Chapter 447: Chapter 443: Dislike for Kids_1
Yingbao looked out of the carriage window and saw a man and a woman running toward her carriage carrying a ragged bamboo basket.

The guard quickly intercepted them, shouting out loudly, “Who are you! Move away!”

Yingbao blinked and when she saw their faces clearly, she called out to the outside, “Let them come over.”

Then, the man and woman ran to the side of the carriage.

The woman wailed, “Please save my child, he has been bitten by a venomous snake.”

With that, she thrust the bamboo basket in her arms to Yingbao.

Yingbao glanced down and said to Magnolia, who was with her in the carriage, “Bring him here, let me take a look.”

Magnolia hurriedly carried the basket into the carriage.

Yingbao saw the baby’s small face turning pale gray, she sighed and told the man and woman, “Your child is very ill and it may be difficult to cure.”

The woman and the man knelt down in unison and kept kowtowing, “Please help him, even if we have to work as oxen and horses in our next life we’ll repay you.”

The corner of Yingbao’s mouth twitched and after a long hesitation, she nodded, “Alright, but if he does not survive, you must not blame me.”

“Of course.” The two kowtowed again, “If you do not trust us, we are willing to become your slaves and serve you for the rest of our lives.”

“Alright. Get up, we still have to move on.” Wei Zhan order the horse to trot along, “Just follow us from behind.”

The two nodded and went off to walk with the servants.

Yingbao poked her head out of the carriage and said to one of the court eunuchs, “Let them stay in the carriage at the back that carries miscellaneous items and don’t allow them to get off unless necessary.”

The eunuch agreed to her orders and ran to execute it.

Yingbao then took a closer look at the baby and administered a little Five Ding Zhi.

The child in the bamboo basket seemed to get a little better, even opened his eyes to look at Yingbao.

She touched the baby’s small face and played with him, making the baby smile.

Yingbao picked him up and whispered softly, “From now on, you will be my child.”

Magnolia sat by her side without making a sound.

The baby laughed even harder and made babbling sounds.

At night, the caravan entered an inn to rest.

Yingbao was led by the innkeeper, Wei Zhan, to a courtyard.

Magnolia, carrying the baby in the bamboo basket, followed them.

Then, Palace Maids, Xinghua, Qiu Xiang and He Xiang, came to serve Yingbao for washing and bathing.

Yingbao also gave the baby a bath in passing.

Wei Zhan asked displeased, “Why do you keep him at your side? Wouldn’t it be the same to hand him over to the maids?”

“It’s different, I find him very adorable, and plan to adopt him as my godson.” Yingbao answered while holding the baby and playing with him.

Wei Zhan: …

He secretively glared at the baby after washing his face and hands. However, catching his glare, the baby thought it was a game and laughed out loud.

At night, when Wei Zhan went out to check on the condition of his parents, Yingbao put the baby next to her and whispered to Xuanwu, “Help me see if there’s still any poison in this child.”

Xuanwu snorted and unwillingly said, “The poison has not been completely eliminated, didn’t you notice his little face is still black?”

“How to eliminate the residual poison?” Yingbao asked.

Xuanwu indifferently said, “Bathe him in the Holy Spirit Water every day. After thirty days it can completely remove the poison.”

In fact, Yingbao’s blood could have also immediately detoxified, after all, her body was reshaped by the divine beast Xuanwu’s essence and blood, but Xuanwu wouldn’t tell her that. Once she realized that her own blood could detoxify, she would undoubtedly think of that drop of golden blood.

Xuanwu didn’t want to give its flesh and blood to a mortal.

Yingbao: “Then give me a small basin of Holy Spirit Water now.”

Xuanwu grunted, “It’s under your bed, you get it yourself.”

Yingbao got off the bed and saw that there really was a clay pot under her bed, she reached out and touched it, it was still warm.

“Thank you, Xuanwu.” She unwrapped the infant, stripping him of his swaddling clothes, and placed him inside the basin.

