10. Departure from Lingzhou
Otherwise, would the second young lady think I came here specifically to find you?
Hua Yao froze, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.
What? What does this have to do with anything? It must mean that Cui Xun was just seen by someone.
Hua Yao was annoyed; she shouldn't have let him use the main entrance.
"Yao'er!" the old lady pleaded earnestly, "Don't be captivated by his appearance. Who is Cui Xun? He's a ruthless man who licks blood from the edge of a knife. How many days of peace can you expect to live in his household?"
Hua Yao had a headache. "Grandmother, you've misunderstood. I'm not familiar with him."
"Not familiar? If we're not familiar, why would you walk out of your yard?"
“Mother, Yao’er is shy. How can she admit it if you ask her like that?” Aunt Fang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
The old lady glanced at Pianzhu beside her and said threateningly, "Tell me, has your daughter secretly pledged herself to someone? If you lie to her, the Hua family will not tolerate you."
Hua Yao took a deep breath. "Pianzhu knows nothing. She just arrived." Her voice was gentle. "Did Grandmother see Duke Jin with her own eyes?"
“My aunt and I were in the front hall when Ling-ge’er came to tell us.” The old lady’s tone turned slightly somber. “If Ling-ge’er hadn’t seen us, how long did you plan to keep it from your grandmother?”
Hua Yao glanced at Hua Ling, whose eyes darted away.
"Tell me, what kind of clothes did you see Duke Jin wearing?"
Hua Ling lowered her head and remained silent.
"Why are you arguing with Ling-ge'er? He's so young, what can he understand? He's just saying what he sees." Aunt Fang patted Hua Ling's shoulder. "Ling'er, don't be afraid."
The old lady looked at Aunt Fang and her son. This was no laughing matter, and she said in a stern voice, "Ling-ge'er, why aren't you answering your second sister's questions?"
Hua Ling then stammered, "The Duke of Jin was dressed in all black, and in his hand... he was also holding a mask."
Hua Yao glanced at him; at least she could still tell the truth.
Now that things have been said to this extent, what else could the old lady not understand?
“Grandmother, I did see Duke Jin just now, and he said a few things to me…”
...
The moment the door closed, only the grandfather and grandson remained in the room.
The old lady gently twirled her prayer beads. Her voice was slow and leisurely, "The snow was so heavy that it was about to block the roads. The Duchess of Rui had no choice but to rush back from her mother's home, but she went into labor halfway there."
"On a snowy night, far from any village or land, they endured until the child was born, but they themselves did not survive. When Duke Rui returned carrying the infant, the child, wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, was almost dead."
Hua Yao frowned slightly upon hearing this.
"I survived, but my mother died, and my father passed away when I was eight years old."
"After the Duke of Rui left, the title should have belonged to that child. But he was only eight years old at the time. His uncles from the collateral branches and the old foxes in the court, who wasn't eyeing the Duke's seal?"
"They openly and secretly sabotaged him, cut off his allowance, and even spread rumors that he had caused the deaths of his parents and was unworthy to inherit the title. There were also a few ruthless people who wanted to kill him. I heard that one night, he killed three assassins by himself. He was just lucky to be alive."
A lucky life? People say they're lucky if they survive, but what if they didn't? How should they repay all those tragedies?
Hua Yao's eyes were slightly red. She wasn't so kind as to feel sorry for Cui Xun. She was just saddened by such a fate and felt sorry for everyone in the story. What should have been a happy and fulfilling family had turned into such a desolate scene.
The parents have passed away, and the young child is suffering.
The old lady continued, "He is able to hold onto his position as Duke now entirely through his own hard work and struggle."
The Prime Minister's self-preservation was suppressing the injustice and bloodshed of an innocent person.
Cui Xun's words still echoed in my ears.
Hua Yao grasped the old lady's hand, "Grandmother, how did the Duke of Rui donate the mansion? Was there any injustice involved?"
"I haven't heard of any injustice, but I have heard that he was missing his deceased wife. He should have passed away long ago, but since they were still young, he kept her alive until she died."
No, something's not right. Something must be wrong.
Hua Yao looked at her grandmother, thinking that her grandmother wouldn't lie to her, and perhaps there were some things that even her grandmother didn't know.
"Grandmother, when will Father return?"
"You silly girl, your father has been gone for half a year now, and you're only now thinking of asking about him?"
She hasn't asked about it for half a year? She's been in Daze for two months, and Hua Er Guniang didn't even ask about it for the first few months?
Pianzhu said that the lord dotes on the second young lady the most, and Cui Xun also said at Linyun Tower that Prime Minister Hua loves his daughters dearly, especially the second young lady. But... what child wouldn't ask a single question about their loving father?
Hua Yao teased, "Grandmother has misremembered. Didn't Yao'er just ask that yesterday?"
The old lady patted her head lightly, "Oh dear, look, Grandma is getting old and her memory is failing."
"Grandmother is in good spirits and health, at the perfect age for longevity and well-being. How can you say she is old?"
The old lady was amused by her and kept laughing.
Hua Yao returned to the main topic, "Grandmother, when will Father return?"
"A letter just arrived today. It will be more than ten days before we can set off. However, we will pass through my aunt's hometown of Lingzhou and pick up Yin'er along the way."
Hua Yao's heart skipped a beat. Lingzhou? What a coincidence?
She tried to keep her voice calm, "Going to Lingzhou to pick up my third sister, will you stay there for a few days?"
"We've had a long journey, so staying for a few days isn't a bad idea," the old lady said softly.
"Ah," Hua Yao said, her expression disappointed, her lips pursed. "It's been so long since I've seen my father. If I stay a few more days, won't Yao'er have to wait even longer?"
