Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Three Years
The weather in the north was freezing cold, and it wasn't until late April that people finally extinguished their kangs and packed their winter clothes away. Meanwhile, caravans from all corners of the country arrived one after another. After a brief rest, they left the city one after another, laden with goods, bound for the farthest reaches of the world.
"...The Guo family in this state is truly a prestigious family. It's just that those jade dealers are suffering, as they've inflated the market price by 30%! I originally wanted to buy a bracelet for my daughter as a dowry, but now the price is too high."
"Too expensive? Just go buy from somewhere else. The Guo family is the Empress Dowager's maternal family, and even the emperor and the prime minister's in-laws. The three most distinguished people in the world are from the same family. As the saying goes, reputation is priceless. Just for these three, even if the jade goes up another 20%, there will be many people begging to buy it!"
"Who said it wasn't? I just regret not having the foresight to see things through. If I had known this would happen, I would have stockpiled some. Wouldn't I have made a killing selling them now?"
"Speaking of pity, who could be more regrettable than that? It's a pity for the Prime Minister, so young and gray-haired, and so infatuated."
As soon as these words were spoken, the caravan fell silent. Although they didn't mention the person by name, the caravan had traveled extensively and was well-informed, so everyone knew who they were talking about.
Although it was an old story, the Prime Minister was so powerful that even high-ranking officials in the court were afraid to speak of it. Common people like them were even more secretive about it and could only mention it in such a vague way at most.
The conversation outside the carriage had turned to where the delicious food was, where the wine was fragrant, and where the scenery was unique, mixed with bursts of hearty laughter, which made people listen attentively.
“...cough cough cough.”
A suppressed cough startled the woman, lost in thought, leaning against the window. A trace of panic crossed her face as she hurriedly poured a glass of warm water, knelt down in front of the thickly covered couch, and carefully fed the half-reclining figure.
"Auntie, I was so engrossed in what I was listening to that I couldn't take good care of my brother. Please forgive me."
The woman took the empty cup and when the other party indicated that he no longer needed it, she reached into the bedding and touched the hot water bottle and large glass bottle at the man's feet and legs one by one.
Sensing it wasn't warm enough, she swiftly removed the bottle, poured warm water into the jar, then added boiling water from the nearby stove, carefully replacing it. Though the entire process was skillful and swift, she kept a slight frown on her face, enduring the pain. She withdrew her fingers, reddened by the heat, and rubbed them together.
Lan Nongnong felt apologetic, but she was too exhausted to even speak. The hot water bottle, still scalding even through the thick cloth, lay pressed against her feet and legs, yet to her, it was only a hint of warmth.
The sun was shining brightly outside the window, and the air was warm and pleasant, but she was wrapped in thick clothes and covered with two quilts, and her legs were still as if immersed in ice and snow, and she was cold to the bone.
Since the beginning of last winter, these legs have made it difficult to walk at all.
She looked up at the bewildered girl, a faint smile spread across her gentle eyes, and she nodded slightly.
Fortunately, God helped her in the end.
By preventing her from committing any evil, she had a chance of escaping. With the help of an old acquaintance, she was able to get through the most difficult times. She also had enough money to live on.
Fortunately, she met Qiya, who was nearly sold to a pawnbroker by her family at the time, and is now Mingzhu. Fortunately, she was born strong, and when she suddenly became unable to walk, she had someone to support her, saving her the risk of finding someone else to take care of her.
She felt a chill throughout her body, shivering uncontrollably, and even her breath seemed to carry a thin layer of icy mist. However, Lan Nongnong's face showed a long-lost sense of ease and tranquility.
Especially after hearing that the man's hair was already white, a myriad of emotions surged in her mind, but in the end, it settled into a trace of relief. She knew that only because he believed in it so firmly could such a big change happen.
She also knew that at this point, she had finally regained her freedom.
Her fingertips gently brushed against her earlobe, leaving a burn mark the size of half a fingernail. Even though she'd smeared her entire body with a special algae mud and protected herself with clothing, she wasn't completely spared. But in such a raging fire, only a few strands of hair had been burned, leaving only this insignificant scar. She was fortunate.
The carriage rocked and swayed, and Lan Nongnong fell asleep. When she woke, she and Mingzhu cooked some dry food into hot porridge over the small stove inside the carriage and shared it. As night fell, the two of them slept together in the small carriage, spending the cold night together.
Along the way, the caravan would stop in towns along the way for supplies. Although the two had paid for the escort and didn't need to remain confined to the vehicle, they were unfamiliar with the area. A frail man with limited mobility, and a seemingly timid girl, their lingering aura of weakness could easily lead to trouble. Furthermore, Lan Nongnong didn't want to cause any trouble, so she never left the vehicle. Mingzhu only occasionally went down to replace the water and buy some food and supplies from the caravan.
