Chapter 89: Picture Album
It was already bright outside, so Shan Chenjun must have gotten up early. Yu Wanyin was alone.
She sat up and rested for a while.
In her daze, she could still see Chu Yu in front of her, and Rong Si behind her.
Yu Wanyin gently suppressed her pounding heart.
Not long after, Shan Chenjun returned from outside. Seeing that she was awake, he asked her, "What would you like to eat for breakfast?"
Yu Wanyin slowly got up, exchanged a few words with Shan Chenjun, and quickly put the strange dream out of her mind.
She had breakfast at Shan Chenjun's place and then returned to her courtyard to fetch her horse.
Upon entering the courtyard, I saw Qing Song standing at the door, chatting with A Zheng.
They all looked over when they heard the report.
Qing Song smiled and said, "The princess has returned just in time."
Yu Wanyin stepped forward. "What's wrong?"
A-Zheng smiled and handed over the box in her hand, "These are sachets that my master and I prepared."
Yu Wanyin opened the box, and a delicate fragrance wafted out, its soft sweetness seeping into her nostrils.
It's hard to describe the smell, but it's soothing and pleasant. "Why are we suddenly preparing sachets?"
“This isn’t a sachet I prepared on a whim,” A-Zheng said in a low voice. “It’s for your wedding.”
Yu Wanyin paused slightly as she played with the sachet, and her ears visibly began to turn red.
"I don't know about this either. My master said it's to be placed in your room when the wedding room is decorated." To be precise, it's to be hung around the wedding bed, in a circle. My master said it's auspicious and celebratory.
The fabric chosen for the sachets is bright red, a color associated with joy and auspiciousness, and is embroidered with lucky and auspicious patterns.
A-Zheng hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Besides that...
Actually, the ingredients inside this sachet are ylang-ylang and vanilla.
Placing it in the bridal chamber is believed to enhance the couple's intimacy.
After much hesitation, A-Zheng still didn't tell Yu Wanyin the truth directly, but instead said tactfully, "I've heard it helps the relationship between newlyweds."
Yu Wanyin took it all as auspicious words and said, "Thank you for your trouble."
She put down the sachet, had the servant put it away, and then took the servant to bring out the horse that Qin Yuan had brought for her.
Qing Song looked at Yu Wanyin and called for her horse to come over, "Are we still going out now?"
Yu Wanyin nodded, "Sister, are you going to take me to see the caravan in the suburbs? Do you want to go?"
Qing Song shook her head. "I won't go."
Ah Zheng spoke up, "The caravan, I want to go and see it."
"It's perfect timing; I can help the princess carry some things too."
After Ah Zheng finished speaking, she quickly put away the odds and ends she had brought for Yu Wanyin, and then she and Yu Wanyin went out together.
The sun was high in the sky, and the sky was clear and blue.
The autumn sky over the western capital is clear and bright. All the plants and trees, which were once vibrant in summer, are now cleansed of their summer hustle and bustle by the autumn sun, making the city look refreshing and pleasant from afar.
They left the city in civilian clothes, and the wind in the fields carried the scent of fresh grass towards them.
The surrounding area was filled with people strolling around the caravan before leaving the city, and the noise spread from inside the city to outside.
Trade was particularly frequent during the spring and autumn seasons.
After the new caravan routes were opened, there were many business opportunities, and many people in the city also became active in the caravans in the suburbs.
Caravans stretched out across the countryside on the outskirts of the city.
Shan Chenjun was more familiar with these things, so he chose a box of snow plum and milk skin almonds to send over.
Yu Wanyin and Azheng ate and strolled around.
The caravan had everything it needed for food, clothing, and daily necessities.
Yu Wanyin asked Azheng, "Is there anything you want?"
“I don’t want anything,” A-Zheng said, squinting at the sourness of the plums as she followed Yu Wanyin. “I just haven’t seen many caravans and wanted to see what it’s like to travel as a merchant.”
Yu Wanyin suddenly remembered something, "Your father and mother used to be merchants?"
A-Zheng was silent for a moment, then softly responded while biting into a plum.
"They would come home once a year." Then, I forget which year it was, they never came back.
During times of war, it was difficult for caravans to travel.
It's hard to say where you might be detained or encounter some misfortune.
At first, Ah Zheng hoped that they would appear in front of her one day.
I've stopped hoping for it.
But she still wanted to come and see whenever she heard of a caravan.
Perhaps we can see glimpses of our parents' past lives.
I know how they lived when they left their hometowns.
"It's alright, it doesn't matter," A-Zheng urged Yu Wanyin. "The main reason I came today is for you to oversee the expenses for the wedding."
Yu Wanyin didn't actually need anything extra.
