Chapter 73: Farewell

Neither of them mentioned Yan Qingli again; Li Zhi'an looked at Cheng Xi, "When you go to the Academy, I will see you off."

Cheng Xi refused, "No need. Everyone will likely be heading there together; there is no need for you to make an extra trip."

Li Zhi'an was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."

Cheng Xi did not notice Li Zhi'an's unusual behavior. After seeing him off, she gathered the people of the Du Mansion together and told them about her going to the Academy.

Zhao Mama and the others all looked very dejected. They knew they could not follow; the four great Academies were places where only the most formidable people could go.

"I will not sell this residence. If you have nowhere else to go, just continue staying here," Cheng Xi said slowly as she looked at them.

"How can that be?" Zhao Mama refused directly, "How are we worthy of living in the Eldest Miss's residence?"

"Once I go to the Academy, I will rarely have the chance to return. Zhao Mama, Mulan and Jinxiang are two lonely girls; I want to entrust them to you. Please find them good husbands."

After finishing, Cheng Xi looked at Mulan and Jinxiang, "I have prepared dowries for you: one shop each, thirty mu of land, and five hundred taels of silver. After you marry, live your lives well. With Zhao Mama and Zhao Kang around in the future, you will have someone to rely on."

Mulan and Jinxiang had not expected the Eldest Miss to be so thoughtful for them; their eyes instantly turned red, and they knelt to kowtow.

Cheng Xi did not stop them, then looked at Zhao Kang, "I am entrusting Zhao Mama, Mulan, and Jinxiang all to you. After they marry, if they are bullied by their husbands' families, you must stand up for them. When Zhao Mama passes away, this residence will be given to you."

Zhao Kang was stunned. Such a large residence, given to him?

He dared not accept it!

Cheng Xi looked at Mulan and Jinxiang again, "I will leave a deed; you two and Zhao Kang will each have a copy. After Zhao Mama passes away, you will supervise the residence before it is officially transferred to Zhao Kang's name. If Zhao Kang breaks his word and takes my things without standing up for you, this residence cannot be his, and the two of you will split it."

Human hearts are always complex. Once she goes to the Academy, time will fly like a white horse passing a crack; in the blink of an eye, it will be a mortal's entire life. Perhaps by the time she returns, Zhao Mama will have long since passed away, and Zhao Kang and the others will already be in their twilight years.

By restraining each other in this way, they could rely on one another to finish out this ordinary life.

Thinking of this, she looked at Zhao Kang again, "Besides this residence, I have also prepared a family fund for you, so you can marry a wife and have a few children."

Zhao Kang, a grown man, fell to his knees with a thud to kowtow to the Eldest Miss.

Cheng Xi raised her hand slightly, and he felt a force lift him up. He hurriedly raised his head, "Eldest Miss, please rest assured. I will definitely protect Mulan and Jinxiang like my own sisters and be filial to my mother. You may go without worry; if I break this oath, may I meet a miserable end."

Baohua had been still, but upon hearing this, she suddenly jumped onto Zhao Kang's shoulder, her eyes fixed on him.

Zhao Kang hurriedly smiled, "Baohua, you can rest assured too; I will treat them well."

"That is all then," Cheng Xi waved her hand. She had never been a sentimental person. She distributed the prepared silver notes, house deeds, and land deeds to them, and finally gave Zhao Mama a pouch separately.

Zhao Mama looked at the Eldest Miss and asked in surprise, "Eldest Miss, this is?"

"Money for your retirement."

"I cannot accept this!" Zhao Mama hurriedly pushed it back, "Eldest Miss, you have already given so much to my son; I cannot take more."

"His is his, and yours is yours. He will need to marry and have children in the future; having silver in your own hands will make things easier for you," Cheng Xi stuffed the pouch into Zhao Mama's hand, "Please take it, so I can be at ease."

Zhao Mama wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously, her hand trembling as she clutched the pouch.

Cheng Xi slept soundly through the night. The next morning, before they woke up, she left with Baohua.

She was not good at goodbyes and did not want to see Zhao Mama and the others shed more tears.

A person's life is like a train; people are constantly getting on and off. By the time it reaches the final destination, perhaps only she will be left.

Standing outside the main gate, she looked up at the two characters for "Du Mansion." With a wave of her wide sleeve, the gilded characters instantly vanished, leaving only a bare, pitch-black plaque.

Baohua hid in Cheng Xi's sleeve. She did not understand the meaning of Cheng Xi erasing those two characters, but she could feel that the aura on Cheng Xi had changed somewhat.

Walking to the street corner, a carriage was parked quietly there. The tall Jade Qilin Horse was robust and large, and beside the carriage stood Li Zhi'an in black robes, standing tall and straight.

Cheng Xi was startled, then suddenly smiled. She stepped forward, "So you were going to see me off after all."

"Get in the carriage."

Cheng Xi got in with him, and after sitting down, she said, "Yan Shengyu is waiting for me at the Ten Mile Pavilion outside the city. Take me there."

"Why are you leaving so soon?" Li Zhi'an asked, turning his head to look at Cheng Xi.

"There is a very large marketplace near the Qinghe Academy," Cheng Xi said.

Li Zhi'an smiled, "Understood."

The carriage drove out of the city gate, and the Ten Mile Pavilion came into view in the distance.

Cheng Xi lifted the carriage curtain to look; there were already people in the pavilion. She turned her head to look at Li Zhi'an.

The carriage came to a stop.

Cheng Xi was a bit surprised; she hadn't said anything yet, but Li Zhi'an had actually understood.

She looked at him, "The mountains are high and the waters are long; we shall meet again. If you wish to annul the engagement, let me know at any time."

Li Zhi'an:...

Cheng Xi jumped out of the carriage happily, "Li Zhi'an, goodbye!"

Li Zhi'an also got out and handed her a small box, "If anyone bullies you, tell me."

"Alright."

Cheng Xi thought to herself that that was impossible; it had always been her bullying others.

She turned and walked toward the Ten Mile Pavilion. Soon, Li An walked out from the pavilion and strode toward her, "You've arrived."

Cheng Xi nodded, "I thought you would leave a few days later."

Li An smiled. The Empress Dowager indeed had that intention, but he was unwilling.

Having him stay a few more days was merely to use his talent to suppress the Emperor. He had no grudge or enmity with the Emperor; he had chosen a different path, so why add to his troubles?

Knowing Cheng Xi was leaving today, he simply decided to leave today as well.

"Xixi, come in quickly."

Yan Shengyu's voice came over, and Cheng Xi walked in with Li An.

Before stepping into the stone pavilion, she suddenly looked back.

The tall figure beside the Jade Qilin Horse was still there. In the distance, the city gate of Jindu stood between heaven and earth, making his figure appear small by comparison.

She waved at Li Zhi'an, then turned and stepped into the stone pavilion.

Seeing her, Yan Shengyu teased, "What a pity, you two are engaged but have to separate. However, it doesn't matter; once we have achieved success in our cultivation, it will be very easy to return."

Even with the distinction between immortals and mortals, one wonders if Cheng Xi and Li Zhi'an will still be able to achieve a positive outcome.