35 Chapter Thirty-Five
◎Plan.◎
Ciying and his group did not dare to stop along the way.
When the carriage was traveling in the middle of the night, Xie Ran, who was sleeping in Ci Ying's arms, suddenly woke up. Ci Ying hugged the trembling person and said gently, "It's okay, it's okay, A'ran, go to sleep..."
Once, when they were young, in a deserted corner of Lishan Academy, Xie Ran told Ci Ying about her mother. As far as Xie Ran could remember, that was the first and only time she mentioned her mother: "The weather in Lingnan was hot, and Dad donated all his salary. Mom died of a fever. Mom...she was a very gentle person, with gentle eyes and gentle hands. When she was still alive, she always protected me between my brother and me, calling me 'Aran', 'Aran'..."
"A'ran, A'ran." Ci Ying called out softly, hugging the person tightly in her arms. Xie Ran's body gradually relaxed, and tears soon came out in her dream.
Li Sheng watched silently and told the coachman outside to slow down.
The map was spread out on the table in front of Ci Ying, many areas crossed out, leaving only a few. Ci Ying pulled out her purse, having spent nearly all of their money this time.
But they had to spend the money. Fabricating an identity to snatch someone from the county government was a gamble, and they had to make it look as real as possible. If they couldn't bear to spend the money, they might lose everything.
Ci Ying thought about it and looked at An Huai and Jiangnan.
Two years ago, she ordered Lingshuang to purchase a large amount of land and houses in Anhuai. In fact, the best place for them to go now is Anhuai, which is not as ostentatious as Chang'an and Jiangnan. After the Water Pavilion Tragedy two years ago, a group of officials in Anhuai were replaced. With the precedent set, people's lives are now peaceful and happy.
......but.
A hint of hesitation appeared on Ciying's face. She couldn't gamble, she still couldn't gamble.
The pearl hairpin was displayed in front of the county government office, and the news reached Xie Huaijin's ears. He investigated her movements along the way and naturally guessed where she was going.
Ci Ying frowned as she looked at the map, then at the unconscious Xie Ran, her gaze fixed on his rolling scar. She held Xie Ran's hand and told the coachman, "Turn around."
"Aren't you going to Anhuai?" asked Mr. Li.
Ci Ying shook her head and said calmly, "I can't go."
"Then where are we going?" Li Sheng stopped the coachman. After a while, he heard Ci Ying say, "To Lingnan."
Li Sheng did not hesitate and went up to instruct the groom.
The next day, after Xie Ran woke up, Ci Ying told him that they had decided to go to Lingnan. Xie Ran got up from Ci Ying's arms and said softly, "The climate there isn't very good. It's hot and humid all year round. It's fine for sightseeing, but it might not be suitable for long-term residence."
Ci Ying said softly, "Not long after, we'll go to Anhuai after the people Xie Huaijin sent to Anhuai disperse. It might be a bit hard during this period, but the jade bracelet on my hand can be exchanged for some silver, so we can save some money."
Li Sheng coughed. He had no say in the matter. Seeing Ci Ying worried about the money, he quickly placed his own fan, the one Ci Ying had given him, on the table. "This one can still be exchanged for some."
Ci Ying said softly, "Take it back. This thing will be worthless once it leaves the shop."
Xie Ran on the side hesitated and said, "If we go to Lingnan, I still have some money when we get there..."
At this time, neither of them realized why Xie Ran was hesitant.
until--
Half a month later, they arrived in Lingnan.
In the dark ravine, Ci Ying held a shovel as tall as herself and dug the soil in front of her silently according to Xie Ran's instructions.
The moonlight streamed down coldly, and the wind blew mournfully. Li Sheng shuddered. Xie Ran said sheepishly, "Dig deeper, it should be there soon. Don't be afraid, there's nothing in there... I dug it secretly for myself back then, and only buried some money and jewelry."
The bluestone slab served as the tombstone, reflecting the miserable moonlight. Accompanied by the sound of digging, the shovel finally hit something wooden. Ci Ying didn't care about her image anymore, and sat down to dig up the little remaining soil with her hands.
Xie Ran couldn't bear it and wanted to go up to help, but was stopped by Li Sheng. The sick scholar was coughing non-stop due to the wind: "Miss, take a good rest first, cough..."
