Jiang Huaiyu smiled gently, then glanced at the attendant and asked curiously, "Young Master Ling, does your attendant seem to be troubled by something?"
After days of travel, the attendant either rode ahead alone or lagged far behind, and never even glanced at them.
Jiang Huaiyu had a vague feeling that this attendant didn't seem to like them.
Ling Mo looked helpless. "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Miss Jiang. My attendant is named Li Kui. He's always been eccentric, and I don't know why he's acting this way today. He's making a strange face. Please don't take it to heart, Miss Jiang."
"Li Kui?"
Upon hearing this name, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Judging from the age of the attendant, he seemed to be similar to Deng Shen, and he was also handsome and fair-skinned. How could he have such a name? Could it be that Ling Mo gave it to him?
Seeing the strange look in her eyes, Ling Mo immediately guessed what she was thinking and couldn't help but chuckle as he explained, "It wasn't me who chose it. When I met him on the street, he was just a boy of about ten years old. He already had this name then. I wanted to change it for him, but he firmly disagreed, saying that it was given to him by his parents. Even though his parents are no longer alive, he still wants to keep this memory."
Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly and said with emotion, "This is perhaps the best way to commemorate family ties."
...
At midday, under the blazing sun, a group of travelers rested on the green grass by the roadside.
Yingxiang noticed that the attendant was standing alone to one side, so she kindly took two delicate pastries from her basket and went to him. However, the attendant firmly declined.
Yingxiang mistakenly thought he was shy and smiled as she advised, "Have some, it's alright. Our young lady specially asked me to go to the city to buy these yesterday. It's so hot, they won't last long. The young lady has already distributed them to everyone, including you. Take them."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the attendant's face flashed with anger, and he actually knocked the pastries from Yingxiang's hand to the ground.
"Stop pretending! I don't need your charity at all!"
Yingxiang's expression changed drastically in an instant, and she angrily questioned, "How could you be so ungrateful?"
The attendant merely gave a cold snort and ignored her.
Yingxiang was so angry that her chest heaved. Just as she was about to argue with him, she suddenly heard Jiang Huaiyu calling her from afar. So she glared at him resentfully, hurriedly picked up the pastries on the ground, and left.
"What happened?" Jiang Huaiyu asked with concern.
Yingxiang showed her the muddy pastries, "Miss, I meant well by bringing some food to Young Master Ling's entourage, but not only did he not appreciate it, he even ruined these delicacies. These are famous pastries from Bafanglou, and it's such a pity they're covered in mud now!"
Jiang Huaiyu gently comforted him, "Perhaps he was just acting on impulse. Don't be angry anymore."
A shadow fell over Ling Mo's face. "No matter the reason, you shouldn't have lost your temper with Yingxiang."
He took the pastries from Yingxiang's hands, "I'll teach him a lesson."
Yingxiang immediately smiled with relief and bowed to him, "Thank you, Young Master Ling, for upholding justice for me!"
Ling Mo held the dirty pastry in her hand, walked up to Li Kui, and handed it to him directly, saying, "Eat it."
Li Kui frowned, looking disgusted. "Young master, this is covered in mud. Won't eating it break your teeth?"
Ling Mo's tone was calm but firm: "Back when we were cultivating in the mountains, when resources were scarce, we even ate snakes and rats to stave off hunger. Would we be afraid of a muddy snack? Besides, have I not taught you not to waste food? Since you vented your anger on Yingxiang, you should eat this snack as a lesson."
"Alright, since you have given such instructions, I will do as you say."
Li Kui took the snacks and swallowed them in a few bites, then kept spitting out dirt.
"Do you realize your mistake?" Ling Mo asked, his eyes revealing an undeniable air of authority.
Li Kui frowned and muttered unhappily, "Li Kui admits his mistake, but he is really not at peace with himself. Young master, you only left Jizhou not long before the New Year. You set off from Wanfu County this time and should have gone straight to Funing. Why did you turn back to Jizhou?"
He glanced sideways in the direction of Jiang Huaiyu. "Could it be that you've come all this way for her, young master? But her father holds a high position, and she has close ties with the Tu family. Wouldn't you be breaking your own rules? In my opinion, you've already helped her enough. Why get involved in this mess?"
Ling Mo's expression froze instantly, and his sharp eyes swept towards him like cold swords.
Li Kui involuntarily shrank back, and said tremblingly, "I misspoke..."
"Do you still remember your slip of the tongue?" Ling Mo's tone was icy. "I taught you not to bow to power, but I didn't teach you to be arrogant. Miss Jiang is exceptionally courageous, running a school and doing business, far surpassing ordinary women. She is a respectable woman, how dare you comment on her so casually? Besides, I have been too lenient with you in the past, which has allowed you to dare to instruct me on how to act?"
Ling Mo was carefree and unconventional, and thus had a relaxed attitude towards disciplining Li Kui.
As long as Li Kui didn't commit a serious mistake, he always turned a blind eye. But now it seems that such leniency was a mistake. Li Kui's arrogant and ignorant nature almost made him lose face in front of Miss Jiang.
Seeing that his young master was truly angry, Li Kui quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake.
"Please calm down, young master. I know I was wrong."
Ling Mo glanced at him, her tone softening slightly, "Go apologize to Miss Yingxiang later, and also, put away that displeased look on your face."
A sudden surge of irritation welled up within him, and he walked alone to a large tree not far away to ponder.
He pondered to himself, people often say that servants follow their masters, would Miss Jiang also think of herself as such a frivolous person?
When they set off in the afternoon, Ling Mo no longer rode his horse to follow on either side of the carriage, but walked ahead alone, claiming that he wanted to scout the way first.
But Li Kui seemed to have completely changed, always staying by the carriage, ready to be at his beck and call.
He didn't refute the girl Yingxiang's sarcastic remarks.
Filled with doubt, Jiang Huaiyu spoke to him politely for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "Young Master Ling, you're not going to Jizhou this time, are you?"
Li Kui was about to nod when he remembered his young master's warning, so he quickly changed his mind and shook his head, replying, "Where else can we go if not Jizhou? Why do you say that, Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Huaiyu felt a weight lifted from her heart and smiled, saying, "It's alright."
On that quiet afternoon, Jiang Huaiyu did not catch a glimpse of Ling Mo. It wasn't until dusk that she finally spotted that familiar figure waiting quietly at the entrance of the town.
As they drew nearer, Ling Mo spoke gently: “I rode ahead on horseback and booked a room in town, instructing the innkeeper to prepare food and hot water. Miss Jiang, the journey to Jizhou is long and arduous, and you will have to endure even more hardship in the days to come. After your meal, you might as well wash up and rest early to conserve your energy.”
Jiang Huaiyu quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you so much, Young Master Ling, for making such thoughtful arrangements for us."
Ling Mo waved gently and led the way.
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