Chapter 141 Lu Qian? Qin Qian?
The young refugee, expecting to face a group of menacing men in black, cowered behind the table in fear.
Looking at the sky outside, he was filled with surprise. "It's...it's dawn?! How could it get light so quickly?"
Qin Zhao's pale face also showed disbelief. He clearly remembered that it was late at night when he hid inside. Now, at most, only half an hour had passed.
"They're gone." Jiang Ling sighed and stepped aside to let Qin Zhao and the young refugee leave.
As soon as the store door opened, Jiang Yi, who was waiting outside, rushed over.
"Your Highness, is Your Highness alright?" His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked travel-worn and smelled of blood.
He was also injured while dealing with the men in black, but the injuries were not fatal and have already been bandaged.
He quickly scanned Qin Zhao's entire body and saw that only his left arm was bandaged and his breathing was still steady, which eased his tense nerves.
He had seen the medicines in Miss Jiang's shop, and they were even more effective than those in the palace.
"Your Highness! We are too late to rescue you, and deserve to die!"
Jiang Yi led a group of guards to kneel outside the door.
"I'm fine, get up, everyone." Qin Zhao's voice regained its usual composure.
The guards stood up in unison and lined up on both sides of the shop.
Qin Zhao glanced at the white clouds appearing on the horizon with a puzzled look. Then, looking at Jiang Ling's expression, he guessed that she was unwilling to say more, so he didn't ask any further questions.
He only turned to Jiang Yi: "When did you arrive?"
Jiang Yi bowed and replied, "Your Highness, I arrived at Hai Shi (9-11 PM). The things at the entrance... have already been cleared away by us."
"Can we spare their lives?"
Jiang Yi's voice lowered: "They were all suicide soldiers. They committed suicide before any questioning could be done..."
Qin Zhao didn't ask any more questions; he already knew who had sent them.
But at this moment, compared to the assassination attempt, which already had an answer, the strangeness of the shop seemed to be far less alarming to him.
He then understood why Jiang Ling was in such a hurry to apply the medicine to him and open the door.
Why are there so many assassins outside the door, yet they can't do anything about this dilapidated wooden door?
Why does the shop close for several days after opening for only one day?
It seems that everything now has an answer.
He composed himself and bowed solemnly to Jiang Ling: "Last night... I thank Miss Jiang for saving my life. I will remember this kindness forever."
Jiang Ling returned the greeting, saying, "It was nothing, Your Highness, you flatter me."
Qin Zhao smiled helplessly: "To be honest, I originally intended to catch up with Miss Jiang yesterday and discuss the purchase of cloth and grain. However, some unforeseen circumstances interrupted me..."
Jiang Ling hadn't expected that he had come specifically to find her.
Given the recent internal and external troubles facing the Great Yu Dynasty, his coming to her to buy rice and cloth clearly indicates that he had already guessed the unusual situation at her shop.
Just as I was about to speak, Xiao Ran walked out of the crowd carrying a broom.
"Sister Jiang?"
He had only come to sweep the fallen leaves in front of the shop as usual, but he didn't expect the shop to be open today.
The shop was open yesterday, so normally it shouldn't be open today.
Xiao Ran squeezed to the shop entrance and cautiously looked at the people gathered around her.
"What happened, Sister Jiang?"
Jiang Ling shook her head: "It's nothing, this young master is here to discuss business."
Jiang Ling spoke to Qin Zhao, "Too many things have happened today, and you were even injured, young master. Let's discuss this business another day."
She really didn't want to talk about it anymore, since he had just discovered that her shop's time flow was different.
Qin Zhao hesitated, knowing that now was not the right time to discuss this matter.
He smiled slightly, "Alright, let's talk another day."
Just when Jiang Ling thought the matter was over.
Qin Zhao suddenly turned around and looked at Xiao Ran:
"I've heard that there's a restaurant owner's son who lives outside the grocery store and often comes over to collect vegetables. Young man, could you tell me his name?"
Although he was about the same age as Xiaoran, his long-standing high position and the innate sense of oppression he exuded made Xiaoran feel inexplicably pressured.
It almost slipped out unconsciously:
"His name is Lu Qian."
Qin Zhao smiled meaningfully: "Lu Qian? He's taken his mother's surname."
Jiang Ling looked at him and asked, "Does the young master know Lu Qian?"
Qin Zhao withdrew his gaze and smiled calmly, "I have an elder brother named Qin Qian, who is about the same age as me. I must have mistaken him for someone else."
"I'll take my leave now. By the way, my cousin Cheng Fang has also been thinking of Miss Jiang. I'll invite him to come and visit Miss Jiang another day to catch up. We can also discuss business matters in detail, as they concern the livelihood of the people of the Great Yu Dynasty. I hope Miss Jiang will not refuse."
His words were earnest, almost pleading.
Lu Qian?
Qin Qian?
"Sister Jiang, why is he still here?" Xiao Ran pointed to the little beggar at the door.
By the time Jiang Ling came to her senses, Qin Zhao and his group had already left, and the area outside the shop had returned to calm.
Jiang Ling glanced at the little beggar.
Qin Zhao knew the gravity of the situation and wouldn't reveal this secret, but the little beggar might not be so sure.
well!
I should think carefully before doing a good deed next time.
Jiang Ling sighed, "Yesterday, for some reason, I let him stay at the shop for the night."
Although it was only an hour, it felt like a whole night had passed in this world.
Xiao Ran was shocked, because even he had never stayed overnight in the shop. How could this little beggar possibly stay overnight in the shop?
Thinking about this, I suddenly felt a little disappointed.
Jiang Ling walked over to him and asked, "How old are you?"
The little beggar spoke tremulously, "I am six years old."
It looks like it has been malnourished for a long time; it looks only four or five years old.
The older you get, the harder you are to fool.
Jiang Ling hadn't decided what to say yet.
The little beggar spoke first: "Sister, I just slept in the corner all night and don't know anything."
Is this considered a pledge of allegiance?
Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised that he knew what he should and shouldn't say at such a young age.
This little brat is smarter than she thought; it seems she can't just send him away.
Jiang Ling said to him in a slightly threatening tone:
"No matter how much time passes, you must remember what you said today."
The little kid nodded seriously.
Xiao Ran sensed a sense of crisis. "Sister Jiang, should we send him away?"
Jiang Ling shook her head. "Xiao Ran, we may have to take him in for a while. Don't worry, no one can shake your position. Taking him in is only temporary. I will find him another place to go."
The shop only has so much business, there's no need to support two people.
Xiao Ran nodded, but she was still a little scared.
Jiang Ling asked the little beggar, "What's your name?"
The little beggar shook his head, "...I don't have a name."
It's quite common for children in this era not to have names; they usually don't get proper names until they're seven or eight years old.
Only families that are particular about these things will choose a name for their child at birth or when the child turns one year old.
Jiang Ling hesitated for a moment.
Since we're going to take him in for a while, we can't just call him a little beggar or a brat.
"Let me name you Xiaoyi. It's the 'wing' in 'feather', which means to fly high."
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