CHAPTER 313: CHAPTER 310: FATHER

Outside the shed, the sound of the wind "whooshing" can be heard.

Inside the shed, after a restrained coughing fit, there is a moment of silence. The person sitting on the stone waits until their breathing stabilizes before looking up, awaiting an answer.

Liu Ji changes out of his wet clothes and says in a low voice, "The eldest lady is in Dai State, not too far from here. If you want to see her, I can think of a way... You don’t know how formidable the eldest lady has become now. If she knew... you were here, she would certainly be delighted. Haven’t you thought about... reuniting with the eldest lady?"

Upon hearing this, the man lifts his head. A ray of light falls on his face through the shed, revealing sunken eyes and a face indescribably haggard, with a long scar on his neck.

Xie Shao Yuan, his voice rendered particularly hoarse due to the injury on his neck, asks, "What does she look like now?"

Since Liu Ji’s return, Xie Shao Yuan has never inquired about the matters of Chen Family Village. Today, he can no longer suppress his curiosity and asks.

Liu Ji is delighted. He gestures at the tip of his nose with his hand, "About this height, her brows and eyes still resemble the Commandery Princess."

Xie Shao Yuan envisions Liangchen’s childhood appearance, then smiles, "Liangchen has grown up, she hasn’t changed into someone else, her eyebrows naturally still resemble her mother’s, but she’s grown quite a bit taller."

Previously, when Liangchen was in Yuezhou, Xie Shao Yuan often sent people back to see her. He knew Liangchen had grown poised and elegant, increasingly resembling her mother. Later, when Liangchen returned to Zhenzhou, most of the Li Family couple and those he left behind were gone. The rest were either captured or evading the Liao people. Until Xiao Xingzong was thwarted, losing quite a few men, making supervision lax, he dared to send Liu Ji to check on Zhenzhou.

Liu Ji continues, "She does things like you, covering all bases, she planted herbs on the mountains you left behind."

Just as Xie Shao Yuan is about to speak, Liu Ji adds, "No, she planted herbs on the entire mountains of Zhenzhou."

This surprises Xie Shao Yuan, and it takes him a while to mutter, "Liangchen just returned to Zhenzhou not long ago."

"Yes," Liu Ji says, "But now everyone calls her Sister Chen. I even saw a woman around eighteen or nineteen calling her that."

Xie Shao Yuan can’t help but smile, "Why is that?"

Liu Ji says, "Because Liangchen led all the people of Zhenzhou to plant herbs and do business. I heard she set up warehouses in Xingzhou and Qi State, and several caravans are transporting Zhenzhou’s goods. Everyone in the village respects her."

Xie Shao Yuan finds it hard to imagine the things Liu Ji is talking about, "What goods does Zhenzhou have that are worth being transported by caravans? Do we even need warehouses?"

Liu Ji says, "I inquired, there are herbs and thread tassel."

Liu Ji explains what thread tassel is and mentions the large spinning wheel, "A very large spinning wheel that requires several men to take turns shaking it. It can hold many ingots, even the Northwest is selling wool to Zhenzhou."

"You wanted to know how Yang Wu was stripped of his Commandery Princess title, right? This matter is related to Liangchen. It was Yang Wu who wanted to harm Liangchen. Liangchen and Song Xian exposed Yang Wu, reported it to the court, and so even the Du Family of the Northwest is doing business with Zhenzhou."

Liu Ji couldn’t explain it all in a sentence or two, and this was just one of the events, but it was enough to surprise Xie Shao Yuan.

Liu Ji says, "Song Xian often goes to Chen Family Village. When I went to deliver the letter, I saw Song Xian’s household general near Chen Family Village."

Xie Shao Yuan furrows his brows. It’s not that he’s overly cautious, but he doesn’t trust those officials. The more he knows, the more careful he needs to be. Wasn’t Prince Guangyang killed by former dynasty people, but was betrayed by his own?

"Song Xian," Xie Shao Yuan asks, "Would he know something?"

Liu Ji says, "Probably not. The villagers say Song Xian is different from other officials. If Song Xian hadn’t nodded, Liangchen wouldn’t be able to sell herbs to the Paper Workshop. Later, it was also Song Xian who agreed to let Chen Family Village try collecting herbs."

