Early the next day, Ji Xinhe packed her things and prepared to set off.
She didn’t have anything particularly special to bring; she casually packed a few sets of clothes, some large denomination silver banknotes, and that handkerchief.
Ji Dong and Xiao Bei saw her off to the town. Xiao Bei teared up as he tugged at her clothes, "Sister, can I go with you? Xiao Bei doesn’t want to leave sister."
Looking at his pitiful little appearance, Xin He’s heart melted. She squatted down and patted Xiao Bei’s head, "Xiao Bei, be good, study hard at home. Sister won’t be in the capital for long. Once the Qinghe store in the capital opens, I’ll find someone to manage it there and come back right away. While sister is away, Xiao Bei must not be lazy, and you mustn’t indulge in play. Mind big brother, alright?"
Xiao Bei nodded with a wronged look, "I understand."
"You silly child, sister is just going on a trip. Look at you, clearly it’s a good thing, but why are you making such a face?" Xin He laughed, "Xiao Bei is almost ten years old, already a little man, so you can’t be so useless."
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Bei firmly nodded, "Xiao Bei is a man."
Only then did Xin He smile, stand up, and look at Ji Dong, "Big brother, I should go now. Please take good care of Xiao Bei and Xiao Cui as well; don’t wrong them."
Ji Dong couldn’t help but say, "You should worry about yourself. Be careful with everything when you’re outside."
Xin He laughed, "Don’t worry, big brother. I’m not a little kid anymore. Besides, I’m traveling with Brother Duan this time. His family is in the capital, so you can rest assured, right?"
Recalling the exquisitely dressed young master he saw yesterday, Ji Dong relievedly nodded, "Having someone to take care of you on the journey is more reassuring."
As they spoke, the bullock cart arrived at the entrance of the town.
A blue carriage was already waiting there. Duan Lan jumped down from the carriage, "Xin He, you’re here?"
Ji Xinhe smiled, "Brother Duan, you arrived early."
"I just got here too."
Ji Dong stopped the bullock cart, and Xin He got off the cart with Xiao Bei.
Ji Dong greeted Duan Lan and gave Xin He another reminder before letting her leave.
Xin He got on the carriage and waved goodbye to them through the window, "Big brother, Xiao Bei, go home quickly."
"Goodbye, sister!" Xiao Bei waved his little hand with a wronged face, still reluctant to leave even as the carriage disappeared from sight. He then hesitantly followed Ji Dong back to the village.
The carriage started its journey, leaving the town and taking the main road straight to the capital city.
Duan Lan laughed, "Your little brother is very reliant on you."
Xin He sighed lightly, "He was bullied a lot when he was young. He’s still young now, so naturally, he can’t bear to part with me."
"Your big brother will take good care of him. Boys should grow up faster."
Xin He smiled and said, "Yes, by the way, Brother Duan, have you been studying abroad all this time? Is your family willing to let you go?"
"I left for Jishan Academy to study when I was thirteen. In the blink of an eye, five years have passed. I only return home once every Chinese New Year or major events at the Imperial Court. Although my parents are reluctant, they also hope that I can stay focused and study diligently at the famous Jishan Academy."
Xin He blinked, "I see."
No wonder. Duan Lan looked like a nobleman, but he didn’t have the slightest hint of a pampered and extravagant young master.
"So what brings you back to the capital this time?" Xin He asked.
Duan Lan’s smile faltered slightly, "Some family matters."
Thinking of the Li Family’s marriage proposal, Duan Lan’s heart sank, secretly resolved to decline it upon returning to the capital.
From childhood till now, he had hardly ever gone against his family. But this was the one thing he couldn’t accept no matter what.
Seeing that he didn’t seem keen on elaborating, Xin He didn’t press any further. She casually said, "Brother Duan, you’re so focused on studying, do you plan to take the imperial examinations?"
Duan Lan shook his head with a smile, "I just took the scholar examination, and I didn’t take it again."
"Why?" Xin He asked in surprise.
"I have no interest in the officialdom. I just want to concentrate on my studies. It’s not like I’m the only son in my family, and my parents don’t have high expectations for me, so I’m being lazy."
Xin He nodded gently, looking at the refreshingly simple and pure man before her. Deep down, she felt he was a rare breed. Most people were driven by desire, but he alone did not like those things, making him stand out.
However, she didn’t know whether such a clean and pure person could remain so for a lifetime. After all, in this impure world, it might not be easy for a person to keep themselves clean.
Xin He laughed again, thinking that Duan Lan came from a prestigious aristocratic family, so why would he need to worry so much? As long as he could live a carefree and clean life, there was nothing difficult about it. She was just overthinking.
"What are you laughing about?" Duan Lan asked.
Xin He laughed, "Nothing, just happy in my heart that I have the good fortune to know such a simple and good person like Brother Duan."
Duan Lan smiled, "I’m happy too."
To have met you.
The carriage sped along the road, almost without any bumps. This blue carriage looked unremarkable, but the interior must have been very well-made, otherwise it wouldn’t be so stable. Xin He didn’t feel any discomfort on the journey.
During the day, they traveled at a fast pace, and when night fell, they stayed at an inn in the city. Duan Lan said that at this speed, they should be able to reach the capital in about half a month.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Although they were in a hurry all the way, having someone to talk to meant it wasn’t too boring.
"We’re arriving at Jingzhou today. Jingzhou is famous for its beautiful scenery. If it weren’t for your hurry, we could actually go and see it. Every year when I go back to the capital, I’ll stop here for a break on the way." Along the way, Duan Lan would introduce the scenery to her. He had traveled the road from Jishan to the capital for five years and was very familiar with everything.
Xin He smiled, "In the future, if there’s a chance, I’d like to visit."
Qingyun, who was driving the carriage outside, suddenly asked, "Young Master, there’s a post station ten miles ahead. Do you want to rest there?"
Duan Lan pulled back the window curtain, looked at the sky outside, and it didn’t seem to be too early. He said, "Let’s rest there."
"Alright!" With a flick of the horsewhip, Qingyun urged his horse faster.
Just as he saw several fast horses suddenly appearing around the corner at the end of the official road, Qingyun immediately pulled the reins, forcing the horse to move aside. The fast horses passed by like lightning, Qingyun almost didn’t see the people on the horses clearly, only vaguely saw a fluttering black robe in the air.
Qingyun didn’t pay much attention to it either. He just scratched his head and continued on his way.
"What happened?" Duan Lan noticed the carriage changing lanes and asked.
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