It was already late at night when we arrived in Baishi Town.

Wang Xiaoqiang knocked on his door, and soon two short, small children peeked out from the crack in the door.

"elder brother!"

Upon seeing that the visitor was their older brother, Wang Xiaoqiang's younger siblings happily opened the door and ran out, rushing towards Wang Xiaoqiang.

The pain aggravated Wang Xiaoqiang's wound, causing him to gasp, but he couldn't bear to push his younger siblings away.

Shen Yuan glanced at the dilapidated thatched hut, then at the seven-year-old brother and five-year-old sister gathered around Wang Xiaoqiang.

The two children were very thin, practically skin and bones. Their large heads and long, thin bodies made them look somewhat comical, a result of long-term malnutrition.

No wonder Wang Xiaoqiang risked being beaten to death rather than hand over his savings; that was enough to feed his younger siblings!

"The house is a bit run-down, please don't mind."

Wang Xiaoqiang stood by the door, awkwardly tugged at his sleeve, and invited Shen Yuan and Xiao Ling inside.

Shen Yuan didn't mind, as long as there was a place to rest.

After a long journey, several of Wang Xiaoqiang's scabbed wounds broke open again, and blood kept seeping out.

Shen Yuan reapplied the medicine to Wang Xiaoqiang.

Upon seeing the injuries on Wang Xiaoqiang's body, his younger siblings cried incessantly.

"Brother, please don't go to work in the city anymore, okay? My sister and I can eat less then!"

"Okay, Xiaoyao can eat a little less. From now on, she can only eat one cornbread a day! No, one cornbread can be divided into two days' worth! I just want my big brother to stay at home!"

He didn't cry when the jailers beat him until he was covered in bruises, and he didn't cry when all his money was stolen. But now, seeing the tears on his younger siblings' faces, Wang Xiaoqiang could no longer hold back the bitterness and grievances he had been holding back, and they surged forth from his eyes.

Shen Yuan stood to the side, suddenly feeling a little uneasy.

She remained silent for a long time. Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang wipe away his tears and force a smile to comfort his younger brother and sister-in-law, she finally spoke up and asked, "Does your family have any land? Staying in the village to grow some crops might be better than working in Jizhou City."

"We do have a small plot of land, but the wheat we grow there can only yield three to five hundred catties of flour a year. Half of it is paid as land tax, and the remaining half is not enough for the three of us siblings to eat."

"The Great Yan Kingdom only collects 20% of the land tax, why are you demanding 50%?" Shen Yuan frowned slightly. "Could it be that Jizhou is not part of the Great Yan Kingdom's territory?"

Wang Xiaoqiang gave a wry smile: "In Jizhou, 20% is called land tax, and the remaining 30% is called voluntary donation. It is donated by the people of Jizhou to the city lord so that the city lord can use it to build up Jizhou."

With such heavy taxes, it's no wonder Wang Xiaoqiang didn't stay in the village to farm, but instead went to the city to work.

In Jizhou, farming requires paying 50% tax, and doing business also requires paying 50% tax. Ordinary people can only support themselves by working!

Wang Xiaoqiang lowered his head. "People like us can't do anything. The only thing we can hope for is that Jizhou will change hands soon."

Wang Xiaoqiang's voice was weak and sounded light, yet it struck Chen Yuan's heart like a still lake, creating ripples.

She used to think she was the most miserable person in the world. She hated the injustice of fate and those who were high and mighty.

But now she realizes that she is not the only one who drowned in the tranquil lake in winter.

She should fight against more than just Chu Yuning and Xiao Yunyan.

The next morning, Shen Yuan left Wang Xiaoqiang ten taels of silver and enough medicine for half a month before leaving Wang Xiaoqiang's house.

Ten taels of silver is nothing to her now, but it can save the lives of Wang Xiaoqiang and his two siblings. As long as they stay in the village and are frugal, they can survive for a year or two.

Once Wang Xiaoqiang recovers from his injuries, he will naturally find other ways to support his younger siblings.

The carriage traveled for seven days, finally leaving the territory of Ji Province.

Originally, they traveled day and night as before, and it would take less than five days to leave the territory of Jizhou. However, Shen Yuan suddenly did not want to travel in such a hurry.

Because she suddenly changed her plans.

This day was February 12th.

Xiao Ling drove the carriage to a village very close to the capital. The villagers were simple and honest, and they did not like to wear gold and silver or enjoy luxury. Instead, they were keen on seeking immortality and asking questions, and went to the Qingyun Temple outside the town to burn incense.

Passing by Qingyun Temple, Xiao Ling stopped his carriage.

"I need to go up the mountain."

"It's still a day's journey from here to the capital."

Be careful in everything you do.

Shen Yuan took the reins from Xiao Ling and they parted ways at Qingyun Mountain, a decision they had discussed two days prior.

Shen Yuan said, "These two bottles of medicine are a cooling powder that I figured out on the way. Taking it can relieve the heat in the heart and the symptoms of heatstroke. Take them to the temple as a token of my gratitude."

Xiao Ling said that the ointment he used last time was developed by the Taoist priests of Qingyun Temple.

Shen Yuan was very interested in their medicine-making skills, but she was exhausted from her journey and had limited time, so it wasn't suitable for her to go into the mountains to visit and learn. Therefore, she thought of asking Xiao Ling to deliver the medicine she had made to Master Fuyun.

Xiao Ling took the medicine bottle, agreed on a meeting time with Shen Yuan, jumped off the carriage, and went up the mountain.

Shen Yuan stared at Xiao Ling's back for a while, then rode alone towards the capital city.

It was already the second day since they arrived in the capital.

Shen Yuan led her horse and handed her household registration documents to the soldiers guarding the pass for inspection.

The capital city, located right under the emperor's nose, was heavily guarded, so the checks were conducted very thoroughly.

People entering the city who carried too many iron weapons such as long knives and swords would have them confiscated.

Shen Yuan took out all the items from the carriage. Xiao Ling had taken the long sword with him when he went up the mountain, so the only ironware in her carriage was two kitchen knives.

The kitchen knife will naturally not be confiscated.

After the inspection, it was already evening when they entered the city. Shen Yuan first found an inn to stay in.

Prices in the capital were outrageously high. Even the worst room cost ten taels of silver a night, and it was so small that there was only one bed and no place to take a bath.

Shen Yuan paid for three days' accommodation and booked the cheapest room.

After resting for a night, Shen Yuan went to the money exchange to exchange some silver for her expenses over the next few days.

Then Shen Yuan went to the examination hall.

At this time, the candidates in the examination hall were already taking the third exam.

Shen Yuan was delayed for too long on the road and was unable to reach the city before the first exam to stop Chu Yuning, who wanted to take the exam.

Fortunately, Shen Yuan had anticipated this outcome before setting off.

Shen Yuan only stayed in the pavilion opposite the examination hall for a short while before leaving.

Although it was already February, Kyoto was still bitterly cold, and the sky was overcast, threatening snow. So Shen Yuan returned to the inn.

She had just returned to the inn when a blanket of white snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

There was a heated kang bed under the bed in the inn, making the room warm and cozy.

Shen Yuan brought a basin of hot water, washed herself, and lay down on the bed. She looked at the snowflakes fluttering outside the window, but suddenly recalled the scene of her previous life in the capital.