Chapter 37. Go find him. Want to see her.
King Yu raised an eyebrow: "Is that Lord Jiang who went missing after going to Changzhou to deal with the disaster?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Yu Wang stared at that beautiful figure for a long time, unable to look away. It was rare to see such a beautiful waist in Jin'an, but it was a pity that she was already married.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
The eunuch's words interrupted King Yu's thoughts, and he withdrew his gaze and went inside.
After leaving the Empress Dowager's Zen temple, Zhao Xian felt that the Yu King and his son were probably going to stay away from each other, which seemed a bit abnormal.
Could it be a genetic problem? Look at that Prince Yu, he's so handsome, yet he's in love with a married woman.
Without some special reason, it's unlikely that such a hobby could be cultivated.
King Yu looked much older than Jiang Liangxu. He had lived half his life; surely he knew proper etiquette?
If one knowingly acts in a manner that violates etiquette, then that is simply being a scoundrel.
Thinking of how the Crown Prince of Yu blocked Li Lianniang's way.
Two old perverts.
I made up my mind that I must stay away from this father and son from now on, and avoid them if I see them.
Back in the meditation room, I found Cui Tingyue had arrived.
Upon seeing Zhao Xian return, Cui Tingyue ran up to her, her expression shifting from joy to heartache: "Mother. Mother, you've lost so much weight and look so haggard."
She looked haggard, but she had definitely lost weight. No matter how delicious the vegetarian food was, it was still vegetarian, and it became bland after a while. Besides, she liked spicy food, and the vegetarian food was too bland for her taste.
Zhao Xian asked in confusion, "Why is Tingyue here?"
“I’ve come to stand in for Mother.” Cui Tingyue said, explaining, “When Madam Lu came to our house, we learned that there is such a thing as standing in for someone else when praying for blessings. My sister-in-law and I discussed it, but she has to take care of household affairs and can’t leave. I had nothing to do at home, so I came first. I can’t let Mother suffer alone.”
Zhao Xian didn't want to give anyone a handle to use against her, so she tried to salvage the situation by saying, "Don't say such things. It's not a matter of who's suffering more or less; the people who are affected by the disaster are the ones who suffer the most."
Looking at Zhao Xian's thin appearance, Cui Tingyue felt guilty: "My daughter should have come sooner."
Zhao Xian didn't let Cui Tingyue replace her. The play had been going on for so long, so she had to continue. Giving up halfway was a big no-no.
She didn't take Cui Tingyue directly to pray for blessings. After all, other families could change daughters-in-law and daughters, but she couldn't break the rules by not changing hers.
That day, Zhao Xian returned from praying for blessings, only to see Cui Tingyue returning from outside with her maid Dong'er. Cui Tingyue looked somewhat nervous and kept glancing back.
She almost bumped into her. Zhao Xian grabbed her and asked, "What happened?"
Cui Tingyue's face flushed bright red, but her eyes also revealed a hint of shyness: "Mother."
Seeing her like this, Zhao Xian pulled her into the house and instructed the maid to guard outside the door.
"What happened?"
Cui Tingyue drank several mouthfuls of water to calm her panic, but seeing Zhao Xian's embarrassed expression, she seemed unsure how to begin.
"Don't be afraid, Mother is here. Tell Mother if anything happens, and Mother will help you make a decision."
Cui Tingyue pursed her lips, blushed, and moved closer to Zhao Xian.
After she finished speaking, her face turned even redder and she didn't dare to look up at Zhao Xian.
Zhao Xian: "...Did you see who it was?"
Cui Tingyue shook her head: "No, those two were in the forest, surrounded by many trees, so we couldn't see them. We could only hear their voices."
She ran away as soon as she heard the male and female voices. She wouldn't dare to be curious about such a place as a Buddhist temple where illicit affairs were being committed.
Did you alert them?
Cui Tingyue quickly shook her head: "No,"
Zhao Xian didn't know if she really meant it when she said she hadn't been alerted. Usually, people who stumbled upon such secrets were easily silenced.
"Don't panic, don't panic. From now on, you should stay in the meditation room and not wander around outside."
While copying Buddhist scriptures in the afternoon, Zhao Xian paid attention to the ladies present but did not notice anything unusual.
Because of the rotation, everyone came every day, but with only a few people from each family taking turns, it was impossible to tell who was bold enough to have an affair with someone at Huguo Temple.
--
Xing'an Village.
Jiang Liangxu has been in Xing'an Village for more than 20 days.
The water in the river behind the mountain is not as murky as it used to be, but the current is still quite rapid, making it impossible to wade across.
Because the river originally had a small flow, the villagers used to cross it via a bridge.
