Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Are you spooked, Langting?”

On their way into town, Liu She and Cheng Cheng both scowled and the atmosphere around them was rather depressing. Each of them was angry and seemed to be bothered by some matters. Cheng Cheng’s wife learned about it and she asked Jiang Pengji to sit with her in the wagon instead of riding a horse.

She finally felt relieved after she examined Jiang Pengji from head to toe; she wanted to ensure she wasn’t hurt.

“Those gentry clan guys have really crossed the line. No one engraves the Saint’s edification on their mind. They just continue more and more unbridled under their family’s shelter. Fortunately your archery skills are superb and Liu County Chief was there to back you up––or else there would have been another crime right under the Emperor’s eyes.” Cheng Cheng’s wife was quite indignant. She grasped Jiang Pengji’s hands and said to her in a pitying tone, “Look at you. You are so scared that your hands are freezing cold.”

Jiang Pengji seemed uncertain and grinned at Cheng Cheng’s wife. It seemed as though she was pretending to be tough, which made Cheng Cheng’s wife feel sorrier for her.

Jiang Pengji chose to ignore the comments from the viewers applauding her for her acting skills. They claimed that she was so good at acting that she should be awarded an Oscar.

After a while, she pulled her hands back subtly.

She had a naturally cute and behaved look about her. She talked to Cheng Cheng’s wife in a low voice. “Aunt, I’m not scared. It’s just how I was born…”

“You were born like this? You are still growing; you should still be hot-blooded. How are so cold all the time? Liu County Chief is a man, after all. He is not as thoughtful as a woman when it comes to raising a child, but this is a matter he should never take his eyes off of…” Cheng Cheng’s wife frowned. Apparently she wasn’t pleased with Liu She.

Men were always men. They took care of the breeding part, but they were negligent with the process of actually raising a child.

The poor child lost his mother when he was young. Who could possibly be meticulous about looking after children beside their own mothers?

Jiang Pengji’s smile froze for a second, but it was so short that Cheng Cheng’s didn’t catch it while she was nagging.

“Have you guys found a doctor to help you recuperate?” Cheng Cheng’s wife asked. Before Jiang Pengji could answer, she continued, “Don’t think you are too young to care much about your own health. A man in a condition where his yin energy outweighs his yang energy will have issues carrying on their family blood. Liu County Chief only has one son. Naturally, you are the only hope for the family to pass on your family name.”

Jiang Pengji was speechless.

“I know a doctor with a good reputation whose expertise is health preservation. He is in Shangjing at the moment. I will take you to see him once we all settle down. You don’t have to feel shame about this since you are young. You just go with it and let him help…” Cheng Cheng’s wife was a gentle and kind person, but once she started talking it was like she put a fetter on Jiang Pengji; however, there was nothing she could do about it.

She occasionally gave her some responses besides nodding and saying yes.

After a bit of time waiting outside of the town, their troop received permission to enter Shangjing. After they passed through the dark red town gate, the flourishing, ancient city was like a beauty with a veil; she finally agreed to lift a corner of the veil and show her stunningly gorgeous appearance.

Liu She had sent a letter to Feng Ren a long time ago to inform him of his plan to stay at Feng Ren’s place for free accommodation and free food. Feng Ren knew Liu She very well and he wasn’t going to refuse him.

The moment they arrived in town, a butler with elaborate clothing approached them and inquired, “Are you guys from the Liu’s with the Liu County Chief?”

“I’m Liu She. I remember you. You used to be the pageboy for Xiande. Judging from your clothing, you got promoted, right?” Liu She got off the horse. He wouldn’t hold his head high like the other gentry clans, even if he was facing a pageboy.

The butler felt that it was a great privilege for him to be recognized by Liu She. He had been sent to wait for Liu She and his troop because he had met Liu She before. It was a surprise that he was recognized by Liu She, though. It had been several years since they met the last time. The butler was only a low rank servant at that time.

The butler’s face glowed with his smile and he treated Liu She with a more amiable attitude. “My master directed us to get the accommodations ready for you and your troop ahead of time, Liu County Chief. Please come with me.”

If Hejian County was a small butler type, then Shangjin with its prosperity was like a lady from a respectable family who dressed in pretty clothes and wore pricey jewelry. She had supreme elegance and was drop dead gorgeous. She made people sink into her beauty.

At first glance, the buildings were well-proportioned; the streets were neat and uniform. The businessmen came in and out dressed decently and you barely saw anyone in shabby clothing begging for food. It made you feel as though it was the way a city in the time of prosperity was supposed to be like… But it only seemed like that.

Jiang Pengji skimmed the surroundings. Her curiosity faded away and was replaced by some frustration.

“Let’s go. I will ask about where Master Yuanjing is staying the night, and then I will take you with me to pay him a visit…” Liu She said. He didn’t want let his baby girl go through everything on her own, but he did have the awareness that he couldn’t be there helping her all the time. She needed to rely on herself eventually.

If she could be Master Yuanjing’s student and make connections with young elites to collect resources for her future, at least she would have a good reputation for being a person with dignity.

Jiang Pengji nodded. She had heard about Master Yuanjing from different sources and she would finally be able to see the talented person herself. Now she really wondered why he was considered extraordinary and eccentric.

At the same time, Prince Changshou was giving his own people dirty looks the entire way as a result of being ignored by Liu She.

The gentry clan man who caused the trouble was acting wary, as well. His face was unpleasant and it seemed like he was so depressed that he was likely to burst into tears the next second.

Cheng Jing despised his manner. A man must dare to bear the responsibility of what he dared to do. He should be well-prepared for the consequence of getting himself in trouble if he had the courage to make fun of the citizens in the first place.

They acted jaunty while they looked for distractions from teasing citizens, but they were on pins and needles after they realized they had messed with the wrong person. Their ugly behavior made people feel sick.

Cheng Jing took a glimpse at the tarted up Langjun at the gathering.

That was right––tarted up. There was nothing wrong about using that word.

It had only been few years since the last time he had visited Shangjing and the customs had changed. Guys not only did light makeup, but they also plucked their brows, wore lipstick, and had blush on their cheeks. What was more, they deliberated the way they walked and girdled their waist tight. A man walked like a willow branch trembling in the wind and it seemed that they were weaker than a girl.

If it wasn’t for them overhearing that the General Evaluation Officer wasn’t fond of feeble men, they would have been even gaudier than that.

Cheng Jing had no common subjects with these people. Instead, he found a corner to have a cup of tea to help release his anger.

He saw two Langjuns who were weeping in the distance; he felt that his eyes were almost poisoned by seeing them.

“Youmo, why are you sitting here alone? You are not going to join those guys?” While he was in a deep depression, a fragrant scent swept over him and a young guy in a mint green outfit sat down next to him. This guy was tall and slim; his skin was fine like a china doll. He was prettier than a girl without wearing any makeup. He had a pair of bright eyes and his red lips contrasted against his white teeth. He was the definition of a pretty boy.

Cheng Jing didn’t even bother to look at him because it was easy for him to distinguish who it was by his voice. “Doing what with them? Watching them already gave me a stomach ache. Now my stomach is still in pain…”

“It’s your own fault that you never have your meals on time…” Han Yu snatched the fruit from in front of Cheng Jing and shoveled several into his mouth. The sourness flowed in his mouth; he spit it out and said, “They served you this sour fruit. No wonder you have a stomach ache.”

Cheng Jing twitched his lips and took another sip of tea. “Didn’t you say you were not coming to the gathering? What has changed your mind?”