“Lord in heaven, we simply cannot go on living. Disasters brought by nature and man alike are taking the lives of ordinary people.”
“Kind sir, please show us mercy. This child is growing weaker by the moment and needs to see a physician. Please let us enter the city.”
“What right do you have to bar us from entering? Do you intend to let us starve to death right here?”
At the gates of Songxi County, the heavy doors were shut tight, leaving only a narrow gap for passage. Two government soldiers stood guard on either side, carrying large blades and exuding a formidable air, as if one man standing there could hold back ten thousand enemies.
The common people stranded outside wailed and cried without pause, their faces streaked with tears and grime.
At a glance, it was clear that at least a thousand people had been turned away and left waiting at the entrance.
They wore tattered, ragged clothing, their faces drawn and weary, and their bodies covered in dirt and dust—clear signs that they had traveled far to escape hardship and danger.
In contrast, though Shen Ying and her companions were also dressed in worn and simple garments, they appeared far more alert and composed. Most notably, their bright, clear eyes set them distinctly apart from the exhausted crowds around them.
The moment they appeared, they immediately drew the attention of countless onlookers.
Shen Ying’s expression shifted instantly. She lowered her head, glanced at the two children they had only just taken in, and spoke to them in a quiet voice. “Try to look more pitiful and helpless.”
The two children had just eaten their fill, so their energy and demeanor were naturally quite different from those of the hungry, tired people surrounding them.
For now, their best strategy was to disguise their true condition and blend in.
Standing nearby, Wei Jinhu immediately understood what was needed. He slapped his broad, strong chest confidently and said, “You needn’t worry. I am here to protect us. Let me see who would dare to cause us trouble or set their sights on us.”
Shen Ying could only fall silent in response.
Was this man perhaps lacking in common sense?
There were hundreds of desperate refugees all around them. Even if he was strong and capable in a fight, two fists could not defend against four hands, let alone the sheer number of people gathered here. How could he possibly hope to fight off everyone if trouble arose?
But in the next moment, she immediately revised her earlier judgment.
She had spoken too soon, and made assumptions far too quickly.
Right there in full view of everyone, Wei Jinhu lifted the hem of his clothing to reveal a large cutting blade tucked securely into his waistband.
Upon closer inspection, the blade was sharp and well-honed, though its very tip was slightly worn and bent from use.
More importantly, faint traces of a deep red substance still stained the handle.
That was blood—and it was unmistakably human blood.
Having spent many years living within the imperial palace, Shen Ying had long trained herself to notice even the smallest details and identify things accurately. She could tell at a single glance whether blood came from a human or an animal.
This blade had been used to take a human life.
He had killed someone.
Was this the real reason he had been forced to leave his hometown and family behind?
Pulling her gaze away, Shen Ying cleared her throat and spoke in a steady voice. “Even so, we must still act with caution and keep a low profile.”
She held the little prince tightly in her arms, carefully lifted the edge of his blanket, and spoke to him in a soft, soothing tone. “Be good and quiet now, my little one. We will be entering the city very soon.”
At present, though their group consisted of five people, there were very few among them who could offer real protection or assistance. Aside from Wei Jinhu, all the others were the elderly, women, or young children who could not defend themselves or handle difficult tasks.
After traveling for many long days, they had finally reached the county seat, and there were many important matters she needed to attend to.
The group made their way to the city gates and joined the long line of people waiting to enter. After listening carefully to the conversations and explanations around them for a while, they finally understood the situation. It was not that entry was forbidden entirely, but that every person who wished to enter was required to pay a fee in silver coins.
The cost was one tael of silver per person.
It was often said that even a local official who maintained a reputation for honesty and integrity could accumulate vast wealth during just a single term of office.
The county magistrate here clearly possessed immense audacity and greed, daring to profit shamelessly from a time of national crisis and widespread suffering.
Under normal circumstances, one tael of silver would not be considered an excessive or unreasonable sum. But these people standing in line were all refugees who had lost their homes and livelihoods. What little money and possessions they still held were meant to be used to buy food and clothing to sustain their survival.
For an entire family to enter the city, they would have to pay at least several taels, or even more than ten taels of silver. How could anyone possibly be willing or able to part with such a large amount of money?
Shen Ying glanced at the suffering people around her with sympathy, but she quickly composed herself and turned her attention back to their own situation.
Wei Jinhu, with his rough and straightforward nature, scanned the surroundings and muttered under his breath, “This cruel world is truly determined to drive people to their deaths.”
Shen Ying shot him a sharp, warning look. “You would do well to mind your own words and keep your thoughts to yourself.”
Now that times of chaos and upheaval had truly arrived, the most important rule of survival was to protect oneself first and foremost.
Illness often enters through what we consume, and trouble and misfortune are most often brought upon us by careless words spoken without thought.
Sensing the warning and threat in Shen Ying’s gaze, Wei Jinhu immediately closed his mouth and fell silent. He reached out and tapped the heads of the two children lightly to get their attention. “You two must also remember to watch what you say and keep quiet about everything, do you understand?”
Half an hour later, Shen Ying finally reached the front of the line at the city gates.