The caravan's destination was Puzhou. By the time they passed through Liuzhou, it was already mid-May. Lan Nongnong was carried off the car by Mingzhu and placed in a wheelchair. She came forward to thank the tour leader and say goodbye.
---
In the third year of Xu Zhang's reign, the new emperor had been on the throne for more than two years, and the world was at peace and tranquility was all around.
"Madam Zhou looks good today, but are you going out?"
Lan Nongnong wore her hair in a bun, pinned with a single silver hairpin, and dressed simply. Her face, neck, and the backs of her hands were carefully painted with dark powder. She sat in a wheelchair, nodded slightly to the neighbor who was questioning her, and remained silent.
Mingzhu, who was pushing the wheelchair behind him, just smiled timidly. After loading the luggage into the car one by one, he bent down and carried both the person and the chair into the car steadily. Then he lifted the curtain and nodded goodbye to the neighbors outside with a smile.
The carriage then started moving and slowly drove away from the street where they were temporarily staying.
Sandaowan Hutong is a fairly ordinary alley in the outer districts of Liuzhou. It's inhabited mostly by outsiders, often renting for short periods. With so much coming and going, it's natural that there aren't many close relationships between neighbors.
Since the two sisters moved in, they've rarely ventured out, except for daily groceries. Rumor has it they were robbed along the way, their brother-in-law tragically killed and their sister injured, and they've rented a temporary home here to mourn. To this day, the people in the alley know only their surname, Zhou, and nothing else. Judging from their appearance, they've recovered from their injuries and are returning home.
Several women in the alley watched the carriage turn the corner of the alley, and they just sighed to each other, "What a miserable life!", then lowered their heads and went about their own business.
-
Liuzhou was approximately 400 miles from Yuqing, a journey by carriage that took four or five days. It was July, and the weather was scorching hot, unbearable for most people, but for Lan Nongnong, this warmth was just right.
During a rest stop, Mingzhu carried her down from the carriage and carefully helped her walk briefly in the sunlight. Despite her usual massage therapy, the cold had already penetrated her muscles and bones, leaving her legs heavy and atrophied.
Even though I insist on exercising every time the weather is sunny and warm, I can only take a few steps with help. If I want to walk independently, I'm afraid my hope is slim.
Less than half an hour later, Lan Nongnong could no longer hold on and slumped back into her wheelchair, leaning against Mingzhu. She let Mingzhu rest in the shade, and she remained alone, letting the sunlight bathe her. Although a thick blanket covered her waist and legs, the piercing cold, like a thorn in her flesh, persisted for a moment.
Seeking medical treatment might alleviate the pain, even if it couldn't be eradicated. Unfortunately, the household registrations her aunts had prepared for her were all for women, and Lan Nongnong was wary of seeking medical treatment, relying solely on the fumigation and compress treatments Dr. Mo had prescribed.
Now, three years had passed, and it was the time to treat winter diseases in summer. If Yuqing still showed no improvement after this trip, she would decide to seek medical advice.
To avoid complications, Lan Nongnong planned to stay out of the spotlight and earn a living for five years. The nearly three thousand taels of silver her aunts had given her would be enough to last her the rest of her life, even with future medical treatments. On her way to Yuqing, she planned to purchase some land in Mingzhu's name and collect rent. This would both dispel suspicion and provide Mingzhu with a family fortune to rely on, regardless of whether she recovered.
Five days later, the carriage did not enter Yuqing City, but instead diverted to a popular temple. Lan Nongnong asked Mingzhu to donate money for the incense offerings, and then stayed in the temple's guesthouse. She also instructed her to ask the monks if there had been any unusual events in Yuqing in recent years.
These days, she once again began to recall the opportunity of traveling through time.
She slowed down and disassembled every minute and second of her memory, pondering it over and over again, but still had no clue.
There were no signs, nothing unusual.
Before her time travel, during the National Day holiday, she was walking home alone after a reunion with classmates. Less than three hundred meters from her residential complex, she suddenly felt dizzy. When she woke up, she was on the desolate slope leading to Qingyun Temple in Yuqing City. It was also October in Shengchao.
Because of this, she always regarded Aunt Yun'an as her savior. If Aunt Yun'an had not discovered her in time, awakened her, and brought her back to the nunnery, she couldn't imagine what would have happened if she had fallen into the hands of the evildoers without knowing it.
