kicking mud.
"It really is sister-in-law," Prince NanAn exclaimed in shock.
Chu Shun quickly walked over.
Qin Hanhan turned and felt a masculine odor rushing toward her.
"Why did you come to the border?" Chu Shun’s voice seemed to waver.
He wondered if he was dreaming.
She actually came to the border to find him?
Unbelievable.
Then —
Chu Shun realized he was indeed overthinking it.
Qin Hanhan asked, "Has Princess Consort Zhenbei arrived at the border?"
Chu Shun furrowed his brows, "You came to find sister-in-law?"
"Otherwise?" Qin Hanhan replied.
"..."
The soldiers guarding the camp nearly suffered internal injuries holding back laughter.
Resisting the urge to laugh.
Qin Hanhan seriously said, "Knowing Princess Consort Zhenbei left the capital, the Emperor and Dongxiang Marquis’s wife sent people toward the border to find her, yet she hasn’t been found."
"I then requested the Emperor’s permission to come to the border to find her."
"I traveled to the border, but still haven’t found her."
Su Jin has a parasite in her body, Qin Hanhan has the butterfly lure to help find the parasite, making finding people far easier.
She thought Su Jin had already arrived at the border.
Yet upon arrival, Su Jin still remained missing.
But Qin Hanhan was the third wave of searchers arriving before Su Jin.
Qin Hanhan didn’t come to the camp to find Chu Shun, but that didn’t affect his joy.
The camp is a strategic place, women can’t freely enter, nor stay.
Yet Qin Hanhan came by the Emperor’s edict to find the Princess.
Moreover, Su Jin was on her way to the border.
Now if Qin Hanhan isn’t allowed in the camp, later Su Jin couldn’t be allowed either, it wouldn’t be fair.
Thus —
Qin Hanhan stayed in the camp.
Marquis Dongxiang had someone arrange a tent for her.
Chu Shun was staying with Prince NanAn and others.
Qin Hanhan’s tent was set up next to their large tent, conveniently to keep an eye on her.
Chu Shun and the others returned to rest in the tent.
Prince NanAn and the others didn’t let him enter, even threw his bedding and bundle out.
What could Chu Shun do?
In embarrassment, he could only walk toward Qin Hanhan’s tent amid the laughter of soldiers.
He had never felt so awkward in his life.
The thought of possibly being thrown out by Qin Hanhan made him even more embarrassed.
Inside the tent, the maid was making the bed, Qin Hanhan was sipping tea.
Chu Shun lifted the tent flap, a gust of wind carrying sand blew inside.
Qin Hanhan glanced at him, was about to speak, Chu Shun made a hush gesture.
His eyes darting around.
Qin Hanhan followed his gaze, her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
A circle of eavesdroppers around the tent.
Growing up together, Chu Shun knew Prince NanAn and others’ behavior well.
Not listening would be out of character for them.
With Prince NanAn leading, more eavesdroppers gathered.
The tent, sturdy as it was, couldn’t handle so many soldiers pressing on it.
Uncertain who lost their balance, causing a tumble forward.
The crowd collapsed the military tent.
Voices crying out in pain echoed continuously.
Prince NanAn ended up being the cushion for others, nearly suffocated.
Luckily Chu Shun heard the commotion, hurriedly protected Qin Hanhan, preventing them from getting crushed by the falling tent.
When Chu Shun and Qin Hanhan went out.
Outside the tent was empty, only a lone shoe was left behind.
Chu Shun, "..."
Qin Hanhan, "..."
"Such occurrences must happen often, always speak softly to me," Chu Shun said seriously.
"..."
"Understood," Qin Hanhan replied.
"..."
Qin Hanhan looked at the collapsed tent, her head aching.
Chu Shun looked into the distance, a bright smile spread across his face.