Chapter 9: A Fortunate Encounter

At this moment, Dantai Jing had no time to think of anything else and, disregarding the heat enveloping her, stepped forward to meet him.

Dantai Shanchang was clearly in excellent spirits. Clutching Dantai Jing’s hand tightly, he exclaimed with unbridled joy, “Jing’er, you truly are your father’s lucky star. This time, everything has turned around—just like finding a bright clearing after a dark forest!”

Dantai Jing smiled gently at Shanchang and shifted the oil-paper umbrella in his hand slightly toward him. Her long eyelashes fluttered delicately, as if silently inquiring. Meanwhile, she had not discarded the twig she held earlier, and with it, she wrote beside them on the ground: “Father, what has happened to make you so joyous?”

Shanchang’s heart was indeed filled with happiness. This matter was a secret that should not be disclosed to anyone, but if not for Dantai Jing, he would never have come to the Great Buddha Temple. He needed someone to share this secret delight with.

“I have met a benefactor this time. I fear I might finally leap through the Dragon Gate like the carp. Perhaps even your eldest uncle won’t compare to me!” Shanchang was always keen on comparing himself to his elder brother. Unfortunately, Jing’s eldest uncle was quite successful, currently an official in the capital. Because of this, Shanchang rarely contacted the capital. Inwardly, he was determined that if he could not become an official there, he would never reach out to his elder brother again.

For Dantai Jing, already content with the glimpse he had given her, she was a young lady of merely twelve years, so she did not press for more details. She smiled faintly and wrote on the ground, “Congratulations, Father!”

Shanchang’s mood was exceedingly good. He thought to himself that he had only come to try his luck. Because of Dantai Jing’s dream, from the moment he left the mansion that day, he had been on high alert, maintaining his composure carefully, afraid to miss any opportunity.

When he reached the Great Buddha Temple and wandered behind the mountain, he saw several well-dressed young nobles. By the jade pendants hanging at their waists, Shanchang knew these were no ordinary young masters. Feigning casualness, he followed them from behind, which indeed brought him an opportunity.

A blind old woman approached the group, holding a worn bowl, seemingly begging. Shanchang immediately felt something was amiss. First, this was the Great Buddha Temple; it was unusual for a blind beggar to be here. Unlike other places, the temple was a place of compassion where monks would offer alms to such a woman rather than let her beg.

Secondly, the old woman’s arrival was suspiciously timely, as if she had come specifically for these men. Following Dantai Jing’s advice, Shanchang believed these men were the benefactors he sought. If they were indeed sons of high-ranking officials or heirs of noble families, encountering such a beggar would only make them think the people of Zecheng lived miserably under their administration.

As the blind woman was about to reach the group, Shanchang hurriedly stepped forward to block her path, adopting a look of sympathy. “I have arranged for the city guards to open a congee shelter outside the government office. Let me send you there,” he said.

In front of these nobles, Shanchang did not hide his dedication to governance and care for the common folk.

Unexpectedly, the blind woman was no ordinary person. After matching Shanchang’s pace for a few steps, her eyes suddenly shifted, and she turned toward one of the young masters. Sensing something wrong, Shanchang sprang forward to block her again. Fortunately, the men around the young master were not to be taken lightly—they had been watching the blind woman closely and immediately killed her with a swift strike.

Although accustomed to witnessing life and death, even Shanchang was taken aback by the ruthlessness of the young master’s attendants.

The young master glanced at Shanchang and casually asked, “You must be the prefect of Zecheng, Dantai Shanchang?”

Just from this question, Shanchang knew that the man before him was no ordinary person.

Sure enough, when the attendant beside the young master revealed an official token and calmly announced that this was the Fourth Prince of the realm, Shanchang was stunned and took a long moment to recover.

Recalling the Fourth Prince’s instructions, Shanchang smiled and said, “Jing’er, you should rest for now. I still have some unfinished business here and may be late leaving.”

The Fourth Prince had ordered him to quietly dispose of the old woman’s body without drawing attention, so Shanchang had to handle the matter personally.

Dantai Jing knew her father still had duties to fulfill for the benefactor, so she lowered her head and wrote on the ground, “Father, your future is important. Jing’er can return to the mansion first. With the guards’ protection, nothing will happen to me. I also wish to visit the East Market for a while.”

Shanchang could not refuse. A young lady lingering in the streets after dusk would invite gossip; it was better for her to return first.

Just as Shanchang prepared to leave, he turned and saw Dantai Jing still standing where she was. Her forehead was damp with sweat, and she looked weary. Only then did he realize his daughter had just recovered from a serious illness and probably had little money on her.

With this in mind, Shanchang turned back...

Unable to ascend the back mountain, Dantai Jing retreated. Fortunately, Madam Xu had also rested, so after tidying up, they stepped out.

Madam Xu, upon hearing that Dantai Jing planned to visit the East Market, assumed she intended to buy something—usually fabric and cosmetics favored by young ladies. Because Dantai Jing had been mourning for the Dong family for three years, she had not visited the market in a long time. Reflecting carefully, there were still many items needed for the Pear Blossom Courtyard. Lady Ye was stingy and had cut the household expenses repeatedly. The third young lady was growing, and she must not be deprived.

Thinking this, Madam Xu secretly pinched her purse. There was still some silver inside, which would be well spent on the third young lady. Otherwise, the dowry left by the late madam was often coveted by Lady Ye; who knew when Lady Ye might trick it away?

Noticing Madam Xu’s subtle movement, Dantai Jing withdrew a silver note from her sleeve and handed it to her.

Madam Xu stared at the note in surprise; it was marked with the large characters “One Hundred Taels.” Astonished, she exclaimed, “Is this from the master for the third young lady?”

Dantai Jing smiled gently and nodded slightly.

Madam Xu clasped the note and murmured “Amitabha.” Thankfully, the master now treated the third young lady differently. From now on, the third young lady’s life would improve.

What Madam Xu did not know was that Dantai Jing’s visit to the East Market had a specific purpose. Prince Yu’s parents now lived in the storeroom of a fabric shop there, earning a little extra by watching the goods to supplement the household income.

Dantai Jing still bore some shadow from her past life regarding this grandmother-in-law, so she had rushed to find her first, resolving what needed to be settled.