When leaving, Song Jinyin opened the car curtain a little.
This time, Cuiyu didn't stand there and watch her go away, but took the initiative to call Cang Lin and turned around with a smile.
If Song Jinyin hadn't seen Cuiyu's clenched hand on one side, she would have thought that the current chatter and laughter were due to her happiness for Cang Lin, rather than the fact that the little girl didn't dare to stay too long for fear of being caught.
When the car curtain was lowered, the sourness in Song Jinyin's heart had passed, and she felt some gratitude instead.
The little girl she once protected is now standing in front of her, trying hard to block some possible dangers for her.
...
The carriage finally started to move.
Perhaps because there were three girls from the Pei family sitting in the car, the ride was a bit slow. The driver was from Zhuyayuan, and Kong Qing also sat in front.
Although there was not much wind outside, the sky looked a little gloomy. Pei Musheng couldn't sit still and opened the car curtain.
"We haven't left the city for so long. If it rains, we might be called back. Kong Qing, please hurry up. Let's get out of the city first."
"Girl, don't worry, the city gate is ahead. There are many people entering the city at this hour, so the carriage cannot go too fast."
Kong Qing saw Pei Musheng pouting and seemed a little unhappy, so he added: "After leaving the city, the carriage will not take the official road. You can see some scenery along the way and get to Lushan Town earlier. Then the girl will I can take a little more rest.”
"real?"
Pei Musheng immediately felt energetic. Although the official road was easy to walk, it was always winding. If he encountered a caravan or other carriages, he might be delayed. It would be better to change to another road as soon as possible.
After listening to what the two said, Song Jinyin also looked out along the raised curtain.
The city gate not far away stood tall and towering, and was filled with officials and ordinary people. People entering the city were lined up, and the prosperity and liveliness of the capital was evident everywhere.
Song Jinyin immediately became nervous, her palms became slightly moist, and her heartbeat became faster and faster.
Leaving Anyuan County and being sent into that high wall was like a big dream.
Now she appeared in front of the city gate again, but last time she came in and this time she went out.
As their thoughts surged, the group was finally stopped at the foot of the city gate.
Outside, there were the voices of officials questioning her. Song Jinyin had never felt such complicated emotions before. She even felt heavy ringing in her ears the moment the carriage started moving again.
All the uneasiness disappeared with the shaking of the car's shaft.
She didn't dare to think that in just a moment, she would leave the city that had trapped her for many years.
It doesn't matter if you can't find a place to stay, it doesn't matter if you lose your identity.
Song Jinyin laughed, her eyes vaguely tinged with water.
After turning into the trail, the carriage was indeed faster. It only took half a day to reach Lushan Town.
After finding a larger inn, a few people went in. Song Jinyin's eyebrows were crooked and she looked around, as if she was curious about everything.
Pei Musheng asked for several rooms.
Although it was her decision to settle down in Lushan Town today, she had informed Butler Wang earlier that the journey would be slower. Looking back, it was not a joke.
There is a connected restaurant in front of the inn, and there are private rooms on the second floor. There are few customers in winter. On days when there are usually many businessmen coming and going, it may be difficult to book so many rooms at once.
"The guests must be tired from traveling all the way, so why not sit down and have a meal first? Although we are only a small town, we are in an important place that everyone passes by. The food will definitely satisfy you. !”
The waiter led a few people up to the private room on the second floor, with a smile on his face, and asked someone to bring hot tea while talking.
Biyu and Kong Qing didn't talk much, and Chef Li and the others behind them saw that the third girl was even more honest. Only Song Jinyin stayed by her side, exchanging words with Pei Musheng from time to time.
Everyone could see Song Jinyin's happiness. Even Biyu couldn't help but look at her a few more times. Affected by the smile between her brows and eyes, she lowered her guard.
Not long after the people sat down, food was served one after another. The dishes that caught their eye were indeed different from the regular restaurants in Kyoto. According to the waiter, these food came from all over the place and were not local characteristics.
Chef Li nodded repeatedly and started to eat. He pointed at the strange dishes and told stories about them.
The atmosphere in the private room suddenly became more lively.
Seeing this, Song Jinyin stood up and took out the tea cake she had just brought out from the bag.
"Third Miss, since we are not in a hurry today, I will go and make some tea for everyone."
"I'll go with you."
"I think the kitchen here will be very busy. I'm afraid the girls will be crowded. If the third girl wants to take a look, why don't I borrow some tea sets?"
Song Jinyin's eyebrows were gentle, and she frowned slightly when she talked about the busy work of the kitchen, her expression was lively and sincere.
In the end she went downstairs alone.
Biyu had focused all her thoughts on Song Jinyin since she left the city gate. Seeing her go down and disappear among the crowd, she felt a little uneasy in her heart.
