frightfiction #577 - Entering Jinling
#577 - Entering Jinling
Chapter 574: Entering Jinling
Just as Jiang Nan finished her bath and sat in her room, pondering which audacious scoundrel dared to secretly spy on her, an unfamiliar footstep suddenly approached outside the room.
The sound stopped outside Jiang Nan's door, and a gentle knock followed.
"Who's outside?" Jiang Nan's eyes flashed with a hint of vigilance.
"It is I, Zhang Chen. I once traveled with Miss in Guangji Prefecture and received a life-saving pill from her.
I have come specifically to express my gratitude," Zhang Chen said softly from outside the door.
Jiang Nan was taken aback upon hearing this.
Hearing Zhang Chen announce his name, she certainly knew who he was, but wasn't he supposed to be dead?
Could it be that he had been rescued afterward?
Jiang Nan opened the door and saw Zhang Chen dressed in coarse linen clothes.
She couldn't help but be surprised.
He was unexpectedly young and possessed an indescribable temperament.
Although dressed in rough clothing, he exuded an ethereal, detached aura, as if transcending the mundane world.
As for whether he was impersonating Zhang Chen?
Although she hadn't seen Zhang Chen's face before, this was deep within the Shen family's mansion in Jinling.
What kind of imposter could deceive their way in here?
She simply assumed that Zhang Chen had already visited the Shen family, but she hadn't heard any news.
After all, her cousin had a subtle attitude toward Zhang Chen.
If he suppressed the information about Zhang Chen's visit, it wouldn't be surprising.
"Please come in," Jiang Nan said, stepping aside and inviting Zhang Chen inside.
"Strictly speaking, I should call you 'older cousin'," Zhang Chen said with a smile as he entered the room, placing a gift box on the table.
The gift box contained only ordinary pastries and wasn't worth much.
"You should indeed call me 'older cousin'. How did you come back to life?" Jiang Nan asked, smiling as she looked at Zhang Chen.
"I didn't die back then.
I was merely cultivating a technique and trying to overcome a hurdle.
My stepmother and younger sister were unaware of the reason and panicked," Zhang Chen explained.
His eyes scanned the girl before him.
She was probably only a year older than him, with a delicate figure like a resilient blade of grass, an oval face, and large, expressive eyes.
She was a rare beauty.
"I see," Jiang Nan said, momentarily stunned.
Then, after brewing tea and seating themselves, Zhang Chen broached the real reason for his visit: "I have come today to ask for your help, older sister."
"Since we are close relatives, feel free to tell me what's troubling you.
If I can help, I won't refuse," Jiang Nan replied.
Zhang Chen didn't stand on ceremony and recounted his family's inability to enter the city.
Jiang Nan looked at Zhang Chen in astonishment upon hearing this.
He had assumed that Zhang Chen had already visited the mansion and been led to her by a servant.
So, how did he enter the mansion and accurately locate her room?
Then, as if realizing something, Jiang Nan's face suddenly flushed red.
Looking at the fair-skinned, sincere-looking young man across from her, only one thought remained in her mind: "I can't ask!
This is a misunderstanding!"
With her intelligence, and considering the earlier feeling of being watched, how could she not understand what had happened?
Zhang Chen looked at the girl before him, noticing her face turning crimson, as red as blood, with a hint of shyness in her eyes.
He felt somewhat perplexed, but with his wisdom and the speed of his primordial spirit, he quickly analyzed the situation: 'My saying that my family hasn't entered the city is practically an admission that I was the one spying on her earlier!
After all, if I hadn't visited the mansion and been guided by someone, how would I know her residence?'
Zhang Chen was instantly dumbfounded.
Even with his composure, he didn't know what to do when looking at the girl before him.
He was completely at a loss and didn't know how to explain.
He hadn't meant to do it.
At this moment, a thought flashed through Zhang Chen's mind: "Should I apologize?"
As various thoughts wrestled within him, the girl across from him spoke, her voice returning to calm: "What you mentioned is simple.
Tomorrow, I'll make an excuse to go out for a stroll, and when I return, I'll hide you in the carriage.
Surely the city gate guards wouldn't dare to inspect the Shen family's carriage."
"In that case, thank you very much, older cousin.
I will never forget your great kindness," Zhang Chen said, quickly standing up and respectfully bowing.
Regardless of whether he would use the pill or not, she was willing to offer it at that time, and he would repay that kindness as if he had used it.
"We're all family, no need to be so polite," Jiang Nan said with a smile.
"I'll take my leave.
I'll go back and arrange things for tomorrow so as not to disturb your rest, older sister," Zhang Chen said, taking his leave.
Jiang Nan saw Zhang Chen out the door, watching as he activated his earth escape technique, his figure flashing and disappearing on the spot, leaving Jiang Nan stunned.
After a long while, she said: "Impressive!
This doesn't seem like a technique from the Zhang family of Haojing."
"But my cousin is a bit too reckless…" The girl seemed to realize something, her body feeling hot, and her face starting to flush again.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen tunneled out of the city and sighed as he looked at the green grass: "I've messed up!
