C97

Jin Lan returned to the cabin, and just as he was about to go to Mama Shang to rest, he bumped into Doctor Mo who just came out. She carefully asked around, and upon knowing that the Mama Shang was only suffering from superficial wounds, she finally calmed down. She let Bi He accompany Doctor Mo to get the medicine, and instructed Wan Ju to place the Ambergris Fructus properly in the box.

After the two of them left the cabin, she closed the cabin door, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Mama Shang was leaning on the bed, upon seeing this, she wanted to get up, but was stopped by Jin Lan who stepped forward, "Mama is lying down, there is no need to get up."

While she was speaking, she carefully looked at Mama Shang, only to see that her left cheek that was swollen like a steamed bun had been covered with a layer of dark green paste, making it hard to tell what it was, but it was still tasty and not too bad. Although the dark green paste was a bit ugly, it was much more pleasing to the eye than the dark purple from before. It was not that shocking.

After a long while, Jin Lan retracted his gaze and sighed. Mama Shang, this could be considered a disaster, right?

"Miss." Mama Shang lowered her eyes and said lightly: "This little injury will disappear in ten to fifteen days. When we arrive at the capital, not even a trace of it could be seen."

So when the Mama Shang heard Jin Lan's sigh, she thought that she was worried that there would be something that would affect Yi Feng after they went to the capital, so she started to explain.

"Mama." Jin Lan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was she such a shallow person? However, if it was the her from his previous life, it might have been like this.

She looked at Mama Shang in the eyes and said seriously: "Just now in the Mixin House, this Mama sacrificed herself to protect you. This is an unforgettable scene. When you return from the capital, you will definitely bring this Mama's children before you!" After thinking for a moment, she continued, "If Mama wants to know right away, I can also tell him the location of her whereabouts right now."

The Mama Shang looked at Jin Lan in astonishment, only to see that there was no trace of a joking expression on her delicate face.

The indenture contract was with her, if she knew the whereabouts of her children, even if she left now, no one would be able to stop her!

Go or stay?

Others might not know, but she understood that the water in the capital city's Ye Mansion was very deep.

The First Princess was intentionally rushing towards them, as they were trapped inside, wanting to leave was simply too difficult.

If she wasn't careful, even she might have been caught.

Several thoughts flashed through Mama Shang's mind, as she stared at the pair of eyes that was as clear as water, yet with incomparable seriousness. The scene from many years ago surfaced in front of her eyes. Her young daughter was also looking at her in such a manner, but her tender voice was filled with an irresistible insistence. "Mother, you have to leave now!"

Behind her daughter was her husband trying his best to hold on as he kicked the wooden door. The door was trembling so badly that it was on the verge of collapsing. She jumped out of the window sill and into the cold stream behind the house. With her familiarity with water, she managed to escape the calamity. However, she could never see her loving husband and children again.

How many times did she dream at midnight? How many times did she weep and blame herself? If everything happened again, she definitely wouldn't abandon her husband and children. Even if she died, she would die together with them!

Jin Lan had been paying attention to the change in Mama Shang's expression. When he saw that her face had suddenly lost all color, and a trace of despair appeared in her eyes, he was startled. Her warm palm covered her cold hands and she anxiously shouted: "Mama, Mama!"

Mama Shang's body trembled as she suddenly regained her senses. The pain in her eyes gradually faded and she lowered her head, quietly wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes and said solemnly: "Don't worry miss, this servant vow to protect my safe return, I will not go back on my word."

This was her last test, but after getting the answer she wanted, Jin Lan couldn't be happy. She looked at the Mama Shang, but hesitated to speak. After a long while, he retracted his hand, slowly got up, and sighed. "Mama should rest well first. He hurried back to his room.

The next day, when the mild-mannered young master Meng appeared in front of everyone, his face was dark green. It was said that he was seasick and couldn't sleep well at night.

In the early morning, before the morning mist on the river had completely dispersed, Ye Family's ships were already preparing to set off for their journey.

Steward Li waited until all the things were packed before moving them back to the boat. Then he called his trusted aides and took out a warm letter from his clothes, "Send this letter back to the old lady. Remember, you need to personally do this and don't let anyone else know!" Then he took out twenty taels of silver and passed it to the Attendant. "Buy a good horse, fast!"

"I understand!" The Attendant took the letter and silver swiftly and nodded his head in agreement.

Waiting until the Attendant bowed and ran far away, the Steward Li finally turned around and boarded the ship.

After passing Xuzhou, their journey gradually slowed down, Ye Family's fleet travelled by day, and when they rested they stopped at the pier, this was also for the sake of the "seasick" Meng Zhanxuan, and the Steward Li was doing so to pass the news that came from behind.

As a result, with the addition of the Ambergris Fructus, Jin Lan's days felt much better than before. He no longer saw the sky nestled in his bed, and from time to time he would come out to take a breather, or he could read some books he brought along with him.

"Miss, what is First Miss trying to do?" Bi He sat at the side, preparing for the bath with Jin Lan's skirt. As she listened to the constant banging sounds coming from the next room, her eyebrows seemed to scrunch together.

Jin Lan nodded his head in satisfaction after calming down his mind and finishing the last stroke. He then put down the white jade Bunny Hair Brush in his hand. "Who cares about what she does. We'll just follow her. If it doesn't hurt, then why bother ourselves?"

Bi He placed the clothing she selected to the side, folded the rest and put it back into the box. As she busily worked, she said, "I knew that Miss would be practicing calligraphy at this time, yet I created such a commotion.

"Alright." Jin Lan saw that she was getting more direct, so he frowned and asked, "Why is Wan Ju not back yet?"

Bi He was shocked, and knowing that she had said the wrong thing, she forced out a smile as she stood up and replied: "This servant will go take a look."

It was only until Bi He's figure disappeared behind the hanging flower gate's curtain that Jin Lan sat down on the red wooden chair. Since she had set out on her journey, Bi He's actions had become more and more strange, as if she had a grudge against Ye Jinwei. He would mutter a few words from time to time.

And according to what the Mama Tang said that day, Bi He and Ye Jinwei's relationship shouldn't be like this. She quietly looked at the brush and ink on the word life, her eyes rippling, hoping that Wan Ju would find some useful information.

That night, Wan Ju stayed in the Jin Lan room for the night.

When Jin Lan got onto the bed, Bi He took out the rolled up store and placed it on top of the bed. Jin Lan didn't want to put down the silk tent, so the master and his servant laid on the bed with only a layer of cloth separating them.

A blue and white porcelain lotus lamp was placed on top of a few carved red wood pearl and cloud flowers. From time to time, the bean-sized flame would dance a few times, emitting a light crackling sound. On the side, there was a three-legged incense burner with green and white flowers on it. The fragrance of the Ambergris Fructus permeated the entire room and made one feel at ease.

Jin Lan was not sleepy at all. After the lights in the room next door were extinguished, she turned around and faced Wan Ju, and gently opened her mouth: "Wan Ju, are you asleep?"

Wan Ju had never closed sher eyes until very late on night duty, but now that Jin Lan had said that, she rolled over and crawled back up, lifting up her veil: "Miss, are you thirsty?" As he spoke, he was about to pour some tea when Jin Lan grabbed him.

"Nope." Jin Lan shook his head and sat up as well. "I can't fall asleep. Why don't you have a chat with me?"

Wan Ju hurriedly pulled up the sheet that had slipped down. It was already the early winter, and on the river, it was much colder than on the shore. She waited until the corners of the bed had been pressed before she smiled and asked, "What does Miss want to say?" Her voice was naturally lowered.

She uncomfortably moved her body, half leaning on the bed, and looked at Wan Ju with her burning gaze: "Have you gotten the results of the things that you paid attention to a few days ago?"

Wan Ju guessed it was because of this, and nodded: "First Miss bought a screen in Xuzhou City that day, but what exactly does it look like? It's mostly small, so I don't know, but it's in the boat at the back."

Jin Lan was not surprised that Ye Jinwei would bring back something. After all, regardless of whether she had escaped safely, when this matter was investigated, the first to be investigated were those wives and guards who had disappeared without a trace. If Ye Jinwei really dared to return empty-handed, even she would not be able to escape her crimes.

But was she following her all the way that day, or was there an informant planted beside her? Jin Lan thought for a moment, then asked, "What about the wives and guards?"

Wan Ju shook her head, "This servant doesn't know, those wives don't want to say a single word. But, this servant knows one of the wives that was following outside the carriage the other day, and looked for an excuse to wander around everyday, but didn't see anyone. This servant guesses, could it be that Steward Li sent them back? "

Retracting Yangzhou? According to the way the Steward Li handled things, there was actually such a possibility. In this case, wouldn't the clue be broken? Jin Lan couldn't help but bite his lips.

"That's right, my lady." Wan Ju suddenly said: "When this servant was scouting downstairs, I heard something. A woman following a carriage from the First Miss said that the First Miss was an extremely good person, not only did she reward them with silver, she did not let them walk for nothing, but also wandered around the pier to admire the local customs and practices of the Xuzhou."

The moment Wan Ju said this, Jin Lan immediately understood. No wonder... So it turned out that Ye Jinwei had been waiting for him this whole time. As for Zhang Yuting, I'm afraid it was really an accident.

After all, she was unfamiliar with Xuzhou, and so was Ye Jinwei.

October 26th. The north wind gradually blew. Ye Family's ship docked at the Tongzhou Pier. After almost two months of journey on the water, they had finally reached the end of their journey. From today onwards, they would abandon ship and change into a horse carriage.

Jin Lan held Wan Ju's hand and walked down the stairs steadily. When she landed, she could not help but feel a sense of relief in her heart. However, just as she raised the corners of her lips, she noticed a distant gaze land on her.

Jin Lan couldn't help but raise his head and look into that pair of deep eyes. His heart couldn't help but thump. How could she have forgotten that this person was still travelling together with her?