Lin Shanyue had never seen biscuits before, so she naturally didn’t dare let Xiaobao eat them. She tossed them aside, picked the child up, and went to wash.
The man inside the silver mirror, Huo Yi, was from the modern world. Ever since Lin Shanyue had appeared on the other side, his gaze had followed her as she moved around the room. Listening to her chatter with Xiaobao, he gradually pieced together their situation.
So the mirror connected to the Great Qian Dynasty.
But he’d never heard of such a dynasty in the official histories. Judging by what he’d learned, the girl on the other side seemed to be a fallen noblewoman who had been cast out by her family.
Looking at the bare, impoverished room, he fell into thought.
Lin Shanyue knew nothing about the world beyond the silver mirror. After washing up with Xiaobao, she returned to the room and spread out the bedding. She tucked Xiaobao beneath the blankets before turning around to loosen her long hair and untie her sash…
Huo Yi had still been watching, but his face suddenly flushed red, and he hurriedly turned his eyes away.
Just moments ago, he’d been observing with great interest. He’d discovered that the monetary system of Great Qian matched that of historical China—a string of one thousand copper coins equaled one tael of silver, worth roughly seven hundred yuan in modern currency.
Watching the young woman carefully calculate how every coin should be spent, Huo Yi suddenly felt a little ashamed.
He was the third young master of the Huo Corporation. Since birth, he’d never known what it meant to worry about money. This was the first time he’d seen someone plan every expense so meticulously.
Strangely… it was fascinating.
It reminded him of one of those life-simulation games.
His curiosity was piqued. He wanted to see how this girl would survive in the vast imperial capital with so little money.
The mirror also seemed capable of transporting objects. If she ever asked him for help… perhaps he could assist her.
Huo Yi was still debating whether he should speak when Lin Shanyue suddenly walked toward the mirror.
Her beautiful face drew closer and closer, and for some reason, his breathing quickened.
But the next instant, she stepped back, picked up the mirror, and muttered,
“My mother always said you shouldn’t sleep with a mirror facing the bed. I’d better put it away.”
Huo Yi froze.
She… couldn’t see him?
Only that little brat could?
He sank into thought once more.
When he finally came back to his senses, the view had changed. She had apparently placed the mirror on the table. From this new angle, he could see two fluffy heads already nestled together beneath the blankets, peacefully asleep.
He watched their sleeping figures for a while before silently walking away.
2024, Huo Corporation, Jiangcheng
Early the next morning, the youngest young master of the Huo family called the old butler serving his grandfather.
The first thing out of his mouth was a request for several books of unofficial historical records.
He didn’t explain why.
Grandfather Huo assumed his grandson had finally decided to settle down and study history to carry on the family’s antique business. Delighted, he immediately ordered several rare editions delivered to him.
The moment Huo Yi received them, he buried himself in research.
Sure enough, Great Qian actually appeared in certain unofficial histories.
Its governmental structure and social system were remarkably similar to those of the Tang Dynasty. Even the imperial capital resembled Chang’an. The city’s layout was nearly identical—one hundred and eight residential wards.
Yesterday, the young woman had mentioned living in Guangde Ward.
Comparing it to the map, Huo Yi found that Guangde Ward really did exist. In ancient Chang’an, it had been home to lower- and middle-class residents.
After some thought, Huo Yi summoned Lao Bai, the manager of the family’s antique shop.
“Go find out what people in the Tang Dynasty generally ate. Buy plenty of whatever vegetables and grains they had.”
The request left Lao Bai completely baffled.
“Third Young Master… are you planning disaster relief?”
Huo Yi clicked his tongue.
“Just do it.”
Lao Bai had no choice but to agree and turned to leave.
“Oh, right!”
Huo Yi suddenly stopped him.
“Get a couple of wool quilts too. It looks pretty cold over there.”
Lao Bai’s eyes widened.
Over there?
Where exactly was there?
He watched as the young master returned to his room and immediately took out a silver mirror, staring intently into it.
An uneasy feeling crept into Lao Bai’s heart.
Over there…
Tang Dynasty…
Could it be…
Had the young master been haunted by the ghost of a Tang Dynasty beauty?
Huo Yi paid no attention to the man’s expression. His eyes remained fixed on the mirror.
Sure enough, before long, the little brat appeared again.
“Hey, kid. Where’s your mother?”
Yesterday, Lin Shanyue had never explained her relationship with the child, so Huo Yi had filled in the blanks himself.