The infant flailed his tiny arms about, his face twisting as if he wanted to cry.

Yingbao quickly took out Xuanwu and placed it into his hands.

The infant paused, then clung to Xuanwu, delivering it straight to his mouth. He started to chew on the turtle shell, his drool flowing freely.

Xuanwu seethed, wanting to scratch someone.

This darn woman! How dare she let a mere mortal child gnaw on a divine beast like it was a flatbread!

Wei Zhan came in from outside, noticing his wife tending to the baby’s bath, and said, “If you love kids this much, we should have one of our own.”

Yingbao remained silent and beckoned Magnolia over to help hold the infant and prevent him from drowning.

Magnolia asked with curiosity upon seeing the golden little turtle the baby was munching on, “Where did you pick up this turtle, Commandery Princess?”

“This is my pet, not something I picked up.”

Yingbao dried her hands with a towel, then turned to Wei Zhan, “Have the arrangements for my parents been sorted out?”

“Yes, I’ve had the postmaster prepare meals and hot water for them, there’s nothing else to worry about for the moment.”

Yingbao nodded: “You’ve worked hard. Make sure you rest early as we will continue our journey tomorrow morning.”

Wei Zhan took his wife’s hand, “You should rest too, the maids are capable enough to look after the child.”

“I want to bring him with me.” It would be absolutely unacceptable to hand the child over to the maid.

If anything were to go awry, it would spell trouble for the whole family.

Wei Zhan, helpless and realizing that resistance was futile, reluctantly gave up some space on the bed for the baby.

After a full two quarters of an hour, Yingbao let Magnolia bring the baby over.

She padded his butt with a diaper, wrapped him up in a swaddling blanket, and settled him down beside her.

At this moment, the infant’s little face was all rosy, his eyes were closed and he had already drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Magnolia and others came in to change the baby’s diapers and feed him sheep’s milk.

The sheep’s milk was purchased from the postmaster, boiled once more and it smelled delicious.

Several sheep were being raised at the station, usually herded out to pasture by the post riders.

When they were about to leave, Yingbao bought a lactating ewe and a lamb from the postmaster, planning to carry them along in the carriage.

They took their time on the road, and finally arrived at Zhouhe County after about ten days.

The County Magistrate of Zhouhe County and several other officials stood ready to greet them at the city gate, saluting Yingbao’s carriage.

Yingbao did not enjoy such occasions, so she left Wei Zhan to deal with it and continued on her way to the Princess Residence.

This mansion had been under renovation ever since she was named Commandery Princess, and was almost ready by now.

Upon entering the courtyard, Magnolia and several senior palace maids set about tidying up, cleaning the rooms, packing, laying mats and arranging bedding.

The baby was held by Xinghua and followed closely behind Yingbao, examining the surroundings.

Chunniang, Jiang Sanlang, and Old Man Jiang’s family, including Jiang Liu, were settled in a separate courtyard to rest. Qiu Xiang and He Xiang, along with a few maids, were assigned to fetch water and cook for them.

After doing a round, Yingbao had a good understanding of the mansion’s layout and decided to lie back down for a rest.

Having spent over ten days bouncing about on the horse-drawn wagon was really unpleasant.

Luckily, there was the baby to distract her, otherwise, she would have preferred to walk.

“Chu Wuyang, give me a smile!” Yingbao teased the baby.

She gave the baby a new name, Chu Wuyang. Meaning King Chu is safe and sound.

Chu Wuyang looked at her with his brows furrowed, then rolled over using the strength of one leg. He then tried to crawl toward Yingbao but couldn’t seem to make it move.

“Oh! You’ve got some guts now.” Yingbao laughed at his efforts, took out Xuanwu and placed it on the bed to prompt the little child to crawl over.

Xuanwu was resigned, rolling his eyes in annoyance and grumbling, “I hate kids!” Especially salivating children.