Ming Shu even wondered if she had drawn less attention to herself, the people of Yunjing might not have deliberately targeted her.
But Ming Shu forgot that her face alone, standing gracefully there, was a sight to behold.
Ming Shu suddenly asked, “Has someone been sent to inform Uncle Pan?”
“Someone was sent yesterday. Uncle Pan told you not to worry—he will manage the shop well.”
Ming Shu did not rely entirely on the Yan family either. In this world, which was too harsh on women, she also needed a means to secure her livelihood.
As noon approached, the chief steward arranged for servants to come to the western courtyard to move the items Ming Shu intended to bring along.
Seeing the five large chests arranged in the courtyard, she didn’t know whether to feel relieved or gratified.
Ming Shu’s carriage followed behind Yan Wei’s, while the chief eunuch and others rode in the carriages at the very front.
When Ming Shu arrived at the mansion’s entrance, Yan Wei was also just approaching.
“Cousin,” Ming Shu greeted with a slight curtsy.
Yan Wei glanced at her a moment longer before retrieving a jade pendant from his sleeve. “Cousin, your jade pendant was left at my place. Take it with you.”
Ming Shu’s eyes widened slightly. Wh-what?
In Yan Wei’s large palm lay a jade pendant. Not only was it not Ming Shu’s, she had never even seen it before.
But… since her cousin said so, there must be a reason.
Ming Shu was only surprised for a moment before playing along and accepting it. “I thought it was lost. So it was left at your place. Thank you, cousin.”
Ming Shu took the pendant from his palm. Noticing Yan Wei still watching her, she extended her hand and hung the pendant at her waist.
She hadn’t brought a sachet today, so there happened to be an empty spot for it.
Only then did Yan Wei withdraw his gaze, smiling as he said, “Let’s set off.”
After speaking, he headed to the carriage in front.
Ming Shu lowered her head and boarded her own carriage.
This scene was witnessed by the chief eunuch, who felt somewhat concerned about the emperor’s plans.
Out of consideration for Yan Wei’s injuries, the journey proceeded very slowly.
Strangely enough, Ming Shu did not hear any news of the chief eunuch vomiting again.
The scenery along the way was all new to Ming Shu, but even the freshest views grew tedious over the long journey.
Ming Shu leaned forward, her slender neck slightly tilted, her profile soft and her expression faint.
In just a few days, Ming Shu had grown noticeably thinner.
Tang Li, however, was much more energetic than Ming Shu. Pointing at the distant mountains, she exclaimed, “Miss, look over there!”
What?
Ming Shu followed the direction of her finger. The mountains were lush, the grass green, and the trees tall.
No different from yesterday’s scenery.
“There’s a group of little ducks over there.”
Ming Shu lowered her eyes. “Little Tang Li, what’s so special about ducks?”
“But Miss, those ducks are catching fish.”
Ducks that catch fish? That was worth a look.
Ming Shu looked over—black beaks, white feathers, tall and upright bodies.
She couldn’t help but choke back a laugh. “Miss Tang Li, those are egrets.”
Tang Li smiled sheepishly. “Miss, you know so much.”
She said nothing more.
Mistaking egrets for ducks—if someone overheard, they’d surely laugh.
But Tang Li’s expression amused Ming Shu.
From a distance, egrets standing in the water did look like ducks. It was understandable that Tang Li had mistaken them.
Duan Cang rode over on horseback. “Cousin, Huizhou is just ahead. Do you need to purchase anything?”
This meant they had already left Linghe Prefecture.
Ming Shu shook her head. “Everything is prepared.”
“Then I’ll arrange for someone to proceed,” Duan Cang said with a slight nod before leaving.
Ming Shu twisted her handkerchief between her fingers and bit her lip.
There was no room for misunderstanding—Duan Cang had used her name as a pretext to allow their party to linger a while longer in Huizhou.
But couldn’t he have just told her directly? It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t have cooperated.
