Chapter 38 - 38: The Children's Father, Someone Else?
Xiang Ying was not intimidated and responded right away: "Where else could they come from, except bought from Yu City?"
The military doctor and Skinny Monkey exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep suspicion.
Military Doctor: "We got lost in the deep forest by accident, how could you foresee this and prepare these medicinal herbs in advance?"
Clearly disbelieving.
Xiang Ying pursed her red lips: "I'm with children; I should be more thorough in my considerations."
"Not just medicinal herbs, I also bought clean shoes, socks, needles, threads, and other items. Do you also want to inspect each item one by one?"
The military doctor frowned: "What kind of attitude is this!"
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Skinny Monkey quickly intervened.
"Ouch! Military Doctor, don't be angry, it's not good if the Military Supervisor hears us arguing."
The military doctor immediately backed down, throwing an unsatisfied glance at Xiang Ying.
He said firmly: "These medicinal herbs, take them all. Next time you have such items, you should offer them up for the soldiers first."
After he finished speaking, the soldiers behind him took away the medicinal herbs Xiang Ying had given to the children yesterday.
Xiang Ying didn't stop them; these little bits of herbs weren't worth fighting over to the death.
There was plenty more where that came from.
However, she didn't want the other party to get used to snatching things from her, lest it become a habit and they think she was easy to bully.
Just as Xiang Ying was about to cause difficulty, Xiang Yuanshuo, held protectively in Tao Xue's arms, suddenly said in a fierce baby voice: "Go ahead and take them, all the medicinal herbs are useless, bugs will still bite you, and when you're gasping for breath, don't come begging us!"
The military doctor laughed with a scoff.
"You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about? With the herbs, we won't be the ones getting bitten!"
With a wave of his hand, the military doctor left with Skinny Monkey and the soldiers.
Skinny Monkey cupped his hands in apology and gave Xiang Ying a couple of embarrassed smiles before leaving.
Lowering her head, Xiang Ying saw that Xiang Yuanshuo, the little tyke, had a nosebleed again.
She hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it: "I could have handled him, you didn't need to take it seriously."
Xiang Yuanshuo silently looked at her, his chubby hand wiping the blood beneath his nose.
"I taught him a lesson!"
Xiang Ying felt that having nosebleeds so frequently wasn't good!
She wiped Xiang Yuanshuo's tender little cheeks clean.
"Let's make a deal, you won't step in unless absolutely necessary, leave everything to mom, if you want to hit someone, tell me directly."
"You?" Xiang Yuanshuo gave Xiang Ying an up and down look, and finally, he said, "Forget it, if you strike, others will surely die."
After speaking, he shook his head, swaggered off, and went to talk with Xiang Yuanlang and Xiang Xiuxiu.
Completely ignoring an indignant Xiang Ying.
This little brat, does he really think she is that brutal?
The exile team was ready to set off.
Xiang Ying quickly went to check on Xiang Li's injuries.
His fever had subsided, and the fractured arm was healing day by day, but his complexion still looked somewhat weak and pale.
As Xiang Ying approached, a woman from the exile group, standing beside a wooden cart, was talking to Xiang Li with some embarrassment.
Seeing Xiang Ying approaching, the woman quickly bowed respectfully and then said: "Your Highness, rest well, I... I'll leave now."
She turned and left, Xiang Li's expression from beginning to end remained gentle and calm, without any disturbance.
"Who is that?" Xiang Ying was puzzled.
Xiang Li gave her a look, helplessly chuckled: "Don't you remember? Miss Zheng Er, whom mother had in mind for the Crown Princess Consort previously."
Xiang Ying searched her memory for this person, finally recalling her.
This Miss Zheng was well-known in the Capital for her intelligence and virtue, much liked by the Empress.
Thus, the Empress wanted to make her the Crown Princess Consort.
Unfortunately, before it could be finalized, Nanyue had attacked.
The marriage proposal was canceled, and the Zheng family, being high-ranking officials, naturally could not escape the fate of exile.
