Shuo Prefecture was different from the capital city.
The climate there was extremely cold, with ice and snow covering the ground all year round.
Before they even reached the city of Shuo Prefecture, Ruan Jiu had already sneezed several times.
She quickly tightened the cloak on her body.
Chuntao hurriedly handed over the hot water bag that had just been refilled. "Cousin girl, why don't we find a place to rest for the night and continue our journey tomorrow."
Ruan Jiu took the hot water bag while shaking her head. "The people in the city can't afford to wait."
They would reach Shuo Prefecture in one more day. The earlier they arrived, the earlier they could deliver the medicinal herbs to the people.
Then she lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out at the young servants following behind.
Each of them had red cheeks from the cold, with white puffs of air coming out of their mouths.
"Chuntao, tell everyone to stop and take a break. Make some hot tea to warm up," Ruan Jiu said.
They couldn't let the people get sick from the cold before the medicinal herbs were delivered.
She should have prepared a few more carriages if she had known how cold it was in Shuo Prefecture.
After hearing this, Chuntao immediately got out of the carriage and told everyone to build a fire to keep warm.
Since Ruan Jiu was extremely afraid of the cold, she simply stayed in the carriage and took a short nap with her eyes closed.
She wondered what the situation in Shuo Prefecture was like.
And what about Xie Jingchu?
Suddenly, there was a panicked noise outside the carriage.
Ruan Jiu opened her eyes abruptly. Before she could get up to check, she heard Chuntao's urgent shout.
"Cousin girl, oh no, there are bandits!"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu was stunned.
Then she quickly got out of the carriage.
She saw more than a dozen strong men with sharp blades in their hands, surrounding them tightly.
Each of them looked fierce and ruthless.
The leader let out a shrill laugh, grinning widely and showing his yellow teeth.
Coupled with the scar on his cheek, he looked even more hideous and terrifying.
Ruan Jiu pretended to be calm and said to the bandit leader, "Gentlemen, we are on a mission from His Majesty to deliver medicinal herbs to Shuo Prefecture. If we have disturbed you, please forgive us."
In a hurry, she could only mention His Majesty's name.
She hoped it would make these bandits think twice.
Sure enough, after hearing this, a look of panic flashed across the bandit leader's eyes, and he involuntarily lowered the hand holding the knife.
But before Ruan Jiu could breathe a sigh of relief, she heard someone beside the bandit leader say.
"Boss, don't believe her nonsense. How could His Majesty send a little girl to deliver medicinal herbs!"
Then another bandit echoed, "Yes, boss. Look at those big boxes on the carriages. There must be some good treasures inside."
This made the eyes of all the bandits light up.
Because of the cold weather here, they had been lingering in this area all year, making a living by robbing passers - by.
But not long ago, Shuo Prefecture suddenly suffered from an epidemic. The people inside couldn't get out, and the people outside didn't dare to go in.
They hadn't had a successful robbery on this road for a long time.
Now that they had encountered Ruan Jiu and her group, they naturally didn't want to let this fat sheep go.
Ruan Jiu quickly explained, "We are really going to Shuo Prefecture to deliver medicinal herbs!"
After saying that, she immediately ordered someone to open the boxes.
When they saw the shiny medicinal herbs in the boxes, the bandits were instantly disappointed.
They thought they had a big deal, but it turned out to be just these useless medicinal herbs.
"Big brother, look at this little girl. She is dressed expensively. She must be the daughter of a wealthy family. Why don't we kidnap her and ask her family to pay the ransom," one of the bandits said.
Hearing this, the bandit leader stroked his chin.
A sly look flashed in his eyes.
This was a good idea.
Then he waved his hand.
The bandits beside him rushed towards Ruan Jiu like hungry wolves.
"Wait!" Ruan Jiu exclaimed.
After seeing the bandits stop, Ruan Jiu immediately said, "Gentlemen, you've misunderstood. Have you ever seen a wealthy family willing to let their daughter go to such a dangerous place to deliver medicinal herbs?"
She let out a long sigh and continued, "I've never been favored in my family since I was a child. This time, His Majesty ordered our family to deliver medicinal herbs to Shuo Prefecture. My father and mother didn't want my elder brothers and sisters to take the risk, so they remembered me who had been living in the side courtyard all year.
Even if you kidnap me, they will never pay the ransom for me!"
Ruan Jiu casually made up a sad life story.
She wanted to dispel the bandits' thoughts.
After saying that, she even squeezed out a few tears sincerely.
"Big brother, look at the cloak she is wearing. It doesn't look like she is not favored in her family. She must be lying!"
Ruan Jiu didn't expect these people to be so hard to fool.
So she quickly said, "After all, it's His Majesty's order. For the sake of his own face, my father rewarded me with this cloak."
After hearing this, the bandit leader frowned.
This made sense. After all, those wealthy families cared most about their face.
Seeing that the bandit leader's expression was a bit moved, Ruan Jiu continued, "On this trip to Shuo Prefecture to deliver medicinal herbs, we brought some silver. Consider it as my treat for you gentlemen to have a drink."
After saying that, Ruan Jiu took out the money bag from her bosom and handed it to a young servant beside her.
The young servant stepped forward nervously and handed the money bag to the bandit leader.
The bandit leader took the money bag and weighed it. "You're quite sensible."
"Then we won't bother you gentlemen here anymore," Ruan Jiu curtsied.
Then she motioned for everyone to pack up and leave immediately.
Just as Ruan Jiu was about to step into the carriage, the person beside the bandit leader said again, "Boss, we can't let them go!"
He pointed at the carriages with the boxes and said, "So many medicinal herbs. If we take them to Shuo Prefecture, we can surely exchange them for a lot of silver!"
Ruan Jiu narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath.
If it weren't for the fact that they were outnumbered and the bandits had weapons, she really wanted to go up and tear that person's mouth.
These were the life - saving medicinal herbs for the people in Shuo Prefecture!
After hearing this, the bandit leader gave him an appreciative look. "You're the smartest one."
Now there was a shortage of medicinal herbs in Shuo Prefecture. With these, they could surely make a fortune.
Then he showed his yellow teeth to Ruan Jiu. "Little girl, you've heard it, right?"
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips, looking solemn.
"Cousin girl, you can't agree to them," Chuntao said anxiously.
Ruan Jiu shook her head at Chuntao.
She looked at the young servants beside her.
If they fought hard, they might not be a match for these people.
If they angered these bandits, they might even lose their lives here.
Although these young servants were just servants of the Shen family, they all had families.
They had accompanied her all the way to Shuo Prefecture to deliver medicinal herbs. She couldn't let them lose their lives here.
It didn't matter. She could give the medicinal herbs to these bandits first and then buy them back when she arrived in Shuo Prefecture.
"Since you gentlemen want them, you can take them all," Ruan Jiu said.
Hearing this, the bandit leader shouted, "Generous!"
Then the bandits swarmed forward.
Ruan Jiu could only watch helplessly as they snatched away the medicinal herbs. She clenched her fists, but there was nothing she could do.
But it seemed that things didn't end there.
"Boss, this woman is so good - looking. It's a pity to just let her go."