There is a god in the sky

Chapter 130 Trip to Jiangling 1

"Are you very disappointed?" Xiao Ji asked Shen Lan after they returned.

"Fortunately, I was prepared."

From the moment she guessed that the murderer might be the Princess Consort, she knew this case would be difficult to solve.

“But I’m very disappointed. We spent time and energy investigating the case and made tremendous efforts, but we didn’t get the results we deserved. I’m very disappointed,” Xiao Ji sighed.

Shen Lan comforted him instead: "They're local bullies, we're lucky we were able to leave safely."

"You're right, but what the young prince and princess did is truly infuriating!"

Shen Lan thought he was used to such things.

This is, after all, a feudal society, a place where the rule of law is not upheld.

It's impossible for a prince to be subject to the same laws as a commoner. Xiao Ji, having served as an official for three years, should have seen through this long ago.

"No, we have to let outsiders know about it too."

Shen Lan was taken aback. "What are you going to do?"

We're still on their turf, isn't this just asking for trouble?

Xiao Ji didn't speak, but went inside and began to write.

Fearing he might do something reckless, Shen Lan stayed in the courtyard until midnight and eventually obtained a storybook.

A story adapted from a true story, except that it doesn't explicitly name the young prince and princess, those who experienced it all know it refers to them.

"I never imagined that Lord Xiao had the talent to write storybooks. He must be making a lot of money, right?"

"Well, I just sell them for fun at my own bookstore."

Shen Lan's eyes lit up as she asked, "Do you accept storybooks written by outsiders?"

"You want to write storybooks to sell?"

Shen Lan hesitated. She was a science student, and writing essays was the most troublesome thing for her during her student days.

If you don't have good writing skills, no one will read your stories.

She laughed awkwardly and said, "I can't write."

Xiao Ji didn't insist, since writing storybooks wasn't exactly a respectable profession.

"I will accept the compensation given by King Zheng today, and then convert it into silver for you after I have tallied it up."

"What do you plan to do with that thing?"

"I just took a look, and most of them are imperial gifts. They can only be sealed in the warehouse and sold later when the family falls on hard times."

Shen Lan was speechless.

You can't just accept something given by such a noble person.

"Don't worry, the things from the King of Zheng are not as good as imperial gifts, so it's fine for you to use them yourself."

The next morning, Suiying delivered a box to Shen Lan, containing a dozen or so simple pieces of jewelry.

"Too much." She pushed the things back.

Suiying said matter-of-factly, "The master said that you and Xuan'er should share these. They are all things that can be worn daily and won't be too conspicuous."

Xuan'er leaned closer and exclaimed, "Wow...it's so beautiful! Can...can we really wear these?"

Shen Lan picked out two pearl flowers and clipped them onto her hair bun. The pink petals, the small pearl stamens, and the rabbit fur embellishments made them cute and lively.

Xuan'er touched the pearl flower and ran to look in the mirror.

Shen Lan asked Sui Ying, "When do we set off?"

"At three quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM), the soldiers from Jiangzhou Prefecture will come to join us."

Shen Lan checked the luggage and then called Xuan'er to go out and help.

The government provided carriages so they could travel from here to the dock to catch a boat.

The others were fine, but Sui Feng was still injured and couldn't ride a horse, so he could only lie in the carriage.

After they finished packing, Prefect Dou arrived late.

But he didn't come alone; he brought along all the officials from the government office, and each of them even brought a farewell gift.

As a result, their carriages were packed full, and they had to add another carriage at the last minute.

"Lord Xiao, you have worked very hard these past few days. I will definitely visit you to express my gratitude when I have the opportunity in the future."

"Lord Dou, you're too kind. It's all official business."

Prefect Dou pulled Xiao Ji aside, whispered something to him, and secretly slipped him a letter.

Xiao Ji accepted the letter and said to Prefect Dou, "Prefect Dou has it tough too."

"My dear nephew understands me best! Just forget about that case, as if it never happened."

Xiao Ji clapped his hands and joked, "Is this how Prefect Dou usually deceives himself?"

"Isn't there no other way?"

Xiao Ji whispered in his ear, "Prefect Dou, don't forget to ask her where she hid the body and the deceased's body parts. What if she hid them in the Prince's mansion? Wouldn't the young prince be scared awake in the middle of the night?"

Prefect Dou broke out in a cold sweat.

It's not just the Prince's mansion; if that woman hides the corpse there, that would be terrible.

"Thank you for reminding me. I will send someone to look for it."

Xiao Ji glanced at the sky. "It's getting late, we should go. Take care, Prefect Dou."

"Then I wish my nephew Xiao a safe journey and a meteoric rise to success!"

The carriage arrived at the dock, where their boat was still moored. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw them at the bow of the boat.

They originally said they would rest ashore for two days, but it turned out to be delayed for so many days.

Chen Shi led the officials to help carry the luggage, thinking to himself: The officials of Tanzhou are really generous, they've given too many gifts!

This place not only contains items belonging to Xiao Ji personally, but also food and supplies prepared by the government for their ship.

It can be said that for a long time afterward, they were well-fed and clothed.

Shen Lan's injuries have fully healed, and Sui Feng is also able to get out of bed and walk around. The atmosphere in the team is becoming more and more harmonious.

They encountered their first snowfall in Gangneung.

Xuan'er had never seen snow since she was a child, and even though Shen Lan had told her beforehand, she still couldn't imagine what snow looked like.

"Sister... Sister Shen, come quick! It's snowing!"

Shen Lan has been staying in the cabin by the fire these past few days because it's just too cold outside.

According to the ship's bow, the cold wave came earlier this year, and they might not be able to continue their voyage in a few days.

Hearing that it was snowing outside, Shen Lan was still willing to go out and take a look.

She grew up in Aoki Prefecture, and it had been fifteen years since she last saw snow in her previous life.

She stepped out of the cabin with an umbrella and discovered that Xuan'er wasn't the only one who was excited.

The snow on the deck wasn't thick, but it was still snowing in the air, and most of them were catching it with their palms.

Then watch the snowflakes melt in your palm, turning into a puddle of water.

Such simple happiness is truly enviable.

"Sister, come here quickly, I know what the hexagon you're talking about looks like now."

Shen Lan leaned closer, and Xuan'er reached out her hand, but before Shen Lan could see it, the snowflake melted.

"This...this dissolved way too fast!"

Shen Lan smiled and said, "It's alright, I'll just take another one."

A man stepped out from the bow and said, “Sir, it looks like this snow will last all day. Why don’t we dock at Jiangling Wharf? It’s too cold on this boat.”

Shen Lan turned her head and saw Xiao Ji, who was standing at the highest point, wearing a fur-trimmed cloak.

Shen Lan followed his gaze and saw a city in the vast expanse of white snow.

This is a plain, and you can see very far into the distance. As far as the eye can see, there are houses of varying heights.

This is Gangneung.

"Everyone's been on the ship for several days now, let's go down for a walk and buy some wine to warm ourselves up," Xiao Ji instructed.

The most excited were none other than the officials and constables of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

They also found the cold here unbearable. If they could have some wine and barbecue, they wouldn't mind the cold.