Chapter 42 Yunjiang City and Bai Yu...

Unlike Shengjing, Yunjiang is favored by the snow and winds of the north year-round.

Even as September approaches, the heat in Yunjiang remains intense.

The surrounding mountains not only blocked the moisture from the south but also kept out the cool breeze from the north.

This weather is absolutely awful!

Ragged and starving for three days, Xingyun irritably kicked away a pebble at his feet, turned his back to the crowd, and secretly wiped away his sweat.

More than three days have passed since he reunited with Third Sister and her group.

This journey was of great importance, and the group dared not make a sound. Moreover, due to the chaos in the Yunjiang region, most of the official roads leading there had been deliberately blocked...

To avoid trouble, they only brought two of San Niang's trusted confidants. The four of them disguised themselves as refugees and intended to cross the mountain to reach Yunjiang City.

But who knew this crappy place would be so hot!

Xingyun took a deep breath and began to silently recite Buddhist scriptures.

For the first time, he genuinely admitted that the things Xingzhou, this taciturn fellow, did indeed have some effect.

"Third Sister, this young man from the north is so delicate, are you sure he won't be a burden to us?"

Halfway up the mountain, not far away, Third Sister was breaking a large flatbread into four roughly equal pieces.

Two thin, short men sat in front of her.

One of them remained silent, while the other was noisy.

It does resemble a replica of the flowing clouds and sailing boat.

She glanced casually at the stone that had been kicked away, tossed a piece of cake to her subordinate, and said, her expression unreadable, "Aze, stop it for him."

Silently, A-Ze obediently stuffed the cake into his companion's mouth.

She got up and walked towards Xingyun. Third Sister offered her a cake: "Want some?"

It was simple and clear, with a questioning yet undeniable tone.

Xingyun took the cake as if it were a common occurrence. He stared at San Niang for a moment, then looked away. "You've changed a lot."

Third Sister smiled and stood beside him. "I haven't yet thanked you, young master, for sending us all away from the capital back then."

Xingyun shook his head, "That's not my skill. You should thank my two masters."

“Indeed.” Third Sister didn’t refute, but simply changed the subject, “Have you ever seen hell, young master?”

Yunjiang is rich in natural resources, and its vegetation is also tall and lush.

Just as light cannot penetrate the branches and leaves, the town is usually invisible from the mountainside.

“Look, hell is right there in front of us…” Third Sister said, munching on a biscuit, her eyes fixed intently on the small town below the mountain that looked like an insect. “If it weren’t for our master back then, our family’s situation would probably be no better than this.”

The eloquent Xingyun rarely takes a serious tone: "In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass; in prosperous times, is there any difference?"

Third Sister came to her senses and chuckled, "Why so pessimistic? Does Master know?"

Looking at the pancake in his hand, Xingyun knew from his imagination that it would be dry and choking. He frowned in disgust, but still put the pancake away. "Choking."

"If you choke to death, I'll collect your body," Third Sister said, pointing to the only tattered mat the group had. "Just wrap it up and kick it off the cliff, like a pebble. No one will know."

Indirect and roundabout way of insulting people... it really is true that subordinates are raised by their upbringing...

Xingyun shrugged, picked up some sand and dust from the ground to make himself even dirtier: "Real refugees don't have that much endurance."

Third Sister suddenly stopped in her act of eating the pancake.

She looked up at the dark circles under Xingyun's eyes, glanced at his slightly yellowish complexion, and then looked at her two subordinates.

Suddenly he shouted, "Stop eating!"

The wheat cake was hard to swallow, and A-Zhao, who had initially complained that Xingyun was a delicate young man, was the first to choke.

He coughed twice, and before he could ask why, the remaining two-thirds of the pancake in his hand was snatched away by Aze.

"you……"

Ah Zhao was furious. For three days in a row, he was only allowed to eat a quarter of a pancake each day. Now, Ah Ze wouldn't even let him eat a quarter.

A spark of frustration ignited in Ah Zhao's eyes. Ah Ze put away the pancake and habitually slapped Ah Zhao's gaze away. "A refugee should act like a refugee."

