Regret not meeting each other earlier

  Li Jing sighed: "How could Li Mou not know that the world is in great chaos, thieves and bandits are rising everywhere, and the people are struggling to survive? As members of the imperial family, if they were to rebel, the whole world would surely rise up to respond. When that happens, countless lives will be lost, families will be torn apart, and homes will be destroyed. How can this be compared to just the harm caused by a small salt gang? Li Mou really cannot think of a better way to stop this disaster, and can only choose the lesser of two evils."

  At this time, Zhang Shi, who had been quietly sitting on the side listening to the two men talking, stood up with the support of the table, bowed deeply to Li Jing and said: "Mr. Li has a heart for the people of the world, and although I am just an ordinary woman, I couldn't help but thank Mr. Li on behalf of all the innocent women who are suffering in the world."

  Li Jing smiled and stood up: "Calling me Li Gongzi is really too presumptuous, I'm older than you by a few years, if you don't mind, just call me brother."

  Zhang raised her cup, her pretty face flushing: "Then Zhang E will humbly obey, using tea instead of wine, to toast Brother Jing a cup."

  Not only did Zhenming suffer, but also Li Jing was amazed, he didn't expect that Zhang's family would have such a heroic and refreshing side, as if she had changed into another person, without her usual shyness, with a radiant face, even more charming and captivating.

  "Zhang E?" Li Jing came back to his senses, heard Zhang E introduce herself, and was taken aback for a moment. "Zhang E? Wait a minute, I remember now. Ten years ago, in Luoyang, there was a famous child prodigy, a girl who mastered music, chess, literature, and painting at the age of six, read all the classics by the age of seven, and wrote unparalleled poetry by the age of eight. Emperor Wen himself gave her the name 'E', praising her for embodying the essence of all women in the world. Could it be that you are that very same person?"

  Zhen Ming was surprised by the extraordinary Zhang, and was stunned by Li Jing's exaggerated description. He turned around with a bewildered expression, staring at the tofu beauty of Luoyang who was famous for selling tofu.

  He had long known that she was extremely perceptive, and although she didn't say much, every sentence was a sharp remark with hidden meaning, not comparable to ordinary women. But he never could have imagined that she actually had such a big background.

  In the sparkling eyes of the two, Zhang's face turned red and she lowered her head, whispering: "Zhang E is just an ordinary tofu seller, has already forgotten about childhood things, and doesn't want to mention it again."

  Li Jing burst out laughing: "Alright, alright, let's not mention it. From today on, whoever dares to bully Goose Sister, I, Li Jing, will be the first to not forgive him! Come on, Goose Sister, drink up this cup."

  "Cheers, Brother Jing!" Zhang smiled happily and clinked her cup against Li Jing's, covering her face with her sleeve as she downed the drink in one gulp.

  Zhen Ming was gazing at Zhang Shi, who looked radiant and charming, with a slightly dazed expression. They had known each other for almost half a year, but she still called him Master Zhen. He had only recently found out her name. Li Jing had known her for just a few hours, yet she had already poured out all the details of her life to him, and was now calling him "older brother Jing" and "younger brother Jing" with such familiarity, as if she didn't consider herself an outsider at all.

  Compared with Li Jing, he is just an ordinary passerby.

  After the two recognized each other as siblings, they opened up and started chatting freely, talking about everything under the sun. Li Jing seemed to want to tell Zhang all about his experiences over the years, starting from when he first joined the army as a child, to his campaigns in Liaodong and his battles against the Turks. With his vast knowledge and experience, his stories were vivid and engaging, with a tone that was sometimes forceful and sometimes sarcastic, criticizing the ills of society. When he got to the most infuriating parts, he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table and curse loudly.

  Zhang seemed to be attracted by Li Jing's excellent eloquence and generous personality, gazing at his beautiful eyes with a look of admiration and respect, almost sparkling stars, listening with relish, nodding from time to time in agreement, and chiming in with one or two sentences.

  Although she didn't say much, every sentence hit the nail on the head, directly pouring out Li Jing's heart. For a moment, Li Jing felt like he had met someone who understood him, and his tone became more high-pitched and enthusiastic, with a hint of regret for not meeting earlier. However, he didn't notice that Zhen Ming, who couldn't get a word in edgewise, was quietly eating her food for a long time.

  Perhaps sensing Zhang's gloomy silence, the lively Zhang stole a glance at him, her face flushing red, and her voice gradually grew softer until she finally fell silent.

  Li Jing also realized that he had neglected Zhen Mingshu on the side, stopped his high-sounding discussion with Zhang Shi, and turned back to ask with a smile: "Brother Zhen, where are you going this time when you leave Luoyang? If there is no specific destination, why not go to Luoyang together with me, and it's also good to have someone to take care of each other on the way."

  Zhen Ming smiled wryly and said, "I still have a few friends waiting for me in Yichuan. I need to meet up with them first, and as for the specific destination, I'll have to consult with them. Since Brother Li is willing, and you get along so well with Zhang's daughter, if my friends agree, then I don't mind."

  "Haha, this is the best! Although Goose Sister is a woman, her literary talent and insight far surpass those of men. Li has not had such a pleasant conversation with someone for a long time. With this, I won't be lonely on this journey."

  Zhenming looked at Zhangshi who was silent and smiled, changing the subject: "Brother Li, this inn's rooms are tight, Zhang is a young lady, I'm afraid it's not very convenient for me to share a room with her. Can I borrow your room for tonight?"

  Li Jing smiled and said: "What's wrong with that? I was just thinking of having a good chat with you, Zhen brothers."

  "So I first helped Mrs. Zhang back to her room."

  ……

  Supported Zhang back to the room, let her lie on the bed, took the special effect golden sore medicine given by Zhangsun Bei'er, and handed it in front of her.

  "Can you change the dressing yourself?"

  "Will it hurt?"

  Zhen Ming said with a bitter tone, "Of course it's going to hurt, otherwise what's the point of calling it an injury? If nothing unexpected happens, with this medicine and the hot spring treatment, after a few more days, the wound will scab over and won't hurt anymore."

  Zhang took the medicine, her face showing hesitation, it was clear that after experiencing this injury, she had a huge shadow.

  "After taking the medicine, you should have a good sleep. I'll leave first and come back tomorrow morning to see you."

  "Zhen, young master Zhen, wait, just a moment..."

  Zhen Ming was about to leave when Zhang Shi called out to him. He turned back with a puzzled expression, looking at her.

  "Can you give me another dose of that anesthetic I used last time?"

  "You think anesthetics are tonics, the more you drink, the more beneficial they are. Drink a few more times and that little brain of yours will be ruined. By then, even simple arithmetic like one plus one will take you half a day to figure out."

  His words were laced with a hint of inexplicable anger, Zhang's face turned red and she said in a low voice: "I'm afraid it will hurt."

  "Afraid of pain or not, you still have to get treated. Otherwise, what's going to happen to your leg? Do you want to end up walking with a crutch?"

  "Will you help me?" Zhang said this when her voice was already so small that it was almost only audible to herself.

  Zhen Ming's bitter expression changed as he heard the words, his heart almost skipped a beat. He let out a sigh and said, "I can't even take medicine with my eyes closed."