Lan Nongnong had sought advice from senior monks in the temple about her origins, but her body and soul were one, and even the great masters who were well versed in Buddhism could not make out any clues. They only said, "Just go with the flow and you will enjoy wealth and glory."
At that time, she did not understand the deep meaning of the last sentence, but now thinking about it, it was so ironic.
---
On the third day of their stay, Lan Nongnong asked Mingzhu to visit Qingyun Nunnery. She was relieved to learn that her aunts were safe. As for the memory of the nunnery hanging a white banner for her and the sorrowful look on their faces, she could only suppress her sadness and deliberately ignore it.
She had previously enclosed banknotes in every letter she sent. Although she knew that these material possessions were of little use to her aunts, money could ultimately solve most problems in the world and was always a guarantee.
Now, they have finally returned to peace.
That’s it, let’s all be well.
---
Lan Nongnong knew that road and that dirt slope like the back of her hand. When she first arrived, she had wandered here countless times, trying to walk as usual or crouch down to replicate her previous movements. She'd tried every possible scenario, but nothing had happened.
Because she had no hope of returning home, and was filled with fear of the alien world and worry that her relatives could not find her, she fell seriously ill and was almost seriously ill.
Over the years, the once bare earthen slope was now covered in weeds, transforming into a gently sloping, lush green. Lan Nongnong asked Mingzhu to push her wheelchair down the slope and wait while she struggled to collapse into the grass. The waist-high weeds instantly engulfed her. Closing her eyes, the acrid smell of earth and the fresh fragrance of grass mingled in her breath, calming her heart.
After an unknown amount of time, she opened her eyes and saw that all she could see was lush greenery.
A flash of disappointment crossed her tearful eyes, but it didn't stay for long. She took a deep breath, stood up, and asked Mingzhu to help her back to the wheelchair.
She didn't dare to weed, for fear that the aunts would notice something unusual when passing by. She just tidied up the fallen grass stems to cover up the traces, and then turned and left.
After resting for a day at the temple, they returned the next day. Their attempt yielded the expected result: nothing, and their hearts grew darker.
During this period, Lan Nongnong knew that her behavior was strange, and she was grateful to Mingzhu for never asking any questions, even though she had no relatives or friends here and even though she had no one to tell this secret to.
She calmed down and decided that it was already September, so she could wait another month. If there was still no improvement by then, she would return to Liuzhou and, as long as her health could support it, wait until next year.
After all, now, this is the only thing she has to look forward to.
---
Time flies, and suddenly it is autumn.
"....You are a calm and composed person, and I believe that with time, the cold symptoms will eventually be cured. While leg exercises can help maintain muscle tone, haste makes waste. I hope you will exercise according to your ability."
"Amitabha, I'm leaving."
"Thank you, Master."
Lan Nongnong was unable to get out of bed for the time being, so she just struggled to stand up and nodded slightly to express her gratitude to the departing medical monk.
She knew full well that recovery was impossible, but if she could alleviate the pain or find a way to control it, she would never give up. Fortunately, the monk in the temple was a skilled healer, and after each acupuncture session, she could feel a warm current flowing through her body, a rare comfort for her.
When the stiffness subsided a little, Lan Nongnong put on her velvet boots while the warmth on her legs was still there, and walked slowly on the ground alone until the coldness came again. Then she sat back in the wheelchair with Mingzhu's help.
The carriage journey from the temple to the village took more than half an hour. After lunch, the two of them set off with the driver waiting outside the temple.
The carriage still stopped a hundred feet away. Lan Nongnong was slowly pushed forward in her wheelchair, her face still dressed as a woman. Here in Yuqing, the summers aren't too hot, and the winters aren't too cold either. Although it's autumn, the afternoon sun is still warm. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes lowered, her gaze occasionally falling on the road.
This section of dirt road was compacted quite tightly, mixed with gravel to prevent collapse and mud. Three days ago, there was an autumn rain, and although the road surface was dry, it still retained deep and shallow ruts and messy horse hoof prints.
Horseshoe prints?
Lan Nongnong suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, and she jerked upright, looking intently. This road led only to Qingyun Temple. Ordinary pilgrims arrived by horse-drawn carriage, while those nearer the area often walked or drove ox-drawn carts. The deepest and clearest rut on the road ahead was a single one, likely left by a return trip after the rain.
The hoof prints of a horse pulling a cart would never have double marks, and the distance between the front and back was generally even. But these hoof prints were deep and shallow, overlapping. What's worse, there were two rows of such prints on this road that was less than ten feet wide!
There are strict regulations for driving a two-horse carriage, and in the Yuqing territory, there are still many powerful people like him.
