Chapter 374

The river surges, the horizon is vast, and a two-masted sailing ship is cleaving through the wind and waves.

At the bow, a pair of young people, a boy and a girl, gaze into the wind, taking in the river scenery and laughing as they talk to each other.

The young man is tall and upright, handsome and bright; the young woman is graceful and slender, pretty and moving.

After Jia Cong and Zhi Shao left the Lin family, they did not board the official ship docked at Guazhou Ferry.

He let Jiang Liu take fifteen musketeer guards to travel to Jin Ling on the official ship first.

As for him, he spent some effort upstream, not far from the ferry, to find a couple who owned a boat and were familiar with the waterways, and paid a high price to charter their two-masted civilian ship.

Jia Cong and Zhi Shao, traveling light with few attendants, took that merchant ship to Gusu.

This couple were both from Gusu and had spent years running boats between Yangzhou and Gusu, which happened to align with Jia Cong and Zhi Shao's itinerary.

Yangzhou and Gusu originally had a direct, shortest waterway to reach each other, but according to this local boatman, those waters were too close to the river mouth, and for the past two years, Japanese pirates had often raided along the estuary.

For the sake of safety, they needed to take a longer route, starting from the ancient Guazhou Ferry, traveling upstream past Zhenjiang and Changzhou, and then downstream to dock within Gusu's borders; only then would the journey be most secure.

Jia Cong was afraid that Zhi Shao would catch a cold from the river wind, so the two went into the cabin together. By noon, Zheng Xiaohai's wife had cooked a few plates of freshly netted fish and shrimp, along with a pot of freshly steamed yellow rice.

A smile as bright as the morning clouds appeared on her face: "If it is truly as the Cong Sanye says, that would be wonderful. My master is advanced in years, and I would be able to be by her side often to look after her."

Seeing Zhi Shao's smiling eyes and her good mood, Jia Cong knew she must be delighted at the prospect of seeing her master and senior sister soon.

They dispatch ships every day to patrol various stretches of the river, inspecting passing vessels and incidentally scraping some benefits from the passengers; the young master and his lady look like such respectable people.

After the two finished their meal, Zheng Xiaohai's wife came over to clear the bowls and chopsticks, then smilingly left the cabin. Seeing their outstanding appearance and intimate behavior, she assumed they were a young married couple and did not go back in to disturb them.

……

Although water has no constant shape, it will inevitably gather in low-lying places.

Jia Cong smiled and thanked them; this boatman couple had quite good hearts, and having hired their boat, he appreciated that they knew how to help him avoid trouble.

Throughout this river journey, the Zheng Xiaohai couple steered the boat very smoothly, avoiding all obstacles in the current, though for some reason they docked four times along the way.

He laughed: "When Abbess Xiushan returned from the Love Shenjing, it was on the way back that she saved you at the Liuyang River. Since she has been there once, it is not strange for her to go to the Love Shenjing again."

Jia Cong smiled: "I estimate two months is enough time. Do you feel it is too short, not enough to accompany your master and senior sister?"

Jia Cong suddenly laughed: "You don't need to let your imagination run wild. In the future, your master and senior sister will all come to the Love Shenjing, so after meeting this time, it will be easy to see each other often."

Jia Cong recalled the several times Zheng Xiaohai had docked earlier; at the time, fast ships had indeed appeared in the nearby waters, and they were flying the Great Zhou military flag.

And these so-called Japanese pirates and sea bandits—the truly down-and-out warriors from the East—only make up a small portion; the vast majority are Han people.

Back then, he went through many twists and turns before finding Zhi Shao at Panxiang Temple, and it was only after experiencing life-and-death risks that he allowed Zhi Shao, whose past had been completely emptied, to wholeheartedly follow him again.

Although it was not as exquisite as the food at home, it had a fresh and fragrant flavor, with a unique charm.

In these prefectures where maritime administration is prosperous, the Japanese pirates who have drifted in along the coast have been like a wildfire over the past two years, gradually growing fierce.

In the Huai region, due to natural disasters, the people's livelihood is withered, giving rise to the scourge of salt smuggling.

And on the riverbanks visible in the distance, one could vaguely see that every so often, guard towers stood tall, keeping watch over the river surface.

Either for survival or to plunder the wealth of others, they collude with the Japanese pirates.

