Chapter 12 of Volume 1: The Wedding Procession

  After simply having breakfast, I saw Jin Niang and Ruo Wei quickly cleaning up everything. I proposed: "Jin Niang, let's go out for a walk."

  Before Jin Niang could speak up, Ruo Wei softly called out: "Miss, let me go too."

  I glanced at her and shook my head: "As long as Jin Niang is with me, you stay in the house."

  Ru Wei bit her lip and looked at me, I ignored her grievances and called Jin Niang to leave.

  As they left the inner courtyard, Jin Niang, who had been silent all along, suddenly said: "Miss, are you trying to protect Ru Wei?"

  I glanced at her and said lightly: "What ability do I have to protect others? She's just a little girl, no need to get involved in this vortex."

  Jin Niang fell silent for a moment, not making another sound, and simply followed quietly behind me. I wasn't quite used to the feeling of being followed by someone, so I intentionally slowed down my pace, waiting for her to catch up.

  Jin Niang seemed to have sensed my thoughts and no longer deliberately kept her distance, walking alongside me with ease.

  As I stepped out of the gate, the scene before me suddenly became clear and bright. The mountain breeze blew in, refreshing my spirits. Walking down the grayish-green stone steps, I began to quietly observe my surroundings with great care.

  This magnificent Hibiscus Fortress is divided into inner and outer fortresses. The buildings in the inner fortress are mainly made of brick and wood, with houses that are not luxurious but exude a majestic atmosphere everywhere. The inner fortress consists of hundreds of rooms, each forming a small courtyard independent of the terrain, connected by stone steps and slopes between courtyards, with trees, flowers and grass growing naturally along the way, and occasionally stone tables and stools for people to rest.

  Looking down from above, each independent courtyard has a garden and water features, carefully matched with the size of the yard, each with its own characteristics. Looking around, the entire inner city is unusually quiet, with few pedestrians on the road, my companion Jin Niang and I walked all the way, almost without meeting anyone, the air was filled with tranquility and leisure everywhere.

  Although the houses are densely packed inside the inner city, almost all of them are built on both sides of the branch roads. All the branch roads eventually merge into a wide and spacious main road. This main road extends all the way to the outer city. The outer city of Furong Castle is made up of houses built with stone blocks, much simpler and cruder than those in the inner city. Along the way, there are gate towers and watchtowers scattered around, and the defense and vigilance are quite meticulous. I furrowed my brow, if there's only one road out of the castle, then the possibility of me escaping is almost negligible.

  I asked Jin Niang: "Is there only this one road out of the fortress?"

  Jin Niang looked at me in surprise, probably not expecting me to ask so directly. After a while, she shook her head and said: "I've been in Furong Fortress for less than half a month, I don't know much about the situation inside."

  "Oh." I nodded without surprise. If they didn't understand the situation, how would they know that the back mountain was a forbidden area? How would they notify Ling Yi to catch me and bring me back at the first time? They weren't being reckless with me.

  I don't speak anymore. I continue to walk down the slope. Not far away is a fork in the road. There are several small servants-like people. Each of them holds a tray covered with red cloth, bulging and full. They didn't notice me and Jin Niang, but hurriedly walked past towards the left fork. At the end of the fork is an open garden without a gate. In front of the garden, on the relatively open space, there is a pair of carriages. Inside the garden, people are busy loading various boxes and wooden cages onto the carriage, looking like they're about to embark on a long journey.

  I lifted my foot and thought of walking in that direction. But Jin Nang, who was behind me, grabbed me with one hand. I turned back to look at her in surprise. Her expression was tense, and her eyes kept staring at the big gate of the garden as if she was afraid someone would come out from inside.

  Her expression piqued my curiosity, and I became even more interested in the garden. I struggled to free myself from her grasp, but couldn't manage it, so I had no choice but to ask: "Jin Niang, what are you doing?"

  "Miss, you can't go there," Jingyan said seriously.

  "Why? What kind of people live inside? Why can't I go past?"

  Jin Niang ignored my question, pulling me behind a large tree. Only when she was certain that even if someone came out, they wouldn't be able to see us, did she look at me with a tone full of warning and say: "The people living there are the Taishi Fu's wedding entourage."

  I was taken aback, and then burst out laughing. The Tai Shi Fu, I had heard Ling Yi mention it before. Gu Qingying's father is the Tai Shi of Feng Ming country. So these wedding gifts must all be people from Feng Ming country. No wonder they didn't let me go over, they were probably afraid that they would see me. But when they saw me, I wouldn't recognize them, how ridiculous! How was Ling Yi going to explain it to them? How was he going to explain it to Gu Qingying's father?

  I smiled at Jin Niang: "You're saying those are all Gu Qingying's relatives from her maiden family?"

