Xiao Jingcheng really wanted to jump up and take a big bite out of Mo Zhizhang. But just as he was about to go around to Mo Zhizhang, Jiang Mian tightened the leash and yanked him back.
"Da Huang, there are a lot of people on the street. It's dangerous. This is not Dongli Town. You have to stay obediently by my side."
Xiao Jingcheng choked for breath as the rope tightened around his neck. In the end, he had no choice but to give up.
Mo Zhizhang let out an almost inaudible chuckle and said, "Even if you don't think you've suffered, girls should be pampered. It's a pity we met too late. If I had been there for you back then, I would never have let you go through all that hardship."
As he said this, his expression and tone were extremely gentle. His concern and hidden feelings were almost palpable. But Jiang Mian didn't pick up on any of it. She just smiled and said,
"It's okay. Now that Second Brother is with us, it's not too late."
Mo Zhizhang paused for a moment. His eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. For a moment, he couldn't tell if she really didn't understand or if she was deliberately avoiding the topic.
Their conversation just now reminded Jiang Mian of that strange dream she had in Jiaowei Village.
In that dream, the Li Clan of Luozhou still stood strong. She took her father's surname, Li, and was the daughter of Li Bingjun, the Chief Scribe. And Xiao Jingcheng, who should have been the Crown Prince, seemed to be just a young master of the Xiao Clan of Lingyang. Her uncle had become the Crown Prince...
The State of Chu had ceased to exist long before she was born. So she didn't think the dream was real. It was probably just a fantasy born out of her blurring of reality.
Moreover, after that, she never had any follow - up dreams related to it.
But for some reason, the content of the dream bothered her a bit.
Now that she thought about it again, she realized that she didn't really know much about Mo Zhizhang.
Apart from knowing that he was her uncle, skilled in using poison and martial arts, she knew nothing else.
Now that they were the only two beside each other, Jiang Mian paused for a moment and casually asked, "I remember Second Brother is only a little younger than Big Brother. So you're not much older than me."
"I've never heard Second Brother talk about your family. When did you enter the master's sect?"
Mo Zhizhang smiled faintly and said, "Me? My mother gave birth to me without telling my father. She wanted to use me to win my father's favor. But instead, my father got angry and killed her."
Jiang Mian looked at him in shock.
Mo Zhizhang said indifferently, "My father also wanted to drown me at first, but in the end, he spared me and had me thrown to a groom to be raised."
"Later, my father's enemies came to our door. My father died under the enemy's sword. Our family estate changed hands and was occupied by the enemies. It became someone else's mansion. I managed to escape because I was given to the groom."
Jiang Mian never expected to hear such a painful past from him. A sense of shared sorrow welled up in her heart.
"So Second Brother also harbors such a deep - seated blood feud. No wonder we were fated to meet in Dongli Town."
Mo Zhizhang twitched the corner of his lips, wanting to laugh at her for being a fool.
A blood feud?
The entire Li Clan of Luozhou was wiped out, and his so - called "King Father" was not blameless. If you really counted, he could be considered her enemy.
But it was his father, the so - called "Mad King", who did it. What did it have to do with him?
Xiao Jingcheng almost caused her to lose her life, yet he still got her forgiveness. Why couldn't he?
"And then?" Jiang Mian looked at him curiously. "How did Second Brother find out about your own background? Did the groom tell you?"
Mo Zhizhang said, "How would the groom know? It was one of my father's former subordinates who found me and told me my background. He told me to find a way to kill the enemy and avenge my father."
He tilted his head and gave Jiang Mian a gentle smile. There was a hint of madness and evil in his eyebrows. "Then, guess what?"
Jiang Mian asked along, "What happened?"
Mo Zhizhang's eyes crinkled with a smile, but his words made Jiang Mian's hair stand on end.
"I poisoned them all."
Even Xiao Jingcheng was greatly shocked and subconsciously looked at Mo Zhizhang.
Poisoned... to death?
Mo Zhizhang said calmly, "They recognized me as their master and kept saying they wanted to avenge my father. But they just wanted to use me to satisfy their desire for power. I didn't want to be a puppet at their mercy."
Jiang Mian didn't know what to say for a moment.
Seeing her frowning, looking troubled, Mo Zhizhang's voice softened again. "Did I scare you?"
Jiang Mian shook her head and said, "So Second Brother really doesn't want to take revenge anymore?"
Mo Zhizhang didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Your Li Clan of Luozhou ended up like this. Have you ever thought about taking revenge?"
Jiang Mian was a bit confused. She scratched her head and said, "But the King of Chu is already dead. I can't go to his grave, dig out his bones, and whip him, can I?"
"Besides, that was the feud between my father and the King of Chu. Even if revenge needs to be taken, it should be my father who makes that decision."
Mo Zhizhang said meaningfully, "That's right. Those are the feuds of our fathers. It has nothing to do with us. Your words have enlightened me a lot, little sister."
Jiang Mian said, "Second Brother, you still haven't said how you entered the master's sect."
Mo Zhizhang evaded the question and looked ahead. "The pharmacy is here."
Sure enough, Jiang Mian was distracted. She noticed the pharmacy ahead, ended the topic, tightened her hold on the hemp bag, and quickened her steps.
Xiao Jingcheng looked at Mo Zhizhang's profile and sneered in his heart.
This guy didn't dare to mention how he entered the master's sect. He wasn't her uncle at all.
The herbs Jiang Mian picked in the mountains were of excellent quality. After inspection, the pharmacy bought them all and offered a high price. This bag of herbs actually earned five guan and thirty wen.
After putting the copper coins away properly, Jiang Mian's eyebrows relaxed, and a smile played on her lips.
She looked so cute that Mo Zhizhang couldn't help but say, "You're so happy just because you earned a few copper coins?"
Jiang Mian patted her purse. "Of course. Gathering herbs isn't strenuous. It's a sure - fire way to make money. Even if I only earned a hundred wen today, I'd be satisfied."
"Come on. Let's go to a restaurant and have a good taste of the local cuisine. I'm treating today!"
If you want to gather information, teahouses and restaurants are the best places.
The most famous teahouse in Guangdu County was called "Baihui Tower". Apart from tea and delicious food, there were also storytellers and performances by musicians and dancers every day. When Jiang Mian and Mo Zhizhang arrived, there were almost no empty seats. They had to share a table with others.
The people sitting at the same table with them were also a man and a woman. They were very affectionate with each other, so they were probably a couple.
"Are you two from Guangdu County? My brother and I are new here. We're very unfamiliar with this place. Could you recommend some signature dishes of Baihui Tower to us?"
Jiang Mian said with a smile to the two of them.