The little cub's wish to go out and frolic was soon granted.
The househusband arrived and threw it a pouch.
Then he chattered on, essentially telling it to find the pouch's owner.
The cub was displeased. It was a wolf, a noble wolf of the wolf clan. How could it be made to do the work of a dog? Although it didn't deny that its nose was indeed much more sensitive than a dog's.
Thinking of the holy wolf's instruction to follow its master well, and recalling its master's words to protect the househusband and obey him, it could only resign itself to fate.
Gu Sinian watched the cub bound forward with great speed, somewhat bewildered. It had been limping yesterday, but was fine today? Were wolves' recovery abilities that good?
It seemed there were no lingering effects.
This would be easier to explain to Zhenzhen when he returned.
This cub was highly valued by Zhenzhen. If something had truly gone wrong, it would have been difficult for him to explain.
Including the journey, it had been over twenty days since he left the capital. Apart from waves of pursuit along the way, the matter he was investigating had not made much progress.
He had originally expected to find clues quickly upon reaching the border, but now, all he had was this pouch. It was uncertain how far he could follow this lead. Because he was unsure if there were accomplices among the troops stationed at the border, Gu Sinian had not told Yan Dalang the true purpose of his visit.
He only said that His Majesty was very concerned about the foreign incursions during the New Year and had sent him to negotiate.
Therefore, any investigation had to be conducted in secret.
The slow progress made Gu Sinian's head ache. He couldn't return to the capital until the matter was resolved. He missed his wife. What was she doing? Did she miss him? Had Gu Siniya and his wife caused any trouble? Could Zhenzhen handle it? Besides missing Qi Zhenzhen, Gu Sinian also worried about the Da Qin family. Dong Ningxin was the most troublesome; could his mother handle her? It should be fine, with Zhenzhen there, she would surely protect her.
He needed to put in more effort and resolve the matter as quickly as possible, then race back.
Before he had a wife, he quite enjoyed going to battle and handling official duties. Now, he just wanted to spend every day by his wife's side. Back then, he had envisioned their future life with Qian Yuanbao. Qian Yuanbao had said that no matter how much wealth or status one had, the most fulfilling days were only those with a wife, children, and a warm hearth. At the time, he had scoffed, but now he felt it was incredibly true.
Qi Zhenzhen, far away in the capital, suddenly felt her earlobes grow warm.
"Chunfeng, have the windows been opened?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"Replying to Madam, the windows have been open all along."
"Strange, why do I suddenly feel a bit hot, especially my ears?" Qi Zhenzhen mumbled.
Chunfeng stepped forward, examining her as she spoke, "Taihe Temple is located halfway up the mountain, built within it. At this time of year, insects are most prevalent. Perhaps you were bitten by an insect?"
Chunfeng looked closely. Her madam's earlobes were bright red, like boiled shrimp.
However, they were not swollen, nor were there any bite marks around them.
"Your maid has heard elders say that if someone is thinking of you, your earlobes will turn red. Madam, if yours don't hurt or itch, perhaps it's our Young Master thinking of you."
This explanation was truly...
A moment later, the warmth in her earlobes subsided. Qi Zhenzhen inwardly accepted Chunfeng's explanation. When she had been copying scriptures earlier, she had been thinking of Anian with great devotion. Perhaps the Buddha had sensed her sincerity and conveyed it to Anian? A tacit understanding!
"Second Sister." Qi Xuanyuan's voice approached from a distance, and soon she entered the room.
The young girl held her hands out to Qi Zhenzhen as if presenting a treasure, holding a handful of raspberries.
"They're sweet and sour, and very delicious," Qi Xuanyuan said in a clear voice. "I'd never eaten them before, let alone seen them. Erxi is truly amazing; she says there are many edible fruits in the mountains. After lunch, we'll go to the back mountain again."