Early the next morning!
Jingrong gave the order to depart.
As the guards loaded things onto the carriages, Ji Yinshu stood at the main gate, turning her head from time to time to look toward the rear courtyard.
Everyone from the Wei household had come to see them off, but Wei Yi’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
In her heart, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat regretful.
Tang Si had crawled into the carriage early on. Seeing the procession still not moving for a long time, she impatiently stuck her head out and craned her neck to shout, “Why aren’t we leaving yet? You urged us so early this morning, and now that I’ve finally gotten myself ready, you’re all dawdling around. If I’d known, I would have slept a bit longer.”
Not a single person paid her any attention!
Seeing Ji Yinshu still standing at the door without boarding, she raised her voice again. “A’Ji, you should still bring Wei Yi along. How pitiful to leave him here all alone. Having him along for the journey would be so much more interesting.”
Hearing this, Muruo walked over to the carriage and gave her a heavy knock on the head.
“If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.”
Tang Si rubbed her aching head and shot back fiercely, “You’re the mute one! Your whole family are mutes.”
Having said this, fearing Muruo might retaliate again, she quickly pulled her head back inside the carriage.
Muruo shook his head speechlessly!
Then he nudged Jingrong beside him with his elbow, tilting his head to ask, “Really leaving Wei Yi here?”
Jingrong shot him a sideways glance. “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute either.”
Heh!
“You really do learn quickly and apply it immediately!”
“Good things should naturally be learned.”
He smiled with pursed lips twice, revealing a cunning look. “When you lost two games of chess to me yesterday, how come I didn’t notice you being so tough?”
Jingrong glanced at her. “I let you win, didn’t you notice?”
Bah!
Muruo showed disdain. “Lost is lost. You said it yourself—playing chess is like leading troops in battle, right? Where’s the logic in letting someone win? Anyway, you’ll have to supply all my wine for the rest of my life.”
He put on the air of a creditor.
Jingrong couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, his gaze remaining on Ji Yinshu standing at the main gate. He knew she was waiting for Wei Yi.
At this moment in the rear courtyard!
Wei Yi sat on the stone steps, expressionless, head tilted back, his vacant, lifeless gaze fixed on the gray, gloomy sky. In his hand he held a long bamboo stick, tapping it lightly on the ground now and then.
Making one soft sound after another.
He maintained this posture for a long time.
Until Uncle Fu came running to call him.
“Young master, Master Ji and the Prince are about to leave. Why aren’t you going to see them off?”
He remained unmoved.
“Young master, at a time like this, aren’t you the one who can’t bear to part with Master Ji the most? She’s leaving now. If you don’t go over, you won’t make it in time to see her off. Then who knows when Master Ji will be able to return.”
Still no movement!
Uncle Fu grew somewhat anxious and also helpless.
He sighed. “If you don’t go, don’t say Uncle Fu didn’t remind you.”
Still no response.
Uncle Fu had no choice but to leave.
Only then did Wei Yi’s hand movements finally stop. He tilted his head, watching the white clouds in the sky slowly drifting. His gaze followed them bit by bit, his head tilting back more and more, his body leaning backward until finally, he simply lay down on the stone steps.
His back pressed against those stone steps, but he didn’t feel any pain. Rather, he was as languid as if lying on a lawn sunbathing, except in his eyes, there gradually appeared a trace of depth.
Who knows how much time passed before he finally sat up, tossed aside the long bamboo stick in his hand, and rushed into the study behind him…
By the time Uncle Fu returned to the Wei residence’s main gate, the carriages were basically all loaded.
He walked to Ji Yinshu’s side and said quietly, “Master Ji, the young master is sitting on the stone steps in the rear courtyard. No matter what, he refuses to come over. Should…” you go back there?
Before he could finish—
Ji Yinshu said, “No need. Let him be alone.”
Though she said this, she still looked several times with full expectation toward the path from the rear courtyard. But actually, she could understand—Wei Yi didn’t want to come see her off, certainly because he worried he would be sad. Better not to come at all, to avoid being unable to bear parting.
She withdrew her gaze and instructed Uncle Fu, “Uncle Fu, during the time I’m away, take good care of him. He likes to sleep in during the mornings, but you must wake him up. Don’t let him sleep too long, or he’ll get headaches. Also, his body has only just recovered, so there are many things he can’t eat. You must help him avoid them. Don’t give them to him just because he wants to eat them. Oh, and most importantly, absolutely don’t let him drink cold water at night.”
“I understand, Master Ji.”
“Also, remember to hire a good tutor to come and properly teach him reading and writing.”
“I’ve noted down everything you’ve instructed, Master. You can rest assured. Even if you hadn’t said so, I would have done this.”
She nodded in acknowledgment, then took out the half yellow handkerchief and handed it to him.
“Keep this handkerchief safely. Best to lock it in a chest. Don’t let anyone else touch it again.”
“Alright.”
Ji Yinshu thought for a moment, then instructed further, “There’s also Uncle Fu. He’s injured, and at his age, plus having no children, he can’t always stay alone. I see that Wei Yi is quite fond of Uncle Fu too. How about letting him stay at the residence? I’ll trouble you, Uncle Fu, to arrange for someone to look after him.”
Uncle Fu nodded repeatedly, agreeing to everything!
Only then did Ji Yinshu feel at ease.
“Your Highness, everything’s ready. We can depart.” A guard called from outside.
Jingrong made a sound of acknowledgment and looked toward Ji Yinshu.
She stopped waiting too, and holding her two sandalwood boxes, prepared to board the carriage.
“Wait a moment!”
Liu Qingping’s resonant voice came over.
He was seen holding a large basket, panting and covered in sweat as he trotted over and stood breathlessly before Ji Yinshu, taking quite a while to catch his breath.
Then he said, “Yunshu, knowing you were leaving, I went to the orchard early this morning and picked lots of fresh fruit, all the kinds you usually love to eat.”
As he spoke, he pulled off the cloth covering the basket.
Inside were many apples and pears.
Indeed, Ji Yinshu was quite fond of eating these two kinds of fruit.
She accepted them, handed them to a nearby guard to put in the carriage, then said, “Magistrate Liu, I’m touched that you still remember what I like to eat. I accept this thoughtful gesture.”
Liu Qingping smiled rather sheepishly. “I’m just a commoner now. Don’t call me Magistrate. If someone heard that and investigated, wouldn’t that be cutting off my lifeline?”
“Since I’ve called you Magistrate, naturally it’s not empty words. I trust the Prince has already promised you he’ll restore you to your original position?”
“He has promised, but without that official seal in hand, my heart still can’t settle. Besides, the heavens are unpredictable. If something goes wrong along the way, then…”
Before he could finish—
Jingrong said, “Since this Prince has said so, what the hell are you worried about? Liu Qingping, that official seal has been handled by you for decades—it’s been polished to a shine by now. Only your rough hands can properly hold that seal. As the magistrate of Jinjiang, you’ll probably have to serve until you die. Remember to purchase some good tea then and send someone to deliver it to this Prince. Consider it your filial offering to me.”
Filial offering?
Good grief!
Is that any way to describe it?
That muddlehead Liu Qingping, his mind now completely occupied with getting that official seal back quickly, couldn’t even process that word “filial” from a moment ago!
Like a lapdog, he rushed forward eagerly.