Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 68

Chapter 68
Reunite
 
He San monitored Luo Daozhang and other criminals, interrogating them for more than ten days. He dug out all the insults in their bellies from a hundred and eighty years ago under the torture cleanly. 
  
There was a big pile of white paper and black writing, and He San became increasingly frightened as he examined it. He didn’t know how to present this dirty confession to Li Heming. 
  
Li Heming asked He San to decide and didn’t interfere at all. He took this time to make several trips to Lin County by waterway. Under the order of Emperor Chong’an, he checked the nearby Linshui area and the counties that had suffered from floods in previous years and rebuilt houses. Fortunately, corrupt officials like Luo Daozhang were in the minority, and the people of Lin County did not suffer as much as Ji County. 
  
Li Heming traveled day and night for more than ten days. When he returned to Ji County, he saw several pear trees planted inside and outside the post house blooming. He realized he had been away from home for over a month.
  
Yesterday, it rained for a long time, and the mud was w*t. Li Heming was hurrying to finish his errands and didn’t even have time to change his clothes. At present, bits of mud had stained the hem of his suit and the uppers of his black boots. Except for his handsome face, there was no trace of the Imperial Guard’s heroic appearance. 
  
With this unkempt appearance, Li Heming returned to the posthouse and was suddenly stopped at the door by someone. 
  
“Li, Lord Li…” 
  
Li Heming turned around and saw a young girl in plain clothes sitting on the stone steps, sheltering from the water. It was Luo Shan’s fifteen-or sixteen-year-old daughter, Luo Xi, whom he had met that day. As the daughter who grew up in the county, the most powerful person she had ever seen in her life was the county magistrate. Obviously, she had not had much dealings with officials like Li Heming. 
  
He wore a splendid flying fish suit and a cold embroidered sword. He had led people to surround her home for several days without reason. Now that Luo Xi was alone in front of the crowded post house, talking to him and calling her, instinctively, there was some fear. She seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time. Her eyes suddenly blurred when she stood up quickly, and her feet floated two steps away. 
  
Seeing that she was about to fall to the ground, Li Heming stretched out his hand to gently support her forearm. When she stood firm, he let go and asked softly: “What does Miss Luo want from me?” 
  
Luo Xi didn’t expect Li Heming to reach out to help her. She subconsciously touched the place on her arm where he had touched her. She glanced at him with a slightly red face, took out an envelope from her bosom, and said nervously: “Ah! Father has asked me to return this valuable thing to you.” 
  
The envelope was slightly bulging, but it didn’t look like it contained a letter. Li Heming lowered his eyes and scanned it, guessing it retained the banknotes he had left that day. He said, “No need.” After that, he turned around and left. 

Luo Xi’s family usually spent only five taels of silver a year. One thousand eight hundred taels was enough for her family of four to live comfortably for several lifetimes. This money was too hot to handle. Her father told her to return it to the Lord. She couldn’t return home with the money. Otherwise, he would scold her. That day when she came to the posthouse, she heard that Li Heming was not there, and she didn’t know when he would come back, so she made several trips in vain. Seeing that Li Heming was about to leave, she was anxious. Without thinking about anything else, she subconsciously pulled Li Heming’s sleeve and hurriedly said, “Lord, wait a minute, you should take it back.” 
  
Aware that his sleeve was being pulled, Li Heming turned around to look at her. Luo Xi met his dark eyes and immediately let go of her hand, but she did not give in. She frowned and said, “If you don’t accept it, my father will scold you when I go back.” 
  
Most of the local people were straightforward and honest. Luo Shan was loyal and righteous, and the children he taught were naturally sensible. They would never accept such a large sum of money given by others. However, Li Heming would not take back what he gave away. He thought momentarily, then lied calmly, “This money is not from me but from the court. You don’t have to feel burdened. Lord Luo injured his legs when he was in the army. Just take the money to treat his illness.” 
  
At the mention of his father’s leg injury, Luo Xi’s face relaxed slightly. Li Heming continued, “Besides, your family has adopted a child. Your parents are old, and you are still young. You will need money in the future, so you should accept it. If Lord Luo still refuses, you can tell him that if his old friend were alive, he would not want to see his subordinates grow old and sick without medical treatment and live in poverty. I think he will not refuse again.” 
  
The county officials and government runners had always been arrogant in front of the people. Luo Xi did not expect that the official from the capital would be so approachable. Hearing Li Heming say this, she hesitated and could not find a word to refuse. She looked at the envelope hesitantly, then at Li Heming. After a while, she finally nodded gently and bowed to Li Heming respectfully: “Thank you very much, Lord. I will tell my father what you said.” 
  
After that, she left with the envelope in her pocket. Li Heming also heard her muttering softly: “I hope I don’t get scolded when I return…” 
  
After seeing Luo Xi off, Li Heming turned and walked towards the posthouse. At this moment, he suddenly sensed something and slowly stopped. Then, as if hearing an auditory hallucination, a voice suddenly came from behind, soft and moving like a spring. 
  
“Li Heming.” 
  
A petal of pear blossom slowly fell on his shoulder. Li Heming paused, then raised his head suddenly, turned around, and looked in the direction of the voice. He turned around quickly, and the waist badge hanging on his waist swung and “swooshed” heavily, hitting the scabbard. 
  
The figure standing gracefully beside the carriage on the street came into view. Li Heming’s pupils shrank slightly. At that moment, all the sounds and colors around him disappeared. In disbelief, he looked at Lin Yu, who should have been in the capital six hundred miles away. He involuntarily clenched the sword handle and spoke for a long time. 
  
“…Qiqi?”