A quarter of an hour later, Ci Ying took out all the neatly arranged things inside and opened her eyes wide.
......a lot of.
They were all silver notes, one for a hundred taels, and a few for over a thousand taels. The stack in her hand probably held tens of thousands of taels. Ci Ying packed the things and handed them to Xie Ran, but Xie Ran refused and gestured for Ci Ying to accept them.
Ci Ying couldn't take it, so she blew away the dirt on it and put it in Xie Ran's hand.
Xie Ran had no choice but to accept it.
On the way back in the carriage, Xie Ran talked about the origin of the silver and money: "My mother left it to me. It was originally her dowry when she got married. Later...something happened, and my mother exchanged the dowry she had prepared for me for silver and money. It was only after she died that I received it."
Xie Ran took out a thousand taels from the vault and handed it to Ci Ying: "Ci Ying, please accept these first. The jailer told me when he brought me to see you that you gave five hundred taels to the county government. Add those clothes and jewelry, and you have about a thousand taels."
Then Xie Ran took out another 1,000 taels note and handed it to Li Sheng, bowing. "Ci Ying saved me because we are friends, but I am sorry to bother you, Master Li. This money is my thank you. I hope you will not refuse it."
Li Sheng was about to wave his hand to refuse, but Xie Ran looked at the two men seriously and said, "If my mother knew that two thousand taels could save her daughter's life, she would definitely be very happy."
Ci Ying was unhappy, and she looked at Xie Ran with heartache.
She understood Xie Ran's intentions much better than Li Sheng. Xie Ran's mother had died of a fever because she had no money to treat it. She had never thought about why Xie Ran, whose mother had died of illness and no money to treat it, would casually lend her a hundred taels...
It’s not because of lack of money.
It was just because Xie Ran's mother just didn't want to live, so she was unwilling to spend some of the tens of thousands of taels on her medical treatment, and left all the money to her daughter.
Xie Ran was a little embarrassed. "After my mother died, my nanny gave me all this money, but I refused to use it. I built a tomb for myself and buried all my belongings there. I never thought that I would be able to use it one day."
Ci Ying accepted the money and motioned Li Sheng to accept it as well. She smiled softly and said, "Auntie must be very happy. Now that you've come to Lingnan, do you want to go back and see her?"
Xie Ran's eyes lit up with joy: "Is it okay?"
Li Sheng glanced at Ci Ying calmly. Lingnan had never been in their previous plans. Letting Xie Ran go to pay homage to his mother who had died for many years and had not been worshipped for a long time was probably Ci Ying's original intention.
Ci Ying narrowed her eyes and said, "Of course, I haven't met Auntie either, so I don't know what she likes. Let's prepare tomorrow and go the day after tomorrow."
Xie Ran lowered his head and thought: "I like flowers, especially brightly colored ones, and I like sweet wine and sweet snacks..."
Ciying listened carefully and nodded from time to time.
As Xie Ran was speaking, he suddenly choked up. He looked at Ci Ying crying, and then looked at Ci Ying smiling.
At night, Xie Ran fell asleep.
Mr. Li opened the door and found Ci Ying looking at the moon in the yard.
Li Sheng coughed and sat down, and whispered, "What are you thinking about?"
Ci Ying glanced inside the room and said softly, "I was thinking that Ah Ran was really strong. You haven't seen her before..."
Ci Ying didn't know how to share the beauty of being alone with Li Sheng. She looked at the moon for a long time and whispered, "Li Sheng, look at the moon."
Mr. Li also looked at the moon and said nothing more.
The moon in Lingnan was very round, or perhaps it just happened to be a full moon on that day, and they happened to be in Lingnan that day. Under the moonlight, Ciying softly hummed the song that his wife had hummed for them when they were young.
Ciying looked at the moon, and Li Sheng slowly looked at Ciying.
Lingnan loves rain. Eight out of ten days are filled with stifling humidity, and two days are filled with fine, hot rain. Even though it's November, the night breeze doesn't offer any hint of coolness.
When Ci Ying returned to her room late at night, she suddenly began to have heart palpitations.
*
Mo Yu quickly reported the whereabouts of Lingshuang and Lingyue to Xie Huaijin.
