amaotonovel Chapter 1228 Can people really fall asleep standing up?
Chapter 1228 Can people really fall asleep standing up?
The sky is bright.
The fire burned out overnight, leaving only black ashes in the burning pit. Cracks appeared in the yellow soil around the pit, and a few wisps of smoke occasionally rose up, only to be dispersed by the morning breeze.
The fire had burned out, and Shen Zheng, Jiang Zhiming, and the others were almost burned out as well.
Having not slept for three whole days, when it came time to clean up the mess, Shen Zheng felt her steps were unsteady, and her whole body felt as if she were walking on cotton, feeling weak and powerless.
"The water source...the water source needs to be disinfected; quicklime or wood ash will do..."
Shen Zheng's eyes also began to wander.
"Also, a prescription for treating locust poisoning... three qian of garlic, five qian of licorice root, one cotton quilt, one ink stick..."
"No, that's not right... There are no quilts or ink sticks, I misspoke..."
"Boom-"
Bad news, Shen Zheng has collapsed.
Good news, Huaduo caught it.
"Master!" Hua Duo was so frightened that his face turned ashen.
"Lord Shen!" Jiang Zhiming was terrified and rushed to Shen Zheng's side, crying, "You can't die!!"
“Lord Jiang!” Hua Duo’s eyes were sharper than a blade.
"No...no, I misspoke. Lord Shen, is Lord Shen alright..." Jiang Zhiming wanted to check Shen Zheng's breath, but he was afraid that Hua Duo would cut off his hand.
Hua Duo suppressed his fear and leaned close to Shen Zheng's chest, listening intently for a moment.
His breathing was even, his heartbeat was steady, and there was even a very faint snoring.
Hua Duo's tense body instantly relaxed. "Master is just asleep."
After saying that, she picked Shen Zheng up and carried her in her arms, then whispered to Jiang Zhiming, "Please trouble Lord Jiang to have a carriage prepared."
Jiang Zhiming, who had been terrified, snapped back to reality: "Alright, alright, alright, please wait a moment..."
Thankfully, Lord Shen was just asleep.
If Lord Shen were to truly suffer any mishap...
Jiang Zhiming subconsciously raised his hand and touched his neck.
Chilly.
......
The villagers of Wangyue chased Shen Zheng's carriage for two miles, but Shen Zheng never woke up.
After an unknown amount of time, the area around the carriage became noisy, with shouts filling the air. Shen Zheng suddenly opened her eyes.
"Master, you're awake?"
What came into view were Hua Duo's slightly red eyes.
"I... just fell asleep standing up?" Shen Zheng asked, surprised that "a person can really fall asleep standing up," while lifting the carriage curtain to check the sky. "It's not even noon yet?"
It seems she didn't sleep for long.
"It's still half an hour before noon." Hua Duo took the water bottle and handed it to Shen Zheng with a smile: "Master, have some water. I estimate we'll arrive at the Fuzhou government office around noon."
"Fuzhou Prefectural Government Office?"
Shen Zheng's hand, which was holding the kettle, froze in mid-air, her mind going blank for a moment.
“So…” Shen Zheng lifted the carriage curtain again to look around, and finally confirmed: “It’s already the day after the burning insects were finished, and I… slept for a whole day and night?!”
Hua Duo nodded slowly.
Shen Zheng slumped against the car wall.
One day and one night...
She had never slept for so long in her entire life.
"Oh, right." After her initial surprise, Shen Zheng looked again at Hua Duo's slightly red eyes: "You've been watching over me the whole way, haven't you slept?"
Hua Duo was taken aback, seemingly not understanding why Shen Zheng would ask such a question: "It is my duty to protect you..."
Shen Zheng opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
After a moment of silence, Shen Zheng took the kettle from Hua Duo's hand and said in a deep voice, "Go to sleep!"
Hua Duo still didn't react: "Alright, I'll stay here with you. You can sleep peacefully."
