Chapter 19 Encounter 2
The sea breeze gradually turned cooler, and the sun began to set in the west. The hustle and bustle of the dock subsided somewhat, but Qingpu, who had gone to chase the thief, had not yet returned.
Gu Jinchao stood on the stone steps, looking around again and again, his stomach feeling empty and rumbling softly from time to time.
"Wife, why don't we go and report this to the authorities?" Caifu leaned closer, her voice low, glancing at Gu Jinchao's belly, clearly having also heard the "empty city ploy."
"Qingpu is clever; he might have already gone to the government office. There's no point in us waiting here."
Gu Jinchao was about to nod when a clear, youthful voice suddenly came from behind her: "Sister, have you just arrived in Jiangnan?"
She and Caifu turned around at the same time and saw a boy of about eleven or twelve years old standing behind them.
He was dressed in a royal blue brocade jacket with lotus patterns embroidered on the collar, a lustrous white jade pendant hanging from his waist, and a small folding fan in his hand, clearly indicating that he came from a wealthy family.
Gu Jinchao didn't speak, but only looked at the other person warily.
The boy didn't seem to mind their coldness. He smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth, and waved his folding fan: "I am Yu Nian'an, the young master of the Yu family in Jiangnan. I've seen you standing here for quite a while. Are you having some trouble?"
Looking into his clear eyes, Gu Jinchao thought of his younger brother Gu Jinrong, who was also around the same age, dressed smartly and with a touch of naivety, and his wariness eased a little.
She nodded slightly, her voice tinged with weariness: "My maid went after that thief and hasn't returned yet. We want to report it to the authorities, but we don't know where the government office is. Do you know, young man?"
"I know!"
Yu Nian'an's eyes lit up. She took two steps forward and waved enthusiastically, "The government office is on East Street, not far from here. I'll take you there!"
Gu Jinchao and Caifu exchanged a glance. Seeing the boy's sincere expression and his eagerness to report to the authorities, they picked up their simple belongings and followed him.
At first, we walked along a bustling stone-paved road lined with shops selling pastries and fabrics. But as we walked, the streets and alleys gradually narrowed, and the number of pedestrians decreased. Eventually, we turned into a narrow alley with only a few scattered warehouses, and the weeds along the roadside were almost ankle-deep.
"Wait." Gu Jinchao stopped, a new doubt rising in his mind. "Why is this road getting more and more remote? Are you...?"
Before he could finish saying the word "liar," a rough burlap sack was suddenly placed over his head, and his mouth and nose were instantly filled with a musty smell.
Suddenly, two rough, sandpaper-like hands gripped Gu Jinchao's shoulders, their knuckles digging into his flesh with such force that they almost crushed his bones.
Just as Caifu was about to cry out, her mouth was covered by a sack, leaving only soft sobs, and she was pulled so hard she staggered.
Gu Jinchao felt dizzy and the world was spinning when he was suddenly hoisted onto her shoulder.
The thick hemp rope, like a whip soaked in water, tightened around her shoulder blades, chafing her skin until it burned with every movement.
Before she could even curl her fingers and struggle, a dull thud was heard, and she was slammed to the ground.
Her elbow slammed against the cold cobblestones, the sharp edges digging painfully into her bones. Her vision blurred, but she managed to stay upright and not faint.
With his ear pressed against the rough burlap sack, he could clearly hear someone outside cursing in a low, gruff voice: "Hurry up! Stop dawdling! The master said this little wench is not coming back alive, leave no survivors!"
The burlap smeared stung his cheeks, and Gu Jinchao felt like a sack of unwanted grain, being carried forward on the thief's shoulder.
With each step she took, her knee would bump against the other person's side, a dull pain drilling into her heart through her bones, making her internal organs tremble.
The intermittent sobs of Caifu mingled with the footsteps of the thieves, their heavy breathing, and the rustling of sacks against the ground, weaving a tight, impenetrable net of despair that enveloped her completely.
Her heart ached as if it had been struck by a blunt object—she truly hated herself for letting her guard down as soon as she arrived in Jiangnan, taking the kindness of strangers as a protective shield.
Suddenly, the pressure on her shoulder eased, and she fell heavily onto the bluestone slab!
My knees were numb from the impact, and tears welled up in my eyes instantly, but I bit my lip to keep them from falling.
Before she could even sit up, a deep and powerful voice suddenly rang out, like a thunderclap splitting through dark clouds, striking her ears directly: "You're abducting a woman in broad daylight! Do you have no respect for the law?"
That voice... it sounds so familiar!
Gu Jinchao struggled to tear a corner of the burlap sack, enduring the stinging pain in his knees as he propped himself up to sit up.
At the entrance of the alley stood a man in a blue robe, the hem of which was lifted by the wind. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his face showing both heroic spirit and refined elegance.
It's him!
It was the official who had helped her out of that predicament at the dock!
The thief was taken aback at first, then roared in a fierce but weak voice, "Who are you? Mind your own business! This is a private matter between us!"
"Personal matters?" Chen Yanyun took a step forward.
His eyes were as cold as ice in winter, and even his voice was chilling: "Abducting a woman in broad daylight, you call that a private matter? I think you're tired of living!"
Seeing that things were not going well, the two thieves next to him turned around and tried to run away, but were stopped by Chen Li behind Chen Yanyun.
Chen Li swept his scabbard across the ground in a few swift movements, then bound the man tightly with his wrists behind his back.
The leader of the thieves panicked, frantically pulled out a short knife from his waist, and pounced on the enemy like a madman.
