HLnovel Chapter 386 Having lived such a long life in vain
Chapter 386 Having lived such a long life in vain
Lu Yangyang has been extremely busy these days.
Busy treating the girls' illnesses, busy teaching them simple herbal identification and bandaging techniques, and also working with Jiang Zhiyi and Wen Qingqing to research beauty creams, face creams, and lip balms for opening a workshop.
These girls happened to be quite knowledgeable about these things. After a period of treatment, as their physical condition gradually improved, their mental outlook also changed dramatically. They even helped Lu Yangyang and the others when they were researching those beauty creams.
Liu Xiang was at the forefront, offering advice not only on beauty but also on clothing and jewelry. This inspired Jiang Zhiyi to quickly assign different jobs to the girls based on their strengths.
This made the girls, who had been listless and without any hope, genuinely excited.
Lu Yangyang was completely absorbed in the case and didn't have a moment to spare. She even had time to ask about the case's closure only after the verdict was handed down.
Jiang Zhiyi returned to Ning County to see off Governor Jiang, who was leaving Ning County to return to Jiangnan Prefecture. After returning, she told him the whole story.
When Luo Jing told her about it, she was taken aback for a moment, then looked Luo Jing up and down and asked curiously, "I didn't expect the head of the family to be so heroic."
Luo Jing used to have a full beard, dark skin, and an extremely muscular build, which made him look very fierce and menacing.
Now, having shaved off his full beard, revealing his original appearance, he has a very heroic face with sword-like eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and cold, hard features.
Upon hearing Lu Yangyang's evaluation, Luo Jing's face darkened.
Lu Yangyang turned her head and glanced at the manor behind her, saying to herself, "The chief has changed his appearance now, so it seems a bit inappropriate to call him chief anymore. You are much older than me, so I will call you Uncle Luo. You won't mind, will you?"
"I wouldn't dare," Luo Jing said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Lu Yangyang chuckled, "Uncle Luo, you're too modest. Since we'll be traveling together from now on, we should trust each other. Have all of Uncle Luo's brothers been settled?"
At this point, Luo Jing couldn't help but frown slightly. "I am ashamed that I was unable to bring them a better life. Also, because of me, I need to return to Jiangnan Prefecture to serve my sentence."
Governor Jiang has reassigned officials to investigate the files of the salt workers at the salt mines. Everyone involved is being re-examined. Those like Lian Sheng, who were wrongly accused, were given money and released early. Those who did indeed break the law are being re-sentenced according to the severity of their crimes and the time allotted for labor service in lieu of imprisonment, and are being sent back to their hometowns to continue serving their sentences. Luo Jing's brothers had already been sentenced in Jiangnan Prefecture, but their time at the salt mines was too short to offset their sentences, so they have now been re-sent back to Jiangnan Prefecture.
"So, is Uncle Luo angry and regretful that the culprit wasn't caught in the end, or is he feeling that his brothers were wronged?" Lu Yangyang asked.
Luo Jing was speechless, his face darkening slightly: "Magistrate Liang and Steward Yang are just scapegoats. The real culprits are the Yang family in the capital, and possibly others as well. But now the salt mine case is locked in Jiangnan, which means those people in the capital have reached an agreement. The evidence is clearly conclusive, how despicable!"
“Since Uncle Luo understands, he should also know that Governor Jiang has done his best. Does he expect him to risk the lives of his entire clan to fight the Yang family to the death? Even if the Yang family is brought down, how will we find the people behind them? And what will happen after we find them?” Lu Yangyang looked at Luo Jing and said calmly, “The salt mine case is a case in Ning County, but in the capital, it becomes a political struggle. Everyone hopes for a peaceful and just world, but if there is absolute peace, some things cannot be done. For example, Uncle Luo, you should have returned to Jiangnan Prefecture to serve your sentence like your brothers, but now you are standing here with a completely new identity. As long as you don’t talk about it, no one will know your past. You can start your life anew.”
"Only those in positions of power can fulfill their duties. Now, standing on the side of the salt workers in the salt mines, the best outcome would be to punish corrupt officials and clear the names of the wronged salt workers. To deal with those behind-the-scenes figures in the capital, you need to stand in the court and contend with them. And for the court to be clean and just, there needs to be a wise ruler sitting in the court. Uncle Luo, do what you can do first, then you can do more."
Luo Jing stared at the little girl in front of him in shock once again. If he had gotten married back then, his daughter would probably be about this age.
Yet this girl, who was about twenty years younger than him, was so clear-headed and insightful.
Luo Jing was deeply shocked and even felt somewhat ashamed.
He's just a military man; he's lived such a long life in vain.
They're not even as good as this little girl.
This reminded him of his distant cousin, the wife of the Duke of Rong, who was also a clever and insightful woman.
She and the Duke of Rong also had a daughter. He had seen her when she was born, a lovely little girl.
If she were still alive, she would be about two or three years older than the girl in front of her. It's just a pity that she died young because of that tragedy.
Luo Jing closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to pull himself out of his past memories. He bowed respectfully to Lu Yangyang once again, completely convinced of her sincerity: "I was rash. I hope you will guide me in the future."
Lu Yangyang was very pleased to see that he had finally stopped dwelling on it. One should not dwell on the past and get stuck in a rut. One should always look forward. Luo Jing is a good person, but he is too stubborn and only tortures himself.
“I haven’t finished things at my estate yet. Uncle Luo, would you like to go in and take a look? Qingqing and I are treating those girls. They’re mostly recovered now. I estimate that after another month of settling them in, I’ll be leaving Jiangnan Prefecture,” Lu Yangyang said.
Luo Jing looked at the estate behind her, but his expression was slightly hesitant.
Lu Yangyang suddenly understood: "Is Uncle Luo afraid of seeing Zhiyi?"
Luo Jing was stunned for a moment, then said in a muffled voice, "I have no face to face Miss Jiang. I thought I had saved her, but I pushed her into a pit of fire... For a woman, her chastity is more important than her life. How am I any different from killing her?"
“Uncle Luo is wrong again. Zhiyi has never done anything wrong. Why should her innocence be more important than her life? She lives an upright life, so naturally she can stand upright in this world. The only thing that can kill her is disease, not scumbags,” Lu Yangyang said in a clear voice.
Jiang Zhiyi pushed open the door and walked over, bowing to Luo Jing before looking up at him: "What Yangyang said is exactly what I was thinking, so Uncle Luo, there's no need to take it to heart."
Luo Jing looked at the resolute and calm girl in front of him and felt dazzled.