Chapter Twenty-Three: An unexpected encounter with Zhao Yu outside the city; Zhao Yu escorts her back to the capital.
Xiao Qingyan was about to head to another county and had been busy for several days. Finally, early this morning, he had time to find Xu Chumian.
Some things haven't been explicitly stated, but they seem to be understood implicitly.
Xiao Qingyan looked down at her. "Chumian, I really like that private seal. Tell me about it when I return to the capital, okay?"
Xu Chumian raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to hear it now?"
Xiao Qingyan smiled and said, "This is a big deal for a woman. I hope you can think it through."
Upon hearing this, Xu Chumian's eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but glare at Xiao Qingyan.
"Did you learn that from somewhere?"
Xiao Qingyan feigned innocence. The young man had handsome features and a cheerful smile. "No, that's not true. My only friend is still single and unmarried. Alright, let's not mention him."
Xu Chumian reached out and couldn't help but hug Xiao Qingyan's waist.
Xiao Qingyan was stiff all over, while the woman in his arms was soft and had a sweet smile, making him want to take her away with him.
"Qingyan, you must be careful."
Xiao Qingyan bent down and hugged her back, "I know, I'll wait for you to come back."
Xu Chumian smiled and nodded.
After Xiao Qingyan left, Xu Chumian prepared to go to the mountains outside the city to buy atractylodes.
These medicinal herbs mostly grow in the mountains and forests, and are not suitable for planting on flat land. They are mostly picked and dried by villagers who go up the mountain to collect and sell them.
The first house we visited was at the foot of the mountain, and the family there had a man named Gan Shuduo.
“Outsiders come to our village every month to collect them, so we don’t specifically send them to the city to sell.”
“Young lady, I have another basket, which I’m selling on behalf of my family.”
Yamato's smile was simple and honest, and Xu Chumian nodded, but she didn't let her guard down.
The mountain dweller quickly picked out two baskets from the woodshed.
Xu Chumian glanced at the surface, then reached under the ginseng and felt around. Only after taking out a few decent pieces did she pay.
"Okay, I'll carry it to the car for you."
When Xu Chumian arrived, she had rented a villager who pulled a cart from the village.
The mountain herb keeper placed the herbs on the cart. He and the villager exchanged a glance and, while Xu Chumian went to another house, continued what they were doing.
...
Around noon, the carriage reached the mountainside. Ganshu was still a little short; there were a few more houses ahead.
This family's house was larger than the other mountain families' houses. Their yard was blocked off by high bamboo barriers, and a wooden sign with the character "Zhao" hung on the door.
Xu Chumian didn't think much of it; there were plenty of people in the world with the surname Zhao.
It's impossible that the people living here are from the Zhao family.
So Liu Da started knocking on the door.
Footsteps soon came from behind the door.
A child opened the door, revealing the entire courtyard, which was very tidy. Some dried chili peppers and medicinal herbs were drying in the courtyard.
Xu Chumian explained her purpose.
The boy called out, "Hey grandpa, do you sell sweet potatoes?"
The people inside the room did not respond immediately.
The boy then called to another person, "Young Master, come quickly."
Xu Chumian waited quietly at the door, but suddenly, an extremely familiar figure appeared at the end of her gaze.
Xu Chumian once doubted that it was an illusion.
The man was dressed in black, with a cold and aloof demeanor and unfamiliar eyes, as if he did not recognize Xu Chumian.
Who else could it be but Zhao Yu?
Xu Chumian stood gracefully, without speaking rashly.
Zhao Yu gazed at her from afar, his dark eyes devoid of warmth. He looked away without saying a word.
The boy found it strange and called for the old clan chief.
After calling several times, the old patriarch came out holding a book, glanced at Zhao Yu who had his back to the door, and then looked outside, "What's wrong?"
The woman at the door was serene and graceful. Xu Chumian said gently, "Excuse me for disturbing you. I was just wondering if the old lady sells Gan Shu (a type of medicinal herb)?"
So that's what it was all about. The old clan leader waved his hand and said, "Sell."
Liu Da and Xiao Tong were responsible for weighing the items and paying for them.
In the courtyard, the old patriarch's eyes darted between Zhao Yu and the woman, a strange look on his face.
These two definitely know each other!
"The food is ready at home. The village is remote and there are no restaurants. If you don't mind, young lady, you can have lunch with us at noon."
Xu Chuming was about to politely decline, "Grandpa, there's no need to trouble yourself. We're just about to head back—"
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Da's stomach growled at an inopportune moment.
...
In the courtyard, Zhao Yu scoffed and went into the house first.
