The two people were no longer in the mood to admire the snowy night by the wayside, and they both jumped out of the carriage, bolting towards Dongshun Gate at a miraculous speed.
Today, all of the madams with mandates and noble daughters’ carriages had been arranged to enter and exit from Dongshun Gate. However, because she had taken time to speak with her daughter, Wei Ziqin had left rather late.
Hence, as the carriage followed along the path towards Dongshun Gate, there weren’t many people under the decorated archway anymore.
Through the snow that was whirling more and more heavily, they saw the Wu Family’s carriage, which carried their eldest miss Wu Xiaosu, travelling exasperatingly slowly in front of them.
Wu Xiaosu had instructed the carriage driver to purposely slow down and wait for Wei Ziqin’s carriage to come.
“Madam Qiao.” Lifting her curtain unhurriedly, Eldest Miss Wu poked her head out and called softly.
Wei Ziqin also lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and met Eldest Miss Wu’s eyes. She nodded and said, “Miss Wu, is there something?”
“Madam Qiao, I really am sorry to inconvenience you. As the wheels of my carriage seem to be malfunctioning, is it possible for you to give me a lift?”
Wei Ziqin turned her eyes to take a look, and she saw that the back wheel of Wu Xiaosu’s carriage was indeed slightly crooked. It looked as if it couldn’t support the carriage for a long distance.
“Miss Wu, we don’t seem to be headed in the same direction.” Xiao Lin’er poked her small head out and grinned toothily at Wu Xiaosu. “I see that your carriage wheel is only crooked, and it should be able to turn for a while longer. Your home is also not far from Dongshun Gate[1], so I reckon that it should hold up until then. You’re not like us, who have to detour to the northern gate. If we have to circle around on top of that to give you a lift, who knows how long it’ll take me and my mom to return home.”
Her implication: As Miss Wu is such an understanding person, you wouldn’t be so inconsiderate nor would you do something this inappropriate.
As Wu Xiaosu didn’t anticipate that this little lady’s mouth would be so sharp, trying to dismiss her with a few words, her expression stiffened slightly and didn’t look too pretty.
However, her carriage driver timely jumped down and bowed respectfully with clasped hands before saying, “Madam Qiao, we had originally not wanted to trouble you. However, from this old servant’s many years of carriage driving experience, this carriage wheel truly can’t hold up much longer. As it’s bitterly cold outside right now, if the carriage wheel breaks down and can’t travel any further, then our miss will have to endure the night in the snow. Please, would Madam be so kind as to give our miss a lift? It won’t cause you to deviate too far. This old servant is familiar with the road situation around this area and can point out a shortcut for Madam. This old servant beseeches Madam to assent.”
Being a kind-hearted person, Wei Ziqin was just about to agree when Xiao Lin’er called out, “Gah!”
Her small face abruptly scrunched together, and cold sweat started dripping down as it overflowed from her forehead. She had started exhibiting her exceptionally excellent acting chops.
“What is it, what happened?” Wei Ziqin was startled.
Her maid Chunying also asked anxiously, “Second Miss, what’s happening. Where does it hurt, Second Miss?”
“B-belly hurts! Mom! My belly hurts!” Xiao Lin’er released a trembling groan, and her entire body had even started shuddering.
“Lin’er! Don’t scare Mom, you were still alright just now. Why did your belly start hurting now?”
“Mom, it must’ve been the cold wind flooding in that gave me a chill! Mom, let’s get home quickly! My, my belly is hurting me to death.”
“Don’t speak nonsense!” Wei Ziqin patted the back of her daughter’s hand in heartache, and she hastily poked out her head to instruct the carriage driver, “H-hurry up, hurry back to the estate.”
“Yes, Madam.” The Qiao Family’s carriage driver of course was also unhappy that he had to take a roundabout route in this snowfall. Therefore, when he heard the Madam’s command at this time, he whipped the horse and promptly drove the carriage away in a gallop.
[1] Dong means east