The young man was flipping through the books at the desk, his eyes fixed on one place.
Mo Yu asked, "Sir, I have already sent people to Anhuai to guard all the city gates. As soon as there is any news about Madam, our people in the city will be notified immediately."
An Huai didn't even need to arrange anyone specially. After the Shuige Tragedy, most of the newly appointed officials in An Huai had connections with the Xie family. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were from the Xie family.
The candlelight cast a faint shadow, and in the dim light, the young man closed the file.
He lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long time, he picked up a white chess piece.
The young man's voice was very calm. He looked up at Mo Yu in front of him and asked, "Do you think she will go to Anhuai?"
Mo Yu nodded: "Ling Shuang purchased a large amount of land and houses in Anhuai a long time ago. If Madam doesn't want to be discovered, Anhuai is a good place to go."
Xie Huaijin didn't say anything, and slowly placed the white chess piece in his hand on the side of the geological map.
Mo Yu looked over and frowned.
Lingnan is mostly a place of exile. Why does Madam want to go there?
Xie Huaijin said calmly, "Xie Ran's father served in the Lingnan area before being transferred from Qingzhou to Chang'an."
Mo Yu's eyes sharpened for a moment: "I'll take people with me."
The young man stopped him, stroking the white jade ring on his finger, and said softly, "It's too late."
Mo Yu was puzzled, but when he heard Xie Huaijin's gentle smile, he said, "I won't stay long. I'm going to Lingnan to settle Xie Ran and to avoid those who are pursuing me. I'll wait until the news of An Huai's investigation has died down before leaving for An Huai."
"Then I will take people to Anhuai to prepare in advance." Mo Yu stood up.
The young man raised his eyes and looked at Mo Yu intently.
Mo Yu clenched his fists a little tighter and knelt vertically: "Master, give your orders."
Xie Huaijin didn't want to argue with Mo Yu. After handing the geological map to Mo Yu, he turned and left the study.
Mo Yu looked over. The young master had just mentioned Anhuai, but the circled area on the map was actually Jiangnan. Mo Yu looked toward a figure not far away. The young man stood by the window, watching the November rain fall. He said gently, "Go and prepare. We'll be leaving for Jiangnan in two days."
As if he understood what Mo Yu was thinking, Xie Huaijin said in a gentle voice, "It's time for her to have enough fun."
......
Ciying was indeed planning to go to Jiangnan.
Anhuai was a good choice, but after the whole story of the Shuige tragedy replayed in her mind, she felt that going to Anhuai was no different from walking into a trap.
If Mo Yu were here, he would probably be surprised.
Even though he knew that the young master had always been very good at predicting people's minds, being so accurate did make people feel cold.
Ci Ying held Xie Ran's hand. She asked Li Sheng to go out first and told Xie Ran what had happened in the past few years. Xie Ran held Ci Ying's hand tightly, as if he understood what Ci Ying was going to say next.
Ci Ying's eyes were gentle. "I don't want to implicate you. I might be found by Xie Huaijin's men tomorrow. If I harm you like Ru Zhen... I've thought about it for a long time and I think it might be best for you to stay in Lingnan. There are Lord Xie's former subordinates in Lingnan."
Ci Ying held Xie Ran's hand and said, "I know you don't want to, but Ah Ran, you and I both understand that a place like Wuxiang can't fulfill our dreams. Maybe we can find a place to hide, but hiding for a lifetime, Ah Ran, I don't want to."
Ci Ying's seriousness was burning with heat, and perhaps a little resentment.
She saw and observed a lot along the way, and she understood more clearly what fertile soil was needed for what she wanted to do.
An Huai might be her respite, but it still couldn't help her realize what she wanted.
Xie Ran held Ciying's hand tightly: "I'll help you, Ciying."
Under Ciying's slightly surprised gaze, the former Xie Ran seemed to be reviving bit by bit. She held Ciying's hand tightly, "Ciying, I'm not afraid. I wasn't afraid in prison. I didn't regret scratching my face to pieces. I also believe that there must be a 'Wuxiang' in the world."
