New World's Empress

It was late and everyone just nibbled on their dry food, but only soldiers and the two women were sitting by the fire and waiting with food for them.

"If she catches lots of meat let us have a barbeque and invite others." Liu Mei wanted to consider their bellies as she saw what they ate for days.

He shook his head. "No free meals. If you want you can prepare food and we all will pay properly. If we can pay, they can as well."

She nodded. "With rests, I can make porridge in the morning."

"Your porridge taste amazing, I have to admit. In the next city buy yourself lots of rice. In the capital the rice prices are ridiculous. Most people go to this city to buy. There are prices still normal." He listened to the sounds in the forest and smiled lightly. They are in their way back.

"Is it far from the next town to the capital?" She had a certain idea.

"Two days with the carriage, one day just horse. Not close, but not far as well."

To transport the rice it takes two days. So from the capital and back four days... Fine, still doable. While she was thinking about possibilities, a group of heavily loaded people came out of the forest.

The young man huffed under his heavy load while Hua Roulan calmly wore her package with a straight back and calm breaths.

When they started showing to Liu Mei what she caught, she just calmly nodded. Hua Roulan felt probably rushed so she caught just a few animals. If they knew that she could catch more then a dozen big animals per day then they would be even more afraid than at this moment.

"T...tiger." The woman pointed at a big animal that the young man put down from his back, but then saw a huge bear right next to it that Hua Roulan carried. The other thee carried each wild pig and a bunch of smaller animals.

"Sister, this bear fur will be perfect for winter." She was about to say more when she saw shiny gold nugget in front of her face. The woman from before that made big ruckus looked at the bear with shiny eyes.

"Two." Hua Roulan was not a fool. Someone who was willing to pay that much gold probably would be willing to pay more.

She didn't expect to see a woman taking the two nuggets like they meant nothing and stuffing them into her hands. "Deal!"

Liu Mei chuckled. "You and your people can today get a free meal. But only today."

The woman thought about it and nodded. "Deal!"

Xiao Ran shook her head. "She was unwilling to pay ten silver for your porridge, but for the whole bear gave two golds. What is in her head?"

Liu Mei patted her head and looked at the woman that went to find someone to take the bear away. "She ate the last few days in those stations and food was horrible. Maybe she just feared that it's not that worthy. But the bear is rare. And everything on the bear can be used."

"Oh. Fine. Why free food?" She looked st her in curiosity.

"Someone who carries so much gold with them and just comfortably gives away like we give simple coins... She is not simple, at all."

Hua Roulan already pulled pigs on the nearby tree and with swift movements started cleaning them up.

Bear and tiger are not her problems anymore.

The parts she wanted to salt and put as a side for them, she already set aside, and with Xiao Ran's help seasoned it, while Liu Mei started preparing the rest of food for the barbeque.

She saw many seasonal herbs in surroundings and already walked around with Xiao Ran to gather a bunch of it. Now she took some of the herbs and rubbed the meat with it.

"Can someone make me many sticks from branches for the barbeque. Quickly." She already started seasoning the meat and then left it aside.

Looking at few pots of finely cut meat, people from other carriages came near, as the woman told them about it. Looking at her swift movements they were amazed.

But even more when she started baking it over coal heat. The coal gave it a certain smell, so when first skewers were done, she put others and others. An amazing smell started spreading around them and now their stomach seriously started growling.

Xiao Ran gave first set if the food to commander and soldiers. "Sister said today no paying. You already helped us with carrying. It's good enough."

Next portion of skewers went to the two carriages. And last she made for the three of them.

While everyone munched on meat she sighed. "You two eat. I want to make fat from leftovers and leave some fried meat for morning porridge." While she was baking she already ate enough so they couldn't say anything.

Three pigs and only a few bones, intestines and insides were left.

She liked to eat intestine but people were disgusted by that and in this world there ate many dirty things, so people might not like the idea and she had no time for it.

One pot was left of fat and she let it inside the carriage while the pot with fried meat she left outside, but covered with a lid. That is something she will use for breakfast.

"Roulan, wake me up early. We should all wake up earlier to get to town before dark. Look how fast the night came again." She stretched and felt asleep tiered while Hua Roulan and Xiao Ran took off her clothes carefully and washed her hands and face.

"She is too tired. I was reckless. The forest won't run away from me. I can hunt some other time. How foolish of me." Hua Roulan could see on Liu Mei's face slight painful frown and pressed her lips.

"Then don't hunt anymore. I mean it for real." Xiao Ran saw her face and furrowed her eyebrows. "Forest might not be far but we will be. What if something happens and you are not around? Do you really plan to let her be alone with me? Or do you plan to count on that thing forever? What if one day she can't use it anymore and you are too far to protect her.? Will you be able to forgive yourself if something happens? We are no more in the palace and there are no more secret guards that can help us in case of danger. If you will be this irresponsible please go back home. It is then same with or without you."

Xiao Ran was not angry at her going away now as there were at least some people that could protect her. She was angry at her words afterwards. Planing to go to the forest again? This is not a hunting trip with her family. Liu Mei needs protection and if she is running around what's the point of having her around.

She turned her back towards Hua Roulan that was just lying on her back with widely open eyes. Thinking about the future life she just smiled and closed her eyes. Giving up on hunting? Is it important? Not really. Liu Mei was someone she chose herself to protect.

And she will not give up. Liu Mei is worth it, even if she never hunts for the rest of her life.

"Hmmm. Don't be angry. I know." That was all she had to say for Xiao Ran to understand.

"Good. Now scoot closer. Here is warmer." Actually, they were already in space and only a couple of straw dolls were lying on rice bags.

Next morning actually was Liu Mei that wake up before them. Seeing them cuddled together she sighed in relief. They were over their argument. She could intervene, but she felt its better if they take care of it alone.

She saw a couple soldiers that are awake and pointed at water pots. They stopped at a famous well and drinking water from here was not a bad idea.

She went to get rice that stood in one of the pots right next to the carriage and as soon they came back she started washing rice and preparing for cooking.

This time she had to cook for many people so she cooked a large amount of porridge. Frying some wild onions, adding meat, vegetables, seasoning and salt was already a feat.

The smell of tasty food was what woke up everyone. One by one sleepily walked towards the fire and sniffled the enticing smell.

Liu Mei pointed at the nearby well. "Wash up and get ready, right after food we will continue our travel."

Her voice sounded as it didn't let anyone deny her request and everyone complied right away.

Commander slowly opened his eyes and strange thought passed through his head. Like a godess that ruled over people with benevolence, strength and love...