After a restless night, Su Luo didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky. When she turned around, Nangong Chiyu was no longer beside her.
"Your Highness, you're awake. Prince Yu told me not to disturb you and to let you sleep until you naturally wake up."
Lian'er came in carrying a washbasin in both hands, wet a handkerchief, and handed it to Su Luo.
"Lian'er, when did Prince Yu go to the military camp?"
"Prince Yu went to practice his martial arts at dawn. He even personally prepared steamed buns for the Princess. In Beichuan City, this is the first time Lian'er has seen Prince Yu go to such lengths for someone. Would the Princess like to eat now?"
It was late morning, and before Su Luo could even speak, her stomach started growling.
Hearing this, Lian'er smiled and said, "Your Highness, Prince Yu said you would be starving when you woke up. It seems he was right again."
Su Luo raised her eyebrows slightly. She was so tired last night and exhausted. How could she not be hungry when she woke up?
She changed her clothes and sat in front of the dressing mirror, while Lian'er styled her hair into a simple bun from behind.
Even her daughter couldn't do complicated hairstyles, so her mother only taught her one or two simple ones.
Su Luo looked at the little girl behind her in the mirror and asked, "Lian'er, how did you meet Prince Yu?"
From the things Lian'er often said, Su Luo could tell that Nangong Chiyu not only knew Lian'er, but also their whole family.
"Oh, I heard my mother say this two years ago. Once, a spy from Beiliang broke into our house and threatened my younger brother. It was Prince Yu who saved our family. After that, my father and Prince Yu had some contact."
But two years ago, my father left us. He was killed by the people of Beiliang. It was around that time that Prince Yu began to take care of my mother, my younger brother, and me.
Lian'er's words were vague, but Su Luo guessed that Lian'er's father was probably Nangong Chiyu's man, or perhaps an informant he had placed in Beichuan City.
Otherwise, how could her father have been killed, and why would Nangong Chiyu have taken such good care of her family afterward?
"I understand, Lian'er. So what does your mother do in Beichuan City?"
"After my father passed away, my mother cried so much that her eyesight deteriorated and she could only see things blurry. But thankfully, she still had the strength to do laundry for others and farm a few acres of land, which was enough to support my brother and me."
As long as no one in our family gets sick, we can all live healthy lives.
Su Luo was amused by the cheerful little girl. Only with a good mindset can one live a happy life.
"Lian'er, come out with me after breakfast."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nangong Chiyu's steamed buns suited Su Luo's taste better than those from outside. When she arrived here yesterday, it was already late. After dinner, she asked Lian to take her out for a walk.
Upon exiting the gate, Nangong Chiyu saw that the Chiyu Army guarding the courtyard was Chi Yi. He had left Chi Yi behind to protect her.
"Chi Yi, it's you. You could have just sent two soldiers to follow me. It's a waste of your talent that Prince Yu kept you here."
Chi Yi bowed respectfully to Su Luo.
“Your Highness, Beichuan City is different from the capital. There is danger here at any time. It would be more reassuring for your prince to have me protect him, and only then can the Chiyu Army feel at ease.”
Chi Yi learned from Deputy Envoy Cheng that the imperial court had originally only provided them with two months' worth of provisions, and Su Luo had used her own private funds to raise the provisions for one month, all so that they could better prepare for the enemy.
Therefore, Chi Yi's awe of Su Luo deepened even further. Just like the prince, the princess was truly willing to disregard everything for Nanning.
"Is Your Highness going out?"
Su Luo was accompanied only by Lian'er. Her hair was styled in a similar way to Lian'er's, and her clothes were simple. To an outsider, it would be difficult to tell that she was the current Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Princess Consort of Yu.
"Yes! Let's go out and see what Beichuan City looks like during the day."
"Very well, I will go with the Princess."
Lian'er only knew that she had to serve Su Luo, but she didn't know about the rules and regulations of the capital. Just like now, when they went out for a walk together, she would run ahead of Su Luo and introduce this and that to Su Luo.
As if Su Luo were a guest in their home, they led Su Luo around to play, but Su Luo liked their unpretentious nature.
"Your Highness, would you like to eat some pancakes? In Beichuan City, Old Man Yang's pancakes are the best. They are the most delicious thing in the world."
The two of them had just eaten steamed buns, and Lian'er wanted to eat more.
"You're still growing, so if you want to eat it, just go buy it."
Lian'er's smile vanished instantly. She was greedy, but the prince had said that he would give her food as long as the princess had it. Now that the princess wasn't eating, she hadn't eaten either.
Seeing through Lian'er's little scheme, Su Luo said, "I'll buy it for you to eat, let's go."
"Really? Your Highness, are you telling the truth?"
Lian'er jumped up instantly. How could this princess be so good? She had always heard Prince Yu say that the princess was a good person, but she never expected her to be this good.
Led by Lian'er, the three arrived at a small pancake shop with a sign that read "Old Man Yang's Pancakes".
Most of the people here are refugees. There are many more people on the streets than last night, and there are also some vendors calling out their wares.
Some people sell cloth, while others embroider handkerchiefs and similar items to sell. These peddlers mostly sell household or women's items.
Food is only sold in shops on the street, which is quite different from the snacks that can be found everywhere in Yongle County.
Su Luo was still a little puzzled. In such a big city as Beichuan, why didn't this peddler sell some food? After all, food was an easy way to make money.
Just like the pancake shop run by old man Yang in front of them, there were groups of people coming in twos and threes to buy pancakes.
"Your Highness, it's this pancake."
Lian'er skipped along, pointing to the pancake shop in front of her for Su Luo to see; Su Luo's mouth was practically watering.
Su Luo stepped forward and said to the old man who was making pancakes, "Boss, ten pancakes, please."
Old Man Yang glanced at Su Luo, then coldly extended his hand in front of her.
"One pancake costs ten coins, pay the coins first."
Without much thought, Su Luo took out a string of one hundred silver coins from her money bag and handed it to Old Man Yang.
After taking the silver, Old Man Yang looked at Su Luo as if she were a silly girl from a wealthy family, and then turned around and packed ten pancakes for her.
He opened his mouth as if to say something to Su Luo, but before he could speak, Su Luo turned around and handed the pancake in her hand to Lian'er.
"Eat!"
Lian'er raised her smiling face, and when she opened her mouth to smile, her little tiger teeth were revealed.
She happily reached out her hand, ready to take the pancake Su Luo was offering her.
"Thank you, Wang..."
Before he could finish speaking, two dark figures flashed past him, and the pancake packet in his hand disappeared.
"Stop... my pancakes..." Lian'er realized what was happening and shouted loudly.
That's right, in broad daylight, the pancakes they had just bought were stolen by two little beggars who were only thirteen or fourteen years old.
"stop……"
Chi Yi moved with lightning speed. As a former member of the Crimson Feather Army, he caught the two beggar-like boys in just a few moments.
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