Ah Zhao stared at the cakes Ah Ze had put away, then glanced at San Niang and Xing Yun.

It seems that apart from him and Third Sister, the other two are ruthless people who can go three days without eating or drinking...

His arrogance deflated, and he reluctantly turned his gaze back. His worn-out straw sandals rubbed against the sand, and dried blood stained his exposed fingertips. "I need to have a good meal when I get back."

Helpless, San Niang caught a glimpse of Xingyun's smirk, snorted coldly, and gritted her teeth, "Hmm... You can choose any restaurant you like, this young master will pay."

After resting, we continued our journey.

The soles of the straw sandals on his feet were worn away again, and the sand and gravel burrowed in, bringing out drops of bright red blood.

— Drops, like sweet rain, fall into the parched soil and disappear.

Fortunately, we'll be there soon.

The town's outline became clearer in their view, and the four of them felt increasingly unsteady on their feet.

The mountain paths converge into the main road, and as the edge of the city gate appears before you, the bones of those who died unjustly also come into view.

One body, one body stacked on top of another...

Countless piles lay beneath the withered trees.

Did they... die while fighting for the right to gnaw on tree bark?

Third Sister seemed to look away, but Xingyun, walking behind her, unintentionally kicked a pebble that landed at her feet... dust rose slightly.

Yes... it's not time yet, she still has to endure... she has to endure until she enters the city, until this matter is settled... she has to endure until Baojie grows up, until the truth is revealed.

*

"Why is there disaster everywhere?"

"If you ask me... it's clearly a case of ulterior motives..."

In Fanghua Courtyard, Yaoguang and Yuheng accompanied Wen Lingzheng as they sat on the veranda embroidering.

Wen Lingzheng's needlework skills were mediocre from a young age. It would take her a week to embroider a simple lotus flower and seedpod handkerchief, and Yao Guang would help her with most of it.

Her pale fingertips skillfully twisted the silk thread, then mixed in half a split thread. Yao Guang glared at Yu Heng, "You're talking more and more nonsense. Just focus on splitting your silver thread."

The sudden visit of Pei Ying and his grandson was too strange, especially since they came from the south...

"Have you found out anything about what I asked you to do?" Perhaps because she had been looking down for a long time, her shoulders were a little sore. Wen Lingzheng put down the half-finished embroidery pattern and looked up at Yuheng.

I got interested.

Yuheng stuffed the half-split silver thread into Yaoguang's hand, "Of course, when it comes to gathering information, I'm first-rate! Even Xingyun can't compare to me!"

Yes, Yuheng is lively and cheerful, and can quickly become friends with most people. The nannies and servants in charge of various departments in the Wen family all like her very much and are willing to tell her all kinds of gossip.

Helplessly straightening her silver hair, Yao Guang stretched out her foot and lightly kicked her sister, "Stop keeping me in suspense, tell me quickly."

“Our late grandfather was from Lin’an. According to the old nanny in the mansion, he had few children and no sisters from the same parents.”

"In the old master's father's generation, there were two brothers. However, the family was poor. The eldest son, who is our old master, joined the army when he grew up, while the younger son married into a family in the southwest."

"Married into the family?" Yao Guang was taken aback. "Why does Miss Ying have the surname Pei?"

Yuheng was interrupted, but he wasn't annoyed. He just laughed and said, "How many heartless men are there in Shengjing? Aren't there plenty who, once they gain power, eat up the family fortunes of their wives?"

Yuheng's words are quite right.

—Eating off the descendants of the deceased? Look closer, aren't those heartless bastards in the Qi family the prime examples?

Wen Lingzheng snapped out of her reverie and caught the most crucial point in Yuheng's words, "The Southwest again?"

Yuheng nodded, but then seemed a little puzzled. "It's in the southwest, but that city isn't near Yunjiang!"

Southwest was a general term used by the people of Shengjing to refer to remote and uncivilized border cities.

That was the innate sense of superiority unique to the people of Shengjing.

"Which city?" Wen Lingzheng asked.

“White Jade City,” Yuheng replied.

White Jade City?

Wen Lingzheng carefully recalled the map of the Southwest Sands that she had looked at with Pei Lin a few days ago.

