"Well, that was quite a coincidence."
Jiang Zhizhou sat beside Yang Qing in the carriage, watching the mountain gate recede behind them, and could not help murmuring those words.
Yang Qing's expression remained unchanged. "It was only natural that he refused to see us."
Why would someone beyond the secular world concern himself with so many worldly conventions?
A refusal was simply a refusal.
Jiang Zhizhou turned to glance at Yang Qing, understanding dawning in his heart, and said no more.
Back at the Rare Treasures Pavilion, Yang Qing looked up at the residence where he had spent so many days, and ripples stirred in his heart.
But that feeling lasted only an instant before he forcibly suppressed it.
If he was not drifting duckweed, why indulge in sorrow over spring and autumn?
"Pack our things. We're moving out today," Yang Qing told Jiang Zhizhou.
"Moving out? Why?" Jiang Zhizhou asked in surprise.
Their arrival at this residence had stirred up a storm. Now that the wind and waves had finally settled, why bring up leaving again?
Yang Qing said calmly, "Did you think living here meant peaceful days for us? Not so."
Since peace eluded them either way, they might as well go somewhere better.
Although Yang Qing's spirits had gradually improved over the past few days, his earlier physical exhaustion had left him gaunt.
Hearing him say this now, Jiang Zhizhou felt as though a shroud of loneliness enveloped him.
Jiang Zhizhou steadied himself. "Since you've already made all the arrangements, just give the word."
As for where they would move, whose company they would keep, and what they would do, Yang Qing would surely tell him in due course. Why rush?
With Yang Qing's order given, Bu Er naturally obeyed.
The master and servant had few belongings—only