He wanted to look for her movements, but stopped for some reason.
She recalled the days she spent with Song Jinyin, seeing how pale she was when she opened her eyes as she walked away from the gate of hell. Now she was calm and gentle, with no trace of embarrassment. The change in this was not a compromise on her part, but maybe she just gave up.
But at the market that day, the little girl's sparkling eyes were still clear. Biyu suddenly thought that if Song Jinyin left just like that, maybe...
But the thin figure still passed through the crowd and stepped onto the wooden ladder again.
Song Jinyin held the tea set and slowly returned to the crowd step by step.
I don't know who overflowed with a sigh, just like the hazy mountain scenery after the rain, people can't find where the sound comes from, and they can't see the reason for this action.
The tea couldn't be brewed after all.
There was something missing, so Song Jinyin just boiled water and made some simple tea.
Biyu looked at the cup pushed in front of her. The water inside was light in color, and there were a few traces of debris on the tips of the leaves at the bottom of the cup.
She held the hot teacup, shook it smoothly, and stopped suddenly when it was close to the corner of her lips.
In the peripheral vision, Song Jinyin, who was sitting next to Pei Musheng, suddenly became quiet. She no longer had the energy to look around just now. She only put her hands on her robe and listened quietly to what others were saying.
Biyu's hand holding the tea cup exerted strength, and then she watched helplessly as the crumbs at the bottom of the cup disappeared due to the shaking.
In the winter day, the tea that had been left out of the fire became cold very quickly. When Biyu raised her head to drink tea, Song Jinyin looked over suddenly.
The bright black eyes were covered with a layer of mist, and they seemed to want to say something, but Biyu's movements were too fast. By the time she looked into Song Jinyin's eyes again, she had already drank all the tea.
The originally lively private room gradually became quiet.
When they woke up again, half a day had passed. The tea on the table had been replaced again, but it was so cold that it seemed as if ice had been added.
Biyu woke up a few people, stood up while they were recovering, walked down the wooden ladder, and walked out of this restaurant that had a vague old color.
The main road outside was lonely. Due to the cold weather in winter, the vendors closed their doors earlier than usual, and there were not many pedestrians left.
Looking to the side, there is a loess trail that extends horizontally towards the distant mountains. Looking along the way, the dead branches of the giant trees on both sides look slightly desolate.
At this moment, the sky was already dark. Biyu picked up the purse at her waist and lightly touched her name on it with her fingertips.
She should have guessed that Song Jinyin wanted to escape.
The little girl's tenderness and discomfort during these days, as well as the bags she was rushing to make, and even the cooking skills that were always changing for her to try, were actually saying goodbye to her every time.
Biyu regretted not having spoken to her more before drinking the tea.
At first, when she saw Song Jinyin, she thought of her sister who died in the war.
Even when getting along with her, I would think from time to time that if her sister was still alive, she would probably be like Song Jinyin, tough, brave, and occasionally showing some of the squeamishness of a daughter.
Later, she still regarded Song Jinyin as her sister, but this sister was just Song Jinyin.
Biyu held her purse tightly.
In fact, if she went to investigate now, she might still be able to find traces of her departure, but she just felt that her steps were extremely heavy and she couldn't move an inch.
"Third Miss, I went to take a look just now. The carriages and carriages are all there, but Miss Jinyin is missing. What should I do?"
Biyu turned around and saw several people also leaving the private room.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw the playful and active third girl holding something tightly in her hands. She lost her mind for only a moment before her eyes became calm.
"Brother is on an errand now, so it's hard to go find him. Kong Qing stays behind to find Song Jinyin. I'll go back to the house first, and then send the servants out to meet with Kong Qing."
"Yes, Miss Three."
Hearing Pei Musheng's calm tone, Biyu couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance at her a few more times, but met her gaze.
Unable to avoid it, Biyu stepped forward and saluted.
"Third Miss, we may not be able to enter the city in time for the Guancheng Gate this time, but if we start the journey, the carriage will inevitably be bumpy. Third Miss, please bear with it for now."
"Now that we have arrived here, everyone has also drank that uncomfortable cup of tea. Since we have to go back to the city with a bumpy ride, we might as well go slower and simply wait until tomorrow. What do you think, Miss Biyu?"
"I don't understand, but I will listen to the third girl's instructions."
Hearing this, Pei Musheng chuckled, withdrew his gaze, turned around and headed towards the backyard inn.
"Yeah, who would understand."
There seemed to be whispers behind him.
Chef Li and others were stunned on the spot, already at a loss because of Song Jinyin's disappearance. Only Biyu and Kong Qing could hear her words clearly.
——No one will understand, except Song Jinyin. Now that she has broken free, she must never go back.