This has resulted in the villagers in the mountains not knowing how to row a boat, and not even having a decent boat.
Grandma Xu brought out osmanthus wine, saying, "The bridge is broken this year, so we can't buy mooncakes. We'll just have to make do with the pancakes I made for Mid-Autumn Festival."
The entire Xu family sat around in the courtyard, enjoying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms while drinking wine, admiring the moon, and eating cakes.
Although the bridge outside was flooded, it did not affect the Xu family's life at all.
Even other families in Xing'an Village were not greatly affected.
Grandma Xu cut a piece of cake and handed it to Jiang Liangxu: "Young master, please have a taste."
Thank you.
As he ate his pancake and looked up at the moon, Jiang Liangxu felt that he had something very important to do. He couldn't remember what it was, but he felt that it was very important and he shouldn't miss it.
However, he is unable to leave this place at this moment, which means he has broken his promise and should be disappointing.
Who is disappointed?
Jiang Liangxu suddenly felt a sharp headache.
"Young master."
--
Huguo Temple.
Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Emperor sent people to deliver mooncakes, but due to the disasters this year, no banquets were held in the court.
The Empress Dowager led everyone in sharing the mooncakes, but because they were in a temple, they were not allowed to drink alcohol.
Early in the morning, Zhao Xian was applying dark circles to her eyes when Shaoyao announced that Steward Jiang from the manor had arrived.
Steward Jiang, who takes the surname of the head of the household, is the chief steward of the mansion and was a former servant who once served Jiang Liangxu's father.
"This old servant greets Madam."
"Uncle Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. What brings you here? Did news come from Changzhou?"
Butler Jiang shook his head: "This old servant has come to deliver a birthday gift to Madam."
As he spoke, he presented a brocade box to Zhao Xian, saying, "When Master left, he instructed that if he could return in time, he would deliver it personally; if he could not return, this old servant would deliver it on Madam's birthday."
She's been so engrossed in acting these past few days that she's forgotten her own birthday.
What a coincidence, the original owner's birthday is exactly the same as hers in the modern world.
Zhao Xian looked at the brocade box, reached out and took it, but did not open it immediately.
She felt a strange, indescribable guilt.
She was caught between the original owner of the body and Jiang Liangxu, like a mistress.
Butler Jiang added, "Master said he couldn't make longevity noodles for Madam himself, so he hopes she will like this birthday gift."
As if guided by some unseen force, Zhao Xian opened the box.
To her surprise, there was a book inside.
Could it be a travelogue?
Zhao Xian quite liked Jiang Liangxu's travelogue, so she naturally picked it up and opened it.
Upon seeing the first page of the book, Zhao Xian froze. She then turned the pages, becoming increasingly alarmed as she flipped through them. How could it be her entire life story? It even included details of how she was a child who got into a fight with a dog out of spite, her university days, and her complaints about working as an artist's assistant...
Zhao Xian glanced through it; it was all about the things she had done in modern times.
She slammed the book shut and looked at the butler: "Did Jiang Liangxu ask you to give this to me?"
"Yes, Madam."
Zhao Xian's hand trembled slightly as she held the book, suppressing her shock. "Uncle Jiang, please wait a moment."
Zhao Xian put the book into the box, locked it, and went to the Empress Dowager's Zen temple.
It was still early, the time when everyone was having breakfast, and the Empress Dowager was no exception.
"Your humble servant, Lady Zhao, pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Stand up and speak."
Zhao Xian did not get up, her voice tinged with sorrow: "I hope Your Majesty will forgive me for disturbing you so early in the morning. I have an important matter to ask Your Majesty, and I have no choice but to come."
"Oh, what is so important?"
“Last night I dreamt of my husband. I found him trapped in a certain place. I wish to go and find him. I humbly beg Your Majesty for your grace.”
The dream was obviously fake, but she needed to find out the truth about the book.
What frightened her most was how Jiang Liangxu knew about her life story, especially things from before she transmigrated—it was utterly unbelievable.
And what did he mean by writing these things down?
It would be best if Jiang Liangxu were still alive.
The Empress Dowager raised her eyes. After observing Zhao Shi these past few days, she found her to be a very composed person. Even when she was heartbroken, she would not lose her manners and would insist on praying for blessings.
Why are you suddenly acting so unsteady again?
"Based on just a dream..."
"To be honest, Your Majesty, after hearing the news of my husband's disappearance, I was already heartbroken. I only prayed that he would not suffer and would be reincarnated soon. I have been sustained by this belief these days." Zhao Xian raised her head. She was now more and more adept at making up a haggard look. With her eyes and tone of voice, everyone who saw her could tell that she was deeply in love with Lord Jiang.
