Han Jing fell silent for a moment before tucking the property deed away safely. “Shall I leave tonight?”
Han Shengyu nodded.
Han Jing knew her temperament well; once a decision left her mouth, it was never changed. “I’ll go pack my things.”
Watching his retreating back, Han Shengyu smiled softly and called out, “Cousin, stay safe!”
Han Jing paused in his tracks, merely waving his hand without turning back before pushing open the door and leaving.
That night, Han Shengyu still failed to get a good night’s sleep. For some unknown reason, ever since stepping onto the ship, a headache had plagued her; though not severe, it left her feeling thoroughly irritable.
When she got out of bed with dark circles beneath her eyes, both Han Huiyu and Han Qingning were startled by her appearance.
“Did you not sleep last night?” Han Huiyu asked, her brows knitted.
Han Shengyu shook her head. “What are we having for breakfast?”
Seeing that she had no desire to dwell on the matter, Han Huiyu did not pursue it further, replying, “Sliced fish porridge, fried dough cakes, and steamed pork buns. We’ll eat simply, since things aren’t very convenient on the ship after all.”
Han Shengyu had little appetite, nodding listlessly.
Han Qingning walked over and sat beside her. “If you’re feeling unwell, we can ask a physician to come check on you once we reach the dock.”
“It’s nothing, just didn’t sleep well.” Han Shengyu forced herself to cheer up and told them about Han Jing’s departure last night.
Neither Han Huiyu nor Han Qingning had expected Han Jing to leave so soon, and both could not help but feel a lingering sense of worry.
“Sending only Han Jing… I fear he might not be able to pull it off,” Han Huiyu said, looking at Han Shengyu. “Though he bears the surname Han, his branch is beyond the five degrees of mourning from us; First Aunt might not take him seriously at all.”
“Eldest Sister, even if we go to Jincheng ourselves, First Aunt might not take us seriously either.”
Han Huiyu lapsed into silence.
At the side, Han Qingning let out a sigh. “My mother originally wanted to accompany me to Jincheng, but my father refused, only letting me bring guards to meet up with you.” Pausing, she added, “Did Third Uncle and Third Aunt not think of sending you two either?”
Third Uncle was merely an instructor at the county school; if he wished to accompany them, the official academy would certainly grant him leave.
Han Shengyu remained quiet, while Han Huiyu took up the conversation, “My mother wanted to come, but my father refused as well.”
matching glances, the two sisters turned their eyes to Han Shengyu.
Han Shengyu drew a breath and had no choice but to explain, “We are juniors. Even if we commit a breach of etiquette, others cannot easily make a fuss with mere children. But if elders were to follow along, the entire matter would grow complicated.”
Han Qingning looked lost in thought.
Han Huiyu lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Before long, the maidservants served breakfast, and the three sisters washed their hands to eat.
Han Qingning had a fine appetite this morning; the fish was freshly caught from the river, making the sliced fish porridge flavorful and delicious. As the piping hot fish porridge settled into her stomach, her complexion gained a bit of rosy color.
Noticing that Han Shengyu indeed lacked an appetite, Han Huiyu reached out to call Shihua over with a brief instruction. Soon enough, Shihua came in carrying a small dish and placed it on the table.
Han Huiyu looked at Han Shengyu. “Eat.”
Han Shengyu lowered her head to look—neatly arranged on the small dish with seaweed patterns was pickled radish. She looked at Han Huiyu in surprise. “You didn’t bring this with you too, did you?”
With an expressionless face, Han Huiyu replied, “Out of all us sisters, you have the most troublesome quirks—do you not know that yourself?”
With the pickled radish, Han Shengyu’s appetite was indeed instantly revived, as if even her headache had eased somewhat.
Seeing the two sisters bickering, Han Qingning pursed her lips and smiled softly from the side. Observing how well they got along, the heavy stone in her heart gradually settled down.
Even she knew a fair bit about the grievances between Third Aunt and Concubine Qiao, and the past conflicts between Han Shuyu and Han Shengyu were even clearer to her; she had genuinely feared that Han Huiyu and Han Shengyu would clash along the way, leaving her trapped painfully in the middle.
