CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 216: PROTECTING (ADDITIONAL 2)

The rain came suddenly, catching people off guard as it poured down.

Xie Liangchen raised her head and, through the umbrella handle, saw an official robe in a crabapple red tint, its hem already soaked by the rain.

"General Song."

Xie Liangchen called out, their eyes meeting, and only felt that Song Xian’s gaze carried a hint of warmth beneath its clarity.

Raindrops hit the umbrella, crackling loudly.

Chen Zigeng wanted to speak but had an inkling that it wasn’t the right moment to open his mouth.

"Miss Xie," He San’s voice arrived, "The rain outside is heavy. Perhaps it’s better to wait before heading out. If you have urgent matters... we have umbrellas and raincoats here."

He San spoke without looking sideways, following the old master’s orders to deliver an umbrella, but did not expect to see a general in an official robe standing beside Miss Xie.

Not knowing the identity of this general nor daring to make assumptions, He San stood by awaiting instructions.

Just as Xie Liangchen was about to speak, Song Xian said, "The carriage is ready, let me escort you to it."

Xie Liangchen looked up and indeed saw a carriage arriving at the inn’s entrance.

Chen Zigeng gently tugged at Xie Liangchen’s sleeve: "Sister, let’s take the carriage, General Song’s robes are already drenched."

Song Xian’s entire body was almost entirely soaked by the rain.

Xie Liangchen hesitated no longer, thanked He San, and led Chen Zigeng and Chen Chuchu toward the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng stepped into the compartment.

The rain was heavy, but Xie Liangchen’s umbrella kept her dry except for her shoes and the hem of her skirt. Chen Zigeng, sitting squeezed beside her, did the same, lifting the carriage curtain to peer outside.

Chen Chuchu refused to enter the carriage and, asking Chang An for a raincoat and a hat, sat in the front with the guard steering the carriage.

Just as the carriage was about to set off, the sound of hooves echoed, and a rider stopped before the inn. The person on horseback elegantly dismounted, glanced at the carriage at the inn entrance, and through the curtain, his gaze met Xie Liangchen’s for a moment before he paused.

Xie Liangchen recognized him as Su Huaiqing.

Surprise flickered in Su Huaiqing’s gaze, then he looked at Song Xian and Chang An, and when he returned to his senses, his demeanor had shifted to calm and he bowed to Song Xian as though it were customary.

Song Xian, sitting on his horse, gave an order and escorted the carriage forward, while Su Huaiqing turned and entered the inn.

Old Master Su was waiting inside the inn and expressed surprise upon seeing his grandson return: "Did you hurry back so soon?"

Outside Zhaozhou City, someone was growing medicinal herbs in the mountains that Su Huaiqing had gone to inspect. The grandfather and grandson had arranged to meet at the city inn, but unexpectedly, Su Huaiqing had rushed back only to see Miss Xie departing by carriage.

Su Huaiqing picked up a cup of hot tea, once more gazing outside the inn as if there were still a carriage parked, presumably Song Family’s, with Song Xian having personally come to fetch Miss Xie.

"Did you see her earlier?" Old Master Su asked, "It was the child of the Xie Family."

Su Huaiqing nodded: "I happened to see her."

Old Master Su continued: "Do you recognize the person who came to fetch her?" The person walked too quickly for him to see clearly.

Of course, Su Huaiqing recognized him. He raised the teacup to his lips but did not drink, instead placing the cup down: "It’s the legitimate eldest son of the National Guardian General, in charge of Zhaozhou and Zhenzhou military command, Song Xian, General Song."

Old Master Su was somewhat surprised; in the Capital he frequently heard General Song’s name, for the incident at the Northern Border in Tongliao had been investigated by Song Xian.

In the Capital, people said this General Song was decisive in his actions, showing no leniency toward even his own brother.

His daughter-in-law had turned pale at the mention of General Song’s name after witnessing Song Xian interrogate Liao spies in the Zhenzhou prison.

Such a person, surprisingly, had personally held an umbrella for Miss Xie?

Old Master Su felt a faint oddity: "Miss Xie and General Song..."

Before Old Master Su could finish his sentence, Su Huaiqing interrupted: "Perhaps there was an urgent matter for General Song from Chen Family Village. Grandfather, don’t dwell on it. Miss Xie is unlike the average woman confined within the inner chambers."

Listening to his grandson speak for Miss Xie, Old Master Su glanced at him: "Are you? Alas, if only I had known better to stop your mother."

Su Huaiqing spoke no more, reaching to support Old Master Su: "Let me assist grandfather to rest. Tomorrow we must set off for Zhenzhou."

Old Master Su knew his grandson’s temperament well, having always made up his mind. If he didn’t wish to speak, others couldn’t pry into his thoughts just like this time when his grandson refused to attend the examination, letting a promising future slip by to manage the Su Family’s medicine shop instead.

Old Master Su felt unsettled: "If it weren’t for your father being bedridden and indeed incapable, and your mother being muddled, you wouldn’t have had to take on these tasks."

"I’m doing it because I want to," Su Huaiqing replied, "Even if I pass and enter officialdom, I wouldn’t know what to do. Better to start with tasks at hand."

Having settled Old Master Su into his room, Su Huaiqing sat at the table, alternately keeping watch over his grandfather and leafing through the ledger in his hands.

After some busy moments, he lifted his head, looking out the window.

The rain outside had not subsided, leaving his heart also dampened.

...

Xie Liangchen stepped down from the carriage, Chen Chuchu took the umbrella from Chang An and came forward to assist her sister and Chen Zigeng.

Nearby, Chang An could only think how the Chen Family villagers were indeed too considerate, snatching a good task from the master for no apparent reason.

Xie Liangchen entered the main house, where Mrs. Gao, who had come to Zhaozhou together, hurried to bring a towel forward, dumbfounded by the scene before her, momentarily unsure of what to do.

Mrs. Gao pondered in her heart, What is this about? General Song had just come to find Miss Chen, and upon realizing Liangchen wasn’t here, he hurriedly left. Could it be that he foresaw the rain and specially arranged for a carriage to seek out Miss Chen?

Liangchen and Zigeng hadn’t gotten wet, but General Song was drenched from head to toe.

Song Xian explained, "The government office just had a spare carriage, and I happened to meet Miss Xie and Zigeng at the inn doorway, so I sent them over."

Mrs. Gao then realized, of course; General Song wouldn’t be taking a carriage everywhere to seek someone.

Chen Zigeng sighed internally, he hadn’t realized before how easily his aunt could be deceived.

That carriage clearly wasn’t from the government office; Zhaozhou’s streets were big, how could it be encountered so conveniently? Was everyone too trusting of General Song or was the Chen Family villagers’ nature too simple, no wonder nobody saw through General’s intentions except him.

Song Xian turned to Mrs. Gao: "Could aunt please fetch a clean cloth for us to wipe?"

Mrs. Gao paused, then replied, "Yes, yes, I’ll go get some." There were no clean robes available, but she managed to find two unused cloths.

Song Xian bowed: "Sorry to trouble you."

Xie Liangchen said, "General, your robes are soaked. Wearing them like this might lead to catching a cold."

Song Xian turned to make eye contact with Xie Liangchen: "I have urgent matters to discuss with Miss Xie, I cannot leave just yet."