Snow was still falling outside. Bai Zhi couldn’t even imagine how difficult the road of exile would be in weather like this.
She took out the list she’d written earlier and added two more items to it.
“Is there anything you want to buy? I’ll get it all together tomorrow.”
“I want to buy some furs,” Xiao Yu said, glancing at Xiao Zelan. “What if the dream was real? We should prepare more.”
This time Xiao Zelan said nothing. He lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
“Then let’s count how many winter clothes we have. Do you both have padded coats? What about leather boots?”
“Royal Brother and I each brought one padded outfit, but they’re not very thick. Royal Brother does have a cloak though. We don’t have leather boots, only cotton boots, and those aren’t very thick either.”
Ordinary people’s winter clothing was bulky and heavy. Noble families preferred thinner padded garments with cloaks worn outside.
Bai Zhi’s dowry also included one thinner padded outfit.
She added another set of winter clothes and one pair of leather boots each to the list.
Then Bai Zhi took out another sheet of paper and started sketching with a charred firewood stick from the kitchen.
She drew a long padded robe.
The main addition was a padded hood, with two wide straps attached that could also function as a scarf. Worried people might not understand, she even drew the hood separately.
At some point, Xiao Yu had wandered over to stand behind her.
“Your drawings are actually pretty good. Way better than your handwriting. But what is this? Winter clothing?”
“Mm. Tomorrow I’ll have someone make them urgently.”
While Bai Zhi was drawing, Xiao Zelan began sorting through books again.
The basket of books was too heavy. Some had to be removed or Bai Zhi wouldn’t be able to carry them.
Xiao Zelan tried choosing volumes in the best condition, with the fewest creases, so Bai Zhi could sell them.
As he sorted, he explained the various bookstores in the capital—their locations, what class of customers they served, and how much these books would cost if they were new.
As for used books, he wasn’t sure.
Curious, Bai Zhi asked, “How do you know all this so clearly?”
“Back when I investigated corruption cases with the Crown Prince, I learned about the capital’s prices.”
I see.
Bai Zhi checked the list one more time, then tucked the paper close against her body.
After that, she sorted through cosmetics, powders, and the osmanthus hair oil used for styling hair.
The face cream and frostbite ointment they kept for themselves.
There was also something called “dai” used for drawing eyebrows, which she also set aside.
Bai Zhi combined the half-used bottles of osmanthus oil into one full bottle to make it look new again.
She also combined partially used cosmetics into full containers to see if they could still be sold tomorrow.
After finishing everything, Bai Zhi prepared to sleep.
“Xiao Yu, why don’t you sleep beside your royal brother again tonight?”
“No!”
Xiao Yu instantly darted back to his small couch and wrapped himself tightly in the blankets, terrified someone might notice his reddened face.
But Bai Zhi was Bai Zhi.
She didn’t even need to look at his expression to know he was embarrassed.
“Oh? Feeling shy now?”
“I’m not! Hurry up and go to sleep already!”
Bai Zhi stopped teasing him, washed her hands with the leftover water in the basin, and climbed into bed.
In the middle of the night, she was awakened by suppressed groans of pain.
“Xiao Zelan? What’s wrong?”
Bai Zhi quickly got up and lit the candle.
“What happened? Is your leg hurting?”
Xiao Zelan nodded. He was already drenched in sweat from the pain.
“Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu, hurry over here!”
Xiao Yu jolted awake and rushed over without even putting on his outer robe.
“Royal Brother! Royal Brother, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Xiao Zelan in such agony, Xiao Yu’s nose reddened immediately, looking as though he was about to cry.
Bai Zhi added several more chunks of charcoal to the brazier and told Xiao Yu, “Warm your brother’s knees.”
“How?” Xiao Yu pressed his hands against Xiao Zelan’s knees.
“Use your stomach. It’ll be warmer. Xiao Zelan, lie on your side.”
Xiao Zelan obediently turned sideways.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu lifted his shirt and curled around him, hugging Xiao Zelan’s knees against his bare stomach.
