Chapter 345 Farewell
Lighted lanterns were hung on the eaves on both sides of the street. The warm yellow candlelight illuminated the dark long street, and a faint halo of light was cast on the bluestone slabs on the ground.
The thick white snow on the ground was shoveled flat and piled on both sides of the street. The people stood beside the snow, their faces filled with smiles, which looked simple and warm in the cold night.
Shen Qingtan looked at the scene in astonishment. Ever since the plague raged in Yuncheng, no lanterns were lit at the door of each household.
Moreover, there is not a single pedestrian on the street at night.
Now that they were about to leave Yuncheng, the common people heard the news and came to light lanterns to see them off.
Everyone was holding a shovel and a broom, obviously clearing a smooth path for them.
Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi looked at each other, put down the curtain in their hands, and got off the carriage together.
At this time, an elderly man walked out tremblingly from the crowd.
"Sir, my family of six fell ill. We went to the clinic but no one cared. The doctor kicked us out and told us to go back and prepare for our funeral. It was you who had the prefect take us to live in a shed and invited the imperial physician to treat us. You saved my family of six."
When the old man talked about the sad things, his cloudy eyes gradually became moist.
"My great-granddaughter is the only one who calls me great-grandfather. I thought I would never hear her call me that again. But our family has met a good official like you who has saved us. I can hear her call me great-grandfather every day. This morning, she even shared her eggs with me."
At this point, the old man smiled, tears in his eyes. With a heart full of gratitude, he put down his crutches and knelt down to kowtow to Zhao Yi.
"And me, my family fell ill, and the officials dragged us into a shed to live in. My family was still cooking, and the fire on the stove was still burning, and the house burned down. When the master found out, he gave me money and sent someone to build a new house for my family."
"And me, and me too. My two sons were the first to fall ill, and they left me, their mother, before the adults could come. I'm left with only my youngest son. My legs are not handy, and my youngest son has to do corvée labor, leaving no one to take care of me. When the adults learned the truth, they exempted my sons from corvée labor and also exempted my family from taxes. We won't have to go hungry this winter."
"The master not only exempted your family, he also exempted taxes in our Cloud City and Rock City. Even families with only one male child don't have to do labor service."
The people talked one after another about what Zhao Yi had done for them, and all knelt down and kowtowed to Zhao Yi.
"Sir, you are like a living Bodhisattva. You saved our lives and provided us with a livelihood. We will never forget your great kindness."
Zhao Yi looked at the people kneeling together and hurriedly helped the old man who was in the lead to stand up.
"As a government official, this is what I should do. The ground is cold, and you have just recovered from a serious illness. Get up quickly and don't catch a cold again."
After hearing what Zhao Yi said, the people stood up quickly, fearing that they would cause trouble for Zhao Yi and the miracle doctor.
They held a bundle and handed it to Zhao Yi: "A few of us young men went to the mountains to hunt some prey, and we took the fur to make a cloak for you, Madam. This is a small gift from us ordinary people, you must accept it."
Zhao Yi looked at the simple smiles on the people's faces, was silent for a moment, and accepted the bundle: "You are so thoughtful."
When the people saw Zhao Yi accept it, their smiles became even brighter, and they retreated to the side of the road: "We won't delay your journey. It's snowing heavily, and the road is wet and slippery, so please be careful."
Zhao Yi was infected by their enthusiasm and smiled: "Okay."
The people watched Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan leave in a carriage until they could no longer see the carriage and prepared to disperse.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Aiya!" and held up a bag of silver. "The master left a bag of silver for us."
Everyone stared at the bulging bag of silver, feeling a mixture of emotions. This gentleman truly cared about ordinary people like them and was unwilling to take a single needle or thread from them for nothing.
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In the carriage, Shen Qingtan opened the bundle, and inside was a piece of snow-white fur without a trace of other colors. It was obvious that the people had carefully prepared a thank-you gift for them.
"The common people here are very simple and honest. They give what they think is the best to their benefactors." Shen Qingtan's fingers gently stroked the soft fur, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "Fortunately, they are the people of your fiefdom. You can take better care of them."
Zhao Yi's eyes fell on the snow-white fur, and her white and delicate fingers almost blended into the fur.
He gently held her fingers together: "Madam, you are absolutely right."
Shen Qingtan glanced at him.
At this time, the driver said: "Your Majesty, Princess, we have arrived at the city gate."
The carriage slowly stopped. Shen Qingtan quickly lifted the curtain and came out of the carriage. She saw Gu Changsheng standing at the city gate wearing a plain cloak, holding a swaddling baby in his arms.
"Brother Changsheng." Shen Qingtan got off the carriage and walked quickly to him: "Sorry to have kept you waiting." She looked at the sleeping baby in the cradle, her little face flushed: "This child..."
"This child is destined to be with me, so I will keep him by my side." Gu Changsheng gently pulled up the fur coat to shield the baby from the wind and snow. "Manman, the capital of Northern Qi is in turmoil, so take good care of yourself. Next mid-autumn, I will prepare wine and food and wait for you and your brother-in-law to return."
"Okay." Shen Qingtan felt a sense of sadness at parting and said with a smile, "I want to eat almond milk."
Gu Changsheng nodded slightly and said to Zhao Yi, "Take care."
Zhao Yi replied, "Take care."
Before Shen Qingtan left, he took off a jade pendant from his neck and gently placed it in the swaddling clothes: "This is my gift to the child."
Gu Changsheng did not refuse and accepted her kindness.
Shen Qingtan looked at Gu Changsheng steadily, then got into the carriage with Zhao Yi.
She lifted the carriage curtain and saw Gu Changsheng standing there. She waved her hand and said, "Brother, it's cold at night. Go back quickly."
Gu Changsheng replied softly, "Okay."
The carriage carrying Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi slowly drove away. Gu Changsheng turned around, and they slowly crossed paths.
It was icy and snowy outside the city. Shen Qingtan, sitting in the carriage, gathered the blanket covering his legs. The carriage bumped towards the capital, leaving only two deep marks left by the wheels in the snow.
In the city just across the wall, the remaining cold seemed to dissipate with the people's excitement and cheers, and stoves were lit again and shops were opened again.
Gu Changsheng held the little baby in his arms and walked into the bustling city.
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