Mo Sang – CH 241

Chapter 241. Departure

Li Sangrou and Gu Xi leisurely ate their meal. A servant brought over a long indigo brocade robe, which Gu Xi changed into, discarding his dragon-patterned brocade dress.

After changing, Gu Xi and Li Sangrou left the Zhenzhu Tower and strolled towards the Shengjin Pagoda.

The main road leading to the Shengjin Pagoda was crowded with people, so the two avoided the main road and took a side path.

Even before they reached the pagoda, the melodious sound of copper bells drifted on the wind.

“These bells each have a different tone,” Gu Xi said in surprise after listening.

“I heard each floor has a different tone, and the seven floors have seven different tones,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“They put a lot of thought into it,” Gu Xi praised.

Li Sangrou chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?” Gu Xi asked, puzzled.

“Da Chang, Hei Ma, and I are seeing this Shengjin Pagoda for the first time. We heard that the copper bells on the seven-tiered pagoda have seven different tones. Da Chang said, ‘Even this is so elaborate, how much money must it have cost?’

Hei Ma said he could tell at a glance that the person who built the pagoda must be from a wealthy family.

Datou said, ‘It’s because they have money to burn.’ Mazha, Chuantiao, and Xiao Lu said that this pagoda must be a product of the long-gown system; only long-gown people would be so fussy.”

Gu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing sideways at Li Sangrou.

“If your older brother were here, he would definitely praise it as you do: ‘It took real effort.'” Li Sangrou met Gu Xi’s gaze and continued with a smile.

“What are you trying to say?” Gu Xi frowned slightly.

“What I am trying to say is that different statuses and different backgrounds lead to different perspectives of the world. Some look down on it, some look at it at eye level, but most look up to it,” Li Sangrou said vaguely.

“I kind of understand what you mean.” After a moment of silence, Gu Xi looked at Li Sangrou. “And what about you? What’s your perspective?

My brother said you are in the world but untainted by it. I think you see everyone as equals, whether it is my brother or the soldiers in the camp.”

“Did you not say I see everyone as equals? After all, I’ve died once. After death, all beings are equal, just inanimate objects,” Li Sangrou said, smiling.

After a while, Gu Xi slowly hummed in agreement.

“Shall we go up to the tower?” As they spoke, they arrived at the foot of the Shengjin Pagoda. Gu Xi looked up at the towering pagoda and suggested it.

“Forget it, with so many people, standing on the top would be like being paraded through the streets.” Li Sangrou shook her head.

Gu Xi chuckled, then smiled and said, “You just said that different statuses, different backgrounds, and different perspectives—does this count too?

You are an assassin, so you are sensitive about being seen and uncomfortable being observed. I never thought you were thinking like that.”

“Yes,” Li Sangrou nodded with a smile.

“Not entirely,” Gu Xi thought for a moment, then smiled, “Look at the academic debates these past few days, the way they talk, as if everyone could pontificate on the world’s affairs.”

Li Sangrou paused for a moment, then laughed, bowing slightly to Gu Xi as she did so.

The two watched for a while at the foot of the tower, then followed the edge of the crowd, heading back towards Jinxian Gate.

……………………

Early on the second day, Gu Xi set off for Baling on inspection. Li Sangrou saw Gu Xi off, then sat on the veranda, sipping tea, lost in thought for a long time.

In the afternoon, Lady Fu came again.

Li Sangrou looked Lady Fu up and down.

Lady Fu had gained a lot of weight; she had not become more beautiful, but she had gained an air of authority.

“I had my pulse checked by Physician Lu on East Street before the New Year. He said I am better and can travel long distances,” said Lady Fu, addressing Li Sangrou as she looked her over.

“Hmm, when do you plan to leave?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

“If you have time, the sixth day of the new year. I will prepare before the New Year,” Lady Fu said, secretly relieved.

“Then the sixth day. I will have someone come to collect your luggage on the afternoon of the fifth. We will take a boat to Jiangzhou first, then cross the river and travel overland to Jianle City.

You can follow the instructions of your escorts along the way. I’ve also given some other orders, so do not rush them. Of course, rushing will not help,” Li Sangrou readily agreed.

“I will do as you say,” Lady Fu said with a beaming smile, curtsying repeatedly.

“Alright, go back and prepare.” Li Sangrou smiled and gestured to Lady Fu.

Lady Fu curtsied again, took her leave, and went back with light steps.

Li Sangrou watched Lady Fu leave, then sat back down in her chair, brewed another cup of tea, sipped it, and continued to stare blankly.

……………………

On the fourteenth, Nanny Zhang, who had gone to Jiangzhou City for the New Year, returned. Early on the sixteenth, after several strings of firecrackers exploded, construction resumed at the Tengwang Pavilion construction site.

