Chapter 391 - 389: Cloud Hermit (First Update)

Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Cloud Hermit (First Update)

Xu Jing looked at the short line of text on the paper, and Chunyang’s words from earlier came to mind, saying that "Lady Xu’s Collection of Exonerations" seemed to have only two volumes...

So what is the story with this third volume? Could it be... what she was thinking?

Before she could recover, a low scream suddenly came from not far away, and then a green figure flashed past her, and the paper she was holding was snatched away.

Xu Jing was a bit stunned and looked up to see Song Qingyun’s face flushed, looking like a child who had done something wrong. She glanced at Xu Jing, flustered and uneasy, and said, "Mrs. Xu, I..."

Aside from the paper that floated to Xu Jing’s feet, many other papers were scattered on the ground. Seeing Chunyang preparing to step forward to help pick them up, Song Qingyun screamed again, quickly bent down to pick up the papers on the ground, and while frantically collecting them, she said anxiously, "No, no, Tao Liang and I can handle it..."

Chunyang, Nanny Kang, and the others were startled by her and stood frozen, not daring to make a move.

Watching this, Xu Jing couldn’t help but smile helplessly.

At this point, what did she not understand? She feared the daughter of Mr. Song, a lady from a literary family, had been secretly writing these popular tales in private and had achieved considerable success! Just looking at her appearance, who could associate her with such worldly things as these stories? Even if you asked a hundred people, they would think she spent her days reading masterpieces, poetry, and classics!

Song Erniang far exceeded her expectations. Before this, she always believed she was a well-mannered, thoughtful lady from an aristocratic family, neither as flamboyant as Zhao Shaohua nor as unrestrained as herself. Yet, she did not expect that beneath her obedient and reserved exterior, there was such an interesting and lively soul hidden.

While Xu Jing was pondering, Song Qingyun and Tao Liang hurriedly picked up all the papers, standing a bit further away with red faces, not daring to meet Xu Jing’s gaze.

Xu Jing smiled slightly, considerately not mentioning the contents of the paper, and said, "Have you gathered everything? Let’s continue walking."

Song Qingyun’s eyebrow twitched slightly. She cautiously glanced at Xu Jing, and seeing that she indeed had no intention of pursuing the matter, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

After leading Song Qingyun to the room, Xu Jing briefly mentioned that she could always call on Chunyang if she needed anything, and someone would come to fetch her when dinner was ready, then she left.

It wasn’t until they walked quite far that Chunyang couldn’t help but exclaim, "Madam, I took a quick look, and it seemed that the paper that Song Erniang dropped had the original manuscript of ’Lady Xu’s Collection of Exonerations’ written on it!"

Thinking about letting Chunyang and Chunxiang eventually take over the affairs of Xinglin Hall, Xu Jing had started teaching them to read a long time ago. The two girls were quite dedicated, especially Chunyang, who could now understand most books.

Although she didn’t touch the paper that fell to the ground, she couldn’t help but see some of the content, and for a moment, she thought she might have been mistaken.

Heaven knows, among all the stories based on their madam, "Lady Xu’s Collection of Exonerations" was the most vivid, interesting, and well-written!

After reading the first volume, Chunyang became a die-hard fan of the series. Now, with the possible author standing before her, beyond astonishment and disbelief, she felt an indescribable excitement.

By heaven and earth, before coming to Anping County, she had regretted not being able to buy the second volume of the series for a long time. Now, could she directly buy it from Song Erniang?!

Xu Jing glanced at Chunyang’s face, which was slightly flushed from excitement, and her mouth curved slightly as she said, "Song Erniang is shy. Before she is willing to admit this matter to us, you’d better not mention it in front of her."

Chunyang naturally saw that Song Erniang was embarrassed to let them know about this, and she understood why Song Erniang reacted so strongly, but she couldn’t help feeling disappointed and astonished, saying, "I know, but I didn’t expect that Song Erniang could write stories so well! Madam, you don’t know, but Song Erniang’s stories are so lively and interesting. And before writing about madam’s stories, she wrote several different types of stories, each one very popular!

The shopkeeper at the bookstore always smiles wide when talking about the Cloud Hermit!

In fact, the reason madam’s deeds have spread so widely is also thanks to Song Erniang. Because Song Erniang’s stories are popular, they are not only sold in bookstores in the Western Capital but spread to bookstores across Great Chu and are even adapted by many storytellers in various taverns and restaurants!

Xu Jing raised her eyebrows.

Cloud Hermit? That should be Song Erniang’s pen name.

From the looks of it, even in distant Anping County, Chen Hu and the others are likely familiar with the cases she’s solved, probably due to Song Erniang’s influence.

However, her secret story writing was likely only known to the maids at her side, and even Madam Song and Zhao Shao Hua might not be aware.

At that moment, a guard hurriedly ran over from not far away, saluted Xu Jing, and said something, to which Xu Jing was slightly taken aback but not too surprised.

With Song Qingyun here, it was not unexpected that he would also be here.

Xu Jing led Chunyang to the front hall, and upon seeing a handsome man in white sitting leisurely inside, resting his head on one hand and lost in thought, she couldn’t help but smile gently, "It turns out the person sitting in the teahouse opposite Xinglin Hall today was you."

The man in white—Xiao He—turned to look at Xu Jing, a subtle smile forming on his lips, "Cousin-in-law is as perceptive as ever."

"Alright, stop calling me ’cousin-in-law,’ it sounds awkward. Just call me Jing."

Xu Jing asked Chunyang to prepare some refreshments, walked over, and sat on the chair opposite him, "Tell me, why did you suddenly bring people here, are you worried that Song Erniang might be wronged at my place?"

Xiao He couldn’t help but laugh, "How could that be? I know you would take good care of her. It’s just that earlier, the people I stationed near your house told me they seemed to hear Qingyun scream, and I was a bit worried, so I came to take a look."

Rushing in here to ’take a look’?

Xu Jing narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a calm voice, "So, you specially stationed people near my house? Even if you are worried about Song Erniang, there’s no need to go this far."

This lady doesn’t like being monitored; he had known this from Yanci long ago.

Xiao He still looked at Xu Jing with a faint smile, "If what I did upset you, I apologize, but the reason I stationed people near your house wasn’t only for Qingyun. Ultimately, the reason I did it is because of you."