Chapter 150 Zhao Jingxing and Cheng Fang's Visit
After the meal, Xiao Ran took the initiative to clear the dishes, while Xiao Yi helped wipe the table.
Jiang Ling moved a stool and sat by the door, basking in the afternoon sun.
A short while later, Zhao Yin's wife arrived at the shop entrance. She asked softly:
“Miss Jiang, this afternoon several of us women have arranged to go to Bailong Temple to help out. The temple has been taking in a lot of refugees lately, and the monks are overwhelmed. We'll lend a hand, mend some clothes, or help distribute some porridge. Would you like to come along? If you do, I can help carry things.”
Jiang Ling glanced at the women gathered in the path not far away.
Now that it's late autumn, there's not much work to do in the fields, and everyone is quite idle, so they're thinking of doing some good deeds to accumulate some blessings.
Jiang Ling thought of her experience at Bailong Temple last time, and how it would take an hour to go up and down the mountain. She was simply too exhausted to do anything today.
She gave an apologetic smile: "Sister-in-law Zhao, thank you for calling me. But I'm really tired today, so I won't go with you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yin's wife quickly replied, "It's alright, it's alright. Miss Jiang, you've been busy all morning, you should take a good rest. We'll go by ourselves."
Jiang Ling stood up: "Sister-in-law Zhao, please wait for me a moment."
She turned and went into the shop, taking out a burlap sack that had been prepared beforehand from the corner. It was filled with heavy millet, weighing about thirty pounds.
She handed the sack to Zhao Yin's wife: "Sister-in-law Zhao, I won't go over today. Please take this food to the temple and give it to the monks. It's just a small token of my appreciation."
Zhao Yin's wife took the grain, which felt heavy in her hand. "I thank Miss Jiang on behalf of the monks of the temple and the refugees."
Zhao Yin's wife carefully carried the grain on her back, then turned to Xiao Ran, who was busy at the shop, and instructed her:
"Xiao Ran, listen to Sister Jiang and work hard, okay?"
"Okay, Mom!" Xiao Ran replied loudly.
Zhao Yin's wife was relieved and smiled at Jiang Ling, "Then, Miss Jiang, we'll be going now."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
The village was quiet in the afternoon, and Jiang Ling took a comfortable nap in the sunshine.
————
The Eastern Palace.
The imperial physician is changing Qin Zhao's dressing.
Jiang Yi stepped forward and reported: "Your Highness, this morning when the First Prince was on his way to the expedition and passed through Ping'an County, he sent Li Hong with fifty men to the Jixiang General Store. They took fifty carriages with them, and then another fifty carriages were transferred from Ping'an County. When they left at noon, one hundred carriages were loaded with grain."
At that moment, the imperial physician seemed to aggravate the wound while applying the medicine, causing him to frown.
But only he knew that a flicker of jealousy was burning in his heart.
Jiang Ling refused his request to buy cloth and grain, but instead provided Qin Qian with a large amount of grain.
It's obvious who among them is closer to Jiang Ling.
Qin Qian made a brilliant move!
They deliberately stirred up rumors in the capital about the Goddess Jiang to divert their attention.
He secretly used the alias Lu Qian to get close to Jiang Ling!
Qin Zhao sighed softly. He had been secretly pleased recently, as he had gained a few more supporters in the court. But now it seemed like he had picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon.
"Have Cheng Fang and Zhao Jingxing set off yet?"
Jiang Yi replied, "We set off at noon and should have arrived by now."
Qin Zhao gripped the medicine bottle in his hand. He decided to let them discuss the rest.
————
Perhaps she was truly exhausted, for Jiang Ling slept soundly until three in the afternoon before finally waking up.
The autumn sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, warm but not glaring.
Several older children who came to study were helping Xiaoran move tables and chairs and set up the venue.
When the children saw her, they all greeted her with shy smiles.
This feeling brought her a sense of peace and contentment on this sunny autumn afternoon.
It wouldn't be so bad if we could keep living like this forever.
Suddenly, the sound of carriages and horses came from afar, breaking the quiet and peaceful scene.
Jiang Ling was still wondering who would come at this hour?
She rubbed her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw several tall horses turning off the official road and heading straight towards the general store.
The figures on the first two horses looked very familiar.
One person was dressed in a dark blue casual suit, with an upright posture; the other person wore a bright blue robe and moved as swiftly as a gust of wind.
As the horse drew nearer and Jiang Ling saw the person on its back, she was instantly wide awake, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
To everyone's surprise, it was Zhao Jingxing and Cheng Fang, whom we hadn't seen in a long time!
When she got up to greet them, the horses were already in front of her.
"Whoa—"
Zhao Jingxing pulled on the reins, and the horse snorted and stopped.
He dismounted, his movements more deliberate than before. The wound on his abdomen must have healed completely. Although his face was still somewhat thin, it no longer had the paleness of the past.
Cheng Fang jumped off his horse and charged over at full speed.
"Miss Jiang! How have you been? It's been almost two months since we last met!"
His tone was filled with emotion.
Zhao Jingxing also cupped his hands in response, his posture as gentle and elegant as ever: "Miss Jiang."
Jiang Ling smiled slightly, "How have you two gentlemen been?"
Two guards took the reins from them and led the horses aside to tie them up.
Jiang Ling then looked at Zhao Jingxing beside her and asked with concern, "Young Master Zhao, have your injuries fully healed?"
Upon closer examination, his injury did have its own reasons. He needs to fully recover before he can recover.
Zhao Jingxing smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Jiang. My injuries are much better now, and I have almost fully recovered. I have come today specifically to express my gratitude for your kindness in saving my life and giving me medicine that day."
“Young Master Zhao saved me from dire straits. What I did was nothing more than a small favor. There’s no need for thanks. Please come in.”
Jiang Ling felt relieved and led them into the shop.
Cheng Fang stepped back into the familiar general store, his gaze sweeping around at the familiar yet strangely shaped goods, a nostalgic expression on his face:
"Everything is still the same, which is really nostalgic. It's only been a little over two months, but it feels like a long time has passed."
For him, it had been more than two months since they last met, but for Jiang Ling, it had only been a little over a week.
The shop itself will remain unchanged.
Cheng Fang picked up a bag of pork floss bread from the shelf and said with a smile, "Jiaojiao always wants to eat things from Miss Jiang's shop and keeps asking me to bring her. Now she clings to the plush bear she bought from Miss Jiang every day and won't let go of it. I was afraid she would disturb Miss Jiang, so I didn't let her come."
She said there were so few customers at the shop lately!
Jiang Ling also misses Cheng Jiaojiao quite a bit.
"I miss Jiaojiao very much too. Young Master Cheng, please take some more food back with you later. It's a small token of my appreciation as her older sister."
Zhao Jingxing also came over: "My younger siblings have tasted the pastries from your shop and they can't stop thinking about them. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, Miss Jiang, to prepare some more for me later."
"No problem," Jiang Ling replied with a smile.
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