Chapter 418: 418. Gu Ling, come with me

Chapter 418: 418. Gu Ling, come with me

Translator: 549690339

Having not rested properly the entire journey, Qiao Jing fell asleep in the forest.

As deep autumn was approaching the nights were rather cold, he was abruptly awakened by the chilly air. Not knowing how much time had passed, he vigorously rubbed his face, stood up, stretched his limbs, and looked up but couldn’t see the moon. It was the darkest time before dawn.

Gu Ling hadn’t returned yet. To keep himself warm, Qiao Jing quietly practiced a set of Martial Arts in the woods.

While practicing, he suddenly felt someone watching him. Instantly on guard, the next moment, he heard a familiar voice from behind him, “You’re practicing so hard. Are you trying to beat me?”

Qiao Jing: ...this joke is a bit cold...

Previously, Qiao Jing aimed to surpass Gu Ling, but now that he understood the real gap wasn’t about Martial Arts, his ambition dissipated.

Gu Ling brought back a large bag of medicinal herbs. Some of them had been “bought” from the county town – self-service, but the change left was more rather than less money. And some of them were precious herbs he had asked for from Hu Er.

Hu Er was deeply asleep and was suddenly woken up in the middle of the night. He was startled, but after confirming Gu Ling’s identity, he respectfully asked what he needed, willing to do anything even if it involved danger or hardship. After all, not only was Su Liang the benefactor who saved Hu Er’s life, but she also inspired him to reform and start a new life. She even provided him with the opportunity to associate with the Wan family and grow an honest business. To Hu Er as well as his family, Su Liang and Gu Ling were their benefactors.

When Gu Ling needed medicinal herbs, Hu Er went to get them himself. He used to have poor health, and so he had quite a lot of good herbs at his disposal. Also, while conducting business trips these years, he had collected many more. After hearing that Gu Ling needed ginseng, Hu Er generously took out a thousand-year-old ginseng stem from a carefully packaged gift box originally prepared as his father’s birthday present.

“There’s one thing missing, which we have at home in the county town. I’ll send someone to fetch it. Prince, you may rest here while waiting.” said Hu Er, while hot soups and meals were served.

Gu Ling didn’t refuse, he ate a bit, then went to rest in the room arranged by Hu Er, instructing him to wake him up as soon as the herbs arrived.

Hu Er waited personally, as soon as the man sent to the county town returned, he woke Gu Ling up and packed the herbs.

“I was going to go to the village today anyway.” Hu Er said as he saw Gu Ling off.

Gu Ling replied indifferently, “Ah, you can carry on as usual, just pretend you didn’t see me last night.”

Hu Er was taken aback, “Understood. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“You suggested moving me and the patient in my home to the county town.” Gu Ling replied.

Hu Er nodded, “Alright.”

Without another word, Gu Ling departed with the herbs. Hu Er thought it over and concluded that Gu Ling must have run into some kind of trouble. He remembered Gu Ling’s request and told his confidants not to let any information slip about tonight.

At this moment, Gu Ling briefly explained Hu Er’s situation to Qiao Jing.

“Does this mean I should take Yan Shiba to the county town?” Qiao Jing asked.

Gu Ling shook his head, “No, back to the capital.”

Qiao Jing pondered, “That’s better. Leaving the village sooner will prevent causing harm to the villagers if there really is a trap. We can let Hu Er arrange the transportation. I will just say that Yan Shiba is not going to die and that Yan Shijiu can attend to her.”

“Alright.” Gu Ling handed the herbs to Qiao Jing, and they parted ways in the woods.

When Gu Ling saw Yan Shiba last night, he gave her a pill made by Su Liang. Not seeing any black fog between Yan Shiba’s eyebrows, he knew that she would not die within three days.

Returning to the courtyard in the early morning mist, Yan Shijiu, who had been waiting, came out immediately from Yan Shiba’s room upon hearing noises, “Prince, did you succeed in finding the herbs?”

Without answering Yan Shijiu’s question, Qiao Jing walked straight to the room previously occupied by Gu Ling, “I need to rest.”

Yan Shijiu watched as Qiao Jing entered the room and closed the door. With a flicker in his eyes, he then returned to Yan Shiba’s room.

When Qiao Jing said he needed rest, he truly fell asleep. By the time he woke up, it was already broad daylight outside, and he heard low voices talking. After getting up, he saw the table full of herbs, some of which had already been processed...

Qiao Jing: ...when did Gu Ling come? Why didn’t I notice it?

As he opened the door, a breeze of fresh, moist air greeted him. The sunlight illuminated the entire courtyard brightly.

Madam Bai, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen. When she saw “Gu Ling’s” face, she was taken aback. Though there were rumors previously saying that the top scholar Ning Jing had been masquerading as the current regent, Gu Ling, Madam Bai knew only Ning Jing’s face. At the sight of “Gu Ling,” she was initially apprehensive and awe-struck. She bent forward and called out, “Prince.”

“There’s no need for such formalities. Just behave as before,” Qiao Jing imitated Gu Ling’s tone. “Is everything well at home, Madam?”

Madam Bai hurriedly nodded, “Yes, everything’s good! Little Tiger and Zhuzi always miss you. They were here this morning, but now they’re off to school!”

“Hmm.” Qiao Jing nodded his head, “Thank you for your efforts, Madam.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. You’re not an outsider.” Madam Bai waved her hand, “Your meal will be ready soon.”

When Qiao Jing entered Yan Shiba’s room, Yan Shijiu was passing by. The door was open, and Yan Shijiu “accidentally” glanced in to see the partially processed medicinal herbs on the table. He silently withdrew his gaze, entered the kitchen, fetched hot water for Qiao Jing to wash with, and brought it to the room door, but didn’t go inside.

