Chapter 83 A sense of indescribable loss
After leaving the manor, Xie Yanzhi and Yuan Qing rode quickly to the ferry.
When the Emperor heard that Xie Yanzhi was going back to Jiangnan to sweep the tomb of his birth mother, Lady Yang, he praised his filial piety and specially sent him an official boat.
Official boats are not as slow as cargo boats.
Official ships do not need to show travel permits, and checkpoints along the way do not need to check them; they can be allowed to pass directly.
Under such grace, Xie Yanzhi's ship could travel almost freely on this canal.
Indeed, Xie Yanzhi soon arrived in Yunzhou.
The two rows of mountains in Yunzhou are beautiful and clear, and the river is shrouded in mist. Xie Yanzhi stands at the bow of the boat with a cold look in his eyes, showing no interest in the beautiful scenery in front of him.
He originally intended to travel to Tongzhou day and night, but he had previously sent Yuanxiao to the Shen family in Jiangnan to gather information, and they received no news on the ship.
Xie Yanzhi then had Yuanxiao deliver the message to Yunzhou, where he would stop for a while.
"Master, a letter for Yuanxiao." Yuan Qing walked over, holding a letter stamped with sealing wax.
Yuan Qing was surprised that Xie Yanzhi had Yuan Xiao seal the letter with sealing wax.
I've done a great service by resolving the bandit issue, and now I'm riding high.
If people knew that he had gone south to find a woman, he would likely be gossiped about and be guilty of deceiving the emperor.
By sealing the letter with sealing wax from the military camp, others would assume it was a military intelligence report and would not dare to peek, thus preventing the news from leaking out.
Yuan Qing admired his master's meticulous thinking.
Xie Yanzhi took the letter, looked at the letter inside, his expression turned even colder, and he crumpled the letter in his hand into a ball.
Seeing that his master's expression was growing increasingly grim, Yuan Qing cautiously asked, "Master, is there any news about Miss Qing?"
"Shen Qingnian did not return to Jiangnan." Xie Yanzhi looked into the distance, his face grim, seemingly lost in thought.
At the ferry crossing, a group of soldiers blocked the people who came to board the boats, preventing them from crossing.
Several young men carrying bundles shouted at the soldiers, "Why can't we go and board the ship? My elderly mother is seriously ill and is waiting for me at home!"
The soldiers in front blocked the people's way and drew half of their swords from their waists: "There are official boats ahead. Once the VIPs on those boats have left, you will be allowed to pass."
An official ship?
This sparked a flurry of discussion among the people.
Shen Qingnian and Ling'er had bought a lot of dry food and were currently queuing at the back, waiting to board the boat to Tongzhou.
"I heard that the person on the ship is the heir of the Marquis of Jingnan." A man in a bamboo-green robe whispered to a man in a royal blue robe next to him.
Heir apparent to the Marquis of Jingnan!
Shen Qingnian's heart trembled, and she continued to listen to the two people talking.
"How did you know?" the man in the royal blue robe asked.
He was somewhat curious as to how the man in the bamboo green robe knew the identity of this nobleman.
“My brother-in-law works at Yunzhou Post Station. He just told me that.”
"See that? He's the third soldier on the left."
The man in the royal blue robe believed the soldier's words only after the soldier nodded at him.
"I heard they're going back to their hometown to pay respects to their birth mother, so they're resting here at Yunzhou Post Station for a while," the man said again.
"Then this young master is truly a filial son." The man beside him praised the young master highly.
Shen Qingnian kept her head down and hunched her neck, afraid of being seen by Xie Yanzhi.
He couldn't help but wonder, what is Xie Yanzhi doing in Yunzhou? Shouldn't he be in Jiangnan to sweep the tombs?
The man in the bamboo-green robe added, "This official ship was specially assigned to the heir by the Emperor; it's quite impressive."
As they spoke, the two craned their necks to look at the official boat, wanting to see what kind of person this heir of the Marquis of Jingnan was.
On the deck stood a tall and imposing man, dressed in a black robe with gold thread, his hair tied up with a crown, his back view exuding an otherworldly and noble air.