The old clan chief looked at Xu Chumian with even more kindness in his eyes, "Come on, come on."
He was practically ready to grab Xu Chumian and pull her along.
Liu Da looked at Xu Chumian with eager eyes. He had actually been hungry since he arrived at the first house, and although he had eaten a flatbread earlier, he was still hungry.
A hint of helplessness flashed in Xu Chumian's eyes. "Then I'll have to trouble you."
The old patriarch finally figured out why Zhao Yu had been half-dead these past few days. He no longer found it troublesome and said with a smile, "It's just simple food, please don't mind."
Inside the main room, a cool mountain breeze blew through, and a large table was placed in the center.
The old patriarch sat in the head seat, opposite Xu Chumian... was Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu's expression was cold, and his aura was unapproachable, as if he were isolated from his surroundings, making the others hesitant to speak.
The old patriarch coughed lightly, glared at Zhao Yu, and then told Xu Chumian not to be polite.
"Miss Xu, are you a medicinal herb merchant? Are you from the capital?"
Xu Chumian raised her eyes, her gaze bright, and said gently, "I sell spices; there's a spice shop in the capital."
Seeing that Xu Chumian was of good character and manners, and respected the elderly and cared for the young, the problem must lie with Zhao Yu.
Did the two of them have a fight?
The old clan chief stroked his beard, slowly hummed in agreement, and casually said, "He'an, aren't you going back to the capital later? Why not travel with Miss Xu along the way? It's still quite a distance from the capital, so it'll be safer to have someone accompany you."
Before Zhao Yu could speak, the old patriarch continued, "He An has been talented in both literature and martial arts since childhood, and is the most outstanding among the younger generation in the family—"
Xu Chumian paused slightly, then pointed outside and reminded, "Grandpa, it looks like it's going to rain outside. You can bring the dried chilies in the yard first."
The coldness in Zhao Yu's eyes froze.
Seeing this, the old clan chief quickly told the boy to collect it.
Then, I couldn't remember where I was in my conversation.
Then he pointed at Zhao Yu and said, "He'an, did you hear that? You'll be escorting Miss Xu back to the capital later."
Zhao Yu put down his chopsticks, his eyes never once looking at Xu Chumian. "I'm not going back to the capital; I'm going to the western suburban camp."
Old clan chief: "Oh, you..."
After saying that, Zhao Yu got up and left.
As soon as Zhao Yu left, the atmosphere in the main room immediately relaxed.
Xu Chumian showed no sign of distress. She smiled gently and reassured him, "Old man, it's alright. We'll take the official road back to the capital. There shouldn't be any problems."
The old clan chief sighed and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Xu, how did you and He An meet?"
Xu Chumian lowered her eyes and pursed her lips: "I don't know him."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu, who had not yet gone far, suddenly turned cold.
Guan Yan emerged from the room, still half asleep, and called out, "Master, what are you doing standing here?"
Inside the room, Xu Chumian tightened her grip on the chopsticks.
Sure enough, not long after we finished eating, a torrential downpour began outside.
The sound of horses neighing came from outside the courtyard.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed past.
Zhao Yu left.
When the rain stopped, Xu Chumian left with Liu Da, and the villagers pulled a cart loaded with a lot of Gan Shu back to the capital.
Upon seeing Zhao Yu, it would be a lie to say that Xu Chumian felt nothing, though she no longer felt the same excitement she used to have.
More than anything, I felt a mix of emotions.
The horse-drawn carriage slowly drove to the village entrance.
Before long, the sound of horses' hooves approached the carriage.
Liu Da, driving the carriage, spoke to Xu Chumian.
“Miss, it’s that young master from the courtyard just now.”
Xu Chumian frowned slightly. She lifted the curtain and saw Zhao Yu sitting upright on his horse, soaked to the bone. His face was expressionless, and he was staring straight ahead.
Xu Chumian pursed her lips and called him, "Zhao Yu."
Zhao Yu then turned his eyes to the side, his calm, still eyes seemingly suppressing emotions.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Chumian's throat tightened. "I can go back by myself. You don't need to see me off."
Zhao Yu stopped looking at her and replied calmly, "Miss Xu, you're overthinking it. It's just on the way."
Zhao Yu stopped by the incense shop on his way and watched Xu Chumian get off the carriage before leaving the capital.
"Master, why don't you go back to the manor to change your clothes?"
Zhao Yu's gaze darkened: "No need."
Although the Duke of Zhao was ostensibly suspended from his post by His Majesty, no new general was appointed to take over the western suburban camp, and everything continued as usual with troop training and operations.
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