Chapter 231 Battle of Dyes

Looking at every plant and tree in the Xie family home, Xie Jingyuan's eyes showed a shift in emotions.

When they arrived at Xie Chengzhi and his wife's courtyard, they found that the path ahead had been blocked by a bare wall.

Xie Jingyuan looked at it and sighed after a long while.

"I forgot about that."

He was much younger than his two older brothers, and if you had to say, he was actually closest to Xie Chengzhi.

Xie Chengzhi was a fun-loving and food-loving person. When they were young, he often took Xie Chengzhi and Xie Xuchuan to climb trees and swim, or to watch plays and listen to music.

But somehow, that brotherhood eventually changed.

Xie Jingyuan raised his hand, pressed it against the cold wall, and sighed softly.

"Tell the driver to prepare to depart."

The coachman waited in front of the Xie family's house, the carriage crammed with brocade to be taken to the West.

The journey was long, so he didn't bring much with him.

Xie Jingyuan looked at the carriage, a sense of unease and uncertainty about the road ahead rising in his heart.

"Alright, let's go."

He raised his hand and leaped onto the carriage.

Just as the coachman raised his whip, about to strike, Jiang Zao called out from afar, "Wait!"

Xie Jingyuan looked up and saw a thin girl carrying a huge bundle on her back, panting as she ran outside.

He was taken aback at first, then hurriedly got off the carriage.

Jiang Zao dragged her bundle to Xie Jingyuan, hurriedly threw it onto the carriage, and then opened it.

Xie Jingyuan looked at the odds and ends inside with considerable surprise.

Jiang Zao casually grabbed a sachet and quickly said, "This, this sachet is filled with Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, which can ward off evil and cleanse the body."

"I've heard that traveling to the West involves a long journey on a large ship, which is both damp and stuffy. If you feel uncomfortable, smell this sachet. It can also help you sleep if you have trouble falling asleep on the ship."

Xie Jingyuan saw the sachet flash past his eyes, and Jiang Zao rummaged through the package and pulled out several porcelain bottles.

"This bottle contains digitalis, and this bottle contains Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills. You know their effects..."

"These two oil paper packets, one is Lao Jun Mei tea and the other is Pu'er tea. I've seen you drinking them often at home."

Jiang Zao rummaged through a pile of things and pulled out the oil paper package, then quickly put it back down.

Xie Jingyuan looked at her disheveled hair and the dark circles under her eyes, and remembered the candlelight that was lit in her room when he returned home late that day.

"this……"

Jiang Zao pulled out several undergarments from under the bundle and placed them against Xie Jingyuan's front.

"I sewed these undergarments overnight. I added a lining to the front and embedded hidden buttons."

“I’ve stuffed some gold and silver ingots inside for you, in case… in case one day… you can take them.”

Xie Jingyuan lowered his eyes, looking at the few plain-colored undergarments, his gaze deep.

"And, there's also this rabbit fur coat."

Jiang Zao said, "I don't know if it's cold or hot over there, but time is short and we can't find a better hide."

"At this time of year, a rabbit fur coat is also acceptable. Don't underestimate it because I deliberately sewed two layers of coarse cloth with cotton lining on the outside."

"If you are out there alone and look glamorous, you are more likely to attract the attention of thieves."

Jiang Zao reached out and lifted the unassuming coarse cloth jacket, revealing soft, warm rabbit fur inside...

Xie Jingyuan looked at it and couldn't help but reach out and touch it.

"Time is of the essence, there's no other preparation possible."

Jiang looked up, finished speaking in a rapid-fire manner, and then fell silent again.

After a long silence, she said, "You... safety is the most important thing. Have a safe journey."

Xie Jingyuan nodded and gave her a serious look.

He opened his mouth slightly, but after a long pause, he could only utter a simple "I'm sorry."

For some reason, Jiang knew what he meant.

She shook her head and whispered, "Take care."

Xie Jingyuan raised his hand, unsure where to place it. After hesitating for a long time, he gently helped Jiang Zao tidy her hair, which had been messed up by the wind.

Seeing that she didn't dodge, he said, "Take care too."

After saying that, Xie Jingyuan pointed to the carriage, indicating that he was leaving.

Jiang Zao stepped back and watched him get into the carriage.

The carriage drove away and soon disappeared from sight.

Jiang Zao was still stunned, seemingly unable to believe that Xie Jingyuan had left just like that.

She didn't turn around until she heard shuffling footsteps behind her.

"Jingyuan..."

Xie Chengzhi was wearing a pair of cloth shoes meant for indoor use, and carrying a plate of steaming dumplings in his hands, his steps unsteady.

"Jingyuan, your second brother is late. Have some dumplings before you go..."

"Jingyuan..."

Xie Chengzhi, wearing cloth shoes, waved his hand incessantly and kept calling out Xie Jingyuan's name.

He stopped walking only when he could no longer see any shadow.

"This child...wouldn't it be better to have a bite of the dumplings your second brother made before leaving?"

Turning around and seeing Jiang Zao standing behind him, Xie Chengzhi said, "Why did he leave so suddenly? I just received the news."

Jiang Zao shook her head: "I only found out three days ago."

Xie Chengzhi sighed, "Those places in the West aren't very good; many people who go there end up..."

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Xie Chengzhi slapped his mouth: "Look at my stupid mouth."

Seeing Jiang Zao staring blankly, he said again, "Why don't you go with him? He's all alone out there, without a woman to serve him, how can he manage?"

"As Jingyuan's wife, you are supposed to follow your own destiny. How can a man struggle outside while a woman enjoys a life of luxury at home?"

Jiang Zao had always looked down on the Xie family's ways, and she especially loathed Xie Chengzhi. She already had a divorce decree in hand, so she naturally didn't want to waste time with Xie Chengzhi and turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute, where are you going?"

Xie Chengzhi asked, "Tell me, did my third brother bring all his things?"

"I brought everything."

What did you bring?

Jiang Zao lowered her eyes: "I brought everything."

Xie Chengzhi clicked his tongue: "You brought everything? What did you bring? Hey, why are you running away, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zao dashed back to her own courtyard.

Xie Qi only learned about Xie Jingyuan's trip to the West the next day. When Shen Yuanzhu told him about it, Xie Qi sighed slightly.

Having lived in the Xie family for so long, only Xie Jingyuan treated him fairly well.

Xie Qi was not saddened for long, because the Dyeing Competition was about to begin.

Yesterday, he received the judging rules for this conference at Jixia Manor, but since he had never participated before, he was unaware of any differences from previous conferences.

Shen Yuanzhu received the brocade note from Luo Shi after the two had finished their meal and Xie Qi went to take a bath.

"How come something like this suddenly appeared just two days before the conference?"

Shen Yuanzhu opened it with some confusion, glanced at it, and suddenly exclaimed "Eh!"