Chapter 98: Out of Danger

“You needn’t thank me, and there is no need to make any preparations. Since fate has brought us together, I should lend a hand.”

Old Master Fu already had a full stock of medicinal herbs at home, so Zhang Xiaolan did not need to prepare anything else. The procedure was intricate, however, and he still needed to make some arrangements. Moreover, he had matters to attend to these next few days and could not make it convenient, so they agreed that he would come by directly in a few days’ time.

Only after Zhang Xiaolan and the others had thanked Master Fu again and again did they take their leave. He told them where he lived, and then prepared to go over at the appointed time.

On the way back, Zhang Xiaolan’s steps were light and her mood bright, because Master Fu had said that in the coming years he would help research the antidote. She was genuinely happy for Ling Xiao and kept teasing him with little jokes along the way.

“Miss, shall we go straight back to the Prince’s Manor?” Xiaolian asked from the carriage. After all, Li Rui had gone to the palace for the Moon Festival ceremony, and he would not be back until very late tonight. Since they had come out this time, they might as well go straight to the temple fair instead of going home, as she had always wanted to see it.

“Has the temple fair already started this early?” Zhang Xiaolan thought to herself that such festivities usually began only at night.

“If we go back now, it will be starting soon. Or we can find an inn on the street and have dinner first. Later on there will be the procession of the sacred image, and after watching the excitement we can go back.”

Xiaolian made the suggestion with obvious excitement. Today’s procession was small; it would only be held on a grand scale during the Buddha’s birthday. Still, she had not seen the procession for a very long time and was eager to join the fun.

“That sounds like a good idea. Ling Xiao, are you still feeling unwell?”

Zhang Xiaolan was tempted by the idea, but she also worried about Ling Xiao’s condition. He had only just suffered an attack up in the mountains, and she feared he had not yet recovered.

“I am fine,” Ling Xiao said, not wanting to spoil their enjoyment. He was not fully recovered yet, but if he rested and regulated his breathing in the carriage a little later, he would be all right.

“Then let’s go straight to the temple fair. Have you ever been to one before?”

Zhang Xiaolan asked Ling Xiao again, since he had once lived in Northern Wei. Xiaolian had said that the fairs there were far larger and livelier than this one, so she wanted to ask him about it.

“No.”

Ling Xiao tried to think back, but there was not the faintest impression. Perhaps it had been too long ago, and he had been too young at the time. Even if he had seen one before, he likely would have forgotten it by now.

“Of course not. How could you have had the chance before, living the way you did? Poor child.”

Zhang Xiaolan spoke with real sympathy. Such a pitiful child had never had the chance to see any of these things. Yet her mood shifted quickly, and in no time she was laughing again.

“But I’ve never been to one either. This time, let’s all have a proper bit of fun together.”

“Then we can get off halfway and let Haizi drive the carriage back by himself.”

Xiaolian, the clever little thing, had already arranged everything. She would have Haizi take the carriage home, and the three of them would get off along the way and head straight to the temple fair.

But once she mentioned it to him, Haizi began muttering unhappily. They were leaving him out, while the three of them went off merrily to enjoy the fair together.

He could not help feeling sore about it. They might not have been on the best of terms with him, but to go out for fun and not even bring him along was far too stingy.

Though the temple fair Zhang Xiaolan saw was nowhere near as lively as those in modern times, there were still plenty of stalls and peddlers, and she wandered here and there until she was utterly delighted.

Ling Xiao followed behind the two girls. Though he did not really understand what there was to be so happy about in wandering the streets, he quietly trailed after them all the same, dutifully carrying their things. It seemed that this was simply what a man ought to do.

“Miss, the procession of the sacred image is about to begin in a little while. Let’s go upstairs to a tavern and eat while we watch!” Xiaolian said. Seeing more and more people gathering, along with officials coming out to keep order, she knew it was nearly time.

“The higher we stand, the farther we can see. Watching from upstairs is certainly better than being crushed in the crowd. We can have dinner there as well. Xiaolian, you little clever one, let’s go!”

Zhang Xiaolan agreed at once, taking the two of them by the hand as she set off to find a place to eat.