Although it was nearly mealtime, Zhu Changle didn't go back for another bowl of rice. She walked out the door, wandering aimlessly along the street until she found an empty, flat spot where she lay down with her limbs spread out, closing her eyes to empty her mind.
At sixteen years old, her relatively short life had been more fortunate than many others'. Since beginning martial arts training with her master at age four, she had spent increasingly less time in the Capital City. It wasn't that she didn't want to be with her family; she simply disliked the Capital City.
She deeply disliked that place - every one of her father's sighs, every moment of helplessness, every compromise was connected to the Capital City. Her grandmother's hardships and suffering in her youth were tied to it. Her mother's tears were mostly caused by the people there. She also knew that the reason her eldest brother couldn't leave his wheelchair was because their mother had accidentally consumed something unsafe during pregnancy, nearly causing a miscarriage. Despite lying in bed for almost three months through tremendous difficulty, she still gave birth prematurely. According to grandmother, when her eldest brother was born, he was barely hanging on to life, and it took every possible measure to bring him back, allowing him to survive until today.
The reason she had a soft spot for her second sister-in-law was because when her mother went through those hardships, she wasn't even born yet and couldn't protect her. Now that her second sister-in-law had also given premature birth to little An due to family circumstances, she wanted to be good to her, as if she could somehow channel that kindness back to her mother in the past.
Naturally, she disliked a place that had caused her family so much suffering.
Yet they couldn't leave it behind, because the Zhu family's roots were there, and because her father was a good official. Even her master, who rarely praised anyone, had commended her father multiple times. That usually taciturn person had mentioned several times that the Capital City needed officials like her father. Feng Gu said that master worried she might be too impulsive and would one day smuggle the whole family out of the Capital City, never to return.
She... had actually considered it.
The Capital City was so small, and the world so vast. Their family had both wealth and connections - they could go anywhere.
Later, after traveling around with her master, she understood that her father and eldest brother truly couldn't go elsewhere.
She still disliked the Capital City, but she loved her home and her family.
Lord Luo must feel the same way - Yunbei was his roots, his home, which was why he devoted everything to protecting this place. Watching his silhouette as he picked up the iron horses made her heart ache.
How difficult it must be. Her father had her eldest brother's help, along with others who were in the same boat - no, like-minded people working together for the same cause, and he had the emperor he served watching his back. She wondered who Lord Luo had around him. The Assistant Magistrate and County Captain should be on his side, and the others, whether under his command or not, must surely be people who wanted the best for Yunbei. According to Tang Ming, he should have already removed all the troublemakers.
Luo Ding had already done everything he possibly could.
Trust father quickly, Zhu Changle thought. That way, father can help share the burden, and with eldest brother providing strategies later, he won't have to be so exhausted.
"Miss... Miss Zhu?"
Zhu Changle had heard the footsteps earlier but hadn't paid attention. Hearing the familiar voice, she sat up, smiling before speaking, "Granny Liang, what brings you here?"
Granny Liang carried a bamboo basket on her back, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under Zhu Changle's gaze. She scuffed her feet against the ground, lowering her head with an unfocused gaze: "I came to gather some wild vegetables here."
"Have you finished all the work at the dock?"
"Yes, we've closed up for the day."
Zhu Changle stood up and patted her bottom, "Let me walk you home."
"No, no, no need." Granny Liang shook her head repeatedly and waved her hands. How could she let the County Magistrate's young lady escort her? If it weren't for remembering that she had saved her husband's life, she wouldn't have dared to even greet her.
"It's no trouble. I'm quite free right now, and we can chat along the way."
Before she could object, Zhu Changle had already naturally taken the bamboo basket and put it on her own back. As she walked forward, she glanced into the basket and changed the subject, "Are these wild vegetables tender? How do they taste?"
"They're... they're edible."
"Do you eat these often?"
Focused on answering, Granny Liang set aside other concerns and replied while walking with her head down, "These broom vegetables are only edible at this time. Once they get old, they become too tough to chew."
Realizing this topic was outside her expertise, Zhu Changle changed the subject, "How is Uncle Liang's recovery going? Is he getting better?"
"Much better. Doctor Tang said your medicine was excellent." As she spoke, Granny Liang was about to kneel in gratitude, but Zhu Changle quickly caught her, "Please don't kneel to me, it will bring bad luck."
Lose... lose luck? Granny Liang was at a loss for what to do.
"See, you didn't kneel, so no luck was lost! Just don't kneel to me in the future, we don't do that in our family. We only kowtow to our elders during festivals!"
Granny Liang couldn't keep up with either the action or the conversation, so she just let herself be led forward, answering whatever was asked. The questions were all about trivial matters, which she could handle.
When they reached the Liang household, upon entering, the smell of medicine was overwhelming. Zhu Changle set down the basket and surveyed the dilapidated main hall in the dim light.
"Um, I'll go check on the master of the house. Please have a seat."
"I shouldn't go in, please give Uncle my regards."
Granny Liang glanced at her secretly before lifting the curtain to enter the inner room, thinking to herself that this young lady was truly kind-hearted, and Lord Zhu must be a good official to have raised such a good child.
Stretching happily as if to drive away all negative emotions, Zhu Changle patted the back of her head and obediently sat down to wait. Though she was used to barging into places, she did understand the proper etiquette for visiting.
Granny Liang soon came out from the room, and seeing her sitting there so properly brought a smile to her face, mysteriously easing her nervous mood.
"The master says thank you for your medicine, it has made him much more comfortable. He's starting to feel occasional tingling in places where he had no sensation before."
"That's wonderful!" Zhu Changle clapped her hands together. "Being able to feel pain means it's improving. Have you seen Doctor Tang? What did he say?"
"Yes, we have. Doctor Tang also said this was a good sign."
"That's great, great! Keep taking the medicine. I brought lots of medical supplies back from Gu'an and didn't charge Doctor Tang for them. He agreed not to charge the townspeople either, which should help ease your burden a bit."
Granny Liang clasped her hands tightly and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, yes. Doctor Tang mentioned that too. He hasn't charged us for the medicine since then, and knowing it's difficult for us to travel, he said he'd come by every three days."
"He's a good doctor."
"Yes, yes, everyone in Yunbei says Doctor Tang is a good doctor. He's always losing money helping us." Granny Liang kept glancing at Zhu Changle, her intentions quite obvious.
Zhu Changle smiled and nodded, "Indeed. I'll make sure to tell father that Doctor Tang is a good doctor, and that he should be remembered when good opportunities arise."
Granny Liang's smile immediately grew broader, and she rubbed her hands together saying, "We don't have much to eat here, but let me steam an egg for you."
"No, no need." Seeing the disappointment on her face, Zhu Changle pointed at the basket, "I've never tried these before, I'd like to taste them."
"These are, these are... these don't taste very good..."
Zhu Changle held onto Granny Liang's arm and swayed it playfully, "Please make these for me, I really want to try them."
No one could resist Zhu Changle's charm offensive, and Granny Liang immediately gave in, "Alright, alright, I'll go prepare them right away."
