The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 39

Xiao Yu bites her lip, pondering for a moment. Right now, the only thing she can do is to entrust the young lady temporarily to her cheap mother’s care. Besides her, there’s no one else she can trust for the time being. And didn’t Liang Chengqiu just say he could help her notify her family?

Xiao Yu thinks it over and says with careful consideration, “Constable Liang, could I borrow some paper and a brush? I’d like to write a letter to my family.”

Liang Chengqiu looks at her with an expressionless face, exuding a cold aura. Xiao Yu’s heart can’t help but pound. For a long time, she doesn’t get a response, and she feels a bit uncertain, worried that she might go back on her word.

“Constable Liang…”

After a long silence, Liang Chengqiu’s toneless voice finally sounds, “Someone, bring paper and ink.”

Xiao Yu’s heart, which was in her throat, finally settles.

In a moment, a constable walks over with paper and ink. Xiao Yu takes the brush, silently writes a few lines on the paper, and hands it to Liang Chengqiu, her eyes full of anticipation as she says, “I’ll leave it to you, Constable Liang.”

Liang Chengqiu nods, gives Xiao Yu a look with an unreadable expression, and then leaves the cell.

On the other side, in the front hall of the Xiao family, three people have grave expressions. A young maid cautiously lowers her head to pour tea for her mistress, then hides behind Jiang Wanrou, with her ears perked up.

Xiao Yu’s sudden arrest undoubtedly casts a shadow over the family.

Chen Yu twists her hands together, her gaze flickers to Jiang Wanrou, then to Song Luoning. After a while, seeing no one else speak, she can’t help but say, “Aunt, what should we do now? Cousin, she is now…”

Although she’s had some issues with Xiao Yu in the past two years, it doesn’t mean she’s willing to see her die, especially since Xiao Yu is getting better and the family is living in harmony.

Moreover, if it weren’t for her own matter, Xiao Yu wouldn’t have gotten into a conflict with Chen Ziyi, and she wouldn’t have been wrongly accused of murder.

Thinking about this, Chen Yu’s eyes suddenly turn red.

“Why are you crying?” Jiang Wanrou glances at her. “It’s a good thing that A’yu was transferred to the Dali Temple. If she had stayed in Linyang County, she would probably have been sentenced to death by now.” She sighs and turns to Song Luoning, saying, “Luoning, do you have any ideas?”

The reason she asks Song Luoning is that her father is the Prime Minister. With just a word from him, she’s not afraid that the people below won’t investigate properly.

She just doesn’t know what her daughter-in-law is thinking. At this moment, she can only pin her hopes on Song Luoning.

Song Luoning purses her lips. “First, we must find the real murderer to clear my husband’s name. We currently don’t have the ability to find the killer. In my opinion, we should go to the capital. My father has a good relationship with the Dali Temple Minister. We can ask him to put in a good word and have the Dali Temple reinvestigate the case, which can also clear my husband’s name sooner.”

What she says makes sense. Besides, no one else can think of a better solution. Jiang Wanrou no longer hesitates, nods her head, stands up, takes Song Luoning’s hand, and pats it. “Good child.” She takes a breath and continues, “We’ll do as Luoning says. Everyone, go and pack. Three days from now, we’ll travel to the capital with the escort team from the county office. We can look out for each other on the way.” She then says to Chen Yu, “Use these two days to collect the rent that was owed. Collect as much as you can. When we get to the capital, we’ll still need to pay off some people.”

Chen Yu nods and agrees.

With the arrangements settled, Song Luoning stands up to leave, but Jiang Wanrou calls out to her, “Have Xiao Yu go with you tonight. With A’yu not here, it’s not safe for you to live alone. It’s better to have Xiao Yu there to look after you.”

Song Luoning originally didn’t want to trouble them, as besides the relationship with Xiao Yu, they don’t have much to talk about. On second thought, with Xiao Yu not here, she is indeed not safe on her own. It’s better to be with someone. So, she nods in agreement.