Not two days later, Huang, the Imperial Academy Chancellor known for his discerning eye, along with five or six respected senior scholars, and the couple Fu Wan’niang and Zhou Yanting, quietly entered Yuzhang City.

Wen Cheng received them and hurriedly sent someone to invite Li Sangrou.

Upon seeing Li Sangrou enter, Chancellor Huang, who had been sipping tea, quickly stood up.

He was still wary of this boss; the mere sight of her made his old heart leap.

The scholars, along with Zhou Yanting and Fu Wan’niang, also hurriedly stood up.

“I dare not accept such praise,” Li Sangrou said, bowing respectfully.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Sangrou looked at Fu Wannian and smiled. “You’ve come too.”

“Yes,” Fu Wannian replied somewhat reservedly.

“His Majesty personally appointed Lady Fu,” Chancellor Huang said with a hint of involuntary pride. “His Majesty said that Yuzhang City is different from Jianle City. If we need to investigate the sources of any classics or poems, it would not be appropriate to borrow books from local families.

His Majesty requested that Lady Fu make this trip to specifically guide the scholars of Hongzhou on the sources of literary allusions.”

“Thank you for your trouble.” Li Sangrou stood up and bowed to Fu Wannian.

“You flatter me!” Fu Wannian was startled and quickly stood up to return the bow.

“Today I will give them my instructions, and once the handover is complete, I will immediately set off for Jiangzhou. From now on, these articles will be in their hands.” Wen Cheng looked at Li Sangrou, bowed slightly, and smiled, “His Majesty’s intention is that this matter should not be discussed with outsiders.”

Li Sangrou smiled and nodded.

The siege of Changsha was imminent, and the Shizi had already gone to coordinate the deployment. Wen Cheng needed to focus on managing military supplies and equipment; this matter should not be known to outsiders.

In Jianle City, the Imperial Academy Chancellor and five or six Hanlin scholars had traveled a long way to comment on the essays; this matter should not be known to the people of Hongzhou.

As for who commented on the essays, it did not matter to Li Sangrou; she only needed to provide the comments.

Wen Cheng and the Imperial Academy Chancellor needed to quickly hand over their duties. After greeting everyone, Li Sangrou rose to take her leave, passing Fu Wan-niang and quietly beckoning to her.

Fu Wan-niang quickly stood up and followed her out.

Li Sangrou stopped in the corridor, looked at Fu Wan-niang, lowered her voice, and asked with a smile, “How is Young Lady Shen?”

Fu Wan-niang was startled for a moment, then replied, “She’s fine.” She paused, looking cautiously at Li Sangrou, then continued, “I just received a letter from her before we set off. Most of it was about the weather, the harvest, and what she planned to plant this year. The letter was very kind.”

“What did she plan to plant?” Li Sangrou asked.

“She mentioned a piece of mountain land in Shen Family Village.

The year before last, she thought it was suitable for wheat, so she had it plowed deeply and sown.

But because she over-cultivated it, all the weeds were cleared away. That summer, torrential rain washed the crops and mud down, not only destroying the crops on the mountain but also flooding dozens of mu of crops below.

After that, Young Lady Shen had some miscellaneous trees transplanted and planted. Once the trees and grass grew, the mud and sand stopped flowing.

Young Lady Shen said she plans to plant some fruit trees suitable for making candied fruit this year, and she also mentioned wanting to plant grapes. She heard that wine is made from grapes, and even if they cannot make wine, they can still make raisins.” Fu Wan-niang answered carefully.

Li Sangrou listened intently, slowly uttering an “oh” and then smiled at Fu Wan-niang, thanking her. “Thank you.”

“You!” Seeing Li Sangrou turn to leave, Fu Wan-niang subconsciously took a step forward.

“Hmm?” Li Sangrou stopped, looking at Fu Wan-niang, gesturing for her to speak.

“You…” Fu Wan-niang hesitated again, stammering “you,” looking at Li Sangrou awkwardly, her mouth open, wanting to say something, but clearly unable to utter a word.

“Why did I ask you if she was alright? What did I want to do?” Li Sangrou looked at the embarrassed and reserved Fu Wannian and asked with a smile.

Fu Wannian opened her mouth, but before she could speak, her face flushed red.

“When Young Lady Shen became a nun, it was not out of her own volition but out of desperation, was it not? To protect her father and brothers and to protect herself, right?” Li Sangrou’s question sounded more like a direct statement.

“Yes.” Fu Wannian was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes. “Her grandmother, father, and brothers all forced her to marry the Second Prince. She said that if she married him, her father and brothers would become even more arrogant and, sooner or later, bring disaster upon the Shen family. She had no choice…”

As she spoke, Fu Wannian bowed deeply. “The Boss is very perceptive.”

“I do not have the ability to be so perceptive. I’ve met Young Lady Shen; she’s quite insightful.

