Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2415: Chapter 2416: Complex Situation (4 Updates)

”Mr. Anben can inquire privately, but for the time being do not reveal any information,” Bai Ruozhu reminded.

She didn’t want their search to be discovered as soon as they arrived, lest it attract attention from those with ulterior motives.

”Alright, Lord Bai, rest assured, I will definitely have my subordinates be cautious,” Anben said respectfully.

Anben’s deference made Bai Ruozhu a bit embarrassed. As they were about to take their leave, Anben said with a conflicted expression, ”I have a presumptuous request.”

”Mr. Anben, feel free to speak,” Jiang Yichun replied.

”My daughter Lingzi went missing earlier, and the residence has already announced her death due to illness. Nowadays, amidst impending storms, returning home will only bring disaster upon her. Therefore, I request Lord Bai to take Lingzi along as a maid to serve you,” Anben spoke with reddened eyes, a father’s final arrangement for his daughter.

Lingzi burst into tears, ”Father, I won’t leave, I want to stand with the family!”

”Stop causing trouble!” The usually gentle Anben suddenly lashed out, ”Lingzi, don’t be willful. If something happens at home, the bloodline of the Anzhen Family must be preserved. Right now, no one knows your identity; only you can escape safely. If you are unwilling, you need to flee even more; only by staying alive can you avenge me and the family!”

Bai Ruozhu patted Lingzi’s shoulder, ”Only by staying alive does one have a chance; listen to your father.”

Lingzi cried copiously, ”But I just came back, I can’t bear to leave father.”

”No, you cannot stay at the residence. Currently, there are too many people and tongues wagging; if the Divine Sect people find out, escaping will be difficult,” Anben said through clenched teeth.

Finally, Lingzi was taken away by Bai Ruozhu and the others. The three of them took a few detours and went to the seaside to rendezvous with others.

Mo Beishan and Li Jin had already returned. Li Jin said happily, ”General Chisong from the Chisong Mu Residence warmly received us and arranged for us to stay at the posthouse, saying that a banquet would be held to treat us tonight.”

Bai Ruozhu asked softly, ”Did you meet She Zongyi?”

Mo Beishan shook his head, ”No.”

Lingzi explained softly, ”Although She Zongyi is a major merchant, he is not respected by General Chisong who advocates martial power. Samurai tend to look down on merchants, and there is discord between the Mu Residence and the Emperor; General Chisong even wishes to replace the Emperor.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”If that’s the case, why doesn’t your father align with General Chisong?”

Lingzi showed a sorrowful expression, ”My father’s heart nature is straightforward; he insists that the Main Hall is the legitimate authority. He wouldn’t ally with the Mu Residence, and moreover, Chisong is exceedingly brutal; you must be very careful.”

Bai Ruozhu understood the underlying relationships, realizing that every country has power struggles, and they are all exceedingly complex.

The group made arrangements; as per protocol, it was more appropriate for them to stay at the posthouse.

Bai Ruozhu left some people to guard the ship and quickly brought some commonly used clothing and a few gifts and treasures to the posthouse.

At the posthouse, there was already a translator waiting; a young man who spoke Chinese. From Mo Beishan, it was learned that during their previous visit to General Chisong, this young man named Sa Tian helped translate.

Both sides exchanged greetings and pleasantries, and then Sa Tian led them to their accommodations. Gao Zhou casually asked, ”Sa Tian, your Chinese is quite good; did you learn it in Danliang?”

Anben smiled and said, ”I have always longed to admire the great landscapes of Danliang, but alas, it is too far, and I haven’t been able to go. Since childhood, my health was weak, and I was sent to the Temple to chant scriptures, where I learned Chinese from the senior monks.”

”I see,” Gao Zhou said with some curiosity, ”the person most proficient in speaking Chinese in Fusang Country turns out to be a monk.”

Sa Tian asked everyone to rest, saying he would return to escort them to meet General Chisong before the banquet.

After Sa Tian left, everyone divided up the room and freshened up briefly before gathering to discuss matters.

Jiang Yichun selected some fine gifts to present to General Chisong during the banquet and asked Li Jin to write a gift list.

Fortunately, many Fusang people can understand Chinese characters, making the gift list relatively easy to write.

The group discussed and decided that only Li Jin, Mo Beishan, Jiang Yichun, Bai Ruozhu, and Tang Feng would attend the banquet, since these five people all held official positions. Additionally, except for Li Jin, the other four were skilled in martial arts, and even if anything dangerous occurred, they could find a way to escape.

Gao Zhou and the others remained at the posthouse to ensure security; they were newcomers and could not trust General Chisong, so they had to be wary of She Zongyi.

Originally, they didn’t worry much about She Zongyi since the Black Pirates were wiped out, but the military strategist unexpectedly escaped. Given his capability, he would undoubtedly send She Zongyi a message, and She Zongyi might already know the Black Pirate Ship was seized, possibly seeing them as a thorn in his side.

By evening, Bai Ruozhu’s group followed Sa Tian to the banquet. Sa Tian appeared very polite, courteously reminding them of certain precautions along the way, even amiably teaching them a few common phrases in the Fusang Language.

For instance, ”Please enjoy your meal,” ”Thank you for the hospitality,” and similar expressions.

Jiang Yichun thanked Sa Tian, giving him a jade thumb ring. Sa Tian smiled broadly, clearly pleased with the gift.

Before they knew it, they arrived at the banquet venue, which was quite similar to Danliang Country’s banquet hall. There were low tables in front of everyone; it’s just that in Danliang, people mostly sat cross-legged, while in Fusang, they sat kneeling.

Bai Ruozhu glanced around and saw that many Fusang people were already seated inside, including Lingzi’s father, leading her to believe these people were officers or aristocrats from Kyoto.

Sa Tian reminded them to remove their shoes here; Bai Ruozhu noticed rows of wooden clogs placed beside them.

She didn’t think much of it, but Jiang Yichun’s face fell.

In Zhongyuan, women’s feet are not supposed to be casually exposed, even if they’re wearing socks.

Now, asking Ruozhu to take off her shoes felt somewhat disrespectful to Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu guessed his thoughts and subtly tugged at his sleeve, slightly shaking her head at him.

She then removed her embroidered shoes, using the hem of her official robe to cover her feet.

They wore their Danliang official uniforms to the banquet today, representing not themselves but the Danliang Dynasty.

The minor episode quickly passed; Sa Tian entered the room, performed a ritual bow, loudly announcing the guests’ arrival in Fusang Language, and then invited the group inside.

Bai Ruozhu and the others took to their seats accordingly, sitting as per their habits without kneeling. Danliang’s official robes were mostly long gowns, which covered the legs well.

Sa Tian cheerfully introduced the locations to Bai Ruozhu and the others, mentioning Kyoto’s residence officers and Chisong’s subordinate generals. When introducing Lingzi’s father, Sa Tian said, ”This is Master Si Fu Anben; his Chinese is exceptionally proficient, and in this regard, I always feel inferior. Oh, and Si Fu is akin to an imperial teacher in Zhongyuan.”

Anben feigned unfamiliarity with them, courteously bowing and said, ”I dare not call myself an imperial teacher, merely an ignorant man in pursuit of learning.”

Sa Tian laughed, ”Master Anben is always so humble.”

Bai Ruozhu and the others returned the courtesy in a reserved manner, behaving as if meeting for the first time with Anben, not showing too much friendliness.