Chapter 173.2: This was Meeting with Mishap?

Jing Wan felt, Jin Qinwang's influence on her really was a bit deep, else why would she always uncontrollably want to ponder every time he did a bit of something? Clearly, she'd told herself every time, if unable to understand, then just don't think about it.

Sigh............

Riding on horseback, and neither slowly nor quickly moving forward, without the dizzy and nauseous, uncomfortable feeling, Jing Wan felt it was even quite relaxing.

However, from the looks of it, prior to nightfall, they won't be able to cross the bridge. This was needing to spend the night outdoors again?

Speaking of this imperial summer residence, they needed to go every year, yet only the roads were built, and along the way, not a single travel inn was seen. Reasonably speaking, they should've calculated the time, and established travel inns for lodging in those specific areas. Moreover, because they were places his Majesty needed to use, they should be extremely extravagant too. Yet, in the end, along the way, not even a normal travel inn existed.

Out of curiosity, Jing Wan asked, and the answer she got made her quite speechless.

Chengde Imperial Residence was actually built during Qi Yuan Great Ancestor's time, and wasn't a palace left by the previous dynasty that got renovated. Aside from the section thirty li outside of the capital that overlapped with the official road, the areas afterwards, all the way until the imperial summer residence, all didn't have travel inns. According to the Great Ancestor's idea, his descendants, ought to know about pain and difficulties, and appreciate the beauty of the mountains and rivers. Since the chance to go out normally was rare, the trip to the imperial summer residence was a hard to come by opportunity and needed to be taken advantage of. Thus, the Great Ancestor decreed, descendants, go eat in the wind and sleep outdoors.

After Jing Wan finished listening, she really wanted to ask that Great Ancestor, is your brain broken? After becoming the Emperor, the ruler of the world, would one really eat in the wind and sleep outdoors? One would only be even more demanding. Just imagine, in order to let his Majesty eat well and sleep well along the way, without travel inns, how many things needed to be brought along, and how much of a burden was this? It would've been more reliable if you'd just ordered to not have the travel inns be built like palaces.

(T/N: Clearly we can see that LHY's ancestor was also a masochist.)

Just as Jing Wan expected, while still a distance away from the bridge, the sky started to darken. If they don't look for a place to prepare for the night, they'll probably have to proceed while feeling around in the dark. Thus, Le Cheng Emperor could only order them to look for a place with a dark expression.

Very soon, in a place not far ahead, there was a village built overlooking the river.

Le Cheng Emperor could only 'humble' himself.

Speaking of this village, it was even a big village, with more than a hundred households, and nearly a thousand people. Because this place wasn't considered particularly far from the capital, there were even those that have been to the capital before. However, the heavenly face[1] wasn't something anyone could have the chance to see. As such, after learning that the heavenly son was gracing them with his presence, the entire village was both terrified and excited. They'd long known that his Majesty would be heading to the imperial summer residence for the summer in these recent days, and there were even those that wanted to secretly go have a look. Of course, they could only witness his Majesty's majestic presences from afar. As for the actual person, they definitely wouldn't be able to see clearly. After all, the iron clanking sounds of the guards already made one fearful.

Jing Wan didn't know that a few li away from the path to the imperial summer residence, there was such a big village, and can be considered not normal. However, from the looks of it, it seems they've also existed for quite some time, and have always been peaceful. Moreover, the Imperial Guards also carefully examined the place, so there shouldn't be any problems. Something like an assassination attempt, encountering once should be considered especially lucky, right?

As a result, they just settled down in the village. Each family rather wanted to make room for the noble personages in their homes, especially the village functionary[2], who even wanted to have Le Cheng Emperor invited back home for the night. But unfortunately, Le Cheng Emperor tactfully declined with a line of 'will not be disturbing the people'.

As for whether it was really not wanting to disturb, or just disdaining, heheh.......

However, they didn't bury the pots to cook on their own, instead borrowing each family's kitchens.

