Chapter 55: Decision

  "Grandma?" Zhao Xuan was shocked.

  Zhang had already made up his mind in a short time: "The Crown Prince has treated our family with great kindness, and now that he is seriously injured, I am far away in Fengxian, unable to do anything. Can't I even take a look? Moreover, it's fine if we send medicine over, but lending them medical books to look at would be a waste of time and effort, and they may not even find the right prescription. But I have flipped through those books one or two times, and personally brought people to carry the book boxes to the mansion in the capital. Who can know better than me where each book is placed?"

  She has a point, but Zhao Xun is worried that her body can't withstand the hardships of traveling: "You've been in poor health for the past two years, and this time you're rushing to head north, they must be planning to travel day and night, not to mention worrying about Auntie and Cousin being able to handle it, let alone someone as elderly as yourself?"

  Zhang shook his hand: "It doesn't matter, this old bone of mine is still quite strong. You've been urging me to take a walk around the yard every day, and now my legs are fine. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, I stood in the ancestral hall for more than an hour during the ancestor worship ceremony, and I didn't feel tired at all. Besides, that horse-drawn carriage you had made is quite good. With a few more layers of padding, it shouldn't be too bumpy."

  Zhang said that Zhao Xiu had been urging her grandmother and brother to find a craftsman to make a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage since last year. She occasionally went out with her grandmother to visit relatives or burn incense, usually taking a sedan chair or boat, but sometimes she had to use the carriage. Except for official roads and waterways in Fengxian County, the land routes were not well-maintained, and after sitting on it for half a day, Zhang's bones would be scattered, and she felt very uncomfortable. Zhao Xiu thought that since her predecessors could make shock-absorbing carriages, she shouldn't be much worse than others. She pestered her grandmother for several days and finally got permission.

  She didn't know where to find suitable steel for springs, nor did she know the technology of carriage manufacturing. She simply explained the principle of shock absorption to the craftsmen she found. She also suggested changing the carriage to four wheels and improving the material of the carriage wheels. It was her good luck that the craftsman Zhang found was a diligent researcher with high technical skills. Although he couldn't make springs or rubber tires, the new four-wheeled carriage he made was much more stable than ordinary carriages, but it was also more expensive, equivalent to ten ordinary high-end carriages.

  It's also thanks to the Zhao family's wealth that they have this carriage. Zhang Shi spoiled her granddaughter, so she let her do as she pleased. But because of the cost, they only made one like this. The grandmother and grandson usually went out by boat or sedan chair, but when they occasionally traveled far, they rode in this carriage, which was much more comfortable than before.

  When Zhao Xuan heard her grandmother mention the horse-drawn carriage, she felt a little relieved. However, she was clear in her mind that although this horse-drawn carriage was made with great care and had good quality, it could only go as far as Jiading Songjiang at most. It had never been on a long-distance run before, so she didn't know if it could withstand the test, but if her grandmother insisted on going, she could only agree.

  Zhaoxuan, even after spending a few years in ancient times, is still the soul of a modern person who is used to living in a technologically advanced society. She thinks that traveling back and forth between two or three thousand miles is not a big deal. Moreover, she had taken a boat trip of over 2,000 miles shortly after arriving here. Therefore, she did not realize how torturous it was to make a round trip to the capital city. On the contrary, she thought this journey would be quite pleasant with people from the prince's mansion escorting her and her custom-made four-wheeled carriage. Autumn Leaf Aunt is a considerate and meticulous person, their small house in the capital has a courtyard and servants, so Grandmother should receive good care, therefore she did not object.

  But Zhao Wei strongly opposed after hearing the decision of his grandmother when he returned from school: "Grandma can't go, at your age, if you take a boat north slowly, it's okay, but taking the land route, and rushing day and night, you won't be able to bear it! What if something happens to your body?"

  Zhao Xun heard this and was taken aback for a moment, also pulling on her grandmother's sleeve: "Brother has a point too, Grandma. You should think about it some more. No matter what, your body is important."

  "Stop being capricious, it's all settled. How can you go back on your word? You were just helping Grandma pack her luggage, and now you're changing your mind after listening to your brother's two sentences? The person who came to pick up your aunt has already agreed to take Grandma along, and if we say we're not going now, it would be a loss of face."

  Zhaowei hesitated for a moment, but then shook his head: "Losing face is just losing face, as long as grandma can be fine, those are all empty."

  Zhang's family saw the situation and had to put on a serious face to teach him: "The Crown Prince has treated our family with great kindness, now that he is ill, we can't do anything. Can't we even go to the capital to see him? In our house in the capital, there are many medical books, maybe there are some useful prescriptions inside. I'll go and bring the prescriptions to them, if I can help the Crown Prince, it will be our good fortune. You don't need to say more, my mind is made up."

  Zhao Wei moved his lips, looking at the firm expression on his grandmother's face, lowered his head and thought for a moment, then resolutely said: "Okay, Grandma wants to go, that's fine, but I'll follow you too!"

  "This time it was Zhang's turn to be surprised: 'Nonsense! How old are you? What are you following him for?'"

  "Grandson, go and serve your grandmother!" Zhao Wei said resolutely. "Besides, Grandmother has also said that the Crown Prince has shown great kindness to our family, and now he is seriously ill. Although you can't do anything else, going to visit him and comforting the Crown Princess and the young prince with a few words is still within your power. You've been learning martial arts from Mr. Lu since childhood, and now you've also learned horse riding, so your body is strong enough not to bring shame to Grandmother!"

