Early in the morning, Jiang Yan had already packed her belongings.
All of her possessions fit into a single bundle.
Qing Mei knocked on the door and entered. Seeing the bundle on the table, she asked, “All packed?”
Jiang Yan nodded.
Qing Mei said, “The things you instructed have already been sent back to your hometown. If all goes well, they should have received them by now.”
“Thank you, Qing Mei jiejie.”
“No need to be so polite. After all, we’ve spent time together.”
Jiang Yan nodded. “I want to kowtow to guniang.”
Qing Mei smiled and said, “No need for that. Today, guniang will personally see you off.”
“What?” Jiang Yan was shocked and deeply moved. “How could I trouble her so?”
“Shh!” Qing Mei put a finger to Jiang Yan’s lips. “Guniang is leaving the manor discreetly. We must not make a fuss.”
Jiang Yan nodded nervously.
Qing Mei said, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Yan followed Qing Mei out of her room. Standing at the door, she couldn’t help but glance back one last time.
She was reluctant to leave.
The few months she had spent in the governor’s fu had been the most comfortable and fulfilling time of her life. Every day was exhausting, with endless tasks to do, yet she had felt satisfied. Even her height had increased in just a few months, thanks to the good meals provided.
As the door closed, so did this period of stability in her life.
Jiang Yan took a deep breath, her gaze once again firm. “Qing Mei jiejie, please lead the way.”
Qing Mei led Jiang Yan out of Zhilan Yuan through a secluded path to the back gate.
Beyond the back gate was an alleyway. An ox cart was already waiting there.
The carriage door opened, and a person dressed in men’s clothing poked their head out, smiling. “Jiang Yan, come on in.”
“Guniang!” Jiang Yan was startled to see Gu Jiu dressed as a man.
Gu Jiu chuckled and said, “It’s more convenient to go out like this.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes curved with a smile. “Guniang, you look so handsome in this attire! If strangers saw you, they’d think you were some noble langjun and would want to take you home as their son-in-law.”
Gu Jiu smiled, lips pressed together. “Still in the mood for jokes? That’s good. Keep this attitude, and when you reach the capital and enter the palace, you’ll surely make your way up.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes suddenly turned red. She held back her tears and climbed into the cart.
“Thank you, guniang.”
The cart started moving slowly. Driving the cart were Er Zhuang and Li Chuan.
Gu Jiu took out a small pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Yan. “No need for formalities. Take this; I hope it will help you.”
Jiang Yan hesitated, then opened the pouch to find silver notes inside—some worth one tael, some five, and the largest ten. Altogether, they totalled one hundred taels.
Jiang Yan panicked and tried to return the pouch. “This is too much; nubi cannot accept it.”
Gu Jiu placed the pouch back in Jiang Yan’s hands and spoke sternly, “From today onward, you are no longer my maid, and you do not need to call yourself nubi. This amount may seem like a lot, but when the time comes, you may find it barely enough. I only hope this money will help you reach the capital safely and enter the palace smoothly. This is my last aid to you.”
“How could nubi take your money, guniang?” Jiang Yan shook her head repeatedly, refusing to accept it.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Take it as a loan. If we meet again someday and you have the means, you can repay me then.”
“This…” Jiang Yan hesitated.
Gu Jiu decisively placed the pouch in her hands and wrapped her fingers tightly around it.
Jiang Yan solemnly declared, “Nubi will make sure to return this money.”
Gu Jiu simply smiled without answering.
She then took out two books and handed them to Jiang Yan. “Read these when you have time. You are intelligent, and the knowledge inside will be of use to you.”
“Thank you, guniang.” Jiang Yan knelt and kowtowed deeply.
Gu Jiu quickly lifted her up. “Don’t bruise your forehead; you’ll ruin your looks.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes were moist, but she smiled. “I will listen to guniang.”
After an unknown length of time, the cart came to a halt. From outside, Li Chuan called, “Young lady, we’ve arrived!”
Gu Jiu lifted the curtain and looked outside. They had arrived at Jinlai Tavern, the place Pei Yun had mentioned.
Jiang Yan took a deep breath and jumped off the cart. Standing outside, she looked at Gu Jiu inside the carriage, reluctant to part.
In the end, she simply said, “Nubi will miss guniang.”
Gu Jiu waved her hand. “Go and build yourself a bright future.”
Jiang Yan nodded firmly, turned around, and entered the tavern without looking back. She handed over her household registration token, and the waiter led her inside.
The tavernkeeper stood behind the counter and cast a glance at the cart outside.
Gu Jiu nodded slightly at him. The tavern keeper responded with a faint nod.
Gu Jiu smiled.
Soon, Li Chuan returned.
