In the early morning of April, a fine drizzle made the sky even more hazy.
The night market had long since dispersed, and the morning market had not yet started, leaving the streets very quiet.
Yet, in front of Jiuling Hall, there was bustling activity: a dozen horses and three carriages lined up.
Seventh Chen was outside directing two servant boys to spread an oilcloth on top of a carriage, covering a full load of goods.
"Is this too much to bring? It's taken up a whole carriage," Fang Jinxiu frowned as she said, standing under an umbrella.
"How can we bring back too few gifts from the capital?" Seventh Chen said, then looked a bit uneasy, "Maybe I shouldn't go back after all. I'll do as Miss Jun suggested and have her arrange for my mother to come here."
"She's very busy; don't trouble her with these trivial matters," Fang Jinxiu replied.
Seventh Chen chuckled.
"Fine, I know you can handle being in the capital on your own," he said.
"When you go back, don't boast too much and attract a crowd following you looking for a livelihood," Fang Jinxiu cautioned.
Seventh Chen laughed again and agreed.
Standing to the side, Manager Liu watched them with a smile.
"Shopkeeper, should I ask Seventh Chen if our stuff should go with him, or should we put it in his carriage?" a manager reminded.
Manager Liu waved his hand dismissively at him.
"What's the hurry?" he said. "We'll discuss it later, don't interrupt their conversation."
What conversation? They were hardly talking about anything important.
The manager was puzzled and a bit anxious, glancing at Seventh Chen and Fang Jinxiu, then at the sky.
Setting off for the journey was the pressing matter.
The weather didn't look promising; the rain might get heavier.
Either leave now or wait until tomorrow, to avoid getting drenched on the road.
While they were speaking, Miss Jun and Liu'er came out from inside.
Both were already dressed for travel. Seeing them appear, Manager Liu, Seventh Chen, and the others stopped their conversation.
Miss Jun looked at them and curtsied.
"Thank you for your hard work these days," she said.
Manager Liu and the others hurriedly returned the gesture.
"It will be even harder from now on," Miss Jun curtsied again.
Manager Liu and the others smiled and returned the gesture.
Miss Jun stood straight, smiled at them.
"Let's go," she said, without another word jumped into the carriage, followed by a delighted Liu'er.
Seventh Chen gestured to the guards.
"Depart," he said loudly and climbed into another carriage himself.
"Safe travels," Manager Liu and the others said in unison.
Properly, they should escort them out for ten miles, but Miss Jun said she came quietly, so she wanted to leave quietly as well.
Manager Liu and the others didn't go against her wishes, standing outside Jiuling Hall watching the procession move towards the outskirts of the city, gradually disappearing into the misty rain.
"Truly came quietly, and left quietly," Manager Liu sighed, "it hasn't even been a full year."
Yet this year caused quite a stir several times over in the capital.
Something unimaginable when seeing that frail young lady disembark from the carriage.
Who knows where she's headed next, and what kind of commotion she will stir up there.
At this time, the city gates hadn't opened yet, so Seventh Chen approached with the travel permit already prepared.
"Miss Jun is leaving?" the gatekeeper said with a complex expression, "Will she return?"
"Of course, she will return," Seventh Chen hastily replied with a laugh, "She's just going home to visit her family."
Miss Jun certainly wasn't frightened off by Thousand-Man Commander Lu, leaving in a dejected escape.
Everyone mustn't misunderstand.
Thinking this, Seventh Chen sighed inwardly.
Without misunderstanding was impossible; he had originally suggested to wait ten days or half a month after the Jinyiwei incident - where the Jinyiwei disrupted Miss Jun's treatment of the sick - had blown over before leaving.
That would seem more dignified.
Now, everyone will probably think Miss Jun is scared of Thousand-Man Commander Lu.
Such a departure is truly demeaning and embarrassing.
Seventh Chen wanted to say something more to the gatekeeper, but the gatekeeper turned and walked away.
"Open the gate," he told the guard, and then stood by the side, seeming unwilling to get any closer to them.
