Chapter 142 Arriving in Yunjing
Ning Yunzhi slightly changed his expression when he heard what Qi Xianqing said. He looked a little embarra.s.sed. It seemed that Ning Qing’s marriage was a taboo which couldn’t be mentioned.
Ning Qing stared blankly. She did not be mad and leave directly as before. Instead, she bowed her head and kept in silence for a moment. Then, she looked up and said,
“I only know that his name is Hong Jian. He suddenly vanished ten years ago, as if he completely disappeared on earth. We can’t find him anywhere and anyhow. Grandmaster, your trigram skills are outstanding. Can’t you know his whereabouts?”
Qi Xianqing could not help but laugh. He sighed, “Little girl, I am not an immortal. Looking for a person as if looking for a needle in the sea. It is too difficult. It can’t be known by just a tortoisesh.e.l.l. However, I can guarantee that you will meet him in the future. You just let nature take its course.”
“Really?”
Ning Qing’s eyes immediately s.h.i.+nned. Ning Yunzhi hadn’t seen that excited look for ten years.
“For an unfaithful man…” Ning Yunzhi said and shook his head. He was too old to interfere the business of his daughter. He only hoped that they could have a happy ending.
“My words are absolutely true. But, if you will be joyful or sad, it all depends on you.”
Qi Xianqing smiled but sighed in his heart. If Hong Jian was an ordinary person, he could find him using Finding Man Trigram. However, Hong Jian not only had an unusual origin, but also would have causality with people around him. Once the divination involved himself, he would never see it clearly.
“I have been living alone in my whole life. Su Li will be the last person who has causality with me.”
Qi Xianqing couldn’t help but worry. He didn’t have much time in his lifetime, so he couldn’t continually use his lifetime in exchange for divining the result, whether it was good or bad. He could only try his best to create better practicing conditions for Su Li.
…
Early in the next morning, a long fleet of carriages pulled out the Qinghe Town. There were many packages in the carriages. They were all the property that the Su Family had saved these years. The Su Family sold the land of two Baiwei Buildings and the silk store business. It was the first time for Su Huanli to have millions of taels of silver. Having a beautiful mood, he watched the scenery on both sides of the official road, as if he was going through a rebirth.
There was only one fly in the ointment. Su Huanli looked displeased when he heard the screams from time to time from the carriage behind his. The sound was made by Zhu Yan when the carriage jolted.
Only an apology couldn’t made him vent out all his enmity which he was framed to be put in the prison. Moreover, their marital affection had dissipated with more and more contradictions over the years. If Su Qingtan hadn’t persuaded him, he would have divorced Zhu Yan and never let her go to Yunjing with him.
“Ouch!”
“Ow!”
“Zipei, tell your Eldest Brother to drive slowly! If it goes on, I will die before arriving in Yunjing!”
Su Zipei, who was serving at the side, immediately got up. She didn’t look bored. Maybe Zhu Yan’s performance at the inn that day made her feel a little embarra.s.sed.
No one knew how long this kind of patience transformed from guilt could stay.
Su Qingtan was worried about how Su Li would think and he didn’t want Zhu Yan to die on the road. Therefore, he ordered carriages to slow down and asked an accompanying mammy to give her a cus.h.i.+on. Then, Zhu Yan’s screams finally went down. There was no problem for her to arrive in Yunjing safe and sound.
Ling Qinglan left a lot of confidants. All of them were seniors who had reached the acquired eighth hurdle or above. Besides, the Supreme Judiciary was the gold-lettered signboard. Therefore, when robbers on the road saw them, they all avoided them.
“Chief, won’t we rob them? Clearly they are millionaires. We can get a lot of money!”
“Bah! Use your brain! Don’t you see the sign of the Supreme Judiciary on carriages? If we robbed them today, we would be thrown into prison by soldiers sent by the Supreme Judiciary tomorrow. If you want to rob, you do it alone! I want to live for several more years!”
The young robber heard it and was dumbfounded. He immediately shut up.
