After taking a look at the sky, she stopped talking nonsense, grabbed the reins and rode away. She could not delay any longer and had to get back before the city gates closed.
Hua Bailin chased after them for a few steps, his hands clenched into fists, his heart filled with worry for his older sister. Could his sister, who normally didn't even want to go to the rouge shop, really catch up with their father and the others
The customs of the people in Daqing are not very open. Some girls from wealthy families can ride horses, but there has never been a girl riding a horse at full speed on the road.
A carriage stopped by the roadside, the coachman opened the curtain, and a very tall and handsome man strode down from the carriage. Listening to the "clack clack" sound of galloping horses, he subconsciously tilted his head, revealing a scar on his right cheek that ran from the ear to the corner of his mouth. However, this scar did not look ugly on his face, but instead made his overly handsome appearance more masculine.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw the man on horseback.
"Master, do you want to find out the identity of this person?"
"The security of the capital is not my responsibility." Seeing that the woman slowed down before turning onto the main street, the man knew that she was a person who knew what was going on and would not let anyone find fault with her.
The main street in the city was crowded with people and cars. No matter how anxious Hua Zhi was, she had to squeeze the horse's belly to control the speed. Only war horses could gallop on this road. No one else, no matter if they were princes or powerful people, had any privileges, let alone her, a female member of the Hua family whose property had just been confiscated.
After enduring being stared at again and again, Hua Zhi finally left the city and rode away on her horse.
If she was a real lady from a wealthy family, she would be afraid when she went out, but she had been an adult soul from another world inside for fifteen years. Although she had been trying to be a lady from a wealthy family all these years, she did more than just needlework and learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She read a lot of miscellaneous books and all the geography books available on the market. She even saw the map of Daqing Kingdom many times from her grandfather. She knew that there were several roads to the north, but the exiled prisoners would only take the official road, so she could catch up by following this road.
After galloping for about two quarters of an hour, Hua Zhi saw a large group of people in front of her. The prisoners in middle clothes and the officers in uniform clothes were clearly visible.
The founding emperor of the Daqing Dynasty, Taizu, was born a commoner. He rose up in rebellion because of excessive oppression from the previous dynasty. The laws he enacted later were far less harsh than those of the previous dynasty. The most popular one was the abolition of the clause of punishing nine generations of a family. Once an official committed a crime, only the official's family would be implicated, and married daughters would not be punished.
For example, this time, only the direct branch of the Hua family and three collateral branches were exiled, one was Hua Jiyi's biological brother, one was his half-brother, and one was his cousin. A total of 54 people from the four families were exiled, and some loyal servants followed voluntarily.
As they got closer, Hua Zhi saw that her grandfather and others were all handcuffed and shackled. She felt very uncomfortable. Her grandfather, who would change his clothes immediately if they had the slightest crease, had never suffered such humiliation.
The sound of horse hooves also attracted the attention of the people in front. The leading officer raised his hand to stop the team and rode forward, "Who is coming?"
The police officer was pretending to be confused. In fact, he knew who the other person was as soon as he saw the bag on her body and on the horse's back. Usually, the police officers can make money at such times. Which family doesn't want the prisoner to be taken care of on the road? Not to mention the confiscation of property, there are still three thousand nails in a rotten boat, not to mention a century-old family like the Hua family.
Hua Zhi dismounted and bowed, then took a bag and handed it forward, "I am from the Hua family. I am sorry for the long journey. I will give you some food to relieve your fatigue."
The official took it in his hand, squeezed it, and nodded with satisfaction, "Then I will accept it with pleasure. I will give you a stick of incense to make your story short."
"Thank you."
Hua Zhi led the horse to the front of the Hua family, and everyone in the Hua family looked at her. They were all looking forward to someone coming to their home, but no one expected that the one who would come would be the eldest granddaughter of the eldest house who was usually inconspicuous.
Hua Pingyu, Hua's father, coughed lightly to loosen his throat, "Zhi'er, why are you here?"
"Someone has to come." Hua Zhi handed over the bundles one by one. There were a total of ten people who were exiled from the direct branch. When handing the bundles to her uncle, she grabbed his hand and touched a certain part of the bundle. Her uncle nodded in understanding.
Fifteen years was enough time for her to understand the personalities of her family members. Her father and third uncle took after her grandfather and were typical literati. Her second uncle was a bastard's son, so he could not enter the officialdom and he was not a particularly outstanding person. His performance was always mediocre, and even if he had some concerns in his heart, they were within the range allowed by his grandfather.
Only the fourth uncle is an oddball. When it comes to intelligence and quick wit, neither his father nor his third uncle is as good as him. When they arrive in the north, Hua Zhi relies on him the most.
"It's cold over there, so I brought my knee and wrist guards, and a set of thick clothes. Mom and my second and third aunts hurriedly made them. They won't be as warm after being washed. Wear them for a long time, don't rush to wash them."
There were no stupid people in the Hua family. They all understood and nodded in agreement.
"The Queen Mother has saved us, and everyone else in the family is fine. But we can't live in the old house anymore, so we moved to a house in the south of the city." Hua Zhi glanced at the official not far away and asked in a low voice, "Grandfather, I want to know what you were convicted of."
"Zhi'er, don't ask about the affairs of the court..."
"If Zhi'er wants to know, I'll tell you." Hua Yizheng interrupted his eldest son and whispered, "The emperor has been reluctant to appoint a crown prince, and the fight between the two princes has affected Chi Yu. I couldn't help but say a few more words, which caused the emperor to be furious. That's all."
Hua Zhi heaved a sigh of relief, "It's okay, Grandfather, you're just being taken out on me. There will be a chance to make amends after this. When you get there, just use the money where it should be used. Don't worry about not having enough. I will make money, but you must take care of yourself. Grandfather, you have to promise me."
It was clearly the most embarrassing time in his life, but Hua Yizheng smiled, "Grandfather's vision has never been bad, right or not?"
Hua Zhi's nose felt sore and her eyes turned red. There were so many brothers and sisters in the family, but her grandfather was the only one who brought her up and taught her personally since she was a child. He taught her how to write, and gave her personal instruction in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She thought she had always hidden herself very well, without revealing any trace of herself, and she didn't understand why her grandfather treated her differently.
Now she understood that no matter how much she behaved like a child, an adult's soul could never truly transform into a child's thinking. She was not afraid when she should be afraid, she was not frightened when she should be frightened, and she was not happy when she should be happy. How could a wise grandfather not see that she was different
"Grandfather, I won't let you down."
Hua Yizheng patted her shoulder and said, "Take good care of your family. I'm afraid your grandmother is not feeling well."
"I know, don't worry."
Looking at the families standing a distance from him, Hua Yizheng sighed, "If you can help those families, then help them. They have been implicated by me after all."
"yes."
Hua Yizheng walked away without saying anything more.