The Choice Queen's

TCQ 38: Fiery Fire

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Lothawat! Sword Starter go robbing together mountain bandits!”

Mo Wei's shout instantly echoed filled the silent hall that night. Nangong Zirui who was writing and stamped on the documents immediately stopped and fell silent, then stared fixedly at the newly arrived Mo Wei. He saw that his bodyguard was breathing like a fish on land, like he was dying and his lungs were filled with a lot of air.

“Speaking clearly! Didn't I tell you to go to Jinchuan? Why are you back?” Nangong Zirui asked in an annoyed tone.

“Your Majesty, it was originally so. We were already halfway through, but were suddenly intercepted by bandits at Shanxi Mountain. The Sword Starter told us to split the two materials, he himself instead went with the bandits in exchange and bail!”

Nangong Zirui held his shock inwardly. He watched all the words and digested them well. “My Sword told the Social Minister to keep going to Jinchuan with half the amount of food, while I was told to return to the capital and report the situation to His Majesty.”

“Did he say something to you before leaving?”

“My Sword says, this is the King's fault. That's it.”

After thinking for a moment, Nangong Zirui finally understood. The girl would not do without no reason. He should have realized something so he dared to say it and left alone. This girl is really good at making him worry and adding to his work!

“Wang Bi, prepare the horse. Tell people to open the treasure warehouse and send it to Shanxi Mountain!”

“Your Majesty, no way, it's already night. Your Majesty better wait for a bright day if you want to go!” Wang Bi forbade for worrying about going out these nights without planning. What will the ministers say tomorrow if they find out the King has suddenly not attended the court meeting and is not at the palace?

But his call did not work. Once Nangong Zirui gave the order, it would be difficult to make him retreat. “Can my people still wait until tomorrow?”

Wang Bi did not speak anymore and hurried to execute the order.

Meanwhile, Li Fengran spent his day surrounding the village. The people in the village initially felt foreign, but then some of the bandits who had previously met said that Li Fengran was a guest and slowly they changed their attitude. Li Fengran could freely roam around, paying attention to all the activities carried out by the villagers.

Chen Ping was long gone and did not return until the afternoon. Perhaps, that one-eyed bandit went back down the mountain to rob or went somewhere else to work on something. Li Fengran did not care anymore, after all he was not here to be creative. Occasionally he helps residents who are in trouble or become friends tell stories of women who lack work.

From them, he knew the background of this village. Just as Chen Ping had said, this small village was a village that housed displaced people. As the new winter passed, the plants and gardens on the mountain were still not able to be planted so that the food supply began to decrease.

Usually at a time like this, the men would go down the mountain to search by robbing or looting the goods carried by the people who passed under the mountain.

Li Fengran's hand was suddenly pulled by a small child as he walked around.

“Beautiful sister, do you want to play with us?”

Li Fengran bent his body to look at the little boy and found out he was Xiao Shi. Li Fengran flashed his smile after seeing the little boy's face filled with sticky sweets. This kid is pretty adorable.

“Xiao Shi, what game do you want to play?”

“Come, sister beautiful!”

Xiao Shi pulled Li Fengran's hand and forced him to leave with her. The village children gather on the edge of a small lake that holds water for the lives of the villagers. Across the lake is directly adjacent to a lush forest, which drains cool air for everyone to breathe.

Xiao Shi and his companions picked up a few pebbles in hand, their faces showing high interest. “Kakak, let's play stone throwing. Who throws the farthest, he wins.”

Then, one by one the children threw stones and counted how many times their throwing stones bounced over the surface of the lake before sinking. When there are more than three bounces, they will cheer as if they just got a wave in the new year. If there was a slight reflection, then they would throw it again after a bit of ridicule.

“Kakak canti, now it's your turn!” Xiao Shi gave Li Fengran one pebble and kept it in his palm.

“I also have to throw?”

“Of course.”

“Beautiful sister, you are even more stupid than Xiao Shu. That's not how you throw it!” Xiao Shi laughed mockingly. Li Fengran was a little embarrassed because his abilities turned out to be lame.

“Beautiful sister, you have to throw it low, until the stone bounces. Not throwing it like throwing a gun!”

“Ah, I suck at throws. What if you play the others?”

The children shake their heads.

“Why?” asked Li Fengran curiously. Xiao Shi then replied, “Today can't play anymore. It was late afternoon, our parents were setting up a campfire and we couldn't wander around anymore.”

“Fire a bonfire?”

“Today is the anniversary of the village. So, adults usually hold a campfire and sing together at night.”

“Is that?”

“Yes. There will be plenty of food and singing. Beautiful sister, let's go back!”

Xiao Shi and the other children brought him back to the village. In the middle of a large land, a pile of firewood had been arranged into a round and tall. Some men are seen still trying to stack wood and tidy it up. Meanwhile, a puff of smoke from the direction of Chen Ping's kitchen soared high into the air, mixed with a delicious aroma that was quite appetizing.

Apparently, some women are cooking and preparing dishes for the bonfire tonight. Everything rolled up the sleeves to the elbows, then the rough hands cut the vegetables and meat and pounded the seasonings, some of them wriggling in front of the furnace and frying pan.

Li Fengran was like he was in another world again. Knowing that Li Fengran was standing there, one of the women then pulled his hand and brought him in. They taught him how to cut vegetables and meat, then sauteed them using a frying pan and stove.

Previously at the palace, Li Fengran had never cooked and the food was brought by Xiang Wan. Today, he was happy to see the process of making dishes that were directly cooked on a clay and firewood stove.

Although it smokes, it is satisfying.

“Nona, you are our guest. Old Brother Chen said he should entertain well. We did not expect Miss to have good cooking skills,” said one woman.

“I'm not really good at cooking. It's just that it's quite fun,” said Li Fengran. The other woman laughed.

When it was late and the sun had already set behind the mountain, the men Li Fengran had never seen had returned to the village with Chen Ping. They brought several types of tubers and some medicinal ingredients obtained after a day down the mountain.

When everything was ready and the residents had gathered together, Chen Ping lit the bonfire and the wood was instantly on fire. The heat sensation from the fire warms the village, giving a light that illuminates the night. Boisterous applause as well as joyous cheers rang out, radiating warmth into Li Fengran's heart.

These unknown villagers, everything looks different tonight. Their faces were full of joy and happiness. In some corners, the men clashed glasses of wine until drunk. Some eat, some just sit around waiting for the night.

Some residents then stood in a circle near the campfire, holding hands and starting to sing as they turned. The sung song sounded unfamiliar to the ears, but it made Li Fengran moved. Singed together, Li Fengran was drifting in it.

“Life is a journey, reincarnation is a cycle that goes without sound. We live today, we live for tomorrow. No regrets, togetherness produces a heartwarming resonance of voice,” they keep singing.

Li Fengran smiled. The lyrics are simple, but very meaningful. He did not regret deciding to become a hostage, because this is how he saw the life of the bandits and their real family. They are branded creepy and cruel, but very warm when they return home.

Chen Ping suddenly walked up to him and handed him a jug of wine. The one-eyed man's face wasn't as big as it was this afternoon. Instead, he seemed very friendly. “Are you used to being a hostage here?” candelessly.

“Compose so. Brother Chen, I don't mean to refuse your kindness, but I really can't drink wine,” Li Fengran said after he received the wine jug. Chen Ping laughed.

“It looks like this time the King actually found a treasure. Miss, I won't force you to drink. You can save it as a gift for your king.”

Afterwards, Chen Ping left again. Li Fengran only looked at him, before finally keeping the jug of wine by his side.