novelraw Chapter 560: Tiny Cannon Fodder of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 560: Tiny Cannon Fodder of the Three Kingdoms
At noon, footsteps sounded from not far away. On the bed, a girl of about ten seemed to be having a nightmare, murmuring faintly through pale lips.
“Master, senior sister... A-Ning won't leave...”
“You're finally awake!”
Silently noting down the words the girl had just muttered, a maid in a simple light-brown robe with two plain buns and dressed as a servant soon walked in from the doorway.
Behind her followed a little attendant carrying porridge, matching her step for step.
Seeing that An Ning seemed to be waking up, the maid took the medicine from the servant and came forward with a smile. Her round cheeks and crescent-shaped eyes made her look especially pleasing at that moment.
After all, they were from a local gentry family and clearly very well-bred.
While thinking this, An Ning nonetheless reflexively dragged herself back a step when she woke, saying nothing and only staring with wide eyes. The small child looked at the newcomers with pure wariness.
She instinctively reached toward her chest and found it empty. After being cleaned, the already pale little face turned visibly whiter...
Seeing the girl's reaction, the lead maid, A-Qiao, smiled even more kindly.She thought: it seems Madam's earlier suspicion was right, this girl really isn't ordinary.
In fact, although Madam had agreed to shelter the rescued girl, she hadn't been overjoyed. These years had brought frequent natural disasters and countless vagrants had drifted in from outside the city; occasionally someone lucky would sneak in.
If they were discovered, they were usually quickly driven out. If they carried disease or misfortune...
Only because the girl was young, soft-hearted, and this was her first time going out, would she be so naive as to casually bring someone home.
Thinking this, A-Qiao's smile grew sweeter as she set the tray with food down.
“Miss, are you looking for that small jade vial?”
An Ning hurriedly nodded.
Although starving, the little girl in front showed no interest in the food; her gaze remained fixed on the newcomers.
“That is my mas—”
She trailed off, seeming to realize what she had been about to say, and the girl on the bed pressed her lips together, quickly correcting herself: “It is my medicine vial.”
Then she stared at the person and said slowly and clearly:
“My things, you mustn’t... ahem, you can't take them!”
So that object really mattered.
A-Qiao thought that, and even ignoring whatever was inside, the jade vial itself didn't seem ordinary.
She soon smiled again.
“Don't worry, miss. When we changed your clothes earlier, the item probably fell somewhere by accident. Don't fret. Have some food first, and I'll have someone go search for it right away.”
After scrutinizing An Ning for a long moment, she finally sat back down silently.
But the fragrant porridge in front of her remained untouched. Even starving and weak, she simply leaned at the bed and stared off, seemingly lost in thought.
Fortunately, after a bit of searching by the maids, the small jade vial that had been missing for so long was found and returned.
After confirming the contents were intact, color returned to An Ning's face. She then picked up the hot porridge and ate slowly.
Although her movements were a bit eager from hunger, every action was without coarse manners, plainly showing she had received good upbringing.
Once the girl finished, A-Qiao quietly withdrew.
Main House
Madam Zhang sat at the study table, carefully counting the household expenses while listening to her maid's detailed report, only giving the slightest nod from time to time.
Though surprised that her daughter had rescued a girl on her first outing, the girl did seem well-born.
Still, judging from the earlier scene, it was clear that this girl's family or sect must have suffered greatly.
At most, she was a child left alone in the world.
But since she showed signs of distinguished origins rather than being an ordinary commoner, the Zhen Family ought not to treat her carelessly; proper courtesy was due.
Madam Zhang thought of the rare material of that jade vial and the faintly pleasant medicinal scent that filled the room the moment it was opened.
Even the doctor earlier had seen nothing unusual.
Madam Zhang furrowed her brow slightly.
“Qiaoyun, when that girl was having the nightmare just now, did she call for anyone like a master?”
“Replying to Madam!” Maid Qiaoyun answered respectfully.
“I didn't see it wrong. In her nightmare the girl's face was extremely pale, her brows knitted tight as if in terrible pain.”
Given that girl's prior circumstances, her sect probably suffered a catastrophe.
Even that girl herself now looked as if she had been hastily sent away in desperation.
Madam Zhang wondered whether besides being precious, the jade vial was guarded for other reasons.
Possessing treasure often invites danger.
She instinctively thought of the potency of those few medicines.
Coincidentally, though she did not understand all idioms, A-Qiao seemed to think the same.
Moreover, in such a perilous time, the whole sect had sent out only a ten-year-old child with such a precious item—could there not be a special cause?
After pondering a moment, Madam Zhang moved to contain the information and kindly instructed the maids:
“Since this girl is of notable origin and fate has brought her to our Zhen Family today, Qiaoyun, remember to instruct everyone to treat her with proper courtesy for the time being.”
“If anyone asks later, say the girl is recovering.”
At her words, the maids all answered in agreement.
Hidden in the spiritual sea, the system: “...”
Human imagination is really a terrifying thing.
But seeing that the room had cleared out and its owner had already enjoyed nearly half a day of a soft bed and pillow, the system finally relaxed a fraction, especially pleased for its host:
“This is fine too!”
“But actually, Host, even if you hate hardship, you don't need to be this reckless. We have gold and silver in our space; life would be comfortable even outside!”
As for the mission target, she was only six now, so there's no rush. The host can quietly level up and just pull her later.
It had been worried before, fearing the Zhen Family might turn murderous to seize treasure.
An Ning lay still on the bed without moving, barely rolling her eyes.
“Comfortable outside?” she thought they were imagining things.
It wasn't that simple.
In this era, silver could serve as currency, but nobles mainly used silver ingots; common people used wuzhu coins.
At a time like this, a lowly girl going out to exchange silver would practically be broadcasting her vulnerability for all to exploit.
Most likely she'd be cheated.
More importantly, without identity papers, one couldn't even leave the city gate, let alone stay at an inn.
It was safe to say she would be stuck and constantly at risk of being turned away.
If she wanted to leave, she needed to raise her strength to obtain identity papers first.
As for whether the Zhen Family would become greedy and kill to seize the treasure, she wasn't worried.
“Let's not pretend Madam Zhang is a fool who doesn't know the harm of overreaching,” An Ning said casually, playing with the delicate jade vial.
“Besides, with my current status as a lone child, if the vial is with me, how are they any better off holding it?”
Why bother making extra trouble?
Seeing the maids at the door carrying a whole set of skirts, jewelry, and various snacks, the system shut up quickly.
It marveled again at the host's talent for making people believe things.
And on the art of persuasion, its host was truly top-notch.