Chapter 86 Star Chart Night Talk: Born in February, seeing the Tiger (寅), this is the girl's destiny...
The drumming in the street had stopped, and the lanterns under the eaves illuminated Guo Jia and Deng Jie as they entered, their bodies covered in grime.
Guo Jia glanced at the stable; several carriages and horses were missing. Old Chen had probably already left with his men. Deng Zhao's actions were indeed swift and decisive.
The sound of chopsticks and bowls filled the dining hall. Yu Qiu was getting up when he turned around and saw two figures passing through the lattice door. He exclaimed "Oh dear!" and put down his wine cup to greet them.
"What's wrong with you two..." Yu Qiu looked them over, her gaze lingering on their dejected expressions. Without asking any further questions, she said, "Go wash up first, and I'll prepare a meal for you separately."
She turned around and started directing.
He summoned a servant to take Guo Jia to the bathhouse in the backyard, instructed the maid to prepare fragrant bath for the young lady, and called to Afu in the central courtyard to tell the kitchen to roast a deer leg and prepare some plum syrup and honey water.
Deng Zhao leaned over the table to look over, then put down his silver chopsticks and stood up.
Deng Ming followed her out and pulled Deng Jie aside, asking, "Where did Auntie go to find something fun?" He suddenly sniffed, ran to Yu Qiu's side, pointed at Guo Jia, and shouted, "Master, you stink!"
Deng Jie forced a smile and said, "I was chased away by the pigs from Liang's house next door."
Guo Jia chuckled, squatted down to be at Deng Ming's eye level, and took his small, tender hand: "That pig even knows how to dig for wine, it splashed it all over me. Look!" He pointed to the wine stains on his body.
Deng Ming was amused and laughed heartily, shouting that he wanted to go play with the pig too.
Deng Zhao put his arm around his son's head and helped Guo Jia up: "Come up to the third-floor attic after you've finished washing." He pointed upstairs, "The sky is clear tonight, so it's perfect for stargazing upstairs."
The backyard bathhouse was filled with steam, and Guo Jia was soaking in hot water, with a half-wet towel draped over the edge of the wooden tub.
He lowered his head to the water's surface, the hot water rippling slightly, reflecting his blurry silhouette.
He put her in danger again today.
Given the previous experience, I should have anticipated this. Why did I still let her face a wolf like Xu Hong?
No matter how careful Deng Jie was, she was still a woman. In this kind of world, a slight mistake could lead to utter ruin.
If Xu Hong were to draw his sword and force us today, both of them might end up dead.
He should have planned more thoroughly and taken on the task of testing the waters himself. Even if he were recognized, it would be because he had someone like Deng Zhao in Wancheng to help him, instead of hiding behind her and letting her play the role of some "eloped woman".
He couldn't help but clench his fists.
There can't be a next time.
I must do better. I must plan more thoroughly. I must protect myself more completely.
A screen was erected in Deng Jie's bedroom, and the bathtub was filled with flower petals and mugwort, with hot water and incense smoke swirling around it.
She sat in the water with her knees drawn up to her chest, gazing intently at the floating flowers and plants on the surface.
Xu Hong's gaze... even now, recalling it still sends chills down her spine.
She wasn't unfamiliar with rude men.
During the free clinic, some people would try to grope her under the guise of examining her, but since it was broad daylight, she could easily scare them away with a little resistance.
Today is different; today she is the prey she herself has delivered.
I was too reckless.
Relying on Guo Jia's support, he recklessly took risks without considering the consequences, not even thinking about what would happen if the plan failed, and that Guo Jia might also be injured.
If Guo Jia hadn't rushed in in time, if Xu Hong had turned hostile on the spot...
She plunged her face into the water, the warm water enveloping all her sorrows.
She suddenly looked up, realizing that she had cleverly broken through the opponent's defenses, and that she needed to plan more and think like Guo Jia.
We can't always rely on others; no matter how thoughtful or considerate they are, there will always be times when they're not around.
This world is inherently harsh on women; they must learn to assess situations and deal with danger.
I need to be more prepared, more careful, and more resilient.
The high windows of the three-story pavilion on the west corner tower were wide open, and the chill of the winter night mingled with the warmth of the charcoal brazier.
The four sat around the table, the white steam from the warm wine rising gently, casting a halo around the candlelight.
Guo Jia's hair, still damp from his bath, was loosely tied with a hairband and swayed behind him.
He leaned against the window and suddenly realized that the view from this angle was much wider than when he lived on the second floor on the east side. The view was not blocked by the eaves of the gate, and he could take in the whole city of Wan. The governor's mansion, which was in the distance, was probably one of the few tall buildings that could echo it.