  "Yes." Jin Niang was still warily staring at the courtyard gate not far away, uttering a single word.

  It's so tense! I smiled, but my mind was racing. Jin Niang is also from the Taishi Fu, but she's actually Gu Qingying's dowry, now that I think about it, she should be considered a member of the Furong Fortress too. No wonder she's been siding with Ling Yi. Her only hope must be that Gu Qingying can successfully return to her body, that would be the person she could rely on for life. In this ancient era, women's fate is always tied to others, even if they possess extraordinary martial arts skills, what good does it do? Married women follow their husbands, old women follow their sons, slaves and servants can only place their hopes in their masters. And me? What will my future be like? I absolutely won't go along with their wishes, return my body to Gu Qingying, and become a parasite in the Furong Fortress. If I escape, how would I survive in this unfamiliar world?

  I was lost in thought, but suddenly saw Yuwei rushing over to us with a look of surprise on her face, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and exclaimed: "Miss, I've finally found you!"

  "What's wrong?" Did I offend Ling Yi just by going out for a walk?

  "The castle owner is looking for you everywhere, come on, let's go back quickly." Ruo Wei said breathlessly.

  It was indeed him, I furrowed my brow and asked her: "What does the castle master want with me?"

  "Miss, let's walk and talk." Rove was a bit frightened, urging constantly.

  Jin Niang also said on the side: "We've been out for half a day, we should head back too."

  I just realized that the day has passed in vain. I was so focused on observing the terrain that I forgot about time, and now I'm exhausted and starving.

  This body is really weak, I shook my head and didn't insist, following them all the way back.

  Jin Niang asked softly on the road, "Did the castle owner say what he wanted Miss Ye Wei for?"

  Ru Wei said: "Ru Wei is also unclear, the castle owner did not return to his room, but only sent someone to say that before Upper Official Yan left, she wanted to come and visit our young lady."

  "Ah!" Jingniang let out a soft cry. I was stunned, who is this Upper Official Yan that her visit could make even someone as calm and composed as Jingniang lose her composure?

  I stopped in my tracks and turned around to look at Jin Niang, only to see that she was also looking at me, her usually calm face slightly moved.

  She saw the doubt in my eyes, but didn't say anything, and continued to ask Ruoyi: "Can the castle owner tell when Miss Shang will arrive?"

  Ru Wei shook her head and said, "The little servant who came to inform us only said that the castle owner is in the conference hall talking to Shangguan Miss and Chu Gongzi, and ordered the preparation of tonight's banquet, but didn't say when he would come over."

  I had a vague idea in my mind that this Shangguan Miss and this Chu young master should be the matchmakers sent by the Taishi Mansion, they must know Gu Qingying, it's normal to come bid farewell before leaving, but they would never think that this Gu Qingying has changed into another person. I smiled slightly, my heart filled with anticipation of watching a good show.

  Only to see Jin Niang's eyebrows furrowed deeper, before she could speak, Ruo Wei continued: "Right, the castle master also specially instructed Jin Niang to help Miss prepare."

  I couldn't help but chuckle, what's the preparation for, is it to make me confess and help him deceive people? I deliberately rubbed my knees, sat down on the stone bench by the road, and looked up at the sky: "Oh, it's so hot today, I'm exhausted from walking."

  "Miss." Ruo Wei stomped her foot anxiously, "Let's hurry back, if the castle owners come later and can't find Miss, it'll be bad."

  "What's so strange about not seeing me?" I really didn't want to go back and help him act, especially playing a person I completely didn't understand.

  "Miss." Jin Niang suddenly called me, her tone was sincere, making me pause.

  "The castle owner announced to outsiders that Miss was ill, so......" For the first time, Jin Niang spoke with such a lack of confidence.

  I'm sick? It was expected. The newlywed wife hasn't been seen for many days, and Ling Yi should have an explanation to the outside world, such as this dowry group.

  I smiled and said, "If you're sick, then don't see anyone."

  Jin Niang bit her lip and said softly, "These two are the master's envoys. Miss, please... I know the castle owner doesn't want this either, it's hard on you!"

  Jin Niang's soft and humble tone made me feel a bit restless. If she had forced or coerced me, I might have been able to refuse her with a clear conscience, without any hesitation. But the way she begged me... Alas, looking at Jin Niang's pleading eyes, I let out a sigh. This is my problem - I'm someone who can't resist gentle persuasion, but can withstand forceful demands. This flaw of mine needs to be changed someday.

  I got up and walked back and forth, saying: "Let's go back to the room. How should I take my medicine? Jin Niang, you can tell me carefully later."

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  Lan Se covered her face and whispered: Vote for me, vote for me, collect, collect. Hey!