Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Speculation
On this side, they thought the snow had stopped, and everyone was imagining the upcoming journey would be easier. Once the snow melted, they wouldn’t have to suffer through this anymore.
This beautiful wish was shattered the very next morning when they saw large flakes of snow falling. Everyone felt it was difficult to breathe.
This was simply not giving them a chance to survive. Was the heavy snow trying to bury everyone?
"What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and set off. Once we get closer to Lingnan, the climate will be much better, and the temperature will be warmer," said Liu Pingkang, who had already adapted to this climate change.
But this was just the beginning. Once they reached Lingnan, they’d realize that while it doesn’t snow there, hail and torrential rains are frequent visitors.
However, there was no need to mention this now and dampen everyone’s spirits. All the travelers were seasoned officials in the court, and they might grumble privately, but they carried on with their tasks regardless.
Bai Suihe no longer adored the snow so much. As soon as she lifted the curtain for a moment, the cold wind filled the entire carriage.
"This weather is quite troublesome," Bai Suihe thought as the wind stung her face. She remembered how Middle Eastern women would wear headscarves, exposing only their eyes, which must have been effective against such cold winds.
But that style wasn’t suitable for this setting, and there had to be other ways to wrap her head.
Bai Suihe remembered that the two maidservants had cut some cotton fabric before, and she asked Chunxiang to bring it out.
Chunxiang wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, "Miss, tell me what you want, and I’ll do the cutting."
Bai Suihe knew her limits. She had absorbed some basic needlework skills from her predecessor, but the original owner’s needlework ability was not good. It would be unwise to waste such good fabric.
So she gestured and explained, and Chunxiang, with her skillful hands, managed to make it for her.
Bai Suihe took the widened scarf, pulled it over her head, and wrapped her entire face, leaving only her eyes exposed.
"Will this help keep the cold wind out?" Bai Suihe winked at Chunxiang and the others, "I see their faces are cracked from the cold, but with this, at least they’ll suffer less."
Chunxiang nodded. While driving the carriage up front, despite wearing a felt hat, every time they stopped to rest, her face was frozen stiff, and her ears were already frostbitten.
The three of them, master and servants, quickly cut the fabric into several pieces, and before half a day had passed, even Zhuang Datou and others were wrapped up snugly.
Gu Kaiyuan was also only showing his eyes. "Dressed like this, people can’t tell who is who."
Bai Suihe said, "As long as it’s practical, did you expect to meet any ’acquaintances’ on this road?"
Gu Kaiyuan shook his head. How unlikely would it be to meet someone familiar in the wilderness like this?
He’s not Gu Baijiang, holding immense wealth.
"Madame is indeed wise," Gu Kaiyuan praised his wife, "This will surely cause a wave of imitation. It won’t be long before the whole caravan is traveling with covered faces."
Imagining the scene, Gu Kaiyuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "If bandits confronted us now, who do you think would look more like one of them?"
Bai Suihe replied, "Husband, are you considering a change of profession?"
Bai Suihe had been meaning to ask if Gu Kaiyuan planned to live like a soldier again or find a secluded paradise to enjoy life.
But such paradises are hard to come by. There’s no real sanctuary in this world, just an idealized wish.
However, by the time they reached Lingnan, finding an island shouldn’t be too difficult, but whether they could handle the solitude was another question.
"Change professions? Did I have a career before?" Gu Kaiyuan blinked his eyes, now considered as someone who accomplished nothing and relied on others.
"I meant after we reach Lingnan."
Gu Kaiyuan said, "Living as an ordinary farmer would be nice. We could claim three or five acres and build a simple farmhouse to spend our lives in peace."
Bai Suihe rolled her eyes at him, "Speak sensibly."
"To become a plain wealthy gentleman and travel the beautiful landscapes of this country with my wife."
Bai Suihe turned away, disinclined to pay him any more attention. Recently, Gu Kaiyuan had become more talkative, as if he had completely opened up, no longer reserved as he used to be.
In ancient times, making such grand statements—whether he was foolish or truly foolish—it was not clear.
Just the journey this far had been tough enough for her to bear. How could she imagine doing this for half her life? Bai Suihe might want to taste everything in life, but hardship wasn’t one of them.
"Let’s talk after we settle down first," Gu Kaiyuan had also been pondering over this issue. As a commoner, he’d have to endure the exploitation of corrupt officials.
Yet joining the court as an official didn’t appeal to him at all.
Though he wouldn’t know who took the throne after his death, the Third Prince had a good chance.
Given the relations with Gu Antong, not being suppressed severely would be contrary to Gu Antong’s character.
He didn’t want to choose the First or Second Princes either, considering the many scandalous occurrences in their power struggles afterward. He wasn’t foolish enough to pick them.
As for other princes, Gu Kaiyuan didn’t find anyone suitable.
Honestly, the Emperor’s ability to birth children without raising them showed in how even the Third Prince was the best of a poor bunch—a difficult position to be in.
Bai Suihe guessed he hadn’t made up his mind yet, sighed, and said, "Let’s discuss it later."
As the caravan set off, the snow fell thicker. Some places were already waist-deep, making the shovels that Liu Pingkang had prepared earlier come in handy.
From now on, each household took turns sending someone to clear the road ahead. Those physically unable were immediately replaced—no one could slack off.
"Liu Pingkang is truly experienced," praised Bai Suihe. "How many times has he traveled this route?"
Gu Kaiyuan replied, "It’s said he’s trekked back and forth over a dozen times since he started his duties, climbing from a mere subordinate to where he is now, no easy feat."
Bai Suihe thought of something and suddenly wore a peculiar expression, "This route is not exactly safe. Has he been so lucky as to always remain unharmed?"
"Is Mr. Liu particularly skilled in martial arts?"
Gu Kaiyuan said, "Not really, I’ve sparred with him, and he wasn’t my match."
"Then why? Could it be he knows when to adapt? Offering good terms every time he encounters bandits?"
Gu Kaiyuan replied, "Not necessarily. With the bandit group we encountered earlier, many lives would have been lost if the escort agency hadn’t been with us."
Bai Suihe stroked her chin, "That was just an exception. It seemed Liu Pingkang didn’t even know the head of that group.
I have a bold hypothesis—could his longstanding travels on this route have fostered a tacit understanding or some murky deals...?"
