The driver hurried back to the estate.

But those common people refused to leave and continued to surround them.

Afraid that young woman would run away.

After all, everyone had suffered heavy losses.

They couldn’t do without compensation!

Jingrong’s gaze swept out from the crowd, looking toward Ji Yinshu’s direction.

Slightly worried.

He said to Bai Yin, “You go over and find Yunshu first, so she won’t worry.”

Bai Yin was also somewhat worried.

After all, Ji Yinshu was alone over there.

So he hurried over.

At this moment, Ji Yinshu was still standing on the right side of a shop entrance waiting.

When Bai Yin came over, he explained the situation to her once through.

She didn’t say anything about it.

Just silently waited for Jingrong to finish his business.

In the crowd.

Zhao’er’s bashful gaze remained fixed on Jingrong the entire time.

As if stuck with glue.

She couldn’t tear it away!

Jingrong seemed not to have noticed. He patted the back of the now-calm horse and said to her, “Young lady, you can get back into the carriage first.”

Zhao’er shook her head.

She refused to get in.

Instead, she asked him, “You’re not from Gaoding?”

Jingrong hummed in acknowledgment.

“Then where are you from?”

“Yiwu.”

“Yiwu? What kind of place is that? I seem to have… never heard of it before. Is it nice there? Does it have snowy mountains? Does it have grasslands? Does it have rivers?” Zhao’er blinked her eyes, asking him curiously.

Extremely innocent!

Jingrong also couldn’t help but soften his tone. “If you think it has them, then it has them.”

“I think it does, so it must!” Zhao’er said with conviction.

A pure smile spread across her face.

Those eyes were very beautiful.

Without a trace of impurity.

Her entire being was like a blank sheet of white paper.

Clean and pure.

Jingrong no longer spoke with her.

But she continued to watch him.

Without averting her gaze!

Soon, the driver returned, and he had brought a maidservant with him.

The maidservant Zhuxin hurriedly examined whether Zhao’er was injured.

Extremely worried!

The driver then compensated everyone one by one with money!

And apologized to each one.

The crowd took the money and only then gave up and departed.

“Miss, we should return now,” the maidservant said.

Zhao’er looked at Jingrong, her eyes full of reluctance. “If we can meet again next time, will you tell me about Yiwu? All right?”

Carrying both entreaty and anticipation.

Jingrong casually responded, “All right.”

“Then it’s settled!”

Zhao’er was delighted and only then got into the carriage.

And left.

Afterward, Jingrong reunited with Ji Yinshu and Bai Yin.

None of the three took this interlude to heart.

Instead, they continued searching for that person called Cha He.

…

Inside the carriage.

Zhao’er’s hands clutched at her own clothing as she lowered her head and smiled softly.

In her mind, she fantasized about the next time they met, when that man would tell her about Yiwu.

The maidservant saw this and asked, “Miss? What are you smiling about?”

She raised her head and suddenly asked very seriously, “Zhuxin, do you know… what love is?”

“Love?” Zhuxin was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and said, “Love is probably when two people like each other, then become husband and wife, and grow old together.”

She shook her head.

Indicating that wasn’t right!

“Isn’t it?”

She shook her head again.

“Then what is love?” Zhuxin asked.

She smiled without speaking, only saying, “That kind of feeling—not everyone understands it.”

Zhuxin said, “Miss, what’s really the matter with you?”

Confused!

Zhao’er reached out to lift the curtain, her gaze turning toward the outside, smiling slightly as she faced the cold wind.

Like a child who had gotten candy.

Before long—

The carriage stopped in front of an estate entrance.

Above the large red doors of the estate hung a high plaque.

Inscribed upon it were the three large characters “Duke’s Estate.”

In Gaoding City, everyone knew that Young Master Cheng of the Marquis of Pingyang’s Estate had once offended the Duke’s eldest daughter, causing the two families to develop a grudge! Later, Prince Huyi stepped in and bestowed a good marriage upon the Duke’s eldest daughter, and only then did the matter come to an end.

But the two estates still remained in a state of hostility.

Because the Marquis of Pingyang supported the Third Prince.

The Duke supported the Second Prince.

In the court, they also belonged to different factions!

The Crown Prince had not yet been established, and it was a critical period. So the Duke had ordered that no one in the estate, from top to bottom, was permitted to cause trouble outside.

This was why when Zhao’er caused trouble outside, she didn’t dare claim to be the Duke’s daughter.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhao’er lifted her long skirt and descended, hurrying into the estate.

That petite and nimble figure was like a fairy.

Zhuxin chased after her from behind. “Second Miss, slow down.”

Zhao’er ran all the way, running to a remote and dilapidated courtyard in the estate.

As soon as she entered, a damp smell hit her in the face.

The courtyard was full of fallen leaves.

The furnishings were also very shabby.

One could see that the person living here was of low status.

Zhao’er ran into the house and went to the inner chamber.

Inside, a woman with a pale complexion was leaning against the bed, embroidering.

The room was somewhat dim.

Apart from one exquisite screen, nothing else in here could be presented in a grand hall.

Very worn.

But it was tidied spotlessly clean, making people feel very comfortable.

“Mother,” Zhao’er called.

Hearing this, the woman had just raised her head when Zhao’er’s figure had already thrown itself against her legs.

“Zhao’er?” The woman looked at her with a face full of tender affection, then said with distress, “Let Mother look at you quickly. Have you lost weight?”

“Your daughter hasn’t lost weight.”

“This whole month, Mother has thought of you every day.”

“I prayed at the temple for Mother’s blessings for a whole month. The Bodhisattva will surely hear. I hope Mother’s illness will get better soon.” Zhao’er gripped her mother’s hand.

Tears welled in her eyes!

The woman sighed, but the corners of her mouth smiled slightly. She touched her daughter’s face and said, “Silly girl, Mother’s illness is just old ailments. Whether they get better or not doesn’t matter.”

“They will definitely get better!”

“All right, all right. Mother promises you she’ll get better soon.”

Only then did a smile appear on Zhao’er’s face.

She noticed the handkerchief her mother had only half-embroidered. She picked it up to look at it and asked, “Is this for Zhao’er?”

Embroidered on the handkerchief was a stalk of bamboo.

The woman said, “Didn’t you always want Mother to embroider a handkerchief for you? My health has been a bit better recently, so I’m embroidering one. What Mother can give you is only this.”

In her tone were helplessness and apology.

Zhao’er said, “Zhao’er doesn’t desire anything else, nor does she desire any wealth or glory. I only want Mother to always stay with me. That’s enough.”

She threw herself into her mother’s embrace.

Hugging her tightly.

Enjoying that thread of warmth.

The woman quietly shed tears.

Then wiped them away.

After a while—

“Mother,” Zhao’er called.

“Mm, what is it?”

She sat up straight, opened those clear eyes of hers wide, and asked, “I still remember Mother once told me that if one day I meet someone… who can make me feel like I’m a butterfly, then that is love. Right?”

The woman paused for a moment, reached out to touch her head, and asked, “So my dear Zhao’er, have you already met that person?”

Zhao’er nodded affirmatively.

“Who is he?”

“Your daughter doesn’t know either, but he promised me that when we meet next time, he’ll tell me about Yiwu! So I believe the Bodhisattva will surely bless me and let me meet him again. Right, Mother?”