Chapter 53 – A New Beginning

Editor: kllua

When Zhuang Zhong saw Fang YingYing, he was stunned because she had styled her hair up like a married woman.

Meanwhile, Fang YingYing who saw his expression, just smiled and touched her hair. “What do you think? Do I look nice?”

Looking “alive”, the current Fang YingYing looked way better than when he first saw her. Although her hairstyle was simple with only a wooden hairstick, it could not dampen her beauty. Her dazzling appearance had also matured as she appeared more steady compared to the anger she expressed previously when he saw her.

However, when did Fang YingYing get married? He had heard no news pertaining to this.

“It looks good.” Zhuang Zhong nodded. Although he was puzzled, he did not probe further.

“Are you not going to ask me why I styled my hair like this?”

“Why?”

Unable to stand it anymore, Fang YingYing rolled her eyes. Such an action seemed to give her life, which made Zhuang Zhong feel that she had started moving forward from her past slowly.

“Although I was really dispirited previously, there is no need for you to act so cautiously. Initially, I wanted to become a nun after finding the culprit, but the culprit ended up being one, which made me really afraid of temples. Besides, after seeing how Sister Xia was living so happily, I could not help thinking that if she had chosen to give up at the beginning, wouldn’t such bliss be unattainable? I do not dare to ask for a life like hers, but I do want to try to have a good life. After all, it is clearly someone else’s fault, so why should I let myself suffer?”

Zhuang Zhong praised, “That’s right. The worst thing is not for others to give up on you but for you to give up on yourself. If you become a nun just to escape all this, it would have been difficult to find peace even in the temple.” He was feeling happy for Fang YingYing. After all, in his profession, he had seen many victims with their lives already ruined despite successfully finding the culprit. This was also what was most detestable about those criminals, as what they destroyed was not just a persons’ life but also the happiness of a family.

“The reason why I styled my hair like this was to start over. Although I am unmarried, I once bore a child so I am not an untouched maiden anymore.”

Zhuang Zhong did not comment on that and asked, “So what is your intention of searching for me?”

Due to gender differences, they could not be considered close. So, she must have some request for her to seek him out respectfully.

“I heard that you are heading to YunZhou’s Mei county to take over as the county magistrate?”

Such a matter was not a secret and news had spread quite earlier on. Many people had been surprised as they did not expect him to go there as an official. After all, Zhuang Zhong now had some reputation for solving cases, the backing of Prince Si Zhao, and had been staying at the Central Judicial Office so everyone thought he would officially work there. Unexpectedly, he ended up choosing to go to the poor and desolate Mei county to be an eighth-grade county magistrate. Even if he was just following Prince Si Zhao to YuZhou, he should have chosen a more affluent county.

“Yes, I will be leaving in five days.”

Fang YingYing held the teacup in her hands. “Can you take me with you at that time? I will not give you any trouble as I am just seeking some protection. Including my servants, the three of us are all women. I am afraid it will be unsafe to travel alone.”

Zhuang Zhong asked in surprise, “Why are you going to Mei county?”

“I am not afraid of you looking down on me. Honestly, I want to rely on you and the prince to find a place in this world. There is no other place for me to go and I cannot stay in the capital as if I am recognized, it will affect my family. It will not be easy for me to set my roots in one place as a woman and an outsider too. I once thought that it was easy to live alone but after what happened, I realized that the world is not as simple as I thought.” Fang YingYing sighed. She fell into a desperate situation after getting pregnant for no reason and had to face a secret assassination by her family. Later, she was robbed of her belongings and kicked out which caused her to lose her last hope.

“Mei county is remote and barren. Notwithstanding the long travel, even if you reach there, you may not be able to adapt to it. Didn’t the prince arrange for you to stay in one of his courtyards…”

Hearing that, Fang YingYing quickly interrupted, “Although it is the same in the sense that I am depending on both of you, the situations are different. Under what title am I to stay in the prince’s courtyard? In the end, it will just be improper. Besides, although I want to start my life over again, I am not willing to be raised as a canary. I plan to go to Mei county to open an embroidery shop and make my own living. At that time, I just wanted to let everyone know that I had someone backing me so they would not look down at or harass me.”

Currently, Fang YingYing has recovered all the belongings she was robbed before and could be considered to possess a small capital. Compared to ordinary people, she was already wealthier and it would be enough to open a small shop.

“Have you already thought it through? The local customs and people there are completely different from those in the capital. Moreover, I am heading there with the prince. As he is leading his troops, it will be a fast journey and the route there might be difficult.”

Fang YingYing replied with a face of determination, “Since quite early on, I had wanted to travel around and experience different ways of living like a man. Although I am lacking, I can endure and will never hold all of you back.”

Hearing that, Zhuang Zhong no longer tried to stop her. If there was another path, no one would be willing to leave their hometown like this.

“However, I will just be there for around three years. After that, you will have to depend on yourself for the rest of your life.”

Fang YingYing said with a smile, “Even if you leave, the support will still remain. As long as someone knows that there are you and the prince behind me, they will not dare to touch me. Moreover, three years is enough for me to take root. If I am unsuccessful, it is not too late to make other plans then.”

——

“What? That woman is going to follow us?!” Feng Huan slammed the table and stood up.

Zhuang Zhong did not expect Feng Huan to have such a big reaction and his heart drummed up. “Are you worried that she will delay your journey?”

“The world is so big and she can go anywhere. However, she just has to go to Mei county?! Is it because she likes you?”

Zhuang Zhong’s eyes widened. “She is in a desperate situation and only knows the two of us, so she asked to go together. It is also because we can offer some form of protection.”

