“Old madam, old madam, third miss has returned, third miss has returned….” The first ranked servant at Luo Old Madam’s side was exceptionally happy, so much so that she forgot her manners and etiquette as she hastily ran towards the guest room Luo Old Madam was staying in. Her voice could already be heard from a distance away. Have to say, if it was in the past, the mamas would’ve long reprimanded her, but the current situation was different. Not only did they not berate her, even they themselves were ecstatic like never before, and all successively went to report the good news to Luo Old Madam too.
From the start of the accident until now, almost 20 hours have already passed. Even if Luo Old Madam knew that Jing Wan is still ‘safe and sound’, but without seeing her and not knowing the condition of her injuries, this old heart of hers just couldn’t rest no matter what. She similarly didn’t sleep the entire night, furthermore having not eaten anything either. She was already at an elderly age, how can she withstand such torment? Everyone was all worried that she would fall ill, but it was all useless no matter how they urged. Because if they say too much, they’ll incur Luo Old Madam’s icy glare—-not your own child, so of course you all aren’t distressed, didn’t expect that at this old woman’s side is actually a bunch of heartless things. Having not personally experienced it before, and having not encountered one’s own loved one’s misfortune, indeed it was very difficult to understand that burning torment.
With Luo Old Madam saying such harsh words, naturally no one dared to say another word, only hoping for third miss to be able to return sooner.
As for Luo Jing Bo, from beginning to end, he stayed by Luo Old Madam’s side, and didn’t say any comforting words. Only in the very beginning, he said to Luo Old Madam, “If anything really does happen to younger sister, I will take care of her for a whole lifetime. If I depart before younger sister, I will leave behind my dying words to ask my descendants to treat her like they treated me, otherwise, be expelled from the family.”
These words perhaps sounded like they were the same as cursing Jing Wan, yet they were the most genuine and most honest concern. Luo Old Madam pulled along his hand, practically brimming with warm tears, “Good, good, good, you all are all good children, good children. —–this fate between people, perhaps it’s just this lifetime. A worthy person is hard to come by, you need to cherish, need to cherish.”
The pair’s talk regarding Jing Wan thus stopped there, even though they were both waiting for her. Luo Jing Bo told Luo Old Madam about some of the interesting things in the capital, and about the various friends he’s made, diverting Luo Old Madam’s attention as much as possible. This let this grandmother and grandson pair, who originally weren’t that close, become much closer in this short period of time. And when Luo Old Madam truly couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, and went to rest for a bit, Luo Jing Bo didn’t leave either.
They’ve finally waited until the person came back. Luo Old Madam woke up almost instantly, “Wan Wan has returned?”
“Yes, grandmother, younger sister, she’s returned.” Luo Jing Bo was also very happy, and hurriedly followed the servants girls to help her up.
Having initially not changed clothes, Luo Old Madam stopped the servant girls from combing her hair and just hastily headed out.
To say that they worried about Jing Wan, how could Jing Wan also not worry? She was afraid that her grandmother would worry too much, and worried whether or not the people that fell of the cliff together with her would be ruined from now on. After the people who went to look for her arrived, without saying another word, she immediately returned with them——before that, she’d already taken care of the wound on her neck, and also cleanly wiped away anything that had Li Hong Yuan’s markings.
On the way back, the others worried that she wouldn’t be able to endure the long and difficult trek back. After all, this path was uneven and full of potholes. Before reaching that path from the foot of the mountain to White Dragon Temple, for the most part, don’t even think about stepping on a flat piece of land. And more importantly, the distance was very far. Yet unexpectedly, Jing Wan didn’t hold them back in the least. Rather, it was the Luo family’s servants, who didn’t get to rest for a bit before continuing on their way, that got quite exhausted. That advancing speed was even slower than the elderly. If they keep going at such a slow speed, who knows when they’ll finally be able to return to White Dragon Temple. Thus, Jing Wan decided to follow the two martial monks and precede ahead.
This decision, to some degree, can be said to be very risky. The martial monks that came from White Dragon Temple aren’t little monks nor old monks either. Each and every one were young and vigorous, with strong and well-built bodies. Of course, for them to be able to come search for Jing Wan, their moral character was definitely without a problem, all wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism, adhering strictly to the monastic discipline. But the Luo family people don’t know this. How could they be at ease letting their family’s Miss follow these two ‘outside men’. Even if nothing would happen, if someone saw, Miss’s pure reputation would certainly be affected.
But Jing Wan couldn’t continue waiting any longer. Once emotions gained the upper hand, it was very difficult for even rationality to suppress it. She was willing to believe in the people of White Dragon Temple and take such a gamble.
From start to finish, the two monks were both indifferent. Despite knowing that the Luo family’s servants didn’t trust them, they didn’t try to defend themselves, and further didn’t guarantee anything either. Just, after Jing Wan made the decision, they diligently escorted Jing Wan back to White Dragon Temple.
What surprised Jing Wan was that along the way, they didn’t encounter anyone. At first, she thought that it was because they were in a remote area, but afterwards, she gradually realized that was not right. This was in the middle of the day. The foot of the mountain below White Dragon Temple was very lively after all. Turns out, the two martial monks were silently avoiding other people, using their way to protect Jing Wan, putting an end to the matter that the Luo family servants were worried about.
“Many thanks great masters.”
“Miss benefactor[1] is too polite.” One of them spoke. This was the first time Jing Wan heard them speak after meeting them.
The moment she entered the rear courtyard of the White Dragon Temple, from far away, Jing Wan saw Gong mama waiting there. There was a kind of feeling like as if they were separated by worlds.
Seeing Jing Wan moving with ease, and not at all like she’s heavily injured, Gong mama truly was incessantly happy. Although Gong mama already knew, she still appropriately expressed her joy, thanking the heavens for protecting.
However, Jing Wan felt that Gong mama’s gaze kept faintly landing on the handkerchief coiled around her neck. Jing Wan, who originally didn’t mind that much because the bite mark has been cut off, under Gong mama’s gaze, unexpectedly felt somewhat guilty for some reason. “Mama don’t worry. This was cut when I slid down, it’ll be fine after a few days.”
Whether or not she had this kind of injury on her neck, would Gong mama not know? Without thinking, she already knew what had happened. “Miss has suffered. Later, this servant will have a look. The wound probably isn’t deep, if properly tended to, it won’t leave behind a scar.”
“Alright.” Despite saying this, she felt even guiltier inside. What’s going on?
“Does Miss want to wash up first or go see old madam first?”
“Go see grandmother first.” Clearly knowing that falling down from such a high place, to have been able to survive was already a thousand times not easy, and ten thousand times fortunate. If her clothes were still orderly, bright and beautiful, then their first thought after seeing her wouldn’t be to admire her beauty, but rather suspect that she was covering up something. It was better to just let grandmother see her current appearance, so that she’ll feel more relieved.
As she walked, she inquired about the others’ situation.
After learning Luo Old Madam’s words and actions, she felt both guilty and moved.
As for the servants, for the time being, don’t need to say much, all having been appropriately taken care of.
Yuan Qiao Qiao had broken her leg, and also injured her internal organs. In the future, afraid it’ll leave behind some complications. As for Zhou Ying Shuang, she’d injured her head, building up a large blood clot. Grandmaster Liao Chen had personally looked it over, saying she might lose her sight. On other areas of her body, there were also several bruises, all in different degree of severity, but in comparison, they weren’t considered as serious……
[1] I can’t remember if I mentioned this one before, but benefactor is the term used by monks to address a layperson.
Comments