Mu Qing took Chen Yue out to buy herbs. Herbs would be fine when there was no war, but ready-made medicines would be more useful during wartime.
The next day, Mu Qing and Shen Yue returned to Kyoto from Tong County near Kyoto with medicine in three horse-drawn carriages. In April, the flowers in Kyoto were almost withered, unlike the northwest where it was still snowing.
People going out for a spring outing can be seen everywhere near the county towns they pass by, some in groups of three or five, and some with entire families traveling in several horse-drawn carriages.
"The spring hunt is about to begin, but General Shen has to leave. Can't he wait a few more days? Wait until the spring hunt is over before leaving?" Mu Qing raised his hand to block the light and looked into the distance. Many children were flying kites.
"I have to leave eventually. After staying in a place like this for too long, I don't want to go back to the northwest. After all, it's too desolate and too cold there. It's still snowing in Qi County at this time of year."
"How is that possible?" Mu Qing had never been to the northwest. He had grown up in the Ye Mansion, and except for a trip south of the Yangtze River to collect grain before the Lunar New Year, he had never been further than Tong County. He was both Ye Chen's subordinate and his study partner. He knew only a few words, read a few military books, and witnessed the intrigues of Kyoto. He hadn't seen much of the outside world; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was a frog in a well.
After hearing Mu Qing's question, Chen Yue smiled and patted Mu Qing on the shoulder. "You are quite pitiful. Although you have never lacked food and clothing, you have really seen too little. If you have the chance, go back to the northwest with Mingyue and see what the vastness of the world is. I haven't had a good ride since I came back. The horse has become dull."
"Ah, help, miss!" Suddenly a sharp cry came from a river nearby.
Chen Yue immediately rode over. Mu Qing raised his hand to signal those behind to stop and said, "You wait here and take good care of the herbs." Then he chased in the direction Chen Yue went.
Shen Yue walked closer and saw a woman in the river. It was obvious that the woman could not swim. She flapped her hands in the water, came up and sank again.
Chen Yue glared at the stirrups, jumped into the river, grabbed the woman's waist, and swam towards the shore with her.
It was April and everyone had changed into spring clothes. The thin clothes were now wet and clung to their bodies. Shen Yue put the person in her arms down. The woman's hair was all spread out and she was unconscious and needed treatment. However, Shen Yue shouted twice but no one could save her, so she had to come herself.
He placed his hands on the woman's chest and squeezed hard. Only after the woman spat out two mouthfuls of water did Shen Yue feel relieved and slumped down beside her.
"You lecher, what did you just do to my lady? How...how could you touch my lady..." Chen Yue frowned as soon as she saw the girl who was speaking. Isn't this...
Then Shen Yue pushed the woman's hair away from her face. It was Fang Yu. The girl who called Shen Yue a lecher was Fang Yu's personal maid Xia Ying.
The last time Shen Yue was scolded, it was because she had hurt someone. She felt guilty and wanted to compensate. But now, she was saving someone, and she was still being scolded. She was a little angry. Although there were strict rules about sex, but this was a life-or-death situation. How could that matter so much? Shen Yue, who grew up in the northwest and didn't care about trivial matters, couldn't understand it.
At this time, Mu Qing came over, untied a bundle on the horse's back and handed it to Shen Yue. Shen Yue understood and took it and untied it, then took out a piece of clothing to cover the lying Fang Yu. That was the clothes that Mu Qing bought for her when she went out this time because she thought Mingyue would look good in it. This maid was really not very sensible. Her young lady was already like this, but she didn't even ask the men around her to turn their heads. The only one who turned his head was Mu Qing.
"Your young lady is not in danger of death now, but you'd better see a doctor as soon as possible. The ground is still cold and lying on it for a long time is not good for your health. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Shen Yue said as she stood up and was about to leave.
Xia Ying didn't care about Fang Yu on the ground, she just stretched out her hand to stop Shen Yue, "You can't leave, you touched my lady and ruined her reputation, you can't leave."
This maid is so confused? A maid from a noble family shouldn't be like this? Even if she had to take responsibility, she wouldn't ignore her own lady's life or death, let alone her own lady's reputation. She wouldn't yell like this. Judging from all the signs of this maid, this maid has a grudge against Fang Yu, or at least hates Fang Yu in her heart.
Chen Yue casually took off a jade pendant from her body, squatted down and placed it in Fang Yu's hand, then bowed to the onlookers, "I hope you will bear witness. This jade pendant is a token of my love. I am Chen Yue, the son of the Northwest General. I will go home and prepare. Tomorrow I will go to the residence of Zheng Dali, the Minister of Justice, to explain the matter to Madam Zheng, and then formally propose marriage to the Fang family."
After saying that, he picked up Fang Yu who was lying on the ground and glanced at Xia Ying, "Where is your carriage?"
Xia Ying was stunned for a moment, then led the way. After putting Fang Yu on the carriage, she instructed the driver, "Please stay beside our team. I will personally take Miss Fang back to the Zheng Mansion."
Chen Yue had no feelings for Xia Ying at all. This kind of thing wouldn't have any effect on a man, but it was different for a woman, especially one from a prominent family like the Fang family. They valued their reputation even more than their children's lives. Had he accidentally found a wife? Now his mother wouldn't nag him anymore, right?
After returning to Kyoto City, Mu Qing took people and medicine back to Ye Mansion first, and Chen Yue escorted Fang Yu back to Zheng Mansion. When passing by the pharmacy, they asked the doctor to go to Zheng Mansion together.
When Mrs. Zheng saw that her sister was carried into the house, she was shocked and full of questions. When she saw her sister, worry took over and she forgot her previous questions for a moment.
After the doctor finished the examination and confirmed that nothing was wrong, he took Xia Ying to ask what happened. She learned that her sister had fallen into the water and was rescued. Only then did she remember that the person who carried her sister into the house was someone she knew.
Madam Zheng came to the main hall. After putting Fang Yu down, Chen Yue came out to the main hall, waiting for the host to ask questions.
"General Shen, thank you for saving my life." Madam Zheng bowed to Shen Yue as soon as she arrived at the main hall, thanking him for saving her sister's life. Shen Yue turned aside and did not accept the bow.
"Madam, I came here to tell you that I will bring a matchmaker to propose marriage tomorrow. I wonder if it will be to the Zheng Mansion or the Fang family in Jiangnan?"
When Madam Zheng came to see Shen Yue, she really wanted to talk about her sister's marriage, but she couldn't figure out how to start the conversation. After all, the man was trying to save someone, not a pervert, so it was a bit unreasonable to ask him this.
But she knew her mother's family better than anyone else. They were a noble family, but the importance that such a noble family attached to reputation was beyond the imagination of other families. If Shen Yue refused to acknowledge her today, all that would be waiting for Fang Yu would be a piece of white silk. For such a noble family, a daughter was just a bargaining chip for clinging to the powerful. If her reputation was gone, there was no need to keep her life.
Otherwise, if she had married her childhood sweetheart, she would not have been kicked out of the Fang family, and no one would have been allowed to call her Mrs. Fang until now.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
