Three months later, in an inn at the border between the Western Regions and the Southern Yi Kingdom.
"Mother, when can we go to the capital?"
After three months in a carriage, Little Yi Hao felt exhausted. He hadn't expected the Western Regions to be so far!
"Soon. Once we cross the border, we'll be there!"
Ouyang Qinglin, who was drinking beside them, couldn't help but chuckle. She playfully flicked Little Yi Hao's nose, finding the boy truly amusing. He was the one who had been excited about coming to the Western Regions initially, and now he was the one complaining about being tired.
She recalled that when she used to wander outside, she had no carriage to ride in. She had always endured hardships, sleeping under the open sky and traveling day and night on horseback. This child, blessed with comfort, didn't know his fortune.
With this thought, she took another large gulp of wine.
Gu Qianying had remained silent. She turned her head and looked out the window of the room. The border area had very few inhabitants. She could only see caravans of Western merchants in exotic attire with large beards coming and going, a few camels tied to trees drinking water, and beyond that, only the vast desert wind and sand filling the sky.
Everyone said the Western Regions had beautiful scenery, but now it seemed somewhat desolate.
"Good!"
As Gu Qianying was lost in thought, she heard a commotion below. She looked down and saw a scantily clad Western dancer performing gracefully. The merchants in the hall cheered and tipped her, a stark contrast to the desolate scene outside.
After a brief rest, Gu Qianying said calmly, "Let's set off!"
According to their original plan, they were supposed to return to the capital of the Western Regions today. If they rested any longer, the desert sun would soon set.
"Okay!"
Everyone agreed, packed their belongings, put on the prepared scarves, and set off again. As they were leaving, they brushed past a caravan and received some new information.
The daughter of the City Lord of the Western Regions was getting married, and the groom was the young master of the Baili family.
Gu Qianying didn't pay much attention to it, considering it an insignificant happy event.
However, along the way to the capital, she heard this news several times.
Gu Qianying was a vigilant person and secretly noted this matter.
In the city of the Western Regions, merchants came and went in endless streams. Brocades and silks were displayed, and the sounds of hawking filled the air. People in various colorful costumes moved among them, creating the image of a prosperous large city.
Gu Qianying and her companions settled into an inn and rested for a few days. The three-month journey had indeed been quite taxing.
For several consecutive days, Lu Zhu took Little Yi Hao to visit several large markets in the vicinity. They also constantly heard about the Western Region King marrying off her daughter, but they hadn't heard of the wedding taking place yet.
Even they, who were just listening to the stories, found it somewhat strange.
Half a month after everyone arrived, in a wine house in the city of the Western Regions.
Gu Qianying invited everyone for tea, but then heard the sound of mournful cries passing by outside.
Ouyang Qinglin was the first to react. After listening carefully, he frowned. Recently, several weddings had taken place, and the red paper on the streets hadn't even been swept away before paper money was being scattered, which was quite inauspicious.
"Did you guys hear? The young master of the Baili family is dead!"
"Ah? The handsome young master who was about to become the King's son-in-law? How could it be so sudden?"
Two commoners, entering the wine house for a drink, were talking as they walked. They happened to pass by Gu Qianying's table, and she overheard the news.
She couldn't help but frown, sensing something was amiss. So, she called out, "Waiter!"
Soon, a waiter respectfully approached with a kettle to refill their water.
Gu Qianying slipped him a few copper coins and asked, "What's happening outside? Such a grand procession?"
The waiter, with a beaming smile, accepted the copper coins and put down the kettle before answering, "That's a funeral procession outside. Today is the day of the Baili family's young master's burial. This young master Baili is truly unlucky. He was about to become the son-in-law and enjoy a life of ease, but he suddenly died. The Baili family! You know them, right?"
Although Gu Qianying and her companions were outsiders, they were aware of the Baili family in the Western Regions.
"Suddenly died?"
Duan Xifeng spoke at the opportune moment and asked.
"Not exactly. Today was supposed to be their wedding day. This young master Baili had poor health and was a sickly person. He had caught a cold, and was supposed to recover after a few days of rest. Who knew he couldn't hold on and passed away on this auspicious day? As a result, the City Lord immediately canceled the engagement."
Just as the waiter finished recounting the events, the sound of suona horns playing a processional tune drifted in from outside.
While everyone was contemplating, Little Yi Hao unexpectedly ran out.
Lu Zhu was the first to notice and quickly got up to chase after him.
"What are you doing?"
Little Yi Hao was so small, and outside, a funeral procession was parading with a coffin. If he went out now, what if he was abducted by human traffickers?
Unexpectedly, shortly after she chased after him, Little Yi Hao ran back on his own. "Mother, I think there's something wrong with this coffin. There's no dead person inside!"
He leaned by the window, watching the red wooden coffin pass by, his expression solemn as he reached his conclusion.
Gu Qianying and the others didn't understand. Lu Zhu was even more bewildered. They said children had active imaginations, but not *this* active! It was impossible for the Baili family to lock their living son in a coffin, wasn't it?
"Little Yi Hao, you feel something is wrong!"
Lu Zhu bent down, patted his little head, and was about to patiently explain the relationship between the dead and coffins to him.
But before she could say a few words, she saw Little Yi Hao turn and run out again.
As his mother, Gu Qianying knew her son well.
She quickly chased after him, wanting to stop Little Yi Hao. The child intended to stop the Baili family's funeral procession and open the coffin to investigate. However, they were newcomers, and which family would tolerate someone opening a coffin for examination on the street, especially at the request of a mere child!
Gu Qianying feared that Little Yi Hao would cause great trouble and quickly chased after him. But what puzzled her even more was why Little Yi Hao would have such a thought?
Could the continuous eruption of demonic energy within him have granted him some special abilities?
These became lingering questions in Gu Qianying's mind.
By the time everyone caught up, Little Yi Hao had already stopped the leader of the Baili family's procession.
"You can't go!"
The leader was an elderly man, perhaps the head of the Baili family. It was possible that he was a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one, as he was in tears and looked very frail.
As Gu Qianying chased after him, she passed by the red wooden coffin. Her heart stirred, but it was only for a moment. She didn't think much of it. The most important thing now was to stop Little Yi Hao and absolutely not offend the Baili family.
Little Yi Hao ran to the front of the procession, spread his arms, and stubbornly blocked the funeral procession, "You can't go!"
He repeated himself!
The leader in front remained silent. A young man behind him, dressed in mourning white, couldn't help but speak, "Why is a child like you joining in the fun? Get out of the way!"