“You want to buy it?” Deng Hu looked at the man.
The man waved his hand, and immediately, a guard carried in a chest. When opened, it revealed neatly stacked silver ingots, gleaming brightly and catching everyone’s eye.
Another wave of exclamations swept through the crowd—someone was actually willing to spend so much silver on a dagger.
Lu Yunxi hadn’t expected such a turn of events either, so she stopped to see what would happen next.
Deng Hu, having seen his share of the world, asked the man, “Who are you?” His family had lived in Lincheng for generations, yet he had no idea when such a figure had emerged in the city.
“My surname is Huo,” the man replied.
Deng Hu grew even more puzzled. Were there any Aristocratic Families in Lincheng with the surname Huo?
The man, however, picked up the dagger and examined it carefully, then praised, “What a sharp dagger.” He then asked Deng Hu, “Did you forge this dagger?”
“Yes,” Deng Hu replied.
The man’s gaze shifted thoughtfully. “I have a larger transaction I’d like to discuss with you.”
“What transaction?” Deng Hu asked.
The man didn’t answer, merely toying with the dagger.
Deng Hu understood his meaning—this was something to be discussed privately. After a moment’s hesitation, he gestured and said, “Master Huo, this way, please.”
With that, they headed to the backyard.
The crowd hadn’t expected this outcome and had no idea what they were going to discuss, but everyone agreed that Deng Hu had stumbled upon good fortune. That noble young master clearly had plenty of money. Ah, why was it always others who had such luck? Why not them?
The crowd dispersed.
“This Master Huo must have come prepared,” Xie Zhiyuan remarked from the side.
Lu Yunxi nodded. Indeed, who would carry so much silver with them otherwise?
“A thousand pieces of gold to buy a horse’s bones,” Xie Zhiyuan commented.
What did he mean by that? Lu Yunxi thought for a moment and understood. Master Huo’s ostentatious display of a hundred taels of silver earlier was meant to make a grand impression and showcase his wealth. And what he wanted was naturally more than just the dagger.
Lu Yunxi frowned, feeling somewhat displeased. She had taken a liking to Deng Hu’s craftsmanship. She had only refrained from discussing more with him earlier because their current situation was inconvenient, planning to return later. Yet someone had beaten her to it.
What should she do? Rush into the backyard and snatch Deng Hu away? But Deng Hu was a person, not a commodity.
Besides, it wasn’t wise for her to stir up trouble now.
Perhaps it was better to let it go. Deng Hu’s craftsmanship was excellent, but it wasn’t irreplaceable.
Turning around, Lu Yunxi left and entered a nearby clothing shop to buy a couple of outfits. On their journey to Jingdu, they needed to disguise themselves as commoners, but commoners escorted by so many people should at least appear to be wealthy households. Her coarse cloth attire seemed too out of place.
A love for beauty was innate to women. Back in Shitou Village, the only fabrics available were rough materials. No matter how skilled Chen Shi was, she couldn’t make particularly attractive clothes.
Lincheng was different. There was silk, gauze, cotton, and satin—various fabrics in colors more natural and splendid than modern ones, and the clothes made from them were beautiful.
Lu Yunxi’s eyes immediately landed on a light blue dress. The dress had two layers: a white inner lining and a blue outer layer, swaying like rippling lake water when she moved. A few small pearls at the waist added an extra touch of elegance to the dress.
This one, she decided after examining herself in the mirror for a moment.
Afterward, she also bought suitable clothes for Lu Popo and the others. Now Xie Zhiyuan had a use for his strength—Lu Yunxi had him carry all the large and small packages.
Xie Zhiyuan gathered the items one by one, carrying them as if he were an obedient guard.
The shop assistant beside them watched in astonishment. When Lu Yunxi and Xie Zhiyuan entered, he had noticed the two of them. However, judging by Lu Yunxi’s attire and Xie Zhiyuan’s clothing, he hadn’t thought they were together. Who would have imagined…
Even after the two left, the assistant couldn’t figure out what was going on.
At Tianxiang Tea House, Lu Yunxi felt she had wandered around for quite a while, yet she was the first to arrive at the tea house.
“There’s still the time for one cup of tea before the hour is up,” Xie Zhiyuan said.
Lu Yunxi nodded, sat down, ordered a pot of tea and two plates of pastries, then ate while waiting for Lu Yunxiao and the others.
After taking a few sips of tea, she was about to reach for a pastry when a group of people ascended the stairs. Leading them was a man in black brocade robes—the same man who had spent a hundred taels of silver on a dagger at the blacksmith’s shop earlier.
The man also noticed Lu Yunxi and took note of Xie Zhiyuan sitting with her. Xie Zhiyuan was the kind of person who stood out no matter where he went. The man had seen him earlier at the blacksmith’s shop but hadn’t expected him to be with Lu Yunxi.
The man’s gaze lingered briefly on Lu Yunxi and Xie Zhiyuan before he took a seat at a nearby table.
The tea house was bustling, with most patrons discussing the current state of affairs.
“I heard the capital has been breached, and the emperor has surrendered?” someone asked.
“That’s what I heard too. Honestly, I’d say the court was long overdue for its downfall,” someone grumbled.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Why bother? The court is finished. That so-called Xiao Wang is about to march right into our city.”
“What should we do then?” someone worried.
“What can we do? We’re just ordinary folks. I’ve heard Xiao Wang’s men aren’t so bad—they don’t slaughter cities. People from the south say that after they occupy a city, they even sell salt at low prices!”
“Really? How low?”
“About three hundred wen per dou.”
“That’s still quite expensive.”
“At least there’s something to eat.”