The four of them have dinner together, and the atmosphere is silent. Even the usually lively little maid keeps her head down and doesn’t dare to utter a sound.

After dinner, it’s getting late, so Chen Yu follows Song Luoning directly back to Xiao Yu’s new home.

There aren’t many things to pack. Song Luoning takes out the purse that Xiao Yu gave her to keep from under the pillow. After this period, the purse is already bulging. Looking at the purse, Song Luoning’s expression softens a bit. After a while, she sighs and puts the purse into her baggage, then takes out a few changes of clothes.

She has been here for more than two months. She came in the spring of March, and now it’s already summer. A hint of sadness flashes in Song Luoning’s eyes.

“Sister-in-law, will you blame me?” Chen Yu stands by the round table, at a loss, carefully observing her expression from the corner of her eye.

Song Luoning comes back to her senses, gives a comforting smile, and shakes her head. “This isn’t about who is right or wrong. You are my husband’s sister. If something happened and my husband didn’t stand up to protect you, how could we be a family? We are not at the point of assigning blame. The most important thing is to find a way to clear my husband’s name as soon as possible.”

“Okay.” Chen Yu’s eyes fill with tears, and she nods vigorously. “I understand, sister-in-law. Thank you. I was so ignorant before, following others and saying those things about her.”

Song Luoning smiles, puts the packed baggage on the head of the bed, and says, “Get some rest early. We have to get up early tomorrow.”

Chen Yu purses her lips and nods firmly.

The next day.

Chen Yu leaves early to collect the rent. A man in black arrives at the house. Song Luoning looks down at the two letters on the table. One is from the county office, with a few scrawled lines, each expressing concern for her. The other is from the capital, and the words are filled with her father and brother’s earnest instructions.

Song Luoning puts the letters away, and her gaze sweeps over the messenger. “What is the situation in the capital?”

The messenger bows respectfully. “The situation in the court is getting tenser by the day, but you don’t need to worry, miss. The Prime Minister has already gained control of the situation. The only worry is that those people will be a threat to the new emperor. I hope you can return to the capital as soon as possible, young lady.”

Song Luoning looks down, lost in thought for a moment. “I understand. You may leave.”

The messenger leaves, and Song Luoning takes out a fire starter and burns the letters.

Three days pass in the blink of an eye. Song Luoning and Chen Yu are in one carriage, and Jiang Wanrou and the little maid are in another. The four of them arrive early at the county office gate to wait. After a while, the county office door opens, and Xiao Yu is escorted out by two constables, one on each side. The two constables are carrying baggage on their backs, and Liang Chengqiu walks at the back, also carrying a bag.

Although Xiao Yu was sentenced by the county magistrate, in reality, the officials below have no authority to try a member of the royal family. So, they don’t need a prison cart for the journey, and they travel lightly.

As soon as Xiao Yu steps out of the county office gate, she sees Song Luoning’s carriage. Her heart flutters, but the constable pushes her back. She stares eagerly at the carriage.

Song Luoning pushes open the carriage curtain, her gaze landing on her. She lowers her eyes to hide her emotions, purses her lips, and thinks, This rake seems to have lost some weight. Did she not sleep well these past two days?

She looks up again, her eyes returning to their calm state as she looks at Xiao Yu.

“Wifey.” The two of them make eye contact, and Xiao Yu’s eyes turn red. Just as she is about to step forward, the constable shoves her. Xiao Yu feels wronged and really wants to go and hug her.

She can only think about it now. She looks at Song Luoning with a few more hints of grievance and changes her words. “Wifey, I’m fine. Why did all of you come?” Seeing her family warms her heart. She turns to Jiang Wanrou and continues, “Mom, you have to take good care of my wifey for me. I’ll be back.”

Song Luoning seems very calm and lowers her eyes.

Jiang Wanrou, on the other hand, is stunned and can’t help but rub her forehead. At a time like this, all she can think about is her wifey? The old saying is really true: Once a man has a wife, he forgets his mother.

