Today, the medicine room was filled with a rich aroma of herbs.
Song Shiyue opened the door and said to the daydreaming Gu Yu Chen, “Pack your things. We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Gu Yu Chen wasn’t surprised; the girl had been preparing for days. What he was more curious about was, “Where are we going?”
“Jing City!”
Song Shiyue looked at Gu Yu Chen and teased him, “Aren’t you from Jing City? ‘Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog; marry a monkey, roam the mountains.’ Since I married you, shouldn’t I follow you?”
Why did that sound so awkward?
Gu Yu Chen tentatively said, “We’re not really husband and wife.”
Even though the Marriage Certificate was real, a forced marriage isn’t happy, right?
“If you want to make it real, that’s possible too.”
It would be a good opportunity to legitimately have a child, someone to care for her in old age and handle funeral arrangements. As for this man? He could be discarded at any time.
How could Gu Yu Chen know Song Shiyue’s plans? Her words startled him so much he started hiccupping.
Song Shiyue laughed, “Look how timid you are.”
Gu Yu Chen felt frustrated. She really was a mountain savage, ignorant of worldly etiquette, daring to say anything.
“With your temperament, you must restrain yourself when we get to Jing City, or you’ll attract trouble.”
“Aren’t you there? What’s there to fear?”
Song Shiyue’s gaze drifted to his waist, where something important and precious was surely hidden.
He definitely wasn’t an ordinary person.
Sensing Song Shiyue’s gaze, Gu Yu Chen subtly turned his wheelchair, avoiding her stare.
Hmph, what’s so great about that? She was going to Jing City because of that bronze token engraved with the characters “Da Nei.” It must have come from the imperial palace.
Song Shiyue said in a displeased tone, “Don’t I have to send you back and collect my payment?”
She didn’t take her master’s mention of a dowry seriously, considering it merely medical fees and service charges owed by Gu Yu Chen.
Gu Yu Chen thought to himself, this girl was as shrewd as her master—the medical and service fees were his entire fortune.
“Yue girl, once we return to Jing City, we can proceed with the divorce.”
Song Shiyue glared. Gu Yu Chen certainly didn’t misunderstand—it wasn’t that she was reluctant to part with him.
“If you want to initiate divorce, that’s fine too.” That would be more in line with his understanding of Song Shiyue.
“No hurry. Once I get my payment and I’m in a good mood, I’ll naturally ensure everyone is satisfied.”
Watching Song Shiyue’s smug expression, Gu Yu Chen felt his teeth itching with irritation.
The next day, the weather was clear. A perfect day for travel.
Gu Yu Chen had little to pack. His own clothes were long tattered, leaving only two sets of coarse hemp clothes bought by the Crazy Old Taoist.
He expected Song Shiyue to have many belongings, but she only carried a modest bundle, which appeared to contain mostly herbs.
“You’re taking so little?”
“Is this little?”
“Isn’t it? Your bundle seems mostly herbs. Don’t you need to bring any clothes?”
“Hehe! There’s no need to dress flamboyantly while traveling. Once we’re in Jing City, won’t you provide? Why would I need to prepare my own?”
Gu Yu Chen felt helpless. He was being taken advantage of.
Just as he was about to ask how they would descend the mountain, he saw Song Shiyue lift him, wheelchair and all, leap out of the Taoist Temple, and maneuver through the forest.
Well, like master, like disciple. He had witnessed the Crazy Old Taoist’s lightness skill, but this disciple surpassed even the master. She was also a mighty female Hercules.
At the foot of the mountain, a spacious carriage had long been waiting. The person beside it approached them upon seeing their arrival.
“Yue girl, the carriage you requested and all the cooking utensils are prepared. The total is one hundred taels of silver.”
Song Shiyue handed him a silver note, and the man tactfully took his leave.
Gu Yu Chen’s heart softened when he saw the arrangements inside the carriage. Yue girl had been considerate, knowing he was injured and couldn’t endure jolting. Not only were there quilts and cushions, but the floor was also covered with a thick felt mat.
Gu Yu Chen expressed his gratitude sincerely, “Thank you!”
“You’re overthinking it. That was laid out for myself.”
Song Shiyue explained with a beaming smile, not wanting to miss an inn and end up camping outside.
Gu Yu Chen looked at her exposed little canine teeth, trying hard to control the urge to pull them out.
“Crack!” With the sound of a whip, the carriage set off toward Jing City.
…
Song Shiyue leaned against the carriage door, one leg bent and the other dangling, letting the horse amble along slowly. She watched the roadside scenery with keen interest.
Autumn was approaching, and the wind carried a slight chill.
Song Shiyue pondered how to begin investigating her origins once they reached the capital. And her master—he should be in Jing City too—how could she find him?
Gu Yu Chen, lying diagonally inside the carriage, was utterly bored.
“I say, Yue girl, at this pace, we won’t reach Jing City even by winter.”
Since they’d set out, this girl only spoke to him when absolutely necessary. Usually taciturn himself, he found such interaction extremely uncomfortable and felt he was going mad.
He had intended to just vent his frustration, never expecting Song Shiyue to respond.
“Hmm! Your leg is almost healed. It’s about time to pick up the pace.”
Surprised that she had been traveling so slowly because of him, Gu Yu Chen sat up and moved closer to speak with Song Shiyue.
But then…
“Giddy up!”
Followed by three cracks of the whip, the horse suddenly broke into a swift gallop.
Caught off guard, Gu Yu Chen was thrown back onto the carriage floor. If not for the thick felt Song Shiyue had laid down for comfortable sleeping, he would have been badly bruised.
“Couldn’t you have given a warning?” Gu Yu Chen shouted furiously.
From outside, only Song Shiyue’s hearty laughter echoed back.
That day, they missed the town and had to spend the night in a roadside earth god temple.
Gu Yu Chen’s leg had healed enough for him to walk slowly. To exercise, he voluntarily went to gather firewood in the woods behind the temple.
Song Shiyue tied up the horse, then entered the temple carrying their bundle and an iron pot. Finding it empty, she located a pile of straw in a corner.
Perfect—no need to squeeze in with Gu Yu Chen. One could sleep in the carriage, the other in the temple.
Considering Gu Yu Chen hadn’t fully recovered, Song Shiyue kindly left the carriage to him.
She simply cooked a pot of dough drop soup, and they ate in silence.
“You wash the pot. You’ll sleep in the carriage tonight; I’ll sleep in the temple.”
Gu Yu Chen wouldn’t hear of letting a young woman sleep alone in the temple. “No, you take the carriage. I’ll sleep here.”
“This rundown temple is drafty everywhere. Do you want to catch a cold and add to my burden?”
Uh… Gu Yu Chen was speechless. He’d forgotten he was currently the weaker one, a patient needing care.
He obediently washed the pot and bowls, then climbed into the carriage.
After a while, two more groups of travelers arrived successively. With company around, Gu Yu Chen felt relieved and gradually fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, rain suddenly began to fall. Gu Yu Chen was awakened by the sound of the raindrops and, worried that Song Shiyue might catch a chill, thought of bringing her a quilt.
Just then, the sound of hoofbeats nearby made him pause.
Looking out the carriage window, he saw five horses quickly come to a halt in front of the earthen temple.
Noticing the carriage and the cart outside the temple gate, one of the men in the lead, who appeared to be an attendant, turned and said, “Master Quan! There are people here already. I’ll go and drive them out right away.”
“No need! We’ll make do for the night. Don’t stir up trouble.”
Hearing this voice, Gu Yu Chen grew suspicious. Was it that man? What was he doing here?