Bai Zhi tucked the blankets securely around them, then put on her outer clothes and wrapped herself in the white cloak before heading to the kitchen to boil water.
The snow outside had stopped, but the temperature was even lower than during the snowfall.
Walking beneath the corridor, Bai Zhi felt the piercing cold cut into her bones.
Less than half an hour later, she returned carrying two hot-water bottles and a basin of steaming water.
“How is it?”
Xiao Zelan answered weakly, “Much better.”
Bai Zhi handed the hot-water bottles to Xiao Yu, then soaked two cloth towels in the scalding water before wringing them dry.
“Expose his knees.”
Xiao Yu quickly lifted one corner of the blanket.
Bai Zhi placed the hot towels over both knees.
Xiao Zelan let out a restrained groan as warmth slowly penetrated through flesh and bone. He felt as though he had come back to life.
When the towels cooled, Bai Zhi soaked them again, wrung them out, and reapplied them.
She repeated the process several times until the water was no longer hot.
Only then did she let Xiao Yu place the hot-water bottles against Xiao Zelan’s knees.
“Royal Brother, do you feel better now?”
“Much better. Don’t worry.”
After comforting his younger brother, Xiao Zelan looked toward Bai Zhi’s fingers, reddened from the hot water.
“Thank you for your trouble.”
“It’s nothing.”
Bai Zhi yawned and set the basin aside.
“Xiao Yu, why don’t you sleep with your royal brother?”
“No!”
Xiao Yu ran off again.
Bai Zhi was baffled.
Wasn’t he worried about his brother? Why wouldn’t he stay beside him?
Children’s thoughts really were impossible to understand.
After pondering briefly, Bai Zhi gave up trying to figure it out.
She extinguished the candle, took off her shoes in the dark, and slipped back beneath the blankets.
The brazier had been filled with charcoal, so the room had warmed considerably.
Combined with the two hot-water bottles in bed, it wasn’t cold at all.
Bai Zhi wrapped herself tightly in the blankets.
Then she suddenly thought of something.
“Should we use both quilts? Put the second one on top?”
Ever since getting separate quilt covers, she and Xiao Zelan had been sleeping under different blankets.
“No need. It’s much warmer already.”
“Alright then. I’m going to sleep. Call me if you need anything.”
“Mm.”
After a while, Xiao Zelan suddenly spoke.
“If I die, you won’t have to go into exile anymore.”
Silence answered him from the darkness.
Xiao Zelan continued quietly:
“According to Great Qi law, once a criminal dies, their family can be exempted from exile.”
“What about Xiao Yu? Would he still be exiled?”
“Xiao Yu isn’t considered my dependent. He’s also a prince. He… could beg Father Emperor for mercy. Tomorrow, take my handwritten letter to Grand Tutor Zhao. He’ll help plead for Xiao Yu.”
“No!”
A sharp cry suddenly came from the small couch opposite them.
“If Royal Brother dies, I’ll take a knife and charge into the palace!”
Xiao Zelan immediately scolded him.
“Xiao Yu! Don’t speak such nonsense.”
“I’m not joking. I mean it.”
“You—”
“Enough!”
Bai Zhi interrupted the emotional brotherly exchange.
“No one has to die. We’re all going to work hard to survive, then start a new life.”
According to the story’s plot, Xiao Yu, as the male lead, would definitely reach the place of exile.
And Bai Zhi would have to follow too.
So Xiao Zelan absolutely could not die.
“Xiao Zelan, I already told you. As long as you listen to me, I’ll do my best to protect you.”
A long silence followed.
So long that Bai Zhi thought Xiao Zelan had already fallen asleep.
Then his hoarse voice came softly through the darkness.
“Thank you… thank you, Ah Zhi.”
Bai Zhi: “…”
Ah Zhi?
Whatever. Fine.
“Go to sleep.”
Bai Zhi turned over and faced the wall.
On the small couch, Xiao Yu was already crying silently.
He was afraid.
Truly afraid.
Afraid Bai Zhiluo would agree to Xiao Zelan’s plan.
Afraid his royal brother would abandon him.
Afraid…
That Bai Zhiluo would abandon them too.