He had a clear memory of the city's street layout and could even identify the location of Wu's Rice Shop.
He gazed silently for a while, then looked up at the sky. The stars in winter were not as brilliant as those in summer; they were scattered and somewhat cold.
"Come, have a cup of warm wine to warm yourself up." Deng Zhao filled Guo Jia's wine cup.
Deng Jie still couldn't understand why Xu Hong wanted to postpone his departure, and she held the roasted meat that Yu Qiu had cut for her in her hand without taking a bite.
"Could it be that he has already recognized you and deliberately approached him?" Deng Zhao pondered, gently putting down his wine cup.
Deng Jie shook his head slightly: "It doesn't seem like it. His attitude is exactly the same as yesterday." He finally took a bite of the roasted meat. "But he seems to be waiting for something. Could it be that our collecting gold vouchers has alerted him?"
Yu Qiu tapped the window with her finger: "Our acquisition today certainly made quite a splash." However, there was a hint of pride in her expression. "Given Wu Gao's personality, he should be delighted. Could it be that they're still plotting how to keep us as enemies?"
Deng Zhao nodded in agreement: "Possibly. If we can lure Xu Hong out of the open through this method, Ajie won't have to take this risk anymore."
Guo Jia finished his wine cup and kowtowed heavily: "In any case, Miss Deng will not be able to go to the market for free medical consultations tomorrow." He paused, then looked at Deng Zhao, "It would be best if she didn't stay in the city either."
Deng Jie's heart skipped a beat, and he considered that it might be feasible to go directly to search for sulfur ore...
Deng Zhao exchanged a glance with his wife. "A-Jie is quite well-known in the city. It's fortunate that he's from out of town. If someone really wanted to inquire, they might be able to find him..."
He glanced at Deng Jie's subtle hand movements, reading her thoughts. "Old Chen has already taken people to the surrounding counties to inquire about the available goods. I want him back before the New Year no matter what, and I've given him ten days. You..."
Yu Qiu was worried that Deng Zhao was so carefree as to let Guo Jia accompany her alone, so she quickly interrupted, "I have experience dealing with the Wu family. If Ajie wants to go prospecting for minerals, Yuanming, you should go with her. If Xu Hong comes looking for us, I'll have an excuse."
Upon hearing this, Deng Jie looked up and glanced at his brother and sister-in-law. Deng Zhao's guilt and reluctance remained unspoken, but they brought a bitter taste to Deng Jie's mouth.
Yu Qiu turned her head and smiled as she took Deng Jie's hand: "Do whatever you want, your brother and I will support you. I will go to the Lu residence tomorrow. Miss Lu is clever, she will surely understand the hint I give her tomorrow."
Deng Zhao sighed heavily. "Alright, the three of us will go to explore the surrounding villages together first thing tomorrow morning. No matter the outcome, it will take a maximum of four days!"
He poured wine for Guo Jia and Yu Qiu, and gestured for the honey water in front of Deng Jie, saying, "Come, we only ask for your safe return."
As Deng Jie raised his cup to drink, he silently prayed: "I will surely gain something."
After several rounds of drinks, Deng Zhao took out a lacquered wooden box from under the table. The box was intricately carved with a star map of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and the lapis lazuli inlaid in the lock gleamed faintly in the candlelight.
He moved the box in front of Guo Jia: "In the past, Fengxiao helped us escape from danger by observing the stars on the Yellow River. I promised you that I would repay you when you returned."
Guo Jia quickly raised his hand to refuse, and picked up the jade pendant at his waist: "Brother Yuanming has already thanked me!"
Deng Zhaolang laughed, "The jade pendant is a testament to our friendship, but this astrologer is the real gift! I'm going on a long trip tomorrow anyway, so it might come in handy."
Guo Jia was somewhat moved. They were just as sincere to Deng Jie as they were to him, and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed. He both envied Deng Jie and questioned whether it was appropriate for him to be so shameless in their household.
Seeing that he hesitated to accept it, Deng Jie took it from him and placed it on his shoulders, saying, "Sir, please don't refuse. Only you here truly understand and appreciate this kind of thing!"
Yu Qiu stood up and pulled Deng Zhao: "Let's go see if Ming'er is asleep."
Guo Jia opened the box, took out the bronze astrolabe, and gently moved the scale on it with his fingertips.
"Does Miss Deng know anything about the stars?" he asked with a smile.
After a long silence, he turned around and saw Deng Jie staring blankly with his head down.
"What are you thinking about, young lady?"
