Chapter 39 - 27: The Blind-Eyed but Clear-Hearted Marquis
When they first arrived at Xuanling Temple, the mother only knew how to wash her face with tears every day, wallowing in self-pity, hoping day after day that the father would change his mind and take her back, completely neglecting her young daughter.
The mother had no idea whether her young daughter had eaten today or had dressed warmly; she just locked herself in the room and cried every day.
That day, cold and hungry, she was crying and hiding in this corner of the wall. Here, she encountered someone.
Someone who would be engraved in her heart for the rest of her life...
"Ji... Miss?" Suddenly, a somewhat hesitant voice interrupted Ji Liruo’s thoughts.
Ji Liruo’s recollections were interrupted, and a hint of fierceness flashed in her eyes. After a pause, she turned around and looked towards the person who called her; it was the young Marquis, Xiao Anning.
This blind man!
"Young Marquis, why are you here?" As Ji Liruo turned around, she restrained the fierceness in her eyes and asked gently.
"It was your mother who asked me to find you. Your maids said you were here." Xiao Anning replied, and a complex emotion flashed in his heart as he spoke, "This place..."
"Alright, let’s head back first. The wind is strong here, and it wouldn’t be good if the young Marquis caught a cold." Ji Liruo coldly interrupted Xiao Anning before he could finish his sentence. You blind man, don’t taint this place.
Xiao Anning remained silent, swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue.
"Oh, by the way, young Marquis, I took the liberty of having my maid report to the Commandery Princess about her foot injury. I hope the young Marquis does not hold it against me." Ji Liruo’s voice was soft, with a hint of remorse.
"Ah, not at all." Xiao Anning replied somewhat absentmindedly.
"Is the young Marquis still displeased about my overstepping?" Ji Liruo looked at Xiao Anning’s somewhat perfunctory demeanor, her tone carrying a trace of grievance.
"Huh? No, not at all." Xiao Anning denied, but the emotions in his heart grew increasingly complex.
"Then, young Marquis, shall we head back?" Ji Liruo seemed to finally relax upon hearing Xiao Anning’s response, happily suggesting, "Around this time, the abbot should be serving plum blossom tea to the mothers. I had the privilege of tasting the abbot’s tea art once, and the young Marquis might also like to try it today."
"Alright." Xiao Anning responded briefly.
For the rest of the way, the two remained silent. It seemed they each had their own concerns.
Upon reaching the abbot’s guest hall, indeed, the abbot was brewing tea for the two mothers.
Commandery Princess Yong’an saw Xiao Anning and Ji Liruo entering together, her face brightening with a smile. It looked like the two children were getting along quite well?
"Come, have a taste of this plum blossom tea; its fragrance is everywhere. The abbot indeed has a wonderful hand at this." Commandery Princess Yong’an invited the two over.
The abbot glanced at the two, with a gentle smile, but said nothing more.
Ji Liruo sat beside Lady Ji, while Xiao Anning sat beside Commandery Princess Yong’an.
Then, a young nun served tea to the two of them.
Ji Liruo accepted the cup handed over by the young nun and softly expressed her thanks.
However, an accident occurred when it was Xiao Anning’s turn.
Perhaps because Xiao Anning was unable to see, he couldn’t notice the young nun offering the tea. When he reached out to take the cup, he missed it, and the entire cup of tea spilled on him. Fortunately, the tea was not hot, so there was no harm.
The young nun was frightened and kept apologizing.
Xiao Anning waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to worry.
Commandery Princess Yong’an frowned slightly, a strange feeling arising in her heart. Although Ning’er could not see, his hearing and touch had long surpassed that of ordinary people. It had been many years since something like this happened; why would it occur today? Although it was just a minor incident.
But Xiao Anning maintained a calm expression, though his heart was not as peaceful as it appeared, and he let out a gentle sigh.