The streets were bustling with activity, with various vendors hawking their wares and the restaurants and inns on both sides teeming with people coming and going.
An Honghan led Xi Xizhi through the market, with Lin En and Wu Jianfeng following on either side.
Xi Xizhi was curious about everything. If she didn't know something, she would definitely ask about it before she would continue walking.
She mostly asked about small items, as well as some local snacks.
Upon spotting a piece of jade carved with green bamboo, Xi Xizhi glanced at it a couple more times but didn't say she wanted to buy it.
An Honghan, who was standing to the right, said, "Pay."
Knowing that he would need money to leave the palace today, Lynn prepared some loose silver yesterday and put it in his pocket. He took out a small ingot of silver and handed it to the vendor.
Seeing that the other party was generous, the vendor bowed and flattered, "Why don't you gentlemen take another look? I have some trinkets here that are definitely good stuff."
Xi Xizhi picked up the oval-shaped jade stone. It was crystal clear and, although it looked very appealing, it was worthless. It was obvious that it was made from other low-grade jade to imitate a superior product. One side of the jade stone was carved with two green bamboo branches, each segment strong and vigorous. A red rope was tied to the end of the jade stone; it was very simple and not ornate.
Of course, you can't trust what the vendors say. They say that even a peddler who sells melons praises his own wares, so who knows if what the vendor is saying is true or false? If you want to buy good things, you have to rely on your own judgment.
Turning around, Xi Xizhi and An Honghan continued their stroll.
Xi Xizhi played with the small jade stone in her hand, pouting, "It's a bit of a rip-off to buy this for ten taels of silver."
The feel of this piece of jade was not as good as the jade in the palace. Having gotten used to handling high-quality jade, Xi Xizhi could somewhat feel the difference between the two.
An Honghan remained expressionless and unmoved, giving a faint "hmm" as if he didn't take the matter to heart.
Xi Xizhi thought she was just making a fool of herself, but she couldn't help but say, "Next time, don't buy whatever I see. This thing may look nice, but it's not worth the price."
Thinking of those ten taels of silver, Xi Xizhi felt sorry for An Honghan. It would have been better to just give the silver to her instead of letting those merchants make a profit.
"What a little miser, it's only ten taels of silver." An Honghan reached out and brushed the stray hairs from Xi Xizhi's forehead, revealing her eyes.
Xi Xizhi hummed twice, “Do you know how much stuff ten taels of silver can buy? Many people can’t even afford to eat and stay warm. Ten taels of silver is enough for them to live on for several months. The more we buy these kinds of things, the more we encourage those people to sell counterfeit goods.”
Knowing that the little brat had a point, An Honghan did not refute him. However, how could one possibly see through the truth and falsehood in the world?
The capital of Fengze Kingdom was bustling with activity, and the sound of carriages could be heard from time to time.
Xi Xizhi had finally managed to get out of the house, so of course she wanted to make the most of it. She looked around, glancing here and there. Meanwhile, Lin En's pockets were dwindling with silver, while Wu Jianfeng was carrying more and more items.
Seeing some fresh pastries that she couldn't eat right away, Xi Xizhi wrapped them in oil paper and asked Wu Jianfeng to keep them safe. They would deal with these spoils later when they returned to the palace.
A rich aroma suddenly wafted to her nose. Xi Xizhi squinted, thinking it was the scent of some delicious food. She tugged at An Honghan's sleeve and pulled him in that direction.
Wu Jianfeng was carrying things that were already up to his shoulders. He rested his chin on top of the various items to prevent them from falling, and stumbled along as he followed.
He was clearly a guard, so how did he suddenly become a servant carrying things?
I really don't know what the point of these things is. Even though they're just small gadgets, they're not presentable as gifts.
And what's that broken wave drum for? Even a three-year-old wouldn't know how to play with it.
Guided by the scent, Xi Xizhi drew closer to her destination, but the closer she got, the stranger it seemed. This fragrance was almost intoxicating; what on earth was it?
"An Honghan, can you smell anything?" She shook An Honghan's sleeve, not believing it.
An Honghan frowned immediately. He had been a little confused when he saw Xi Xizhi walking further and further away from the secluded place. Now, hearing her question, he felt his guard was raised.
"It has no odor."
Wu Jianfeng and Lin En were equally baffled and very puzzled. Where was the smell coming from? Could it be that Xi Xizhi was mistaken?
Xi Xizhi sniffed hard. How could she not smell such a strong odor?
Could it be that thing exists? Mortals cannot sense it.
Recently, Xi Xizhi's spiritual power has increased slightly, and she has also begun to practice magic. She can hold off simple demons for a while, but if she encounters a powerful demon, she is completely helpless.
They stopped in front of a house. Xi Xizhi tried hard to decipher the characters on the plaque and read them, but her abilities were limited, and she didn't recognize a single one.
Lynn, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this Minister Liu's house?"
The name "Minister Liu" immediately reminded Xi Xizhi of Consort Hua.
Xi Xizhi said sourly to An Honghan, "It's your father-in-law's family."
The sourness in her words was clearly heard by everyone present except for Xi Xizhi herself.
An Honghan also noticed the possessiveness revealed in the child's tone, and smiled slightly. He had never felt so happy before, and reached out to pinch the little brat's cheek.
"How did you end up here?" An Honghan knew very well that Xi Xizhi's arrival here was no accident.
What's with that fragrance?
An Honghan dislikes anything being beyond his control; he prefers to have all abilities under his sole control and to ensure that things proceed only under his control.
It was a little inconvenient to speak, so Xi Xizhi frowned slightly. "Let's talk over there."
It means that she wants to whisper something to An Honghan.
Both Lynn and Wu Jianfeng were surprised, but remained silent.
An Honghan and Xi Xizhi arrived at a secluded spot, where Lin En and Wu Jianfeng stood more than ten meters away.
Once she was sure they couldn't hear her, Xi Xizhi slowly spoke: "There's definitely something in there. I can't tell if it's a demon or a monster, but it's definitely not a good thing."
This fragrance is very unusual. She used to live deep in the mountains and forests, where her master had set up a formation that rarely allowed demons to break in, so she hadn't been exposed to many of these things.
An Honghan listened attentively, glancing meaningfully at the Liu residence. It seemed that old fellow Minister Liu had been restless lately. Could it be that he wanted to avenge his son? But then he thought, given Liu Hui's cautious nature, how could he dare to oppose him?
If it's not because of this, then there must be something else.
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