Madam Jiang's face was pale.
She couldn't let her daughter suffer with her. Her body was deteriorating and she wouldn't be able to endure it for long. Therefore, she had to let Zhao 'er find her sister. Only then would her life not be so bitter in the future.
"Mother knows that you have a heart and that you're filial, but … Mother can't bear to do this."
She looked up and saw Madam Jiang's face turning paler and paler.
"Mother?"
"Cough, cough, cough …"
Madam Jiang suddenly coughed violently.
She coughed out blood.
Zhao 'er's face was covered in blood.
She was stunned!
"Mother?" Zhao 'er hugged Madam Jiang and cried.
The coachman outside heard the noise and turned to ask, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Zhao 'er shouted in panic, "Quick, go to the clinic."
Fortunately, the carriage hadn't left the city yet.
The coachman pulled open the curtains and was frightened by the scene inside. He quickly turned the carriage around and went to the clinic.
Madam Jiang held Zhao 'er's hand tightly and said weakly, "Mother … can't take it anymore. Promise Mother to find your sister."
"No, you'll be fine. I'll take you to the doctor. The doctor will cure you."
"Be good. This is Mother's only wish. I only hope that you can live well. Even if Mother dies, I'll be at ease!"
"Mother …"
"Promise … promise Mother!"
Zhao 'er hugged Madam Jiang and cried loudly.
She couldn't hear anything.
When the carriage arrived outside the clinic, the coachman pulled open the curtains and said, "Miss, we're here!"
However …
The coachman was shocked by the scene in front of him.
Zhao 'er hugged Madam Jiang's body and shook it gently, saying, "Mother, you'll be fine. You'll be fine …"
She said it over and over again.
"Miss, Madam … is dead."
"You'll be fine …"
"Miss?" The coachman sighed.
He didn't know what to do.
Because the carriage had stopped outside the clinic for a long time, it attracted a lot of attention.
They gathered around, and when they saw who was inside, they started discussing.
They pointed and said, "Isn't that the second daughter of the duke?"
"Yeah, why is she here? I heard that she's already left Gaoding? "
"For the High Duke's family to end up like this, they brought this upon themselves!"
"That's right!"
Someone noticed the situation in the carriage and exclaimed, "Look, isn't the Duke's wife dead?"
"Seems like it. Serves him right! It was supposed to be a lively New Year, but it was all ruined by them. How could there be any joy now? The whole city has turned white. "
No one sympathized with her at all!
Everyone's heart was as cold as ice in winter.
Suddenly, someone threw a raw egg into the carriage.
It landed squarely on Zhao 'er's forehead.
It was broken.
As if she had lost consciousness, she continued to hug her mother's body as if nothing had happened.
With this, people started to throw eggs or other vegetables into the carriages one after another.
He wanted to smash Zhao 'er to death to vent his anger!
The fickleness of human nature could only be seen clearly when one was in dire straits. Who knew how many hearts of beasts were hidden under that human skin?
The coachman tried to block them, but he was pulled away and beaten up.
Zhao 'er's head was broken and bleeding, but she did her best to protect Madam Jiang in her arms.
The people continued to smash the carriage for a long time. Finally, they stopped when they heard a shout.
A group of guards rushed out and captured the unruly people.
The crowd parted to form a path. Two figures walked in and stopped outside the carriage.
Zhao 'er slowly raised her head and was met with a familiar gaze.
Bai Yin?
At that moment, she did not know why but the last line of defense in her heart suddenly collapsed. In front of this man, her weakness and helplessness were all exposed in front of him.
Bai Yin and Lian Que had arrived together. When they saw Zhao 'er's bleeding head and Madam Jiang's dead body in her arms, their hearts ached.
Regardless of the heinous crimes that Duke Wang had committed in the past, it had nothing to do with Zhao 'er.
Bai Yin himself did not know how he felt about this little girl but he was certain that he did not want to see Zhao 'er sad or cry.
He could not help but walk towards her and reached out his hand.
"From now on, no one will ever bully you again!"
…
A few days later, the national mourning ended and the new king ascended to the throne.
Bai Yin was dressed in a dragon robe and accepted the worship of hundreds of officials.
The ministers in the imperial court were replaced with new ones and new powers were injected into the court.
The Marquis of the Southern Kingdom's troops occupied the best positions in the court.
They served the emperor!
After that day, the city's white mourning dress was removed. The common people were in high spirits and Gaoding City became lively once again.
Two days later, the imperial examinations began.
Song Zhi did not disappoint the people. He obtained the top three honors and entered the Hanlin Academy as a fifth-ranked official.
From the beginning to the end, he did not ask a single question about what happened that night in the palace.
Regarding all these changes, all he could do was remain silent.
As for why he stopped composing poems five years ago, he did not say a word. Perhaps, it was a secret he hid in his heart and was never willing to 'share' it.
Days passed, but there was still no news of Jing Rong.
Everyone said that Jing Rong was dead.
Ji Yunshu didn't refute him. These days, she was no longer immersed in pain.
Until one day, she made a decision.
A bold decision!
…
The imperial palace.
Bai Yin, dressed in a dragon robe, stood on top of the city gate tower. She gazed into the distance. Her aura was much more dignified than before.
Lian Que hurried over and handed her a letter.
"The Marquis's Estate sent this letter to you. It's a letter from the Eldest Princess."
"Yunshu?"
Bai Yin took the letter and quickly opened it.
There were only two lines on it.
She searched to the ends of the earth, through thousands of mountains and rivers.
Ji Yunshu left.
She left.
She carried that conviction and searched to the ends of the earth, through thousands of mountains and rivers to find Jing Rong.
Lian Que read the letter and was shocked. "Should we send someone to look for it?"
"No need." Bai Yin stopped him. He gazed into the distance and sighed. "Let her go."
Let her disregard everything and search to the ends of the earth.
Only then would she be able to survive.
It was the third month. The heavy snow had stopped and the warm sun shone down. The snow in the mountains and forests gradually faded, returning to their original appearance.
It was the beginning of spring.
A flock of grey birds flew past the forest in a flock, then quickly rushed into another part of the forest, disappearing without a trace.
The carriage slowly moved forward in the forest. The wheels of the carriage rolled over pebbles, producing a series of sounds.
Because it was the time when the snow melted, the coachman drove the carriage carefully. Seeing that the weather was good, he was in a good mood. From time to time, he would rush into the carriage and say a few words. "Miss, you chose a good time to travel. The sun is already out."
Ji Yunshu sat in the carriage. Her eyes were calm and her complexion was much more spirited.
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