Chapter 133 Sailing South

Chapter 133: Heading South by Boat

Meng Wan, with Qing Xing, Xue Sheng, and Qing Xing's grandfather, walked out of the Shuntian Prefecture office, looking relaxed as he toyed with a handful of gold nuggets in his hand.

"Master Meng Fulang sure is something, huh?"

A carriage drove past them, and a young male voice from inside spoke with a hint of mockery.

"You played the Zhang family like a fiddle. I doubt they ever expected you to turn around and accuse them of theft in the end."

Meng Wan's heart skipped a beat. They'd come for him so fast, before he could even get out of the city!

Two gold nuggets slipped from his fingers and rolled away. Qing Xing instinctively picked them up and returned them to Meng Wan, while Xue Sheng stood guard protectively in front of him.

Meng Wan took back the gold nuggets from Qing Xing, feeling the cross-shaped mark engraved on the bottom, and steadied his racing heart. "I don't know what you're talking about, young master. These gold nuggets were accidentally lost five days ago, and I had my servant report it to the authorities at the time. Who knew they were stolen by the Zhang family?"

The person in the carriage didn't expect him to be so bold as to deny it. After a moment of silence, he said, "You're way too bold. Think just because you're leaving the capital, you're in the clear?"

With just these two sentences, Meng Wan had almost confirmed the speaker's identity.

After all, by now, the people behind the Xu family were probably up to their necks in trouble too and wouldn't have time to come after him.

The person in the carriage was most likely protecting Qin Jiao. Qin Jiao himself was already the heir of the Zhongyi Marquis Residence, distinguished enough, and the only one more exalted than him was his brother-in-law, the Crown Prince.

Meng Wan now wondered whether he should play dumb or come clean.

In that split second of hesitation, the guy inside seemed to catch on. "Looks like you've figured out who I am. Not bad, you're pretty sharp. But for a xiaoge, you're way too cocky."

Meng Wan knelt down and kowtowed decisively. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I offended the young master, but I don't regret it. Everyone looks out for themselves, but I wanted to see the truth that others are too scared to dig up, and save folks who, despite their good intentions, got dragged into the mud."

When he didn't know how to talk his way out, he just hit 'em with some feel-good nonsense.

Whether that fooled the Crown Prince or not, it sure hit home with the three people next to him. Qing Xing was especially teary-eyed, almost dropping to her knees to kowtow three times and call him a living saint.

The carriage curtain was pulled aside. Crown Prince Wen Zhao looked down at Meng Wan's thick, dark hair, staring for a moment at the simple Xiangyun silver hairpin. After a moment, he finally said, "Alright. Wait here for now. Someone's coming with you."

Meng Wan was confused but didn't dare argue. He didn't get up right away, waiting until the sound of the carriage wheels faded before Xue Sheng helped him to his feet.

"Fulang, they're gone."

Meng Wan got up off the ground, ignoring the weird looks from passersby, and brushed the dust off his knees. "Wonder who we're waiting for. Guess we'll hang around a bit longer."

This Crown Prince didn't seem like he wanted to punish him from the start. Who was he supposed to wait for?

Qing Xing hesitated slightly.

Meng Wan noticed. "You've already made enemies in the capital. Even if you don't come with me to Lingnan, you can't stay here, or you'll just bring trouble to your family."

Qing Xing quickly explained, "Of course I want to leave with you, Fulang. You saved me and cleared my name, and now I'm dragging my whole family along to mooch off you. I feel awful and don't know how to repay you."

Meng Wan sighed. What a sweet girl!

"Of course you'll repay me. For you, I've pissed off Prince Lian and can't come back to the capital for years."

Seeing Qing Xing's guilty look, Meng Wan felt pleased and went on. "I won't lie to you. The miasma in Lingnan is brutal. I'm bringing you along because I need a good doctor by my side."