In his imagination, she had once been the daughter of a noble marquis’s household before falling from grace and being cast out by her family.
As someone who’d always been the black sheep of his own family, he couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of kinship with her.
Naturally, Xiaobao didn’t answer.
He simply sucked on his finger and stared at the odd man.
Soon afterward, Lin Shanyue’s voice came from the other side.
“Thank you. Just leave the firewood there.”
That morning, she’d gone to the market.
She spent one qian of silver to buy one jin of rice, several cabbages, a small pouch of salt, and two bundles of firewood.
Such were the prices in the imperial capital.
Outrageously expensive.
The firewood had been brought by farmers from villages outside the city—both were sturdy men who offered home delivery.
After placing the bundles in the courtyard, they realized the enormous residence contained only a single young woman.
There wasn’t a trace of any man.
One of them shot the other a meaningful glance.
His companion immediately understood.
“Miss, where’s your husband? Living here all by yourself?”
Lin Shanyue had just been preparing to pay them when she heard the malicious question.
A chill shot through her.
Every hair on her body stood on end.
Turning around, she saw the two men had stepped much closer, ugly smiles spreading across their faces.
She instantly understood.
Taking a cautious step backward, she replied,
“My husband has gone out. He’ll be back any moment.”
Of course, it was a lie.
She silently cursed herself for being careless.
This wasn’t Crescent Town anymore.
People here weren’t simple and honest.
In a city as enormous as the imperial capital, all kinds of evil lurked beneath the surface.
Living alone…
She truly hadn’t been cautious enough.
Still, she forced herself to sound calm.
“Really? Then who exactly is your husband?”
“We don’t see a single man’s clothes anywhere in this courtyard.”
“Quit lying, little miss.”
“Why don’t you come with the two of us? You wouldn’t have to suffer such a hard life…”
The two men grinned lewdly as they advanced.
Now Lin Shanyue was genuinely frightened.
“Don’t come any closer!”
She grabbed the nearest thing she could find—a wooden laundry bat.
The sight only made them burst into laughter.
Just as they were about to close in—
A booming male voice suddenly echoed from inside the house.
“You despicable scoundrels! Begone at once!”
Everyone froze.
“What the…? There really is a man?”
The two obviously didn’t believe it and immediately looked toward Lin Shanyue.
She herself was stunned.
Even so, her mind raced.
Before she could speak, the voice sounded again.
“I am this young lady’s guardian deity. Leave immediately, or I shall cast a curse upon you!”
A guardian god?!
The men laughed loudly and strode toward the house.
Suddenly—
Bang!
The courtyard gate flew open.
A plump middle-aged woman charged inside, brandishing a kitchen cleaver.
“You shameless molesters! You’ve got the nerve to target someone in Sweetwater Lane? I’ll chop you to pieces!”
She rushed straight at them.
Behind her came a burly man and another middle-aged woman, both wielding cleavers as well.
The two troublemakers’ faces changed instantly.
Without another word, they turned tail and fled.
Everything had happened so quickly that Lin Shanyue still hadn’t fully processed it.
Only after the men disappeared did the plump woman put away her cleaver and approach her.
“Young lady, I’m your neighbor next door. Everyone calls me Aunt Pang. This is Aunt Dou, and this is Brother Wang.”
Still dazed, Lin Shanyue greeted them.
Aunt Pang explained,
“Brother Wang was fetching water at the entrance of the lane earlier. When he saw you bring those two men into your courtyard, we got worried and kept an eye on things.”
“I’m not trying to lecture you, but a young woman living alone has to be careful! How could you let strange men into your courtyard?”
So that was what had happened…
Deeply moved, Lin Shanyue quickly said,
“Thank you so much, Aunt Pang, Aunt Dou, Brother Wang. I’ve only just arrived and haven’t thought everything through. You’ve truly helped me.”
“It’s nothing.”
“The important thing is that you’re safe.”
“We noticed you moving in last night.”
“We’re neighbors now! If you ever need anything, just ask. We’ll come right away.”
“Those two looked like trouble from the start.”
“Next time you need to buy something, come find me first. I’ll take you to trustworthy places.”
Warmth filled Lin Shanyue’s heart.
She nodded vigorously.
After chatting for a while, she personally escorted them to the gate.
The moment they left, she firmly fastened the lock.
Still shaken, she suddenly remembered something.
Her expression changed.
Without hesitation, she hurried back toward the house.