Zhao Xian continued, "I suddenly dreamt that he was still alive. Whether it's true or not, I want to go and find him, even if I can't make it in time... I just want to see him one more time."
The recent news from the Changzhou floods has been mostly good, because Jiang Liangxu overcame opposition and evacuated people early, resulting in minimal casualties.
In areas where the floodwaters have receded, repairs and reconstruction are already underway.
Zhao Xian spoke with tears streaming down her face, and the Empress Dowager was moved. "Go," she said, "I grant your permission."
Zhao Xian bowed her head in thanks.
They also took the opportunity to take Cui Tingyue away, leaving her behind.
After all, Cui Tingyue had stumbled upon that kind of thing, and she was afraid that Cui Tingyue would be silenced.
--
Xing'an Village
"Aunt Xu, could you please cut this garment open?" Jiang Liangxu took out the clothes he was wearing when he was rescued.
Old Mrs. Xu didn't dare to touch the clothes. After they were washed, it was clear that they were made of fine silk and satin that only wealthy families could afford. "Young master, what are you doing? It's such a waste to cut up such good material. You won't wear it anymore?"
“I need a lot of paper or thin cloth. This garment is made of brocade, and it can be worth some silver if it is disassembled.”
In Jiang Liangxu's mind, paper was worthless to him, but to these people, it was a precious thing. He asked the children and found that there were fewer than five households with paper at home, and they rarely took it out to use.
Upon hearing this, Old Man Xu said, "If you need paper, I'll go and ask around to borrow some for you. Don't waste such fine clothes."
"Uncle Xu has already helped me a lot. Paper is a precious commodity to you, so how can I make things difficult for you? Fortunately, these clothes are worth some money, which can be exchanged for some."
Grandma Xu couldn't help but feel sorry for her: "This dress could be exchanged for a lot of paper. It would be a waste to cut it up."
Old Man Xu asked in confusion, "What does the young master need paper for?"
"Make sky lanterns."
When he was teaching the children to read, some of them wanted to thank him and specially gave him their favorite lantern.
Upon seeing the lantern, Jiang Liangxu suddenly thought of sky lanterns, as if someone had mentioned them to him and told him a story about being rescued using a sky lantern.
The person who spoke was blurry, but Jiang Liangxu felt that the person was very important to him, and he wanted to see him, he really wanted to.
Therefore, he decided to try to see if he could use the sky lantern to let people know that he was in Xing'an Village.
Seeing his stubbornness, Old Mrs. Xu glanced at her husband.
Finally, she took the scissors and carefully began to cut it. The more she worked, the more heartbroken she felt. She used to be a maid in a wealthy family and rarely saw her master wearing such fine fabric.
Jiang Liangxu then asked Uncle Xu to cut bamboo.
"What are you doing, Master?" The children surrounded Jiang Liangxu with curious eyes.
Are you making lanterns?
"There's no such thing as a lantern that big; it's a cage."
"lantern."
"cage."
With so many children, they started arguing amongst themselves.
Jiang Liangxu glanced at them. "Have you finished practicing your calligraphy for today?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the children scattered in a flash.
Jiang Liangxu had heard of sky lanterns before, but when it came to making them himself, he was completely learning as a novice.
The first one was very ugly, even crooked, and after lighting the oil lamp, it took a long time for the sky lantern to rise.
So he revised it again.
This was repeated several times.
Tiger Cub stared at the lantern slowly rising into the air, his mouth agape: "Master, this lantern can fly! Grandpa, Grandma, come quick, the lantern is flying!"
Old Xu was also shocked when he first saw a lantern that could fly.
The eldest son of the Xu family looked at the lantern, which had already flown high enough that it was completely out of reach, and muttered under his breath, "Changing the paper was just for the purpose of letting it fly? Such a nice garment, not only is it ruined, but the paper is also wasted."
His wife nudged him with her elbow.
--
He received the Empress Dowager's permission.
Zhao Xian packed her luggage and set off from Huguo Temple. First, she sent Cui Tingyue back to the Jiang family, and then she went to the escort agency to hire people to go to Changzhou.
There were guards in the mansion, but when Jiang Wei left, twenty-five of them had already been transferred away. She didn't move the rest, after all, there were still two weak women, an infant in swaddling clothes, and a group of servants in the house.
A few days after they set off, a troop of soldiers suddenly caught up with them and stopped beside their carriage.
Butler Jiang's voice came from outside: "Madam, it's someone from the Yu Prince's Mansion."
King Yu?
Zhao Xian lifted the carriage curtain and saw the tall and imposing King Yu riding on horseback. "Madam Jiang, what a coincidence, where are you going?"
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