Qing Xing's grandfather was an old doctor. Most of his life savings from practicing medicine went to treating his kids. Now he was short on cash, but the old man was just as kind-hearted. "All we've got is this medical skill to help you, Fulang. But with so many kids, we'll probably be a burden on you in Xi Wu Prefecture. I'm really uneasy about it."

Meng Wan started painting a pretty picture for Qing Xing and her grandpa. "Since you're coming with me, I'll cover all your food, lodging, and travel costs. Once we get to He Shan County, I'll front the money to open a clinic for you. The little ones can stay at my place and be taken care of. But there's a condition: A Xun stays with me from now on. I'm hiring him, so when we eventually leave Lingnan, he comes with me."

Qing Xing and her grandpa exchanged a look. They'd had a hard enough time supporting the few kids in the family. A Xun going with Meng Wan was actually a good deal.

"We just need to ask A Xun what he thinks about it."

"Of course."

—

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince's carriage slipped quietly into the Zhongyi Marquis Residence. Qin Jiao had just gotten home from the Shuntian Prefecture when he was called to the main hall to greet the Crown Prince.

He lounged around and gave a lazy greeting. "Brother-in-law."

Then he plopped into a chair.

The Crown Prince frowned, finding him totally annoying, especially after seeing someone else. He couldn't help but scold, "You're both from the Qin family, but your sister is smart and virtuous. How can you be so dumb, worse than some ordinary xiaoge from the sticks!"

Qin Jiao turned his head and stubbornly shot back, "You're talking about Meng Fulang, aren't you? You call him an ordinary xiaoge?" Sharp as a fox, with more tricks than his lawyer—obviously full of schemes.

The Crown Prince was fed up with his cheeky attitude. "Still not convinced?"

Qin Jiao insisted, "No way!"

The Crown Prince didn't want to waste words. "Pack your stuff now. I'll send someone to take you to meet them."

Qin Jiao stared in disbelief. "Join who? Go where? And you're telling me now? You just decided this on a whim?"

The Crown Prince sneered, "Father has sent two thousand soldiers to help Song Tingzhou head to Lingnan. You're going along as a squad leader."

Qin Jiao jumped up from his seat. "Where? Lingnan? Now? Do my parents and sister know?"

The Crown Prince gave him a flat look. "I'll explain to your parents and sister. Song Tingzhou and his husband are leaving right now. Did you think you'd take a nap at home? Go now!"

Cursing under his breath, Qin Jiao didn't dare talk back to the Crown Prince. With no time to spare, he quickly stuffed two bags with clothes and cash, and the Crown Prince had him shipped off to meet Meng Wan.

—

At the pier outside the capital's gate, lots of boats were docked. One boat was crammed with soldiers.

Chang Jinhua waited nervously in the cabin. Beside her, A Xun held the youngest sister and asked quietly, "Grandma Chang, can Master Meng Fulang really bring my sister back?"

The other kids chimed in, "Grandma Chang, what's Xi Wu Prefecture? Why are we going there?"

Chang Jinhua patted their little heads. "Grandma hasn't been there either. Just wait, your sister will be back soon." Worried as she was, she trusted Meng Wan.

Song Tingzhou stood at the dock, talking with Zhu Ze Ning and Third Master Zhu. "Too bad you and Zhao Yuan can't make it to my wedding," Zhu Ze Ning said with some regret.

Since the day they helped the Fu family, Fu Peisheng had kept his word. The family came bearing gifts, thanking the Zhu and Song households for their kindness.

Third Master Zhu warmly received the Fu family. He spoke with the Fu elders, and a few days later, he brought Zhu Ze Ning to visit them again. One thing led to another, and somehow the marriage was settled.

In short, while Zhu Ze Ning was still hesitating over writing a few sweet poems, his father suddenly informed him that he was engaged to Miss Fu.

Now that the engagement was settled, they would proceed slowly with the formalities, and the wedding was set for the end of the year.

