Chapter 63. Lady Ling Shi was adrift in the chaotic world and had never seen her before; perhaps she was…
Deng Jie was initially worried that Cao Cao might be as eager as before to bring Guo Jia back to his side to devise strategies, but Guo Jia smiled and comforted her: "Wenzhi is a talented young man, and besides, Jia Wenhe is now by your side, and his worries have been resolved. Gongda's strategies are even better than mine, so there is no need to rely on Jia alone."
As he expected, Cao Cao was not in a hurry to urge him to come to the mansion for a meeting. The surrender of Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army made him focus on appeasing the people and rectifying the administration.
Zhou Buyi will bring the results of the military planning along with the nourishing meals bestowed upon him by Cao Cao.
Looking at the boy's increasingly composed demeanor and growing height, Deng Jie couldn't help but feel a sense of joy, like seeing his own child growing up.
Whenever he came to visit, I would let him stay in the side room for a while, so that he could keep Guo Jia company and relieve his boredom. It was always better than my own trivial matters.
However, when Deng Jie occasionally saw Guo Jia sitting alone by the window, silently sighing as he took out the jade pendant Guo Tu had given him, he felt a pang of heartache.
"How about I have the girls at the incense shop pay closer attention to the jade pendants worn by the ladies?"
Guo Jia initially wanted to politely decline, but then he thought that Ye City was a major city in Hebei, where merchants and nobles from all walks of life would travel, and the probability of a woman encountering a brothel would be higher, so he nodded and agreed: "Alright."
However, this idea of finding relatives was interrupted by the flames of war in the north.
Just as autumn was beginning, Gao Gan of Bingzhou launched a rebellion while Cao Cao was rescuing Guangping, and secretly plotted to send troops to attack Yecheng.
It was at this time that Cao Cao summoned Gao Lan's cousin, Gao Rou, back from Guan County, intending to use him as a hostage to threaten Gao Gan.
Fortunately, Xun Yu's elder brother Xun Yan persuaded him to stop, and Gao Rou cooperated with Xun Yan to find the traitor in Ye City, thus averting a major chaos.
Cao Cao was grateful for Gao Rou's service, and also discussed with Guo Jia the possibility of establishing the position of "Investigator of Evil" to oversee criminal cases and laws, while also having supervisory functions. This would allow Gao Rou to work in conjunction with Lu Hong's Office of Investigation and Statistics, thus creating a system of checks and balances.
With the crisis in Ye City resolved, the lazy autumn sunlight once again filled the courtyard.
On this day, Qingwu came to visit with a woman in green, but Guo Jia happened to be away.
"Who is this lady?" Deng Jie asked, noticing the woman carrying a box in her hand, and couldn't help but feel wary.
"Sister, please don't be offended," Qingwu noticed Deng Jie's thoughts, and smiled as she took the box and opened it in front of Deng Jie to show her: "These are all small snacks made by the Madam herself, for the Chief Minister and you to soothe your throats and lungs. They are not valuable items."
Upon inspection, Deng Jie saw that they were indeed carefully prepared soups, with an enticing color and a sweet aroma, clearly showing that some effort had been put into them.
Seeing that she had relaxed her guard, Qingwu chuckled and led the woman inside.
"This is the wife of Gao Rou and Gao Wenhui, the assassins."
Qingwu explained, "It just so happens that my husband has been interacting with Magistrate Gao a lot lately. Magistrate Gao's wife is kind and gentle, so we've become acquainted."
Knowing that the Chancellor had to worry about the affairs of the Imperial Academy and was in poor health and needed rest, she wanted to share her husband's burdens, as a small token of goodwill between neighbors.
As Qingwu spoke, she gently touched Madam Ling's arm.
Deng Jie then took a good look at her: This Madam Shi looked to be around thirty years old, with a delicate face, dressed in an elegant and appropriate blue silk dress, her hair was piled up in a high bun, adorned with a pair of jade hairpins, and her demeanor carried a scholarly air.
Upon closer inspection, I felt a strange sense of familiarity, yet I couldn't quite explain why.
Their eyes met, and both of them paused for a moment.
Deng Jie saw no evasion in her eyes, only a calm look back, a gaze that was also measuring her.
After the two men withdrew their gazes, Madam Shi finally reacted and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Madam Deng. I am new to Ye City and unfamiliar with both people and place. Fortunately, Madam Qingwu gave me some advice and told me that Madam Deng is sincere and kind. I admire her greatly, so I took the liberty of coming to bother you and hoping to get closer to you in my husband's name."
