Chapter 58: When you are out, you give yourself face

Lu Yu, under Wang's orders, was to settle accounts at the shop in the Duke's Mansion, and she took the idle Song Lingyi with her. Having been in Kyoto for so long and yet to properly explore, Song Lingyi took Hongju and Yunyao out.

Today the sky is clear and the air is bright. Peddlers driving mules and riding horses are coming in an endless stream, making the place bustling and prosperous.

The girl in yellow clothes leaned against the car window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and kept looking out. It must be a habit she developed in a previous life. She always sat in the window seat, put on her headphones, listened to music, and took in the scenery outside the window. Only then would she feel less lonely.

Although we don't have the electronic conditions now, our habits have not changed. Fortunately, the people in Dayuan do not restrict women from showing their faces in public, otherwise my aunt would not have asked my cousin to go to the shop to settle the accounts. This is called getting familiar with the business in advance so that she can manage her husband's family's finances in the future.

"What are you looking at outside, cousin?" Lu Yu asked.

Song Lingyi turned her head back from the car window and said with a smile, "Looking at the street view. Except for the first day in Kyoto, I haven't really walked around."

Since she came to Dayuan, she has seen many cities, but she has never felt as relaxed as she does today.

"Then I'll go shopping with my cousin today."

"Aren't you going to the shop to settle the bill? Business is more important. You don't have to accompany me. With Hongju Yunyao here, I won't get lost."

After saying that, she continued to lean out the window.

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped outside the shop. More than ten shop assistants gathered at the door. When they saw the two girls from the owner's family get out of the carriage, they saluted respectfully and enthusiastically, just like a modern street opening ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Lu Yu, who usually laughs and jokes, now has a serious attitude and imitates Wang's dignity in a serious manner. After a few simple greetings, she is led to the back by the steward to settle the accounts.

Song Lingyi sat in the shop for a while, but couldn't sit still, so she led the two maids to the street. When they came across a bookstore on the way, she thought of picking out some storybooks to share with Lu Yu.

After walking in and taking a look around, she found that the bookstore was different from what she had imagined. It only sold genuine classics and calligraphy and paintings, with no flashy book covers at all. The people who came and went in the bookstore were all scholars and literati. When they saw a woman coming in to choose books, their eyes frequently fell on her.

Just as Song Lingyi was about to leave quietly, the bookstore owner suddenly smiled and took a few steps toward the door. The literati and scholars also followed her to the door and greeted her warmly.

"Pei Erlang, long time no see."

A familiar voice sounded behind him: "Everyone, are you all well?"

Song Lingyi's eyes moved slightly, as if to confirm that this chance encounter was not an illusion. She slowly turned her head and saw a tall moon-white figure coming into view.

The young man who had not been seen for several days was wearing a moon-white round-necked robe with a crane pattern, a white jade belt around his waist, a face as handsome as jade, and a gentle smile in his eyes. When his eyes fell on the girl, he was stunned for a moment, and then he returned to smiling lightly.

"Miss Song is here too, what a coincidence."

Song Lingyi: “…”

Seeing her daughter in a daze, Hongqi coughed twice and replied for her: "My daughter is studious. She passed by the bookstore and came in to pick out some books."

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhao glanced at Song Lingyi, who was empty-handed, and said in a soft voice, "I see. Wenxuan Bookstore not only has these classics, calligraphy, and paintings on its shelves, but also a large collection of books. I wonder what Miss Song would like to read. I can recommend a few."

The bookstore owner and the surrounding scholars all looked at Song Lingyi, wondering who this girl was. Not only could the second son of the Pei family greet her actively, but she also recommended books so considerately.

Song Lingyi's face flushed when everyone was staring at her. She didn't have the talent for books, calligraphy and paintings. She came in just to pick out some novels to pass the time.

She choked for a moment, and after two breaths of silence, she said, "Uh... I wanted to look at the poetry collection."

A hint of surprise flashed across Pei Zhao's eyes. "I wonder which poet Miss Song likes?"

"...quite a lot. Mr. Pei, which poet or poetry collection do you like? Can you recommend it to me?" Song Lingyi forced herself to remain calm, secretly admiring her own ability to respond.

Pei Zhao had no doubts and picked out a few poetry collections covering his professional field. He talked about them non-stop. Although Song Lingyi didn't understand, she would respond appropriately.

When outsiders saw him, they all showed admiration on their faces.

The second son of the Pei family is a talented scholar famous in Kyoto. This girl has a beautiful figure and is an angel. I don’t know which noble family she is from, but she can discuss poetry and songs with him. She is truly beautiful and intelligent.

A quarter of an hour later, Song Lingyi said goodbye to Pei Zhao and walked out of the bookstore.

Hongju and Yunyao followed on both sides, and the three of them had their arms full of books piled half their arms high.

As the saying goes: When you are out, you have to give yourself face.

It's not good to show off your knowledge in front of scholars and talented people, but it's okay to buy some books to save face.

The streets were bustling with people. The three of them were carrying a pile of books, so it was inconvenient for them to continue shopping. Song Lingyi decided to go back to the shop first, put down the books, and then continue shopping.

After walking a few steps, I suddenly heard a loud noise coming from the front, and pedestrians retreated to both sides of the street.

Song Lingyi didn't understand the situation yet, so she was protected by two maids and retreated to the side of the street.

In an instant, the noise approached, and dozens of pairs of iron hooves trampled through the long street. The hoofbeats sounded like the death warrant of the King of Hell, and pedestrians hurried to make way to avoid the sharp edge. Several people nearby whispered:

"It seems that the Pacification Bureau is handling the case."

"Who is in the carriage then?"

"Who knows? I heard the court is investigating a corruption case recently, and many officials have been dismissed. This direction is probably to the residence of a certain official."

Hearing the name of the Pacification Division, Song Lingyi's eyes lit up, and eight words immediately flashed through her mind: Imperial authority, execute first and report later. She had never thought that the Dayuan Dynasty also had a Pacification Division. How cool!

Several tall horses galloped past her, raising a cloud of dust. The wind blew up the curtains of the carriage. Song Lingyi glanced inside inadvertently, and in the hazy light and shadow, she saw a profile that looked very similar to Shen Wuhui.

“…”What?

It must be an illusion.

How could a bandit leader possibly ride in the Pacification Office's carriage? It would be more likely that he would ride in a prison van.

As soon as the iron hoof of the Pacification Office passed, the streets became bustling again and pedestrians filled the center of the street again.

"girl?"

Hongju called softly, pulling Song Lingyi back to her senses, "What's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing. Let's go back to the shop." Song Lingyi smiled and led the two maids to the shop, which happened to be the direction of the Pacification Office.

Lu Yu was still settling accounts at the moment, and she almost dropped her jaw when she saw her bringing back so many books.

"Cousin, why did you buy so many books?" Lu Yu flipped through a few of them. "They're all poetry collections. Are you going to participate in a poetry reading?"

"I just bought it casually to cultivate my sentiments." Song Lingyi said without blushing or beating her heart.

At this time, the shop owner brought a cup of hot tea and said casually, "What a grand occasion today! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has personally visited the Minister of Revenue's residence, saying he's investigating a corruption case."