Shen Zheng said helplessly, "I told you to sleep. Now, close your eyes immediately, or when we get back to Liuyang Prefecture, I'll send you straight back to the capital."
Under Shen Zheng's extremely threatening words, Hua Duo silently closed his eyes.
The carriage bumped along the way, and just as Hua Duo had said, they arrived at the Fuzhou government office precisely at noon.
Jiang Zhiming repeatedly tried to persuade Shen Zheng to stay for a day before leaving, but Shen Zheng was preoccupied with Tong'an County and had no intention of staying overnight in Fuzhou. She only rested for two hours at the Fuzhou government office before embarking on her journey home again.
As the sun set and its afterglow painted the sky red, the carriage slowly departed from the gate of the Fuzhou government office.
Xin Ji, with dark circles under his eyes, bid farewell to Shen Zheng through the carriage window: "Lord Shen, I have to go home and visit, so I won't be going to Tong'an County with you."
Shen Zheng was taken aback upon hearing this.
Actually, she had almost forgotten about Xin Ji...
What a sin.
Suppressing her embarrassment, Shen Zheng sincerely thanked him: "Young Master Xin, thank you for these past few days."
After spending these few days together, Shen Zheng's impression of Xin Ji has changed considerably.
This person may seem carefree and irresponsible on the surface, but he is actually not a bad person. On the contrary, he has a passion and sincerity that has not been worn down by the world. Overall, he is a good prospect.
Under Shen Zheng's gaze, Xin Ji's ears turned slightly red, and a hint of unease flashed across his face: "Lord Shen, you don't need to be so polite."
After saying that, he reined in his horse with one hand, and when the carriage carrying Yu Nanshu and Cui Jinyin passed by, he pretended to casually raise his hand and bump into the carriage.
"Tap—tap tap—"
"Shh-"
The small curtain was suddenly pulled open, and inside the carriage, Yu Nanshu and Cui Jinyin had surprisingly identical expressions: "What are you doing?"
Upon seeing those two faces, Xin Ji's earlier unease vanished instantly.
He reverted to his usual nonchalant demeanor: "Nothing much, I just wanted to ask you two to pass on a message to Fatty for me."
To pass on a message to Fang Ziyan?
Yu Nanshu and the other woman exchanged a glance and asked in unison, "What did you say?"
Xin Ji grinned and looked in the direction of Liu Yang Mansion: "He still owes me a meal. Tell him that once I'm done with things here, I'll go to Liu Yang Mansion to find him."
"Hey—" Cui Jinyin crossed her arms and said with a hint of teasing, "When did you two become so close? If you miss him so much, why don't you come back with us?"
"Who, who misses him? Don't talk nonsense!" Xin Ji suddenly tugged at the reins, turned his horse around, and rode away: "I'm off! Until we meet again!"
Watching Xin Ji's figure gradually disappear at the end of the street, Yu Nanshu chuckled: "Cui Jinyin, this person's personality... is exactly the same as yours."
He appears arrogant and unapproachable, but is actually quite awkward inside.
Cui Jinyin instantly bristled: "You're talking nonsense!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than a commotion erupted outside the carriage. In no time, the carriage they were riding in, along with Shen Zheng's, was completely surrounded by people.
"What's going on?" Cui Jinyin gripped the carriage curtain tightly, peering through the crack at the outside of the carriage. "Why are so many people here all of a sudden? What do they want?"
Yu Nanshu also secretly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.
As dusk settled, in the warm yellow glow, one smiling and grateful face after another gradually came into focus.
"Master Shen!"
People crowded around their carriage and loudly thanked them: "Lord Shen, thank you so much for eliminating the locusts and saving our lives! You are our second parents!"
Yu Nanshu understood.
but......
“You’ve got the wrong carriage.” Yu Nanshu pulled back the curtain and kindly pointed to the carriage in front of them: “Lord Shen is in that carriage.”