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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="333" data-orig-width="500"></figure>I’m switching it up today by using a picture of Li Xiao Ran (Yin Jing Wan) instead of just focusing on my beloved Wallace. This chapter is mostly exposition but delves deeper into the political instability of the period. I love that Murong Feng left her a parting gift, though it’s not something women of that time period would usually carry around. The drama definitely had more action, as the book did not have the scenes where Murong Feng fights against the soldiers of the Ying army and the bombing of Cheng Zhou. I’m looking forward to when our OTP meet again. :)
Encountering Love: Chapter 3
Everyone on the train had fallen asleep, it seemed like she was the only one still awake and everything around her was deathly still. The only thing she could hear was the sound of indistinct voices, the sound of disorderly steps, and the sound of car engines…there was a monotonous ticking sound, but after a while, she realized that the monotonous sound was actually coming from her pillow, no wonder she thought it was coming from somewhere nearby. Reaching out her hand, she looked using the lamplight that seeped through the window from the platform. So it was an exquisite gold pocket watch with a detailed watch chain that was wound by her pillowside; she weighed it in her hand, listening to the continuous tick-tock of the watch, which was heavy, like a discontent heart. The train slowly began to move again.
By noon, the train had reached the Li An stop, where it took on extra water but did not start moving again for a while. When Fu Shu returned from gathering more information, he said: “The people on the platform said that a special train had arrived so we have to wait for them.” It was a good thing that they weren’t forced to wait long before the special train left. In the afternoon, when they finally arrived in Cheng Zhou, it just happened that the train could not enter the station and they could only stop at the small Qu Jiang station outside of the city of Cheng Zhou. Yin Jing Wan had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right, but since the situation had already gotten to this point, she could only go along with it. The passengers got off at Qu Jiang, which did not have cars waiting around. It was a good thing that it wasn’t far from the city, with a bit of walking, they were able to find a pedicab to take them into the city.
After entering the city, they felt that something was strange, as Cheng Zhou was the base of the Cheng army, where the headquarters of the military governor was located. The inside of the city was closely guarded - all the shops were being boarded up, the cars were coming and going, the men and horses were being mobilized. Obviously, something big had happened. Fu Shu found a pedestrian to ask for more information, and then ran back, gasping for breath, to tell Yin Jing Wan: “Miss, something has happened, Commander Murong is seriously ill and Liu Shao hurried back to issue an order for martial law upon the whole city. I’m afraid that we are about to go to war again.”
Yin Jing Wan’s heart constricted as she replied: “Let’s first find a place to settle into.” She felt a faint feeling that something was not going end well. The only son of Cheng Zhou’s military governor, Murong Chen, was Murong Feng, and the entire military garrison of the Cheng army as well as all the military officers called him “Liu Shao” because he has five older sisters. Murong Chen was forty when he finally got this one son, so he obviously treasured this apple of his eye. Since he had rushed back and imposed martial law upon the entire city, Murong Chen’s illness must be very severe.
Sure enough, the morning of the second day, the Cheng army published a national telegram to publically announce the death of Murong Chen. Murong Chen had actually died of apoplexy four days earlier, but because Murong Feng had been in the south, buying military supplies, the members of the Murong family and their loyal retainers were worried that the news would cause a major disruption in the current political system, they had decided to keep the death a secret until Murong Feng could return to Cheng Zhou to make the funeral preparations.
Yin Jing Wan asked Fu Shu to buy some newspapers to look at. Unable to hide his concern, Fu Shu said: “Looking at the situation now, it will be chaotic for a while. I’m afraid that it won’t be convenient to transport the goods.” Yin Jing Wan considered the issue for a moment and then said: “Let’s stay for a couple more days. Since we’ve already come here, it should be safe. Perhaps the political situation will stabilize, no one can be certain.” Seeing that Fu Shu had some differing opinions, she continued: “I heard the Liu Shao grew up within the army base. The year the the Xu family had their difficulties, he was in the southern barracks training troops, and personally led his army to battle against a larger army. He was only seventeen at the time but still managed to emerge victorious. He is someone who will achieve great things, and he will definitely overcome the present danger without chaos.”
Since Cheng Zhou was both under martial law and preparing for a grand funeral, the people in the city did seem a bit panic-stricken. They stayed in a hotel and did not leave it except to eat. When Yin Jing Wan was bored, she would play cards with Ming Xiang in their room. That Murong Feng did indeed handle the matter decisively and in a short few days, he dealt with the large army threatening the borders, forcing the Ying army to reconsider their reckless actions. The two sides were at a deadlock for several days but the situation did slowly settle down.
Although it was like this, Yin Jing Wan listened to Fu Shu’s advice, only stocking up on half of the goods before shipping them out so that they could return Qian Ping. Qian Ping was an old city, a previous dynasty’s capital, and although was no longer considered the capital region, it was still a thing of beauty and a treasure. The business there was good, and was unlike any other place.
The Yin family was originally a notable one in Qian Ping, a clan with generations of high officials but later it gradually declined. They only had had the business that their great-grandfather had created after he abandoned his studies that still flourished. When the business was handed down to Yin Jing Wan’s father, Yin Chu Fan, it was already extremely large but their family members were few, her parents saw her as their most beloved daughter and raised her like a boy. This time she wanted to go north by herself, and her parents were unable to dissuade her so they finally allowed her to go. When they received her telegram, they sent their driver very early to drive her back from the train station.
The Yin family lived an old-styled estate and had recently built a cement road leading directly to the inside of the manor. Their servant Zhang Ma was by the courtyard gate taking care of the orchids when she saw the car arriving, and ran back calling out: “Miss is back.” Wu Ma, who was in the atrium, and Li Ma both came out to welcome her back, happily taking her luggage and escorting her inside. The Yin Estate was originally an old house, the front atrium was newly renovated, as well as the big glass window facing towards the south. When she went in, she saw her mother walking out of the inner room. The sun was shining brightly at the time, reflecting the silver longevity characters embroidered on her dark blue qipao. Although she could not see the expression on her mother’s face clearly, her heart was full of unrestrained happiness and she called out: “Mother.” Madam Yin said: “You’ve finally returned.” She lovingly held Jing Wan hand, carefully looking at it for a while, and said: “You father always complains that we indulge you too much. In the tumultuous times of war, we always worry that something bad will happen to you, a girl-child.” Yin Jing Wan saw that her father had already strolled outside and she, beaming from ear to ear, said: “What could possibly have happened? Haven’t I returned in perfect condition?” Yin Chu Fan was smoking his pipe and at this time, he showed a small smile and said: “It’s good that you have returned. It’s good that you have returned.”
During this outing, she was frightened more that she was hurt but her family worried a lot. Seeing that she had returned safe and sound, treating everything as it were an interesting story, she did not say anything about what had happened to her parents. Just talking about the minor incidents during her journey has already caused Madam Yin to faint. As Yin Chu Fan listened, he seemed to have a praising manner. Madam Yin angrily said: “Look at how you’ve spoiled her! Yesterday you were complaining but today, you are indulging her again.” As she was saying this, Wu Ma, who was standing to the side, came forward to ask: “How should I unpack the trunk that Miss has brought home?”