Jiang Wanrou looks at her daughter with a complex expression and chuckles twice. “Who would dare to wrong your wife? We’re going to the capital with you. You can take care of her yourself on the way.” She then glances at Song Luoning, feeling a strange mixture of emotions in her heart, rubs her forehead, and gets back into the carriage.

Seeing the two of them makes her feel bad.

“What?” Xiao Yu stares at Song Luoning with wide, disbelieving eyes. Song Luoning nods at her. Xiao Yu’s eyes are filled with undisguised excitement, but it is quickly replaced by worry. “Wifey, your body…”

Song Luoning looks up at her, curves her lips into a smile, and gets back into the carriage as the constables urge them on.

The government escorts the prisoner on foot in the front, with the two carriages following behind. When it’s time to rest, with Liang Chengqiu’s permission, Xiao Yu can’t wait to get into the carriage.

“Husband, you…” Song Luoning purses her lips, her fingers clenching inside her wide sleeves. She turns her face away, not daring to meet his burning gaze. This rake! There are other people here. Why is she like this?

Xiao Yu feels her heart pound and wants to hug her immediately. She glances at the other person in the carriage and holds back. Her fingers rub together, and she puts them on her knees. She leans forward, unable to hide her concern. “If you feel unwell, you must tell me. Don’t worry about me. I’m not tired from walking. I heard that the case will be retried at the Dali Temple. I didn’t kill anyone. They can’t all be like that muddle-headed magistrate, who sentences people without evidence.”

“I believe you, husband.” Song Luoning’s brow twitches, and she leans back against the carriage wall. A strange emotion stirs in her heart, and her cheeks feel a little warm. She says in a low voice, “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry, husband. Xiao Yu is still in the carriage.”

“Okay, did my wifey prepare any food?” Xiao Yu asks.

“My mother-in-law prepared some dry rations for the road,” Song Luoning answers.

She prepared dry rations, which means she didn’t prepare any snacks for the young lady. It takes half a month to get from Linyang County to the capital by carriage. For them, who are traveling on foot, who knows when they will get there. They have been walking for most of the day and have only just left the county.

She will be so bored on the way.

Xiao Yu is silent for a moment and then turns to Chen Yu. “When we get to the next county, you…” Before she can finish her sentence, there is a sound of fighting outside.

“Assassins!”

The carriage sways, and Xiao Yu quickly holds Song Luoning. “Wifey, don’t move. I’ll go out and see.” Xiao Yu reassures her and jumps out of the carriage. A few men in black turn around and slash at her.

“…” Wait, why are they all attacking me?

Xiao Yu quickly crouches down. The assassins’ blades hit the carriage pole, startling the horse, which lets out a neigh. Xiao Yu takes the opportunity to jump onto the carriage and drives it away at a gallop.

The horse is a bit spooked. After a while, the carriage finally stops at the edge of a cliff. Looking at the sheer cliff in front of them, Xiao Yu feels a surge of fear. Fortunately, this horse values its life. If not, their lives would have been over.

They managed to get away, but they must have veered off the original official road. She has no idea where they are now.

Xiao Yu pushes open the carriage curtain, worried. “Wifey, are you two okay?”

Song Luoning holds her chest and takes a few deep breaths, shaking her head. Ever since she took the pills Xiao Yu gave her, she hasn’t felt unwell for a long time. She was just a little startled just now, and she’s already much better.

“That’s good.” Xiao Yu glances around. “We have to find mom and the others as soon as possible.”

Going back the way they came is definitely not an option. They might not find the others and could run into the men in black again, which would be disastrous.

“Wifey, how about we find the official road first and wait for them up ahead?”

Song Luoning thinks for a moment. “You’re right, husband.” She knows that their trip to the capital will be full of danger. She didn’t expect the other side to make a move as soon as they left the city. The most important thing now is to find the people her father sent to protect them.

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