Chapter 13: Return and Departure

  Not knowing what the two were saying, he only said, "Miss, I'll go to the woods to lead the horse, you'd better head back and meet up with Mrs. Ning and Mr. Bo."

  Nan Yue Lan was deep in thought, and then she opened her mouth to veto the futile plan. "No, let's go to the dock and wait."

  "Just in case we run into those people—" Wu Guo worried about this.

  "Those people didn't even get a clear look at your face, let alone know how many of us there are or where we came from. If they leave the town and come back, that's when they'll attract attention. If they take the mountain road, it's fine, but if they take the water route, every single one of them will be a fierce devil, and we can keep an eye on them from now on, so as to avoid provoking them again." After saying this to Wu Guo, Nan Yue Lan Sheng turned to You Hua and said, "Did you put on powder today?"

  "...No, I was born with a natural beauty." After Nanyuelan recovered from her illness, the greatest benefit she gained was that all the high-quality cosmetics belonged to her, because this young lady said they were unnecessary and would be wasted.

  "It's washed." Who cares if she is pretty or not.

  "Why?" Hua said to Nan Yue Lan with a skeptical attitude, later entered the city, found herself good luck, Miss can let the maid run to her head and scatter wildly.

  "Because your jasmine powder is too fragrant, someone will know who they're going to silence just by smelling the scent." Nanyuelan Sheng had just looked around and only saw a few trees with fragrant flowers nearby. The person might be confused by the mixed scents and not pay attention, but if he got close to him, it would be hard to guarantee anything.

  "If that masked man can smell the fragrance, he'll know where we're hiding and kill us directly. That's just nonsense, you actually believed it." Flower didn't listen.

  "In vain, take her to wash her face, no, throw her into the stream, under the saddle there is a set of my spare clothes." But Nan Yue Lan Sheng, who had made up his mind, was not weak either.

  Yu Hua walked into the forest with a frown, complaining incessantly. When they caught up again, Yu Hua had indeed changed clothes, but looked dissatisfied and uncharacteristically kept her mouth shut. Nan Yue Lan was delighted to have some peace and quiet, pretending to admire the scenery. The three of them, along with their two horses, hurried along in silence, arriving at the village by the dock after half an hour.

  The town was small, the village was small, and the dock was small. Two ships were moored by the shore, one was an ordinary passenger ship, and the other was a chartered ship of Nan Yue Fu.

  There were flowers watching the people going up to the guest ship in twos and threes, finally opening their mouths, "They're all country bumpkins, where did these fierce masked guests come from?"

  "It's probably just disguised." Wu Guo said.

  Having flowers but no fruit is good for a while, and I hate to scold him as a traitor. Taking advantage of Nan Yue Lan's conversation with a big girl, she said viciously, "Good you, Wu Guo, now helping her but not me."

  There are sixteen flowers and fifteen fruits, Wu Mei picked up two people from different villages but same village, after many years they become relatives by blood.

  Staring blankly with unfruitful bitterness, accustomed to silence.

  Nan Yue Lan Sheng walked over and asked, "Today's boat passengers are all familiar faces from the village and town, there are no strangers."

  "I knew it, they're riding fast horses and doing something shady, how can they possibly take a boat in broad daylight?" Hua was messing with her hair, which was still wet.

  "You never said, just didn't want to wash off the jasmine scent. From now on, change to a different fragrance, otherwise I'll wash you once every time I smell it." This specially blended jasmine scent was supposedly top-notch, and someone familiar with cosmetics could easily distinguish it. Although she wasn't sure if the masked man had such a keen nose, it was better to be cautious.

  Although Huahua was skeptical, Nan Yue's serious gaze made her nod reluctantly and say "I know".

  After noon, Wu Mei's carriage arrived on time.

  Ning Guan was watching the servants move boxes while talking about what happened at Tingtao Temple, "Missis said she wanted to go to the temple, but Madame saw the thick smoke and got a fright, immediately ordering me to go up the mountain."

  In her opinion, it must have been his suggestion. He had always been devoted to mending the relationship between her and Wu Mei, purely out of kindness, so Nangong Yulan didn't expose him, "We saw the fire but didn't go up, usually not many words, today especially insisted, I couldn't refuse. Ning Bo has gone up the mountain, he must know how to listen to the waves."

  Ning Guanshi let out a sigh, "The fire is raging wildly, the trees on both sides of the mountain road have all been burned to ashes, it's absolutely impossible to proceed any further. I happened to run into Wang Gongzi when I was on my way here, he rushed over to put out the fire after hearing the news, but he too was at a loss for what to do. I thought Miss wouldn't possibly take such a risk just to enter the temple, and indeed you're safe and sound."

  "Was Wang Lin also blocked on the mountain road?" A masked figure and Wang Lin, were they companions or from different factions?

  "Yes, he said he would wait for the fire to subside before proceeding. We didn't hear any cries for help, it seems that Master Guan has already led the Taoist priests to safety down the mountain, a blessing in disguise." Someone came to ask about the matter, and Ning Jiu hurried off to attend to it.

  "When I arrived at the door, I didn't hear any human voice either." As a result, Wu became the only eyewitness closest to the scene of the crime.

  "Has he gone?" The luggage was almost all packed and they were about to set off, Nan Yue Lan's thoughts began to wander.

  "Perhaps... died."

  "Hua covered his mouth, 'No maybes, just avoid it. Besides, the lives and deaths of those Taoists have nothing to do with us. From now on, let's not even mention the words 'Taoist temple' again.'"

  In vain I gaze at the southern moon, where the orchids are in bloom.

  Nan Yue Lan nodded slightly, her chin pointing at Nan Yue Ping who was standing far away with an unpleasant expression. "I originally wanted to know if there was any ulterior motive behind my falling into the water, but now it seems that I just wasn't lucky. That fire is burning well, let's keep our mouths shut and let this matter pass, it has nothing to do with us. For now, let's focus on ourselves, this sister of mine doesn't seem like a good sister at all, and her family is already giving us headaches."

  The luggage was not much, and it was all loaded onto the ship in less than half an hour. The servants were also few, all of whom were bought by Wu Mei from outside, a total of eleven people. No one was busy or confused, they worked quickly and efficiently, Nan Yueping didn't even see any flaws, Wu Mei had already become the master of the ship, ordering it to set sail. Nan Yueping secretly regretted, returning to her cabin, she had no idea that someone had been preparing for this sudden departure two months ago, and it was inevitable.

  After a good nap, Nan Yue Lan went up to the upper deck and looked back at the green hills on both banks. The river had already passed the small village wharf.

  "Come, learn from me, and never look back." A woman stood at the bow of the boat, her face still radiant with genuine joy, her sleeves fluttering in the wind like wings, ready to abandon everything behind for the sun high up in the sky.

  Nan Yue Lan knew that Wu Mei had never pretended to be a mother who would sacrifice for her daughter. Compared to her daughter, she cherished herself more, and she had always frankly admitted this. She wanted to fly higher, if this mediocre daughter couldn't keep up, then being left behind was also reasonable.

  Nan Yuelan Sheng was reborn, and if one were to argue about it, it could also be said that she was no longer Ou Mei's daughter. Therefore, Ou Mei's indulgence would provoke the former Nan Yuelan Sheng's indignation and sense of injustice, and she had fewer constraints from her mother's generation.

  She understands Ou Mei, but Ou Mei doesn't understand her. The stormy waves toss her about, in this time and space she is completely bewildered, unable to see her own direction for the moment, only able to recall where she came from.