She pointed to the pastries: "These are just some simple things, nothing special, I hope you won't find them offensive."
Since things had already gone this far, it wouldn't be good to offend Qingwu, so Deng Jie had no choice but to accept it with a smile and instruct Huai Niang to keep it safe.
“Madam, you’re too kind. Clerk Gao is young and capable, and has the deep trust of Lord Cao. There’s no need for you to say such things.” Deng Jie invited the two to sit down and served tea, while subtly probing, “How has Clerk Gao been lately? There are many things to do in the government office. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to speak up.”
Deng Jie was also wary of Xu Du's experience; no one would visit without a reason. He was always worried that Gao Rou himself had encountered some trouble, which was why he sent his wife through this channel.
Upon hearing this, Madam Shi quickly waved her hand, "Madam, you are wise. My Wenhui is doing well and is conscientious in her duties. She was even praised by the Minister of Works the other day. There is really no need for me to take any unorthodox methods and cause you any worry."
"I...truly admire your character, Madam, and have heard of your expertise in pharmacology. That is why I have shamelessly requested to learn more from you, so as to alleviate the loneliness of my stay as a guest."
Although she explained urgently, her eyes were sincere, and she seemed genuine.
Deng Jie's suspicions subsided somewhat, and he thought that since he had nothing else to do, there was no harm in getting to know him better.
So she brewed fresh tea for the two of them and asked Huai Niang to make some simple snacks. They chatted about the local customs and everyday matters of Ye City.
Madam Ling Shi didn't say much, but she always knew how to chime in effectively. Especially when she mentioned crops, her eyes would light up with an unusual gleam, a genuine expression of affection.
Although medicinal herbs and crops are quite different, they share a common understanding when it comes to planting them, from the seed breaking through the soil to sprouting branches and leaves, and thus found common ground.
Madam Ling seemed a little nervous and immediately fell silent. She picked up her teacup and began to sip, but her eyes involuntarily glanced towards the door.
This subtle change puzzled Deng Jie.
Guo Jia entered the courtyard and saw a guest. However, he was always indifferent to such guests. He nodded slightly and went to his study.
Seeing that he didn't ask any more questions, Deng Jie pulled him along and said, "This is the wife of Gao Wenhui, the envoy in charge of assassination. She even brought you some fruit soup to soothe your throat today."
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia slightly raised his hand and said, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I am slightly unwell and have neglected you."
"You flatter me, Your Excellency." The lady quickly rose to return the greeting, but kept her head down, not daring to look directly at Guo Jia.
She clutched her sleeve and said to Deng Jie and Qingwu, "It's getting late, and the chief priest must be tired, so we won't bother you any longer."
Qingwu looked somewhat surprised, but she was still pulled and tugged away as she said goodbye and left the courtyard.
After seeing the guests off, Deng Jie followed Guo Jia into the study and confided his doubts to him: "I've always felt that this Lady Ling Shi is a bit strange. She hasn't told me her name or anything since she entered the courtyard, and when I tried to subtly inquire about her ancestral home and past, she was always vague, only saying that she had moved around with her husband..."
She glanced at Guo Jia with little interest, then paused, "I always felt that the way she looked at you... was quite special."
Guo Jia pondered for a moment, also considering Gao Rou's situation in his mind. "Gao Wenhui is an upright man, well-versed in the law, and quite capable in his work. Your Excellency is very satisfied with him. His wife... since she is willing to befriend you, it would be fine for her to visit you more often."
"However, if it involves assassination of a school official... I would like to say that you should handle it yourself." Just in case, he still felt that it was best to take precautions first, since the inner courtyard was the place where the most mistakes were most likely to occur.
Deng Jie nodded, remembering the few bowls of soup, and brought them to him. "Speaking of which, her pear syrup is even sweeter than the recipe my master taught me. You should try some."
Guo Jia took a few bites and surprisingly found them to his liking. His taste buds, which had been ruined by the medicinal soup for days, seemed to be soothed by the gentle sweetness.
"That's really thoughtful, it's rare," he casually remarked.
In the days that followed, Madam Shi indeed frequently visited the Guo residence, sometimes with Qingwu, and as they became more familiar, she also began to come alone.
Each time she came, she would bring carefully prepared meals or soups. Compared to the simple tonics bestowed by Cao Cao, hers focused more on nourishing the lungs, with a wide variety of dishes, almost none of which were the same, showing her great care.
