Xu Di recognized it; it was a badge worn by a fifth-rank official in the imperial court. The woman must have something very important to tell him or give to him by taking it out now.
Xu Di followed the woman into the shop and saw a shelf inside the small shop, on which were many silk threads used for embroidery. There was a door covered by a cloth curtain, and Xu Di guessed that this door should lead to the backyard.
The woman asked Xu Di to wait a moment, then lifted the curtain and went inside. She quickly came out, carrying a package wrapped in oiled paper. She walked up to Xu Di and said, "This is the account book left behind by Chu Huaigui, the former prefect of Miaozhou. I've heard people say that the Third Prince has been executed, but this account book still contains many people's accounts."
Xu Di asked in a deep voice, "May I ask whose family this lady belongs to?"
The woman smiled and said, "I used to be a concubine of Lord Chu. Before Lord Chu was arrested, he returned my indenture and told me where this account book was before he sent me away. Last year, I fell ill in the town ahead and my travel money was stolen. I happened to meet your mother, who is a kind-hearted doctor. She not only saved me but also gave me money to go to my relatives. Later, by chance, I ended up in this town. I wanted to give the account book to Lord Xu, but I couldn't find a way. Thank God, I met Lord Xu today, which can be considered as a relief for my master."
Xu Di asked with some doubt, "What's on Lord Chu's mind?"
The woman's eyes reddened as she thought of Chu Huaigui. She said, "Back then, the Chu family made an exchange with the Third Prince, but my master was sent to Miaozhou to suffer. My master had no choice but to act according to the Third Prince's wishes. My master said that he had studied the classics for decades, but in the end, he had become someone else's lackey. He was heartbroken, but he could not resist and could only go with the flow. My master said that if possible, he would hand over this account book to my master."
Xu Di was even more puzzled and said, "Why would your elders think of handing over the account books to me?"
The woman smiled sadly and said, "My master said that you are the person he admires most, and that you will definitely use your knowledge to benefit the people in the future. Moreover, you have a deep-seated hatred with the Third Prince, so it is most appropriate to hand over the account books to you."
Actually, it should be the last reason. After all, the conflict between the Yongning Marquis's Mansion and the Third Prince is irreconcilable. Thinking of Chu Huaigui, Xu Di sighed and said, "If Lord Chu hadn't been burdened by his family background, he would have always been able to realize his ambitions. At the Deer Cry Banquet, Lord Chu once told me that he wanted to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to create peace for all generations. He studied the classics for decades in order to realize his ambitions. What a pity, what a pity."
The woman lowered her head, presented the account book to Xu Di with both hands, and said, "Please, Lord Xu, use the account book where it is meant to be used. If my master knew this in the afterlife, he would be able to rest in peace."
As Xu Di walked out of the shop carrying the oiled paper package, he felt a pang of sadness. He had seen Chu Huaigui last year, and at that time, Chu Huaigui's eyes had lost their light, as if the person sitting next to Xu Di at the Deer Cry Banquet, whose eyes were full of hope, was just a figment of his imagination. Xu Di actually harbored some resentment towards Chu Huaigui. Even if he was greedy, these were still the people under his jurisdiction, whom he should have cared for. In the end, even the money for repairing the river embankment was embezzled. This was the inaction of the prefect.
It turned out that Chu Huaigui was suffering so much in places he didn't know or could see. Xu Di weighed the oil paper package in his hand, then waved to someone behind him. After the person stepped forward, Xu Di gave him a few instructions and handed him the oil paper package. The person turned and walked away into the distance. Xu Di watched until the person's figure disappeared from sight before continuing to walk forward.
Even after boarding the ship, Xu Di's mood had not recovered. How many people, like Chu Huaigui, stepped into officialdom full of ambition, only to betray their original aspirations and live with regrets for the rest of their lives due to various unavoidable circumstances?
Going against the current, when they finally returned home to Miaozhou, they saw Li Yuexi, who was growing increasingly haggard from worry, and then saw her trembling with fear because her mother was in a bad mood. They felt very sad.
When Granny Lu saw Xu Di return safely, she chanted a Buddhist prayer, took Xu Di's hand, and said, "My dear Di'er, you're finally back safe and sound. If you hadn't come back, Yuexi and I would have taken the children to the capital."
Xu Di put his arm around Granny Lu's shoulder and said with a smile, "I'm back safe and sound, aren't I? Granny, I won't do that again. Wherever I go, I'll take you and the three of them with me, okay?"
Granny Lu smiled and said, "That's great! Have you sent a message to Xiao Jiu? She and our son-in-law came a couple of days ago and even sent their guards to the capital to inquire, but the journey took too long and the guards haven't returned yet."
When the two children saw their father return, their mother smiled through her tears, while the nanny clapped her hands with joy. Each child hugged one of Xu Di's legs. Xu Di smiled and said, "Alright, alright, after I've finished up my business here, I'll take you to Luzhou. This time we'll take the newly built road, see the scenery there, and then visit your aunt, okay?"
Children are always happy to be taken out to play, and they naturally clap their hands and shout "Great!"
Seeing that Xu Di had lost a lot of weight, Li Yuexi quickly asked Zhao Saozi to cook for Xu Di, saying, "You've lost so much weight, you need to nourish yourself properly. I'll have the kitchen go out and buy more fish from the river these next few days to make you fish soup."
Xu Di smiled and agreed. Seeing that it was still early, he went to the government office.
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