Four little heads, all titled up, looked up high at the star-dotted dark mid-night sky through the narrow gap of an abandoned well.
" Wow~ So this is how it feels to be a frog of a small well..."
Jiang Ying Yue's heard her sister mutter nonsense for the umpteenth time and was about to respond to that when her body experienced a sudden loss of gravity.
However, even before she could let out a scream of surprise Jiang Ying Yue heard her mother say, " Hold on tight...I'll bring you up first."
With that Madam Namgong climbed up the deep well just tapping her foot against the wall a couple of times while carrying Jiang Ying Yue along with her.
Her movements were effortless and graceful as if she was taking a stroll on flat ground and not on the walls of an abandoned well.
Her technique for Qinggonk was amazing and powerful yet beautiful and captivating.
Before she could experience the thrill of the ride Jiang Ying Yue landed on the ground outside the well with a pop.
Jiang Ying Yue blinked her eyes and saw that her mother had rushed to carry the others up.
Swish!
Jiang Ying Mei was carried up soon after, her small, puffy face slightly pale, feeling all dizzy from all jolting along the way.
The poor little girl stretched her hands for her elder sister to stabilize herself when with another swish Niu landed beside her. Then at last Qiu was also carried up looking a bit pale just like the other two.
" Tsk, tsk...Master, these people are too weak and useless..." Abhram unceremoniously commented.
" Yes, just like you." Jiang Ying Yue responded
lazily.
Abhram choked realizing that he had babbled the wrong thing at the wrong moment and rushed to correct himself, "Erm...Master, it's fine, it's fine....even if they are weak don't you have me. I have many prescriptions that can make people stronger. Master, don't worry leave them to me."
" Sure," said Jiang Ying Yue too lazy to taunt him further.
The four people followed Madam Nangong quietly in the darkness of night not knowing where they were heading to.
Yet, no one seemed to be bothered about this. They just silently followed Madam Nangong's footsteps like clouds following the wind and planets following the sun.
They walked and walked for about half an hour before coming to an abrupt halt.
Then the four heard Madam say, " You can now take this route. This will lead you to the road outside the city gate....you can wait here until daybreak before heading out to meet your companions."
Jiang Ying Yue was stunned for a moment as she stared blankly at her mother who seemed to be saying goodbye.
" Mother, are you leaving?..." It was Jiang Ying Mei who was the first to react, her voice filled with reluctance and anxiety.
It was her first time leaving home.
When she saw that her mother was going back and leaving them here a sudden sense of crisis arose in her heart.
Jiang Ying Mei whimpered and lunged into Madam Jiang's embrace clutching tightly onto her.
Madam Jiang smiled helplessly giving Jiang Ying Mei's back a soothing pat, " Silly....why are you crying? We'll meet soon, won't we? So, you should follow your sister and focus on training. When it's time to return your father and I will be waiting for you back at home....Now, be good!"
With that Madam Nangong lifted her hand to wipe her daughter's tears and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, filled with deep affection.
After which she turned to her eldest daughter and gave her a warm hug as she peppered a few tender kisses on her cheeks as well.
" Yue'er take care of them and yourself.....And remember safety comes first, alright?"
" Qiu, Niu, you should also take care of yourself...hmm."
With that Madam Nangong even gave them a hug which touched the both to their cores.
" Yes, madam....don't worry about us. You should take care of yourself."
They were just maids but Madam Nangong always treated them well.
Even now she didn't instruct them to take care of their masters instead she told them to take care of themselves.
These kind of golden-hearted people like their General and Madam were a very rare found and they felt very blessed and honoured to have met them.
" It's going to be daybreak soon." Madam Nangong Looked up at the sky and murmured softly, " You all remember what I told you.....I am leaving first."
After saying that Madam Nangong gave them a final look her eyes filled with affection, reluctance, and deeply hidden sadness before disappearing into the darkness of night.
Jiang Ying Yue felt a sudden throb in her heart when she saw that lonely back disappear from her view.
There was a sudden rush of unease in her heart that kept gnawing with every breath she inhaled making it difficult for her to breathe.
Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly clutched her chest suppressing the raging emotions that threatened to break free.
.....
Two ordinary-looking carriages were rushing on the road heading for the south.
" Why do you keep looking back...hmm?"
A rich and jovial voice of a young man rang in the carriage that carried along a hint of unconcealed amusement.
" What...what are you saying, fourth brother?" Tian Lan stammered as she dodged the young man's gaze trying to find a way to get out of this embarrassment.
After all, she was not the only one who was doing this, the other three girls in their carriage weren't doing much better than her.
And to tell the truth, no one could blame them for this.
There was no reason for them to admire such a beautiful sight when it was just placed before them.
A carriage full of handsome boys--Boys of all sizes and types--There was a devilishly handsome type, there was also a cold and noble type, there was even a cute and mischievous one.
All the five boys had different styles and charms. But they all had one thing in common-- they were all good-looking.
Tian Lan and other girls had never in their lives seen such a beautiful sight that they felt like drooling.
But it was a pity.....they couldn't sit in the same carriage as those Gods.
If she could, Tian Lan would very much like to kick these two eye sores in their carriage and replace them with the people from the carriage behind them.
And here this man dared to embarrass her again and again!
Tian Lan felt stifled.
Tian Shan laughed heartily when he saw his cousin's constipated look.
While on the contrary, Yuan Fang had dark gloomy clouds hovering above his head.
He gave Tian Lan a sharp look and snorted to express his displeasure with her before turning around to drive the carriage.
Hmm! What was so good about being handsome?!
What a good man needed to have were ability and good moral character.
Also, he should be loyal to his spouse.
This kind of flowery man was only good in the looks department.
What about their moral character?
Always being surrounded by all sorts of butterflies and bees.
Jiang Ying Yue, the flowery boy had no idea that the people in the front carriage were paying so much attention to them.
Except for the cold and handsome unknown man who was driving the carriage, everyone was dozing currently. Trying to make up their sleep.