Besides,” Li Sangrou said with a smile, “she’s been your friend since childhood, and you two are still so close. She must be an extraordinary person. Otherwise, you would not have taken a liking to her, let alone befriended her.”

Fu Wannian blushed at Li Sangrou’s words. “You flatter me, Boss.”

“Knowing she’s well is enough. Thank you.” Li Sangrou thanked her again, bowed, and left.

Fu Wannian watched Li Sangrou disappear through the second gate before letting out a slow sigh of relief.

“Is everything alright?” Zhou Yanting asked Fu Wannian with concern as he stepped out the door.

“No, the Boss asked how Young Lady Shen is,” Fu Wannian replied softly.

“Hmm?” Zhou Yanting’s eyes widened in surprise.

“She’s fine. The Boss heard that Young Lady Shen is doing well, and she said she’s relieved. She said Young Lady Shen was burdened by her father and brothers,” Fu Wannian explained.

“That’s good, that’s good.” Zhou Yanting breathed a sigh of relief, looked around, leaned slightly forward, and whispered to Fu Wannian, “This Boss, according to Hanlin Academician Wei, is far more ruthless than the Shizi, a true ruthless killer, someone who kills without blinking an eye.

Back then, the Shen family father and son relentlessly pursued her; alas! They were truly courting death!” Zhou Yanting sighed deeply.

“She’s not some ruthless killer! She’s very reasonable.” Fu Wannian turned her head to look at Zhou Yanting. “Young Lady Shen’s father and brother wiped out the entire Mao family, but she did not wipe out the entire Shen family. She only killed the Young Lady Shen’s father and brother without harming anyone else.

Young Lady Shen’s grandmother died of fright.

Now, she’s concerned about whether Young Lady Shen is alright. She may be fierce, but she’s not a ruthless killer.

When Hanlin Academician Wei called her a ruthless killer, he was not just belittling her; he was saying she was fierce, fierce enough to be a ruthless killer.”

“I did not mean anything by it. I respect her just as much as you do, even more than you. After all, I fought alongside her. I just said she was fierce, nothing more,” Zhou Yanting quickly explained.

“You did not mean any disrespect; you did not mean anything by it, but what would the Boss’s men think if they heard this?

You are always like this, so careless with your words,” Fu Wan-niang chided.

“I will remember that. We are just talking to each other.

Oh, right, there’s another joke.

Hanlin Academician Ma was almost driven mad with fear outside Ezhou City. The Boss slapped him twice, and while his spirit returned to its place, he was still terrified. He keeps having nightmares. Hanlin Academician Wei shares a tent with him, and even though I am in the next tent, his screams wake me up.

Later, General Chu gave him an idea, saying that finding something with strong malevolent energy to ward off the evil would work. So he took a small arrow that the Boss had used and had Hanlin Academician Ma put it under his pillow, and it really worked!

Now, they say it is still under Hanlin Academician Ma’s pillow,” Zhou Yanting said with a gossipy look.

Fu Wan-niang raised her eyebrows as she listened.

“That time, I wanted two to take home and keep, but General Chu set off the next day, and I did not know who to ask, so I went back.

Hey, this time, we definitely have to get a few to take back and ward off evil spirits. Our Eldest Sister is timid; why not just make a necklace out of that arrow for her?” Zhou Yanting rubbed his fingers excitedly.

Fu Wan-niang looked at him speechlessly, then rolled her eyes at him and went inside.

……………………

That evening, Wen Cheng quietly set off for Jiangzhou City.

Hearing from Hei Ma that Wen Cheng had left, Li Sangrou sat on the porch, lost in thought, the aroma of stewed and cured fish wafting from the neighboring kitchen and courtyard.

Wen Cheng’s haste meant the siege of Changsha was imminent.

General Wu had already retreated into Changsha.

Li Sangrou sat there, lost in thought, for a long time before letting out a long sigh.

Concubine Su had once said that if she died, she wanted to be buried on Moshan Mansion, in a spot facing the river—quiet in the mountains and bustling on the river, peaceful by her side yet lively in her eyes.

After dinner, Li Sangrou slowly finished a cup of tea, then remained lost in thought for a while. She asked Datou to call Meng Yanqing over, looking at him and saying, “We do not have much to do lately. How about we go to Changsha with the Shizi?”

“Sure! Whatever you say, Boss!” Meng Yanqing’s eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed and smiled in agreement.

“Alright, then get ready. We will head over from Wuning, and we will probably meet the Crown Prince’s army just in time,” Li Sangrou instructed.

“Good!” Meng Yanqing exclaimed, his voice rising with delight. He quickly stood up and went to the back courtyard to instruct everyone on preparations.

“Boat or cart? Should we buy some goods?” Da Chang asked, serving Li Sangrou tea.

“No need to buy anything. We have enough New Year’s goods. Just say we are selling New Year’s goods,” Li Sangrou said, looking up at the abundance of cured fish and meat displayed under the eaves.