Chapter 29: Returning Home

Outside Jingzhou City, a carriage was racing along.

Zheng Fa pulled back the carriage curtain and called out to the driver, Gao Yuan: “Didn’t know you could drive a carriage!”

Gao Yuan cracked the whip, urging the horses forward, a smile on his face: “The Six Arts of the Gentleman—ritual, music, archery, driving, calligraphy, and arithmetic—everyone else studied calligraphy or archery, but my father made me learn driving.”

Zheng Fa felt even more impressed: “Your father has an ancient spirit. Few Confucians bother learning to drive these days.”

The Six Arts of the Gentleman were already an old-fashioned concept, and driving was something few Confucians cared about.

“Hmm, my dad probably didn’t think of it that way,” Gao Yuan grinned. “He said learning other things wastes money, but if I failed at books, at least I’d have a trade to fall back on.”

“Your father has… practical wisdom.”

Zheng Fa spontaneously felt deep respect for the unseen head steward, Gao.

Inside the carriage, the Seventh Young Master pressed his fist against his mouth to hide his smirk and frowned: “Pull the curtain down—it’s all dust.”

Most roads in this world were dirt paths; hooves kicked up clouds of dust.

Zheng Fa lowered the curtain and turned to look inside the carriage.

This was the Seventh Young Master’s personal carriage, using the same spirit-blooded steeds as the previous Danzhu ox.

The interior was worlds apart from the ox cart Zheng Fa had ridden.

Inside stood a main seat, cushioned with thick fur blankets, upon which the Seventh Young Master lounged lazily.

Zheng Fa sat down; the seat beneath him was plush, seemingly shock-absorbing, and he felt not a single jolt during the ride.

The Seventh Young Master pulled open a small drawer beneath the seat’s armrest.

Inside lay several jade boxes stacked neatly.

His movements were gentle—something Zheng Fa had never seen from him, given his usual temperament.

He opened one jade box, revealing a yellow paper slip the size of a palm.

Before Zheng Fa could make out its design, the paper ignited without wind, instantly turning into wisps of blue smoke.

The next moment, a cool, refreshing breeze appeared out of nowhere inside the carriage.

The dust that had entered was swept away, leaving only the faint, soothing scent of grass and trees, filling the lungs and calming the spirit.

Zheng Fa felt his breathing grow clearer than ever.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, talisman paper,” the Seventh Young Master returned the jade box to the drawer. “The cheapest kind—Clear Wind Talisman. Oh, one of these could support your family for ten years.”

Zheng Fa grimaced.

Gao Yuan also leaned his head inside curiously: “Talisman paper? Let me see, let me see!”

“Watch the road!” the Seventh Young Master nearly jumped up.

“I’ve never seen a real immortal talisman!” Gao Yuan pulled his neck back.

“I’ll send you home the moment we get back!” the Seventh Young Master grumbled.

Neither Zheng Fa nor Gao Yuan paid it much mind.

After these past few days of interaction, even Gao Yuan had to admit: aside from being mute, having a foul mouth, and being insufferable in public—where he’d likely get beaten to death—the Seventh Young Master had no real flaws.

As for sending him home, the fellow had said it over a hundred times these past two days.

Gao Yuan said enviously: “Zheng Fa, you’re truly going home—you can even bring your mother and sister to the city. The Lady treats you so well!”

Hearing this, the Seventh Young Master’s expression grew uneasy.

He recalled his mother’s recent advice and sensed hidden intent behind this favor.

He’d come along only because his mother had mentioned it.

Her reasoning: if you’re going to bestow grace, lower yourself so no one can find fault.

The teenage Seventh Young Master still felt this trip carried ulterior motives.

As he wrestled with these thoughts, Zheng Fa’s voice came: “Yes, the Lady treats me well, and you’ve come too—it’s all very good.”

The Seventh Young Master looked up and saw Zheng Fa smiling at him, as if understanding his quiet guilt, and added firmly: “Really good.”

Zheng Fa had indeed sensed the Lady’s intent.

As Gao Yuan said, to others, this was clearly the Lady’s recognition and grace toward his family. Any future success he achieved, if he valued reputation or conscience, would compel him to repay this debt.