Deng Jie's initial doubts gradually dissipated thanks to these meticulous and selfless acts of care.
The two got along better and better.
Deng Jie took charge of the medicinal herb garden, and Lady Shi helped him by his side, occasionally bringing some novel seeds so they could study the flowers and plants together.
“Madam,” Deng Jie watched her skillfully loosen the soil, and seeing her relax, he couldn’t help but probe again, “Having known you for so long, I’ve always addressed you by that name, which has made us somewhat distant. I also address my other friends by their nicknames. I wonder if I might have the honor of exchanging those with you?”
As she spoke, she took out her disciple's plaque from Hua Tuo's Medical Clinic and showed her her small handwriting.
The lady paused slightly, pursed her lips, and replied, "You are a little older than me, so I should... call you elder sister. You can call me... Zhongjun."
“Zhong…jun?” Deng Jie pondered, “Could it be that you have older brothers or sisters at home?” trying to glean more information from this.
Lady Ling opened her mouth, then sighed softly, "In these chaotic times, I have never seen anything like it, though perhaps I have."
Seeing her like this, Deng Jie didn't dare to ask any more questions. There are many people in this world who have been separated from their families, each with their own worries. How could he reopen old wounds?
The days passed peacefully, and the Lunar New Year was just around the corner. On New Year's Eve, Zhongjun came to visit again, bringing cured meat wrapped in red silk.
“Sister,” she said with a smile that radiated the joy of the festival, “this is homemade cured meat, brought to add some flavor to you and the chief priest.”
Deng Jie accepted it enthusiastically, and upon looking at the meat, he knew it was top-quality pork belly that had been carefully marinated.
A thought struck her, and she took Zhongjun's hand: "Stay for dinner tonight! Fengxiao is feeling much better now. When he comes back, let's invite your Wenhui and celebrate the New Year together, making this little courtyard lively!"
Upon hearing this, Zhongjun's eyes flashed with panic, and she quickly withdrew her hand, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, elder sister, but I have many trivial matters at home and need to return..."
"Hey! It's the New Year, there's no need for so many 'buts'!" Deng Jie didn't allow her to refuse, deliberately putting on a stern face, "Look at all this cured meat, there are only two of us, even with Huai Niang's family, we can't finish it all, wouldn't that be a waste and disappoint your good intentions?"
As she spoke, she called out to Huai Niang, "Quickly steam this meat, and prepare two more sets of tableware and chopsticks. We're having Mr. and Mrs. Gao have a meal today."
Huai Niang accepted it and turned to go to the kitchen.
Deng Jiechong Zhongjun laughed and said, "Isn't that good now? We'll send someone to invite Magistrate Gao later. You can leave me here to keep watch over us on New Year's Eve, okay?"
Zhongjun's eyes flickered with excitement at the mention of "staying up all night on New Year's Eve," making it difficult for him to refuse.
But just then, a clear male voice, one that Deng Jie had never heard before, rang out from outside the courtyard: "Madam?"
“Wenhui!” Zhongjun replied.
She glanced at Deng Jie and then went out to greet him.
Gao Rou saw Deng Jie following behind his wife and bowed to her, saying, "Madam Deng."
Zhong Jun took Gao Rou's arm, lowered his eyes slightly, and said softly, "Sister wants us to stay and keep vigil for the New Year..."
Gao Rou was slightly surprised and asked softly, "What did Madam say?"
Zhong Jun hesitated for a moment, then frowned, and finally shook his head slowly.
Gao Rou understood and bowed to Deng Jie again, saying, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Madam. My wife and I are very grateful. However... we still have young children at home who are eagerly awaiting our return for the New Year. It is really inconvenient for us to stay away for long. We hope you will understand."
His words were perfectly reasonable and flawless, which only deepened Deng Jie's disappointment. He could only nod and say, "In that case... it was my oversight that almost prevented the family reunion..."
She waved her hand, "Go back quickly, don't keep him waiting."
Despite saying this, she was still reluctant to leave, and stood at the door to see the two bow and say goodbye.
Zhongjun turned back one last time, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if he had a thousand unspoken words, but in the end he simply said, "We'll come see you again tomorrow."
Just as they stepped out of the alley, a gust of cold wind whipped up fine snow, ruffling Zhongjun's hair.
Gao Rou subconsciously raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind Deng Jie's ear, and whispered something. The last half of the sentence drifted clearly into Deng Jie's ears on the wind:
"...That's good, don't you think, Bong-chun?"
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