TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 6: Departure

The Chen estate resumed their work. With about a dozen servants left behind, they began to load the horse-drawn carriages with what little clothes and rice they had left.

After Chen Rong had distributed her wealth, only ten carriages were needed to transport the rest of her assets. Three were used to hold rice and silk, one was filled with her clothes, and bamboo slips occupied the remaining six.

In the past, Chen Rong had used only one carriage to hold books – the books that hid gold leaves. The rest were used to carry other items. Because of this, she spent a decade after returning to the south being stigmatized for her vulgar ways. The scholars had criticized her for she would rather fill her carriages with clothes than to bring valuable books.

In an era where even the air was filled with 'elegance and courtesy', the stigma of a vulgar nature could completely bring down a noblewoman's future. In the ten years since then, despite doing everything she could and using every means she knew, she had had no way to restore the reputation that'd been destroyed.

It had been too late.

The gate was tightly shut tonight at the Chen estate. With each change of night shifts, no unexpected guests came to visit through the whole of the night. It made sense, of course, since Chen Rong's action of dispersing her wealth during the day had spread through town. What blind thieves would take the risk to rob what was now only a small fry?

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, the Wang estate sent a servant to inform the Chens that they were to meet at the south city gate.

By now, the Chen house had finished loading their luggage. Chen Rong sat inside a horse-drawn carriage and marched toward the meeting place.

The streets were packed with carriages. In this hubbub, everyone was rushing to the south gate.

As Chen Rong's carriage was running on the street, people would turn to look at her from time to time. Faint judging sounds came to her ears: "That's Ah Rong of the Chen house."

"What a beauty."

"I heard she had distributed her family wealth to the servants yesterday. Look at her troop, the large Chen estate is now reduced to only a dozen carriages. Was the news true, then?"

"Of course it's true. Even the godly Wang Qilang made a personal visit."

"Only in times of crisis can we see people's true nature. I heard that despite her young age, Ah Rong of the Chen house still chose honor over money in this turbulent time. That is indeed a difficult thing to do. Difficult thing to do indeed."

This translation belongs to hamster428.

Amid the coming and going buzz, Chen Rong softly smiled and slowly withdrew her gaze.

She soon reached the south gate. Here, she saw the Wang clan's procession, whose flying flags stretched to the end of sight. It was an impressive spectacle, all right.

As Chen Rong's carriage approached, a man of about twenty rode near and raised his voice to ask: "Are you Ah Rong of the Chen house?"

The appellation 'Ah Rong of the Chen house' had spread like wildfire a day ago. Had this been any other time in the past, he'd surely only call her 'Miss Chen.'

Chen Rong drew the carriage curtain and replied, "It is I, Chen Rong."

The young man was dressed in a purple cloak, possessing fine facial features. He laughed and remarked, "I see it's true you're quite a beauty. Since the Chen estate has few people, you should join the middle of the queue. It will be safer this way."