Explanation

The deep darkness made his eyebrows and jaw look profound. Xiao Yingzhu lowered his eyes and gathered back the black hair that was hanging in front of him. In the cool light of the night, he straightened his glowing long clothes, stood up, responded to her words lightly, and the two of them walked together.

Qin Lan had already paid the money and was standing waiting downstairs of the Guanyue Tower.

The carriage from his mansion was parked in an open space not far across the street. Seeing Jiang Nian and Xiao Yingzhu getting off one after another, he was not surprised. He smiled and waved his hand, then walked across the street and got into the carriage.

Ai went with him. He said goodbye to them across the street and got into the carriage with Qin Lan.

Yunxiu knew his own limitations, so he just said hello to Xiao Yingzhu and slipped away. He was so fast that he was afraid that his salary would be deducted if he stayed in front of Xiao Yingzhu for any longer, so he disappeared in a moment.

After spending a short while with others, we all go our separate ways. The next time we meet, it will be time to set off again.

Jiang Nian turned around and saw the car from Qishan Mansion was still parked in the same place. Xiao Yingzhu lazily withdrew her gaze and said to her lightly, "Jiang Nian, it's time to go home."

The shadows of bamboos rustled, and there were few people on the street. Jiang Nian turned around and saw his expressionless profile. Thinking of what they both knew, a slight smile appeared on his face. He responded softly and returned to the carriage together.

The driver had already returned from the flag pavilion and was sitting in front of the carriage, sipping the wine he had just drunk.

There was the sound of horse hooves on the road, and the carriage turned around and took another road back home.

Without the noisy people, the room suddenly became much quieter. The fragrance of agarwood gradually diffused into the body's internal organs in the silence.

Xiao Yingzhu closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, with a few strands of hair hanging in front of her neck. She had been disturbed by them all night, and her head was probably aching, so she looked a little tired.

In front of outsiders, he is always unpredictable and does what he wants, rarely showing his true feelings, but occasionally he will reveal his elegant and graceful demeanor for no reason.

This charming face will easily attract and bewitch anyone who is not careful. When you get close to him distractedly, you will be shocked to find that he has a cruel and cold aura. Then the vines will embed deeply and you will be trapped.

It was rare to see such a meticulous person let down his guard and rest so casually and gently in front of her in a place where danger was hidden.

Jiang Nian gently slowed down his breathing and quietly moved his eyes away from Xiao Yingzhu's face. The night scene outside the window slowly receded.

She had never thought that she could be so relaxed with him.

She knew Xiao Yingzhu's calculations and his plans. She knew that if she got close to him, she would be in and out of danger at any time, just like opening a box of unknown disaster. Her plans could be wiped out at any time because of his thoughts and ideas.

But apart from these, his ordinary leisure side is like fog in a mirror, impossible to know in full, and only a glimpse of a corner of it can be caught occasionally.

Considering that Xiao Yingzhu was tired, Jiang Nian kept quiet intentionally. When Jing stroked Qing Luo's sleeve and passed by, he looked up and found that Xiao Yingzhu had woken up again.

When their eyes met, she paused, tapping her sleeve with her hand, and spoke softly, afraid of disturbing the tranquility.

"If you are tired, it won't hurt to take a rest."

His face was relaxed with a hint of smile. He leaned on his elbow and looked at the scenery receding outside the window. All the tiredness faded away, and the familiar nonchalance returned to his body.

"Don't worry, I'm just a little tired."

After a slight pause, Xiao Yingzhu turned his head away from the window again, speaking in a light tone and looking at her with raised eyes.

"The departure date is set for five days from now. Before then, is there anything you would like me to tell them?"

The employees who develop the insect repellent are staff members, and it would be clearer and more efficient if Xiao Yingzhu gave instructions directly.

Jiang Nian was surprised that he cared about the operation of the pharmacy and was even willing to help her arrange the pharmacy when she went to Cang County. She was stunned for a moment and then shook her head with a smile.

"I appreciate Mr. Xiao's kindness. With Xinfeng and Yunxiu looking after the medicine shop, it will be more than enough."