The crowd murmured among themselves.
After discussing salt, someone brought up, “If the emperor has surrendered, what will happen to Princess Mingyue?” Princess Mingyue was famously known as a great beauty of the Jin Dynasty.
“What else? Probably snatched by someone to warm their bed,” a lecherous man said.
Most patrons in this tea house were either wealthy or of some status. Hearing such vulgarity, some felt disdain, others disgust, but no one spoke up to refute him.
Crack! A crisp sound came from nearby as the brocade-robed man crushed his teacup in his hand.
Everyone turned to look at him. He scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on the lecherous man who had spoken earlier, his eyes dark and menacing.
The lecherous man felt as if he were being stared down by a wild beast, so terrified he nearly wet himself. He wanted to curse or make some bold retort to save face, but the man opposite him looked as though he wanted to devour him alive. He’ll kill me, he’ll kill me!
With that thought in mind, he swallowed hard, dropped a silver coin on the table, and fled downstairs as if running for his life.
The brocade-robed man gestured to his guards.
“That man from earlier is in for trouble,” Xie Zhiyuan remarked calmly.
Who? Was he speaking to her? Lu Yunxi glanced at Xie Zhiyuan, who was sipping his tea with an indifferent expression.
Just then, two guards from behind the brocade-robed man headed downstairs, their faces filled with murderous intent.
Lu Yunxi understood what Xie Zhiyuan meant—that sleazy man was in for trouble. But why? Just because he spoke ill of Princess Mingyue? Lu Yunxi immediately became alert. Princess Mingyue was the female lead of this book.
The man in brocade robes wanted to kill someone over a single remark from that sleazy man, and he said his surname was Huo!
Lu Yunxi suddenly thought of someone—a male supporting character in the book named Huo Jinye. He appeared very few times, but his role was significant. The first time he appeared, he saved the female lead’s life and asked her to go with him to the Li Kingdom.
Naturally, the female lead refused.
He was deeply in love with the female lead. It turned out that years ago, when he was on a diplomatic mission to the Jin Kingdom, he fell in love with the female lead at first sight, who was as radiant as the bright moon. According to the background introduction, when the capital fell, he once led a large army south, intending to rescue the female lead and overthrow the Yongsheng Dynasty. At that time, he defeated the two main forces of the Yongsheng Dynasty’s Northern Expedition and was almost successful.
It was then that the emperor appointed the male lead as the Zhenbei General, who drove the Li Kingdom’s army out of the border.
Because of that battle, the male lead rose to a position second only to the emperor, commanding immense power.
Huo Jinye, however, failed at the last moment. But he never gave up, continuously building up his strength and looking for opportunities to rescue the female lead from the capital.
He was the fourth prince of the Li Kingdom, known for his ruthless and cunning nature. At that time, when people in the Li Kingdom opposed his military campaign against the Yongsheng Dynasty, he slaughtered all those who opposed him, seized the throne himself, and allied with neighboring countries, preparing to annihilate Yongsheng.
Just then, the male lead was forced to rebel, and the female lead wrote to him asking for help. He immediately led his army south, drawing the attention of the Yongsheng Dynasty’s forces.
As he put it, he lived only for the female lead. She was like the bright moon to him. He knew she didn’t love him, but he would kill anyone who tried to harm her.
Oh, right, in the book, her father, Lu Tianguang, was killed by him.
What a ruthless, obsessive, and devoted antagonist! While reading the book, Lu Yunxi hadn’t thought much of it, but now she just wanted to complain.
Was it Huo Jinye? Why was he here? Would he lead his army south? And in the future, would he kill her father?
If it really was Huo Jinye, he absolutely must not be allowed to return to the Li Kingdom, or countless lives would be lost!
Lu Yunxi clenched her fists.
When she looked up again, she realized Huo Jinye was already gone.
“Where did that man go?” she asked Xie Zhiyuan.
“He left.”
“Can you do me a favor?” Lu Yunxi asked nervously.
“Just give the order,” Xie Zhiyuan glanced at her and replied respectfully.
“Investigate the identity of the man at the next table earlier. You don’t need to dig too deep, just a general idea. Also, go check on the blacksmith’s shop for me,” Lu Yunxi said.
“Alright,” Xie Zhiyuan said as he stood up.
Wait, why are you so obedient? Aren’t you going to ask why? Lu Yunxi felt a bit awkward as she looked at Xie Zhiyuan.
Xie Zhiyuan’s face showed no expression. She was a princess, and he was a subject. Of course, he had to obey her.
After finishing a cup of tea, Lu Yunxiao and the others arrived, and everyone prepared to rest for a while before leaving the city.
Just then, Xie Zhiyuan returned and stood there.
Lu Yunxi went over. “How did it go?”
“I only found out that the man came from the Li Kingdom and is likely a nobleman there. As for the blacksmith’s shop…” He paused before continuing, “The blacksmith’s shop is closed. I heard from others that the owner is planning to move elsewhere. I went inside to check, and there were traces of blood.
The blacksmith and his family are nowhere to be found, but they didn’t pack their belongings. Many things were left in the house.”
Most likely, the one from Li Kingdom is Huo Jinye. A blacksmith—in this era, a skilled blacksmith equals countless fine weapons, the very tools of war. No wonder Huo Jinye wanted him.
But Deng Hu probably refused to leave with him, which explains the bloodstains in the blacksmith’s shop.
I wonder how Deng Hu and his family are faring.
“How many of them are there?” Lu Yunxi asked.
“Around a hundred. They’ll leave Lincheng tomorrow,” Xie Zhiyuan replied.
Truly terrible news.
Author’s Note: