These past couple of days, Shen Ruyi had been wandering around Yongzhou City. She carefully gathered information and realized that the city was quite large.
The border was to the northwest of Yongzhou. The military camp they had visited last time was still some distance from the border; it was just a training camp for troops rotating in and out.
The market they usually visited was the West City Market, near the border. Some border nomads would often come there first.
Every eighth day of the ten-day cycle, there was a large market where local people traded with the various border nomads. Shen Ruyi heard it was lively and bustling.
The more she inquired, the more she realized that the court’s current policy was likely to engage in trade (“mutual market”) with the border minorities.
Historically, this would be a period of peaceful prosperity at the border.
The newly enthroned emperor was the fourth ruler of the Dayue dynasty, and according to historical patterns, this should be the dynasty’s peak period.
According to what Shen Ruyi had learned, Emperor Yue Jing had been quite accomplished in his youth, which explained why the later struggle for the throne was so intense.
As a soldier’s wife stationed at the border, Shen Ruyi hoped the new emperor would continue to strengthen the realm and extend this peaceful, prosperous period.
With her potatoes and sweet potatoes already planted, and Nie Wenyong still missing, Shen Ruyi’s daily life was surprisingly comfortable.
Her usual activities were chatting with Xingyu and Ping’er, listening to gossip at the city teahouses, or wandering around the city.
Yongzhou had another advantage: as a border city, it had a significant military presence.
The civilian governor (Zhoumu) focused mainly on economic and civil affairs, while the general oversaw the military.
Many decisions involved consultation between the two, but the general was not overbearing and stayed mostly in the camp, rarely expressing opinions publicly.
This created an unusual balance in Yongzhou: no single person could dominate everything.
The common people lived relatively happily.
One day, Shen Ruyi, dressed in male attire, was listening to gossip in a teahouse in the east of the city. After leaving, she wandered through the eastern streets as usual.
Suddenly, she heard voices in an alley:
“Let go? If you don’t, we’ll kill you!”“Big brother, don’t hesitate—kill the big ones first, then we can sell the little one.”“The little one is so pretty, Madam of Yichun House will love her.”“Yes, when she grows up, she’ll be their top courtesan; she’ll fetch a high price.”
The sound of blows, a baby crying faintly, and several immature voices speaking filthy words reached her ears.
If it were just a fight among adults, Shen Ruyi would have walked away.
But with a baby involved, she couldn’t ignore it.
Looking around, she saw a few day laborers resting in the shade, eating dried food. She hurried over.
“There’s some work, one or two silver coins. Who wants it?”
The group of four or five burly men looking for work looked up at her.
“There are some kids in that alley bullying younger kids. I want you to go and chase them away. The one or two silver coins are yours.”
“Just like that?” the apparent leader asked, looking at the others.
“Yes, that’s it.” Shen Ruyi pulled out a small piece of broken silver from her sleeve—probably more than one or two coins.
“We’ll do it. Young master, wait a moment.” The men put away their food and followed her to the alley. Shen Ruyi noticed the baby’s cries had become weaker, making her anxious.
“Hurry, the baby’s cries are getting weaker,” she urged.
The men, all fathers themselves, charged into the alley shouting, “What do you think you’re doing? Stop right now!”
Soon, three or four teenage boys, about fourteen or fifteen, ran out—the bullies.
Shen Ruyi only wanted the men to drive off the bullies, not harm them, as she didn’t know who might be backing them.
The men came out carrying the rescued children: two eleven- or twelve-year-old boys and one baby under a year old.
“Can you take them to a nearby clinic? I’ll pay extra,” Shen Ruyi said.
“No need for extra, young master. You’re kindhearted. We’re not heartless—we just don’t have much money. We’ll need you to pay the medical fees, though,” the leader said.
“Of course,” Shen Ruyi said, paying their wages first and following them to the clinic.
“The youngest is fine, just hungry and exhausted from crying. The two older ones have mostly external injuries, no internal problems, and are also hungry,” the doctor said after checking them. Fortunately, nothing serious.
Shen Ruyi paid for the consultation and bought a bowl of rice porridge and two bowls of wontons from a nearby food shop.
The baby was ravenous—smooth skin, cherry lips, black hair, and long eyelashes with tears still glistening.
Indeed, as the bullies said, even at this young age, the child had the makings of extraordinary beauty.
Shen Ruyi fed the baby porridge first. The little one swallowed eagerly without opening its eyes, finishing a few spoonfuls before gazing up at her with huge, dark, tear-filled eyes like a starry sky.
The two older boys slept, looking dirty and malnourished, but the baby, though not plump, had a rosy complexion and healthy baby fat.
Although its clothes were a bit small, they were clean, clearly well-cared-for.
Shen Ruyi fed the baby a few more spoonfuls, but the child pouted and refused more, indicating it hadn’t truly been starved.
She put down the bowl, pinched the baby’s chubby cheeks, and said, “You’re a lucky little one, truly.”