Nothing happened along the way. Su Qingtan took good care of Su Li. She had a carriage with Mammy Li alone, and her luggage was separated from those of the Su Family. Her special position in Su Qingtan’s heart was obvious, which made Su Zipei envy so much
Li Yuelian was also a bit uncomfortable. However, she saw what happened in the past year with her eyes. She knew that her son loved Su Li dearly, so she did not dare to say anything bad.
For her, regardless of Su Li, she and Qinghao had survived the ordeals. Their lives would be very comfortable in the future. There was no conflict between her and Su Li. Therefore, there was no need to ask for trouble.
In the screams of Zhu Yan from time to time, thirteen days had gone. There were more and more people on the desolate official road. Su Qingtan finally saw the distant gate tower of Yunjing. It was huge like an ancient behemoth, which made him sigh.
They finally arrived in Yunjing!
Su Li opened the window and looked at the distant gate tower. Her eyesight was excellent. She could almost see the two golden characters above the gate.
Yunjing City!
In this life, she finally came here!
Su Li’s look was indifferent, but she was excited in her heart. In this life, the Yunjing City in her eyes would never be a slaughterhouse after social unrest. Even if it would be a slaughterhouse, the butcher should be her!
“Mom, we are in Yunjing! Good days are coming!”
Su Zipei excitedly lifted Zhu Yan up and helped Zhu Yan manage to see the outside through the window. Zhu Yan was also excited but she looked indifferent, because she always thought much. However, she still couldn’t help but touch Su Zipei’s face.
“I have waited too long for today!”
Although they had already seen the outline of Yunjing gate tower, the Su Family’s fleet of carriages didn’t arrive at the gate until they drove for two hours. Standing at the gate and looking up, Su Huanli widely opened his mouth, as if he could swallow two eggs.
He had never seen a city whose city wall was tens of zhangs (≈3.33 meters). It was so grand. He felt that he was so small standing here like an ant.
“Humph, a group of b.u.mpkins!”
A rich young man lining up at the gate snorted with a loud voice. Su Huanli heard him clearly. He was so angry that his ears were red. However, it was the capital. He just arrived and didn’t want to trouble his son. Pointing at the rich young man for a long time, he could only say with anger, “Ignorant young man, I won’t trouble you. We are not in the same level!”
The rich young man saw that Su Huanli was frightened, he instantly laughed. He laughed recklessly and his maids and servants also laughed.
The guards defending the city seemed to know the rich young man. They didn’t come to quell the disputes. Instead, they watched them aside.
“Sure enough. Like owner, like his dog. Ma Laosan’s subordinate is still so disgusting.”
Suddenly, a man said behind Su Huanli in a calm voice.
The rich young man heard that and was surprised for a moment. Then he yelled angrily, “Which b.a.s.t.a.r.d dare to abuse me? Stand out!”
As he asked, he saw the carriage’s door was opened and a person came down. He was Su Qingtan.
When the rich young man saw the mark on the carriage, his pupils shrank. Then when he saw the man who came down, his expression changed. He was a little scared in his heart, but he slowly said,
“I wondered who he was. It turns out to be Su Qingtan, Nerd Su. What a good-for-nothing you are! To my surprise, you could enter the Supreme Judiciary to sit around and wait to die.”
Su Qingtan’s reaction was very flat. More than half a year of the experience in the National Academy had taught him how to tolerate patiently.
One of Ling Qinglan’s confidants behind Su Qingtan stepped forward at this moment. He said with an indifferent expression, “Childe Liu, don’t excessively slander the inst.i.tution of the imperial court, or you will be beheaded!”
His tone was extremely dull, but it made the rich young man changed his countenance suddenly. He was fl.u.s.tered and couldn’t restrain himself anymore. He abused, “Don’t sling mud at me! I’m always loyal to the imperial court. How could I slander it?”
Su Qingtan smiled slightly. When he was about to speak, a clear voice like that of a yellowbird sounded suddenly behind him.