The southwest is mostly mountainous with few plains. Yunjiang City is located at the source of the river and close to Daxia, while Baiyu City is more inland.

These two cities are separated by a mountain. If you want to travel back and forth, you have to take a detour through the nearby Wushan City, which takes at least three to five days even on horseback.

On the surface, these two cities really shouldn't have any connection at all...

But—it's just inexplicably strange…

While Wen Lingzheng was still in a daze, Pei Lin had already finished his official business and returned from outside.

Yao Guang and Yu Heng, being very perceptive, put down their things and quietly left.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

Pei Lin suddenly spoke, and Wen Lingzheng's thoughts snapped back to reality.

Turning around, her gaze fell on his hands, which he had deliberately hidden behind his back. "What are you hiding?"

The surprise he had prepared was immediately exposed by the person he intended to give it to, and Pei Lin's body stiffened for a moment. "I thought you were daydreaming and that I could fool you!"

The rabbit-shaped lanterns are adorable, and the fluorescent lights inside are not the usual candles.

Are they fireflies?

Taking the lantern, Wen Lingzheng examined it closely, a gentle smile on her face. "Mid-Autumn Festival is over, why are you still giving me a lantern?"

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival coincided with the imperial selection and a disaster, so the officials had no interest in celebrating. Naturally, the common people followed the emperor's wishes and simplified everything.

Pei Lin was kept in the palace by the Emperor every day for those few days, and Wen Lingzheng was also busy looking at the account books. She only instructed Yao Guang to remember to send gifts to each family, and the festival passed by in a daze.

She only remembered it when she saw the rabbit lantern.

Pei Lin: "Who says lanterns can only be given during the Mid-Autumn Festival! If you want one, I can give you one every day."

The wealthy and powerful Young Master Pei was met with a light snort from Wen Lingzheng. "Your salary and rewards all belong to me. You are not allowed to squander the money in my manor!"

Pei Lin sat down opposite Wen Lingzheng, his gaze falling on the half-finished embroidery she was working on.

Wen Lingzheng quickly snatched the item back from his sight, "It's not finished yet! Don't look!"

Even after a month of marriage, they still tirelessly prepare surprises for each other, no matter how busy they are.

Even so, this surprise is often discovered by the recipient before it is even given.

Suppressing a laugh, Pei Lin offered a reluctant compliment, "You've improved; at least you don't look like a duck anymore."

"What duck!"

Wen Lingzheng angrily hid the embroidery.

—What duck! That's clearly a wild goose! A wild goose! ...Although the embroidery does resemble a wild goose that can't fly...

“Since you don’t like it, then I’ll send the boat away.” Wen Lingzheng examined her goose, which looked like it had a broken wing, and glared at Pei Lin.

Pei Lin panicked and blurted out, "Xing Zhou is a bachelor, why would he need a handkerchief!"

"So, do you want it or not?" Wen Lingzheng was always good at seizing opportunities and even better at manipulating Pei Lin.

And Pei Lin, indeed, was very easy to hook, exclaiming, "Yes! Of course I want it!"

"Wear it on your body every day?"

"I wear it on my body every day!"

Pei Lin has one redeeming quality: he is arrogant yet honest, especially when he is dealing with Wen Lingzheng.

"I'll reluctantly believe you," Wen Lingzheng said, feigning innocence after getting the benefit. After arranging the rabbit lantern and the wild goose embroidery, she sat back down next to Pei Lin to discuss serious matters.

Did you know that Yingmei and her family are visiting?

"I heard about it from Granny Chang, but it's getting late and I don't want to bother you. We can meet again at breakfast tomorrow."

Do you know where Ying's family lives?

Before Pei Lin could answer, Wen Lingzheng continued, "Baiyu City, southwest—Baiyu City."

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Author's Note: Due to an error when switching computers, the outline was lost, leaving me feeling helpless and frustrated. I attempted to rewrite the outline, but the speed was simply unsatisfactory. This story will continue to be updated, and all subsequent chapters will appear as side stories. Readers who have purchased the book can leave a comment in the comment section, and I will send out red envelopes as compensation. I am very sorry! [Gold Ingot]