If one imagined the Lady’s motives more cynically, perhaps she also intended to keep his mother and sister under Zhao family control…

But honestly, Zheng Fa didn’t mind. After all, the Lady had reunited him with his mother and sister, and given them a better life.

But to be honest, Zheng Fa didn’t think much of it—after all, Lady Zhao had reunited him with his mother and sister, and given them a better life.

As for the rest—judging actions, not intentions.

The Seventh Young Master froze, slightly embarrassed, lips pressed together, refusing to meet Zheng Fa’s gaze.

He turned and pulled back the curtain to look outside, muttering: “I’ve never even seen the estate—I’m going to take a good look this time!”

He turned his head and pulled back the carriage curtain to look outside, muttering, “I haven’t even visited the estate yet—I want to go see it properly this time!”

At the estate.

The sun was nearly set; Zheng Fa’s mother still stood at the door, anxiously gazing outward.

As dusk deepened, a small figure appeared, carrying a bamboo basket three times her head size, skipping slowly toward the Zheng home.

“Shan’er!” Zheng Mu hurried forward, took the basket from her daughter, and scanned her up and down.

Zheng Shan’s pant legs were caked with dirt, her forehead glistening with sweat.

Seeing her daughter unharmed, Zheng Mu exhaled in relief, then pinched her ear in anger: “Why are you home so late? Don’t you know I was terrified?”

“Mom! Ouch!” Zheng Shan yelped, tilting her head to explain: “I wasn’t playing! I took a long route…”

“You detoured?” Zheng Mu released her ear.

“Yes. Wang Gui has been blocking the road these days, harassing me. I was scared, so I took the long way.” Zheng Shan nodded.

“Wang Gui… he’s gotten worse these days!”

“Yes, Wang Gui has been blocking my path these past few days, causing trouble—I was afraid, so I took a longer route,” Zheng Shan nodded.

“His father should discipline him!” Zheng Shan muttered angrily.

Zheng Mu sighed. Since her son refused Wang’s silver, Wang Gui’s bullying of Zheng Shan had intensified.

He dared not truly harm her because of Zheng Fa—but he could make her life miserable.

Zheng Mu sighed; since her son had refused Wang the steward’s silver, Wang Gui’s bullying of Zheng Shan had only grown worse.

Knowing Zheng Fa’s attitude toward him, he wouldn’t interfere.

After all, Zheng Fa still served as a servant in the Zhao household—he wouldn’t risk his own position.

But these petty acts? Later, he could just say, “Children don’t know better.”

“Don’t tell your brother about this,” Zheng Mu suddenly said. “Tomorrow, I’ll go gather pigweed.”

“I’ll go! Since Brother left, you’ve done all the work. I can handle it—I’ll just avoid Wang Gui. Brother used to do even more than me!” Zheng Shan clung to the basket, protesting.

“Don’t tell your brother.”

Zheng Mu gently wiped her daughter’s forehead with her sleeve, repeating the warning.

“I won’t tell him. You said Brother’s life as a servant in the Zhao household is hard too,” Zheng Shan nodded firmly. “I won’t make him worry about us.”

Zheng Mu pulled her sensible daughter close.

Zheng Shan nuzzled affectionately against her mother’s chest, then added in a tattletale tone:

“Wang Gui said Brother eats rich food and drinks fine wine in the Zhao household—he told me to beg Brother to bring me to the city and share the good life!”

“Absolutely not! Your brother has no one in the Zhao household—he’s terrified every day. How could he have that kind of influence? Saying that makes him sound arrogant!”

“I know. He just wants Brother to get beaten and sent home like him!” Zheng Shan lifted her head, proud and knowing: “Whenever Brother gets good food, he always brings some home for me!”

As she spoke, she licked her lips, as if recalling the delicious meal from the food box.

I know he just wants Brother to be like him—beaten with sticks and sent back! Zheng Shan lifted her head, her face glowing with smug triumph: When Brother eats something delicious, he always brings some back for me!

After saying that, she licked her lips, as if recalling the delicacies from that food box before.