“Childe Liu just said that my Eldest Brother even entered the Supreme Judiciary to sit around and wait to die. Were you saying that the Supreme Judiciary is an inst.i.tution that allows officials to neglect their duties?”
Su Li leisurely came as she said. Her light red dress’s hemline fluttered like red maple leaves floating in the air. With her exquisite and perfect face, the scene was gorgeous.
If it had been in normal days, Childe Liu would have been surprised by Su Li’s beauty. Then he would have tried his best to ingratiate himself with her. But now, he was alarmed in his heart, and his body s.h.i.+vered slightly. That question… He was really stuck by Su Li!
Slandering excessively the inst.i.tution of the imperial court would cause the punishment of being beheaded.
A smell of urine suddenly permeated. Su Qingtan frowned. He saw a puddle of water at Liu Xing’s feet and could not help but shake his head. Liu Xing was so vulnerable. They just wanted to frighten him, but he was intimidated to p.i.s.s.
Su Li’s face was reddish. She spat and quickly turned her head. Su Qingtan could not help but laugh and asked her to go back to the carriage.
“It’s boring… Eldest Brother w.a.n.g, let’s go into the city first.”
Su Qingtan waved his hand to the young man who helped before and went to the carriage. The young man glanced at Su Li’s carriage in surprise. He knew that Su Qingtan especially loved his second sister and often told others that how smart Su Li was. He thought that Su Li just had an undeserved reputation, which was exalted by the Qinghe Town. He didn’t expect that Su Li seemed to have a bit ability.
It was difficult to fight face-to-face among the various factions in the capital. Since they couldn’t fight when they met, they usually fiercely argued. He followed Ling Qinglan and was influenced by what they constantly saw and heard. He had learned a lot, so he could easily find flaws from Liu Xing’s words. But, Su Li just arrived in the capital. It was rare that she could quickly get the flaws.
“Originally, I was worried that after entering Yunjing, the Su Family would cause some troubles for two masters, especially Su Li… Now it seems to be an unproductive worry.”
A thought pa.s.sed through his mind. The young man ignored the guards who were smiling obsequiously at the gate. When he waved his hand, the long fleet of carriages immediately went through the tall gate.
The streets in Yunjing were extremely wide. It was enough for ten carriages to run abreast freely. Besides, it’s getting late, so there were not so many pedestrians on the road. The Su Family’s fleet of carriages was unimpeded. They arrived at the Su Qingtan’s temporary residence in Yunjing before dark.
After they ordered accompanying mammies to pick up the luggage, Zhu Yan immediately chose a room to have a rest. More than a half month of physical suffering made her wounds on her b.u.t.tocks deteriorated much.
Su Qingtan showed Su Li, Li Yuelian and others around. Su Qinghao couldn’t help but yell, “Brother, this house is so small. It’s not half as big as the house before!”
Li Yuelian found his words both funny and annoying. She held Su Qinghao and said to him seriously, “Hao, you can’t be rude to your Eldest Brother. The land in Yunjing is expensive. The Dasu Town is no match for it. Even this residence is half as big as our previous house, but its value is much higher than our house in the hometown!”
“Oh, mom, I see.”
Su Qinghao said casually and perfunctorily. He obviously didn’t listen to her. Then he pulled Su Qingtan and said with puppy dog eyes, “Brother, let’s go to the martial arts field! You haven’t played with me for a long time!”
Su Qingtan was helpless but indulgent. He smiled and turned back to say, “Second Sister, mom, I have arranged your yards. They are the same with father’s yard, which are all the best. I will go to play with him for a while. If you have any problems, just call Zhu’er for help.”
Zhu’er was his personal maid. She always brought her with himself.
Looking at the two brothers, Li Yuelian was relieved that their relations.h.i.+p was still the same as before. She glanced at Su Li. Then she gently held Su Li’s cold hands after hesitating for a moment. She said softly, “Come with me. Let’s see our yards.”
It was the first time that she showed goodwill to Su Li.