Chapter 496 - 188: Meritorious Service (Part 2)
Chapter 496: Chapter 188: Meritorious Service (Part 2)
When Chen Wanqing heard this, she felt no surge of excitement, only worry and lingering fear.
"I’m not praying for Father to earn merits. I just want him to be safe and sound. Fighting bandits is a life-or-death struggle. Climbing cliffs... the chances of survival are slim... No, I have to write home right now and ask about the details."
Chen Wanqing scurried out of the flower hall and went back to her room to write to her parents.
Mrs. Zhao said to Cao Xu, "You should go rest for now. Over the next two days, I’ll have to trouble you to make more trips into town. If you hear any useful news, tell Wanqing immediately."
"I understand."
Chen Wanqing wrote the letter and had someone deliver it, but her heart still wouldn’t quiet down.
She wanted to find out more specific details, but who could she ask?
Sheng Saya had the means to get detailed information, but she was busy with her classes, and even when she went home, she still had schoolwork to do. It wouldn’t be right for Chen Wanqing to bother her.
Going to the Vice Magistrate’s residence was even more pointless.
As for the Wang Family, it was unlikely they knew any more than she did.
Chen Wanqing thought it over and over. The next day, she made a trip to Moxiang Pavilion, hoping to see if Xie Ming had more specific news.
She was disappointed.
"Because the water bandits are running rampant, all of Moxiang Pavilion’s shopkeepers travel by land when they come to check the accounts each quarter. They just came before the new year, so they won’t be back for a while. Although we correspond by letter, the bandits are rarely mentioned."
Chen Wanqing returned empty-handed.
She was anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still or rest easy.
Just as she was worrying herself sick over the matter, Zhao Jing and De’an returned home together.
Zhao Jing had just finished ten full days of classes and could now rest at home for ten days.
He saw Chen Wanqing’s haggard expression and the stress-induced blisters on her lips. He asked with concern, and upon hearing she was troubled about the water bandits, he grasped her hand and said, "Sister, don’t worry. I’ll make a trip to the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office tomorrow."
De’an leaned in. "Can I go with you?"
"Yes."
「The next day at dawn, the two of them were up.」
After breakfast, they washed up again and changed their clothes. Once everything was in order, they set off for the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office at a leisurely pace.
They had sent a visiting card to Sheng Saya, who came to the gate early in the morning to receive them.
Sheng Saya knew why they had come and told them plainly, "I don’t know the specifics either, but I had my father set aside half an hour for you. You can go see him now."
On the way to the front courtyard, they came across a little guy running laps. He was five or six years old and not short for his age, but his little arms and legs still looked tiny to them.
Despite it being early spring, the little fellow was covered in sweat, and steam seemed to rise from his body.
Seeing them approach, the little fellow screeched to a halt and called out, "Fourth Sister!" Then, he looked quizzically at Zhao Jing and Chen De’an.
Sheng Saya took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face and said, "These are two of my classmates. You can just call them Mr. Chen and Mr. Zhao."
The little guy was very well-behaved. He stretched out his short arms to bow to them. Zhao Jing and De’an didn’t dismiss him because of his age; they returned the gesture just as formally.
Sheng Saya was clearly very fond of the little fellow. After wiping his sweat and tidying his clothes, she casually asked, "How long have you been running today?"
The little fellow looked at the young servant behind him, who quickly replied, "Reporting to the Fourth Miss, less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
"Then run one more lap. When you’re done, go back to your room to wash up and study."
The little fellow’s face fell. "Fourth Sister, did you forget you promised to take me out for breakfast today?"
"Well, things don’t always go according to plan, do they? Your Mr. Zhao and Mr. Chen are here to see Father on business, and I have to accompany them. I’m afraid I can’t keep my promise about breakfast, but if there’s time, I’ll take you out for lunch."
The little fellow swallowed hard, revealing just how tempting the thought of eating out was to him.
Sheng Saya saw this and muttered, "You poor thing. Look how hungry you are. Alright, hurry up and finish your lap. After that, go back to your room and find Mother. I’ll come find you when I’m done here."
The boy gave a loud "Okay!", waved to Zhao Jing and De’an, and then turned to continue his run.
Once the boy and his servant had run out of sight, Sheng Saya explained to the two beside her, "That’s my youngest brother. He’s the baby of the family. He’s not my mother’s biological son. His birth mother had an accidental fall before he was born. She struggled to give birth to him and passed away right after. My mother took him in and raised him. Now that he’s grown close to us, he treats us like his own flesh and blood."
Zhao Jing and De’an just nodded without a word, but De’an was already thinking to himself: ’That kid would have to be a fool not to treat them like his own family.’