Normally, they only obey orders from the Duke of the current dynasty. The two secret guards, who are similar to modern senior security officials, stay in Pingzhou specifically to look after the safety of her pharmacy and warehouse, which is completely sufficient.

If Xiao Yingzhu had to come in person to advise and issue orders on even the internal management arrangements of the pharmacy, it would be too much of a mobilization.

Besides, she was working with Xiao Yingzhu specifically to take care of these things. They were things she needed to worry about, and she shouldn't have been lazy and left them to him.

As they spoke, Jiang Nian suddenly felt the harmony of the current atmosphere. Recalling their tit-for-tat and mutual probing a while ago, she couldn't help but find it amusing, unable to conceal the throbbing smile that welled up within her. Not wanting him to notice, she hastily lowered her brows.

There was a clear distinction between black and white in Xiao Yingzhu's eyes. Mingrui noticed the slight change in her expression. Her thoughts became clear, but she turned her eyes away as if in a mist, and casually changed the subject, bringing up serious matters that had nothing to do with romance.

"Cang County is in turmoil. We need to prepare some sharp weapons for self-defense while we sort things out."

Thinking of the items Jiang Nian wanted to take out from the blacksmith shop at that time, a different kind of interest appeared in his eyes.

"How many items of self-defense have you prepared?"

When Zhao the Blacksmith pounced on her, she only took out half of the pepper spray and stopped. Seeing Xiao Yingzhu in front of her, she reacted very quickly and put it back into her bag, but he still saw it.

But for her now, there is no need to hide anything.

Thinking of the handy protective weapons she had made in her spare time, her mind was torn. Then she broke away from the ambiguous emotions that had been flowing in her mind just now, and her face showed a clear and serious expression:

"If you need it, you can use it."

The momentary inquiry in Xiao Yingzhu's eyes suddenly dissipated, and her gaze on Jiang Nian's face became a little less focused.

"That's good."

The receding night scene outside the window stopped, and the familiar building now appeared beside the window.

A figure was faintly standing at the gate of Jiang Mansion.

Noticing that Guizhi was waiting there, she had no reason to stay in the carriage any longer.

The origin of the jade porcelain bottle turned around in Jiang Nian's mind. Her eyes met Xiao Yingzhu's meaningful eyes, and she realized that they both knew each other tacitly but had not made it clear. The doubts in her heart were resolved. She smiled and said goodbye to him calmly.

—

Guizhi had been waiting at the gate of Jiang Mansion for a long time. When she saw Jiang Nian getting off the low-key yet noble carriage in the dark, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. When she came closer, she lowered her voice and asked:

"Miss, did you get off...Duke Xiao's carriage?"

After experiencing a series of inexplicable changes in their relationship in such a short period of time, Jiang Nian has become accustomed to it. In addition, Xiao Yingzhu had ridden in the same carriage with her back home once before, so she naturally thought it was insignificant. But for Guizhi, it was the first time she had seen it, so it was not surprising that she was surprised.

They were standing outside the Jiang Mansion, and it was inevitable that they would be seen. Jiang Nian shook her head and was not prepared to speak in public. Besides, apart from the subtle changes in her relationship with Xiao Yingzhu, the more important thing was where to start bringing up the fact that she was suddenly going on a long journey.

If they said it directly, given the personalities of the two maids, they would definitely be shocked and worried. Then they told Jiang's father and mother, and finally they insisted on going together to take care of her.

The relaxed mood she had just had with Xiao Yingzhu gradually faded. There were many things that needed to be properly arranged and prepared in the next five days, and she had to start immediately.

The two of them walked all the way back to the wing room at night. Guizhi was just about to ask Jiang Nian if she wanted the kitchen to send some porridge when she saw Jiang Nian close the door of the wing room and quietly told her to ask Fuling to come.

Seeing Jiang Nian's solemn expression, Guizhi knew that he must have something to explain. She hurriedly stopped talking, turned around and went to the rest room to call Fuling.

Two maids were standing by the table. Jiang Nian was drawing a grid that looked like a schedule with her eyes downcast, adding the date on it.

