New World's Empress

They moved the bench a bit forward, as they had a bit more to carry. Actually, the carriage was still full but she made it comfortable.

In the back, she let the pots with oil, meat and vegetables and rice bags she put to do that they could lay down on it. They surrounded the 'bed' with the see trough cloth and even entrance and windows were covered with same material.

She got from the commander bag of silver and just let Hua Roulan have it as spending money.

The people in the two carriages looked at them strangely as they came out. But they went quickly to the filled carriage and waited for everyone. Suddenly they saw soldiers coming out and having similar hats on. They wondered even more but didn't dare to ask as they could literally see their expressions.

The way to capital will last many days and they realized why they had those hats on.

In swamp area was horrible infestation and when they passed it, they were all covered with bunch of bites that itched them for a Ling time.

Luckily the road trough swamp lasted only half a day, so when they left the swamp area everyone in those two carriages sighed in relief.

"Sister, should we take hats off now?" Xiao Ran looked at the few strikes of the sun that passed through the clouds.

"No. As soon we get near any forest there will be mosquitoes. It doesn't hurt to keep them on." Liu Mei was sitting in front next Hua Roulan and have sent Xiao Ran to sleep a bit.

And what she said became true. Buzzing of the mosquitoes could be heard even from far making everyone groan. The soldiers looked thankfully at her as they realized how much protection the hats gave.

Luckily they will soon come to open prairie, but was that protection against them was to doubt. The heavy weather made everyone sleepy and they stopped near one of the resting houses by the road.

After she saw the old building Liu Mei exchanged glances with Hua Roulan and shook her head. "Let's sleep in the carriage."

Commander heard her talking and came next to them. "We will sleep in the stall, as we prefer to sleep on hay and straw than dirty beds. You can park right next."

She nodded and parked her carriage and came out. As she hoped to eat something warm she entered the resting place, but when she saw the food that was given to the other people, she just went out and took out the small heater.

Hua Roulan brought out a pot and some clean water and they started cooking their own meal. Soon a tasty porridge could be literally smelt and growling of over two dozen of soldiers stomachs could be heard.

Hua Roulan could see her motion and brought more rice, vegetables and meat. Adding wood instead of coal made the fire stronger and the bigger pot of food was done quickly. The three already finished their meal and brought out about a dozen smaller pots in different colours.

Commander knew right away they are cooking for them so he just stood up and took the bowl with porridge first and went to eat. As soon he was done he gave the bowl to another soldier and soon all of them were done and pot empty.

He let one soldier go and wash everything and just came forward. "Thank you."

Liu Mei nodded. "I'll continue cooking for you, but you have to buy me good rice when we get to the city."

He was not one of the poor soldiers so he nodded. This was lucky for them. "We will hunt animals on our way. Could you prepare them as well?"

"Yes." The next few days she was using her own food and vegetables, but then just as he promised they started bringing food.

One morning a woman looked at her and complained. "We are travelling together. You could sell us a warm meal as well?"

Hua Roulan scoffed. "Can you afford it?"

The woman looked at her with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"

"The meat we ate today was deer. Do you know how expensive that is? Rice was bought by the commander and was first class green tea rice, vegetables came from the southern part and spices were given by the army. If you can recount how much a meal is then we will cook for you as well."

The woman shrugged. "You can just use third-class rice, some dried meat and wild vegetables."

Hua Roulan opened her hand. "Then give me the third-grade rice, dried meat and wild vegetables. Do I look like your servant?"

The woman flabbergasted saw Hua Roulan turning her back and cutting delicious deer meat into thin slices as Liu Mei told her.

Commander stepped in front of woman and opened hand. "One silver per bowl."

"This is impossible..." She wanted to say more, but he smiled and nodded.

"Exactly. This meal is worth between ten to fifteen silver in the capital. Or do you think the food there is cheap? If you think you can do cheaper, then cook yourself." He turned around and sat down as he saw Liu Mei cutting vegetables with a swift movement and frying them.

She thought about it. How can she explain the money if she goes to capital? Like this, she already got money from him and she plans to earn more on her way.

Hua Roulan was on another hand itching to go hunting, but couldn't as she didn't want to leave Liu Mei. Here she couldn't escape to the safety of her space so her heart was uneasy.

Seeing her unruliness Liu Mei chuckled. "There are two dozen of strong experienced soldiers that know how yo fight quite well. If you want to go hunting, go. Just don't stay too long. I'll worry."

Hua Roulan nibbled on her lips and then took her bow and arrows. She went straight to the commander and looked at him straightforwardly.

" I'm going to hunt. Could you keep your eyes on big sister? She is precious to us."

"Take two more men with you." He saw her unwillingness and rolled his eyes. "Do you plan to drag around your part. Just let my men take the pray home, so you could hunt more and faster."

"Fine, then give me four." She was quite confident in her skills.

He rolled his eyes again. "Yes, yes, four then. Take the troublemaker with you. I think only you can control him."

She just shrugged. "Is he any strong?"

The commander seriously looked at the flirty man, that just had a new target among the passengers of the other two carriages.

"He looks slim but is strong like a bull. Last time he took one of our people and carried him for almost twenty miles on his back while running, just to save his life."

Hua Roulan was not impressed at all. She could do the same in case of danger.

"Then he is good enough to carry pig or something bigger. I heard tiger while ago. That fur would be perfect for the next trade. We need more money. I want a sister to give birth to a nice house. You are from the capital. How much could I get for bear or tiger fur?"

He didn't want to break her bubble so he said it. "IF you can catch tiger I'll give you five hundred silver nuggets. But I want meat as well."

"Five hundred? Can I buy a house for that?" Big silver tael is worth a hundred silver bits. Five hundred should be quite a good deal.

"For that amount, you can buy a house, but not in the city itself. Do not take my words wrong, neither one of you. But to buy house inside the city, you need to have someone inside helping you and guaranteeing for you. I'd to it, but given the situation, some people might misunderstand and we would get into an awkward situation. Please forgive me." He wanted to be honest.

Hua Roulan didn't expect that. She knew that town had foreigners living inside but didn't know that rule. "Fine. Do you know maybe someone or can you tell us who we can ask?"

He sighed. "I am sorry I don't know but while you are gone, I'll ask my people and those from carriages. If they know good, if not I'll think about the way. OK?"

Hua Roulan nodded and was about to go when the commander ordered the four men to come with her. She looked at their unwilling expressions.

" I'm unwilling as well. Just shut up and don't comment. If you do, go back. But sister won't cook for you tonight. Understood! " She didn't wait for their answer and went straight into forest while they quietly followed.

Last few days they got used to good food Liu Mei cooked so going back to dried rations, they were unwilling. So they just followed her.