Chapter 45: Not An Ordinary Salted Fish’s Life
"Is there something on my face?"
Xie Rong’s calm voice suddenly broke the silence inside the sedan chair, pulling Wang Gege out of her wandering thoughts.
She blinked twice before realizing that she had been staring at him the entire journey. Almost instantly, she looked away and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Ahem... No." She answered a little too quickly before pretending to admire the scenery outside the slightly parted curtain.
Unfortunately, there was nothing particularly interesting outside.
Only rows of bustling streets slowly passed by as the sedan chair made its way toward the marketplace.
Realizing her awkward excuse had completely failed, Wang Gege secretly bit her lower lip before stealing another glance at Xie Rong.
’Why is he suddenly protecting me like that?’
The question had been lingering in her mind ever since they left the Xie Residence. The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She had listened to every word exchanged in the courtyard, yet she still could not understand why Xie Rong had been so adamant about stopping the purification ritual.
Unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, she finally spoke.
"Young Master..." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Why did you do that?"
Seeing that Xie Rong remained silent, she awkwardly scratched her cheek and smiled sheepishly.
"I mean... I don’t really mind undergoing the purification ritual." She tilted her head slightly. "It doesn’t sound like it would harm me, does it?"
Her voice carried genuine confusion.
After all, wasn’t it just a Taoist performing a ceremony and offering prayers?
Why had Xie Rong opposed it as though she were about to be led to the execution grounds?
Xie Rong took a moment, his fingers rested lightly upon his knee as though he were considering how to answer her question.
Finally, he spoke. "The ritual itself is harmless."
Wang Gege blinked, "Then why..."
Before she could finish, Xie Rong calmly continued, "But people are not."
The simple sentence immediately caused her to fall silent.
Xie Rong’s face remained facing forward, his voice carrying the same indifferent calmness as always.
"Today, the Taoist was invited into the Xie Residence to perform a purification ritual specifically for you. Whether the ritual succeeds or fails is irrelevant. What matters..." He paused, slightly turned toward her, "is that everyone now knows you were the one standing before the altar."
He paused briefly before continuing, "People rarely remember the truth. They remember only what they choose to believe."
The words lingered inside the sedan chair. Wang Gege lowered her gaze, unconsciously turning them over in her mind.
"If another unfortunate incident were to occur within the Xie Residence a month from now... or perhaps even a year later..." Xie Rong continued calmly, "What do you think the servants would remember first?"
Wang Gege’s lips parted slightly. She found herself thinking from the perspective of the people around her instead of her own.
"They would remember..." she murmured softly, "that the Young Madam once underwent a purification ritual."
Xie Rong gave a faint nod. "They would not remember that it was merely a prayer for blessings. They would remember only that a Taoist priest had once been invited because something was believed to be wrong with you."
Silence gradually filled the sedan chair once more. The lively expression on Wang Gege’s face slowly faded.
Only now did she finally understand why Xie Rong had opposed the ritual so firmly. It had never been about the ceremony itself or was it because he believed the Taoist would harm her.
It was because the moment she stood before that altar, the words ’inauspicious’ and Shen Taotao would become forever linked in the minds of everyone who witnessed it.
Some rumors, once they took root, could never truly be erased.
The sedan chair gradually fell into silence.
Wang Gege lowered her head, absentmindedly tracing circles against her own fingertips as Xie Rong’s words replayed over and over inside her mind.
Rumors...
Reputation...
They were things she had never once considered ever since transmigrating into this unfamiliar world. From the very beginning, all she wanted was to live peacefully, eat well, sleep well, and avoid unnecessary trouble. She had thought that as long as she stayed out of other people’s affairs, she could quietly spend the rest of her life as an ordinary salted fish.
However...
Reality was far from what she had imagined. Even if she had no intention of becoming involved in trouble... Trouble could still find its way to her.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
Perhaps... Living peacefully in this unfamiliar world was never going to be as simple as she had hoped.
The sedan chair continued to sway gently as it traveled through the streets. Neither of them spoke another word. Only the rhythmic footsteps of the bearers and the muffled sounds of the bustling city outside accompanied the lingering silence within.
Without realizing it, Wang Gege found herself staring blankly at the embroidered curtain before her, her thoughts drifting further and further away.
Only when Xie Rong’s calm voice reached her ears did she suddenly return to reality.
"Furen."
She blinked several times before instinctively turning toward him.
"We’ve arrived."
"Huh?"
Almost reflexively, Wang Gege lifted the curtain beside her.
The moment it was drawn aside, the lively sounds of the bustling marketplace poured into the sedan chair.
Xie Rong was the first to step down.
Instead of leaving immediately, he remained standing beside the sedan chair. His hand was already extended toward her, waiting patiently to help her down.
Wang Gege looked at his outstretched hand before placing hers into it. With a gentle pull, she stepped down from the sedan chair.
The moment both of her feet touched the ground, the bustling atmosphere of the marketplace completely enveloped her.
"Fresh steamed buns! Freshly made buns!"
"Young Master, Young Madam! Please have a look at our silk!"
"The finest candied hawthorn in the capital!"
Vendors enthusiastically called out from both sides of the street as pedestrians came and went without pause. The rich aroma of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, blending with the fragrance of tea and sweet pastries, while rows upon rows of stalls stretched as far as the eye could see.
Wang Gege simply stood there, taking everything in with sparkling eyes. Her head turned left and right, excitement practically written across her face as the bustling marketplace she had only ever seen through short dramas finally came to life before her own eyes.
"So lively..."
She unconsciously took a few steps forward before stopping in front of a nearby stall. A row of glossy candied hawthorn skewers reflected beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Without realizing it, Wang Gege swallowed.
"Young Master..." She pointed at the stall before turning toward Xie Rong with an expectant smile. "Can I buy one?"
The old vendor immediately beamed.
"Young Madam truly has good taste! These were made fresh this morning. Sweet, sour, and guaranteed to make anyone want another!"
Wang Gege looked down at herself before awkwardly scratching her cheek.
"I forgot." She had absolutely no money.
After transmigrating, she had never once carried silver on her person.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, a calm voice sounded beside her.
"One."
The vendor’s smile widened instantly.
"Right away, Young Master!"
Before Wang Gege could react, the candied hawthorn had already been placed into her hands.
She blinked several times before looking toward Xie Rong.
A bright smile immediately bloomed across her face.
"Thank you, Husband!"
The words slipped out so naturally that even Wang Gege herself did not notice anything unusual.
Xie Rong, however, paused ever so slightly.
Although his expression remained as calm as ever beneath the black blindfold, the corners of his lips seemed to soften almost imperceptibly.
"Mm.."