Chapter 75: Wanting to Leave, Yet Staying

Seventh Chen's muttering was heard by Fang Jinxiu, but she couldn't be bothered to pay attention.

She walked along the street, seeking a suitable inn while contemplating where she should go.

Seventh Chen kept grumbling and had just caught up when Fang Jinxiu stopped again.

"What now?" Seventh Chen asked, glancing at both sides of the street, he spoke again, "Let's not choose a very fancy inn after all. Even if we have money, we should still save a bit. The money you have now isn't inexhaustible like before; it gets lesser each time you spend it.."

Fang Jinxiu did not interrupt him as sounds of people approached from ahead.

"Third Miss," Liu'er's eyes lit up as she saw Fang Jinxiu approaching and hurriedly ran over.

It was eerie, how they kept running into her and her servant today.

Fang Jinxiu turned to leave, but Liu'er had already started speaking.

"Have you seen Miss Fang?" she asked.

Her voice was filled with urgency.

Fang Jinxiu's raised foot halted.

Liu'er, focused on her concern, didn't notice Fang Jinxiu's attempt to avoid her and anxiously searched around.

"They said she came this way, why can't I see her? What on earth happened?" she kept talking.

Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with herself. That was true from the beginning, and even more so now.

Fang Jinxiu's face remained tense, and she didn't speak.

"Could it be that something really went wrong?" Liu'er spoke hurriedly.

"What could have gone wrong?" Fang Jinxiu blurted out, immediately regretting it - mind your own business.

Liu'er didn't notice her annoyance.

"I don't know, Miss said something might be wrong, and she wanted to check it for herself. She told me to go back and inform Old Lady, and I did. I've been searching for her ever since, people said she came this way."

Jun Zhenzhen had always been a prophet of doom, Fang Jinxiu clenched her fists, recalling how many times her predictions had come true.

"What could have gone wrong? What did she see?" she asked.

"Nothing really, Miss and I were returning from watching an execution and encountered a group of officials, they were from Taiyuan prefecture. Miss just stared at them, and thinking of something, she said something was not right," Liu'er explained, "She told me to go back and notify the Old Lady while she went to check it herself..."

It was typical! This lady was always so presumptuous.

"Look at her, acting all capable," Fang Jinxiu said with a tight face.

Liu'er did not appreciate that comment.

"My Miss is very capable," she retorted, realizing her reply might sound too flattering, she spoke with a hint of impatience, "Did you see her or not?"

Fang Jinxiu glared at her.

"She went with Registrar Lin," she said.

Registrar Lin's name surprised Liu'er so much that she didn't immediately realize who it was until after a moment of thought.

"With Registrar Lin? What for?" she asked.

"How should I know?" Fang Jinxiu replied irritably.

Liu'er pursed her lips, scrutinizing Fang Jinxiu.

"Is it true? You're not lying to me?" she asked with suspicion.

"Why would I lie to you?" Fang Jinxiu snapped.

Liu'er's eyes flickered.

"You were driven out by the Fang Family, holding a grudge, right?" she said.

Fang Jinxiu was furious.

"Believe it or not," she shouted, pushing past Liu'er and striding forward.

Seventh Chen, carrying a candy figurine, hurried to catch up.

Liu'er watched Fang Jinxiu's retreating figure and sneered.

"What's there to be angry about? It's only natural; guilty conscience, isn't it?" she said with a humph, dismissing Jinxiu and walked forward with her head held high and chest out.

Seventh Chen, with the candy figurine, caught up with Fang Jinxiu.

"There's really no need to get upset over this; it's something you've known for a while. You just have to get used to it," he said.

Before he could finish, Fang Jinxiu stopped, glaring at him.

"Known what? Get used to what?" she asked.

Seventh Chen blinked his eyes.

"Kicked, out, bearing, resentment..." he stuttered.

Fang Jinxiu's expression turned ugly, as she bit her lower lip.

"Why should I harbor resentment? What am I resentful about? Resentful they gave birth to me and raised me?" she snapped.

Seventh Chen hurriedly raised his hand to shield his face.

"No, no, I'm not saying you're resentful, I mean that's what they would think," he said. "Others will definitely think like that about you, distrust you."

As the daughter of Concubine Su, indeed, she was not worthy of trust.

Yes, she had already known this, something she had to get accustomed to.

Fang Jinxiu's expression became despondent.

"But that's just what others see. I know you're not like that," Seventh Chen hurriedly said. "Sometimes we can't control other people's thoughts, but we can be clear in our own consciences, see it in perspective."

Fang Jinxiu didn't reply but turned her head and slowly walked down the street.

"Look at me, for instance," Seventh Chen followed behind her. "They always talk about my ancestors, what princes and royal kin they were, how glorious they were back then. Then they act all sympathetic towards me, but they're not actually pitying me; they're just taking joy in my misfortune for their own amusement. But I don't mind because I don't see myself as a descendant of princes or royal kin; I'm just me. What does my ancestry have to do with who I am?"

He paused again.

"Well, I can't say it has nothing to do with me. After all, I'm still enjoying the fortune my ancestors left behind. Every year on the third day of the third month, I can go to Jin Yun Hall and make some money."

He tilted his head, pondering.

"Anyway, I think that's quite good. I don't feel like if my ancestors' glory were still intact, life would be much better."

He paused again.

"Alright, sometimes I do think about it, but I don't feel sorry for myself, I just find it kind of interesting."

He shook his head then.

"What am I even talking about? Anyway, you shouldn't..."

He spoke and then noticed that Fang Jinxiu was no longer in front of him, which startled him. Then he saw that Fang Jinxiu had at some point sat down by the roadside.

"Miss Fang, what's wrong?" he asked cautiously.

Fang Jinxiu just looked at the street.

"Tired, just resting a bit," she muttered.

Thankful that she was still speaking, Seventh Chen breathed a sigh of relief and sat down a little farther away, carrying his candy figurines.

"We've really been walking for quite a while now, truly tiring," he said.

Fang Jinxiu no longer paid him any mind, just watching the people on the street. Seventh Chen didn't ask further, nor did he remain quiet. Instead, he started hawking his candy figurines, attracting a group of chattering children.

Unnoticed, he soon sold the remaining candy figurines, and the twilight bathed the street.

Seventh Chen counted his money with delight.

"Earned back enough for some tea and meat," he said.

Fang Jinxiu glanced at him and sighed, then tapped her leg and stood up.

"Feel rested?" Seventh Chen hastily stood up too and said.

Fang Jinxiu looked towards the side of the street where there was an inn in view.

"I'll stay here," she said. "Thanks for your company. Perhaps we'll meet again."

With that, she stepped forward, and Seventh Chen hurried to catch up.

"I might as well see the Buddha off to the west; I'll leave once you're settled," he said, catching up just to see Fang Jinxiu stopping again.

What now? Who did she see?

That was the trouble with Yangcheng; it was so small that you could bump into acquaintances with just a turn.

Seventh Chen followed Fang Jinxiu's gaze but had not made out the person before hearing crying.

Liu'er was sobbing as she ran from up ahead, her hair disheveled, her face marked noticeably with a slap print, drawing the attention of those on the street.

Seventh Chen laughed heartily.

"That girl got herself smacked," he said.

Fang Jinxiu furrowed her brows, stepped forward, and grabbed the crying Liu'er.

"Did the Lin Family do this to you?" she asked.

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