He leaned close to Deng Jie's ear, startling Deng Jie back to his senses. "Ah? Oh... I was thinking... wouldn't four days be too short, what if we can't find them, or what if we've just found them?"
Guo Jia's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly asked, "How old are you, young lady?"
Deng Jie didn't understand what he wanted to say, and blankly replied, "The second day of the second lunar month."
"What a coincidence." He smiled slightly, secretly pleased that this girl was so unguarded about her private matters.
As she spoke, she led Deng Jie to push open the other window and pointed to a bright star in the northeast, saying, "A girl born in February will see the Tiger (寅) star; this is your Heavenly Physician Star."
"The Heavenly Physician Star?" Deng Jie approached the window and looked up into the distance. The silent starry sky was clear and pure, and that star shone brightly against the dark blue sky, as if it were truly watching over the world.
After a long silence, she exhaled a soft breath of white air. "Does the gentleman also believe in this?"
“The prophecy says, ‘When the Heavenly Physician Star shines brightly, the people will be free from illness.’ I see that it is exceptionally bright tonight, so I will believe it this time.”
Guo Jia chuckled and put away the star chart. "The Heavenly Physician Star shines upon you, which is a blessing for you, young lady. Four days may be short, but it's enough for us to explore the entire Wanshan Mountain."
His resolute gaze warmed Deng Jie's heart. "If what you say is true..."
“If what I say is true,” Guo Jia continued, looking her straight in the eyes, “you must promise me one thing.”
"What is it?"
“After this incident,” he frowned and said seriously, “don’t take any more risks rashly… even if the reason is my fault, you must refuse immediately!”
Deng Jie was speechless for a moment, while Guo Jia looked ashamed: "Today's events are all my fault. I have failed you, young lady."
Deng Jie's eyes darkened. He wanted to open his mouth to argue, but in the end, he pursed his lips and nodded heavily.
He must have been frightened today.
Although I know I should be more careful, for some reason, after this self-reproach, there is a hidden sense of loss.
What am I really expecting...?
Little did she know that Guo Jia swallowed back the words he had been holding in his chest, the resolve in his heart that he had kept, "Even if it means taking risks, I will definitely protect you."
Descending from the third floor, the two stepped onto the corridor. As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, the house fell silent, save for the flickering candlelight in the evening breeze that guided them toward the main building.
Deng Jie walked ahead, his steps light and slow. The feeling of that embrace in the twilight somehow crept back into his heart. His words, "Promise me" and "Don't take any more risks," lingered in his mind. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, almost crushing the sound of his footsteps on the wooden planks.
Guo Jia followed quietly behind her without saying a word. She dared not turn around to look at him, nor dared to ask any questions. She felt that compared to how naturally they got along the previous two days, her heart was now being weighed down by something, making it hard for her to breathe.
Guo Jia deliberately adjusted his stride, keeping a half-step distance from Deng Jie, silently following her back. He instinctively leaned forward, but then realized he was overstepping his bounds and pulled back.
During the day, he was secretly pleased that he could stay closer to her, but now that he actually had to go back to the main building with her, he felt timid instead.
The more you care, the more anxious you become about gaining and losing.
Guo Jia took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his chest. He needed to find a topic to break the suffocating feeling.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat and slowly spoke in his usual nonchalant tone, "When we go into the mountains tomorrow, will you have prepared some snake and insect repellent? Snakes are most likely to be found near the sulfur mine."
Upon hearing the content of the important matter, Deng Jie immediately dismissed his distracting thoughts. With a hint of embarrassment at almost being discovered for his selfish motives, he turned around abruptly, his expression more urgent than usual. He forced a smile, desperately hoping to appear more natural. "Yes, yes, yes! Sir is right. I'll go to the first floor to prepare the medicine later... Sir, sir, you know the room, please go back to your room and rest!"
Guo Jia was slightly surprised. They had been working together for the past two days, and now he was deliberately suggesting that she prepare the medicine alone... Well, he needed to calm down too.
He smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll go back first... Miss, please remember to pack several portions. The mountain air is very humid. Don't be scared by snakes and insects before you even find the mine. That would be a loss."
Without thinking, Deng Jie blurted out, "Don't worry, sir. I have prepared three prescriptions from various doctors. No matter what poison we encounter, I will stand in front of you... uh, no, I mean I will definitely protect you!"
Deng Jie suddenly felt that his brain and tongue were not quite working properly, and he couldn't find the right words for a moment. His face flushed slightly. "In short, it's better to be prepared!"