Xiang Ying's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, a cold snort escaping her red lips.
"Brother, you were already injured, and this is her first appearance—it must be because she saw that we have supplies and came to take advantage."
Xiang Li smiled elegantly: "She didn't say anything, just came to say hello."
As the siblings were talking, the soldiers cracked their whips, commanding the journey to start.
Throughout the journey, Xiang Ying was busy, constantly looking on the ground for wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots.
Indeed, she saw quite a few.
She quickly left the group, ran over, and cut off the wood ears with a small knife, tucking them into her bundle.
The team leader Shouhou turned a blind eye, but if Xiang Ying delayed too long, he would also raise his voice to hurry her.
The only thing Xiang Ying didn't pick was mushrooms; there were enough shiitake mushrooms in her space, and the wild mushrooms were hard to distinguish, so she simply avoided them.
However, Xiang Ying never expected that while digging for bamboo shoots, she would actually unearth a small wild ginseng!
She showed it to the little ones, and all three were somewhat surprised.
Xiang Xiuxiu blinked her big eyes: "Mother is really amazing!"
Xiang Ying, carrying a full load of food, carefully stored the wild ginseng.
"Let's try to catch a chicken when we have a chance; we can make chicken soup with the ginseng. We'll have bacon stewed with bamboo shoots tonight!"
Xiang Qianqian, not far behind, listened to Xiang Ying's plans, and just the words 'chicken soup' made her drool with craving.
Having not eaten meat for several days, she was truly hungry as green light shimmered in her eyes.
The entire Exile Team was marching through the deep, dark forest.
According to their progress, it would take another day and a half to get out of this mountain forest!
Looks like they would have to spend another night in the forest.
To prevent poisonous insects, the Military Supervisors ordered to camp at a slightly flat area.
Xiang Ying rolled up her sleeves, and when she was about to make the stew with the bacon and bamboo shoots, she suddenly remembered—she didn't have a pot!
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If she blatantly took it out from her space, it would be too eye-catching and hard to explain.
As she was thinking about what to do, Scar Face walked up silently, set down a blackened object, and turned to leave.
Xiang Xiuxiu realized with delight, "Mother, we have a pot to use!"
Xiang Ying picked it up—a small pot, big as a head, just right for cooking.
Tao Xue remarked, "This Scar Master, didn't expect him to be a tough man with a warm heart."
"Let's send him a bowl once it's ready. Tao Xue, start the fire and set up the pot~"
The sizzling hot iron pot emitted white smoke, and while no one was paying attention, Xiang Ying secretly threw in a piece of lard.
Following that, she tossed in the sliced bacon to stir-fry, then added water and slices of bamboo shoots.
As the pot began to bubble and boil, the three little ones huddled close by, small hands supporting their cheeks, watching intently.
Tao Xue went to help Lin Lingxiang dress Xiang Li's wounds, and Xiang Ying, glancing at the daydreaming Qi Fengyi, called Yuan Lang over to her side.
The little guy reluctantly asked, "What?"
Xiang Ying whispered softly: "Tomorrow, it's up to you to catch a chicken. We'll make chicken soup."
Yuan Lang was stunned: "It might not be a chicken that comes."
"Anyway, it will definitely be a live animal. Just pluck it and throw it in the pot to make soup." Xiang Ying's phoenix eyes squinted with a smile, her hand patting the leaves off his coat.
Yuan Lang nodded slightly, then, Xiang Xiuxiu suddenly sighed wistfully, "If only father were here, he could see mother's changes. Surely, everything would be made right again."
Xiang Ying walked over to her little daughter and began to re-tie her scattered braids.
"Maybe he has already seen it." Isn't Jie Chen in the Exile Team?
"Impossible," Xiang Xiuxiu shook her head, looking crestfallen, "Father has been missing for a long time."
Xiang Ying's hands suddenly froze while tying the braids.
Could it be.
That these three children have a different father?!