Chapter 308: This Place Is Not Suitable for Lingering

Lv Jing looked at Gu Xixi in disbelief.

Can a woman also make a living on her own?

Gu Xixi saw her dazed, thought she was still shocked and hadn't recovered, so she asked gently:

"You mentioned travel expenses and wanting revenge; what are your plans from now on?"

Lv Jing glanced at Gu Xixi, then corrected herself, "Don't hide it from you, Xixi, I came out this time to go to the Prefecture of Jingzhao to file a complaint."

"I swore before my parents' graves that I would seek justice for the whole family and make the wicked pay with blood."

"Before I see this day with my own eyes, my only wish while alive is this; I will not think of anything else."

She seemed to recall the scene of her family's destruction, and a resolute hatred flashed in her eyes.

"If the Prefecture of Jingzhao won't work, I'll go beat the Drum of Petition! If that still fails, I'll find a way to file an imperial complaint!"

"You're going to the capital?" Gu Xixi felt surprised, yet she smiled, "It's just on the way; if you have no other route, why not travel with us?"

Lv Jing hurriedly waved her hands, fearful, "No need, no need, I dare not trouble you three benefactors again!"

"I've already made up my mind to walk to the capital; rest assured, I have enough travel funds."

At that moment, An Qinghe had already moved the eight wicked servants to the side of the official road, so they wouldn't block the way.

He looked up at the sky and urged, "If we don't leave now, we'll really have to spend the night outdoors."

Gu Xixi smiled at Lv Jing, "Did you hear? Time is pressing; you shouldn't refuse."

"Travel with us for a stretch, first leave this place; afterward, if you want to go on your own, I won't stop you."

Lv Jing gazed at Gu Xixi, then after a moment nodded slightly.

"Thank you."

Gu Xixi had Lv Jing wait in the carriage first; when she turned to Jiang Mingyuan, her smile faded and her expression turned solemn.

"What do you think?"

Jiang Mingyuan had once served as a county magistrate and was familiar with judicial matters.

He pondered, "From what those wicked servants said, this young lady's parents were indeed killed and her property seized."

"But with such a major case occurring locally, why has the County Office taken no action?"

"Moreover, why doesn't this young lady seek redress at the County Office, insisting on going all the way to the capital?"

Jiang Mingyuan looked up, "In my view, the master those wicked servants spoke of probably has some background."

"Or perhaps they pursue this young lady not merely for her beauty."

Gu Xixi frowned, "Are they trying to stop Lv Jing from going to the capital to file a complaint?"

Jiang Mingyuan gave a slight nod.

He glanced at the wicked servants thrown by the roadside and said softly, "I had originally planned to send a fast horse overnight to ask the County Office to come arrest them."

"Now it seems this place is not suitable for lingering."

"Throwing them here, their master will naturally come looking for them; if any further trouble arises, we can only discuss it later."

Gu Xixi's face darkened, "I understand; I'll go tell An Qinghe, and we'll set off now."

"We won't even stay at an inn tonight; we'll rush to Jincheng tomorrow and rest then."

"Although this place belongs to Fengcheng, it is directly under the jurisdiction of Nan Yi Xian."

"If the County Office is colluding with that so-called master and learns that the wicked servants failed their mission, they will surely come after us."

"Therefore, leaving is the best course."

An Qinghe heard Gu Xixi say they would travel all night, asked no reason, and drove the carriage at breakneck speed.

Gu Xixi sat inside the carriage, closing her eyes to rest.

Lv Jing stole several glances at her, always feeling this young lady was quite different.

Lv Jing is the family's only daughter, cherished since childhood, and her parents seldom demanded strict observance of rites and propriety from her.

Yet what she usually hears and sees is nothing but the doctrine: "A woman obeys her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband's death."

Even her parents' previous plan was to take in a son-in-law for her.

After they had children and the old couple grew older, it would be natural to hand over the household to the son-in-law to establish his lineage.

Previously, Lv Jing herself had not thought this was bad at all.

Her parents told her, "Find a good man to take care of you."

But this young lady, whom she had just met, told her, "Make a living on your own."

This inevitably stirred ripples in Lv Jing's heart.

At dawn the next day, they heard Jiang Mingyuan outside say, "Xixi younger sister, I see the city gate."

Lv Jing startled awake, turned her head to look at Gu Xixi, and saw her eyes clear, as if she hadn't slept at all.

Gu Xixi lifted the carriage curtain, "Let's go into the city to find a decent inn; you two have worked hard all night, you should hurry to eat something and get some sleep."

"All right." Jiang Mingyuan responded, spurred his horse forward, and went to talk with An Qinghe.

After checking into the inn, Gu Xixi first had the attendant find a four-person table and ordered plenty of food.

While waiting for the two men to return after tethering their horses, the dishes were being served one after another.

Having skipped dinner yesterday and then rushed along the road, An Qinghe was already starving to the point his chest felt pressed against his back.

Smelling the aroma of the food, he stared wide-eyed, "Rock sugar pork knuckle? Clear stewed chicken soup?"

"Xixi, you said when going out we should keep things simple; why are we eating so luxuriously today?"

Gu Xixi laughed, "Everyone is tired and hungry; we ought to eat something good to replenish ourselves—I'll treat this meal."

Jiang Mingyuan and An Qinghe, knowing Gu Xixi's temperament, were not polite, laughing as they sat down.

Lv Jing, however, was at a loss, rose from the stool, "Miss Gu Xixi, I'm not hungry yet; you go ahead and eat."

"Thank you for seeing me here; I'll be on my way now."

The travel funds she brought barely covered lodging along the way—how could she afford such food?

Gu Xixi pressed down Lv Jing, half‑joking, "What, you're afraid you ate my food and can't pay back?"

Lv Jing blushed and lowered her head.

An Qinghe said, "Boss Gu's invitation to eat is for true friends only—eat heartily, no need to repay!"

Jiang Mingyuan also smiled, "Sister Xixi already ordered your share, miss—don't decline."

Lv Jing lifted her gaze to everyone, her eyes flashing with emotion.

"Mm, then I won't stand on ceremony."

While eating, Lv Jing furtively glanced at the three, and An Qinghe, this lively person, happened to notice.

An Qinghe boisterously laughed and asked, "Miss Lv, what are you looking at?"

"If you have any difficulties or ideas, just speak up."

Lv Jing startled, seeing Gu Xixi and Jiang Mingyuan looking over, her face flushed, she said, "I just don't know how you two relate to Miss Xixi..."

She glanced at An Qinghe, then fixed her gaze on Jiang Mingyuan, "Is Miss Xixi's husband this Mr. Jiang?"

In Lv Jing's view, such a young pair of two men and one woman traveling together must have one of them as Miss Xixi's husband.

At the table, silence fell; the three stared straight at Lv Jing, each with different expressions.

Gu Xixi (confused): "Huh?"

Jiang Mingyuan: surprised, somewhat startled.

An Qinghe: a bolt from the blue.

Lv Jing uneasy: "I was just guessing; if I'm wrong, please..."

Suddenly, An Qinghe slammed the table and stood up, "Why didn't you guess it was me?!"

Lv Jing was frightened and even more bewildered: "Ah?"

Gu Xixi grabbed An Qinghe, "Sit down, you're startling her with your sudden jumps—you've scared Miss Lv!"

She then smiled at Lv Jing, "I'm not married; Boss An is my business partner and friend, and Mr. Jiang is an elder brother from my native clan."