Chapter 44 A Perfect Match: Zhao Linzhang's illness came on quickly, and it ended quickly...
Zhao Linzhang's illness came on quickly and went away quickly. Last night, he sweated profusely and woke up feeling refreshed.
The woman on the bed was still asleep. Her small face was flushed, and her long hair was draped over the pillow like ink, making her look as charming as a peach blossom in March. Her slightly swollen red lips seemed to invite him to taste them. Zhao Linzhang followed his heart and leaned down to suck on her plump, tender lips.
Shen Yunrong opened her eyes, tickled by the wet heat on her lips. Zhao Linzhang's magnified face was right in front of her. His wanton behavior last night made her shrink back in fear.
"You're awake!" Fortunately, the man only took a small bite.
"You've only just recovered, you shouldn't be so presumptuous!" Shen Yunrong finished dressing and, seeing that his gaze hadn't left her, she whispered a word of advice.
"I couldn't resist for a moment after being vegetarian for so long, but I won't do it again!" Zhao Linzhang recalled her crying and begging him not to die. He knew he had to live longer to protect the mother and daughter.
"Oh, right, you haven't met Miss Jiang yet!" Shen Yunrong ladled another half bowl of porridge into his bowl and brought it to him, remembering the woman who had brought him medicine in his time of crisis.
Zhao Linzhang was indebted to her and should rightfully meet her to express his gratitude!
"Then let her in!" Zhao Linzhang couldn't resist her coquettish voice, soft and sweet, which made him willing to see anyone.
Jiang Xinyan entered the cabin with her head down. The servants of the Prince's mansion respectfully addressed her as Miss Shen, and she sat with a man. She knew that this was Prince Zhuang, who was about to go to his fiefdom. She knelt down and bowed, saying, "This commoner greets Your Highness, and Miss Shen greets you!"
"Sister Jiang, please rise!"
Shen Yunrong quickly helped Jiang Xinyan up, and Zhao Linzhang glanced at her a few more times because of their warm interaction.
"Thank you for the medicine, sister. His Highness is fully recovered!"
"It is my great fortune to be able to save Your Highness!" Jiang Xinyan was poised and generous, unlike ordinary women who would fawn over him upon hearing that he was a prince.
"You have rendered meritorious service by donating medicine. Tell me, what reward do you want?" Zhao Linzhang said in a businesslike manner.
"This humble woman only prays that Your Highness and the young lady arrive at their fiefdom safely!"
It was the first time Zhao Linzhang had seen someone who didn't want a reward. He glanced at her; she wore a blue dress, just like the other women on the street.
"Just let me know if you need anything, Sister Jiang!" Shen Yunrong felt more and more at ease with her, and fearing that she might be too shy to ask for any reward, she quickly left her a way out.
As Jiang Xinyan left, Shen Yunrong watched her departing figure with a smile.
Zhao Linzhang reached out and turned her face, his jealousy evident: "Is she really that pretty?"
Luckily she was a woman, otherwise they would have kicked her off the ship immediately.
"Sister Jiang is truly the most gentle and kind-hearted of all the daughters of officials I have ever met." Shen Yunrong lightly brushed his hand away, but failed to do so, and let him be.
"You've only known her for a short time, how do you know she has a good temperament so quickly?"
"You can tell some people after just a few words!" And some people, you can tell at a glance that they are not easy to get along with.
"Your Highness, Miss, the Shanhai Ferry is just below. Shall we stop?" Steward Tan asked from outside the door.
"Stop! Everyone's getting stuffy sitting in this tiny space. Pass down the order and let everyone go out for some fresh air!" Zhao Linzhang said, getting up and pulling Shen Yunrong to find their daughter.
"Where's Ruoyu? She must be bored to death too!"
As the family of three walked through the streets of Shanhai County, it was not much different from the capital, after all, it was only a five or six-day journey away. However, it was much simpler than the capital, more like a temporary street.
As soon as Ruoyu got off the boat, her eyes lit up. She pointed at the sugar figurine in front of her and called out to it. Zhao Linzhang had bought this for her before, so she remembered it.
"You little glutton, all you ever think about is eating!" Zhao Linzhang chuckled as he gently pinched his daughter's soft cheek, then gestured for the sugar figurine maker to blow a large butterfly.
Xiao Zheng paid the money, and Zhao Linzhang carefully handed the sugar butterfly to his daughter.
Little Ruoyu flashed a smile revealing a few teeth, but turned to stuff the candy butterfly in her hand into Shen Yunrong's mouth, drooling as she mumbled, "Mother, eat!"
A pang of sadness welled up in Zhao Linzhang's heart again, but then Xiao Ruoyu smiled at him and said, "Daddy, eat!"
Zhao Linzhang's eyes welled up with tears. Looking at her earnest and expectant eyes, he realized that this sugar butterfly was more precious than any gift in the world.
Shen Yunrong, whose eyes were also filled with warmth, couldn't resist her daughter's urging and took a small bite of the candy butterfly's wing. Unexpectedly, neither of them wanted to eat their daughter's candy, and their faces bumped together.
When Xiao Ruoyu saw them like that, she giggled.
The children's clear laughter carried far, and Jiang Xinyan, who was in the distance, stopped with her maid and looked at the family of three with envy.
The maid whispered, "Miss!"
"Let's go, we still need to gather a few medicinal herbs!" Jiang Xinyan turned her gaze away and found the largest herbal medicine shop in the market.
Fearing that Xiao Ruoyu would lose her appetite if she ate too much sugar, Shen Yunrong told the Empress to hide the remaining half of the butterfly.