"Heh." Guo Jia chuckled at her flustered state, his tense nerves finally relaxing a bit. "However," he resumed his usual playful tone, "I'll take care of the task of standing in front of her. After all... if I make the girl shed tears again, I'll truly be a 'wicked husband'."
"W-what 'wicked husband'! This matter is over!" Deng Jie was stung by the word and became incoherent. "Sir, please don't mention this again!" He turned and quickened his pace and slipped away.
Guo Jia watched her flee in disarray, his smile widening. As she disappeared down the stairs leading to the first floor, he let out a soft sigh, knowing he also needed to go back and prepare his travel map and belongings.
After spending the last few days together, he had come to understand that the two Deng siblings were indeed born of the same mother; they were both equally impulsive and loyal, and their actions always preceded their thoughts.
The Deng family has achieved such prominence; Madam Yu must have put in a great deal of effort. I must be extremely cautious on this trip and make the most thorough considerations for the two of them.
After Guo Jia returned to his room and finished his work, the night watchman's drum had already sounded on the street at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM).
Before turning off the lights, he still had some thoughts in his mind. He made an excuse to find a place to relieve himself and deliberately passed by Deng Jie's door, only to find that the candle was still lit in her room.
He paused for a moment, unable to hear anything from inside, before finally raising his hand to gently knock on the door. "Miss Deng?"
A startled hiss came from inside.
"What are you busy with, young lady?" Guo Jia approached the door, trying to discern the movements.
"N-nothing! What is it, sir?" Deng Jie's slightly hurried voice rang out from behind the door.
Guo Jia choked slightly, "It's late. We need to set off before dawn tomorrow. Miss, you should get some rest."
"Ah? Yes, yes, sir, you should rest early too..." Guo Jia noticed that her tone was different from her usual lively tone, instead carrying a hint of girlish shyness. "I... I'll go to sleep after I finish tidying up the medicine pouch..." Feeling that there was more to say, he didn't move and remained standing outside waiting quietly, but Deng Jie didn't continue.
"gentlemen?"
"ah?"
The two spoke almost simultaneously, then fell silent, both taken aback.
Guo Jia then realized that he should leave, and Deng Jie's figure was reflected in the candlelight as he approached.
"Is there anything else you need, young lady?" Guo Jia's heart suddenly pounded. He probably hoped to see her one more time, wondering if she looked different before she went to sleep than she had just now.
"N-nothing..." Deng Jie stood behind the door, then turned his back and leaned gently against the door frame. "Uh, it's just... I just wanted to ask if the herbs in that medicine bag should be changed? Or could you take it off and give it to me so I can refill it with a new one?"
Guo Jia was startled, thinking of the "hiss" she had just made. Could it be that she had pricked her finger with a needle? Or was she embroidering a new medicine pouch for herself?
He took two steps closer and whispered through the partition, "Hmm... I smell that this medicine hasn't expired yet. If you want to prepare new medicine, why not take this opportunity to fulfill your previous promise?"
"What...that's not true!" Deng Jie denied it outright. "Sir, you should rest now!" He then hurried away and blew out the candle.
The flame of anticipation was also extinguished. Guo Jia finally nodded and left, but a faint smile appeared on his lips, whether he was smiling at her or at himself was unknown.
Deng Jie lay on the couch, peeking her face out from under the covers. She took out the medicine pouch she had just embroidered and looked at it. The colors were erased in the darkness, but on the brocade, a cute, strangely shaped, frizzy orange cat stared back at her.
Since he's already brought it up, why didn't I just take the opportunity to send it over? The herbs were all packed, so I could just open a crack in the door, hand it over to him, and add a comment like, "Ugly cats love to stick to you, sir." I could even take the opportunity to get revenge on that little brat.
But... why did I back down?
Deng Jie tightened her grip, causing the cat-like markings to wrinkle up, just like her features were now squinting together.
She buried the medicine pouch and herself in the bedding.
"It's so ugly..." She mumbled under the covers, but couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Even if they came from humble backgrounds, they were still members of the gentry, possessing a refined and elegant air about them. How could they possibly be worthy of such a thing?
Although the locust tree pattern was ugly, it was still a decent design. This one... I originally intended to tease him, but my mindset is different now than when I first started making it. How could I possibly give it away? What if he misunderstands and thinks I dislike him, or even gets angry and stops talking to me because of it...
But if we were to re-embroider a proper pattern, wouldn't that look even more deliberate? Wouldn't that be perfect...?
What on earth am I thinking?!
Deng Jie's mind was in complete chaos. He stuffed the medicine pouch into his pocket and decided to stop thinking about it!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