She finished drawing the calendar and then simply filled it in with a few strokes, bringing the cinnamon twig and poria cocos closer for a closer look.

"This is what the pharmacy needs to do in the next month..."

Thinking that if she went to Cang County for a month, she would not be able to return to Pingzhou in time for Sun Dun's return, the faces of Qing and Yu flashed through her mind, and then were suppressed.

Jiang Nian paused for a moment, looked at the two bewildered maids, and said something extremely weighty.

"I'm going to Cang County on some business in five days. You'll be in charge of the pharmacy from now on. Of course, Xiao Ying... Duke Xiao's secret guards will also be here to help. There's no need to worry about anything going wrong and not being able to complete the plan properly."

Compared to Guizhi who was still thinking about how to digest this row of information, Fuling reacted quickly.

"The secret guard named Xinfeng came to the warehouse? What about the pharmacy?"

Fuling asked the main points directly, without asking any other questions that were mixed with things that were difficult to understand.

This made Jiang Nian very satisfied, and she nodded with satisfaction.

"The pharmacy is being managed by another secret guard named Yunxiu. He will coordinate other matters in Pingzhou with the operation of the pharmacy. You don't have to worry, just operate as usual."

Recently, there have been more refugees in Pingzhou. Over time, Guizhi and Fuling, who often observe the changes in Liangdu City on behalf of Jiang Nian, have also observed it. Compared to Jiang Nian who knows the internal situation, they know nothing about it. Recently, they have always been worried about these refugees who come suddenly and seem like uninvited guests.

The capital of Liang had been peaceful for many years. During the previous war, it was more peaceful than other areas because of its terrain and the fact that it was not a battleground for military strategists. In addition, in recent months, it seemed to be "protected", becoming even more peaceful and tranquil. But now, the sudden arrival of these refugees gave people some bad omens.

Like the strange calm before the storm.

After hearing Jiang Nian's assurance, Fuling had many questions, but thinking of the alliance of their pharmacy, she resisted the urge to ask further questions.

Guizhi saw that no one around her wanted to ask anything else, and was a little bit unbelievable, so she asked the question that concerned her most.

"Miss, it would take three or four months to go to such a far place, and another three or four months to come back, which adds up to more than half a year. Even if we rule out other issues, it's difficult to return in just one month just based on the time... not to mention that the spy is coming back soon."

She glanced at the schedule on the table.

"Miss, it's been so long. By the time you return, a lot will have changed. Market prices are hard to predict and change all the time. It's probably difficult to predict what will happen six months from now."

Recently, Guizhi has also taken over some of the affairs in the pharmacy. Under the supervision of Fuling, he has learned to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and even knows some professional terms in business.

Seeing that Guizhi, who had always been lazy, had now become calculating, Jiang Nian still found it difficult to connect her now with the Guizhi he first met, but the expressions in her words were exactly the same.

"Besides, if you're gone for that long...if something happens, we won't be able to find out right away and help you."

Thinking that they were the ones doing the daily housework and Jiang Nian was almost exclusively busy with the affairs of the pharmacy, Guizhi could hardly imagine how much hardship and difficulty she would have to endure if she had to travel so far away in five days and stay in a place she had never been to for a month.

Besides, there are many dangers along the way.

The reputation of Cang County doesn't sound very good. The refugees who came to Liang capital recently came from Cang County.

Jiang Nian didn't want to explain too much, and only mentioned that Cang County had the minerals she needed to make prescriptions, and she had to go and see it in person to confirm the future operation of the pharmacy.

The chirping of cicadas outside the wing room was silent. It was not a good time to disturb Jiang's father and mother. The two maids were silent for a while, and it seemed that they both had other things to say. Even though they knew that it would be arranged in a short time, it was difficult for them to accept this change.

Jiang Nian had no choice but to prepare to talk to Jiang's father and Jiang's mother tomorrow, and then let Jiang's father and Jiang's mother make the final decision and let them explain to the maids.

Seeing them leaving, she was silent for a while, then called for the secret guards.