A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 197 He came to find me personally.

The next morning, three carriages were waiting for people outside the city gate.

People passing by would occasionally peek out out of curiosity, and Xiang He would tell everyone to have a safe journey. Su Shi, holding her hand, would also repeatedly give her instructions.

"You must take care of your health. Eat and drink properly, and don't neglect yourself."

"I understand," Xiang He pulled Xiang Yun aside, "Remember to take care of Father and Mother on the way. We'll go back to Shuiyun City once... once Sister is done with her work."

Xiang Yun nodded with a sweet smile, "Then you should finish your work quickly, sister."

"it is good."

Everyone was reluctant to part, as they had only spent two precious days together before having to leave in a hurry.

As Su and Xiang Dayong looked around, feeling a sense of loss, a large horse galloped towards them from afar.

Xiangyang hurriedly dismounted, crying out, "Father, Mother!"

Upon seeing Xiangyang, the couple's faces lit up with joy, and they each took one of his hands, instructing him to take good care of himself.

The sound of carriage wheels reached Xiang He's ears. He turned his head to look into the city and saw a carriage approaching them in a hurry. Just as Xiang He was about to make way, the carriage stopped.

With a slight twitch of her brow, Xiang He watched the figure limping towards them and sighed helplessly in her heart.

She immediately turned to look at Qi Xin, who opened his innocent eyes and waved his hand, shaking his head. "I didn't say that, after all, you said you didn't really want to have anything to do with their family..."

Qi Xin was a perceptive person. This sense of distance was obvious to anyone with eyes, so why couldn't the Ning family see it?

Perhaps they approached on purpose, or perhaps they had guessed something beyond that.

As Madam Ning approached, Madam Su instructed Xiang Dayong to take Xiang Yun to the carriage first, while she smiled and waved to Madam Ning and her daughter from afar.

"What brings Madam Ning here?"

Ning Wanwan helped Madam Ning to her feet, her breathing somewhat rapid, "Why are you leaving today? You haven't even come to the manor for a gathering yet!"

While she was talking to Su, her eyes were fixed on Xiang He.

Xiang He pretended not to see it and turned to talk to his fourth aunt.

Madam Ning frowned deeply as she watched Xiang He's retreating figure, her gaze lingering on the carriage from time to time. "Perhaps we should stay a few more days?"

"No," Madam Su said with a smile, glancing at the lowered carriage curtain. "I still have some chores to do at home. I can't neglect my family matters, can I? That would cost me money."

"How much silver did this cost? I'll give it to you..."

"Mother……"

Her wrist tightened, and Ning Wanwan cast a persuasive glance at her. Madam Ning realized she had misspoke and quickly corrected herself, "Indeed, the family business is more important. Since you've all decided to go back, it would be presumptuous of me to stop you..."

"How could that be?" Madam Su nodded slightly to her. "Madam, we'll be leaving now. Please take care of yourself."

Once Madam Su boarded the carriage, Madam Ning had no choice but to watch it drive away.

But when she saw Xiang He and Xiang Yang, the two siblings, her eyes lit up again.

Ning Wanwan, standing to the side, harbored doubts. Although Su Ci was an old acquaintance of her mother's, he seemed to be paying excessive attention to her...

A mixture of doubt and unease gripped his mother's hand, and he tightened his grip. "Mother...?"

Feeling the force, Madam Ning was momentarily stunned before she came to her senses. She quickly smiled to cover her thoughts, "What's wrong? That's someone who has served Mother for over ten years. Mother still remembers her."

Seeing her mother's expression, Ning Wanwan nodded slightly, "Indeed, we should have come to see her off."

Xiang Yang rode his horse back to the city. Xiang Hefang turned to say goodbye to Madam Ning, "Madam, we have other matters to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."

Before she could say anything more, Xiang He led Zhu Nan inside. Madam Ning anxiously wanted to stop them, but remembering the woman beside her, she didn't say anything.

There will be plenty of time in the future, and there will always be opportunities to test the waters.

Faced with Madam Ning's incomprehensible thoughts, Ning Wanwan didn't ask even if she was puzzled. Instead, she helped her into the carriage. Seeing that Madam Ning was still lifting the curtain to look at Xiang He after getting into the carriage, Ning Wanwan felt that something was wrong no matter how she looked at it.

Ning Wanwan also peeked out to look, and Xiang He suddenly stopped. She was facing a spot on the main road in the city and focused her attention. Following her gaze, she saw a handsome young man standing there with a slightly unfriendly expression.

However, Xiang He continued walking for a moment, but the man in front of her blocked her way with his hand, and Zhu Nan immediately stepped aside.

He Yuncheng smiled kindly and said, "I wonder if I could walk with Miss Xiang for a while?"

He turned to look at Qi Xin, who was coming for him, and said, "You go to Chaoshiji first, I'll be there in a bit."

"Huh?" Qi Xin didn't want to go alone, but he had to agree. "Alright, then hurry up, I'll have Xin Yue prepare the food first."

"Ah."

After Qi Xin had gone far away, the three of them slowly walked along Ping'an Avenue toward the East Market.

People lined both sides of the street, occasionally shouting and chatting with acquaintances, sometimes pointing at Xiang He and his two companions and guessing their identities.

Xiang He's clothes now are not coarse linen; they are made of the newly established Yun Jin Ge fabric, so she naturally doesn't look like an ordinary girl. It's just that the scars on her face are more eye-catching.

The magnificent scenery of the capital city lay before her, but Xiang He had no heart to appreciate it. "What does Young Master He want to say?"

He Yuncheng was walking beside her on her right. He only needed to turn his head to see the scars on her face. He was looking at them now. "The scars on your face, young lady... were they caused by Houde Pass?"

The fact that Xiang He went to Houde Pass can be easily found out by asking around.

Those who are unaware of the situation naturally do not know what Xiang He did at Houde Pass, but those who know Xiang He's identity will not reveal her affairs to outsiders.

As for who the He family are, you only need to find out by asking a few questions to anyone who has helped Xiang He.

This is also why He Yuncheng came to find her.

"I've heard that you have some knowledge of Taoist magic, but I really can't tell."

He spoke gently and smiled faintly at He, saying, "I am truly flattered that Young Master He is paying so much attention to me."

“I have found out about all the people around Sui An, except for his two guards.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhu Nan. "This guard is very skilled. I should ask Sui An how he found him. I happen to be short of manpower."

Xiang He was surprised by his bluntness, while Zhu Nan stood to the side with a blank, expressionless face.

"Young Master He, are you inquiring about me because you have something troubling you? But I don't seem to have any. Why don't you tell me your purpose?"

Hearing this, He Yuncheng's smile deepened. "The young lady is straightforward, so I won't hide anything from her either." A misty layer appeared on his smile. "Sui'an is now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He will meet with Father in the imperial court, but Father is not very pleased, after all, regarding his mother's matter..."

He Yuncheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "You know about Sui'an's matter, don't you?"

"I understand, continue."

With a crisp reply, He Yuncheng's sidelong glance revealed his appreciation, "Father has given him the condition that he acknowledges his ancestors and returns to his clan, but he must stay away from the imperial court and the capital."

Zhu Nan frowned, her steps suddenly halting. She looked up at He Yuncheng and said, "Since we've come this far, I'd like to ask, why do you insist on letting Sui An leave?"