Chen Yanyun dodged to the side with lightning speed, his wrist snapping as he precisely struck the opponent's wrist bone.
The short knife slammed onto the bluestone slab with a clang, bouncing twice before coming to a stop.
Immediately afterwards, he swiftly kicked the thief in the back of the knee with his toe, the force so great that the man fell to his knees with a "thud," his knee hitting the ground with a dull thud.
"My lady! Are you alright?" Caifu broke free from her restraints and stumbled over, grabbing Gu Jinzhao's arm tightly, her tears falling even more fiercely. "I thought... I thought I would never see you again..."
Gu Jinchao patted her back, his eyes burning with heat, but he bit his lip to keep the tears from falling.
She looked up at Chen Yanyun walking towards her, tried to stand up by supporting herself on the ground, but her knees buckled and she swayed as soon as she stood up.
"Be careful." Chen Yanyun reached out and steadied her, his fingertips slightly cool, but his palm was reassuringly steady.
His gaze fell on her bleeding knee, and his voice softened: "Are you alright, young lady?"
Gu Jinchao steadied herself, curtsied to him, her voice still carrying lingering fear, but full of genuine gratitude: "Thank you for saving me again, sir. May I ask your esteemed name? I will certainly repay your kindness today."
"It was nothing, Miss, you're too kind." When Chen Yanyun withdrew his hand, his fingertips lightly brushed against the fabric of her clothes. His tone was as gentle as a soft breeze from Jiangnan, and a hint of kindness lingered in his brows.
Whether it was to deliberately keep a low profile or because he felt there was no need to record his name, he did not mention it.
His gaze swept over Gu Jinchao's knees, noticing the dark red bloodstains on the hem of her plain dress, which was also damp with dust. He added, "There's a clinic on the street corner ahead. I have some important business to attend to. Have my subordinates take you there."
After saying that, he raised his hand and summoned the attendant who was waiting not far away, giving him a few words of instruction with his eyes.
A warm feeling suddenly washed over Gu Jinchao, easing some of the bewilderment he felt upon arriving in Jiangnan.
Having encountered danger one after another, if it weren't for this official's two interventions to protect them, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Her eyes welled up slightly, and she nodded quickly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude: "Thank you, my lord."
Chen Yanyun nodded slightly, slowing his pace a bit, as if deliberately waiting for the two people behind him to catch up before turning around and walking forward.
Caifu carefully supported Gu Jinzhao's arm, and the two walked very slowly. The dull pain in their knees still lingered, and each step was slightly tugged. But the despair that had previously lingered in their hearts had long since vanished without a trace, like snow melted by the warm spring sun, leaving only a sense of peace.
When the wooden door of the clinic was pushed open, a bittersweet medicinal aroma wafted out, and behind the counter were stacks of porcelain medicine jars.
Caifu carefully helped Gu Jinchao step over the threshold, while Chen Yanyun lagged half a step behind, his gaze sweeping across the room first.
Seeing the doctor in a gray cloth robe grinding medicine with his head down, they stepped aside to let the two of them sit down first.
"You stay here and keep watch." Chen Yanyun turned to the person behind him and instructed, his voice calm but with an undeniable detail, "After the girls' wounds are bandaged, take them back to the inn. Keep an eye on the surroundings on the way, and report immediately if you see any suspicious figures."
The subordinate bowed and replied, "Understood."
Gu Jinchao had just settled down on the wooden stool when he saw Chen Yanyun take out a blue cloth money bag from his bosom, pinch the opening of the bag between his fingertips and hand it over.
The purse was heavy, still warm from his body. Her fingertips gripped the hem of her plain skirt, and she was about to say, "My lord, there's no need for this," when her stomach growled softly at an inopportune moment. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with embarrassment.
"Miss, take this money first." Chen Yanyun's voice was as gentle as the morning light outside the window. He handed over the money bag, his warm gaze falling on her reddened ear tips, and the corners of his eyes curved into a slight arc. "When you're traveling, you'll feel more at ease if you have some money on hand. Contact your family as soon as possible, and be more careful in the future."
“This…” Gu Jinchao’s fingertips touched the texture of the money bag, feeling both warm and bittersweet. Just as he was about to say something, Chen Yanyun interrupted him.
"Now that your wound is bandaged, let's go to that noodle shop on the corner and have a bowl of hot soup noodles." He smiled slightly, gently withdrawing his fingertips. "We'll meet again someday."
After saying that, he didn't wait for Gu Jinchao's response, turned around, gave Chen Li a look, and walked out.
As the figure in the blue robe stepped across the threshold, a corner of the hem of the robe was lifted by the wind.
Chen Li caught up, paused slightly, and couldn't help but lower his voice to ask, "Third Master, you never get involved in trivial matters, so why are you so concerned about this young lady today? With your personality, you shouldn't be so considerate."
Chen Yanyun did not answer immediately, his fingertips stroking the tassel of the sword at his waist, his steps not stopping.
The wind carrying the scent of medicine blew through the alley, and a faint sense of certainty spread across his eyes, as if a voice was gently echoing in his heart.
It wasn't intentional; it was just that seeing her frown and endure the pain made him want to protect her. He was destined to be the one to cherish her.
As for why he didn't mention his name, he glanced up at the alley entrance, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He always felt that this connection wasn't a fleeting chance encounter, but a bond ingrained in their very being. There was no need to rush to reveal their names; there were many days ahead before they met again. They would definitely meet again, they definitely would.
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