She already has everything she needs; she's just out for a stroll to pass the time.
“Speaking of new purchases,” she said, looking at the almond skin in her hand for a moment, “I would also like a box of these almonds.”
Yu Wanyin ate another one, saying, "It's kind of delicious."
I don't know where my sister found so many delicious things.
Azheng looked in Shan Chenjun's direction and said, "It seems that His Highness bought it from over there."
As they spoke, they walked toward where Shan Chenjun was.
The items displayed on the caravans in the countryside were all novel, mostly things that were not found locally and were transported from various countries along the caravan route.
The lively cries of vendors rose and fell in the air.
As they went to greet them, Shan Chenjun happened to have already walked around and returned. "Over there, there seem to be some brocade and red silk from Jiangnan, as well as wedding couplets and lanterns."
During the war-torn years in the Central Plains, these things were still quite rare. "There were some merchants from the south there, and the materials they used looked to be of the highest quality."
Brocade and red silk are also considered valuable items in the South.
Ah Zheng listened and thought that these things were perfect for a happy occasion, "Then let's go take a look."
She said this as she followed Shan Chenjun.
Ah Zheng is very active and walks faster than the others.
Yu Wanyin followed behind and walked into the queue. She saw that there were many merchants dressed in Central Plains clothing, and they greeted her warmly.
After exchanging only a few words, the merchant realized, "You gentlemen are also from the south?"
A-Zheng replied, "Yes."
Upon hearing that they were from the same hometown, the merchant became interested. "Where in the south are you from? We used to be from Yingzhou."
Azheng was also a little surprised, "We are all from Yingzhou."
Several vendors nearby gathered around, saying, "What a coincidence, we're also from Yingzhou."
Yu Wanyin also found it coincidental. She touched the fabric in her hand and realized that it was no wonder that the pattern was very similar to some fabrics from Yingzhou.
Ah Zheng was very outgoing and quickly started chatting with the vendors while sitting down.
As Yu Wanyin ate, she watched the game, and a gentle breeze carried the familiar scent of morning dew and grass.
Her stray hairs were disheveled at her temples.
Yu Wanyin's hand paused slightly, and soon a shadow landed beside her hand.
She knew who it was without even looking up, and casually handed over the box containing the milk skin and almonds, saying, "Hold this for me."
Rong Si accepted it naturally.
Yu Wanyin focused intently on selecting materials.
A vendor's voice came from the side, "There's been trouble in Yingzhou, and we haven't been back for many years."
"This isn't a trip back after the rebellion was quelled, but Yingzhou has changed dramatically since then."
"Yingzhou is alright, it's not too dilapidated. We went back and bought a batch of goods, and now we're selling them all to save some money before going home for the New Year." The merchant said, "Since we're from the same hometown, do you want these? If you do, we'll give them to you cheaply."
Yu Wanyin put down the fabric in her hand. "It looks fine to me."
As she spoke, she looked up and met Rong Si's gaze.
Rong Si understood immediately and said, "Then take them all."
"Take them all?" The vendor thought he had misheard, and quickly stood up to wipe his hands. "These..."
Rong Si said simply and directly, "Wedding expenses are high."
Yu Wanyin smiled and, after handing the matter over to Rong Si, took the food from his hand.
I strolled away.
Rong Si ordered his men to load the goods onto the truck.
The other vendors came forward one after another to help, carrying their goods and expressing their gratitude.
Rong Si knew that Yu Wanyin was implying that she wanted these merchants to return to their hometowns as soon as possible.
Besides, they do need these.
With the wedding imminent, it was impossible to stay in the palace forever. They planned to open a new courtyard in the city as their bridal chamber, although the courtyard could not be fully completed before the wedding.
But at least the things inside still need to be acquired.
At first, they all suggested to him that they wait until the mansion was fully renovated before getting married.
But that would take too long; the mansion wouldn't be fully repaired until the beginning of next year at the earliest.
Rong Si couldn't wait that long.
Waiting one or two months for the wedding date is already the limit for him.
Ah Zheng helped tie up the cloth items and loaded them onto the cart with the vendors.
Then he watched as Azheng and Rongsi transported the goods away.
Unexpectedly, things went so smoothly today, and they all packed their bags to go back.
The lead merchant returned from outside and was startled to find his goods empty. He rushed forward, exclaiming, "In broad daylight, have we encountered bandits?!"
His companions laughed, "We've run into a big customer."
They stepped forward and explained the day's events to the leader, who then breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"That's a good thing." His companion pushed the leader back. "If we sell all the goods, you can go home sooner."
The leading man remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then sighed, "Didn't we go back once a few months ago?"