Xie Ran's eyes were filled with tears. She was the one in a mess, but her eyes were filled with heartache for the person in front of her. "Ciying, I don't want you to be alone forever. It's okay. It doesn't matter what happens. I want to raise a lot of ducklings with Ciying, watch them grow into big ducks, and then I'll catch one to make soup for Ciying."
Ci Ying found a sense of familiarity in these words, laughed twice, but tears started to flow again.
It seemed like she hadn't heard anyone say this to her for a long time.
Xie Ran hugged Ci Ying and said softly, "It's okay, Ci Ying, I'm with you. No matter what you want to do, I will be with you."
Ci Ying didn't speak for a long time, but she didn't refuse in the end.
What she needs to do requires her to return to Jiangnan.
In the next few days, she sent people to forge many traces of her going to Jiangnan, and also forged a small part of her going to Huai'an. She wrote letters to Lingshuang and Lingyue, asking them to go to Huai'an first, and then arranged a series of things.
She tried her best to disguise herself, and even asked Deadpool to take the groom to Huai'an. She then disguised herself and secretly returned to Jiangnan with Xie Ran.
Everything went according to her plan.
......
A month later, in the teahouse.
Inside the private room, Ci Ying took off the veil on her head and took out a manuscript.
"I've roughly sorted it out. You can take a look first." Ci Ying handed the manuscript to Li Sheng and Xie Ran with some trepidation.
During this month, Mr. Li has been hanging around in various teahouses. He looks frail, but he spends money like water and has great literary talent. He has become a regular customer of various teahouses. When people hear that Mr. Li is going to publish a book soon, readers from all over Jiangnan are eagerly waiting for it.
Li Sheng slowly took off the mask on his face, coughed softly, and secretly hid the red spot with a handkerchief.
The inspiration for the disguise still came from Zhu Guang. One day, Li Sheng mentioned to Ci Ying that "Zhu Guang is Zhu San", and Ci Ying remembered that she had actually seen Zhu San, but Zhu San probably changed his appearance. If Zhu San could do it, they could also do it by spending money to hire someone from the people.
If there is a way to disguise oneself, the plan will go more smoothly.
The imperial examination system was prevalent, civil officials were respected, and talented students were respected and admired wherever they went.
Ciying had this idea a long time ago.
It has always been the case that only scholars have the right to speak in the world, and scholars are all men. So, as Xie Ran once said in a letter, most of the good writers in the world are men.
Lishan Academy was a minority, and most of them were children of the Xie family. Therefore, all the children of the Xie family, regardless of gender, who were outstanding in knowledge could have a place on the red list. Miss Zeng had won the top spot many times in a row, and everyone below dared not disobey.
But other colleges are not like that.
Most of the academies nowadays, whether in Chang'an or Jiangnan, do not admit women.
The academy did not accept students and she could not register for the imperial examinations. The title of talented woman became more of a gimmick and an additional factor in future marriage discussions.
Therefore, generation after generation, men are always famous for their writing skills.
But is it really like that?
Ci Ying didn't think so. At Lishan Academy, she had seen many equally talented women who could write popular articles just like men, and could surpass those men who were hailed as child prodigies on the red list.
Then why not?
If she and the young lady can do it, if some women in Lishan Academy can do it, why can't women in the world do it?
Why is it that men who steal women's poems and essays always gain a good reputation and become the force that suppresses women's talents for thousands of years?
Ciying wants to change this situation.
Ci Ying thought for a long time about how to change, and after this journey, she finally came up with a complete plan.
She initially discussed it with Li Sheng. She would write the book and then put it under a man's name. When the book became widely circulated and received rave reviews, she would reveal that the author of these poems was actually a woman.
Of course, this is the first step.
After thinking for a long time, Mr. Li felt that Ciying could try a method that would be more likely to attract public opinion.
Under the lamplight, Li Sheng flipped through a portion of Ci Ying's handwritten manuscript, his eyes filled with genuine admiration. He then smiled and said, "Ci Ying, it's too plain to be without your status. If you want to spark a bigger discussion, spread it more widely, or even find a way out for women everywhere, you can't be so gentle."
Under Ciying's gaze, Li Sheng said word by word, "Ciying, I am a man. I stole your poems and essays. I used them to become famous in bookstores and across Jiangnan. I was admired by all the students. But one day, they discovered that these poems were not written by me, but by a woman. The man admired by everyone, cough, cough... is actually a thief, a robber..."