She pretended to think for a moment, then seemed to have made up her mind, "I will set off tomorrow for Lingzhou to wait for my father."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" the old lady said sternly. "Lingzhou is at least four hundred li away, which is at least two or three days' journey. It's not safe for a young lady like you."
"Leaving aside the journey, your father will not set off for another ten days or so. Even if you are worried about him, you don't need to go and wait for him so early."
Hua Yao gently shook the old lady's hand. "Grandmother, I'm so bored staying in this mansion. Please let me go out for a walk. I've never been to Lingzhou before, I'd like to go and have some fun~"
"Alright!" The old lady knew she was deliberately acting coquettishly and couldn't do anything about it. "But there's no need to rush. Grandmother needs to prepare some things for you and also bring the guards with her. You can set off a day later."
"Since we're on our way, there's no need to bring all these complicated things. Yao'er has prepared enough travel expenses, and just bring Pianzhu."
“That won’t do. If you do that, your grandmother will not allow you to leave the manor.”
--
As soon as it was light, the area in front of the Prime Minister's residence was bustling with activity.
Hua Yao stood on the stone steps, watching the servants carry the trunks onto the carriage. Her eyebrows curved, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but turn up.
A rosewood carriage slowly drove past the mansion gate.
The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing only a hand with distinct knuckles and a figure hidden in the shadows.
Qin Feng, who was driving the carriage, glanced at the bustling scene and said, "My lord, is the second young lady going on a long journey?"
Cui Xun sat inside, his eyes so deep that his emotions were unreadable.
He didn't answer, but with a flick of his fingers, the carriage curtain fell. The carriage wheels rolled over the cobblestones and gradually disappeared into the distance...
At the gate of the mansion, the old lady was still giving instructions, "I have already sent a letter to your father. When you arrive in Lingzhou, stay and play for a few days. Don't go anywhere else. Just wait for your father there."
"Don't dawdle on the road, and don't talk to strangers. When you get there, send someone to deliver a letter to your grandmother." The old lady frowned, but her tone was full of concern.
Aunt Fang, standing to the side, covered her yawns with a handkerchief and said, "I don't know why she couldn't stay at home properly and had to make this trip. Nothing outside is as comfortable as home."
Hua Yao ignored her, only holding her grandmother's arm, her eyebrows curved, "Grandmother, don't worry, Yao'er will be safe and sound."
"I want to go too!" Hua Ling ran from Aunt Fang's side to Hua Yao's side. "Second sister, take me with you, I promise I'll be obedient."
"Where are you going!" Aunt Fang pulled him back. "Following your second sister, you're only learning some unorthodox methods. You'll only become more and more irresponsible."
Hua Yao didn't want to bring him anyway, and glanced at him upon hearing this.
Hua Ling was hanging her head, looking dejected.
She suddenly winked her right eye at him very quickly, a small, smug smile curving her lips.
Hua Ling was taken aback, then turned her face away angrily.
...
At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), the carriage stopped inside the city gate.
Hua Yao lifted the curtain and instructed the accompanying guards, "You two go to Chen's shop and buy a few servings of steamed buns. Buy more so we can share them."
The guard hesitated, "Miss, Chen's shop is a bit far."
"It's alright, I'll wait here. Go on ahead." Her voice was gentle, but it left no room for argument.
Seeing the guard disappear around the corner, Hua Yao's expression turned serious, and she said to the coachman, "Let's go."
"Huh? Aren't we waiting for them?" Uncle Zhao thought he had misheard.
"Let's go."
The carriage drove out of the city gate.
“Miss, you don’t plan to take them with you.” Inside the carriage, Pianzhu sat opposite Huayao.
"It's inconvenient with so many people."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind him.
In the blink of an eye, the three riders on horseback were now running alongside the carriage, and they slowed down.
Hua Yao frowned. "No way? They caught up so quickly?"
She lifted the side curtain, and the morning light shone from the front, outlining the person on horseback with a hazy golden edge.
He wore dark riding attire and stood tall and straight.
He glanced sideways to meet her gaze, his face expressionless.
Why is it him again?
Just as Hua Yao was about to lower the curtain, she saw his gaze sweep over the empty sides of the carriage, and a half-smile curled up at the corner of his lips.
"You sent the guards away? If you encounter bandits or refugees on the road, a single coachman might not be able to protect you."
Cui Xun paused, tugged the reins slightly, and the horse moved forward half a step. "Perfect timing, we're going the same way. Traveling together will be helpful."
Hua Yao mechanically tugged at the corners of her mouth, then lowered the curtain.
Why did this person suddenly change their personality?
She lifted the curtain again, glanced at Cui Xun, and then at the two people behind him.
"Really..." Hua Yao hesitated for a long time, "...just going that way?"
"Otherwise, does the Second Miss think I came here specifically to find you?" Cui Xun's voice was cold, but his expression was not so honest.
Hua Yao rolled her eyes at him and used the curtain to block out his inexplicably tender gaze.
"Girl, are you unhappy?" Pianzhu asked, looking at Huayao's worried face.
"How can I be happy following someone who's so dangerous?" Hua Yao's voice was listless.
"I think it's great. Duke Jin is so powerful, if he encounters bad guys, he'll definitely beat them to a pulp."
Hua Yao looked up. "That's not what you said before."
"That's for bad people. We haven't done anything bad, so there's nothing to be afraid of."
Hua Yao glanced at her and thought, "Never mind, she can't explain it."
Hua Yao reached her finger towards the curtain and peered through a small gap at Cui Xun's back.
Oh no, three surveillance cameras.
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