Seventh Chen cursed under his breath.
These unfeeling, ungrateful fellows.
He snorted and couldn't be bothered with the gatekeeper anymore.
The city gates were slowly pulled open by four City Guards.
"We're leaving," Seventh Chen said, turning to get on the carriage when he was immediately called by the guards in front.
"Manager Chen," they called out, their voices filled with some surprise.
What's there to be surprised about, getting all flustered like this? Seventh Chen looked over, slightly irritated, and suddenly he, too, was taken aback.
Outside the city gate, it wasn't empty. Instead, there stood a dense crowd of people, some holding umbrellas, some draped in straw raincoats, and others without any protection from the rain, men and women, old and young, standing silently in the rain.
These people were...
Seventh Chen felt tingles all over his body, goosebumps rising on his skin.
These people were...
At this moment, the gatekeeper by the city gate slapped his whip onto the ground with a crisp sound.
"Farewell to Miss Jun," he shouted, "may you have a smooth journey."
The quiet crowd outside the gate stirred like water poured into sizzling oil.
"Miss Jun!"
"Miss Jun, may you have a smooth journey!"
I knew it, I knew people wouldn't be so heartless and ungrateful.
Seventh Chen, filled with joy, laughed and, not bothering with the carriage, ran to Miss Jun's.
"Miss Jun, Miss Jun, so many people have come to see you off," he said, out of breath.
Liu'er had already lifted the carriage curtain.
"I see," she said, gesturing with her hand, "quickly, don't block the way."
Seventh Chen stepped aside with a smile.
As Miss Jun came into view, the emotions of the people at the city gate heightened.
"Miss Jun, are you really leaving?"
"Miss Jun, you must come back," they said, one after another.
There were also adults urging their children to kowtow.
Miss Jun got off the carriage, stopped the children from bowing, and then returned the salutations to the people in front of her, answering their clamorous questions one by one.
"How did you all know I was leaving?" she asked with a smile.
"We heard it from the doctors," the people replied in unison.
Miss Jun had decided to leave the capital and naturally had informed Doctor Feng.
Doctor Feng didn't say much, nor did he come to see her off; instead, he had informed the other doctors, who then told the public.
Miss Jun smiled.
Seventh Chen smiled behind her as well.
So, this was the doctors' farewell, he thought, having been upset that not a single one from the entire city had come.
Now, many shops in the city started opening doors, ready for business, and so did the clinics.
A doctor stood at the entrance looking towards the city gate with a smile in his eyes, twirling his beard.
"Doctor, doctor," someone called, clutching his stomach and hurrying over, "please look at what's wrong with me?"
The doctor retracted his gaze, straightened his expression.
"Don't worry, let me have a look," he said, helping the man step into the clinic.
A light rain carried by the wind fell near the door, turning a small wooden sign hanging from the doorway, with 'Jiuling Hall smallpox vaccine' written on a red string, in circles.
Compared to seeing off Miss Jun, it would make her happier to have these doctors opening their doors early to consult and treat patients.
The send-off at the city gate continued, and seeing the crowd following her, Miss Jun got off the carriage for the third time.
"We have already walked ten li," she said, giving a salute, "please, fellow villagers, return now, otherwise I won't make the relay station in time."
The public laughed and finally stopped.
Miss Jun saluted them once more and boarded the carriage.
Seventh Chen's carriage had already moved forward.
"We've left!" he waved and called out.
As the public watched, Miss Jun's carriage headed west, gradually disappearing from view.
Miss Jun lifted the curtain and gazed at the city which gradually turned into a dot in the distance.
"I didn't expect so many people to come say goodbye," Liu'er, leaning on the window, also looked back, her face bright with joy, "Miss, you are the greatest."
Miss Jun smiled and patted her head.
She truly hadn't expected so many people to come; such a feeling truly was thrilling.
One good turn deserves another, heart answered with heart, the ways of the world were this simple, this fair.
"We're leaving," she said, lowering the curtain.
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Back to normal updates twice a day (*^__^*) hehe...
Have a great weekend everyone