With his engagement settled, a weight was lifted from Third Master Zhu's heart. He declared that his son was grown, and so after the betrothal, he also gave him a courtesy name, naming him Yongning, meaning eternal peace.

Stripped of all responsibilities and pressures, the most sincere wish a father can have for his child: eternal peace—peace for all eternity.

Song Tingzhou's gaze swept toward the city gates as he spoke parting words to Zhu Zening. "We must part ways eventually. The swan soars into the sky, the vast sea invites roaming. When we meet again, you, Zhao Yuan, and I will have weathered storms and sailed far—time well spent, no regrets for our youth."

Perhaps it was the engagement that had matured Zhu Zening. He was no longer the fussy rich young man they had first met at the prefectural academy, but a man shouldering the rise and fall of his family, bearing his father's hopes.

All Zhu Zening could do now was bless his brother. "Jingxing speaks truly. We must part. May your future be brilliant, and your official career reach great heights!"

Third Master Zhu also clasped his hands in salute. "If you face difficulties outside, just write back. Your third uncle will come to help you."

With the family's misfortune, the Zhu family could no longer engage in the salt trade. Third Master Zhu, inspired by managing his younger brother's escort agency, decided to take those escort masters and become traveling merchants, perhaps heading south.

As Song Tingzhou spoke with the Zhu family, another carriage came through the city gates. He hurried over, but the person who stepped down was Lin Congrong.

Lin Congrong stepped down, his expression somewhat peculiar when he saw Song Tingzhou. "You let him get away with this?"

What? The assistant minister's junior fellow apprentice personally acting as a lawyer to plead for a female physician?

Outsiders heard and grew curious. On inquiring, they learned that this junior fellow apprentice was also a xiaoge, making the tale spread even faster. In no time, the story had spread throughout the city.

Song Tingzhou had apparently anticipated Lin Congrong's words. He handed the scroll he'd been holding to Lin Congrong.

"This was painted by Wan'er. He said Xuanniang always liked this painting very much, so he asked me to bring it back for her."

Lin Congrong didn't understand. He slowly unrolled the scroll, but was shocked speechless by the tragic images seemingly bleeding through the paper.

Song Tingzhou said in a heavy voice, "What you see in this painting is the true sight of Changping that day—the collapsed houses, the pouring rain, the emaciated refugees, the bodies everywhere, the children sold by their parents, the absurd scenes of people fighting for a single bun… All of this was witnessed by Wan'er and me last year."

"So…"

Knowing about the Changping flood was one thing, but actually witnessing the misery made you realize the death toll was a list of living, breathing people.

Song Tingzhou sighed deeply. "Brother, Wan'er said he is no different from others—he has flesh and blood just the same. He couldn't save those people back then, so now can't he save one innocent female physician?"

Lin Congrong's eyes widened slightly. He looked down at the scroll before him, as if seeing through it to something deeper.

"No wonder, no wonder Mother took him as her disciple. He is a good child, worthy of the Lin family!"

The wind was strong at the ferry. Lin Congrong's robes fluttered. Afraid the painting might be damaged, he carefully rolled it up, his heart stirred. "This painting is so precious, a treasure of its time. I can't take it; you should keep it safe."

Song Tingzhou refused without hesitation. "Wan'er says a painting is just an object; the meaning it conveys is its true value. It is painted to be seen, not locked away as a treasure. Scholar Qingxiao's paintings will never make a single coin."

"Good! Excellent!"

Lin Congrong cracked a smile, seemingly very pleased with that reply. He patted Song Tingzhou's broad shoulder. "Go to Xiwu Prefecture and act according to your conscience. After three years, when the performance review comes, I'll pull strings at court to get you transferred back to Shengjing."

Song Tingzhou clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Brother!"

He stood up and glanced toward the city gates, where two carriages were heading to the dock, followed by a tall, upright young man on horseback.

As the carriages drew nearer, he recognized Xue Sheng sitting on the driver's bench.

