Chapter 82 Who is it that you are thinking about?
A few days later, Gu Lingyu, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, adorned with jewels and ornaments, was dressed in a magnificent manner.
The Tan family even prepared a magnificent ten-mile-long red bridal procession for her.
Even with the finest rouge and powder, Gu Lingyu's haggard face remained undeniable.
There was no joy on her face; she simply got into the bridal sedan chair with the help of the matchmaker, looking completely wooden.
As the bridal sedan chair drove further and further away, Madam Tan stood in front of the Marquis's mansion and wept bitterly.
The journey is long and arduous; she may never see her daughter again.
They only hoped that the Marquis would quickly transfer the son-in-law back to the capital so that the mother and daughter could be reunited.
After Gu Lingyu's incident, the Marquis of Xinyang betrothed her to a poor scholar.
In those few days, everyone in the capital knew that the second young lady of the Marquis of Xinyang's mansion had fallen in love at first sight with a poor scholar.
Even though the other party was from a poor family, the second young lady did not mind at all and was willing to accompany the scholar away from the capital to take up his post in a distant place.
Everyone praised her for her deep affection and loyalty to her husband.
Meanwhile, the old boatman, as agreed, took Shen Qingnian and Ling'er to Yunzhou.
On that day, Shen Qingnian lifted the curtain on the boat and looked out. The river was vast and misty, with green mountains standing on both sides. The thick morning fog had not yet completely dissipated.
Ahead, there was a ferry crossing with several large characters written on it: Yunzhou Post Station.
Is this Yunzhou?
Shen Qingnian felt a little happy.
She finally left the capital, left that cage.
Shen Qingnian and Ling'er thanked the old boatman and headed towards Yunzhou City.
They left in a hurry last night and had no food on them.
They had never been to Yunzhou before and wanted to go to the city to see the local customs and people.
Anyway, they weren't in a hurry to get going. She had been on tenterhooks these past few days, and yesterday's experience had terrified her even more.
Having finally gotten out, Shen Qingnian decided to take Ling'er to Yunzhou City for a good time, then go to the nearby market to buy some food before setting off for Tongzhou.
If Shen Qingnian knew that Xie Yanzhi had already arrived in Yunzhou by boat, she would never have stayed here.
The two women entered the city and found that although Yunzhou was not as prosperous and wealthy as Suzhou and Hangzhou, it was still a place with simple and honest folk customs.
While Shen Qingnian and Ling'er were waiting for their wontons at the stall, they noticed that the owner had fair skin, a beautiful face, and was a woman who still retained her charm.
Her hands moved swiftly and she greeted the guests warmly, appearing generous and easygoing.
She also noticed that the cloth shop across the street and the jewelry shop not far away were both run by female shopkeepers.
Unlike the haughty ladies of the capital or the timid women of Jiangnan, these shopkeepers were all poised and lived life on their own terms.
It seems that in Yunzhou City, it is not uncommon for women to do business, and since women come out to make a living and support their families, their status here is much better than in other places.
This made Shen Qingnian feel even more favorably toward Yunzhou.
The proprietress brought over two small bowls of wontons.
The wonton wrappers were thin, the fillings were generous, and a few scallions floated on the surface of the soup, making it look fresh and delicious.
Ling'er was already starving and was eating the wontons in big mouthfuls.
Shen Qingnian guessed that the proprietress must be someone who lives a refined life.
When the proprietress passed by her just now, there was a faint fragrance emanating from her.
She suddenly remembered that since they entered Yunzhou City, everyone in the city had a pleasant fragrance.
Shen Qingnian asked with some curiosity, "Wife, do people here like to use incense?"
The proprietress smiled and said, "Young master, you guessed right. People in Yunzhou City all love fragrance. Men like sachets, and women like face powder."
While eating wontons, Ling'er suddenly heard this and puffed out her cheeks, saying, "Then this place should be called Xiangzhou, not Yunzhou."
The proprietress smiled and said, "What this young master said makes sense. It's just that this place has been called Yunzhou since my ancestors' generation, and it has never been renamed."
I see.
After paying the money, Shen Qingnian and her companions asked the proprietress for directions to the market and went to buy food.
Inside the Jingnan Marquis's residence, Xie Yanzhi, with a stern expression, told the old lady that he was going south to Jiangnan to pay respects to his mother, Madam Yang.
The old lady knew that he wasn't going to sweep Yang's grave at all; he clearly wanted to go to Tongzhou to arrest that girl Qing herself.
Seeing Xie Yanzhi so infatuated with Shen Qingnian, the old lady couldn't help but complain, "You're just like your second uncle when he was young!"
Xie Yanzhi's second uncle, Xie Songyi, once caused a huge scene in the mansion in order to get Aunt Su into the family. The old lady still feels lingering fear when she thinks about it.
Second Uncle?
Xie Yanzhi had, of course, heard about this as well.
In his memory, his second uncle was handsome and dashing, and extremely brave on the battlefield, yet he was willing to go to such lengths for Aunt Su.
Now, he's putting aside everything else to bring Shen Qingnian back and keep her by his side.
Is he the same as my second uncle?
From a young age, Xie Songyan confined him to his room to study and practice calligraphy, while his second uncle secretly took him out to teach him martial arts and drinking. His second uncle always knew what he was thinking.
Perhaps, Second Uncle will know why he is so obsessed with Shen Qingnian.
On the way to the ferry, Xie Yanzhi stopped by the manor.
Upon seeing Xie Yanzhi arrive, she respectfully bowed and led him inside. Another maid hurriedly went to the inner room to inform the Second Madam, Lin.
A short while later, Madam Lin arrived with several maids and servants. Upon seeing Xie Yanzhi, Madam Lin greeted him with a smile, "Yan-ge'er has arrived."
Xie Yanzhi bowed to Madam Lin and said, "I've come to see my second uncle."
Lin led the way, saying, "I know you always worry about your second uncle, come with me quickly." With that, she led the person towards the second master's bedroom.
Upon entering the bedroom, Xie Yanzhi saw Second Master Xie Yi lying on the carved bed, covered with a thick brocade quilt, thin as a rake and emaciated.
Xie Yanzhi sat down next to the bed and called out, "Second Uncle."
Master Xie stared blankly at the debt settlement, his face pale, his whole being like a lifeless piece of rotten wood. He showed no reaction to anything around him.
Seeing this, Xie Yanzhi frowned.
That year, I saw my second uncle. He was wearing a purple robe and jade belt, with his hair tied up in a jade crown. He was holding a long sword and had killed all the bandits who were causing trouble.
Now, the youthful vigor of the past has long since vanished.
"Why hasn't my second uncle gotten any better all these years?"
Upon hearing this, Lin, who was standing by the bed, took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She bent down again and tucked the brocade quilt around the Second Master: "Over the years, I have asked my father and brother to search for famous doctors and have used a lot of wonderful medicines, but they can only barely keep the Second Master alive."
“Seeing him like this every day, I…” Lin burst into tears again.
At this moment, a maid came in carrying a copper basin and said to Madam Lin, "Madam, it's time to bathe the Second Master."
Lin wiped her eyes, pointed to the shelf beside her, and said, "Put it here." She then rolled up her sleeves, wrung out a handkerchief from the copper basin, and prepared to wipe the Second Master's body.
Upon seeing this, Xie Yanzhi left the room.
Then the old woman outside came in and said that Xie Yanzhi had already left the estate.
Madam Lin then turned around, tossed the handkerchief into the copper basin, and gently stroked the Second Master's face, saying softly, "Yi Lang, so many people care about you, but who do you care about in your heart?"
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