Xie Yuancheng actually started saying sweet nothings: "Then you'll get tired too. A young lady should enjoy herself. Let me suffer and work hard so that you can have a life of luxury and peace."

"You've moved me to tears. How could I ever leave you?" I turned around and hugged Xie Yuancheng's waist tightly. He always knows how to talk; he always manages to make me fall for him.

"If you really change your mind, I'll lock you in a dark room and see if you still have any wild thoughts."

"Hmph~ Who was it that called me vain last time?"

"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng leaned right in. I wanted to pull him away, but I couldn't bear to.

Soon we arrived in the town, which was indeed very dilapidated and sparsely populated.

Standing outside the inn, I saw that it wasn't even as nice as the place where the servants in our manor stayed, yet it was said to be the most luxurious inn in town.

"Ying'er, let's go inside."

"Yuancheng~ Are you really going to stay here?"

"Yes, this inn is already considered very good."

Xie Yuancheng pulled me inside. There were already some people staying there, all engaged in lively conversation. This dilapidated inn actually had two floors; the owner must have some ulterior motives.

We climbed up the bamboo ladder. Although it was made of bamboo, the sides were carved with patterns from wood, so it was quite pretty.

As soon as I sat down, I noticed some people below looking up. I realized it was because Xie Yuancheng's hand was still clasped with mine. People from small towns probably think that's inappropriate. Seeing that Xie Yuancheng didn't intend to let go, I pulled my hand away.

He had just let go of Xie Yuancheng when he shook hands with him again. Even the waiter looked over, but he was still able to order the dishes in a serious manner and also ordered a pot of wine.

"Yuancheng, let go!"

I'm so embarrassed. We're dressed as men now, but I should have worn women's clothes when we went out. But women's clothes are thin and soft, and they chafe my legs when I mount a horse.

I can avoid getting chafed even in men's clothing, so women's clothing would probably be ruined. Pants aren't common here yet; the clothes I'm wearing were designed by Xie Yuancheng and made by a tailor.

So the pants were very tight, and even the clothes fit better than before.

"Ying'er, we're already married, don't look around like that."

I kept my head down on the table, but Xie Yuancheng said that after we got married, fewer people came to look at us. The people of Da Zhao were very open-minded; a man could have three wives and four concubines, and even male concubines.

The coolest thing is that if a man is truly head over heels in love with another man, he can still marry him as a male wife.

The inn started to liven up. It looked shabby from the outside, but the inside was alright, and the food was quite delicious. Maybe it was because we had been traveling for several days that we found it so appealing.

Xie Yuancheng is thick-skinned. Since we've been together for so long, I've also become bolder and started talking to him like an ordinary couple.

I was enjoying my meal when I discovered that the inn had a signature dish that I thought was delicious, and I even considered packing some to take home before I left.

Suddenly, I heard singing coming from below. I peeked over and saw that it was a couple. They were dressed simply, but clean and tidy, without any patches.

The woman's singing was really beautiful, her voice was like a nightingale singing. Just as I was about to listen carefully, Xie Yuancheng pulled me over.

"Ying'er, they're a couple. What are you looking at? You should look at me more!"

"I'm just listening to music, please let me hear it." It's been so long since I've heard such a beautiful voice. I've been dreaming about Yu'er a lot lately, I wonder if it's because my dear son misses me.

"No!" Xie Yuancheng was domineering; when he said he wouldn't give it to me, he really wouldn't let me hear it and even covered my ears.

"Waaah~ The Marquis is bullying me~"

"I'm just taking advantage of you. Don't you know you're dressed as a man? We can't be too conspicuous now. If you attract any bad suitors, I'll be so pitiful."

I had no choice but to obediently lean against him and serve him food. I wondered who he had learned to play the victim from.

"Are you any happier?" I poured him several more glasses of wine, and Xie Yuancheng became happier and happier as he ate.

"Not bad, it would be even better if Ying'er leaned against me again."

Although this is a small private room, it's completely open. Doesn't he know how to behave himself?

"Ah!" I was about to pour him a drink when I heard a gasp from below.

"I won't let you see!" Xie Yuancheng blocked my face, preventing me from turning my head; I could only hear his voice.

"This young lady is quite pretty. Make me happy, and I'll guarantee you'll be rich and powerful, haha!"

“Sir, my wife is already married. How can she go with you? If she married you, she would be torn in two when she goes to the King of Hell.”

"Pah! Who would want to marry you? You're a poor old woman. If it weren't for your nice voice, and the fact that I wanted to have some fun, I wouldn't even look at you. You have no self-awareness at all."

"Sir, I perform, I do not sell my body."

"Not for sale? Today, with so many people here, let's show everyone what a great voice you have, and see if your body is attractive too!"

The man's words became increasingly vulgar. I hid in Xie Yuancheng's arms, feeling genuinely sorry for the girl. Wasn't the man next to her her husband? Why wasn't he helping her?

“Ying’er is scared now.” Xie Yuancheng and I were both dressed in light clothes with the sleeves tied with thin ropes, so we didn’t have wide sleeves. I had nothing to cover myself, so he became even more arrogant.

"It's lowbrow, I get annoyed just listening to it." My voice wasn't loud, only Xie Yuancheng could hear it.

The commotion continued below, with many people joining in the teasing. I quieted down when I heard the woman's exclamation.

"Grandma, please spare me! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness. Please don't hold it against me."

That's the voice of that arrogant man from before. Why is he begging for mercy now? I stared wide-eyed at Xie Yuancheng, but he remained unmoved. It definitely wasn't him who did it.

"Sir, you just wrecked our place, so you'll have to pay for it."

"I will compensate you, I will definitely compensate you. I brought one hundred taels of silver with me today, and I will give it all to you."

There was a clanging sound on the ground, followed by a blow to the head. The arrogant man from before was now completely deflated.

This woman is so powerful, she must be from the martial arts world too. I looked around the room again, and no wonder I found it strange at first. The things here are completely different from those in ordinary homes. The paintings hanging here are all about fighting.

"Yuancheng~ I'm so sleepy." The singing voice came from below again, but I wasn't in the mood to listen anymore.

"Ying'er has been so good lately, I'll take you back to rest." Xie Yuancheng, that bastard, always teases me for no reason. I didn't dare to look up the whole way.

Fortunately, the place to stay was nearby, and there was no one else around. The house was very tidy, and although it wasn't very pretty, it was much more comfortable than staying in a tent.

I lay down fully clothed. This bed is so soft: "I really need to lie down properly. I've been sleeping on the floor lately, and it's making my back hurt."