The two men couldn't help but sigh, "This young master from the capital is indeed a man of extraordinary bearing and heroic spirit."
Seeing that more and more people were boarding the ship, Yuan Qing tried to say to Xie Yanzhi, "Master, let's set off now."
"There are more and more people at the ferry crossing."
If they didn't leave, the soldiers wouldn't let the people board the boats.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi turned around and saw that a long line of people had indeed formed at the ferry crossing.
Some of the common people had bitter faces and complaints in their eyes, while others looked at the distinguished person with curious eyes.
"Go tell those officers and soldiers to let them pass," Xie Yanzhi instructed.
Having received the news, he should set off.
"Yes, sir." Yuan Qing received the order and quickly went down to instruct the soldiers to let the people pass.
"This heir of the Marquis of Jingnan is truly a good official," the two men in front exclaimed, following the crowd forward.
Shen Qingnian, standing behind them, grew increasingly nervous, unsure whether Xie Yanzhi had come to see her.
But she and Ling'er were being pushed forward by the people around them, and they were about to be exposed to that person's gaze.
Shen Qingnian suddenly realized that if she and Ling'er left the group now and returned to Yunzhou City, she didn't know if it would be too late.
Ling'er also lowered her head, not daring to look at Xie Yanzhi.
Xie Yanzhi looked calmly at the people boarding the ship.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the line and walked in the opposite direction from the flow of people.
Xie Yanzhi found the robe somewhat familiar.
And most people were walking forward, but that person had his head down and seemed to be in a hurry.
It's Shen Qingnian!
Xie Yanzhi immediately thought of those bamboo-green cuffs.
He immediately leaped down and, in a few steps, arrived in front of the man, blocking his path.
"Shen Qingnian!" Xie Yanzhi called out her name.
Hearing Xie Yanzhi call out her name, Shen Qingnian felt extremely nervous.
The man in front of him looked up, wanting to see who was blocking his way.
Upon closer inspection, he recognized the nobleman from the official ship, who then called out a name to him.
It seems to be a woman's name.
But he noticed that the nobleman's gaze was growing colder and colder, so the man in the bamboo-green robe quickly lowered his head.
The moment the man looked up, Xie Yanzhi felt an indescribable sense of loss.
This is not Shen Qingnian!
Upon closer inspection, although the man was also wearing a bamboo-green robe, he was taller than Shen Qingnian.
Perhaps he missed her too much and couldn't tell the difference immediately.
It had been four or five days since he last saw her.
"Why are you turning back?" Xie Yanzhi asked coldly.
"I...I just left my bag at the shop and I'm in a hurry to go back and get it."
The man, unaware of what he had done to displease the important person, simply lowered his head and replied respectfully.
Seeing Xie Yanzhi leap off the boat, Yuan Qing, not knowing what had happened, quickly chased after him.
Seeing him staring at a man with an unhappy expression, and then hearing him call out "Shen Qingnian".
Yuan Qing instantly realized that the master had mistaken the man in front of him for Miss Qing.
Yuan Qing gave the man a look, signaling him to leave quickly, and then said to Xie Yanzhi, "Master, let's get on the ship quickly."
Xie Yanzhi returned to the ship with a cold face, frowning slightly in annoyance.
Seeing what had just happened, Shen Qingnian's heart pounded. Luckily, she hadn't pulled Ling'er back.
Xie Yanzhi is really too perceptive.
He could still recall that bamboo-green robe!
Now, under her grayish-blue cloak, she was wearing that bamboo-green long robe!
She and Ling'er felt a bit chilly while traveling by boat last night, so when they bought some dry food in Yunzhou City today, they bought a cloak to wear.
She was increasingly suspicious that Xie Yanzhi hadn't gone to sweep the grave, but to capture her!
Yuan Qing was saying something in front of Xie Yanzhi, which blocked Xie Yanzhi's view.
Shen Qingnian turned around and helped Ling'er adjust her cloak. The two of them lowered their heads and followed the crowd onto the boat bound for Tongzhou.
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