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Marriage of the Di Daughter

Chapter 107 Part 3: Homecoming

tanghulu

It took approximately one day to travel from Xiangyang to Tongxiang. They set off at noon, in the evening they would stay at the roadside guest house to rest for a night and they would arrive in the afternoon of the next day. There were not many travelers on the road. Jiang Li did not wish to bring the Jiang family’s bodyguards because she knew these bodyguards might not necessarily be loyal to her. Even though they could comprehensively protect her, when she did things, her hands would inevitably be tied with them around. Hence, Ye Ming Hui selected a few of the best skilled bodyguards from the Ye family to follow them. There’re Jiang Li’s servant girls and Ye Ming Yu’s male servant, Ah Shun.  

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When night came, they stayed at the guest’s house at the side of the road.

Although the Ye family’s movements were secretive, it was not  hidden from the neighbor next door.

In the courtyard, Ji Heng was in the middle of watering the flowers in the flower beds. 

The copper-necked watering pot was held naturally in his hand. The flower bed was spread with an unknown variety of beautiful violet and red flowers. He seldom had such a leisurely and elegant appearance, standing in the night, lightly pouring the water. The water droplets coming out from the pot were like transparent gems, also like a curtain of pearls, each sphere falling onto the flower petal, tumbling down to the stem, then disappearing into the soil.   

Only a faint fragrance was left in the air.

Lu Ji stood behind Ji Heng, his blue jacket moved slightly by the wind. The black dressed bodyguard’s voice was monotonous without any ripples as he spoke, “Third master Ye followed Jiang second miss to set off to Tongxiang.”

He said that the third master Ye followed Jiang second miss, not Jiang second miss followed third master Ye. That’s to say that the matter of setting off to Tongxing was led by Jiang second miss and not the third master Ye. 

Ji Su let out a “hmm”. 

He still watered the flowers seriously, as if this was the only thing on earth that deserved his careful treatment and could not be distracted for even a moment. 

The winter flowers bloomed, especially enchanting, with a kind of incompatibility and bewitching beauty. He watered the flowers attentively one plant at a time until finished, taking up the quarter of the day. He held out his hand and a servant boy took the copper watering pot off his hand. Through his sleeve, Ji Heng took out a silk handkerchief then wiped his fingers carefully. 

He turned and looked at Wen Ji, “Go in the same evening?”

Wen Ji said, “Yes.”

Ji Heng laughed, “Really couldn’t wait even a moment.”

Lu Ji who was standing in the shadows couldn’t help opening his mouth to ask, “Master, Jiang Li going to Tongxiang should be something she came up with in Xi Hua Lou with Qiong Zhi.”

Jiang Li was in a daze after she came out of her meeting with Qiong Zhi. After that, she went together with Ye Ming Yu to Tongxiang. However, they looked at it, it was all related. 

“She came to Xiangyang for the purpose of going to Tongxiang.” Ji Heng smiled and said, “Guarding against the Jiang family’s knowledge, concealing from the Ye family, her final purpose will soon come to light. Just wait and see.”

Lu Ji shook his head, “But this Jiang second miss’s way of behaving really makes people unfathomable. Even knowing what she’s doing might not necessarily know why she did so.” 

As he was talking, a handsome servant boy walked in from outside. He spoke respectfully, “Master, the carriage is ready.” 

Lu Ji was stunned, then looked at Ji Heng, “Is Master leaving?”

Ji Heng glanced at the flowers in full bloom in the flower beds, smiled and said, “Yes.”

“Where to?”

“Tongxiang.”

“Tongxiang?” Lu Ji was even more confused, “Master wants to watch Jiang Li?”

No.” Ji Heng said softly, “it’s to watch a play.”

……

In the morning of the second day, the Ye family’s carriage started their journey early. 

Ye Ming Yu seemed to know the impatience in Jiang Li’s heart and urgently hastened on their journey. Tong’er and Bai Xue felt odd and asked Jiang Li whether or not Ye Ming Yu really had a particularly crucial matter. Otherwise, why did he work so hard?

Jiang Li knew that Ye Ming Yu did this for her and was very grateful inside. Whatever the case, Ye Ming Yu went all out to help her. She hoped the Ye family would grow bigger, able to be her solid and powerful backing. At the same time, she didn’t wish to involve the Ye family into insignificant battles. 

It was without a doubt that Yongning had a hand in Xue Huai Yuan’s imprisonment. Nowadays, the common people in Tongxiang kept Xue Huai Yuan’s matter a secret, certainly because there were other people mixed in it. She charging in hastily like this certainly broke the other person’s practice. The other person had received Yongning’s instructions, on the surface, he would pretend to respect her, being the chief assistant’s daughter when in fact, he simply did not put her in his eyes. 

If the old account was turned over, following the line, it would go up and would always lead to Yongning. Sooner or later, Yongning would find out that she was investigating Xue Huai Yuan. Jiang Li had had an intersection with Yongning before and knew her temper. She would not be apprehensive because she was Jiang Yuan Bai’s daughter. By hook or by crook, she would only forcefully use vicious methods to achieve her goals. 

This trip to Tongxiang was very difficult. In a sense, she was just one person, she could only struggle hard without support.

But she would never back down, not ever.

As if proving that Ye Ming Yu was truly rushing, when they almost reached Tongxiang, it was unexpectedly just past noon. 

Ye Ming Yu actually sweated on a winter day. He used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his forehead and when Jiang Li opened the carriage curtain to look, he said, “Ah Li, look, Tongxiang is just ahead.”

Tong’er and Bai Xue looked out. After they had clearly seen the situation outside, Tong’er could not help saying, “So this is Tongxiang, it’s not as flourishing as Xiangyang.”

In the distance was the main street of Tongxiang. The street was not even as wide as Xiangyang, no need to mention Yanjing. On the contrary, there were numerous merchants spread out on both sides. Many peddlers set up stalls on the street, selling tanghulu* and other little things. 

[tanghulu: traditional Chinese snack of rock-sugar coated hawthorn fruit on a skewer, picture above]

Hearing Tong’er, Ye Ming Yu said, “It’s already much better now! Previously, Tongxiang was just a poor county under Xiangyang. In the common people’s houses, a pair of shoes were worn interchangeably by brothers and sisters. Don’t mention having merchants, a peddler only came once a month and that was considered an exchange. Afterwards, a county deputy came to Tongxiang. Contrary to what people expect, he was someone with administrative ability, a good official. He stayed for ten years and Tongxiang gradually became prosperous. Although it cannot be compared with Xiangyang, if you’ve seen the previous Tongxiang, guaranteed you’ll be moved.”  

Jiang Li was stunned. Suddenly hearing Xue Huai Yuan’s deed from Ye Ming Yu’s mouth just like this, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The same emotion welled up in her throat and she lowered her head for a while to suppress it, preventing others from seeing her red eyes. 

After a pause, Jiang Li asked softly, “Then, what happened to the county deputy now?” 

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