He reported to Gu Jiu, “Xiaode personally watched as Jiang Yan entered the inner courtyard. There were over ten beautiful women inside, all learning etiquette from an old mama. Xiaode also heard that in two days, this group of beauties will depart for the capital.”
Gu Jiu listened and simply said, “Let’s go.”
She had given Jiang Yan an opportunity. Whether she could make something of herself depended on her own fate.
The tavern was in the Eastern Market, but Gu Jiu wanted to visit the Western Market.
The Western Market was bustling with street vendors. Gu Jiu got off the cart and strolled through the lively streets.
Qing Mei followed nervously. “Guniang, we should leave. It’s too crowded here. What if we get separated or run into trouble?”
Gu Jiu smiled. “It’s fine.”
It was a rare chance to go out, and she didn’t want to return empty-handed. She wasn’t interested in trinkets.
Instead, she wandered around, observing how people conducted business, her mind filled with thoughts.
She needed money—lots of it. Making money wasn’t difficult, but given her circumstances, her options were limited.
Suddenly, Gu Jiu stopped. She was looking at a nomadic trader sitting by the roadside. In front of him was a pile of dirty, unkempt wool. Gu Jiu watched for a while—no one was interested in buying it.
“What is guniang looking at?”
“Have you heard the phrase ‘sheep devour people’?” Gu Jiu smiled, her eyes gleaming as if she had discovered a treasure.
Qing Mei was puzzled. “How can sheep eat people?”
Gu Jiu asked, “Have you ever worn clothing made from wool?”
Qing Mei shook her head. “Nubi has heard that in the west, they use wool to weave carpets. They’re said to be very beautiful.”
Gu Jiu chuckled. “Wool isn’t just for carpets. Come on, let’s go find Gui mama.”
Just as Gu Jiu was about to leave, something landed on her head. She reached up and found a peanut.
A peanut?
Gu Jiu’s lips twitched. Who was this person, deserving a thousand knife cuts, daring to throw a peanut at her?
She looked up and saw a familiar face—Liu gongzi.
Liu gongzi waved at her nonchalantly, as if beckoning her to come upstairs. As for the peanut, he seemed to have already forgotten about it.
Gu Jiu frowned. Why did she keep running into Liu gongzi everywhere she went?
She sincerely wanted to stay far away from imperial relatives—they were troublesome and dangerous.
Just then, Zhao San, a bodyguard from the tea house, stepped out and bowed. “Gu guniang, what a coincidence. My gongzi invites you upstairs for tea.”
Gu Jiu looked up again. Liu Gongzi’s handsome face had disappeared.
After a moment of thought, she nodded. “Lead the way, Guard Zhao.”
Zhao San led Gu Jiu upstairs. Inside a private room, Liu Zhao sat calmly, motioning for her to take a seat.
Just as Gu Jiu was about to speak, chaos suddenly erupted in the street.
The governor’s men had surrounded a rice shop. Ma shiye led the yamen officers to surround a rice shop.
Standing on the steps with a cold expression, Ma shiye shouted loudly, “Arrest everyone inside the shop—don’t let a single one escape! As for the bystanders, clear out immediately!”
But clearing out was impossible. A rare spectacle was unfolding, and the crowd only grew denser, sealing off every inch of space.
Everyone was curious. Why were the officials arresting the people in the rice shop?
Gu Jiu was curious as well. She hadn’t heard of any major cases recently.
Suddenly, Liu Zhao’s cold voice rang in her ear. “The shopkeeper of that rice store across the street is a spy planted in Jinzhou by Xie daren of the East Palace.”
Gu Jiu was startled. She turned around and stared at Liu Zhao.
His face was expressionless as he continued, “For the past twenty days or so, Jinzhou has been particularly lively. If I remember correctly, this should be the third time Ma shiye has personally led an arrest. And each time, he has only arrested spies placed in Jinzhou by the East Palace’s Xie daren.
“Gu daren’s actions are rather intriguing. Gu guniang, has anything unusual happened in your fu recently?”
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, calming the tension in her heart. Maintaining a composed expression, she replied, “Everything in the fu is fine.”
Liu Zhao suddenly let out a laugh, as if he had just heard an amusing joke. After laughing, he personally poured tea and placed a teacup in front of Gu Jiu.
It was only then that Gu Jiu noticed—Liu gongzi’s hands were remarkably beautiful. Well-proportioned, with long, slender fingers, yet full of strength.
“Gu guniang, have some tea.”
Gu Jiu reached out and picked up the teacup. Unexpectedly, their fingertips brushed against each other.
Liu gongzi’s hands were completely different from others—warm and reassuring. In medical terms, this was a sign of strong vitality and good circulation.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiu’s hands were ice-cold, as if trapped in winter—clearly a sign of poor circulation.
Thanks DirtySciFiBuddha, Rick Mallery, Sholat, Hazel, crusoe284 for the support — keep reading!
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