Вlеnding intо thе сrowd on the оffiсial roаd, Ziyu movеd аt а snаil’s раcе awаy from the caрital. Watсhing the саvalrу gallоp рast, a glint flashed in her еyes, аnd her liрs curved slightly upward.
Who would have thought thаt Empеror Тianqing, seаtеd high uрon thе drаgоn thronе, having tastеd thе swееtness of confisсating prореrty frоm implicatеd offiсiаls duе tо the еmpty stаte trеasury, wоuld dispatсh vаrious forсеs tо рursue and recоvеr illicit goods.
The prinсеs, vying to eаsе their fаthеr’s worriеs, eасh sought thеir own gains, actively volunteering to participate in the division of influence, thereby consolidating their respective powers.
The struggle for power and influence knows no end!
…
Bali Town, the nearest bustling small city to Yun Capital, had become a place where many were stranded due to the city gates remaining closed.
As Ziyu entered Bali Town with the crowd of pedestrians, the ancient streets were already adorned with various lanterns.
Taverns buzzed with noise and excitement, street food stalls were surrounded by seated or standing patrons, and inns of all sizes hung “No Vacancy” signs at their entrances.
“Brother, so many people!”
Standing in the backpack, Ziluo curiously observed the bustling town, rubbing her slightly rounded belly as she looked around.
“No inns to stay in. What should we do, Xiao Luo?”
“Stay in the new home!”
“Hehe, we can’t just stay in the new home anytime. Brother will take you to find a place to stay.”
Ziyu turned and walked toward a small street, stopping in front of a slightly worn blue-brick courtyard with its gate wide open.
Under the dim lantern light, a young boy of about ten, dressed in a faded scholar’s robe, held a yellowed book, murmuring to himself.
“Young sir, are your parents at home? May I have a word?” Ziyu clasped her hands in a polite, scholarly manner.
“Young master, are you looking for lodging?”
The boy put away his book and hit the nail on the head, standing there as if waiting specifically for someone. Perhaps accustomed to the comings and goings of people, he showed little curiosity at Ziyu’s appearance.
“Young sir, you are clever. The inns in town are all full, and my younger sister and I have nowhere to go. May we stay at your home for the night? We can pay for food and lodging at the market rate!” Ziyu glanced at the boy’s attire and smiled as she stated her purpose.
“Come in! This kind of thing happens often in town. Neighbors around here take the opportunity to earn some silver to supplement their household income. My mother is ill and occasionally coughs; I hope you won’t mind. My elder sister, being a woman, cannot easily receive guests; I hope you understand! But she cooks wonderfully. Please!”
The boy spoke appropriately, and despite his plain clothing, he showed no hint of inferiority. Ziyu smiled, nodded, and entered the courtyard.
Once inside, Ziyu glanced around the northern-style courtyard illuminated by candlelight and followed the boy into the second room on the left.
In the adjacent room, people were coming and going—it seemed another group seeking lodging, their voices suggesting an older mother and daughter.
“Young sir, please prepare two evening meals and a serving of steamed egg custard for us, along with hot water for bathing.”
Ziyu retrieved two silver beans from her wide belt, already flattened between her fingers as she handed them over.
“Thank you, young master. One silver bean is enough!”
“I’ll need to ask you about some things later. Consider this payment for your advice.”
“Alright, coming right up!”
The boy happily responded loudly, even blurting out the phrase of a young waiter.
Clutching the two flattened silver beans in his palm, he dashed into the kitchen, took a sip of water, then hurried into the main room to give the silver beans to his bedridden mother.
In the side room, Ziyu’s sharp ears caught the happy conversation between mother and son. Smiling, she wiped a finger across the kang table and nodded in satisfaction.
After washing up with the delivered hot water and changing into clean clothes, no one would notice they had changed unless they paid close attention.
During her bath, Ziyu finally had time to take out the bronze mirror to look at her current appearance.
A small, round face as delicate as the girl next door, with lively, watery eyes—completely different from her stunningly beautiful self in her previous life, yet bearing a fifty percent resemblance to Xiao Luo.
Due to the change in her soul, there was a distinctly different determination in her gaze, which suited her warrior-like attire perfectly.
“Not bad, living a different life is quite good!”
She tossed the clothes she had changed out of into her dimensional space, planning to wash them when she had time later. She thought to herself that she really needed to buy a capable maid.
For now, without a fixed residence, she needed someone to handle laundry and daily chores. Without smart assistants or electrical appliances, having to do everything herself was giving her a bit of a headache.
After the meal, Ziyu learned from the young boy about the current prices and where she could buy a suitable mule cart.
“Young master, I’m classmates with the young owner of the Xiaoji Mule Cart Company. I guarantee you’ll get the best pick! We can go now.”
“That sounds great, let’s go now!”
Upon hearing this, Ziyu immediately agreed, placed Xiao Luo back into the carrying basket, and headed out.
Under the night sky, Balizhen was brightly lit, with shops wide open. For them, days when the city gates weren’t open were the best opportunities for business.
Patrolling yamen officers with swords occasionally appeared on the streets, clearing people or vehicles from the middle of the road to prevent them from being trampled to death by galloping horses.
With the help of the familiar guide, Ziyu bought a sturdy mule for fifteen taels of silver and a box-style cart frame for five taels.
She also bought some necessities for the road, such as bedding, a small stove, pots and bowls, oilcloth, rain gear, etc., spending another two taels of silver.
After shopping around, Ziyu realized that while silver was equivalent in value to currency in her later era, many things were much cheaper here.
“Young master, won’t you buy some convenient food? My sister makes delicious steamed buns and mantou,” the young boy recommended at the right moment.
“Haha, then let your sister work a little harder. I’ll take two baskets of steamed buns, two baskets of mantou, and five jin of fried noodles and fried rice.
I didn’t expect all the ready-to-eat food on the street to be sold out. Who knows how long this situation will last!”
“Young master, be careful with your words!” The young boy glanced at the passing military horses and whispered.
In his eyes, this young master was someone who had never traveled far, was taking care of a young sister, and hadn’t prepared anything at all.
Ah, every family has its own difficulties!
The night passed peacefully. Early the next morning, as Ziyu finished packing and prepared to leave, she received a large basket filled with the ready-to-eat food she had requested, carefully divided and wrapped in clean cloth bundles.
The shy girl, after setting down the large basket, ran back into the kitchen and brought out another basket of finely split firewood and kindling.
“Young master, have a safe journey!”
“Thank you so much! I hadn’t even thought to buy kindling!”
Ziyu glanced at the shy girl and couldn’t help but laugh.
She handed the young boy ten flat silver beans, exactly one tael in weight.
“Thank you, young master. May your journey be smooth!”
The young boy repeatedly clasped his hands in gratitude for her generosity. Earning one tael and two qian of silver in one night was a significant income for his family.
Their monthly household expenses relied entirely on occasional guests staying over, with a maximum income of three taels of silver per month.
Though it seemed like a lot, they often struggled to make ends meet.
Buying medicine for his frail mother and covering his private school fees had delayed his elder sister, who was already of marriageable age, from getting married.
Standing at the doorway, the young boy had learned the hardships of life too early. He only hoped that more generous guests like this young master would come their way.
Ziyu, driving the mule cart, slowly left Balizhen. Very few people were leaving along the way, while a steady stream of people continued to head toward Balizhen.
She had originally intended to leave with a merchant caravan or a security escort. However, when she inquired around the town in the morning, not a single one was departing that day.
Every household had its own affairs to attend to, so she had no choice but to set off on her own.