The little girl’s subtle look of relief was exceedingly cute, causing Han Shengyu’s brows and eyes to light up with spirit.
“If we travel by water all the way, will we still need to switch to the land route?”
After eating, having no other pastimes, the three sisters gathered together to chat and pass the time.
Decisions of this nature naturally rested with Han Shengyu. She nodded, “The original plan was to pick you up, proceed to the next ferry, and then go ashore to switch to the land route.”
Han Qingning said, “Then that would be tomorrow morning.”
“Correct.”
Han Huiyu looked at Han Shengyu. “In how many days do you plan for us to reach Jincheng?”
“As young girls, we are small and frail, so naturally we can’t rush our journey. It should take at least five, six, seven, or eight days.”
Han Huiyu: …
Han Qingning: …
Seeing their subtle facial expressions, Han Shengyu chuckled lightly and explained, “When we arrive in Jindu depends entirely on First Uncle and First Aunt’s sincerity and attitude.”
The two understood.
Han Qingning was not optimistic, pulling a bitter face as she said, “I think it will be difficult.”
“Not necessarily,” Han Huiyu said.
Han Qingning looked over at her. “Why?”
“Is there not Cousin Jintang’s matter hanging at the forefront? If this matter is truly fatal, First Aunt will certainly yield for the sake of her daughter.”
Han Qingning found that reasonable.
They both assumed it would genuinely take five, six, seven, or eight days to reach Jincheng, yet three days later, Han Shengyu arrived with them.
The two sisters’ expressions were subtle to the extreme, four eyes fixed squarely on Han Shengyu.
Han Shengyu completely ignored them.
Back at a bustling town outside Jincheng, Han Shengyu had already sent guards with the maidservants to purchase several trunks of clothing, dressing not only the sisters but everyone in the everyday attire of Jincheng locals.
Their travel permits were all prepared, and sitting in the carriage, they smoothly entered the city.
As the imperial capital, Jincheng’s city gates were grand and imposing. Upon entering, pedestrians bustled about, shops lined both sides of the street in rich variety, and vendors carrying shoulder poles called out their wares loudly everywhere.
Furthermore, many women accompanied by household servants and maidservants were out enjoying themselves on the streets, while taverns and teahouses bustled with a steady stream of patrons. Both Han Huiyu and Han Qingning were left wide-eyed at the sight.
In Yongding City and Yining County, women enjoyed no such freedom, wrapping themselves up tightly whenever going out on ordinary days; how could they ever be as at ease as the women of Jindu?
Han Shengyu beckoned, and Fu Zhouhang, the deputy left behind by Han Jing, immediately hurried over. “Third Miss, what are your orders?”
“Where is the inn that Han Jing reserved?”
“As you instructed, it was reserved at Zhuangyuan Inn on the most prosperous Imperial Street in Jindu,” Fu Zhouhang replied respectfully.
“Go to Zhuangyuan Inn first.”
“Yes.”
As the carriage made its way toward Zhuangyuan Inn, two pairs of eyes belonging to Han Huiyu and Han Qingning remained fixed on her.
“You reserved an inn? Are we not going to First Uncle’s house?”
“Go for what? We’ll see Han Jing first and get a clear picture of the situation before anything else.” Han Shengyu never fought an unprepared battle.
Zhuangyuan Inn stood a full five stories high, boasting flying eaves, painted rafters, and large red-lacquered pillars. Upon its grand plaque, the three gilded characters for *Zhuangyuan Inn* shone with brilliant splendor; naturally, the prices were equally breathtaking.
Having money, Han Shengyu refused to mistreat herself. Knowing her temperament intimately, Han Jing had booked the highest and most expensive room, where one could stand by the window and look down upon half of Jincheng.
Han Huiyu knitted her brows. “Even with money, it shouldn’t be spent like this.”
The situation surrounding this trip to Jincheng remained uncertain; money ought to be saved and used where it mattered most. For a stay of merely a few days, picking a slightly better inn would have sufficed.
“Eldest Sister, when life offers success, one should enjoy it to the fullest.”
“Without anyone to restrain you, I see you’re ready to reach for the sky!”
Han Qingning leaned against the window and laughed; she felt Third Sister had picked a wonderful inn, with views unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Jincheng was truly beautiful.