Chapter 163: Heading to the Prefecture City
The moon sets and the crows cry.
Gong Qichi and his brother Jiang, who had recently been promoted to the rank of Father-in-law, sat together talking by candlelight.
They chatted until the second half of the night.
Jiang Mianmian went to sleep early.
When she got up in the middle of the night to pee, she heard Father still chatting with someone in the courtyard.
People in ancient times could really chat.
Perhaps it was because true confidants are hard to come by.
She caught a snippet of their conversation.
Something about a crisis in the Prefecture City.
She was still sleepy.
After peeing, Jiang Mianmian went back to sleep.
She had eaten at the banquet that evening, and since it was salty, she drank too much water.
The next day, Gong Qichi, Little Bug, and Zi Ganjiang all returned.
Jiang Mianmian’s family was also preparing to leave.
Jiang Mianmian initially thought they were just going to the county seat, but seeing Mother start preparing her winter clothes—thick, floral padded jackets—she realized a bit late that they were going somewhere far away where they would have to spend the winter; was this a long journey?
Having grown up only as far as the county seat, Jiang Mianmian felt inexplicably excited.
Jiang Yu also hadn’t expected such a stroke of good luck; she could go to the Prefecture City right after getting married.
She had been longing for the delicious food in the Prefecture City for a long time.
Meng Shaoxia was also very happy.
His parents had bought him a house, land, and a mountain in the Prefecture City.
Now that they were going to the Prefecture City, could he live on his own property?
Staying with his Father-in-law for the past month or so, he had gained weight.
He had gained a full six jin, and his square face had even rounded out.
His Mother-in-law loved making flour-based dishes, and whenever she saw him eating well, she would give him extra special treatment with an exceptionally large bowl, worried that he might be too shy to eat his fill.
Every time, he would tearfully finish it all.
He dared not refuse such overflowing love from his Mother-in-law.
Jiang Feng was quite busy; although they were going to the Prefecture City, he couldn’t neglect his troops—he had to drill and train them.
Fortunately, he had Meng Shaoxia’s help; Jiang Feng was unconventional, while Meng Shaoxia knew the military ways.
The two complemented each other, blending their methods, and the troops they led became even more stable.
Many more people had joined as well.
Jiang Changtian had accepted the amnesty and was to go to the Prefecture City to serve as Commander Jiang.
Mother wouldn’t feel at ease letting Father go alone.
And Father and Mother certainly wouldn’t feel at ease leaving the children at home.
In the end, they decided that the whole family would go.
Aunt Yin hadn’t expected that not long after arriving at Kaner Village, she would actually be returning to the Prefecture City.
But her mood this time was different from the last.
When she left, she felt like she was gambling everything, abandoning all to walk toward the unknown.
Returning now, her state of mind was completely different.
She had truly become the Great-Aunt of this family.
She really had a whole family to worry about.
“Great-Aunt, should I bring my shoes?” Jiang Mianmian took out several pairs of her shoes, feeling they were all quite pretty—little embroidered shoes, soft and dainty.
Children’s embroidered shoes were just soft, designed for growth and growing feet, all wide and supple.
The Eldest Miss’s embroidered shoes had a shaping function; while they looked soft, some were actually similar to modern high heels, with a frame inside that would bind the feet.
To become beautiful, people in both ancient and modern times were willing to go to great lengths.
“No need to bring so many. Bring one pair for walking, one pair for indoors, and one pair of thick ones. You can buy the rest in the Prefecture City; there are plenty of things there.”
However, looking at the little one’s luggage, there were some things that the Prefecture City really didn’t have.
Toothbrushes for brushing teeth, slippers, bath poufs, bath water, shampoo, various seasonings, tea leaves, Ants, Ants, Ants, Ants…
After finishing packing for the little girl, she felt she also needed to give The Eldest Miss some instructions.
Sure enough, upon entering The Eldest Miss’s room, she pulled dried mice, dried mice, dried mice… out of her parcel.
“You don’t need to bring these; there are plenty more in the Prefecture City.”
Jiang Yu didn’t believe it; these were caught in the mountains, and there were no mountains in the Prefecture City.
“There are. Outside the Prefecture City are big mountains, even wider than the ones here, and the mice are much larger too, so don’t worry.”
Great-Aunt had to persuade The Eldest Miss with all her might before she finally agreed to take out the dried mice.
As for the various strange-looking mushrooms, she pretended not to see them.
She told The Eldest Miss to label them well—which ones were poisonous, which were highly toxic, which were delicious, and which would cause hallucinations—so she wouldn’t mix them up.
After sorting through The Eldest Miss’s luggage and reducing it by more than half, she still couldn’t rest.
She still had to go check what Lady Qin was bringing.
Lady Qin was only bringing her husband’s clothes; she had very few for herself.
Just a spear and two sets of clothes for changing.
A few pieces of jewelry, not many.
It was very simple.
She was someone who didn’t require any worrying.
Once the family was all packed, they prepared to set off.
It was a day of crisp autumn air.
Early morning.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
The carriage began to rumble forward.
Jiang Mianmian, yawning, was carried onto the carriage by Great-Aunt.
She saw so many, many people behind them, packed densely.
It seemed they were following along to the Prefecture City, which gave her a bit of a shock.
