Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1694: Chapter 1694: Fragrance Disperses, Jade Perishes

Little Dengdeng stared at the woman curiously and asked in a low voice, ”Mom, who is she?”

”Uh...” Bai Ruozhu didn’t know how to introduce her for a moment.

The woman smiled at Little Dengdeng and said softly, ”My name is Jiao Ling, borrowing your carriage to hide for a while, I’ll get off at the front.”

Little Dengdeng tilted his head, mimicking Jiao Ling’s stealthy posture, crouching in the carriage, and asked quietly, ”Why do you need to hide? Is there a bad person trying to catch you?”

Bai Ruozhu was amused by her son’s innocence. Though she felt Dengdeng shouldn’t have too much contact with strangers, looking into the woman’s eyes, Bai Ruozhu sensed no malice.

Jiao Ling was momentarily stunned and responded awkwardly with a hum.

Little Dengdeng maintained his expression and made a shushing gesture, ”Shh, speak quietly. I’m not strong enough yet to help you; we mustn’t let the bad people find us.”

Bai Ruozhu and Nanny Zhang couldn’t help bursting into laughter; this little guy knows how to assess the situation even at such a young age.

Little Dengdeng looked at his mom and Nanny Zhang with a face full of grievance and complained, ”Don’t laugh at me.”

Bai Ruozhu quickly withdrew her smile. Despite their young age, children are sensitive at this stage, and you don’t want to hurt their little self-esteem.

”Alright, we won’t laugh,” Bai Ruozhu said deliberately with seriousness.

At this diversion, the horse carriage started moving, and Jiao Ling seemed relieved, sitting down on the floor.

Bai Ruozhu watched her for a while and asked with curiosity, ”That Fen Jiu cares a lot about you; why can’t you discuss matters with him properly? Escaping like this could harm your relationship, isn’t that a concern?”

After saying that, Bai Ruozhu felt like she might be meddling, but for some reason, she blurted out the question, probably because her husband Achun had just left, and she felt distressed. She didn’t wish for other couples to be apart too.

Jiao Ling’s expression turned somber as her gaze fell to the floor, and she said softly, ”Fen Jiu is as stubborn as an ox; once he sets his mind on something, it’s hard for others to sway him. That’s why I have to escape first. He’ll definitely chase me to the Capital City.”

Bai Ruozhu, recalling Fen Jiu’s foul temper, could understand the situation.

”Now with chaos in the Capital, who are you trying to find? Perhaps I can inquire a bit,” Bai Ruozhu offered.

Jiao Ling lowered her head, obscuring the emotions in her eyes, and said in a muffled voice, ”A heartless person.”

Bai Ruozhu looked at her, estimating she was in her thirties, close to forty. Could it be a former husband or lover? But if he was heartless, what’s the point of searching for him?

”Fen Jiu treats you well; if he’s heartless, why bother caring?” Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but say.

Jiao Ling raised her head, eyes misted with tears, ”You’re still young; you don’t understand some things yet.”

Bai Ruozhu secretly pursed her lips. What doesn’t she understand? If Achun betrayed her, she certainly wouldn’t seek him out. For a scoundrel, there’s only one word to say—leave!

The conversation ended in an unpleasant manner. Once they left the Town, Jiao Ling thanked them and quietly jumped off the horse carriage.

Little Dengdeng watched in awe and innocently asked, ”Mom, won’t that aunt hurt herself from the fall?”

”She’s skilled in martial arts; she’ll be fine,” Bai Ruozhu replied.

”Oh.” Little Dengdeng nodded, then abruptly stood and squatted in a horse stance in the gently rocking carriage. Seeing Bai Ruozhu and Nanny Zhang looking at him, he quickly said, ”I must seize the time to practice diligently.”

Bai Ruozhu and Nanny Zhang exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh. This child is still so young—there’s plenty of time, no need to be in such a hurry!

The horse carriage traveled swiftly without delay. Bai Ruozhu feared attracting Nianrong and her cohorts, changing to another carriage in the next small Town, and had her subordinates change attire, disguising themselves as merchants on their journey. Thankfully, the trip was peaceful and uneventful; Nianrong seemed not to have pursued them.

Perhaps she was caught up by other matters, or she had something more important to attend to.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyelid twitched, suddenly recalling Nianrong’s infatuation with Jiang Yichun; could she be chasing after Jiang Yichun?

This thought made her uncomfortable, especially recalling Nianrong saying it hadn’t always been this way. When Jiang Yichun was controlled by the Ghost Doctor, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but worry.

Good thing her priority is taking care of her child now; she isn’t a pessimistic person and soon overcame these concerns.

In the blink of an eye, the group was already three days away from Beiyu City.

Bai Ruozhu entered a nearby small City and immediately visited the Commerce Association. Given the current chaotic warfare, the association was her only way to maintain contact with her family, master, and friends.

The shopkeeper’s manager saw her waist badge and promptly invited her into the inner room, handing her the latest information along with a personal message from Lin Zhenghui.

”The Capital is in chaos, returning to the Northwest, don’t worry.”

The message was brief, but Bai Ruozhu felt greatly relieved. Her master was safe and had returned to the Northwest, so perhaps they would meet soon.

She then reviewed the current situation in the Capital. As she read, her face turned pale, almost losing her balance, if not for Nanny Zhang’s quick reflexes to support her, helping her regain composure.

”Bai, are you alright? Please sit down and rest,” exclaimed the manager of the Commerce Association, startled by Bai Ruozhu’s alarming pallor, even her lips losing color!

With Nanny Zhang’s help, Bai Ruozhu sat down, trying to calm herself with several deep breaths.

She reviewed the information again, hoping she had misunderstood, but no matter how many times she read it, the words remained the same, stating:

The Empress Dowager took a fatal arrow for the Emperor, died in the Palace...

Bai Ruozhu clutched a handkerchief tightly over her mouth, unwilling to cry aloud, though memories of the Empress Dowager’s smiles and kindness surged in her mind—her warmth and thoughtfulness, her gentleness and humility.

Since they first met, Bai Ruozhu feared the Empress Dowager might trouble her daughter Diao Bin in the Palace, only to find out she was amiable, and exceedingly beautiful and dignified.

Later, Bai Ruozhu and the Empress Dowager grew closer, eventually uncovering the Curse afflicting Diao Bin. Together with Jiang Yichun, Bai Ruozhu traveled to the Western Regions, partly obeying an Imperial Decree and willingly assisting Diao Bin and the Empress Dowager. One incident after another, Bai Ruozhu had come to regard the Empress Dowager as a dear Elder.

Such a wonderful woman, even the universally acclaimed Yao, son of medical excellence, was willing to wait a lifetime for her; such was her charm that the romantic Former Emperor chose to bear infamy, ultimately succumbing early to the Curse.

She was barely over forty—in modern times, still a captivating mature woman—gone so suddenly, her beauty and grace vanished in a blink.

Bai Ruozhu struggled to regain her composure, only coming out of her sorrow with coaxing from Nanny Zhang and Little Dengdeng.

The dead cannot return, but while Bai Ruozhu lives, she can seek revenge, demand justice for her!