Perhaps women in this era are far more independent than Qi Nuan imagined.
It was simply the times that limited them.
Learning has no end. Qi Nuan looked at Qingqing and thought that everyone may have some shortcomings, but there are more shining points that you can only see after you pay attention.
Just like Qingqing, just like Wang Er, they are willing to tolerate each other's shortcomings.
Qi Nuan accepted Qingqing's kindness towards her.
Every morning, she practices martial arts with Qingqing, at noon she learns embroidery with Ahua, and in the afternoon she tends to herbs with Xiangxiang. Sometimes she also makes some simple pills on her own.
Jiang Yu and Zhang Liao would occasionally come to visit them, but they always left in a hurry.
Qi Nuan probably also realized why there was a hint of sorrow between Ahua's brows.
Perhaps something happened between her and Zhang Liao, but even so, she couldn't interfere. People are easily entangled in matters of the heart, and even the smallest things in a relationship can cause a lot of distress, which Qi Nuan has never been able to understand.
She also had Jiang Yu investigate Grandma Mo's matter, but the results showed that there were no problems.
Grandma Mo was a nanny in a wealthy family in Kyoto. She had some knowledge of pharmacology. Later, when her master committed a crime and was exiled to Yuyang, she stayed with him. However, after the lady she served died of a cold during the exile, she lived alone in Yuyang.
Later, seeing that the situation in Yuyang was not good, he left Yuyang with the refugees and only recently came to Shangjun.
Although Jiang Yu's tests came back negative, Qi Nuan still had a feeling that something was wrong.
Even if she had misheard Xiangxiang's conversation that day because she was standing far away, Qi Nuan could not forget the look in Xiangxiang's eyes when they left.
During her time with Xiangxiang, she would carefully probe with her words, but Xiangxiang showed no flaws, making her wonder if she was just overthinking things.
Unbeknownst to her, the person she suspected was meeting with Xiangxiang in the city at that moment.
"The king's health is failing, and he wants to see you one last time."
Grandma Mo looked at the unmoved girl, her voice full of pleading.
Xiangxiang took the sugar painting from the vendor, just like the one she had, ignoring the old woman's words. She couldn't help but admire the sugar painting in her hand, thinking to herself that the craftsmanship of the people from the Central Plains was truly exquisite.
"Xiangxiang, he is still your father, you..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Xiangxiang staring at her coldly, her eyes devoid of any emotion. The words she was about to say were swallowed back down her throat. Perhaps she should have known this would happen.
When Xiangxiang saw that she didn't say anything more, she smiled innocently.
"Grandma, there will be punishment for doing wrong! I know Grandma would never do anything to hurt me, right, Grandma?"
Grandma Mo looked at the smiling Xiangxiang and felt a chill in her heart. She forced a smile and said, "Of course, I've watched you grow up since you were little. How could I possibly make you sad?"
"That's good."
Xiangxiang smiled at her, then turned her head away to play with the trinkets on the stall.
"Xiangxiang... Xiangxiang, what are you doing here?"
Xiangxiang turned around and saw Wang Er walking over anxiously. She glanced at Grandma Mo, who understood and quietly retreated.
"I was a bit bored, so I came out for a walk. Is there anything I can help you with, Second Brother?"
Xiangxiang casually addressed Wang Er, who was approaching.
Wang Er didn't pay much attention. Seeing that Xiangxiang was alone, he casually asked, "You're not with Anuan?"
Remembering Xiangxiang's question, he scratched his head and replied, "Oh, Jiang Ming and I have something to do."
Xiangxiang then noticed Jiang Ming in the crowd. He was looking in the direction where Grandma Mo had left. Xiangxiang's eyes flickered, and she took the initiative to go to meet him.
"Brother Jiang Ming."
When Jiang Ming saw Xiang Xiang, his gaze softened.
"Let us take you back."
Xiangxiang nodded.
The group quickly returned to the Jiang residence. After escorting Xiangxiang to the gate, Jiang Ming and Wang Er stopped.
"We've been busy with official duties lately, so we won't go in. Please give our regards to Ahua and the others."
"Wait..." Xiangxiang called out to the two who were about to leave.
"What's wrong?" Wang Er looked at Xiangxiang, puzzled.
"Second Brother, I have something to tell Brother Ming," Xiangxiang said to Wang Er with a smile, looking a little embarrassed.
"Why are you making it so mysterious? What is there between us that we can't hear?" Wang Er muttered to himself as he walked away, glancing back at the two of them as he went.
Only after seeing Wang Er walk away and confirming that he wouldn't hear their conversation did Xiangxiang speak.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Xiangxiang's tone was not a question but an affirmation.
Jiang Ming looked at the girl in front of him. She was wearing a pink dress and looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old. Her usually lively face was now unusually calm.
Meeting her gaze, Jiang Ming nodded.
Why didn't you ask me?
The girl's words seemed to express both doubt and thoughtfulness.
"I'll get to the bottom of this, and we can talk about it later." Jiang Ming looked at the girl calmly.
Would you hurt them?
Xiangxiang smiled, "No."
That's it.
Jiang Ming turned and left.
Xiangxiang opened her mouth as if to call out to Jiang Ming, but in the end she didn't.
Would you hurt them?
Looking at Jiang Ming, Xiangxiang silently asked herself, "It's not him, it's them." Xiangxiang didn't know, and perhaps even Jiang Ming himself didn't know. Watching their departing figures, Xiangxiang was slightly stunned. It's good this way; everyone has their own mission.
What did you say to Xiangxiang?
Wang Er nudged Jiang Ming with his elbow and asked with some curiosity.
"nothing."
Forget it, Wang Er looked at Jiang Ming. He was becoming more and more like Jiang Yu. It was really boring.
Qi Nuan was practicing martial arts with Qingqing when she saw Xiangxiang return, and she was somewhat happy.
"Xiangxiang, where did you go? I haven't seen you since early this morning."
"Go find the herbs that Lord Song needs, sir."
Qi Nuan then noticed the herbs Xiangxiang was carrying. "Is Lord Song feeling any better?"
Xiangxiang shook her head. Song Jinning's health is getting worse and worse. It seems that there is nothing in this world that he cares about. He may not have been able to let go of the people of Shangjun before, but after meeting Jiang Yu and witnessing his abilities, he has changed.
Song Jinning became increasingly confident in letting Jiang Yu handle the affairs of Shangjun, while she herself remained behind the scenes.
Although it's not as mentally and physically demanding as before, I still have a death wish, which is not good for my health.
Qi Nuan couldn't quite say whether their arrival was good or bad for Song Jinning.
For a moment, they were speechless. Qingqing didn't know what to say. Song Jinning was definitely the best official they had ever met. Only the common people who had experienced hardship knew how rare it was to meet a good official who cared for the country and its people.
"By the way, I'm going to the county government tonight to see Lord Song. Do you want to come with me?" Xiangxiang asked Qi Nuan.
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