Chapter 174 - 174 Exactly the Same
174 Exactly the Same
When Ji Zhao accompanied Shen Yao back to the inn, it was already late.
In the early autumn night, the breeze carried a hint of coldness.
The moonlight was hazy, and the shadows of the trees floated. The night seemed to be even quieter.
Ji Zhao looked at Shen Yao, who was standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back. She called out worriedly, “Shen Yao, are you alright?”
Hearing Ji Zhao’s voice, Shen Yao gradually came back to his senses.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Snow fungus pear soup. Drink it while it’s hot,” Ji Zhao suggested softly as she pointed at the table on the other side with a smile.
“Ah Tao, don’t you think it’s a form of happiness for a person to live a muddled life?” After drinking the bowl of snow fungus pear soup, Shen Yao suddenly sighed.
“I don’t agree with that.” Ji Zhao shook her head. “Everyone’s life is different. No one can empathize with them.”
“Besides, how would you know that a muddle-headed person doesn’t have any other worries?”
“Ah Tao’s words always have a deeper meaning. It’s enlightening.”
“Shen Yao, I have a suggestion now. Do you want to hear it?” Ji Zhao narrowed her eyes and asked with a smile.
“Hmm? Would you care to elaborate?”
“Wait a moment!” Ji Zhao smiled and hurried out of the door. In less than 15 minutes, she walked in with a basin of hot water. She wrung out the handkerchief and handed it to Shen Yao. “Wipe your face first.”
Shen Yao obediently did as he was told, but his heart was still filled with doubts.
“Now sit there obediently.” Ji Zhao pointed at a chair not far away and smiled. “Then take off your shoes and socks and soak your feet comfortably.”
After Shen Yao washed his face and soaked his feet, Ji Zhao let him lie on the bed again.
She patted his face and said with a smile, “Now you just need to empty your mind and close your eyes to sleep. You’ll definitely feel refreshed tomorrow morning!”
Shen Yao did not expect her suggestion to be this.
For a moment, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“Why? You don’t believe me?” Ji Zhao raised her eyebrows and said, “Sleeping is the best way to resolve your troubles. If it’s boring to sleep alone, I’ll sleep with you?”
Shen Yao obediently moved to the side and left a spot for her.
Pfft—
Ji Zhao was amused and scratched the tip of his nose angrily. “Don’t think too much. Hurry up and close your eyes to sleep!”
“What about you?”
“Of course I am—sleeping together with you!”
Just as Ji Zhao finished speaking, the waiter knocked on the door and brought over a brand new blanket.
Ji Zhao immediately laid out the bedding and crawled into it. Before she fell asleep, she did not forget to say goodnight to Shen Yao.
In just a moment, Ji Zhao let out a faint snore.
Accompanied by her snoring, Shen Yao also felt extremely sleepy. After a while, he fell asleep.
The next morning.
When Shen Yao opened his eyes, Ji Zhao was still asleep.
He carefully climbed over her waist, put on his shoes and socks, and walked out of the room.
At a quarter past seven, Ji Zhao also woke up.
The sweet scent lingering in the air made one drool.
“Smells good!”
“Osmanthus wine brewed glutinous rice balls.” After Shen Yao, who was reading, heard the commotion, he hurriedly walked to her side and smiled gently. “I just bought it. If you eat it now, it’s just right.”
“Alright!” Ji Zhao immediately lifted the blanket and quickly washed up. Then, she sat at the table and began to enjoy the delicious little glutinous rice balls.
The sweet little glutinous rice balls mixed with the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers and the sweetness of the rice wine had a rich texture and was extremely delicious.
“Delicious!” Ji Zhao put down the bowl and spoon and burped in satisfaction.
Shen Yao smiled faintly. He knew that she would definitely like it.
“You’ve already packed your bags?” Ji Zhao saw the dark brown bag on the table not far away and asked softly, “Are we going back?”
“Yes.” Shen Yao nodded. “I can’t help with Master;s matter. Since there’s no point in staying, I might as well go home early.”
“No matter what you think, I will support and respect all your decisions.” Ji Zhao looked into his eyes and promised seriously.
“Ah Tao, thank you.” Shen Yao smiled gratefully and gently held her hand. His gentle eyes were filled with love.
After the two of them packed up, they left the inn.
Shen Yao sized up Ji Zhao beside him and could not help but laugh. “Ah Tao, I didn’t expect you to look so elegant in men’s clothes.”
Ji Zhao’s figure was rather thin. She was wearing a man’s long robe and her black hair was simply tied up. She really looked refined.
“What a sweet mouth!” Ji Zhao chuckled. “I’ll reward you with a chestnut.”
The couple looked at each other and smiled.
Then, they rushed towards the city gate together. However, on the long street, they suddenly heard the news that Old Master Fan had hanged himself in prison.
Hearing this grievous news, Shen Yao immediately stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with disbelief!
“How did this happen?”
No matter what, Old Master Fan was still a teacher with merits!
How could the county magistrate of Thunder Mountain County dare to be so bold?
No, the person who really killed him was probably not the county magistrate.
“Ah Tao, I want to go to the Fan residence.” Shen Yao looked at Ji Zhao, his eyes filled with pleading. “I want to send Master on his last journey.”
“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
The county office gave the news that Old Master Fan admitted that he had stolen the county magistrate’s family heirloom and committed suicide in prison.
However, no one knew the truth.
At noon, Old Master Fan’s corpse was sent back to the Fan residence.
In fact, the Fan residence had already been burned into ruins. The kind neighbors had helped build a simple shed beside the ruins to serve as a mourning hall.
Old Master Fan’s wife had already passed away half a year ago. Now, there was only one daughter in the family who had just reached adulthood, Fan Xuancao.
The thin and short Fan Xuancao was dressed in mourning clothes. She knelt in front of the mourning hall and cried bitterly.
When Ji Zhao arrived with Shen Yao, very few people came to pay their respects.
After all, according to the news from the county office, Old Master Fan’s death was not honorable.
Shen Yao looked at the scene in front of him and felt sad. Images of the past kept appearing in his mind.
Images of Old Master Fan patiently lecturing, the laughter when he praised him, the seriousness of his tone when correcting him, his voice and smile seemed to echo in his ears.
“Master, please accept a bow from Runzhi!”
Shen Yao lifted his robe and knelt in front of the mourning hall. He said firmly, “Runzhi swears again that I won’t let you down in the future!”
The originally clear sky was suddenly covered in dark clouds as heavy rain poured down.
Ji Zhao hurriedly held up the oil-paper umbrella and stood beside Shen Yao.
“Ah Tao, I want to stand guard for my teacher.”
“Okay.”
In less than an hour, a group of bailiffs rushed over.
Without another word, the group of people directly smashed the mourning hall!
Ji Zhao’s gaze fell on the leader of the group, and her eyes widened in surprise.
That man was exactly the same as the whip man who had hurt Shen Yao that she saw in her dream the night before!