Ji Yunshu summoned a maidservant and ordered her. “Girl, can you bring me some clean men’s clothing? I need a few sets.”
The girl blinked her eyes in bewilderment, but she still obeyed the order and left to fetch some clean clothes.
She changed her clothes and tied her long hair into a high bun.
Luan’er pulled her. “Miss, are you going to the yamen at this time?”
“No, I’m going to Zhao family village.”
“But Miss, there’s a downpour outside! If you want to investigate something, isn’t better to ask Lord Liu to dispatch some people? Right now, your body needs rest. I’m worried that…”
“This matter is of great importance. Dispatching too many yamen runners would only alarm the common people. Besides, there’s some matters I need to verify since it might be very problematic to investigate otherwise. I need to personally go on that trip. I have to ascertain the suspicions that’s bothering me.”
Ji Yunshu’s words were very abstruse to Luan’er, causing her mental functions to cease and creating much confusion in her brain.
Ji Yunshu put her clothes in order as she spoke again. “Luan’er, Lord Wei and Madame Wei already left the mansion. So, stay here and take care of Young Master Wei. You chat with him while I’m out. Make sure he doesn’t go find me. Stay here and wait for me, understood?”
“Miss, I’m going with you!”
“No. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return. This is the Wei Mansion after all, I can’t guarantee that father won’t send people to bring me back. If it does happen, with you here, you will be able to stop or delay them.”
This was a preventive measure!
Although Luan’er was worried, she grudgingly agreed.
Stealthily evading the detection of the servants in the Wei mansion, Ji Yunshu left the place in direction of Zhao family village.
However, the only way to the village is via water, not land.
With the rain getting heavier, her traveling speed was greatly reduced. Finally, she reached a pier. Her timing couldn’t have been better as a boat was docked there.
A boatman in a raincoat made of straw with a conical bamboo hat was pulling on a cord and trying to tie the boat to a big stone, straining himself against the howling wind and torrential rain.
Ji Yunshu propped up her umbrella and walked to him and inquired, “Mr. Boatman, is this boat going to Zhao family village?”
The boatman raised his head, but he was unable to hear what Ji Yunshu in the rain. So he cupped his ears and said, “What did you say?”
“I said, is this boat going to Zhao family village?”
This time the boatman heard her. He waved his hand. “Not going anywhere in this rain.”
“Mr. Boatman, please help me with this favor. I’m in a rush to return home for my father’s funeral!”
‘Oh! So, that’s the reason!’
The boatman was able to secure the rope, but this made him reconsidered the idea of another trip to the village. Then, he looked at the river in turmoil, the heavy rain and the treacherous waves rolling on the water surface.
“Sir, please don’t make things difficult for me. It’s a downpour right now. The river is quite untame, if the boat capsizes, we will die.”
“But…” Ji Yunshu had yet to finish speaking, but a pair of hands suddenly appeared in her visual field and shove a silver in the boatman’s hand.
“Would this suffice?” A deep and straightforward voice filled with a domineering tone could be heard.
Ji Yunshu gave a side glance and realized that Jing Rong was standing next to her since who knew when.
He who comes and goes like a shadow!
“It’s you?” Ji Yunshu spoke in surprise.
Jing Rong ignored her as he looked at the boatman and declared, “If the money is not enough, after you bring us on the other shore, I will give another one.”
‘Us?’
‘It is me or do I have the feeling that you’re coming with me! Why do I feel that no matter where I go, I can’t seem to shake you off?’
The boatman looked at the silver in his hand. His eyes were shining while his hand shakingly clasped on it. He grinned at them and fiercely nodded. “Of course, I can. I’ll bring you to Zhao family village.”
That boatman was truly a typical character that sees money and forgoes his life!
After receiving the money, the boatman untied the rope from the stone pillar.
Ji Yunshu had yet to recover from the shock, but Jing Rong had grabbed her hand and pulled her on the swaying boat. He took her umbrella and sat down.
“Are you surprised?” asked Jing Rong with the corner of his mouth hook into a grin.
“Why are you…”
“You want to inquire why I know that you would be here? And why I know you want to go to Zhao family village?”
‘That’s right! Are you the roundworm in my belly?’