"Do you still remember Zhang Rong from the Hubiao caravan we met in Yuchang Prefecture, the one who deals in medicinal herbs? Earlier this year, I sent him a letter by express courier, and unexpectedly, I received his reply today."
Huo Shu had written in the letter about establishing a transit point for merchant houses in Yuchang Prefecture, inquiring whether Zhang Rong might have useful contacts.
Zhang Rong, as it happened, still recalled their previous traveling companionship and promptly sent a reply offering his help.
"Such a big matter—are you going alone?"
Ji Taoyu pursed his lips, looking pitifully at Huo Shu with his almond-shaped eyes.
"I’ll take two fellow northerners with me."
Huo Shu could tell what was on Ji Taoyu’s mind just by his expression.
"It’s not that I don’t want you to come, but I don’t know how long this trip will take. The caravan is set to depart in the second month. If neither of us is here, who will oversee the goods?"
This year, they had scheduled the departure for the tenth day of the second lunar month, nearly half a month earlier than last year.
The official road from Tongzhou was smooth, and even if it rained, it was easier to traverse than in other prefectures, so an earlier departure was suitable.
Today was the seventh day. Huo Shu wasn’t sure if he could return before the caravan’s departure. Though it would only take five or six days on horseback from Tongzhou to Yuchang, he didn’t know how long he’d be delayed in Yuchang Prefecture.
Ji Taoyu stayed silent for a while before finally saying, "I understand."
"Then when will you leave?"
"The sooner, the better. I’ll set off tomorrow and should arrive in Yuchang just after the fifteenth."
Ji Taoyu nodded.
In the afternoon, Huo Shu went to the town to make some arrangements.
He had already decided earlier that he wouldn’t lead the caravan this year, so most things had been prepared in advance. There wasn’t much else to discuss.
He just handed the Wuyang escort flag to Ge Liang in advance, instructing him to keep it safe.
That thing would make things twice as easy, especially in Yuchang Prefecture, where bandits were most common.
Finally, he told his two fellow northerners, A-Yu and Shiyi, who weren’t joining the trade trip this time, to prepare to go with him.
When Ji Taoyu, Ji Yangzong, and Huang Manjing returned from visiting relatives and having a meal, they mentioned Huo Shu’s upcoming trip.
It was already quite dark when Huo Shu returned from the town, only to be called into Ji Yangzong’s study.
By the time Huo Shu returned to their room, Ji Taoyu still hadn’t gone to bed.
He saw the figure sitting with his back to the door, shoulders slightly slumped, wearing only a thin underrobe that made him look frail, like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"Not asleep yet?"
Ji Taoyu turned his head slightly at the sound, then looked away again.
"Still washing my feet."
Huo Shu glanced down and saw the feet in the basin, already soaked red, as if wrapped in thin socks.
He took a towel from the side, lifted Ji Taoyu’s feet, dried them, then scooped him up by the waist and carried him to the bed.
The person in his arms was warm from the foot soak and the brazier nearby.
Huo Shu couldn’t bear to see him unhappy and paused for a moment before saying, "If you want to—"
Ji Taoyu sat on the bed, pulling the blanket over his warm feet and cutting Huo Shu off: "I’ll stay home."
"You’ll get things done faster with others. If I go, I’ll just slow you down. Besides, there’s still work here."
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly.
"Go with peace of mind."
Ji Taoyu looked up at Huo Shu, speaking earnestly.
Huo Shu sat on the edge of the bed. "So sensible."
"Of course."
Huo Shu couldn’t help but stroke Ji Taoyu’s soft, loose hair.
"I’ll return as soon as possible."
Ji Taoyu nodded. "Mm."
He shifted to the side. "Then come to bed soon. You have to get up early tomorrow for the journey."
Knowing that this trip would likely take ten days to half a month, Huo Shu had no intention of resting so soon.
After washing up, he got into bed and spent half the night thoroughly exhausting Ji Taoyu, several times over.
By the next morning, Ji Taoyu was still sound asleep when Huo Shu left.
Huo Shu didn’t disturb him, simply mounted his horse and rode off.
By the time Ji Taoyu woke up, it was nearly noon.
After morning meal, Ji Yangzong had gone visiting neighbors, while Huang Manjing remained at home. Seeing Ji Taoyu still in bed, she assumed he had stayed awake late pining for Huo Shu and thus allowed him to sleep longer.
After the first lunar month, the village gradually returned to its usual quiet.
Ji Taoyu spent a few idle days, but the freezing weather made him miss Huo Shu even more.
However, once the second month began, he was busy checking goods for the trade trip, preparing funds, purchasing supplies, and doing accounts—so busy he barely had time to breathe.
At night, he fell asleep without even tossing and turning.
On the tenth day of the second lunar month, the large caravan set off grandly from the city. Ji Taoyu dragged himself out of bed early to see them off.
"May everything go smoothly."
Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing also came to bid the caravan farewell. Though their children weren’t going this year, they were still worried.
The send-off crowd lingered until the caravan was out of sight before discussing heading back to the town for some market shopping.
Ji Taoyu sniffled, tightening his cloak. Despite it being early spring, he still felt unbearably cold.
No matter how many layers he wore, he never felt warm—almost as if he were more sensitive to the cold now than during the depths of winter.
His body seemed to have reverted to its old frail state, even though he’d felt much healthier over the past year.
He didn’t know if it was due to recent exhaustion or Huo Shu’s absence.
He rubbed his sore lower back. Calculating the days, he realized Huo Shu had been gone for a full month. He wondered how things were progressing there.
Ji Taoyu had never expected Huo Shu would send letters anyway. This realization suddenly brought him a dull ache of sorrow.
Ji Taoyu yawned, his body weak and lacking strength. "Father, Mother, let’s go back. I want to sleep a little more."
Huang Manjing noticed Ji Taoyu shrinking into his cloak and reached out to touch his hand. "So cold. You’ve barely eaten these past few days."
Ji Yangzong, seeing Ji Taoyu’s pale complexion, added, "Huo Shu should be back soon. Just rest properly these next few days. Don’t overexert yourself."
Ji Taoyu gave a soft hum in response.
Thank you for the Updates!!!!
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