"There are hardly any people left in Shang'an, and our old village is empty too."
His companion remained silent for a moment, then said, "Don't worry, it's better to be empty than to be deserted. It just means everyone has run away."
"Ah Zheng and your mother may have run away together during the chaos. When you and your wife go back and look for them, you'll surely find them."
The man who was leading the group sat in a car next to him. "I came out again this time because I wanted to see if I could find the grandfather and grandson along the way, but I didn't run into them."
He was lost in his own thoughts, thinking, "It's my fault."
"How can I blame you? We were trapped outside the pass by the Northern Chi army for so many years, it was something we couldn't have imagined." His companion put away the carriage and horses.
His companion knew he'd been like this for a while, and he didn't seem happy even after selling all the goods. "Let's go, don't think about it so much."
Meanwhile, several carriages were parked nearby. A-Zheng got into one of the carriages first and urged the driver, "Let's go back to the capital first."
The two carriages passed each other.
Ah Zheng stood by, waiting for the carriages and horses to leave before she set off herself.
The carriage's side panels completely blocked A-Zheng's view.
The man leading the group was somewhat unsettled. To be honest, before he finished selling all his goods, his top priority was to sell them all and then search for his relatives along the way.
But suddenly the goods sold out, and the things blocking his view vanished, leaving only his mother and daughter whom he had lost forever.
The man urged his horse down, and in a moment of distraction, the horse was accidentally driven into a puddle formed by the rain from the previous two days.
By the time he came to his senses, the entire carriage had begun to tilt toward the puddle!
The items on the carriage lost their balance and crashed into the carriage walls, causing the carriage to tilt even more severely.
His companions shouted warnings from behind, but it was too late.
The entire vehicle, along with its cargo and passengers, plunged into the puddle!
With a loud clang!
Ah Zheng was waiting behind when she suddenly heard a loud bang in front of her, which startled her!
She suddenly leaned out of the carriage and saw the surrounding vendors stop and rush towards her, calling out, "Big Brother!"
"Oh dear, are you alright?"
As someone got out of the car and rushed over, they exclaimed, "How can someone fall into a puddle while walking properly?"
The first person to run over straightened up from beside the wrecked carriage. "Big Brother has fainted."
Upon hearing that someone was injured, A-Zheng immediately perked up her ears.
Her long experience on the battlefield made her instinctive to immediately pack up her first-aid kit and rush over whenever she heard of an injury.
"Get out of the way!"
"I am a doctor!"
The caravan was in a bit of a mess, and the military guards who were there to maintain order came forward to help.
Yu Wanyin, standing some distance away, looked over upon hearing the commotion. "What's going on over there?"
Shan Chenjun listened to the servant's report and relayed it to Yu Wanyin, "It seems that someone accidentally fell."
Yu Wanyin nodded knowingly, watching as more and more people gathered over there.
When she saw Rong Si also stepping forward to help, she knew that she didn't need to go over there for the time being.
Yu Wanyin watched from a distance for a while.
The surrounding vendors also watched.
Fortunately, there were many people helping, and the carriages and horses that had fallen into the puddle were quickly pulled out, and the people were not seriously injured.
"That person didn't have breakfast this morning and went out. He was so frightened that he fainted. He wasn't seriously injured, so Your Highness and Princess don't need to worry."
Shan Chenjun nodded.
The servant gestured to draw their attention back to him.
The sounds of vendors hawking their wares returned to normal, and the caravan quickly returned to normal.
Shan Chenjun said slowly and deliberately, "Did you deliberately buy all the goods just now?"
Yu Wanyin did not directly admit it, but said, "It just so happens that we need it too."
Shan Chenjun could tell what Yu Wanyin was thinking just by listening to her tone. What was surprising was that Rong Si also understood.
Shan Chenjun joked, "Those things are enough for ten people to get married."
Yu Wanyin said, seemingly casually, "We can't use it, but wouldn't it be perfect for your wedding in the future?"
Shan Chenjun laughed, "I don't even know when my wedding will be."
“No rush,” Yu Wanyin knew that she was very considerate. “I’ll save them for you first. Those goods are from Yingzhou. Yingzhou is excellent at making silk, if nothing else.”
"Thank you very much, Yao Yao."
Yu Wanyin pondered for a moment, "Then do you have someone you like right now?"
She always felt that He Lanjun listened to his elder sister, but nowadays everyone still respected the elegant and refined young master.
Shan Chenjun shook her head; her mind wasn't on that right now.
Besides, "my father is too old-fashioned and adheres to monogamy. I think it would be good to have a few companions to keep me entertained when necessary."
Yu Wanyin was slightly taken aback and didn't dare to reply for a moment.
