Traveling was indeed arduous.
Shen Yu had never traveled far from home since childhood, and this first experience of being jolted continuously in a carriage for seven days left her extremely weak.
She was either motion sick or feverish.
The group would not stop their march because of Shen Yu’s discomfort; instead, they did everything in their power to speed up the progress to save time.
It was no wonder her grandfather had instructed the Escort Guards to find a close maid ahead of time to serve Shen Yu.
To be honest, with Shen Yu’s small frame, being shaken in a carriage for several days felt as if her internal organs were about to be blended together…
If it hadn’t been for Yin Qiu serving her well and never leaving her side, bringing her tea and wiping her sweat, Shen Yu might not have survived the hardships of this journey.
During this time, looking at Yin Qiu’s busy little figure, Shen Yu felt a sense of reluctance to let her work so hard.
The little girl was only in her teens and should still be a child herself… yet she had to keep working for Shen Yu’s sake.
Whether Shen Yu was weak from a fever or vomiting from motion sickness, Yin Qiu never showed any sign of disdain or impatience.
On the contrary, Shen Yu saw genuine concern in the girl’s eyes.
Her meticulous and exhaustive care seemed as if she were terrified of not looking after Shen Yu well enough.
In reality, sitting in a violently swaying carriage, Yin Qiu likely felt unwell herself.
But she endured the discomfort to care for Shen Yu until seven days later, when the caravan stopped to rest at a large Official Relay Station in Wangzhou.
From here, it was only about seven days’ journey to the Capital City.
To be able to forcibly compress a journey of more than a month into half a month, one could only say that this group had some skill.
Of course, it also tortured Shen Yu quite severely.
“No wonder they say that if officials from the Capital City are banished to remote regions, they will most likely die on the road… It is true.”
Shen Yu leaned against the wall, feeling as if her feet were stepping on cotton, light and airy.
She had almost lost all sensation in her legs.
If Yin Qiu hadn’t helped her put on her shoes, she might have walked straight off the carriage barefoot.
“Miss Shen, we will rest here for two days. During this time, I will be active near the Official Relay Station. If you need anything, come find me at any time.”
After the few Escort Guards protecting Shen Yu briefed her on some precautions, they went to the second floor in groups of three or five to drink.
In this rare moment of rest, no one wanted to miss the opportunity.
However, they still maintained their professional ethics, leaving a few Escort Guards responsible for handling any emergencies that might arise.
This was Wangzhou, one of the most prosperous places among the Two Capitals and Sixteen Prefectures. Its level of safety was naturally self-evident.
“Sister, let me help you back to the room to rest.”
Yin Qiu gently supported Shen Yu, asking carefully.
“Let’s take a bath first… You should wash up too. You’ve worked hard this whole way.”
Shen Yu let out a long breath. The feeling of standing on steady ground was truly wonderful.
The Official Relay Station was much livelier than usual.
One reason was that the Empress’s Medical Recruitment Exam had indeed attracted many healers who wanted to try their luck.
The other reason was that the Empire was currently not at peace; they had to suppress the bandits of Qingfeng Village, settle the internal rebellion of the vassal kings, and resist the Tartars at the border.
Officials on duty, merchant caravans transporting goods, and resting soldiers made the entire Official Relay Station exceptionally bustling.
Among them, the most discussed topic in the Official Relay Station was the Empress’s Medical Recruitment Exam.
After all, it was an unprecedented move, something even small children could chime in on.
Shen Yu also listened briefly.
The doctors who had come to participate in the Imperial Examination did not seem to know the specific symptoms of the current Grand Princess’s illness.
What they discussed were their own specialties—for example, some were good at acupuncture, some at massage—and some were inferring which stage the Grand Princess’s illness had reached based on the level of urgency from the Imperial Court…
No matter how they discussed it, no one ever accurately spoke the words her grandfather, Shen Qingtian, had told her…
The airway is obstructed, the breathing rasping like a bellows being dragged in the corner of a golden hall; the rattle in the throat during coughing sounds like young silkworms devouring mulberry leaves, a continuous, thrumming thread.
Among these doctors participating in the Imperial Examination, was she the only one who knew these details?
That wasn’t right… there seemed to be no shortage of descendants from prestigious clans and great families here.
Their appearance of fine clothes and rich food showed they had background.
If even they didn’t know the Grand Princess’s symptoms, how did her grandfather, a bandit living in a borderland, know?
“Yin Qiu, let me ask you a question.”
“Hmm? What is it, Sister?”
“What illness does the current Grand Princess have?”
“Sister… I don’t know. Unless you go to the Capital City and fight your way through to the Palace Examination, you will never know. The Princess’s illness is an absolute secret in the Capital City.”