Then there is only one possibility left -
"Stop! Go back!" Her voice was low and urgent, trembling slightly. Mingzhu was stunned for a moment, but without asking any more questions, she turned her wheelchair around and hurried back.
Lan Nongnong's heart was pounding, shaking her chest and head as if they were being hit hard, and her ears were buzzing. She couldn't help but clench her hands on her knees, took a deep breath, and hurriedly looked around.
Even though there was no one around, she didn't dare relax even a little. She didn't dare relax until she got back to the cart and told the driver to return immediately. Only then did she raise her hand and tightly grasp the shaft, gasping for breath.
However, the next moment, someone knocked on the car window.
Lan Nongnong's mind went blank and she couldn't even hear what was said outside.
-
Mingzhu grew up neglected and scolded by her parents, and was terrified when she learned she was being sold. Even after being rescued by a girl and becoming their sister, sharing food and sleep, she still harbored a deep fear in her heart.
I am afraid of losing the stability of my current life with no worries about food and clothing, I am afraid that the girl will fall ill unexpectedly, and I am afraid that I will be left without anyone to rely on again in the future.
Therefore, she was always happy to do more for the girl, as this would prove that she was still useful and would not be easily abandoned.
She wants to protect the girl and take good care of her.
In this way, we can continue to live a good life like now.
Therefore, even though she was very scared, and the makeup on the girl's face could not hide her pale and panic-stricken appearance, she still mustered up the courage to stand in front.
Although she was only fourteen, she was at the age of growth. Over the past two years, she had no worries about food and clothing, and her height had grown rapidly. In addition, she often carried people and lifted cars, so her arms were very strong. At this moment, she leaned forward in front of the car window, completely blocking the view inside the car.
Facing the stern-looking man outside the window, her neck subconsciously shrank, but she didn't retreat. She forced herself to ask in a stern voice, "Who are you? What do you want to do by stopping our car?!"
The visitor didn't hide his intentions, directly showing a token from the Prime Minister's residence and saying in a cold voice, "I'm under the order of the Prime Minister to investigate any abnormalities. Get out of the car immediately and be questioned!"
The highest official Mingzhu had ever seen was the village headman, and the title of "Prime Minister" was completely unheard of. She had just started learning to read with her daughter and couldn't even recognize the characters on the token, so she had no idea how high a position "Prime Minister" actually held.
But she recognized the preciousness of the man's clothes, felt his imposing aura, and from the way the driver scrambled off the carriage and knelt on the ground to report urgently, she knew that she had met an extraordinary person today.
"Your Excellency is wise! Your Excellency is wise!"
The driver fell to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. "I'm just driving a cart outside the temple. I don't know the people in the cart. I just took the money and did the job. I really don't know what they are doing here. Your Excellency, please understand!"
Mingzhu was so frightened by this scene that she was shaking all over. She didn't dare to say a word and just nodded desperately, with such force that it seemed as if her neck would break.
She turned around in panic and silently called out to the car, "Sister, what should we do? Will they, will they arrest us?"
When the word "Prime Minister's Mansion" reached her ears, Lan Nongnong suddenly woke up, her heart sinking. The lingering entanglement made her feel a huge sense of absurdity and despair, almost crushing her.
However, when she saw Mingzhu was obviously trembling with fear, but still stupidly standing in front of the window and not getting off the car immediately like the driver did, she suddenly calmed down.
She glanced down at her attire, then looked up at Mingzhu and smiled faintly. She reached out and took the cold hand, pressing it gently. She said calmly, "Don't be afraid. Let's get off."
Lan Nong's makeup is fitting and natural, and her identity and origin as well as her explanation for her sudden return are also reasonable.
However, the moment she saw who was coming, she knew that it would be difficult to escape this time.
The Prime Minister, a first-rank official, was entitled to maintain two thousand guards. Since the order was issued in the 34th year of the Chengping reign, over a thousand guards had been dispatched to various locations. Yuqing was said to be where the Lady had first appeared, and both the area within and outside Wulan Hutong was under constant surveillance day and night.
No one believed his wife was still alive, not even Qin Jingyao himself. He simply remembered that she had lived here, and had treated everyone in the nunnery like a family member. Perhaps she had explained something to her family before her departure, or perhaps she had kept correspondence with them after she settled down, but it was unknown.
If this is true, her relatives may have come here to look for her.
From this, we may be able to get a glimpse of her origins and past.
As the saying goes, "Seventh-rank officials are the prime minister's doormen." These guards of the prime minister's palace commanded respect and awe, receiving generous monthly salaries and even extra bonuses for assignments abroad. However, the more generous their treatment, the stricter their selection process. Consequently, everyone was extremely cautious, not daring to slack off even for a moment.