In the several prefectures of Min and Zhe, powerful families have annexed land, and large numbers of farmers have lost their fields, unable to provide for their own warmth and hunger through farming.

……

Zhi Shao looked puzzled: "How could my master and senior sister come to the Love Shenjing? They never told me about it before. How does the Cong Sanye know?"

The boat captain was named Zheng Xiaohai, not yet forty years old. The couple had been running boats on these waters for over twenty years; they knew every hidden current and every underwater reef like the back of their hand.

He also used this to facilitate merchants and attract business, which could be considered the work of a mature and thoughtful person, so he couldn't help but take a few more looks at the honest-looking Zheng Xiaohai.

But at the same time, the Great Zhou's three maritime trade offices have promoted national maritime policies, and the maritime trade industry in the coastal prefectures is prosperous, with silver flowing in, creating countless foreign merchants and wealthy families.

Zhi Shao asked: "Cong Sanye, you are handling imperial business in Jin Ling this time; how long will it take before you return to the Love Shenjing?"

Neither Jia Cong nor Zhi Shao was in a hurry, so naturally, they had no objections.

Jia Cong asked out of curiosity, and Zheng Xiaohai's wife laughed: "Young Master, you don't know, but this area along the river is guarded by several imperial garrisons to guard against invasions by Japanese pirates and sea bandits."

Now, in the most important part of Zhi Shao's memory, besides Jia Cong, there are Abbess Xiushan and Miao Yu, who rescued and accompanied her for several years; they are the people she cares about most in the world.

Since Jia Cong has entered Jin Ling to handle business, it is very necessary to understand the relevant information around Jin Ling. If he were to travel around on an official ship with great fanfare, what he could see and hear would inevitably be very limited.

This time, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao has requisitioned five new types of red-clothed cannons to be equipped for the Su Zhou and Songjiang garrisons, precisely to strengthen and solidify the power of river defense against the enemy.

Zheng Xiaohai steered the ship to dock several times, seemingly avoiding several patrol boats, and the subsequent waterway became smooth.

"And you paid so much silver to hire our boat. My husband didn't want the Young Master to suffer a loss, so we stopped the boat a few times, which happened to be timed perfectly to avoid the patrol boats."

Most of these people are farmers from coastal areas who are destitute and have nowhere to turn, or idlers and thugs from the streets.

Zhi Shao was half-convinced after hearing this.

It was just that a civilian who had been running boats for years was so clear about the movements of the naval forces along the river.

Zhi Shao replied: "Actually, the Love Shenjing and Gusu are so far apart. Being able to come back with the Cong Sanye this time and accompany my master for such a long time is already very rare. It's just that I don't know how my master's illness is."

Jia Cong heard the regret and worry hidden in her words.

Before setting off, Jia Cong had already learned that there had been frequent raids by Japanese pirates and sea bandits along the river in recent years, and the Songjiang and Su Zhou garrisons along the way had clashed with them many times.

Naturally, it was not easy for Jia Cong to say how he had learned the true reason.

"My master is proficient in innate divine calculations. She said there was a disaster in my fate, but she also said the Cong Sanye's energy is precious and he is the one who will resolve the calamity. Like a dodder vine clinging to a cypress, everything will turn from bad to good after this..."

When Zhi Shao said this, she suddenly thought of how, before leaving, Jia Cong had taken her and Ying Lian to pay birthday respects to the Old Matriarch, and her pretty face flushed red.

She had been in the Jia household for two years and naturally knew the rules regarding the masters of the house. Being able to follow Jia Cong to pay birthday respects to the Old Matriarch meant a great deal.

Jia Cong and Wu'er both told her that she was a maid who had served Jia Cong since childhood. Although she couldn't remember clearly, as long as they could stay together, what did these things matter?

Jia Cong laughed: "Abbess Xiushan is proficient in innate divine calculations, so she must be right. If she says I can protect you so that things turn from bad to good and you live a peaceful life, then that calculation is extremely accurate."

Zhi Shao couldn't help but lean on his shoulder, feeling peaceful and happy in her heart, and smiled: "I also think my master's calculation is very accurate."

Outside, the river waves rose and fell, while inside the cabin, it was peaceful and warm.

……

Gusu, Mount Xuanmu, Panxiang Temple.

In a place separated by a wall from the inner courtyard of Panxiang Temple, there were four or five vacant small courtyards; these were also temple property of Panxiang Temple.