Sure enough, two hours later, they entered Huizhou territory, and the carriage stopped in front of a posthouse.
When Ming Shu tidied herself and stepped out of the carriage, she was surprised to find Yan Wei waiting for her at the entrance.
Ming Shu lowered her gaze and approached, softly calling out, “Cousin?”
Yan Wei nodded. “Stay close to me.”
The chief eunuch also approached, a smile on his face. Ming Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately followed Yan Wei.
Ming Shu’s room was adjacent to Yan Wei’s, while the chief eunuch’s was around the corner.
Yan Wei suddenly reached out to open the door for Ming Shu. “Cousin, rest early. We’ll be setting off at dawn tomorrow.”
Ming Shu’s heart tightened. Of course, she didn’t think Yan Wei was genuinely concerned for her. But when she caught sight of the chief eunuch ascending the stairs out of the corner of her eye, she understood.
Now was the time to play the part of the considerate cousin. “Cousin, you’re injured. There’s no need to worry about me. Please take care of yourself.”
“Alright.”
Afraid the chief eunuch might notice something amiss, Ming Shu quickly entered her room.
After exchanging greetings with the chief eunuch, Yan Wei also went inside. Ming Shu could still hear his occasional suppressed coughs.
The young eunuch accompanying the chief eunuch whispered, “General Yan and this cousin… perhaps…”
The chief eunuch raised a hand to cut him off. “Some words are best kept to oneself.”
Since they needed to purchase supplies, and knowing their journey was urgent, the chief eunuch didn’t say anything more this time.
Ming Shu watched as Duan Cang had people bring back clothes, food, and other necessities one after another—more thoughtfully than she had expected.
Tang Li delightedly pulled a box of scented powder from a wooden chest. “Miss, look! Isn’t this the rose-scented powder from the Yu Family Scented Powder Shop?”
Ming Shu glanced away from her storybook.
“If you like it, keep it for yourself.” She had never been fond of such things.
Tang Li happily accepted it.
The half-spilled spring light streamed through the window lattice, freely caressing the contours of Ming Shu’s face, tracing the sharp line of her nose before melting away like water.
Duan Cang also used the excuse of purchasing supplies to settle his affairs, finally bringing back a chest of jewelry for Ming Shu himself.
“If you don’t like these, Miss, I can arrange for others.”
“Wait.” Ming Shu opened the chest in front of him and was stunned by the extravagance.
The headpieces inside were worth a fortune, adorned with priceless Eastern pearls.
“These are far too valuable.”
Duan Cang didn’t know much about such things; he had simply asked the shopkeeper to select some of the finest jewelry.
“As long as you like them, Miss.”
Ming Shu thought for a moment, then smiled. “Then please convey my thanks to my cousin, Lord Duan.”
“Yes.”
“Also,” Ming Shu stopped him because she wanted to say, “in the future, if my cousin has any matters, he can speak to me directly.”
There was no need for such roundabout methods—she would only have to guess.
Duan Cang merely smiled. “I will relay your words exactly as spoken, Miss.”
After Duan Cang left, Ming Shu finally began to examine the items purchased that day.
Everything was of the finest quality, and she imagined the cost must have been considerable.
When Duan Cang arrived, Yan Wei was changing the dressing on the wound on his chest. It wasn’t actually that serious; he had received advance notice, and the injury had merely been a convenient pretext.
“General, everything is settled.”
Yan Wei closed his robe. “You may go and rest as well.”
“Miss Ming Shu asked me to relay a message.”
Yan Wei’s hand paused, and he looked up at Duan Cang. “Speak.”
“The young lady asked me to thank the general on her behalf.”
“No need.”
“She also said that in the future, if the general has any matters, he can speak directly to her…”
It must be that the recent events have annoyed her somewhat.
Yan Wei chuckled softly.
Duan Cang: “Then in the future…”
“Do as she says.”