The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 70 Yangzhou Skinny Horse
Jiang Shiwan choked up and said, "Meng Tingzhou, for Ah You's sake, can you leave me a little dignity?"

Hearing this, Meng Tingzhou suddenly stopped and looked at her.

The woman in front of him did not shed tears. She just said calmly: "I said sorry to you just now because I know you are very angry. You must have spent a lot of time looking for me these days."

"But I didn't lie to you. I never wanted to go with Song Huaizhi from the beginning to the end."

"Yan Jinxi's attack was very heavy. I almost died under her whip. He came to save me in time. No matter what, I have no way to repay him for saving my life."

There was silence in the room.

Meng Tingzhou turned his back to her and said, "I admit that I was very nervous when I knew you were taken away by Yan Jinxi and the Queen. When I arrived at the palace and found out that you were taken away by Song Huaizhi, I was scared for a moment."

"I'm afraid something will happen to you. I'm afraid you won't be able to control yourself when you're with him."

"Song Huaizhi is right. I brought Ah You to see you for selfish reasons. I don't know if you would have followed him without hesitation if Ah You wasn't here."

He took a breath and said, "Jiang Shiwan, I don't dare to gamble."

"Even though you and I have been together for so long, and even though we have Ah You, I still don't have the confidence in front of Song Huaizhi."

His face was half hidden in the shadow of the candle, and his expression was obscure.

"Meng Tingzhou..."

The man in front of him suddenly fell straight down.

Jiang Shiwan thought he had seen it wrong: "Meng Tingzhou!"

"Somebody come!"

Yun Shang was the first to rush in, first covering her whole body with a thin blanket, and then pulling the brocade curtain.

Soon after, Doctor Mei and others came in and helped Meng Tingzhou to the couch at the side.

“Governor…Governor…”

Hearing Pei Qing's call, Jiang Shiwan's heart rose to his throat.

Meng Tingzhou slowly opened his eyes and saw everyone surrounding him. Doctor Mei shook his head and sighed, "The governor has hardly had any rest in recent days, and his body can't support it anymore. It's okay, take a dose of medicine and have a good sleep for a few days and you'll be fine."

Meng Tingzhou then realized that he had fainted. He waved his hands and said, "It's okay. I'm just too tired. I just need to rest for a while."

Pei Qing and Yu Feng wanted to help him up, but he said he could do it.

Pei Qing asked: "Will the governor sleep here or in another room?"

"Let's arrange another room." Meng Tingzhou felt a little dizzy and held his forehead with one hand, "Yufeng, take good care of the young master."

Yunshang and Xueying closed the door only after the group of people left.

Seeing Jiang Shiwan in a daze, Xueying comforted him, "Don't worry, Madam. The governor is just too tired. During the days when Madam was away, the governor ordered many people to look for Madam's whereabouts. He hardly slept. Maybe it's just like what Doctor Mei said, he is tired."

Jiang Shiwan knew that given Meng Tingzhou's personality, he would definitely make every effort to find his whereabouts, but she didn't expect that he hardly slept a wink.

No wonder he looked thinner and more haggard when I saw him this time.

"Right now, we are short of supplies and manpower on the ship. I will only need one person here." She glanced at Yun Shang, "The governor needs someone to take care of him. You go."

Yun Chang received the order and immediately went to serve Meng Tingzhou.

Jiang Shiwan lay in bed for four or five days, and the wound on his back was basically healed. Doctor Mei said that even if the skin was broken again, it would not be as serious as before, but it would easily leave scars, so he reminded him to be careful. However, Ah You was bored on the boat for several days, and his mood gradually became irritable and annoying.

The ship docked in Yangzhou for two days for supplies, and Jiang Shiwan was finally able to take him off the ship to take a walk outside.

The ships of the Governor's Office were too eye-catching, so the Yangzhou prefect and other officials naturally found various excuses to meet with Meng Tingzhou.

The two hadn't seen each other for some time, so she went shopping in the market with her nanny, Xueying and Yufeng.

The streets of Yangzhou are very lively, with exquisite embroidery, many seasonal fruits and special snacks.

Ah You was curious and excited about everything he saw. He almost jumped into the adults’ arms, and kept saying “Hmm…Hmm…Hmm…”

A lot of saliva was left.

Jiang Shiwan couldn't help laughing because of his amusement, so he bought a lot of snacks and let him have a small bite of each.

Having satisfied his appetite, Ayou felt much better and didn't get angry the whole afternoon.

Until the sun set, Yu Feng had to urge: "Madam, it's getting late, we should go back to the boat."

Not to mention Ayou, even Jiang Shiwan himself, Xueying and the nanny were reluctant to leave the bustling market.

Xueying pouted and teased Ah You: "Little Master, we should go back now. We can't play anymore."

Ah You was completely unaware and was still immersed in the windmill in his hand.

Jiang Shiwan looked at him lovingly: "If he doesn't leave tomorrow, take him out for a walk again."

Several people got on the sedan chair and went back along the same route they came.

The lights are dim and the music is graceful.

Xueying said with emotion: "I didn't expect Yangzhou City to be so lively at night."

Jiang Shiwan opened the curtain first, looked at the lively night scene outside, and said with emotion: "Jiangnan is a land of fish and rice, and Yangzhou is a gathering place for salt merchants. Salt merchants like to raise some poor young girls and carefully train them to win over their peers and officials."

"Over time, Yangzhou's skinny horses became famous throughout the world."

"Everyone knows that Yangzhou's skinny horses are stunningly beautiful, but they never know how cruel those women are."

She sighed and lowered the curtain to block out the chirping sounds outside.

When Jiang Shiwan and his party got off the sedan chair, Yu Feng felt that the guards stationed outside the ship looked unfamiliar, and immediately asked with caution: "Who are you? Why are you on the Governor's ship?"

When these people saw Yu Feng, Jiang Shiwan standing behind him, and the child in his arms, they guessed that they were the rumored governor's wife and young master. They bowed their heads and smiled apologetically: "Your humble servant Qin Zhao, an officer of the Yangzhou prefect, greets the madam."

Jiang Shiwan raised his eyes slightly, calm as water: "Didn't the prefect come during the day? Why hasn't he come yet so late?"

Qin Zhao had not expected this lady to be so thoughtful, so he smiled awkwardly and said, "My master said that it is rare for the governor to pass by Yangzhou, so he specially prepared the best Huaiyang cuisine for the governor... and his wife to taste."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a pipa and beautiful singing were heard from inside, which was very gentle and moving.

Even if Jiang Shiwan was slow to react, he knew who was inside. He then smiled softly, "Didn't you say we were going to eat Huaiyang cuisine? How come the prefect also has Huaiyang cuisine like this?"

"Madam, please forgive me." Qin Zhao knew that something was wrong, so he lowered his head and stammered, "In order to entertain the governor, you have invited the most famous Miss Wen in Yangzhou City to entertain the dinner."

Jiang Shiwan ignored him and walked forward, but Qin Zhao hesitated and blocked her way.

(End of this chapter)