Lin Congrong also saw. "Is that Wan Geer back... Huh? Isn't that Qin Jiao, the heir of the Zhongyi Marquis Residence? Why is he here?"

Qin Jiao was the first to dismount. He swaggered over and gave a casual salute. "Lord Song, this is the transfer order from the Ministry of War, appointing me as a platoon leader under your command."

He tossed a transfer document to Song Tingzhou. Song examined it carefully and confirmed that it indeed bore the seal of the Ministry of War.

Meng Wan descended from the carriage, along with Nie Zhiyao, who had coincidentally come to see him off.

"Prince Qin indeed received the transfer order," Nie said. Since the Crown Prince himself spoke up, and it was only a minor post, the Ministry of War had approved it immediately.

Two thousand soldiers was no small number. To take them all south by ship would require renting the largest Fu ships, costing a thousand taels.

The Emperor meant well in giving Song Tingzhou two thousand soldiers, but supporting them was not easy. After discussing with Meng Wan, Song decided to take only 150 men with him, sending the remaining 1,850 to travel with the escort soldiers transporting exiles to Lingnan. They had already departed yesterday.

So Qin Jiao had to board the ship with them.

After everyone was settled, Meng Wan shared a few final words with Nie Zhiyao.

"The journey to Xiwu Prefecture is long and near the border. You probably won't arrive until after the New Year. You might have to celebrate Spring Festival on the road." Nie Zhiyao pulled his windblown collar tighter and sighed.

Meng Wan looked at Song Tingzhou in the distance, who was settling the Miao family. He squinted slightly. "We're all together as a family. Celebrating the festival on the road has its own charm."

Nie Zhiyao smiled. "You always have a reason for everything. The road ahead is long—take care of yourself."

Meng Wan saw that his face was pale from the wind. He waved his hand. "Alright, I've received your sentiments. I'll write to you after I arrive. Don't overthink things. I may be suspicious, but that doesn't stop me from trusting Song Tingzhou."

Nie Zhiyao stepped back two paces. "I understand what you mean. Go now."

He watched Meng Wan board and sail away. The wind at the ferry gave him a splitting headache. Leaning on a page, he got into the carriage and fell asleep immediately.

He was shaken awake. Yue Zhengqi carried him down from the carriage and walked step by step toward his bedroom.

Nie Zhiyao opened his eyes to a spinning world and asked hoarsely, "What happened to me?"

Feeling unwell, he nestled in Yue Zhengqi's arms, unusually docile.

A flicker of pain passed through Yue Zhengqi's eyes. He slowed his steps. "Maybe the wind gave you a chill. You might have caught a cold."

He laid Nie Zhiyao on the bed and immediately sent for a physician.

An elderly doctor, over fifty, sat down to take his pulse. Stroking his beard, he rocked his head and said, "The pulse is smooth and slippery, like beads rolling on a jade plate, flowing freely. This slippery pulse indeed indicates pregnancy!"

Yue Zhengqi listened calmly, saw the doctor out, and returned to be greeted by a pillow thrown at him by Nie Zhiyao.

Nie Zhiyao forced himself to sit up and asked in a chilling tone, "Why was I diagnosed with a pregnancy pulse!"

Yue Zhengqi looked confused. "Husband, what strange things you say. When a person reaches a certain age, it's natural to have a slippery pulse. This is the way of the world."

Nie Zhiyao was furious. His head spun, and he nearly fell onto the bed. Closing his eyes in frustration, he said, "Yue Zhengqi, you were sent to be my nemesis!"

Yue Zhengqi quickly stepped forward to half-embrace him. "Ayao, don't be angry. If you don't want it, we can let it go."

Nie Zhiyao suddenly opened his eyes to look at him. "Do you want it?"

Yue Zhengqi gently stroked his belly, a complex expression on his face. "This child... it would be best if it's a xiaoge."