Chapter 156: Mother, You Stay and Keep Me Company
The carriage left Ming County, moving very smoothly.
This road was exceptionally wide.
After Jiang Changtian took office, he had people repair the road.
He had the road built wide and flat, using the excuse of delivering supplies to Commander Zi, and even requested many able-bodied laborers from Commander Zi to help with the construction.
With so many people coming, they needed places to live.
These people had food to eat and housing while building the road, along with a series of promised benefits, so they naturally stayed afterward.
More people started families and settled down.
In short, the population of Ming County was now growing explosively.
The surrounding He County was also brought under their jurisdiction.
It all connected into one piece.
Jiang Wan was eager to reach her destination.
Sure enough, as long as she left Ming County and headed out, she could even feel the invisible ropes binding her snapping one by one.
From now on, the sky was high enough for birds to fly, and the sea was wide enough for fish to leap.
She felt that her appearance even became more radiant.
Luck is something invisible and intangible, yet she always felt it truly existed.
It seemed that in Ming County, she would be suppressed, becoming increasingly dull, exhausted from running around, and always doing meaningless things.
Thinking back, it was true.
During this period, she had basically made no progress.
She had played less with the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and had even less time to copy scriptures.
First, she took care of her older brother, then her father, then her pregnant Mother, and then her injured grandmother.
Managing the household meant many trivial matters.
Clearly, she used to be a carefree young girl, not worrying about a livelihood, looking beautiful every day, occasionally sympathizing with the poor, and spending her days peacefully copying scriptures, worshipping Buddha, and studying.
She was radiant all over.
Quiet and beautiful.
But she didn’t know when things changed.
Now, she was even fleeing as if she were a refugee.
She leaned back in the carriage and calculated.
Now they were going to the Seventh Prince’s garrison.
With her whole family going, it was actually equivalent to being a burden on her aunt.
But she vaguely possessed some ability to foresee things; this was her trump card, and it would definitely be useful.
When the carriage reaches the mountain, there will surely be a road.
As long as she left Ming County, anywhere would do.
The carriage was steady, and her heart gradually calmed down.
Old Madam Jiang had injuries on her body, and her face was somewhat red and swollen.
Jiang Huaisheng did not understand the situation; he didn’t know how Mother’s face got injured, and he even scolded Jiang Wan, asking how she had taken care of Mother.
He was also worried about Jinger, not knowing how she was doing.
He was also willing to leave Ming County.
There were too many unbearable memories here.
Jiang Rong, as if detached from the world, hugged a book, sat in the corner, and swayed back and forth.
The whole family was silent, each with their own thoughts.
Yet they all breathed a sigh of relief.
They only felt that this carriage was speeding, moving very fast.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
Everyone was startled.
They thought something had happened.
Jiang Wan felt it was impossible to leave so smoothly.
As it turned out, she lifted the carriage curtain, and there was nothing; they had just arrived at a tea shed, and the guards had stopped to drink some water.
Jiang Wan had prepared food and drink in the carriage, so she did not get off.
She just waited anxiously, hoping they would be quick.
Hoping there wouldn’t be any trouble.
The guards were indeed quick.
After a simple drink and meal, they started on their journey again.
The sound of the carriage wheels started up again, creaking and groaning.
Piercing, yet pleasant.
Not long after, the carriage actually stopped again.
Old Madam Jiang was getting annoyed.
She had injuries, the weather was hot, and the constant stopping and going was very painful.
Didn’t they just eat and drink? What was this for now?
Old Madam Jiang complained, only to realize that it seemed exceptionally quiet outside.
Even the cicadas were not chirping.
Jiang Wan also noticed.
Could it be that someone dared to intercept the Seventh Prince’s people?
She lifted the carriage curtain and saw a dense crowd standing opposite them.
Their carriage was retreating.
The Seventh Prince’s well-equipped guards’ horses were snorting in panic.
There were too many people on the other side.
Old Madam leaned in the carriage, and seeing that familiar long-haired figure riding on horseback not far away, her vision went black, and she almost fainted.
The sunlight shone on that person, as if he were coated in golden light.
Jiang Wan seemed to see him draped in a kasaya, with an appearance that was both Buddha-like and demonic.
Jiang Wan was so shocked that her face turned pale.
Old Madam Jiang felt as if someone had choked her throat, unable to speak.
Jiang Changtian rode on horseback, with Meng Shaoxia and Jiang Feng by his side, and the worried Qin Luoxia in the crowd.
Jiang Changtian said to Old Madam Jiang in the carriage, “Mother, Mother, don’t go. Mother, you stay and keep me company. Mother, I’m scared.”
The exact same familiar words came out of Jiang Changtian’s mouth.
Old Madam Jiang trembled in terror.
Jiang Wan’s scalp went numb.
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