Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 386 - 384

Chapter 386: 384

Finally, we can start our journey back to the Imperial Capital.

General Dingyuan is gravely injured, wearing only a single layer of clothes, being kept in a prison carriage and sent to the Imperial Capital for the Emperor to pass judgement.

Traitors are the most despicable! This is a huge crime, at its lightest it means beheading and confiscation of properties, at its worst it means extinction of the nine lineage infamy.

Yao Bing has already been executed.

On the way back, the journey was peaceful and uneventful. We are only a few days away from the Imperial Capital. For several days, it has been snowing, and the weather is getting colder and colder. Xiao’er is sitting in the carriage holding the hand warmer, so she doesn’t feel cold.

Jingrui insisted on riding his own horse, aside the carriage, both of his hands were frostbitten.

The weather was so cold that even the roads were icy. Whenever the carriage travelled on them, it would occasionally skid.

"We can’t continue on the official road, it’s too dangerous. When the junction comes up, we should take the small road." Shangguan Xuanyi was always alongside the carriage, he suggested so to Feng Yang when he saw the situation.

The official road was a cement road. When ice formed, the skidding could cause the carriage and the horses to slide far away. Sometimes, the horses slipped so much that they even fell, and there were accidents where the carriage would overturn.

Shangguan Xuanyi did not ride his horse anymore. He let the horse run back by itself, while he climbed into the carriage to sit with Xiao’er. This way, if there were any accidents, he could protect her in time.

"If there is salt, we can sprinkle it on the road surface and it won’t freeze. Alternatively, we can also scatter some straw on the road to prevent slipping."

"Salt is too expensive, the current production is not enough even for the common people to eat, let alone to sprinkle on the roads. As for straw, it is needed to keep warm in this harsh winter or to repair the roofs. Every morning, people from nearby villages will come to chip ice, but the weather is too cold and a new layer freezes over in no time." Shangguan Xuanyi shook his head in disagreement.

"Sea salt isn’t suitable for direct consumption. We can use that instead."

"This is feasible." But there’s no time to prepare this year, they can only wait until next year.

The two chatted intermittently.

Demand for salt increased substantially in this era due to poor food preservation technology. Many foods could not be stored for long periods of times and had to be preserved with salt to last longer.

Additionally, backward salt production technology led to high salt prices and insufficient supply.

"I read about a method of turning sea salt into edible salt in a book. It might help increase the production of salt. I’ll write it down for you later and you can have someone try it." Xiao’er somehow regretted forgetting such an important matter!

Although she had been in the ancient times for quite a while and had never seen anyone suffering from goiter, it didn’t mean that it did not exist. If she could provide a method to add iodine to salt, it would prevent this disease.

Besides, salt is a necessity, it should be affordable. The price of salt was only 1.50 to 2 yuan per bag in the future, and it was even refined salt.

In fact, she had sea water in her space, and the workshop could also produce salt, but salt was too sensitive in this era, so she only made it for her own use.

"Okay." Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t find it strange that Xiao’er knew the method to make edible salt. If sea salt could be converted into edible salt, it would be a significant boon for the common people.

Feng Yang carefully controlled the horse, not letting it run too fast.

He could feel every time the hooves stepped, they would slide a little.

Riding this carriage was making him nervous!

When the carriage was turning at a bend, a horse rushed forward because it was running too fast. The horse slipped, and the horse carriage overturned, rolling straight towards the carriage Xiao’er was in.

"Young master, be careful!"

While Feng Yang shouted loudly, he quickly pulled the horse away, narrowly avoiding the incoming horse carriage.

He turned the carriage around and drove straight off the main road, stopping hurriedly in the pine forest beside the road.

The overturned horse and carriage, due to centrifugal force, flew out of the road. The carriage hit a tree before finally coming to a stop.

As soon as Feng Yang spoke, Shangguan Xuanyi had already protected Xiao’er in his arms.

Shangguan Xuanyi’s back slammed harshly against the carriage wall.

When the carriage finally stopped, Xiao’er quickly sat up straight from Shangguan Xuanyi’s arms and looked behind him, "Brother Shangguan, are you alright?"

"It’s okay, the cotton on the carriage wall is very thick." Even if they crash into it, it wouldn’t hurt too much.

"Was there a car accident!?" After hearing his words, Xiao’er opened the curtain to look outside.

A car accident? This word was new, but it aptly described the situation, Shangguan Xuanyi thought to himself. He then let go of Xiao’er, "I will go down and take a look."

"I’ll go down too."

Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t object. He jumped off the carriage, then helped her down.

At this time, Jingrui also dismounted and came over to them, "Sixth Prince, Xiao’er, are you hurt?"

"Brother, don’t worry, we’re fine. Let’s go over there and see." Xiao’er pointed in the direction not far away.

Four women rolled out from the carriage not far away, and they were struggling on the ground.

"You go, and I’ll feed the horses with Feng Yang." It was cold, and after running for half a day, they must both be cold and hungry.

"Okay." The two walked towards them.

The jade-like carriage driver with a wounded face ran over. He fell over after the horse tripped and scratches had formed on his face and arms.

He went before the various women, nervously asking:

"Miss, Ms. Biao, are you alright?"

At this time, two maids with bruised foreheads struggled to get out beneath the two "misses". They quickly got up and helped their masters up.

A miss in a pink outfit stood up and pointed at the carriage driver, cursing: "How did you drive the carriage! If I suffer any loss, your lowly life will not be enough to compensate. When I get back, I will have my mother sell off your entire family!"

"Ms. Biao, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I won’t dare do it again next time." The driver knelt on the ground, shaking in terror.

As a servant, he had to admit his wrongs and promise to change regardless of whether the mistake was his, this was the basic expectation.

One of the maids was the driver’s daughter. Upon hearing the miss’s words, she couldn’t help but defend her father: "Just now my father also said that this part of the road was slightly icy, and that we shouldn’t make the carriage go too fast, otherwise the horse would fall! Miss Biao, you didn’t listen and insisted that he should go faster, which led to this accident!"

She shouldn’t have protected her earlier. She should have just let her fall off the carriage directly!

The other maid quietly pulled at the previous maid’s clothes from behind, hinting at her to stop talking. However, the maid didn’t care and finished saying all she wanted to say.

This was like pulling a tiger’s whiskers, it was suicide!

As expected, as soon as the maid finished speaking, the young woman gave her a slap!

"Rude servant, who told you it was your turn to speak when your master is speaking!"

The young woman in a goose-yellow dress pulled at the sleeve of the pink-dressed miss: "Cousin, never mind, it was our fault for rushing the driver earlier. As long as no one is hurt, it’s okay."

"Cousin, you cannot get used to these servants. If you do, they will end up controlling their masters. These kinds of servants should be given a harsh lesson!" The miss in the pink outfit rolled up her sleeves, trying to slap the maid a few more times.

Xiao’er stopped in her tracks upon hearing their conversation.

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