Therefore, when the two sisters first appeared here and their behavior was quite strange, the guards stationed here noticed them. To avoid alerting the enemy, they did not take action immediately, but followed them all the way and carefully investigated their origins.
Over the past two years, the imperial guards dispatched to various locations had repeatedly returned empty-handed, leaving everyone feeling insecure, fearing punishment for dereliction of duty. Therefore, no one took the slightest sign of trouble lightly. That very day, a carrier pigeon had been sent to deliver the news to the capital.
However, since his wife's passing, although his temperament hasn't changed drastically, he has become increasingly gloomy and deep, and even more absorbed in seeking the truth from Buddha. Therefore, before receiving accurate information, Jiang Ting and Tong Ze dared not report it rashly.
Tongze, in particular, was severely punished and has not recovered from his injuries to this day because of his poor protection and concealment of the truth, which resulted in the Lord not being able to see his wife for the last time.
If it weren't for the fact that he had witnessed every detail of the Madam and the Master's acquaintance and their deep love, he would probably have lost his life long ago, let alone been transferred back to the Master and often asked about the past.
Because of this, he took the initiative to ask to take charge of the search in order to redeem himself from his crime.
With only the lady's name, whose authenticity is unknown and cannot be made public, even though the surname Lan is rare, this search is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The progress is slow and extremely difficult, but it also shows how determined the adults are.
So as soon as he got the news, Tongze decided to come in person. At that time, he was far away in Sanglan checking the list. After hurriedly giving instructions, he rode at full speed, traveling day and night, and finally arrived here after more than a month.
After some inquiries, he personally visited the scene. While the weeds on the slope appeared to have returned to normal, they wouldn't withstand scrutiny. Even after the weed stems were propped up, the roots had tilted and fallen over from repeated crushing. There were even faint traces of a wheelchair nearby.
These unusual phenomena naturally did not escape the eyes of the alert palace guards and Tongze. Especially when he saw the figure sitting in the wheelchair, Tongze even had a horrified delusion in his heart.
He didn't dare to think too much about it, but he could already conclude that these two people must have a close relationship with his wife.
-
Lan Nongnong opened her lips, but ultimately remained silent. Although her current household registration was genuine, it was based on the details of deceased monks and nuns in the nunnery, and could not withstand further scrutiny.
However, the thin, cold-looking Tongze, whose aura was far greater than before, did not question him any further. It was obvious that he had grasped the truth and was determined not to give up until he achieved his goal.
She swallowed back the excuse that was rising in her throat. Lan Nongnong suddenly felt it was ridiculous and laughed softly.
She looked up, and above her was the clear blue sky, the weather was sunny and windy, but her eyes were covered with a heavy shadow, and the former spirit was completely silent, and everything lost its color.
Her voice was slightly hoarse from the smoke from the fire, but Tongze instantly recognized its voice. He couldn't remember whether he was horrified or ecstatic at the time, and he had no time to think about how his wife had escaped the flames, clearly buried in the fire before everyone's eyes. And how, with such a frail body, could she have avoided the trap?
Seeing his wife's currently unable to walk, he dared not act on his own, let alone force her to return to the capital. He immediately gave urgent orders, one of the palace guards quickly sent a message to inform the adults of the good news, and another immediately cleared out the idle people in the temple.
Then, he led all the palace guards to kneel on one knee, bowed their heads and said in unison: "Subordinates, greet the madam!"
-
Lan Nongnong gave all the remaining silver she had to Mingzhu, telling her to rent a house in Wulan Hutong and live a good life. Then, despite the girl's pleading, she hardened her heart and drove her away.
For the next half month, she lived in the temple courtyard, where she seemed to be alone but was actually surrounded by guards, waiting quietly.
October day, baby face.
That night, there was a violent storm, with rumbling thunder that drowned out the sounds of the courtyard gate opening and the guards saluting, until the door creaked open.
At that time, Lan Nongnong had just finished bathing and was combing her hair in front of the mirror. When she heard the voice, her heart moved and she turned around suddenly.
Just then, a flash of lightning split the sky and illuminated the figure at the door.
His white hair was disheveled, his face was gaunt as a ghost, but his eyes shone with a terrifying brightness. He slowly approached, a smile forming on his expressionless face. He panted like a trapped animal, crimson blood stained his lips and teeth, and spoke softly.
"Nong Nong, I found you."
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Author's words: There will be the last chapter tomorrow, babies [heart][heart][heart]
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