Chapter 43 - You’re Thinking Too Much (1/2)
Back in the mortal world, the Zhongs needed four days to get out of the mountains and the forest. After that, the journey got smoother: With the horses, they could cover more than double the distance of what they could tackle on foot. In only one week, they reached the gates of the capital city.
Jing Yi's eyes went wide, when he could see the high walls in the distance. He looked at Qiu Ling, waiting for him to explain.
Qiu Ling smiled. There wasn't much he could say. It had been ages since he had last set foot into the mortal realm. How would he know, what was going on there? Thinking about that … he had once proposed to visit the mortal realm with Jing He. Not as part of the crown prince's trial, but just for them to spend a little time together and have fun without people watching every step of theirs.
”That in front is the capital city. I haven't been here before, so I can't tell you more. Part of your family is living there. You should ask them, when you get there.”
”Mn. I'll do that, grandfather.” Jing Yi smiled sweetly again.
Mn, this smile … Qiu Ling gazed at him, lost in his thoughts again. The more time he spent here in the mortal realm with him, the more often he thought of Jing He. Seeing him would be nice. Even though I know, that his soul resides here in Zhong Jing Yi's body, this isn't the person I fell in love with, regardless. I'd love to look into Jing He's eyes again. Even if it's just for the length of a heartbeat.
Madam Zhong shifted a little uncomfortable in the saddle. She had noticed Qiu Ling's gaze and not for the first time. With each passing day, she grew a little more restless. Really, what was the reason for this man, to help them so much? It certainly wasn't as easy as having passed by that night. No, more likely, this man had known about her son's birth even before he came. His help had been given, because it was Jing Yi.
Qiu Ling pulled himself out of his thoughts and motioned to the gates. ”I'll come with you into town. It would look a little strange, to bring five horses with only two people and a child. Like this, they'll just assume, we were taking a spare horse with us.” He looked at Mister Zhong, to see if his future father-in-law was satisfied with this arrangement.
Mister Zhong scratched his head. ”Will that be alright? Those aren't really our horses …”
Qiu Ling lifted his head. ”You're too nice. These horses were probably also not the bandit's horses. They certainly just robbed them somewhere. So there's no need to think about it too deeply. Look at it this way: If you sell three or four of them, you'll be able to support your wife and child even without your cousin's support. Wouldn't that be great?”
”Yes, but —”
”You're thinking too much”, piped Madam Zhong up, too. She might be curious and a little wary of Qiu Ling's motives, but she still felt like he was helping them. She trusted him.
Mister Zhong nodded. ”Then we'll do it like that.”