Chapter 820 A Dream of Youth 352
With a deafening roar, a fireball illuminated the darkness and struck the high city walls. Taking advantage of the soldiers' fatigue at dawn, the Northern Jin launched an attack.
Xie Yun, far away in the inner city, was startled, but quickly calmed down and led the children from the charity hall to push the food cart toward the city gate.
She was delivering food. The garrison commanders had decent meals, but the lower-ranking soldiers didn't get anything good. Xie Yun ran a restaurant, so she had a lot of food stored up. Besides giving alms to the beggars, she also gave some to the garrison soldiers and military doctors.
At first, only she and Chen Wanniang did it together, but later the other ladies of the inner quarters heard about it and also donated some grain as a token of their goodwill.
After all, if the city is defended, then we are the ones who are safe.
"Aunt Yun!"
The soldier's face was covered in soot, and his chest was wrapped in bandages; he had clearly been injured in the explosion.
"There's nothing good to eat today, just steamed buns, still warm. Go and get them." This soldier had also come from the charity hall.
After Xie Yun made the arrangements here, he headed to the medical tent. The students of the Imperial Medical Bureau were all assigned to various city gates to stand by. Wherever fighting broke out, these students would be led by the imperial physicians to treat the wounded.
Because of Xie Ning, Xie Yun had a very good impression of these military doctors, especially the female doctors. Xie Yun, Chen Wanniang, and others even bought some medicine and sent it over.
Unfortunately, there weren't many available for purchase. Many pharmacies had stockpiled their medicinal herbs because of the Northern Jin invasion, or they had raised prices. The fact that they were able to buy so many herbs was thanks to their connection with Dejitang.
At this time, the capital was somewhat desolate. Although not to the point that every household closed their doors and windows, there were hardly any people on the streets. This was because many people had fled south when the Northern Jin people attacked, and those who did not flee had sent some of their family members away.
No matter what, the bloodline will never be severed.
But even in the most desolate times, there are still those纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families) who revel every night, living a life of debauchery and decadence.
As Xie Yun pushed the food cart away, she was pushed aside by the soldiers clearing the way, and then a neat and orderly army rushed towards the city gate. She seemed to see Princess Yanxi as well.
Xie Yun felt as if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Princess Yanxi should be in the palace at this moment, so why was she wearing armor and riding a horse toward the city gate?
Speaking of the palace, Xie Yun became worried again, wondering if Xie Wangzhi had returned. Although Xie Wangzhi hadn't said anything, she could still sense the tense atmosphere in the capital during this time.
Xie Wangzhi also told them to stay home as much as possible.
But in the depths of winter, people were dying every day, and Xie Yun couldn't bear to leave the children at the charity.
Xie Wangzhi, for some unknown reason, hired many guards for his home. Even when Xie Yun went out, he was accompanied by at least two guards. While muttering about how wasteful he was, Xie Yun ordered the guards to help the children of the charity to chop firewood.
When I returned to the entrance of the charity hall, I saw a little girl carrying two large bundles, looking around. She was of average appearance and thin and small. "These are old clothes donated by my wife. They are not very good, but they can still be worn. Please don't mind them, my wife."
The girl's voice was very rough and hoarse, but Xie Yun didn't mind. He smiled and took the bundle, thanked her, and invited her in for tea.
The little girl waved her hand, unwilling to go in, and ran away in a flash.
Once she had run out of the alley, the little girl clutched her chest to calm herself, then took out a small medicine bottle from her sleeve, which contained throat lozenges.
After many twists and turns, we finally entered the back door of a brothel.
"Have the clothes been delivered?"
"Hmm." The little girl glanced at the jade seal on the table, but wasn't curious. She simply sat down by the charcoal fire to warm her hands, and then listened to the girls in the room continue their previous conversation.
Their brothel had been taken over by a powerful figure long ago. The powerful figure didn't force them to entertain customers, but only sent them to various places to gather information. Of course, the rewards were also extremely generous.
Unlike before, after changing owners, their treatment in the brothel improved. They not only received medical care, but the brothel would also support them if they encountered bad customers.
Actually, none of that matters. What they value most is not money, but a promise made to them by their employer.
They were promised that one day, the brothel would be gone, and a bright future awaited them.
If it weren't for the pressure of making a living, who would be willing to do such a flesh-and-blood job?
At first, they worked for their masters for a better future, but later they thought there would be no more brothels in the world.
Having experienced the suffering firsthand, I do not wish for others to suffer the same pain.
Even though they knew that the promise of "no more brothels in the world" was somewhat unrealistic, they were still willing to believe it.
Even if something unexpected happens...
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