“According to the rules, there are five of you in total. That will be five taels of silver,” the soldier in charge said without even raising his head. He merely glanced briefly in their direction and held up five fingers to indicate the required amount.
Hearing this, Wei Jinhu immediately grew angry and protested loudly. “Open your eyes and look carefully! This one is still an infant in swaddling clothes, and these two are just small children…”
“Stop talking nonsense. Rules are rules. If you do not intend to pay and enter, then get out of my way immediately. Do not waste my time here,” the soldier replied, still without looking up, and drew his sword from its scabbard to make his point clear.
Seeing that Wei Jinhu was about to draw his blade and start a fight, Shen Ying felt her heart leap into her throat. She stepped forward swiftly, placed herself between Wei Jinhu and the soldiers, and spoke to them with a forced, friendly smile.
“Kind sir, please do not pay any attention to this big, simple-minded man. When he was young, he caught a severe fever that damaged his mind and left him this way,” Shen Ying explained, holding the child securely in one arm while pointing to her own head with her other hand to emphasize her words.
The soldier finally lifted his head and looked them over, clicking his tongue and shaking his head in obvious disdain. “He certainly looks like a strong and capable man, but who would have guessed he is nothing more than a fool. How ridiculous…”
At that moment, all the soldiers standing nearby burst out laughing and joined in the mockery.
Shen Ying kept her expression calm and unchanging despite the insults. She slipped a small piece of silver into the soldier’s hand and said, “There is nothing I can do about it. He is my younger brother, and before my mother passed away, she made me promise that I would protect and care for him no matter what happens. Please accept this small amount to buy yourself some tea. I hope you will not think it too little.”
The soldier weighed the silver in his palm and nodded in satisfaction. “This is far more reasonable. It is truly difficult for a woman like you to have to look after three children and a foolish brother as well. You may pass through now.”
They successfully entered the city.
After walking some distance away from the gates, Shen Ying turned back to look at Wei Jinhu, who was still seething with anger and resentment. She narrowed her eyes and spoke to him sternly. “You are brave but completely lacking in strategy and wisdom. You are foolish—utterly foolish. Come along now. First, we need to find an inn where we can stay…”
Wei Jinhu let out a low, grumbling sound of agreement and walked ahead quickly for a short distance. Then he suddenly turned around and insisted, “I am not a fool.”
Was he really not a fool?
Perhaps not entirely, but he was certainly far too impulsive and reckless.
He possessed great strength and ability, but he lacked the intelligence and judgment to use them wisely.
While Wei Jinhu went ahead to find suitable accommodation, Shen Ying followed the memories she had stored in her mind and made her way to a local pawnshop.
“Young lady, what have you brought to sell or exchange here? Our shop treats every customer fairly and honestly, whether they are old or young…”
Before the shopkeeper could finish his words, Shen Ying placed a small gold ingot shaped like a melon seed directly onto the countertop between them.
Their eyes met, and the shopkeeper cleared his throat nervously. “Young lady, what is the meaning of this?”
“There is no need for you to be so alarmed or cautious. I have come here today because I need your help,” Shen Ying said, placing a second identical gold ingot beside the first. “In these troubled times, it is difficult enough for a woman to travel alone, and I am burdened with caring for a simple-minded younger brother and three young children as well. We move slowly and face many difficulties, so I am hoping to hire someone skilled and knowledgeable to teach my brother some basic martial arts and self-defense techniques.”
“Is that all you wish for him to learn? Nothing more?” the shopkeeper asked, his eyes fixed on her with open suspicion and doubt, clearly unconvinced by her explanation.
Shen Ying nodded calmly. “That is indeed all I ask. I would be most grateful if you could help me arrange this matter.”
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Ying left the pawnshop and let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a heavy weight lift from her shoulders.
In the past, she and Imperial Consort Wan had often snuck out of the palace together in secret, pretending to be wandering heroines and traveling through the local towns and countryside as if exploring the world of martial arts and adventure.
During one such outing, she had learned of a secret organization of assassins. While they primarily accepted contracts to carry out killings and assassinations, they also offered other services, such as teaching martial arts skills or providing protection and assistance during the transportation of goods.
Now that chaos and disorder had spread across the land, having intelligence and wisdom alone was not enough. Those who lacked the strength to defend themselves could only wait helplessly to be controlled, harmed, or even killed by others. If she wanted to ensure their long-term survival and safety, having the means to defend themselves was absolutely essential.
Thinking of Wei Jinhu’s large, strong build and natural physical strength, as well as the two young children traveling with them, Shen Ying had already formed a clear plan in her mind.
By this time, Wei Jinhu had already found a suitable inn and arranged their accommodation. When it came time to complete the necessary registration procedures, Shen Ying did not hesitate for a moment and took out the official travel documents and identification papers that had belonged to the young maid.
“What are you…”
Wei Jinhu had only just begun to speak when Shen Ying quickly placed her hand over his mouth to stop him. Just as she was about to explain herself, she suddenly felt a cold chill run down her spine, as if someone or something dangerous was standing right behind her.