Bai Zhi used a towel to absorb the water from her hair, then leaned against the bed while it dried.
In her hands, she casually played with a pair of scissors.
In the blink of an eye, the scissors transformed into three metal slingshot frames.
Earlier, Xiao Yu had found several slingshots while searching the villa, but they were all made of wood and already beginning to rot.
Replacing the frames with iron would make them much sturdier.
At least they could count as weapons.
Tomorrow she still had a long list of things to do:
Make mushroom meat sauce.
Pack seasonings and supplies.
Make metal marbles for ammunition.
Remember not to make the marbles too perfectly round.
Bribe the imperial messenger delivering the decree.
Without realizing it, Bai Zhi drifted off to sleep while sitting against the bed.
Later that night, Xiao Zelan woke to use the toilet.
As he passed by, he noticed Bai Zhi’s silhouette still sitting by the bed.
“Ah Zhi?”
“Ah Zhi?”
He moved closer.
Sure enough, she had fallen asleep sitting upright.
Leaning on his crutch, he carefully approached.
Whether it was the medicine, the medicinal bath, or the moxibustion, he wasn’t sure.
But his left leg could now briefly support weight.
His right leg remained weak.
Sitting down beside her, he intended to help her lie down properly.
His legs lacked strength.
His arms did not.
The moment his hand touched her hair—
Bai Zhi opened her eyes.
Xiao Zelan immediately stammered.
“I… I only wanted to help you lie down.”
“Mm.”
Seeing that it was him, Bai Zhi simply closed her eyes again.
Half-asleep, she answered vaguely before lying down on her own.
Xiao Zelan pulled the blanket over her before quietly hobbling away.
The next morning, Bai Zhi slept in.
Xiao Yu had already taken over collecting the vegetables.
He had even emptied the bathwater.
Half-awake, Bai Zhi watched him carrying bucket after bucket outside.
A random thought floated through her mind.
What if all this heavy labor stunts his growth?
Would he become the shortest male protagonist in history?
The thought amused her enough that she drifted back to sleep.
Only after another hour did she finally force herself out of bed.
Breakfast was exactly the same as always.
Boiled eggs.
Apparently, aside from boiling eggs and cooking porridge, Xiao Yu knew nothing else about cooking.
After finishing breakfast, Bai Zhi headed for the kitchen.
Today she planned to make mushroom meat sauce.
She also wanted to render lard.
The supplier hadn’t brought much pork fat.
Only three or four jin.
There was, however, a large block of tofu.
She cut the pork fat into chunks and handed the task of rendering it over to Xiao Yu.
Meanwhile, she prepared the meat sauce.
The pork belly accumulated over the past three days was cut into large pieces and blanched.
Afterward, everything was diced into tiny cubes.
The tofu received the same treatment.
The soaked dried mushrooms were chopped finely.
A large bowl of soaked soybeans waited nearby.
Afraid of ruining the recipe, Bai Zhi decided to make it in two separate batches.
She poured a generous amount of rapeseed oil into the wok.
Once hot, she added the diced pork belly.
When enough fat had rendered out, she added Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, scallions, and ginger.
The aroma exploded immediately.
Next came the tofu.
The oil level was high enough that the tofu began frying rather than simply cooking.
When the cubes turned lightly golden, she added fermented soybean paste and soy sauce.
Then the mushrooms and soaked soybeans.
After frying everything together for several more minutes, she added a huge amount of salt.
Enough that a single spoonful of sauce could flavor an entire steamed bun.
As she stirred, the kitchen filled with the rich scent of meat and mushrooms.
Judging from the smell, she’d succeeded.
She dipped a chopstick into the sauce and tasted it.
Perfect.
Salty enough to preserve well.
Pulling several pieces of firewood from beneath the stove, Bai Zhi checked on the lard.
It was nearly finished.
Just a few more minutes.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu had already started sneaking spoonfuls of the glossy mushroom meat sauce.
Bai Zhi washed three ceramic jars.
One large.
Two small.
The large jar and one of the smaller ones had secretly been reinforced.
She had lined the interiors with copper.
The bottoms were nearly three inches thick.
Partly to prevent breakage.
Partly to hide emergency metal supplies.
The lard was finished.
Bai Zhi scooped out the cracklings and instructed Xiao Yu to mince them.