The small courtyard on the far east side had been empty for the past two years. People nearby all knew that a bloody case had occurred in this courtyard two years ago, so people were wary of it and no one had come to rent it.

There was another reason: the climate had become increasingly abnormal over the past two years, natural disasters occurred frequently, harvests in the fields were desolate, and the times were not very prosperous.

The lives of the common people were tight, and Gusu was a large city in Jiangnan, so the cost of living was not low. Many people who came to Gusu to make a living had returned to their hometowns, and houses were not as easy to rent out as they had been two years ago.

Today, however, two people came to this courtyard.

One was a nun who kept her hair and wore a Miao Chang bun.

The other was a young girl of thirteen or fourteen, with a slender and graceful figure, a refined and beautiful face, and dressed in plain cloth clothes and a skirt. Although clean and dust-free, they were washed until they were somewhat old.

She looked to be only in her early teens, but her actions and behavior already had a sense of elegance and steadiness.

These two entered the courtyard, bringing clear water, coarse cloth, a broom, and other items, and began to clean the courtyard that had been empty for a long time.

The young girl asked: "Sister Sister Miao Yu, when did Sister Jinghui say in her last letter that she would arrive?"

Sister Miao Yu held a broom and was unhurriedly sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard. Her monk's robe sleeves fluttered, bulging slightly in the wind, with a unique lightness.

She replied: "Jinghui said they would set off on the second day of the eighth month. By the time, they should arrive in a day or two."

The young girl said: "Young Master Jia wrote two good poems in Jin Ling that year. It's a pity that I haven't heard any new works in the past two years."

Sister Miao Yu continued to sweep the leaves and said: "In the past two years, he has either been taking the imperial examinations, making firearms, or going to Liaodong to serve in the army and fight. It seems he hasn't had the leisure to write poetry."

The young girl laughed: "Sister Sister Miao Yu, you remember clearly what Young Master Jia has been doing these past two years. Didn't you dislike him before? Yet now you are cleaning the house for him so he can stay when he returns."

If it were anyone else saying such abrupt words, Sister Miao Yu would likely be annoyed.

But this young girl was different; she had a quiet and indifferent temperament and had always been compatible with Sister Miao Yu. Sister Miao Yu taught her to read and write, chant scriptures, and read scrolls, and in her spare time, she also watched her do needlework and embroidery, and draw pictures.

Among Sister Miao Yu's female companions of the same age, there were only two: one was her junior sister Jinghui, and the other was this young girl, so she wouldn't take a joke from the other party to heart.

Sister Miao Yu had lived in a Buddhist temple since she was a child, accompanied by green lamps and ancient Buddhas, and had little experience of the secular world, so her temperament was naturally eccentric.

If she felt you were good, even if your words and actions were a bit excessive, she could accept them calmly.

If she felt you were not good, even if your etiquette was perfect, she would still find you vulgar and disgusting.

Sister Miao Yu stopped the broom in her hand, picked up a piece of damp coarse cloth, and went to wipe the dust off the door. Her slender fingers suddenly touched a hole in the door.

Jinghui had once told her that it was shot out by a sleeve arrow. That time, Jia Cong had blocked an arrow for Jinghui and saved her life. Thinking of these things, she couldn't help but feel touched.

She said: "Although he is a bit annoying, he is Jinghui's good man, and Jinghui wants to be with him for a lifetime."

"Now that he has sent Jinghui back to see her master, it is also a good intention. I must fulfill some etiquette for the master, and it is also for the sake of Jinghui's dignity."

The young girl laughed: "To be treated with such courtesy by someone like Sister Sister Miao Yu, Young Master Jia can be considered good."

Sister Miao Yu smiled: "You keep calling him Young Master Jia, which is too distant. I heard you say that your aunt married the successor of the Jia family's eldest branch, who is Jia Cong's biological mother."

"Speaking of kinship, he is your cousin."

When the young girl heard Sister Miao Yu's words, her expression froze slightly, her beautiful eyes rippled, not knowing what she was thinking.

……

This young girl was Xing Xiuyan. Two years ago, when Jia Cong was looking for Zhi Shao at Panxiang Temple, he had met her.

Back then, Cui Bowang, in order to avenge his brother Cui Boliang, intended to harm Jia Cong.