Seeing Yu Wanyin's stunned reaction, Shan Chenjun smiled and took the empty almond box from her, saying, "You can't eat too many almonds at once."
"I'll prepare some more for you to take home and eat."
Even after Shan Chenjun left, Yu Wanyin was still processing his words.
She gently pursed her lips, the fresh and delicious aroma still lingering between them.
Yu Wanyin thought that since her elder sister had stayed in the Northern Chi camp for ten years, it was easier for her to accept the Northern Chi custom of polyandry than the orthodox custom.
She remained silent for a long time, not because she had been shocked by anything.
Instead, she suddenly remembered the strange dream she had last night, and the suggestion that Chu Yu had made a long time ago.
Yu Wanyin quickly dismissed the strange feelings that were clinging to her and tried to shift her attention.
The surrounding area was filled with a dazzling array of goods.
Yu Wanyin walked aimlessly in the middle and saw a book vendor in the distance.
The area where the caravan sold books was quieter than the other stalls.
But the quiet places and the books held a unique attraction for Yu Wanyin.
She walked over and looked at the books displayed on the stall.
Most of the books here are written in Western Regions languages.
It contains texts from various countries.
The book seller was an elderly woman.
When she saw Yu Wanyin arrive, she stood up warmly and said, "I saw you bought a lot of things you like. Are you getting married soon, young lady?"
Yu Wanyin picked up a book casually and nodded, "Soon."
Upon hearing this, the old woman's face lit up with joy. "Then this book you have is perfect for you to read now."
Yu Wanyin was puzzled and was about to ask why these books were suitable for her.
Yu Wanyin's heart skipped a beat as she turned to the first page.
The first thing you see is a bold and flamboyant picture.
Two physically strong men trapped the wife between them...
What they were doing was something they were already reluctant to talk about.
What shocked her even more was... two!
Yu Wanyin's fingers went stiff.
She couldn't understand the words in the book.
The graphics and illustrations inside are easy to understand.
This is equivalent to looking at erotic picture books before getting married.
However, contrary to the Central Plains, these picture albums seem to have been made by the Northern Chi people.
Therefore, the picture books generally depict scenes of polyandry!
There are two at the beginning, and then the number increases one by one.
The old woman was from the Northern Chi tribe, and she had experience: "On the first night of a wedding, it's easy for people to get hurt if there are too many people around."
"Don't be shy, this book can't be just for you to read, you have to take it back for your husband to see too."
As luck would have it, Rong Si turned back from the other side and walked right up to her. "What do you want me to see?"
His voice was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploding around Yu Wanyin!
Yu Wanyin felt a chill run down her spine and slammed the book shut.
Rong Si subconsciously reached out to grab it, but she dodged again, and he missed.
Yu Wanyin made an excuse, "I can't understand the books of the Northern Chi, so let's forget about it."
When Rong Si heard that there were books she couldn't understand, she became interested and said, "Let me take a look."
He leaned forward, trying to take it from Yu Wanyin's hand.
He leaned forward, forcing Yu Wanyin to put the book behind her back. "You, you can't understand it either."
Rong Si maintained his bent-over posture, his amber eyes fixed on hers, his breath landing on her lips. "If you don't show me, how will you know if I can understand?"
"Besides, my mother-in-law just said I have to see it."
They were very close to each other.
Yu Wanyin was speechless for a moment. She couldn't put the book down and could only hold it in her hand, guarding against Rong Si.
The old woman chuckled softly, "It's alright, if you can't read the words, there are still pictures."
“These are all paintings. Take them home and study them slowly. It will benefit you and your spouse.”
Although Rong Si didn't know what was inside, he heard that it would benefit the two of them, and Yu Wanyin was holding it in her hand without putting it back on the stall, so he knew that she probably wanted it.
Rong Si understands.
Previously, when Yu Wanyin wanted a book but was too embarrassed to ask him, she would do this.
Give her whatever she wants.
Rong Si asked directly, "Are there any similar ones?"
The old woman didn't miss any business opportunities and piled up two or three more books, saying, "These are all."
"Take them all."
Yu Wanyin moved her lips, but couldn't say anything, her cheeks flushing red.
Rong Si picked up a book casually, but before he could even read it, Yu Wanyin snatched it away.
Rong Si missed again, raising an eyebrow.
Yu Wanyin reluctantly took all the books away, feeling that she couldn't explain herself anymore.
However, no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to reveal what was inside.
If it were just a picture book about ordinary married life, that would be fine.
But inside is...
Rong Si watched as Yu Wanyin, looking embarrassed, hid all the books and carried them away.
It's rare to see her like it so much.
Rong Si clicked his tongue lightly, which piqued his interest as well.
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