Chapter 1604: Chapter 1611: Chance Encounter in Qing County (1)
After Shen Juhua finished her prayers, the look of devotion had completely disappeared. Smiling brightly, she said to the maid, "Xiao Kui, let’s go!"
"Yes, Miss!"
Xiao Kui, wearing a sullen expression, gathered their belongings, slung the basket over her arm, and accompanied the Miss outside. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw a strange man, worn and weary, standing there. He was staring at the Miss with a shocked expression—an unusual mix of astonishment, excitement, pain, and repression. All in all, his emotions appeared incredibly complex!
Xiao Kui, witnessing this, thought they had encountered a bandit. Quickly stepping in front of the Miss, she snapped at Mo Zili, "Who are you to behave so rudely? Do you even know that my Miss is the daughter of the county magistrate? If my Old Master finds out you dared to fix your gaze on her, he’ll dig out those eyeballs of yours..."
"Xiao Kui!"
Juhua sternly stopped her and said earnestly, "No shouting in front of the Buddha Hall! If the Bodhisattva hears us breaking the precepts of anger and refuses to assist us, our three months of efforts will have been wasted..."
She waved her hand dismissively, unconcerned. "Alright, let’s go, let’s go." With that, she strode towards the outside, entirely unbothered by Mo Zili’s complex and brooding gaze.
Xiao Kui, still vexed, glared fiercely at Mo Zili and said, "Consider yourself lucky this time! You’d better watch out, hmmph..." She then darted off to catch up with Shen Juhua.
At the temple hall’s entrance, Mo Zili remained frozen in place, staring blankly at Shen Juhua’s departing figure. That graceful silhouette inadvertently overlapped with another shadow, making it impossible for him to look away...
The county magistrate’s daughter...
He vaguely recalled hearing about her from home. A friend of the Empress, his family had mentioned her resemblance—both in appearance and character...
Qing County
As always, bustling and lively. On the ancient streets, people of all kinds hurried to and fro—some rode horses, some traveled by carriage, some walked, and others lounged in palanquins. Their attire varied greatly, with Great Jin citizens, Liaodan people, and Meng slaves all moving at a leisurely pace, savoring the vibrancy of the streets and the freshness of early spring air. The shops lining the streets were just as diverse: Great Jin-style two-story establishments, Liaodan-styled tents, and even small roadside stalls. The noise and bustle made it all quite fascinating...
Mo Zili led his horse as he wandered through the streets of Qing County. After a day of wearisome travel, hunger gnawed at him, prompting him to think about finding a restaurant to grab a meal. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a familiar figure entered his line of sight.
The woman wearing a light lotus-colored beizi and wrapped in a purple-red brocade cloak embroidered with silver and golden threads depicting purple bamboo was none other than the Miss. Accompanied by Xiao Kui, she stepped into a modest little shop.
Mo Zili glanced at the shop and noticed its signboard brazenly adorned with three bold red characters—Spicy Hot Pot!
The shop’s frontage was small, but business appeared to be booming. A steady stream of people entered and exited, and judging by their attire, the customers seemed to be predominantly from the lower-middle class.
Though Mo Zili was a Marquis’s son and not accustomed to dining at modest establishments like this, today, almost inexplicably, he tied up his horse and entered the shop himself.
As soon as he stepped inside, a peculiar and enticing aroma wafted over him, immediately stirring his appetite. He looked around and saw baskets of cabbage, vermicelli, small tofu pieces, potato slices, and sweet potato slices stacked neatly on the counter...
The county magistrate’s daughter stood with a bamboo tong in hand, selecting vegetables into a small bamboo basket. As she picked, she threatened the maid beside her, "You’re not allowed to stop me! Today I’m going to eat to my heart’s content before heading back. Anyone who gets in my way will regret it!"
Xiao Kui, timidly and anxiously, replied, "But Miss, Madam doesn’t want you going to crowded places where you might be seen. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw you..."