She galloped all the way, even spending the time allotted for rest in transit, and sometimes, she even had to resolve meals atop her horse. The journey from Shandong to Funan should have taken at least a month on horseback, yet she managed to arrive in just twenty days.
When Ms. Wang saw her, weather-beaten as she entered the house, she almost didnāt recognize her.
"My child, why have you come back? And what has happened to you? Where are Brother An and the children?" Ms. Wang clutched at her, looking her over and over again. Good heavens, was this really her daughter? Why did she look like a beggar, with clothes unwashed for who knows how many days, and her hair uncombed as well?
"My girl, what has happened? Has there been some trouble?"
"Mother, let elder sister catch her breath first," Ms. Zhang came over with a slightly protruding belly, clearly noticing that Yang Chuxia had hurried back without rest.
Upon hearing her, Yang Chuxia finally noticed her, "Oh, how many months along are you now?"
"Four months," Ms. Zhang said, slightly embarrassed when mentioning her pregnancy.
"Thatās great, congratulations," Yang Chuxia managed a smile, then quickly turned to Ms. Wang, "Mother, have someone prepare some food and drink quickly. Brother An has been poisoned, and Iāve come back to look for medicine. Once I find it, I must hurry back."
"What? How could Brother An be poisoned?"
"Whatās the matter, sister? How did Brother-in-law get poisoned?"
Yang Chuxiaās words set off a wave of anxiety throughout the Wang Family, as everyone looked at her with concern.
"Itās a complicated story, but now we know the antidote," Yang Chuxia continued, "Mother, please hurry and help prepare some hot food; weāve been rushing back without time to eat."
"Right, right, quickly go make food for the girl. And make it fast," Yang Dachuan urged Ms. Wang upon hearing this.
"Alright, alright, Iāll go now."
Ms. Wang was quick, and soon the meals were ready.
After eating, Yang Chuxia asked Ye San and the others to go rest first, and she herself rested for four hours as well.
At dinner time, Ms. Wang brought up the matter of Ye Ziāanās poisoning again.
Yang Chuxia could only relate to everyone what had happened in Shandong since their arrival.
After listening, they all felt the turn of events was too great. First, little Lele became a prince, and now Brother An had been poisoned; how did things turn out this way?
"Who on earth did this? Our Brother An is such a good kid, this is absolutely outrageous," Ms. Wang couldnāt help but curse.
Yang Chuxia, too, wanted to know who the adversary was; the person was hidden too well.
"Sister, when the time comes, let me go with you to Shandong to visit Brother-in-law," Yang Qingtong said after some thought.
"You better not go, isnāt it the time for the autumn examinations? Stay home and focus on your studies," Yang Chuxia advised.
Looking around and not seeing Linyu and Xia Yun, Yang Chuxia asked, "Where are Yunyun and Linyu?"
"Didnāt Linhao come here on New Yearās Eve? He stayed for quite a while, and half a month ago, he took Linyu and Yunyun to Shandong. Didnāt you run into them?" Yang Dachuan asked.
"Iāve been in such a hurry on the road; I didnāt pay attention to anyone else. We must have missed each other."
After chatting idly with the Yang Family for a while, Yang Chuxia went back to her room, preparing things like the ice dagger, and at the break of dawn the next day, she took a small bucket and slipped out of the Yang Family quietly.
However, on her way, she couldnāt help but worry whether the old demon was still living in that place.