He disguised himself as a peddler and asked the young Xing Xiuyan for information near Panxiang Temple, and even sold a silk flower worth twenty wen to Xing Xiuyan for seven wen.

Xing Xiuyan met Jia Cong and mentioned this, which made Jia Cong alert and avoid the assassination.

At that time, she hadn't shed her childishness, but girls grow up early, and in these two years, she had grown into a graceful young woman, adding even more beauty and charm.

In the previous generation of the Xing family, only Lady Xing was capable. Xing Xiuyan's father, Xing Zhong, was a lazy and incompetent person. Even past forty, he had achieved nothing, had no fixed residence, and could only manage to make a living.

Their family had been renting a house at Panxiang Temple for seven or eight years, so Xing Xiuyan had been with Sister Miao Yu since she was a child, and they had a relationship that was half-master and half-friend, and they were very close.

Xing Zhong was lazy and incompetent and was often disliked and complained about by his wife. Xing Xiuyan had often seen her parents arguing endlessly over small matters of a few coins since she was a child, which made her miserable.

So she often ran to Panxiang Temple to talk to Sister Miao Yu to find some peace. After many visits, Sister Miao Yu liked her indifferent temperament, and even Abbess Xiushan valued this girl with wisdom roots.

It is said that the children of the poor take charge early, and they are also more sensible and know how to cherish blessings than the children of the rich.

Xing Xiuyan valued her affinity with Panxiang Temple. She was quiet and intelligent, had no desires, and learned poetry, books, Zen scriptures, and Buddhist principles from Sister Miao Yu.

In her spare time, she helped the nuns in the temple with some needlework. Although her family was destitute and miserable, she lived a life of poverty and joy, calm and composed.

Since Zhi Shao returned to the Love Shenjing with Jia Cong, the ancient temple had been empty and lonely, and Sister Miao Yu and Xing Xiuyan had become closer. Xing Xiuyan even often lived in the temple, keeping Sister Miao Yu company daily, so she didn't have to listen to her parents' daily quarrels.

Xing Zhong and his wife naturally didn't care at all, and even wished that their daughter would live in the temple, which could save the family some rice and grain money.

It was fortunate that Xing Xiuyan had the connection with Panxiang Temple; otherwise, with the poverty and greed of Xing Zhong and his wife, they would never have spent money to let their daughter read and write.

Xing Xiuyan could only have grown up to be a beautiful woman with no substance.

……

It was just that when she heard Sister Miao Yu say that Jia Cong was her cousin, she felt a bit unnatural. In the past two years, Jia Cong's name had spread throughout the world, and rumors about his family background had naturally spread widely among the people.

The talk about her aunt was not very pleasant.

She said with a depressed expression: "Sister Sister Miao Yu has been in the temple for a long time and probably hasn't heard much from the outside."

"My aunt is Young Master Jia's biological mother, but people outside all say that Young Master Jia was mistreated by her when he was young, and there is no mother-son relationship between them."

"I didn't know Young Master Jia's identity before, and he must not have known my background. If he knew I was my aunt's niece, who knows how he would ignore me."

In the past two years, Sister Miao Yu had paid close attention to Jia Cong's affairs because of Zhi Shao, and it wasn't as Xing Xiuyan said—she hadn't heard those rumors outside, and she was very clear about those rumors.

Otherwise, how could she have talked about Jia Cong's actions over the past two years as if she were counting her family treasures?

"You don't need to think too much. Although he is a bit annoying, he doesn't look like a narrow-minded person. Your aunt and you are two different things; how can they be mentioned in the same breath? And you have never offended him."

"This person can write such poetry and win the honor of Jieyuan; he is somewhat broad-minded. As I see it, he will not be so shallow as to vent his anger on you innocently."

When Xing Xiuyan heard this, her mood brightened. When she met Jia Cong at Panxiang Temple back then, although she was young, she was already well-versed in poetry and books, and she admired Jia Cong's extraordinary literary talent very much.

If she were despised by such a person because of her aunt, it would be a very embarrassing thing.

She then thought that Sister Sister Miao Yu kept saying that her cousin was annoying, but it was just because she was sad that he had taken Sister Jinghui away. In fact, she was still quite concerned about him and would even speak up for him.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have enlightened her just now, but she didn't even realize it herself. (End of chapter)