"During spring plowing, the Zhenzhou Government Office stepped in to lend cattle and seeds to the villagers. Otherwise, Zhenzhou wouldn’t be full of farm and medicinal products everywhere. This shows Song Xian is a good official. The interactions between Chen Family Village and Song Xian shouldn’t be problematic."

Xie Shao Yuan has never seen Song Xian, but he heard Song Xian’s name in Liao Land, and Xiao Xingzong was quite wary of Song Xian.

Liu Ji continues, "The Song Family father and son are quite capable. On my way back to Lingqiu, Cai Rong happened to lead troops to attack Song Qizheng but was stopped by Song Qizheng in Qi State. Liangchen has connections with the Song Family in Zhenzhou, maybe she could be protected by them day-to-day."

"Besides, Liangchen is also very smart. She must know how to protect herself. I almost couldn’t leave Zhenzhou this time. The villagers of Zhenzhou protect Liangchen fiercely. Any stranger asking questions about Chen Family Village will be instead interrogated."

Xie Shao Yuan asks, "Could Chen Family Village and Liangchen be working for Song Xian just to deal with Xiao Xingzong?"

Liu Ji doesn’t know the inside story and doesn’t dare speak lightly.

Xie Shao Yuan worries that Chen Family Village might become a pawn in Song Xian’s hands. Even if Song Xian is a good official, if something arises, Song Xian has no reason to risk protecting Chen Family Village, hoping Liangchen hasn’t revealed her origins to Song Xian.

The more Xie Shao Yuan thinks, the more anxious he becomes. He closes his eyes to calm himself. Even if Chen Family Village is faring well, he can’t help feeling this way. In the past, risking a family reunion at sea still ended up being targeted by the Liao people, leading to the loss of his wife. He’s barely alive to exact revenge on his enemies.

Xie Shao Yuan coughs again.

Liu Ji steps forward to pat and comfort him, "Big brother, I feel like your illness has worsened a lot compared to before. Have you seen a doctor and taken medicine?"

Xie Shao Yuan sustained severe injuries back then, resting on the ship for a long time, then living in the fishing village for two more years before he could get up from bed.

In these years, Xie Shao Yuan always practiced martial arts, looking no different from ordinary people on the surface. But having been severely injured, with one careless move he would fall ill. After arriving in Liao Land, inconveniences are everywhere, unable to rest, the illness seemed to cling to him, refusing to heal.

Xie Shao Yuan doesn’t care about these anymore. Now he only wants to kill Xiao Xingzong, one, to avenge his beloved wife, and two, to eliminate Xiao Xingzong, allowing Liangchen and Chen Family Village to be safe.

When Xie Shao Yuan stops coughing, Liu Ji resumes, "Dai State should have Song Xian’s troops. Otherwise, we should send Liangchen a message..."

Xie Shao Yuan waves his hand, "Don’t talk about Song Xian attacking the eight states and not being able to care about this place. Even if Song Xian wants to deal with Xiao Xingzong, he wouldn’t believe us easily."

"Even though Liangchen sent military supplies to Song Xian, Song Xian wouldn’t easily risk himself for Liangchen, so let’s not mention this matter again."

The matter Liu Ji brings up, he certainly wouldn’t do. Knowing Liangchen is in Dai State, Xie Shao Yuan desperately wishes to go meet her, even if only seeing her from afar.

Xie Shao Yuan forces himself not to contemplate too much, considering his current damaged state. Returning to Chen Family Village, he couldn’t bring anything to Liangchen. He already couldn’t protect his daughter daily, nor dare bring them trouble.

"Act according to our previous plan," Xie Shao Yuan says, "We only have one chance for assassination. If it doesn’t succeed, don’t expect to come rescue me, immediately retreat and hide, do you hear me?"

Liu Ji responds affirmatively.

If he dies this time, Xie Shao Yuan lifts his head to look at the strands of sunlight coming through. Liangchen doesn’t know any of it, believing her parents have long since passed, wouldn’t it be better for her not to grieve again?