Chapter 221 [VIP]

Late at night, a horse-drawn carriage suddenly drove by on the quiet road, startling a cat that was foraging for food by the roadside, which jumped onto the wall.

Chen Jing's eyes were red and swollen in the car. He had burst into tears as soon as he received the news. Qing Huai was also traveling with him, and he whispered comfortingly, "Dad, don't worry, maybe the teacher will be alright..."

They arrived at the yamen quickly, and the group got off the carriage and ran wildly towards the backyard, afraid that if they were any slower they would miss seeing Old Master Liang one last time.

The backyard of the yamen was brightly lit. Liang Shuo's wife and four children were waiting outside the door, while only the doctor and Liang Shuo were inside.

Wang Ying stepped forward and asked, "Sister-in-law, how is Master?"

Madam Liang said with a sorrowful expression, "The doctor is still treating the patient; no news has come out yet."

Everyone waited outside for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the door finally opened, and everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Chen Jing quickly stepped forward and asked, "How is it?"

Liang Shuo said wearily, "The doctor gave me acupuncture, and I'm feeling better for now."

Everyone finally felt relieved.

"However... I'm afraid there's no cure. They told us to prepare... to make arrangements for the worst..."

Upon hearing this, several grandchildren burst into tears. Wang Ying also couldn't hold back her tears and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

The doctor came out carrying his medicine box. "I am not very knowledgeable and my abilities are limited. I can only prescribe some mild tonics to help him recover."

Chen Qingyan asked, "Is there any hope of going to the prefectural city or the capital?"

"I wouldn't know about that, but you're definitely a hundred times stronger than me."

Liang Shuo cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for making the trip so late. As for the prefectural city, let's skip it. Father is too old to handle the hassle."

It takes thirteen or fourteen days to travel from Changting County to Jizhou Prefecture, and more than half a month to reach the capital. With the old man's current health, it would be difficult for him to go anywhere.

The doctor left with his servants.

It was getting late, and it was freezing cold, so Liang Shuo quickly told everyone to go back to their rooms to rest. He even prepared two separate rooms for them to stay in, so they wouldn't have to travel back and forth.

"Uncle Chen, Father wants to invite you in; he has something to say."

Chen Jing paused, nodded, and knew that his old friend wanted to tell him his last wishes.

The room flickered with lamplight. Chen Jing dismissed the two servants and sat down on a chair nearby. Looking at his emaciated old friend on the bed, he was overcome with grief and began to sob.

Liang Boqing struggled to open his eyes and saw him with tears in his eyes. He said weakly, "Zhenghe, you've come?"

"well……"

"Stop sighing, life and death are predestined... cough cough cough... I called you here to remind you of a few things, protect Qingyan and Aying... their secret... if the Emperor finds out, they'll definitely die..."

Chen Jing quickly stepped forward to support him, "Don't rush, tell me slowly."

Liang Boqing told Chen Jing his guess, "I once read a story in a travelogue about the mountains and fields. It said that a farmer in a certain place accidentally found a secluded place where there was no autumn or winter, only spring and summer. Everything could grow there, and fresh vegetables could even grow in winter..."

Unfortunately, the secret was later discovered. They tortured the farmer severely, even disemboweling him, but they still couldn't find the paradise on earth..."

Chen Jing was a smart man. He hadn't thought about it that way before, but now that he thought about it carefully, he understood the reason.

"I understand. I will help them cover this up."

"And then there's my poetry manuscript. If you have time, take it and organize it. That's all I have to say..." The son is honest and dutiful, and the grandsons are gentle and kind. As for the Liang family's business, it has always been managed by the younger brother, and the annual dividends are delivered without fail. There's nothing to worry about.

Just as the two were talking, there was a sudden knock on the door. "Teacher, Fourth Uncle, may we come in?"

Chen Qingyan and Wang Ying quietly approached from outside the door. The two had already discussed it and decided that Wang Ying would take the teacher back via teleportation.

Chen Jing got up and opened the door. "It's so late, why aren't you two resting yet?"

Chen Qingyan said, "There is something very important I need to discuss with my teacher and fourth uncle."

Chen Jing had already guessed what he was going to say. "Come in." He then locked the door behind him to prevent any outsiders from suddenly entering.

Upon entering the room, the two couldn't help but shed tears when they saw their teacher lying on the bed.

"Why are you crying... I'm not even dead yet and you're already wailing."

Wang Ying wiped away her tears and choked out, "Don't say anything about dying or anything. You still have to make sure Yuanbao becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination."

"Hahaha...cough cough cough..." The old man laughed weakly a few times, "I'm afraid I won't live to see that day..."

"Yes, teacher, if you come to Kyoto with us, I have a way to get you there right now!"

Chen Jing's pupils contracted, and he asked incredulously, "What did you say?"

Chen Qingyan quickly explained, "Originally, we wanted to keep this a secret, but now that it's a matter of life and death, we can't hide it anymore. Aying and I have an experimental field, and we can also teleport people to places we've been before. However, this teleportation ability only lasts for three times. I used it once on my way back to avoid the black market, and now I only have two left."

Despite his extensive experience, Liang Boqing was still quite taken aback by his apprentice's words.

Chen Jing also asked, "Is this really true?!"

"If Fourth Uncle doesn't believe me, come in with me and you'll see." Chen Qingyan grabbed his arm, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Liang Boqing leaned forward excitedly, "Where are they?