Jing Wan already returned onto the horse carriage, and Sun Yi Jia, after that hottest period of time passed, also just returned to her and Luo Jing Bo's horse carriage. Looking out from the cracks of the window curtains, regardless whether it was the adults or the children, all were stretching their heads out to look around the carriage fleet, carrying curiosity and excitement. However, there weren't just the Imperial Guards, each family's bodyguards were also firmly abiding by their duties.

The young misses and madams won't show their faces, but the servant girls were busy running about. One has to know, an influential family's slave girls, in those people's eyes, were also too high and unreachable, so it's unavoidable for those peasant women to admire and envy. And those men also couldn't help but reveal a lustful gaze. Such beautiful and tender girls, perhaps they all wouldn't even be able to meet once in a lifetime.

Jing Wan frowned, and just placed down the curtains. How to put it, she strangely didn't like this place too much. Although, it wasn't because she had complaints towards those that belonged to the lowest rung of society. In her eyes, since she was unable to change the hierarchal structure of ancient society, then it was better to thoroughly separate even more. Regardless of where, there actually all exist the phenomenon of hating the rich. If there isn't contact, then perhaps it was a little better, but once the two sides come in contact with one another in close range, clearly sensing the disparity, a gap will be born in their hearts. And these might become the root of a crime.

Then, after Jing Wan heard that some of the young masters, seemingly for the sake of seeing something novel, brought along people and randomly went around the village, her brows just furrowed even tighter. This wasn't a small village, so there should still be quite a few unmarried girls, and definitely won't lack some outstanding ones either. Who knows whether or not because of them, a pool of spring water will get stirred up. In her past life, in those ancient period dramas, cliche chance encounters weren't in the minority, but those were all just stages set by someone. Even if it wasn't, naive and simple-minded girls, after entering an upper class manor, because of the grandness on the surface, ultimately all won't have a good end.

Jing Wan let someone go warn Luo Jing Bo to obediently stay in the horse carriage and keep his wife company.

Originally, Luo Jing Bo and his wife were even thinking of going down for a walk, but after hearing Jing Wan's words, they gave up on this thought. Then, when they lifted the curtains and looked out, they seemingly understood Jing Wan's intentions.

Jing Wan just randomly ate some things in her horse carriage. They didn't prepare much to begin with, so there wasn't much left over either. But, even so, if one were to let those villagers see, perhaps they would still drool endlessly. Whenever Jing Wan took her meals, she for the most part never use serving chopsticks[3]. That's why, her leftovers, she usually won't bestow to her servant girls to eat, and now, further wouldn't give to outsiders.

"Have the plates all washed clean, and personally take care of it yourselves. Additionally, things such as desserts and dried fruits, send some to the host family, then leave some money." After Jing Wan ordered, she didn't say anymore.

When sleeping outdoors, it was perhaps still a little convenient for taking a bath, but here, Jing Wan instead felt uncomfortable. Thus, she decided to endure for a night, and just casually wiped down her body. Regardless of how much time is delayed, before tomorrow night, they will certainly arrive at the imperial summer residence. When time comes, she can properly take a bath.

As the curtains of the night descended, the village also gradually quieted down, just occasionally hearing the sound of dogs barking in the distant.

Jing Wan didn't sleep very peacefully in the horse carriage.

At midnight, Jing Wan suddenly woke up. One has to know, this for her was a very rare occurrence.

Jing Wan vaguely heard the noise of a clamor, this was almost daybreak? "Mama, what time is it?"

Gong mama was right next to her, reaching out to pat her, "Still early, does miss want to drink some water?"

"En."

Shortly after, a small lantern was lit. The light wasn't strong, just enough to see clearly.

Without needing for Gong mama to order, the servant girls very quickly brought in water. After all, their horse carriage was right next to hers.

Jing Wan drank the water, and then listened. Something wasn't right, "Did something happen?"

[1] A very formal way to refer to the Emperor's face.

[2] 里正 - village officer or functionary, they are in charge of the official duties in a village, like collecting taxes; a very minor government official

[3] Serving chopsticks - Basically a separate chopstick used to moved food onto your own plate that you don't eat with.