The streets of the Western Market had grown even quieter.
Or rather, with all of Chang’an now surrounded, although people still went out, they consciously kept their voices down.
In just ten days, shops along the streets had shut their doors. Passing by Xiao Ji’s wonton stall, only the lacquered grid marks on the ground showed it had ever existed.
The only places still lively were the Hu taverns where alcohol flowed.
But even those seemed shrouded in a gloomy, otherworldly air.
“Don’t look!” Yu Xiao covered Cao Rong’s eyes. The scenes inside the taverns were far more unbearable than before.
Ever since, over ten days ago, the old princes left behind in Chang’an began to meet with mishaps one after another, the city seemed to split into fragments. Some were busy reinforcing the city defenses, while others had already begun hoarding wealth and indulging themselves, treating each day as if it were their last.
Luoyang had already been massacred. Logically, Chang’an wouldn’t suffer the same fate—but what if it did?
The barbarian invaders even had a tradition of cannibalism.
The regent was, after all, a woman. Aside from staying within the Daming Palace and dispatching twenty thousand Imperial Guards to maintain order, she had taken no further action.
Now that the encirclement had tightened, nine out of ten patrons in taverns were discussing how many months the regent could hold out before surrendering. Some had even started gambling—placing odds on whether she would become a consort or merely a concubine.
Just a woman—how could any woman truly uphold a dynasty? Wu Zetian only succeeded because she inherited a strong foundation from Emperor Taizong. Try that in this era?
“Stick to the main road. Walk close to the shops.”
On the streets, idle men could be seen picking lice and whispering to each other while sizing up passersby.
The walk from the butcher’s shop to the Red Beauty Workshop usually took only a quarter of an hour. Today, every step felt perilous.
“That’s them!” one loafer spat, openly staring at them.
“We’re at your tavern. Take Ah Rong and Ah Fang to have some fun. This might be the last time they go out for a while. Go home directly afterward.”
Yu Chun nodded to Yu Xiao and handed him a handful of copper coins.
At the back entrance of the Red Beauty Workshop, three loafers stood picking lice, staring brazenly at them.
“Little lady, come with your big brother—we’ll show you something nice.”
Yu Chun pretended not to hear, but quickened her pace.
She could feel the gaze behind her like needles on her back, like an invisible net tightening.
‘Daiyu: A Chun, do you really think you can rely on your father to protect this money?’
‘Chun: Before today, I thought I could. Now I think I may have overestimated myself. But Cao Jie has no money. This family has no income. This money is the last safeguard in case someone falls ill—and there’s also the house deed.’
‘Daiyu: Do you realize that by taking this job, you’ve already been targeted by Qian Lanniang?’
‘Chun: I didn’t. I thought it was just a minor dispute between women. I didn’t expect she might put me in danger.’
Having grown up in a peaceful world, Yu Chun had never imagined human hearts could be this vicious.
‘Chun: I didn’t realize that trying to obtain a bit of fairness could cost someone like me their life.’
She had thought Qian Lanniang only wanted interest—but it turned out she wanted the principal.
The front door of the Red Beauty Workshop was half-closed today. When Yu Chun and her family entered, only Qian Lanniang remained in the storeroom.
She was dressed particularly well—a pomegranate-red skirt embroidered with gold, a gilded hairpin in her coiffure, leisurely flicking an abacus.
“Oh, you’ve finally come,” Qian Lanniang said without even raising her eyes. “I thought you ran off with the fabric.”
Yu Chun set down the basket. “How could I? Please check the goods. The last fifty sets—twenty aren’t finished.”
Only then did Qian Lanniang glance at her, a sneer curling her lips. “What’s the hurry? The clerks are busy. Wait.”
That wait lasted half an hour.
Yu Chun’s father paced anxiously. Yu Chun stood still, scanning the room. The clerks appeared to be arranging shelves, but their eyes kept drifting toward the door.
This was a trap laid in the open. They were waiting—for her to step into a predetermined path.
“It’s done,” a clerk finally said. “One hundred ninety sets. No errors.”
Qian Lanniang pulled out a heavy cloth money bag, slammed it onto the counter, and counted out five strings of cash. “According to the contract: 3,800 coins. Two days late—deduct 100. Plus 300 deposit. Total 4,000.”
Yu Chun quickly placed the money into her basket and began walking out. “The contract says ten coins per day for delay. It should be twenty.”
Qian Lanniang didn’t even look up. “I say one hundred, then it’s one hundred. Take it or leave it.”
Yu Chun looked at her—and suddenly smiled. “As you say. But since money’s been deducted, there should be a written receipt stating the reason. I need to explain it to my family.”
Qian Lanniang was momentarily stunned, then waved impatiently. “Write it for her!”
A crude receipt was slapped onto the counter.
“Let’s go.”
With the receipt in hand, Yu Chun said nothing more and led her father upstairs.
As she walked, Baochai’s words echoed in her mind.
‘Baochai: You have two paths. One—take the money, go to the street, find a respectable person, and tie this matter to a powerful family. They won’t risk their reputation over robbing a woman’s wages. Two—give up the money and buy safety. But this money is crucial to you.’
‘Tanchun: Then you only have one path—convert the money into something easier to carry. Silver, gold—anything. Since you’ve been given an opportunity, someone will help you.’
‘Chun: I can’t draw her attention. I need her to think I’m submissive. If I escalate, it could bring greater disaster.’
This was open robbery. Qian Lanniang was unstable. Only by letting her feel in control could Yu Chun find a way out.
Otherwise, dozens of eyes would soon be watching her—and that would be true desperation.
She agreed with Baochai. From what she’d heard, Cao Jie had been repeatedly taking grain. The family’s reserves wouldn’t last.
He was likely relying on Yu family stores and planning to repay after harvest.
Turning grain into land deeds—that was the most reliable asset.
But that required luck. For now, she had to protect this cash.
She hurried upstairs.
It was the same office building. In ten days, the steady sound of abacuses had disappeared. Most rooms were closed—only the first remained open.
“Excuse me, is Miss Xiao Wang here?”