Qiao Jing came out of Yan Shiba’s room, “I gave her some medicine yesterday. Her condition has improved a bit.”

Yan Shijiu was taken aback. Qiao Jing hadn’t mentioned this before. He was unaware, but he noticed that Yan Shiba’s condition had indeed shown slight signs of improvement.

Qiao Jing responded flatly, “In a few more days, she’ll come visit you.”

“This is the letter I wrote for Sister Su Liang!” Bai Xiaohu took out a letter from his schoolbag that he wrote during recess.

Zhuzi also took out one, “This is mine.”

“May Brother-in-law Gu help deliver these.” Bai Xiaohu formally gave a hand bow.

Qiao Jing accepted the letters, promising to deliver them.

Hu Er had not come back yet, so Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi invited Qiao Jing to dine at their home. He accepted, leaving Bai’s wife to look after Yan Shiba.

The last time Gu Ling and Su Liang saw Tiger and Zhuzi’s little sister, she was still in her swaddling clothes. Now she was already able to run. She charged over and hugged Qiao Jing’s leg, raising her little face and smiling at him.

Qiao Jing picked the little girl up and suddenly thought that having a baby of his own would be a pretty good idea. However, he would first need to find a wife. The image of Min Rou’s gentle smile floated in his mind. Qiao Jing shook his head, the situation was still far from settled, he would consider it back in the capital. Perhaps he could take Qiao Cong’s advice and actively pursue Miss Min.

After a lively and warm lunch at the Bai’s family, Qiao Jing became increasingly envious of the days Gu Ling and Su Liang had spent living in the mountain village. It must have been fun. Given the opportunity, he would like to stay here for a while too.

After Qiao Jing finished his meal, Mrs. Bai informed him that Hu Er had returned. As Qiao Jing was about to leave, the head of the Bai family handed him a bamboo basket full of their homemade dried goods, such as dry kidney beans and dried mushrooms, all of which Gu Ling and Su Liang liked to eat.

Qiao Jing accepted gratefully. After all, it was not a gift for him, and there was a carriage, they could bring all of it.

“Prince, he’s called Siqi. He’s clever, knows martial arts, and he can drive the carriage.” Hu Er introduced the driver to Qiao Jing.

Qiao Jing looked at the driver named Siqi, a tall and skinny man dressed in a neat short outfit. He had a horse whip hanging at his waist, a long knife, and wore a straw hat. His features were quite ordinary.

“Greetings, Prince.” Siqi bowed with a somewhat raspy voice.

“We’ll have to rely on you from this point.” Qiao Jing said.

There was also a maid, whose bright eyes revealed a sharp intelligence. Hu Er said her name was Yu Ru, and she came from a family that once owned a martial arts school. She too was skilled in martial arts.

Yu Ru carried a still unconscious Yan Shiba onto the carriage, which was lined with quilts and blankets. Qiao Jing stored all the medicinal herbs and gifts given by everyone. He was ready to set off now.

Siqi drove the carriage while Qiao Jin and Yan Shijiu rode horses, departing from Su Village in the afternoon.

They spent the night at the county town’s inn. The next day, Yan Shijiu saw that Qiao Jing had already processed all the medicinal herbs and prepared new medicine for Yan Shiba.

Yu Ru stewed the medicine, fed it to Yan Shiba, and the party set out after breakfast.

The weather was bad that day, with thick clouds covering the skies. After a while, it started to rain. Siqi snapped his whip and suggested that there was a decrepit temple not too far away where they could take shelter.

Qiao Jing had seen the temple when they had arrived, but he had no idea that it was the place where Gu Ling and Su Liang had once saved Zhengzheng.

The rain quickly grew heavy and the wind picked up. Travelling into the wind, both the horses and the carriage found it hard to move forward.

Once they reached the run-down temple, Siqi parked the carriage in the open space inside, took out oilcloth from the carriage, and covered the carriage in the rain.

Yan Shiba and Yu Ru, the maid, stayed in the carriage while Qiao Jing and Yan Shijiu led the horses to a place sheltered from the wind and rain. After a while, Siqi also came in.

There was nobody else in the worn-out temple, but there was some dry hay and firewood.

Siqi quickly gathered some firewood and started a fire, spreading dry hay out for Qiao Jing and Yan Shijiu to sit on. He then took a box of desserts from the carriage, cradling it in his arms as he ran back. He offered Qiao Jing some osmanthus cakes from a tea house in Bei’an County – a favorite of Gu Ling’s.

Qiao Jing ate a few pieces and passed the box to Yan Shijiu.

“Thank you, Prince.” Yan Shijiu wiped his hands on his clothes and took a piece, quickly finishing it.

“This rain won’t stop for a while,” Siqi said, looking at the sky.

Yan Shijiu then asked, “Prince, do we want to move Shiba out of the carriage? It may be warmer here.”

“There’s no need. She’s got blankets.” Qiao Jing shook his head.

“Right.” Yan Shijiu bowed his head.

Siqi stood up, “Prince, someone’s coming.”

A large man wearing a rain cape and a bamboo hat walked into the entrance of the decrepit temple, his face obscured.

Yan Shijiu also stood. “Prince, should we drive him off?”

“No need.” Qiao Jing said, “We don’t own this place.”

When the man reached the eave of the temple, he paused and looked at Qiao Jing, his voice flat and emotionless. “Gu Ling, come with me, or your neighbor the Bai Family in Su Village will be razed to the ground today.”

Before his words fell, a group of men dressed in black fell from the sky, standing behind him with a threatening aura.

“I don’t like bullying children, or else it wouldn’t be hard to kidnap one as a simple solution.” the man added, “I’ll give you ten breaths to think it over.”