Then she started the second batch of sauce.
By the time the second batch was complete, the lard had cooled enough to handle.
She ladled it carefully into one of the jars.
The meat sauce was divided between the other containers.
Next she mixed some flour with the minced cracklings and fried another twenty flatbreads.
Combined with the breads from previous days, they now had approximately one hundred and fifty.
Each one was slightly larger than a palm.
Packed six to a bundle.
They had used a remarkable amount of oil paper.
Afterward, she started cooking rice.
While it steamed, she and Xiao Yu began packing seasonings.
Salt and sugar were the highest priority.
Two packets of each.
Peppercorns, chili peppers, and star anise were bundled together.
Other seasonings were left behind.
Five jin of millet.
Two jin each of mung beans and soybeans.
Everything went into the same basket Bai Zhi had used before.
The oilcloth lined the bottom.
The grains sat on top.
The jars were wrapped in cloth and placed in the center.
Seasonings and half the flatbreads filled the remaining space.
A third small jar held additional mushroom meat sauce.
An iron wok was inverted over everything.
Inside the wok were three sets of bowls and chopsticks, plus a wooden spoon.
Finally, the entire basket was covered with a woven lid.
Bai Zhi tested the weight.
It was even heavier than before.
Carrying it would be difficult.
The rice finished cooking.
She quickly stir-fried shredded potatoes and scrambled eggs.
The remaining pork knuckle was reheated as well.
The three sat down for dinner.
Then—
Footsteps.
A lot of them.
Running.
Chaotic.
A shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside:
“Imperial Decree!”
“Xiao Zelan and Xiao Yu, receive the decree!”
All three froze.
Xiao Zelan instinctively reached for his crutch.
Bai Zhi immediately stopped him.
“Don’t use it.”
“We’ll support you.”
There was no time for questions.
The three hurried outside.
Xiao Zelan was tall.
Supporting him proved difficult for both Bai Zhi and Xiao Yu.
The moment they stepped out the door, all three collapsed to their knees.
Xiao Zelan couldn’t suppress a cry of pain.
His face twisted visibly.
Even the eunuch delivering the decree looked startled.
Sweat covered Xiao Zelan’s forehead.
Still, he endured the pain and knelt properly.
The contents of the decree were exactly as expected.
Xiao Zelan.
Xiao Yu.
And their families.
Stripped of noble status.
Reduced to commoners.
Exiled to the northern frontier.
Departure: tomorrow.
The official charges included corruption, abuse of authority, and factional activities.
The usual crimes.
Xiao Zelan knelt motionless.
His eyes were red.
He looked as though his soul had left his body.
The young eunuch sighed.
Even he seemed unable to bear the sight.
Seizing the opportunity, Bai Zhi spoke.
“Your Grace.”
“The Fifth Prince’s leg is crippled.”
“How can he possibly walk three thousand li to the north?”
The eunuch remained silent.
Bai Zhi quickly withdrew a money pouch from her sleeve and respectfully offered it.
She bowed deeply.
“We do not ask to be spared exile.”
“We only ask that His Majesty be informed of His Highness’s condition.”
“If possible, grant him a prison cart.”
“Whether His Majesty agrees or not is entirely His decision.”
The eunuch opened the pouch.
One glance.
His expression softened.
The pouch disappeared into his sleeve.
“I can’t guarantee anything.”
Bai Zhi bowed even lower.
“We only ask that you report the truth.”
“The final decision belongs to His Majesty.”
“We would never blame you.”
The eunuch nodded slightly and departed.
The moment he left, Bai Zhi rushed toward Xiao Zelan.
“How are you?”
“Come on.”
“Let’s get you inside.”
Before she could help him up—
Xiao Yu suddenly shoved her.
Hard.
Caught off guard, Bai Zhi fell onto the ground.
“You did that on purpose!”
he shouted.
His voice cracked with emotion.
“Xiao Yu!”
Xiao Zelan coughed.
“Do not… be rude.”
Sitting on the ground, Bai Zhi’s expression turned cold.
“Yes.”
“I did it on purpose.”
“But without a cart, do you think your brother’s leg can survive the journey north?”
Tears burst from Xiao Yu’s eyes.
“It can!”
“I can push him!”
Bai Zhi’s patience finally snapped.
“Use your brain before you speak!”