After leaving the manor, Yu Pin Yan persistently spurred at top speed and finally caught up with the Crown Princeâs group at the ten-mile pavilion outside the city wall.
The Crown Prince was sitting erect atop a Feghana horse. He was tall in stature and had eminently handsome features. His comportment was graceful and poised with an elegant and refined demeanour, which had roused much admiration.
âWhat matter held you up?â He turned around and asked.
Yu Pin Yan reverently cupped both his hands, âMy younger sisterâs old injury relapsed. I stayed behind to wait for the doctorâs diagnosis and treatment, and left afterwards. I request Your Highnessâ forgiveness for holding up the journey.â
The Crown Prince and Yu Pin Yan had a genuinely good friendship, thus he would certainly extend his fondness towards Yu Xiang, who had sacrificed herself to save Yu Pin Yan. As a broad-minded person whose natural disposition was honest and kind-hearted, he would definitely not berate him over such a petty matter. He just waved his hand and said, âThere is no harm. Has your younger sisterâs injury taken a favorable turn? When we return, bring my name card to the imperial hospital and invite Physician Xie. He is quite skillful in the respect of treating bone injuries.â
âMy younger sister is doing much better right before I left. Iâm truly grateful for Your Highnessâ concern. I would then be shameless in borrowing Your Highnessâ name card once we returned.â Yu Pin Yan promptly expressed his gratitude after hearing those words. Nobody could request for Physician Xieâs service as he would only treat the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
As the damage caused by this disaster was too serious, they could not afford any more delays. After a brief chat, they both spurred their horses to hasten on with the journey. When they reached the mountainous terrain, the weather had turned gloomy and clusters of dark clouds could be seen rapidly gathering above. Rolling thunder and surges of lightning billowed between the layers of clouds. The sight was rather terrifying.
âThis is not good. Itâs about to rain heavily. There is a village seven to eight miles away. We can borrow the place of a peasant for shelter temporarily. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Pick up speed.â The imperial guard who was the lead scout shouted.
The convoy unconsciously tightly straddled and spurred their horses forward, intending to speedily brave through the rain.
Yu Pin Yan was the only one hesitant. The more he looked down the path, the more it seemed to resemble Xiangâerâs description. Mountains on the left and a canyon on the right, and a large surging river winding through the valley of the canyon. The current of the river rushed past with an immense roar. Xiangâer had never been away from home and yet her description of the scene was as realistic as though sheâd been here herself.
Was that dream really just a dream? Yu Pin Yan clenched his teeth inwardly.
It was now too late to ponder. Large rain drops pelted down ferociously from above. Someone urged the Crown Prince to get into a carriage but he declined, spurring his horse past the imperial guards and rushed to the front. Yu Pin Yan hastily caught up to him and overheard peals of a rustling sound. He turned his head and caught a quick glimpse to where a block of loosened rock tumbled onto a tuft of grass.
Yu Pin Yanâs eyes darkened. He pursued the Crown Prince and shouted, âCrown Prince, please stop. We must not continue moving further. Thereâs danger ahead!â
The Crown Prince vaguely heard the word âdangerâ and thought there might be an ambush ahead. He immediately tightened his reins, his horse raised its front hooves and neighed. It steadily halted a moment later.
âWhat is the matter? Are there bandits ahead?â His words were laced with anxiousness.
âItâs not bandits,â Yu Pin Yan shook his head. âThe force of the rain is too massive. We had better wait until the rain stops before moving further. Look, Crown Prince. Those mountain rocks are on the verge of collapse scouring by the rain water. It would be dangerous if we are to be smashed by those.â
As he talked, a cantaloupe-sized rock coincidentally tumbled down and dropped onto the creeper grass beside the path. If that rock had been much larger, it would have possibly taken a manâs life. The Crown Prince knitted his brow in hesitation.
The Minister of Revenue, Yu Wen Tao, waved a disapproving hand. âIt is only seven to eight miles away. How could we meet with a mishap during a half hour journey? Where would we take cover from this torrential downpour? How long should we wait?â
The Crown Prince felt even more perplexed.
âBetter safe than sorry. It would be a trifle matter if we got injured, but the Crown Prince must not get injured. Moreover, we are carrying eight million silver liang worth of disaster relief. If the falling rocks startled the horses and caused the carriages to overturn, those silvers might fall over the gorge and plunge into the river, then who is going to compensate? Itâs better to be cautious.â Yu Pin Yan strongly argued his ground.
Yu Wen Tao shook his head and wanted to refute, but the Crown Prince interjected with a command, âAll stop here. Find a safe and spacious area to set camp to rest and reorganize. Fang Wei will bring along several imperial guards to go ahead and explore. Once the road conditions are determined favorable, we will move again.â
Fang Wei was the commander of the Crown Princeâs imperial bodyguard. Without demur, he accepted the command and left. Yu Pin Yan took out a tent and set it up.
It was raining cats and dogs. Muddy water seemed to drip from every possible surface. The pitched tents merely acted as canopies over their heads as their feet were soaking in the water, and one could not even sit or stand or relieve the unbearable strain of exhaustion on their thighs.
Staying in the peasant households just seven to eight miles away would have been many times more favorable than this desolate open field puddled with rainwater. There would have been hot water, dry soft blankets and delicious food. Although none of the convoy said anything out loud, they were grumbling inwardly.
Yu Wen Tao heaved a sigh at his personal attendant and said, âThe Crown Prince is capable, but he is certainly overcautious. It is only a half hour journey; what mishap could possibly happen? He doesnât heed anyone elseâs words and only listens to that pubescent study companionâŠâ
The personal attendant pointed his finger at the next tent and motioned his master to lower his voice.
Yu Wen Tao puffed on his moustache, rather nonchalantly.