CHAPTER 1358: CHAPTER 693: FAREWELL

First watch, asking for pink votes.

***********

Shen Jin was about to leave, and naturally, Lian Manman came to see her off. Lian Manman sat with Shen Jin on the couch, watching as the maids went in and out, packing the last of the items.

"I really hate to leave." Shen Jin said to Lian Manman, her expression also clearly showing her reluctance to leave Nian Garden. "I wish I could stay a few more days."

In response, Lian Manman couldn’t find the right words to comfort Shen Jin. Shen Jin had a very good stay at Nian Garden, but a large part of her reluctance stems from the fact that she wasn’t so eager about her future life, and she had many worries and doubts.

This, Lian Manman couldn’t help with.

How could Shen Jin possibly continue to stay at Nian Garden? The days she had been able to stay had already exceeded the original plan, something Shen Jin worked hard to request from Prefecture City. Now, it was time for her to leave. She needed to return to Prefecture City to prepare for her entrance into the palace.

And with Shen Jin’s departure, it was likely she would never have the chance to come back in her lifetime. Shen Jin knew this too, which made her even more reluctant.

Lian Manman couldn’t even comfort Shen Jin by saying that she might have a chance to come back someday. Women who marry into the deep palace have few paths to leave the palace, let alone leave the Capital City. If Shen Jin were indeed to return to Nian Garden in the future, it definitely wouldn’t be a good thing.

"Manman, please walk with me in the garden again." Shen Jin said to Lian Manman as she got up from the couch.

"Okay." Lian Manman nodded in agreement and walked out of the house together with Shen Jin.

Shen Liu had already arrived and was resting in Evergreen Garden. He only sent someone to help Shen Jin pack, not urging her to leave, obviously understanding her feelings and wanting to indulge his sister as much as he could.

Lian Manman and Shen Jin left the Lotus Pavilion, leisurely walking along the slate path. Shen Jin admired the scenery of Nian Garden, her eyes full of longing.

Although Nian Garden is beautiful, compared to the royal gardens of the Capital City, there’s definitely a gap. Shen Jin isn’t oblivious to this; the prosperity she’ll see in the future will undoubtedly far surpass today’s beauty. The scenery of Nian Garden is particularly beautiful in her eyes because of her fondness and cherishing of the carefree days of her youth.

Because Shen Jin knows, such days will never come again.

Lian Manman accompanied Shen Jin on the walk, and eventually, as Shen Jin grew a bit tired, they sat down to rest in a pavilion.

"Once I’m gone, who knows if we’ll be able to see each other again." Shen Jin said to Lian Manman.

Lian Manman did some quick mental math and nodded to Shen Jin.

"Come autumn, I’ll go to the Prefecture City with my brother, and you should still be at home then. I’ll come to see you." Lian Manman said.

After the autumn harvest, the ducks at her home should be fattened, and that’s the time for roast duck, she planned to open her first roast duck shop in Prefecture City.

"Alright." Shen Jin smiled, "Then you should come early."

"I certainly will." Lian Manman replied. Even if Shen Jin went to the Capital City, it didn’t mean they’d necessarily never have a chance to meet again. Once things at home were on track, Lian Manman planned to have Wu Lang or Xiao Qi accompany her to travel and explore. She also intended to open a branch of the roast duck shop in the Capital City.

"Manman, is that really what you’re thinking?" Shen Jin was a bit surprised and envious of Lian Manman’s plans to travel and see the world.

"Yes." Lian Manman nodded. "Fifth Sister, you see, I haven’t been raised in the deep inner chambers since childhood, nor do I have as many rules and constraints. Look, I haven’t even bound my feet."

As she spoke, Lian Manman lightly kicked the stone bench beside her. She was very familiar with Shen Jin, and they didn’t stand on ceremony with each other.

"If things were like the past, with the family still poor, I wouldn’t have a choice. But now, the family has the resources. My brother can support the household, and Xiao Qi has grown up. It’s very convenient for them to accompany me on travels to see the world." Lian Manman continued. On a previous occasion, when Wu Lang traveled with Mr. Loo and spoke of his experiences, Lian Manman had this idea.

Lian Manman spoke very pragmatically, which made Shen Jin smile.

"Your thinking is indeed good, but, won’t you get married?" Shen Jin asked with a smile.

The maids had all been sent to play by the water, so the two girls spoke without any reservations.

Lian Manman wanted to say, if she didn’t want to marry, then she wouldn’t, but when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back. Because, even though such words sounded free-spirited, they were too pretentious and irresponsible. In this era, whether a girl marries or not is not just her own business; it’s a matter for the entire family, even the entire clan, and society as a whole.