Fortunately, Xiao Ruoyu was drawn to other things at the market and pointed everywhere, wanting to see them.
No one in Shanhai County had ever seen such a handsome couple, with a beautiful little girl in their arms. For a while, people on the street would stare at them.
Shen Yunrong rarely saw herself being stared at like this. She tugged at Zhao Linzhang's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Is there something strange about us? Why are they all looking at us?"
Zhao Linzhang leaned closer to her and whispered, "Maybe they think we're prettier than them!"
Shen Yunrong glared at him, perhaps out of curiosity that there were few outsiders dressed like them here, so she took a few more glances.
Although Zhao Linzhang was joking, he didn't like being watched, especially those eyes that seemed to have legs and were glued to Shen Yunrong.
"The sun is getting strong, let's go back!"
Passing by a small stall, the stall owner enthusiastically called out, "Sir, buy a hairpin for your wife! All the hairpins here are made by famous craftsmen, perfect for your beautiful face!"
Zhao Linzhang stopped and looked down. They were all wooden hairpins and bracelets, the kind of ornaments worn by women in the countryside, yet they were being touted as being carved by famous artists.
He could easily kill one of the guards in his mansion with his eyes closed.
Zhao Linzhang couldn't help but scoff: "Which famous person?"
"Sir, you really know your stuff! This is a painting by Master Shi, meticulously copied stroke by stroke. If you like it, it'll only cost one tael of silver!" The vendor, with his silver tongue, tried his best to sell it.
"No need, I have plenty at home!" Zhao Linzhang didn't directly say he didn't like it, but politely declined.
"Look how well-matched you are, sir and madam! I've never seen such a perfect couple in all my years of running this stall. They're truly a match made in heaven!" The vendor didn't change his attitude because they didn't buy anything; instead, he kept praising them in different ways.
"You've got a sweet tongue, kid!" This compliment touched Zhao Linzhang's heart, and he felt the same way; no one in the world could be more compatible with them.
"Wrap all of these up for me!" Zhao Linzhang waved his hand, and Xiao Zheng's hand trembled as he took out his wallet. He didn't dare give these things to his wife, afraid that she would dislike them.
The vendor was simply praising him sincerely, never expecting it to bring him such immense wealth. He immediately bowed so low he almost broke in two: "Thank you, sir and madam! May you live a long and healthy life!"
Shen Yunrong tugged at Zhao Linzhang, but couldn't bear to disappoint the vendor, so she gave him a coquettish look and said that buying one or two would be enough. If she bought this whole bunch, she wouldn't be able to wear them all even if she had three heads and ten hands.
Seeing her coquettish pout, Zhao Linzhang wanted to cup her face and kiss her. Look at these people, none of them know their identities, yet they still think they are a good match. This is not flattery.
Just then, a woman shouted angrily, "Do you have no regard for the law?"
Everyone looked on with expressions of having seen it all before, and some even jogged a few steps to watch the spectacle.
In front of Jiang Xinyan and her maid stood several men dressed in silk servants' clothes. They did something that made the maid point at them angrily and scold them while protecting her young mistress.
"What's going on?" Shen Yunrong and Zhao Linzhang were about to go over when the vendor called out to them.
"Master and Madam, don't go over there! That's the magistrate's son. He's always stealing chickens and harassing women. Anyone who resists gets beaten up and thrown in jail!"
These two benefactors had just shown him favor, and he kindly gave these two outsiders some advice.
"Ha, is that so?" Zhao Linzhang laughed angrily. It's true that the emperor is far away and the sky is high. When did this county magistrate's son have more power than him, a prince and the emperor, and even forcibly abducted a woman!
The woman in front exclaimed, "Miss!"
Seeing them start fighting, Shen Yunrong was about to pull Jiang Xinyan away when Zhao Linzhang grabbed her and gave Xiao Zheng a meaningful look.
Xiao Zheng understood, threw the money bag to Liu Hu, and flew over in a few big strides. Before Shen Yunrong could even see how Xiao Zheng made his move, all the men who were pulling Jiang Xinyan fell down.
Only one man, dressed in a red silk robe, shouted: "Useless trash, get up! Who are you to dare ruin my good time!"
Zhao Linzhang and Shen Yunrong also arrived. Upon hearing this, Zhao Linzhang snorted coldly.
Xiao Zheng raised his leg, and the county magistrate's son, who had just been yelling, was kicked to the ground, face down. After a few breaths, he raised his head, blood streaming from his nose.
He reached out and touched it, both angry and shocked: "How dare you! Do you know who I am? You dare to hit me? I'll have my father lock you all up and behead you!"
He then turned to Jiang Xinyan and said fiercely, "And you, you filthy bitch, let's see how you'll be begging me to spare you later!"
The surrounding people couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief; these outsiders had gotten themselves into trouble!
"Oh, so who exactly are you? I'm not going to change my name or surname. Go tell your father that my name is Zhao Linzhang!"
The servants scrambled to their feet and fled with the magistrate's son. One man could take them all down, let alone the more than ten men behind that fierce-looking man.
After the initial shock subsided, Jiang Xinyan bowed deeply to Zhao Linzhang and Shen Yunrong, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness and Miss, for saving my life!"
"Even if we were strangers, let alone being on the same boat, how could we ignore someone in trouble? I just never expected that there would be such a person in such a small place!" Shen Yunrong helped her up, shook her head, and couldn't understand what kind of father could raise such a son, especially one who had passed the imperial examination and become a local official.
She had never encountered such an arrogant and ignorant person in the capital!
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