Breakfast was laid out on the table.
Ruan Ziji dared not be distracted by anything else.
The Fifth Prince and Xu Lao San scrambled for food with more ferocity than pigs starved for three days!
One a prince, the other a young master from a Duke's estate, their table manners were unbelievable if spoken of.
Several dishes from yesterday morning's meal were still fresh in Ruan Ziji's mind, and he had wanted to try them again today. To his surprise, the entire table was filled with new dishes.
"Is all the food in your Lan Yong so delicious?" When it came to food, had Lan Yong already surpassed Da Yu by so much?
Xu Hengyi clearly thought so, saying indistinctly while eating, "I want to go to sea, I want to go to Lan Yong."
He was extremely curious about Lan Yong, believing it to be, to be...
Xu Hengyi couldn't describe it, but he felt it was definitely different from Da Yu, a very good place.
Xie Jiang said, "Just eat your meal, why so much talk? Eat quickly, and then everyone should set off early."
Xu Hengyi's eyes widened, almost choking. What did "set off early" mean after eating? The words made him a little scared.
Xia Zeshi's mouth was stuffed full, and he dared not swallow, his expression terrified and his eyes blankly staring at the breakfast table.
Someone who would poison them if they were displeased was not something ordinary people would do, but Xie Langmie definitely could.
Perhaps he could even eat while watching them writhe on the ground. Xie Langmie, who usually didn't eat much, might even eat a few more bites seeing them die so miserably?
"What are you thinking? I meant for you to eat and return to the capital early," Xie Jiang said.
Each of them had minds that weren't particularly sharp, but their brain cells were quite active.
Oh, it's good they weren't poisoned.
Xia Zeshi swallowed the food in his mouth with relief.
Ruan Ziji looked down on these two cowards with disdain. If you're afraid of being poisoned to death, why come and freeload?
Xu Hengyi complained to Xie Jiang, "You're so unwelcoming, constantly urging us to return to the capital."
Xie Jiang said, "Don't you still have school? I'm concerned about you."
Ruan Ziji scoffed, "Xu Lao San just goes to the Imperial Academy to waste his time, that's hardly studying."
Xu Hengyi was furious, "That's still better than you fooling around all day!"
Xia Zeshi kicked him under the table.
Just ignore Ruan Ziji. Was the breakfast on this table not delicious?
Xu Hengyi immediately realized that Ruan Ziji was deliberately provoking him!
Ruan Ziji had snatched the last piece from the plate when he wasn't paying attention!
Resorting to any means for a bite to eat! Shameless!
After breakfast, Xie Jiang urged them to leave. Xu Hengyi remained unmoved, "I'm not returning to the capital for now. My second brother's injury is not healed yet, so I'll stay in Ninghe for a few more days."
Xie Jiang said, "What are you doing staying in Ninghe? Can you help your second brother recover from his injuries?"
"I'm helping my grandmother and aunt watch over my second brother. My aunt has to manage the household and cannot leave, and my grandmother is old and cannot endure long journeys. I am the eyes of my grandmother and aunt."
"Yesterday you were a follower by my side all day, and this morning you ran to my place to freeload food and drinks. You say you are the eyes of your grandmother and aunt? When was the last time you saw Xu Hengyan?"
"My, my second brother is just too busy, he leaves early and returns late, and I can't find him. Every time I go from the inn to the county office, my second brother has already left. Staying at an inn is really inconvenient."
Xu Hengyi cast a resentful glance at Xie Jiang. If Xie Jiang agreed to let him stay, wouldn't he be close to the inn? It would also be convenient to see his second brother.
Xie Jiang ignored his hint, "Xu Hengyan doesn't go out every day."
Xu Hengyi said, "When he's at the county office, he has to handle official duties, and it's not good for me to disturb him. Xie Jiang, next time you go to see my second brother, can you take me along too? Then I can see my second brother."
Xie Jiang said, "Your grandmother and aunt are better off without your eyes than with them."
Xu Hengyi expressed his dissatisfaction, as if he were completely useless. "Although I can't keep an eye on my second brother at all times, I'm staying in Ninghe, so close to my second brother. Knowing that my second brother is in good health will put my grandmother and aunt at ease."
"Moreover, I think they sent me to Ninghe not primarily to monitor my second brother's injuries. Miss Shen is monitoring my second brother's injuries, and I am responsible for monitoring the progress of my second brother and Miss Shen."
His grandmother and aunt, besides his second brother's health, were most concerned about his second brother's marriage with Miss Shen. "So I have to stay in Ninghe for a while longer."
Ruan Ziji said to Xie Jiang, "I also need to stay for a while longer."
He didn't have school, nor was he assigned any official duties. He was a free man.
Xie Jiang looked at Xia Zeshi.
Xia Zeshi said with some dejection, "I can't stay any longer, I have to return to the capital tomorrow."
He wasn't as free as Ruan Ziji, nor did he have an excuse to linger like Xu Hengyi. He had been out for quite some time, and both Young Master Xu and Xie Jiang had returned safely. It would be inexcusable for him not to return to the capital.
Xie Jiang sat in the courtyard for a while, yawned, and returned to his room to catch up on sleep.
Leaving the three of them staring at each other in the courtyard.
"Fifth Prince, Young Marquis Ruan, Young Master Xu San, the young master needs to rest. Perhaps the three of you could sit elsewhere?"
Aunt He politely invited the three of them to leave, whether they went to the front yard or the adjacent small courtyard was fine, as long as they didn't disturb the young master's rest.
Ruan Ziji hadn't had enough, "How long will Young Master Xie sleep?"
Aunt He said, "The three of you can come for lunch at noon."
With this assurance, Xu Hengyi and Xia Zeshi left with peace of mind.
Ruan Ziji lingered outside the courtyard gate for a while, thinking that since Young Master Xie was injured, he probably wouldn't wake up so soon. Only then did he reluctantly leave the Xie residence.
At noon, the three arrived punctually to have lunch with Xie Jiang. Xu Hengyi remembered the sweet potatoes his second brother had been very concerned about recently and asked Xie Jiang to take them to see them in the fields.
The sweet potato cuttings had all taken root. When Xie Jiang led the three to the fields, they happened to encounter old farmers splashing manure water.
"So smelly, what are they doing?"
Having grown up in the capital, in a place of wealth and beauty, the three had never encountered such a situation. As they approached, they quickly covered their noses and mouths.
And the closer they got, the stronger the smell became!
Xie Jiang said, "Fertilizing."
Xu Hengyi frowned, "Why is fertilizing so smelly?"
Xie Jiang looked at him strangely, "What do you think they are fertilizing with?"
Xu Hengyi blinked his eyes, seeming to realize something, "It wouldn't be that, would it..."
Ruan Ziji said, "It must be."
Fertilizing was nothing to be surprised about. Xie Jiang walked to the edge of the field, squatted down, and reached out to touch the dewy sweet potato leaves.
Xu Hengyi exclaimed, "You're still touching it! After pouring manure, you still... Don't do that..." Aren't you afraid for your hands!
An old farmer carrying a bucket of manure water passed by. "It hasn't been splashed over here yet, young master, you don't need to worry."
Xu Hengyi: Who knows if it was splashed before!
Upon getting closer, he saw it was Xie Jiang. The old farmer greeted him as he walked, "Oh, it's Young Master Xie who has come. I heard you encountered bandits from Huanglan Mountain and were injured. Are you alright?"