Ci Ying's hand stopped, and Xie Ran beside her added: "Then you can add some more... things that scholars will like."
The two of them looked at Xie Ran together.
Xie Ran smiled and said: "Ci Ying, a rich lady, Li Sheng, a poor scholar, the poor scholar seduced..."
Li Sheng choked on the water, but Xie Ran continued, "A poor scholar seduced a rich young lady. With his handsome looks, he not only won her beauty and wealth, but also stole her poems. Alas... some of them were expressions of love to the scholar."
Mr. Li stopped coughing and looked at Ciying.
Ci Ying's hands pressed tightly against the poem and she whispered, "Let me think about it."
Li Sheng thought carefully and looked at Xie Ran: "Miss Xie is smart."
Xie Ran raised an eyebrow: "You are not bad either."
Li Sheng's version is not gentle, but Xie Ran's version is...
Ci Ying pondered, tapping on the manuscript bit by bit, and said hesitantly: "...Then I'll write a few more love confessions. Well, I'll do it. It will take some time."
Xie Ran hid the notebook in his hand and nodded continuously.
Although she was far inferior to Ci Ying and Li Sheng in poetry and prose, she knew a thing or two in other areas.
What Ciying brought today were some love poems.
Li Sheng and Xie Ran were flipping through the book. Ci Ying touched her face and felt it was hot. She looked down at the teahouse and the wind blew the hair on both sides of the girl's forehead.
Xie Ran had just finished reading an article and wanted to discuss it with Ci Ying when he saw Mr. Li looking at Ci Ying quietly.
Xie Ran's heart skipped a beat for some reason. She lowered her head, pretending she saw nothing.
When Ci Ying turned around, Li Sheng had already looked away.
Xie Ran looked at Ci Ying and felt her face getting hot. She took a sip of ice-cold tea, but the heat still couldn't go away.
Maybe witnessing someone falling in love would also make people blush.
Ci Ying poured some water for Xie Ran, and Xie Ran said, "Thank you." Neither of them noticed Li Sheng standing beside them, and their brows slightly frowned.
"How is it?" Ci Ying asked. She had never written much about this subject before, so she really didn't know how well she was doing.
Xie Ran drank another cup of tea and said truthfully, "It's very well written, right, Mr. Li?"
Mr. Li was silent, Xie Ran was not confident anymore, and Ci Ying was also a little...
After a long while, the two heard Mr. Li say gently, "Well, it's well written."
The two of them breathed a sigh of relief. Ci Ying sorted the manuscripts on the table. Several people discussed the progress. Ci Ying said, "The third article can be released. Wait... wait until the fifth day, and then you can show up again."
Mr. Li looked at Ci Ying and said "Okay" after a long time.
On the way back, Ci Ying asked Xie Ran, "What happened to Mr. Li?"
Xie Ran shook his head and said, "A man's heart is as unfathomable as a needle in the sea."
Ci Ying smiled. Xie Ran took Ci Ying's hand and whispered, "From my perspective, today's poems are better than the previous ones. Ci Ying, actually..."
Ci Ying looked at Xie Ran. Xie Ran hesitated for a long time before saying, "You are too famous. Sooner or later, Master Xie will find you. The greater your reputation, the greater the chance that you will be found. The Xie family... you should know more about it than I do. Ci Ying, I'm not afraid... it's just that, Ci Ying..."
Xie Ran's eyes were full of worry. He hesitated several times but still didn't finish his words.
The lingering smiles and joy still floated on the two of them, but the inner silence gradually revealed itself, just like the days when they went to Lingnan, when there were one humid rain after another. It was obviously very fine and light, but it carried a heat that could not be dissipated even in November, and it penetrated into people's bones.
Ci Ying actually hadn't heard Xie Huaijin's name for a long time.
Of course she hadn't forgotten.
She would just look at the moon in the sky, take a look, and write a sentence. The poems and essays praised by Xie Ran were written word by word by her while looking at the moon.
She was a little confused, and there had actually been some of that on the road of escape.
Can she escape forever?
【Author’s words】
Okay, the dog will come to find me tomorrow [spreading hands]
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