Free Web NovelChapter 421: Chapter 163: Egging On (Part 2)
"Oh, Qing’er, are you sure today’s auspicious date wasn’t miscalculated? To run into a beheading right as we leave... this is a terrible omen."
Chen Wanqing replied, "The court is punishing evil and upholding justice, ensuring peace for the people. How could that be a terrible omen? It should be a sign of great fortune. Mother, don’t worry. I’m sure the road ahead will be completely smooth."
After the prisoner cart finally passed, the group walked out of the alley and onto the street.
Chen Wanqing lifted the curtain to take a look outside.
She wasn’t intending to rubberneck, nor did she expect to see her parents.
Her father was too busy to spare a moment. He had gone to patrol the countryside, needing to see the common folk’s grain safely stored in their granaries with his own eyes before he could rest easy.
Her mother had gone to help out with the spices.
With Wanqing leaving, the task of making incense had fallen to her mother once again.
Fortunately, they had already said their goodbyes yesterday, and everything that needed to be said had been said. And although the Prefecture was some distance from Qingshui County, it wasn’t so far that they’d never see each other again. If her mother truly missed them, she could easily make the trip to the Prefecture.
What Chen Wanqing really wanted to see was if there were any fresh snacks being sold on the street.
Although they had packed plenty of dry rations, traveling by cart was inherently boring. If they could have some snacks and chat idly, perhaps the time would pass more easily.
However, she didn’t see any snack vendors. Instead, Chen Wanqing’s gaze met squarely with Mr. Li’s.
This was Mr. Li, Li Cun’s birth mother, not Li’an’s mother, Mrs. Li.
When Mr. Li saw Chen Wanqing, it was as if she’d seen a ghost. Her first instinct was to glare, but then she remembered that Chen Wanqing was not the same person she once was.
Not only was she a Scholar’s wife, but she had also received praise from the Emperor and Empress. She was one of the most respectable people in all of Qingshui County.
Thinking of this, Mr. Li quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head, and hurried away with her basket.
At that moment, Mr. Li’s regret grew even more intense.
’If she hadn’t stopped Chen Wanqing from marrying into their family, if she had instead pushed for the marriage to her son, wouldn’t her son have been the one to find that treasure chest?’
’After discovering the treasure chest, her son would have been in high spirits and studied diligently. He certainly would have passed the county, prefectural, and college exams and become a Scholar.’
’He would also have an Assistant County Magistrate for a father-in-law, and a wife who brought Silver into the family as easily as sweeping up fallen leaves...’
’But what a pity. Because of her one moment of poor judgment, all of it was gone.’
The ox-carts passed each other. Mr. Li turned her head and saw the carts heading toward the city gate. Her gloomy eyes were now tinged with suspicion.
’That procession had five ox-carts in total, all heading for the north gate. Were they leaving the city?’
’Why take so many belongings out of the city? Were they going to stay with distant relatives, or moving somewhere else?’
Lost in thought, Mr. Li returned home.
Her son was in the courtyard, reading.
The sky was clear and the air was fresh; it was a pleasant season, neither too cold nor too hot.
Outside, the sun was bright, birds were singing, and the flowers were fragrant. Reading under the rose trellis should have been a very pleasant affair.
Mr. Li thought about what had just happened on the street, hesitating over whether she should tell her son.
While she was still hesitating, she saw her son close his book, stand up, and walk toward the house.
This was how things had been between mother and son for some time now.
The mother was eager to make amends, but the son, heartbroken over his lost love, was listless and indifferent to everything else.
These days, his mind was consumed with nothing but studying, studying, studying. He read day and night, without rest. This intensified after news arrived that Zhao Jing had passed the first three examinations with top honors. Since then, the candle in his room had burned from dusk till dawn.
Mr. Li had tried more than once to persuade him, telling him to prioritize his health, but he wouldn’t listen, look, or acknowledge her, acting as if she didn’t exist at all.
He clearly still hated her.
And though she wanted to make it up to him, she had no idea where to even begin.
Seeing her son’s back about to disappear into his room, Mr. Li, who hadn’t heard a single word from him in months, impulsively blurted out, "I saw Chen Wanqing on the street today."
Li Cun stopped mid-step, freezing in the doorway, neither retreating nor entering.
This reaction of non-reaction made Mr. Li’s heart ache, and it made her hate her past actions all the more.
She spoke to her son in a placating tone, "They were in a group of five ox-carts, heading for the north gate. I’ve never heard of the Zhao Family or the Chen family having any distant relatives. I’m afraid they’re heading to the Prefecture."
She then relayed the bits of gossip she had heard to her son.
"Many people in the county are saying that Mr. Chen has connections and got his son into the Prefectural Academy. Whether that’s true or not, if even Chen De’an can get into the Prefectural Academy, then Zhao Jing must have gotten in too. They’re probably moving to the Prefecture to study."
This was not good news. Upon hearing this, Li Cun’s heart grew heavy, as if a weighty stone had been dropped into it.
