Luckily, Zhao Qingyan had applied a lot of sunscreen and was wearing a straw hat, otherwise she would have turned into a charcoal briquette long ago.
At the city gate, people lined up to have their household registration documents checked, and Zhao Qingyan was fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan.
He attracted the attention of passersby; he was quite a handsome young man, and it would look better if he were holding a folding fan. Using a palm-leaf fan—is that the latest trend this year?
Zhao Qingyan couldn't be bothered with the strange or curious looks she received from others.
She just wanted to find an inn as soon as possible, take a bath, and change her clothes.
Zhao Qingyan prepared quite a few of the same clothes for this trip.
Even if you change into a different set of clothes every day, the same set of clothes will be wet and dry repeatedly throughout the day, which is very uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Zhao Qingyan was traveling with the Han family's merchant caravan.
The guards did not check each person individually, but instead looked at the caravan's unique identification tags, checked the number of people, counted them, and then let them pass.
Even so, the group was delayed at the city gate for at least 15 minutes.
After entering the city, the Han family caravan headed in a completely different direction from Zhao Qingyan's.
"Young man, this is where your uncle is staying here. We will stay in the capital for five days."
If you need anything to take back with you these days, come to this address to find me.
Cheng Yidao said with great pride.
Zhao Qingyan clasped her hands in greeting.
"Thank you, Uncle Cheng and all my uncles and brothers, for taking care of me along the way. If I find a place to stay here, I will definitely go to Uncle Cheng."
Following the directions given by Cheng Yidao, Zhao Qingyan headed towards Huicui Pavilion.
In such an unfamiliar city, without navigation or a map, it's really troublesome to find your way around.
Finally, Zhao Qingyan hired a little beggar and paid him ten steamed buns and twenty coins to take her to the entrance of the Jade Pavilion.
"Thank you, little one."
Here, this is twenty coins. Do you still want to go back to where we met? If so, I'll hire you a carriage.
The little beggar grinned, revealing his gap-toothed smile, but after thinking it over, he shook his head.
"Thank you, young master. This area is more bustling than the city gate. I'd like to see if I can find more food around here."
My name is Gou Dan. If you need to ask me for directions again, young master, please feel free to contact me.
I've been wandering around these streets a few days now.
Zhao Qingyan nodded, thinking to herself, "This person is quite good at business."
Now that we've found a place, it's time to unload the cargo.
Zhao Qingyan unloaded everything from the carriage.
After settling the wages with the hired driver and giving him an extra 20 taels, he sent him away.
Looking at these things on the ground, there was a huge box, a small iron pot, a clay stove, and various bowls and basins.
There were sleeping bags and wolfskin rugs on the box, and a folded tent next to it.
These things, placed at the entrance of the luxurious Hui Cui Pavilion, looked utterly out of place.
When the gatekeeper saw Zhao Qingyan's belongings, he initially thought she was there to cause trouble.
He jogged up and bowed to Zhao Qingyan.
"Young master, what is the purpose of bringing these things here?"
Do you need my help? It won't do if the young master is planning to camp here.
Our neighborhood is frequented by high-ranking officials and dignitaries. If we offend any of them, we ordinary folks will be in deep trouble.
Zhao Qingyan was quite surprised; this young servant was actually a rather interesting person.
While not looking down on people, it did make the stakes clear.
"Young man, I'm here to see your boss. Could you please go in and announce that Zhao Qingyan from Lingnan has arrived?"
As she spoke, Zhao Qingyan reached into her pocket, took out a piece of silver, and handed it to the servant.
The rules of Huicui Pavilion are that one should not look down on others, and now that the servant has received a bribe, he is naturally happy to go in and report.
His speed was as if he had practiced. In the blink of an eye, he was inside the pavilion.
Zhao Qingyan, who was waiting by the roadside, became the center of attention, and was judged and gossiped about by passersby as if she were a monkey being performed.
Zhao Qingyan's house was being moved, with a pile of things stacked up at the front door, which was already quite conspicuous, especially since she was leading a tall, fiery red horse.
It was obvious at a glance that it was a fine horse.
Who doesn't like a good horse? Seeing Zhao Qingyan's attire and travel-worn appearance, she was looked down upon.
After all, this face was too unfamiliar.
There wasn't a single son of a high-ranking official or noble family in the capital who didn't know him.
This guy looks like he's from the countryside, and he might even be trying to freeload off his rich relatives.
Some people then started to have ulterior motives.
With a "whoosh," a man opened his folding fan, considering himself dashing and debonair, and walked up to Zhao Qingyan, waving his fan.
When the dashing man saw Zhao Qingyan's face clearly, he was stunned for a moment. "Good looks, but it's a pity her background is so humble."
If Zhao Qingyan could read minds, she would definitely say, "You come from a humble background, your whole family is of low status."
"Young man, your horse is quite nice. I've taken a liking to it. Would you be willing to part with it? I'm willing to pay fifty taels to buy it."
Zhao Qingyan was sitting on a box, resting with one leg raised on it and her chin resting on her knee, waiting for someone.
Hearing such idiotic words, he frowned and glanced at the other person.
After glancing at it, he closed his eyes briefly, turned his head away, and said, "Not for sale."
The dashing man thought Zhao Qingyan was complaining about the low price, "Then add ten more taels, can we sell it then?"
Zhao Qingyan was annoyed by this kind of self-importance. She frowned, turned her head, and looked the dashing man up and down.
"Young master, let me reiterate, this horse is like a wife. Would you be willing to sell your wife? Therefore, I will not sell this horse no matter how much money you offer."
"Young master, you'd better save your breath."
The handsome man, who had lost his face, looked quite unwell.
"Are you sure you don't want to sell? Do you even know who my father is?"
Zhao Qingyan chuckled at this classic question. She looked at the dashing man with amusement.
Only your mother knows who your father is.
Why are you asking me? I'm new here, I don't know you, and I don't have time to pry into your family background.
The dashing man's face almost turned green. Why wasn't this kid playing by the rules?
This raises the question of whether something is legitimate or not.
Those who were passing by to watch the commotion, as well as the handsome man's friends, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The handsome man's face was contorted with bulging veins.
"Boy, stop talking nonsense. How dare you insult me? I think you're going to have to suffer the consequences."
As soon as the dashing man finished speaking, Zhao Qingyan raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when several people came out of the Huicui Pavilion.
The leader among them was tall and imposing. His gaze alone inspired awe.
"Who is it that dares to spout such nonsense at my Gathering Pavilion? It turns out to be the young master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
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