Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1319: Chapter 1321: The Panther Leads the Way_1

After they had agreed on their plans, the two were about to set off when suddenly a guard from the palace arrived, stating that the monarch had summoned Jiang Yichun to speak with him at the palace.

”Young Master Bai Shu, the monarch has praised your knowledge and martial arts skills to no end, and would like you to visit to discuss matters beyond the Western Regions,” the guard added.

Bai Shu was the pseudonym Jiang Yichun was currently using.

Bai Ruozhu looked worriedly at Jiang Yichun. If the monarch suspected something about Chu Hai’s disappearance, shouldn’t they be summoning her for a conversation instead? Why were they only focusing on Jiang Yichun? Could it truly be just an appreciation of his talent and martial arts?

Jiang Yichun gave her a reassuring look. Even if real trouble erupted in the Western Regions, he had ways to ensure they all could retreat unharmed. Before departing, he had already subtly infiltrated his network from the inn into the Western Regions, ready to come to their aid when absolutely necessary, all for the sake of safety.

Once Jiang Yichun had left, Bai Ruozhu also tidied up and headed out. Her plan remained unchanged; she intended to meet with Ao Qi and Princess Yingtong.

She instructed Chenfeng and Muyu to wait outside the royal palace for Jiang Yichun, while she left with only Jianqi and two other dark guards.

She had intended to find the servant arranged by Ao Qi nearby, but couldn’t spot anyone fitting the description. It was unclear whether Ao Qi had recalled his servant, or if because Lian Jia had people watching the inn, he had been forced to pull his people back.

Fortunately, not long after the monarch had sent someone to summon Jiang Yichun, those whom Lian Jia had arranged also withdrew.

Bai Ruozhu inquired with the shopkeeper about the location of the Ao Family and then followed the direction he pointed.

The Ao Residence wasn’t too far away and was very well-located, albeit the vicinity wasn’t as noisy as the market district, nor were there many idlers loitering around—probably a rule at the door of the mansions belonging to the Western Region’s gentry.

As she was approaching the front of the Ao Residence, a black shadow suddenly flashed in front of her, prompting Jianqi to quickly shield Bai Ruozhu, ”Madam, careful!”

Bai Ruozhu looked in the direction from which the shadow had flashed, but inside she felt a sense of familiarity.

Sure enough, deep in the alley, the black panther stood quietly, as if that lightning-fast shadow had nothing to do with it, as if it merely stood there in silence.

The panther’s dark eyes watched Bai Ruozhu, and it shook its neck at her as if to say, ”Come here, follow me.”

Bai Ruozhu felt surprised. How could she interpret the panther’s intention like this? It was just a beast; how could it perform such humanlike gestures?

Jianqi narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice, ”Sangta?”

Bai Ruozhu also thought of Sangta, but Chu Hai was still with Sangta; perhaps Sangta wanted to return Chu Hai to her.

”Let’s check it out; he helped rescue Chu Hai,” Bai Ruozhu said simply. She and Jiang Yichun had had a falling out the previous night and had only just reconciled that morning before splitting up to take different actions. As a result, she hadn’t had time to explain the events that had occurred in the palace the previous day to these few trusted subordinates.

Though Jianqi was somewhat opposed to the idea, feeling it was extremely dangerous, he didn’t voice his objection. Instead, he stayed close to Bai Ruozhu, looking very wary of the black panther.

When the panther saw Bai Ruozhu approaching, it suddenly nuzzled against her in an affectionate manner, making her feel for a moment like it was a large black cat. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pet its head, even scratching it encouragingly a few times.

The panther seemed very pleased, its expression almost like a smile, leaving Jianqi beside them utterly dumbfounded. Was this really a wild beast from the jungle?

He dared not doubt whether the panther had been tamed, for he had witnessed with his own eyes how the panther bit off Jin Jing’s leg, a sight so bloody and brutal that it seemed impossible to have been done by the ”big black cat” before him.

The panther affectionately nuzzled Bai Ruozhu, then lowered its body again, indicating for Bai Ruozhu to mount its back. Bai Ruozhu hesitated for a moment, but eventually climbed on.

It had to be admitted that riding a panther was an excellent feeling, completely different from riding a horse.

And Jianqi, seeing the panther willingly serve as Bai Ruozhu’s mount, was so astonished that his expression changed. He was normally such a steady and impassive man.

The panther, carrying Bai Ruozhu, even looked back at Jianqi with an expression of supreme arrogance, lacking any of the affection it showed towards Bai Ruozhu. It turned its head and started running forward, but not at great speed, meaning for Jianqi to follow.

Jianqi hastily caught up with the panther, which headed towards the back alley, wander deeper into the maze, and it was unclear how they had managed to find such a secluded place in Gaochang City.

After winding around for what seemed like an eternity, Bai Ruozhu felt they would be unable to remember the way back when suddenly, they heard the low sobbing of a woman from a distance.

At first, she didn’t take it to heart, thinking it was just someone from a nearby household. But as the panther moved closer, the sobbing grew clearer until it stopped right outside the courtyard where the sound originated.

It set Bai Ruozhu down, nudged the shabby courtyard gate with its head, and the gate, which was ajar, swung open with a push from the panther.

The sobbing inside the courtyard ceased abruptly. ”Who is it?” A woman’s voice, still nasal as if she had been crying, came from inside the house.

The panther looked towards the house, signaling Bai Ruozhu to go inside. It then dashed away swiftly, and by the time Bai Ruozhu chased to the main gate, there was no sign of the panther.

”Who has come? Is it someone to treat my illness?” The woman’s voice rang out again.

Jianqi cautiously checked around and said in a low voice to Bai Ruozhu, ”It’s just her all alone.”

Bai Ruozhu found it strange. Had Sangta sent the panther to bring her here, not to see Chu Hai but to treat a woman? Could this be his request as a condition for his help in saving Chu Hai?

”Let’s go and see,” Bai Ruozhu said, heading into the house, with Jianqi following closely behind, fearful that the weeping woman was no ordinary person.

However, when they saw the woman, they immediately realized she was indeed an ordinary person, gaunt and withered, with eyes that had cried into small peaches, and a face so pale it lacked any hint of color, a truly pitiful sight.

”Are you the doctor? Why are you so young?” The woman cried even harder. ”The person who saved me said he would find a doctor, but I feel like I won’t live much longer.”

Bai Ruozhu felt puzzled and couldn’t help but ask, ”What illness do you have? You seem to have an insufficient supply of qi and blood. Have you been seriously injured recently?”

The woman’s eyes suddenly lit up, like a dying person grasping at a life-saving straw, she said excitedly, ”You can tell? You must be a skilled doctor; I was shortsighted just now, I’m sorry.”

”It’s all right, tell me about your condition. Then I can see if I can help.” Bai Ruozhu had not decided to save the woman before her, so she didn’t rush forward to take her pulse.

A look of anguish crossed the woman’s face, and she seemed hesitant. Finally, she clenched her teeth and glanced at Jianqi, ”Can you ask him to step outside first? Some things are a bit inconvenient to say.”

Jianqi’s face turned cold, ”No! I must stay close to protect my wife!”