Chapter 169 – How Will You Compensate Me
Hearing her complaint, Long Yu didn’t slow the horse down at all.
“If you feel troubled riding with me, you can get off the horse and walk to Xize County yourself.”
Getting off and walking to Xize County was absolutely out of the question. Encountering a fine horse like this was a rare opportunity. Even if there were no urgent matters to attend to, she would cling to the horse’s back.
She rubbed her sore nose and promptly sat upright.
“General Zhan, didn’t you just say that if we delay our trip to Xize County, we won’t be able to catch them red-handed? It’s better I don’t get off the horse.”
Long Yu glanced at her with a side look, noticing her legs tightly clamped around the horse’s belly, stubbornly refusing to get off. The corners of his mouth lifted imperceptibly.
“Since you don’t want to get off, then hold on to me tightly. Go!”
Long Yu suddenly spurred Lightning on again, and the horse bolted forward. Its speed was indeed like lightning, the scenery on both sides of the road receding rapidly.
Yan Xiaosi had no choice but to wrap her arms around Long Yu’s waist, pressing her face against his back.
The speed was akin to riding in a convertible without seat belts. A slight misstep could result in a fall, breaking arms or legs.
Feeling the warmth of the two hands around his waist and the heat on his back, Long Yu’s muscles tensed up. But this didn’t affect his ability to control the horse.
Murong Qinjian, riding his own mount, followed closely behind. When he saw Yan Xiaosi clinging to Long Yu like an octopus, his mouth twitched fiercely. He was mainly surprised by Long Yu’s reaction.
Given Long Yu’s personality, it was shocking he hadn’t thrown the youngster off the horse.
With Lightning’s swift pace, it took them only three-quarters of an hour to reach Xize County City. Murong Qinjian’s mount was slightly slower, arriving half a quarter-hour later.
Back at the county court, Long Yu inquired from Long Yi, “Where is Yan Bozhang?”
Judging by their calculations, Yan Bozhang would definitely not be in the county court at this time.
Long Yi respectfully reported, “About a quarter-hour ago, Yan Bozhang left the county court alone. Master, do you need something from Yan Bozhang? Shall I bring him back to see you?”
Long Yu sipped his tea, taking a gulp.
“No need. I just need to know where Yan Bozhang is right now. Long Yi, go and find out, but remember, don’t alarm Yan Bozhang.”
At this time, those five ruffians from Xize County probably hadn’t yet returned to meet Yan Bozhang. As for Yan Bozhang leaving the court alone, he was surely going to meet those five.
“Yes, Master.”
Long Yi took the order and left.
After Long Yi departed, Long Yu raised an eyebrow, seeing Yan Xiaosi sitting at the other end of the room, legs crossed on an armchair, stuffing her mouth with refreshments as if she hadn’t eaten cakes for generations.
Observing her cheeks bulging with food, Long Yu said, “Even at a time like this, you’re still in the mood to eat.”
Thinking General Zhan was chatting with her, Yan Xiaosi quickly swallowed the cake in her mouth, took a gulp of tea, cleared her throat, and said, “As the saying goes, only when I’m full can I have the strength to work. We have a tough battle ahead, so I need to eat well to have the energy to face the enemy. Also, I’m nervous. Eating something calms my nerves.”
Long Yu didn’t believe her excuse. This brazen kid was so bold that he could face enemy spies without batting an eye; he wouldn’t be afraid of a mere steward like Yan Bozhang. He was just greedy for food.
Murong Qinjian, who had ridden against the wind all the way back, with cracked lips and a dusty face, rushed into the east wing of the inner courtyard. Seeing Long Yu leisurely sipping tea and Yan Xiaosi voraciously eating refreshments, his face darkened with irritation.
“General Zhan, Brother Yan, you two are too inconsiderate, not even waiting for me. My horse couldn’t keep up with Lightning,” complained Murong Qinjian.
Long Yu replied, “Wait for you so you can have half of the imperial snacks bestowed by the Emperor?”
Hearing the words “imperial snacks bestowed by the Emperor,” Yan Xiaosi choked.
Holding the last half-piece of the snack, she widened her eyes in disbelief and asked Long Yu, “Cough, cough. General Zhan, these are snacks bestowed by the Emperor?”
Had she known these were imperial snacks, she wouldn’t have gobbled them down like Zhu Bajie devouring the ginseng fruit. She should have savored them slowly.
Long Yu nodded indifferently.
“The Emperor, knowing the hardships I endure in war, bestowed these snacks upon me. They come from the Imperial Kitchen, and to ensure freshness, they were swiftly delivered to me here in Xize County. I haven’t even tasted a single piece, and you’ve eaten them all.”
Murong Qinjian licked his dry lips. Although he had been following Long Yu for years, he had only tasted snacks from the Imperial Kitchen a few times. The taste was truly exquisite.
“I haven’t had any either,” he added.
Yan Xiaosi suddenly felt really guilty.
She glanced at Murong Qinjian and then at Long Yu. Long Yu had just given her an entire plate of snacks, and she, being famished, had eaten them all.
“General, why didn’t you tell me they were imperial snacks?”
Long Yu replied calmly, “I didn’t have the chance to tell you before you finished them.”
Yan Xiaosi: “…”
Indeed, her wolfing down speed was quite fast, like a starving ghost reincarnated.
Seeing her look of deep guilt, Long Yu chuckled inwardly and said, “You’ve eaten all my imperial snacks. How will you compensate me?”
Yan Xiaosi suddenly felt deflated, dispirited.
With her current financial situation, she couldn’t afford to pay for imperial snacks.
“General, I have some knowledge of medicine. If you don’t mind, I can work as a military doctor in your camp to compensate you.”
Although she wasn’t keen on serving as a military doctor, she liked the idea of being in debt to Long Yu even less.
Her offer was exactly what Long Yu had hoped for. Previously, to get her into his camp, he had been discussing conscription with Murong Qinjian. Now, she had walked right into his trap.
Pleased inside but maintaining a stoic face, he replied to Yan Xiaosi, “With your medical skills, that will barely suffice.”
Yan Xiaosi breathed a sigh of relief.
Being able to repay with her medical skills was a relief.
She hesitated for a moment, then braved up to ask Long Yu, “General, may I join your camp later?”
“Do you have unfinished business at home?”
Yan Xiaosi nodded, “Yes, my family is building a house. General, once the house is built and I’ve settled my mother and three sisters, I’ll join your camp. It won’t take too long.”
Remembering those four kind-hearted but frail women, Long Yu nodded.
“Alright.”
Yan Xiaosi stared at Long Yu, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
She hadn’t expected the General to be so accommodating.
Her face brightened with gratitude, “Thank you, General Zhan.”