  Mrs. Zhang saw his resolute attitude and was also delighted in her heart. This formerly weak grandson had now grown into a little man. She relaxed her expression: "Foolish child, haven't you thought about it? If Grandmother goes to the capital and you follow too, won't your sister be left alone at home? She's only seven years old. You're worried about Grandmother, but can you bear to leave your sister behind?"

  Zhao Wei was suddenly in a difficult situation, he looked at Zhao Xuan and then at Zhang Shi, for a moment he didn't know how to choose.

  Zhao Xun smiled and said, "Brother, since you have confidence in your own body and riding skills, shouldn't you also have confidence in your sister's abilities? Grandma and brother can rest assured to go to the capital, I can take care of myself at home. I'm already so big, and there are Lu Ma and others at home, are you afraid that I will not eat or wear warm clothes? If something happens outside, there is also Uncle Lu, and I can also ask Big Brother Jing to come out from the ancestral hall."

  Zhuo Wei grew up with his sister. In these years, they almost lived and ate together, and he understood her mental abilities better than anyone else. He had more confidence in this sister than in his grandmother. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said: "My sister is right, our family lives with relatives, outsiders dare not cheat us, besides, my grandmother is the wife of the county magistrate, I also have a title, the county government will take care of us more. Who dares to provoke my sister?"

  "Alright, you hurry back and pack your luggage. I'll send someone to the school to ask for leave on your behalf. We'll set off early tomorrow morning. You must prepare all the necessary gear for horseback riding. This journey of over 2,000 miles is not a game. Be careful not to wear out your skin and bleed from the pain."

  Zhao Wei loudly agreed and turned to run out, Zhang Shi looked at his happy appearance. Helplessly shook her head and instructed her granddaughter: "You said you wanted to make a few pieces of leather pads for him the other day, have you made them? If not, hurry up and make them. Let him use them. Your brother has never suffered that hardship, he thinks riding a horse on a journey is as easy as when he practices riding in the suburbs." Zhao Xuan hastily agreed and got up to return to her room.

  The autumn leaves have taken the child back to their own small courtyard to pack up, and Zhang's wife has sent someone to deliver a message to Shen's wife in the Zhaozhai house. She asked her to come over once. Although there is Lu Ma at home, she is not afraid that her granddaughter will not be well taken care of, but Lu Ma and her husband are just servants after all, and Zhao Xiu is still young, so some things require the master's presence, and it is necessary to ask Zhao Yun and his wife to take care of them.

  This time going north, Zhang didn't worry about her own body getting sick, nor did she worry about whether her little grandson's physical strength could keep up. What she worried most was how her little granddaughter would be alone at home. But now it really can't be helped, and the two of them must go through this ordeal together.

  Lu's mother whispered to her, "What's the point of this, Old Lady? Although your son has learned horse riding, he is still young. Why must he suffer like this? He followed you to the capital, but what can he do there? You not only have to suffer yourself, but also worry about your grandson. How can you bear it?"

  Zhang shook his head: "I let Wei Ge go with him, not only to take care of the prince, but also for an urgent matter that requires him to return to the capital."

  What's the big deal? Zhao Wei is already eleven years old, and by virtual age, she can be considered twelve. Back then, for the safety of her grandson, she gave up the title of Duke of Jianan, but the Crown Prince promised that when Zhao Wei grew up, the Emperor would let him inherit the dukedom. Before that, Zhao Wei temporarily took on the title of Viscount. Now, five years have passed in a flash, and the edict to succeed to the title has not yet come down. There are rumors that the Emperor's health has not been good in recent years, often falling ill with minor ailments, otherwise the Crown Prince would not have gone to battle on his father's behalf. Maybe the Emperor just hasn't had time for Zhao Wei's affairs, it's also possible, but as long as the edict doesn't come down, Zhang Shi can't be at peace.

  It seems that the Xiao Changfang side has been quiet for a while, but there are signs of movement again. Zhao Yue went to Liaodong as a small official and although his reputation is notorious, the old subordinates of Zhao Laojun Gong looked at the old feelings and would not let him die. Sometimes they would even pull strings for him. It's said that he has been promoted, but it's unclear what rank he has reached. His mother, Niu Shi, still lives in the capital and maintains a close relationship with her natal family, seemingly with some ulterior motives. She sent someone to manage the land allocated to their clan, collecting rent at the highest rate, squeezing every penny, and even sold several lucrative shops in the capital. It's unclear if she's urgently waiting for money for something. The Jiang family has also been working hard to curry favor with various parties to get their daughter out of prison. Logically speaking, these people shouldn't be able to stir up any more trouble, but Zhang Shi can't help but worry that they might have a comeback one day.

  As long as Zhao Wei inherits the title, no matter how restless these people are, they will not be able to harm Xia Er Fang. Zhang Shi can even let the clan expel this branch from the family. The two of them, father and son, will eventually have to make a trip to Beijing.

  The next day at dawn, before daylight, Zhang brought his grandson Zhao Wei and accompanied the autumn leaves mother and son to leave Fengxian County.

  After seeing off her grandmother, brother and aunt, Zhao Xun returned home, sat in the main hall, and began to stare blankly.

  From today on, she will be managing this household by herself, can she handle it?