This is really awkward!
Fortunately, my cousin is magnanimous and didn't pursue my transgression, or I'd be too embarrassed to face anyone."
"But I owe her a bit too much.
Oh well, I can't worry about that now.
I need to settle down in Jinling first," Zhang Chen said, his figure flashing again as he found the traveling group, appearing before the demon horse.
With the demon horse's transformation, it was now emaciated, just skin and bones, with its fur constantly falling out, looking quite ugly, like a sick horse, so thin it was unrecognizable.
"Big brother, how did it go?" Zhang Tuowei's voice calling out pulled Zhang Chen's attention back from the demon horse.
"It's done.
I've already spoken to my cousin, and that young lady will be going out for a stroll tomorrow and will conveniently transport you into the city," Zhang Chen said with a smile.
"Can we finally enter the city?
We've been traveling all this time, eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew, hiding and dodging, and haven't seen a soul.
We're about to become savages," Cheng Yu said, driving the carriage, his eyes full of joy.
Hearing Cheng Yu's words, Zhang Chen sighed softly: "It will be alright!"
His family's identity was still a major issue, and he had to find a way to resolve it as soon as possible.
His plan was to take root in Jinling for ten or eight years.
By then, his group would change their accents, re-register their household, and settle down in Jinling, and they wouldn't have to fear the Great Victory Dynasty's investigation.
Changing their household registration wasn't difficult for Zhang Chen.
The family continued on their way, and at this moment, Zhang Shi took out a fist-sized woven pouch from the carriage and handed it to Zhang Chen: "I made this for you."
Zhang Chen was stunned as he looked at the woven pouch Zhang Shi handed over, his eyes full of bewilderment, unsure of what she meant.
Zhang Shi said with a smile: "It's troublesome for you to always hold that small furnace in your hand.
I've woven an outer pouch for you, so you can hang it on your belt, and it can also serve as an ornament."
Zhang Chen was surprised to hear this and quickly took the woven pouch.
It was just woven from ordinary coarse hemp, but it was finely crafted and durable, and it was embroidered with small rabbits and birds, showing that she had put her heart into it.
Zhang Chen quickly took the pill furnace out of his sleeve and carefully placed it into the woven bag, then gently tightened the rope buckle, so it could be hung on his waist as an ornament.
Because the pill furnace contained sun charcoal fire, it couldn't be stored in his primordial spirit, so Zhang Chen always carried it with him.
"Not bad!" Zhang Chen said, hanging the pill furnace on his waist, very satisfied as he walked back and forth.
"Mother's craftsmanship is really good, I want this pendant too," Zhang Fei said, looking at it with envy.
The woven bag wasn't just a woven bag; its outer shape resembled a small rabbit, looking lifelike, and its appeal to children was extraordinary.
"Mother, I want one too!" Zhang Fei turned to look at Zhang Shi.
"Alright, alright, Mother will weave one for you," Zhang Shi said, stroking Zhang Fei's head with affection.
"Auntie, I want one too! I want a small grasshopper," Zhang Tuowei also began to beg.
"Auntie, I want a small tiger!" Cheng Yu also asked without hesitation.
Everyone had gone through various hardships together and were closer than family, so Cheng Yu wouldn't be polite.
"Alright, alright! Everyone will get one!" Zhang Shi said with a smile.
As they spoke, a relaxed atmosphere spread, and the group drew closer and closer to Jinling City.
Finally, as dusk approached, the family arrived outside Jinling City.
The city gates were already closed, so the family simply set up tents outside the city to rest.
The next day, as soon as it dawned, the Jinling City gates opened, and a flood of people surged in and out, with people pouring out of Jinling City and others entering, so the common people entering and leaving the city gate were in a constant stream.
Then, a luxurious carriage came out of the city.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Zhang Chen saw Jiang Nan, and Jiang Nan also saw Zhang Chen.
Both nodded to each other, and then they passed by.
Behind Jiang Nan were three carriages, with dozens of guards and servants escorting the group away.
"The Jiang family is indeed a wealthy family, traveling with dozens of attendants, as expected of a local aristocratic family," Zhang Shi said, sitting in the carriage, looking at the departing carriage, with a hint of unease in her eyes: "Chen'er, after arriving in Jinling City, the three of you should go to the Shen family to acknowledge your relatives.
I'll just find a wealthy family to work as a servant.
With my skills, I can make a living anywhere, so I won't cause you any trouble."
Zhang Chen, who was walking ahead with his head down, stopped in his tracks.
When the carriage came to him, he walked alongside it and looked at Zhang Shi, whose face was full of apprehension, inside the carriage: "Auntie, we are family!
No matter where we go, we will not separate."
Zhang Chen's voice was firm: "Don't worry, I will naturally arrange everything for you."
"I'm not related to the Shen family, and it wouldn't be proper for me to go, I'm afraid it would make things difficult for you," Zhang Shi said, her face full of hesitation.