Without realizing it, had their household actually grown to support so many people?
Aunt Yin was also startled.
By the time Jiang Mianmian woke up fully, the carriage was already on the main road.
The lively Kaner Village gradually faded into the distance.
Jiang Yu also felt a wave of melancholy.
She wouldn’t be able to see A-Cui give birth, and she didn’t know if it would be a boy or a girl.
But she could send her gifts from the Prefecture City; she would surely be very happy, as things from the Prefecture City were certainly very good.
Jiang Yu hadn’t changed much after marriage.
Only a little bit—she had become shy.
Jiang Mianmian used to see her older sister smile in a silly way, but now her sister’s smiles were sweet and gooey.
Sometimes, when she looked at her brother-in-law, she would have the same look in her eyes that Mother had when looking at Father.
To each their own; as for the square-faced Brother-in-law Meng, Jiang Mianmian felt he didn’t have anything to do with being handsome, but as a brother-in-law, he felt very reliable.
In the carriage, Jiang Mianmian teased Ant, “We are arriving at a new place, so you can go meet new Ants again.”
Qin Luoxia and her husband rode ahead on horseback.
Qin Luoxia was dressed in red, and her husband was also in red.
Both of them were very dashing, looking perfectly matched.
Prefecture City.
At the city gate.
Officials were waiting.
Preparing to welcome the new Commander Jiang.
According to the schedule, they should arrive today.
Although they were traveling with family and had been on the road for a few days, it was about time.
The two officials had waited for a long time and, being truly bored, sat by the carriage chatting.
There was another carriage nearby.
It was decorated in a gaudy, flashy way, with an overpowering scent.
Waves of fragrant wind wafted out from the carriage.
But the carriage curtains were drawn tightly.
“These Rebels rebel for a year and get promoted, get rich, get awarded mansions and women. We study hard for half a lifetime and only manage to scrape together a minor official position. Tsk tsk, different people, different fates.”
“Who’s to say otherwise? Oh, such a beauty as Xiao Fengxian, to be given to such a peasant—what a pity.”
Inside that fragrant carriage sat a woman with large eyes, a high nose bridge, and red lips; her appearance was radiant, and her figure exuded a delicate, pitiful air.
She was a rare beauty.
Two maidservants were kneeling before her, pounding her legs.
An elderly nanny beside her was accompanying her with a smile.
“Miss, why bother welcoming him yourself? With your looks and figure, are you afraid that Jiang the Second won’t fall at your feet?”
Xiao Fengxian lifted her beautiful neck and said, “For those nouveau riche peasants, you must bend your waist upon first meeting. You must be humble and pitiful so that he can be moved. Mother, what do you think of this outfit of mine?”
The nanny looked at her attire and felt it was a bit too white; it felt too plain for a welcoming occasion.
However, as an old nanny, she really couldn’t understand the young lady’s methods for dealing with men.
In any case, more than half of the powerful figures in the Prefecture City were under her skirt.
There were many gentlemen who had abandoned their wives and children or ruined their families for her, and if they lined up, they could circle the Prefecture City half a lap.
She could only praise her.
A long time passed.
Or perhaps not long.
When the slanting sun leaned to the west.
The carriage procession slowly approached.
Xiao Fengxian lifted the carriage curtain; the light at this moment was excellent.
She was very satisfied.
The evening light would illuminate her to be even more dazzling.
Further highlighting her fragility and beauty.
Watching the procession get closer and closer, Xiao Fengxian finally stepped out of the carriage.
It caused a crowd of people around them to cast sidelong glances.
The autumn wind blew, the sunset glow was beautiful, and fallen leaves were like her dancing dress; she stood before the city gate as if she were isolated from the world.
When Jiang Changtian and his party arrived in front of the Prefecture City gate, what they saw was not the magnificence of the Prefecture City.
But a woman dressed in white.
Several officials came to welcome Commander Jiang.
The woman stepped forward very gently to offer a salute, bending her soft waist and lifting her snow-white neck.
She said with breath like orchids, “My lord, you have arrived. Feng’er has waited a long time for you.”
Seeing the appearance of the person who had arrived, Xiao Fengxian was also extremely surprised, feeling she had struck gold, and made her posture even more soft and beautiful.
“Who are you?” Jiang Changtian looked at the woman, then at the officials in front of him.
Xiao Fengxian’s voice was soft and sweet; she cast a coquettish glance at Jiang Changtian and said charmingly, “Fengxian is your person.”
The other officials all felt a shiver run through their bodies; with someone like Xiao Fengxian, that tone, that figure—who could resist?
This Commander Jiang also had a handsome appearance.
Tsk tsk, dry wood and a raging fire.
The officials kept their eyes on their noses and their noses on their hearts, waiting for yet another peasant to fall at Xiao Fengxian’s feet.
Although Xiao Fengxian was venomous, it would be a romantic death under the peony flower, even if one became a ghost.
Then they saw the guard beside Commander Jiang pierce Xiao Fengxian through with a single sword strike.
“How bold! The Lord has just arrived at the Prefecture City, and you dare to impersonate his family.”
Commander Jiang avoided the bloodstains, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said, “Fenger, you are too impatient. You could have killed her later when there was no one around. Doing it in front of these officials is a bit too bloody.”
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