Feng Huan narrowed his eyes. “You still dare to quibble. Previously, I have already felt that there is something fishy between the both of you and now, you promised her so readily. Do you like her? Although she is not as gorgeous as before, some beauty still remains. I remember that you thought that she was beautiful before.”

To that, Zhuang Zhong did not know whether to laugh or cry. “You might as well say that she still has feelings for you since it is more possible. After all, I have already regarded her as my older sister and even wanted you to testify for us when it is time.”

Zhuang Zhong initially wanted to recognize Fang YingYing as his younger sister because even though he was now two years younger than her, he was actually much older. However, Fang YingYing adamantly disagreed. Notwithstanding her age, referring to each other as older brother and younger sister was an intimate thing and would easily be ambiguous. 

Feng Huan was suspicious. “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you about such a thing?”

“Are you really not interested in her? Do you dislike her because…”

“Stop there! This is ending up as a personal attack and you are not that tasteless to do so right?”

Feng Huan’s initial wintery expression instantly warmed. Feeling that his expression was too obvious, he gave a fake cough. “If she just wants protection, I can arrange for her to go to other places. She does not have to go to Mei county to suffer.”

“That was what I said but she said she wanted to travel around. I reckon that she lost her trust in others and her vigilance had deepened after what happened. Now she only knows the both of us, so she thinks it will be safer to follow.” Zhuang Zhong continued after some pause, “Will she become a burden to you? If it is not convenient, I can search for some reliable escorts.”

“It is of no matter. We have plenty of time so we do not have to hurry.” Feng Huan stared at Zhuang Zhong fixatedly and added, “You have been talking about other peoples’ matters for such a long time. Where is the coming-of-age gift that you promised to give me previously?”

“Haven’t I already sent it before? I did not break my promise and even spent a lot of money to buy that ink stick.”

Feng Huan was extremely unhappy. “Can you call that a gift? You just buy a random one on the street and give it to me. Where is the sincerity?”

Zhuang Zhong was speechless. “I have gone all over the capital for that thing and you call this lacking sincerity? You are deliberately making things difficult for me. There is nothing that is completely unique and exclusive in the world. It is not as if I can just give myself to you!”

Feng Huan’s ears turned red. He rubbed his chin and said, “It is not impossible…”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Can you say it louder?”

“In short, the ink stick that is available everywhere does not count. Do you think that I did not know you ordered others to buy it?”

Zhuang Zhong raised his head to the sky silently. He did not understand the customs and products of gift-giving. So, in fear of being cheated and having not enough free time due to case investigations, he entrusted Jiang Xun, his roommate, to buy it for him.

“Why are you so hard to serve? Wait a little then. I thought of something but still have not found the raw materials for it yet.”

“What materials?”

“Crystal, it has to be a very transparent crystal.”

Feng Huan raised his eyebrow. “How is that hard to find? I have it. What do you want to do with it?”

“I do not know if I can make it yet and will only know if I try. Why don’t you sell some of the crystals to me?”

Feng Huan waved his hand unrestrainedly and replied, “I will just give it to you directly.”

It would be a waste if Zhuang Zhong did not take advantage of this! After all, bright, natural crystals were so expensive that people would cry.

“However, let’s agree in advance that you are not allowed to say that the crystal is provided by you and so the gift does not count.”

Feng Huan glared. “Do you think that I am such a person?!”

Before leaving, Zhuang Zhong paid a visit to the Lu’s family house and Lu Feng was supportive of his decision. Besides mentioning that only when one was at the bottom could one truly know how to be an official, Lu Feng also stated that the capital was currently chaotic and it would be better to hide for a while. Additionally, several of his aunts and uncles prepared a pile of things for Zhuang Zhong. As they had experiences with moving, all the things they prepared were very practical. It was because of such generosity that Zhuang Zhong was saved a lot of trouble, which allowed him to be in a better state for the move than when he first arrived to the capital.

As soon as Lu XiaoBao heard that Zhuang Zhong would be going so far and for a long period of time, he jumped up directly. “Brother, what will ZiAn do if you leave for so long?”

All this while, Yu ZiaAn had been studying forensic examination with Zhuang Zhong. Although Zhuang Zhong had not taught too deeply or too fast in concern for the child’s health, Yu ZiAn was very intelligent and had been learning very well. Lu XiaoBao now thought that Yu ZiAn was very exceptional and even predicted that he would surpass Zhuang Zhong in the future.

However, if Zhuang Zhong left for so long, wouldn’t Yu ZiAn’s learning be disrupted? Although Lu XiaoBao was young, he knew that it would be unfavourable.

Zhuang Zhong was speechless. “I am going to travel far away but instead of wishing me a pleasant journey, you are just concerned about your good friend.”

Yu ZiAn’s face reddened and he pulled at Lu XiaoBao’s clothes, causing the latter to lower his head in embarrassment.

“Master, don’t worry. I will not stop my studies.”

Zhuang Zhong patted Yu ZiAn’s head. “Previously, I made a large summary and gave you a copy. You can learn it well during this period. Besides, I have informed Lord Sun in advance. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask him directly.”

Yu ZiAn immediately brightened and seriously said, “I will not let my master lose face!”

The Lu family also specially held a banquet for Zhuang Zhong. The scene was very lively and joyful which was much better than the lukewarm atmosphere in Marquis WenYuan’s household.

This was the feeling of home.

On the day that Zhuang Zhong was leaving, everyone in the Lu family went to see him off. Lu XiaoBao and Yu ZiAn cried a lot. It was until someone said that he would be coming back and that crying was unlucky that they stopped.