Wang Ying quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Teacher, don't panic. They've gone into the experimental field. I'll take you in too."

To make things easier for Liang Lao, Wang Ying simply moved his bed into the experimental field. When the glaring sunlight shone on his face, Liang Boqing was so excited that he even forgot to breathe.

"Is this the paradise you live in...?"

Wang Ying nodded, "This is the only piece of land we have. We can grow some grains, fruits, and vegetables, but we can't do anything else with it. You two have both eaten the vegetables here before. The ones we sold in the winter were all picked from here."

"And what about your knowledge of farming?"

Wang Ying paused for a moment, "Part of it was taught by an old man in my dream, and the other part was something I figured out myself." He didn't dare to mention that he had time-traveled.

Old Liang had no doubt that with such a fairyland, it wouldn't be surprising to find another old immortal; perhaps that was Shennong himself!

"Teacher, have you made up your mind? Come with us to Kyoto to see the imperial physician."

No one wants to die, not even Liang Boqing.

In the past, he had no choice but to avoid causing trouble for others, so how could he bear to miss such a good opportunity now?

"They only gave me two chances, and they've given this to a wretched old man like me. What if they can't cure me? Wouldn't that be a waste?"

Chen Qingyan and Wang Ying said in unison, "No waste!"

How could it be a waste!

Without Elder Liang, Chen Qingyan might still be unexonerated and living a life of frustration in Qingshui Town, and Wang Ying's talent would never have been discovered, let alone the two agricultural books would have been printed.

Besides these shared interests, there is also a long-standing relationship. Qingyan's father passed away early, and Wang Ying also did not receive fatherly love growing up. Over the years, Mr. Liang has treated the two of them almost like his own father. Therefore, no matter how precious the opportunity is, it is not as precious as the safety and health of one's family!

A renewed hope rekindled in Liang Boqing's eyes. "In that case, I'll go back with you!"

The scene flashed, and the group returned to the bedroom. Chen Jing, feeling uneasy, stumbled backward and almost fell.

Chen Qingyan quickly helped him up, "Fourth Uncle, please sit down."

Now that we've decided to go back, we need to discuss who will go back with us.

Going back is definitely not an option. So many people suddenly appearing in an unfamiliar place will surely cause a riot if they are discovered.

Secondly, Chen Qingyan cannot be teleported back because his identity is quite special. The Liangzhou matter has already attracted much attention, and if he were to appear in the capital quietly again, his secrets might be exposed.

Chen Jing couldn't go to the capital to report on his duties either, because he needed to fill out documents when entering the city and couldn't forge them. As for Qinghuai and his wife and Fourth Aunt, Wang Ying didn't plan to tell them about this.

Uncle Si asked with some concern, "Can Ah Ying take care of herself by herself?"

Chen Qingyan said, "Chen Ju and Chen Zhandong will also go back together. These two have already teleported with me once and know the secret of the experimental field. If it were anyone else, it might cause unnecessary trouble."

Wang Ying nodded, "As for the rest, Master may need to explain it to his family in person, otherwise we won't be able to take you away without permission."

Liang Boqing said, "Call Liang Shuo in. I want to have a few words with him alone."

The three left the bedroom, and Chen Jing had a servant call Liang Shuo over. The father and son talked for a while in the room, and half an hour later Liang Shuo came out with red eyes.

"Wherever you take Father, please take good care of him. In case of any emergency... I hope Uncle will send someone to let me know so I can go and bring him home!"

"Eh."

After receiving the news, Chen Zhandong and Chen Ju arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. Inside the house, the servants were packing up Liang Lao's things, including his books, writing brushes, ink, and poems, and taking them away in boxes.

Perhaps because he had a will to survive, the old man's spirits improved a lot, and he was even able to sit up and give instructions.

At the beginning of the Yin hour, the carriage was finally ready. A layer of straw was laid in the carriage, and two thick cotton quilts were laid on top to prevent the old man from lying down uncomfortable.

Liang Shuo personally carried his father to the car. Looking at his father lying in the car, he knew that this was probably their last farewell. He was so sad that he burst into tears like a child.

"Shuo'er, come here."

"Waaaaah, Daddy..."

Liang Boqing raised his hand and patted his arm, "You're already a grandfather and you're still crying. Don't let your grandson see you and laugh at you."

Liang Shuo cried even louder.

“This road was chosen by my father himself, fulfilling my wish to travel the world. Even if I die on the road, I will not regret it. You must not blame anyone else.”

“My son knows.”

"Alright, Dad, it's time for you to go. Take good care of the family. If my illness can be cured, we can reunite as father and son."

"Um……"

Wang Ying took Yuanbao and boarded the carriage. Only the five of them were returning to the capital. Chen Qingyan stayed behind and would return with his fourth uncle and the others the next day.

Before leaving, Chen Jing wrote several letters to Wang Ying, saying that once he arrived in the capital, he could simply take the letters to the Imperial Medical Academy and find someone to help treat his illness.

With everything arranged, Chen Ju led the carriage out of the back gate of the government office.

It was just beginning to lighten outside, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the street. After walking for a while, turning a corner into an empty alley, the carriage suddenly vanished!

At the same time, the sound of horses neighing suddenly came from the Chen family courtyard in Kyoto.

A note from the author: