“I can’t bear to see you blinded by the fog, miss out on a happy marriage, and live with regret for the rest of your life. To put it another way, if Lord Bai were the kind of person who would curry favor with the powerful, why would he have offended the Emperor in the first place? Miss Jiang, you should know his character better than I do.”
Jiang Huaiyu pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Doctor Liang, what unspeakable difficulty does he have?"
Doctor Liang gently shook his head. "Only those in the heart can truly know right from wrong. The reason I speak so much today is because I, too, was once caught up in it."
His words seemed to have a deeper meaning, but Jiang Huaiyu couldn't quite grasp it at first.
Does "being caught in the middle" mean that Princess Ziyan framed her for miscarriage, or is there some other hidden story?
She pondered for a long time, and finally sighed.
"Whether he has some unspeakable secret or has genuinely changed, I only believe what I have witnessed."
As husband and wife, if he is no longer sincere with me, how can I continue to trust him as before? Since there are so many issues between us, we can no longer live together harmoniously. Perhaps parting ways now can preserve our dignity.
Even if there is a misunderstanding, he should take the initiative to explain, instead of making me wait anxiously and uneasy.
Upon hearing this, Doctor Liang couldn't help but sigh.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly and said, "I understand your good intentions. I won't put all the blame on him, but I can't forgive him easily either. Besides, during these days of being bedridden, I've also come to a realization."
Instead of clinging to selfish desires and delusions, let's leave everything to fate. If our destiny is not yet over, we will continue our bond.
Upon hearing this, Doctor Liang's brows relaxed, his face broke into a smile, and he gently stroked his beard.
"This young lady is deeply intelligent and destined for great fortune."
Jiang Huaiyu said sincerely, "Thank you for your guidance today, Doctor Liang."
Doctor Liang waved his hand gently, "I wouldn't dare accept such praise. I was just worried that you might get stuck in a rut and have regrets. But it seems you are indeed a sensible person."
...
As the sun set, Jiang Huaiyu suddenly suggested that she wanted to go for a walk in the street.
Since falling ill, she had not left her home. Upon hearing this, Yingxiang readily agreed and, along with Deng Shen, stayed by her side, chatting and laughing with her, spending pleasant time together.
Summer Solstice has quietly arrived, and early spring cherries are also hitting the market with the changing seasons. Those bright red fruits, like dazzling gems, are set among the green leaves, making them exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Jiang Huaiyu lingered in front of the vendor's stall, a pleased smile curving her lips. She said softly, "These cherries are crystal clear and brightly colored. They must be sweet and delicious. Why don't we buy some and take them back to the mansion to enjoy them?"
Upon hearing this, the old woman selling cherries beamed with a bright smile. She replied cheerfully, "This lady has a discerning eye! My cherries don't come from my own garden, but from the majestic Lion Ridge outside the city. Although they are small, they are exceptionally fresh, juicy, and sweet without being cloying. If you don't believe me, why don't you try one first before deciding whether to buy?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman enthusiastically grabbed a handful of cherries and handed them to Jiang Huaiyu.
Jiang Huaiyu shared the cherries with Yingxiang and Deng Shen beside him, and then gently put one into his own mouth. Sure enough, the cherry flesh was delicate and smooth, juicy, and the sweet taste spread on the tip of his tongue, making him feel intoxicated.
She happily gestured for Yingxiang to buy more cherries and asked the old woman curiously, "Grandma, Lion Ridge is steep and you are getting on in years. Do you still want to go up the mountain to pick cherries yourself?"
The old woman smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. She answered easily, "What's so difficult about that? Our family has lived at the foot of Lion Ridge for generations. In addition to farming, we go up the mountain in late spring and early summer to gather wild fruits to supplement our income."
Lion Ridge is not only famous for its cherries, but in a few days, its mountain peaches and apricots will also ripen. If you, my lady, prefer these fruits, you may leave your address, and I will personally deliver them to your residence when they are freshly picked.”
The old woman's face was filled with earnestness and expectation, as if she saw a long-lost warmth in Jiang Huaiyu.
Jiang Huaiyu gently shook her head and declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Grandma, but we will be leaving the capital soon."
She gave Yingxiang a wink, and Yingxiang immediately understood, giving the old woman more copper coins.
After the three left the stall, the old woman was pleasantly surprised to find that they had given her extra money, and she quickly thanked them loudly.
Deng Shen smiled and said, "This old lady is truly honest and trustworthy."
Yingxiang nodded in agreement: "Yes, cherries are not only delicious, but you've been taking medicine lately, so your mouth must be feeling a bit bland. You should eat more of these fresh seasonal fruits."
As night fell, the three returned to their cozy little courtyard.
Yingxiang washed the cherries and placed them in a small white porcelain dish. Jiang Huaiyu's eyes flashed with joy when she saw them, and she picked up a cherry and started eating. Perhaps because of the medication she had been taking for a long time, she found the cherries unusually appetizing, and couldn't help but smile wryly, "I just had dinner this evening, and I didn't expect to feel hungry again now."
She recently suffered a miscarriage, which has taken a toll on her health. Coupled with her ongoing illnesses and reduced food intake, she has become quite thin.
Upon hearing that she was hungry, Yingxiang immediately said happily, "Please wait a moment, young lady, I'll go and prepare a midnight snack for you right away!"
Before long, Jiang Huaiyu served a bowl of steaming hot, fragrant chicken noodle soup.
Jiang Huaiyu slowly savored the noodles, then suddenly said, "Let's go outside the city tomorrow."
"Where does Miss plan to go?" Yingxiang asked curiously.
"Lion Ridge," Jiang Huaiyu replied calmly.
Yingxiang nodded slightly, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Lion Ridge is indeed not far from here, but spring and autumn are undoubtedly the best seasons to appreciate its beauty."
"I've heard that Lion Ridge is ablaze with wildflowers in late spring, like a fairyland; and in autumn, the red leaves are breathtaking. Now that it's summer, and we've already tasted the cherries, the wildflowers have probably faded. I wonder what scenery is left for us to enjoy now?"
Jiang Huaiyu smiled gently, her eyes revealing determination, "Even though the scenery is past its best season, I still want to go and see it."
While buying cherries today, she heard the words "Lion Ridge" from an old woman. She couldn't help but think of someone who had promised to accompany her to climb Lion Ridge.
Although that person ultimately broke their promise, now that she remembered this memory, she still wanted to fulfill this promise before leaving the capital.
Yingxiang said with some concern, "Miss, Lion Ridge is a steep mountain, and carriages can only reach the foot of the mountain. You have just recovered from a serious illness and your body is not yet fully healed. Can you endure the journey?"
Jiang Huaiyu comforted him, "Don't worry, Doctor Liang has already said that my health is fine. We'll just take a walk in the mountains, we don't necessarily have to climb to the top."
After hearing this, Yingxiang smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'll go and prepare for tomorrow's trip with Deng Shen now."
After Yingxiang left, Jiang Huaiyu continued to enjoy her noodles. Before she knew it, she had finished a large bowl of chicken soup noodles, but she still felt a little hungry.
She was surprised; when had her appetite become so good?
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