It would take nearly a month to travel from Liangzhou to Jiyang City even if one rode at full speed.

We set out after the Chinese New Year and into the spring, heading south. The further we got to Jiyang, the warmer the weather became. When we were almost there, a lot of wild flowers had bloomed on the roadside, and the swallows had already started building nests in the mud. Spring had truly arrived.

Outside Jiyang City, Chi Wu drove over in a carriage and said, "Young Master, this is the best carriage you can buy around here."

The carriage looked very gorgeous, with peacock green fine silk wrapped around it, and the white gauze inside fluttering slightly. It was very spacious and comfortable even when sitting in it. He Yan felt tired after riding for many days, and now that he could be comfortable, He Yan was already very satisfied. But Lin Shuanghe was still very picky, "Is it like this? I wouldn't even look at something like this in Shuojing. The wood is too inferior, didn't I say to pick the most expensive one?"

Chiwu: "This is already the most expensive."

He Yan looked at Lin Shuanghe and sighed in her heart. After so many years, this young master's style of pursuing pleasure has not changed at all. She couldn't figure out why Xiao Jue took Lin Shuanghe with him when he went to Jiyang to do business? Wouldn't this hinder her?

He Yan was not the only one who couldn't figure it out. Lin Shuanghe himself was also puzzled. Before leaving, he made sure: "Are you sure you are right? You want to take me with you to Jiyang?"

Xiao Jue: “Sure.”

"Why?"

"Because the journey requires a steward."

"Butler?" Lin Shuanghe was angry. "Have you ever seen a butler as graceful as me?"

Xiao Jue looked at him and said, "I've seen it now."

Having said that, Lin Shuanghe himself also wanted to go out with Xiao Jue to see the world. He had never been to Jiyang before, and he heard that all the girls in Jiyang were beautiful. Wouldn't it be a pity if he didn't see them once in his life?

So he just complained a few words and then happily agreed to go with him.

They had been in a hurry before and had not paid attention to other things, but now that they were about to reach Jiyang City, they had to dress up well. After all, here they were no longer Xiao Huaijin and He Yan, but Qiao Qingqing, the son of a wealthy businessman from Huzhou, and his newly married wife Wen Yuyan, as well as their bodyguard Chiwu Feinu and housekeeper Lin Shuanghe.

Fei Nu took out the communication order, looked at the Jiyang city gate in the distance, and said, "Master, we have entered the city, found an inn to settle down, and we still need to buy two maids."

It's impossible for a wealthy businessman's son and his wife to travel without even a maid, and have to take care of their own food, clothing and daily life. If this were to be spread out, no one would believe it, not to mention Cui Yuezhi.

"Buy a maid?" Lin Shuanghe said, "I'll go too. I know how to pick a girl!"

Xiao Jue was too lazy to pay attention to him and just told Fei Nu, "Find the younger ones and let them go home after the matter in Jiyang is done."

Fei Nu agreed.

Chi Wu and Fei Nu were outside, and the carriage slowed down and slowly arrived at the gate of Jiyang. Fei Nu handed the pass to the guards guarding the gate. The guards carefully looked at the black words on the pass and said respectfully: "You are Cui Zhongqi's family, please come in."

Lin Shuanghe asked, "Does Cui Yuezhi have a high status in Jiyang?"

"I heard that he grew up with Princess Mengji. He is both loyal and powerful, and he is trusted by the princess." He Yan replied.

Lin Shuanghe asked curiously, "How do you know?"

He Yan also said: "I heard it from someone."

Xiao Jue glanced at her and said nothing.

He Yan had never been to Jiyang, but she had heard about some of the people and things in Jiyang. This was because her master Liu Buwang was from outside Jiyang City and had told her many anecdotes about Jiyang. After hearing so much about them, she began to yearn for Jiyang.

It’s just that traveling between the vassal states is troublesome. I didn’t expect that I could take advantage of Xiao Jue’s help and come and see the water city that Liu Buwang mentioned. It’s really new.

Jiyang is a magnificent city with thousands of households connected to each other and prosperous trade. Outside the city is a canal with many merchant ships. The silk and tea produced in Jiyang are shipped along the Yuyang River directly to Yangzhou. It can be said that "boats with a capacity of ten thousand hu sail like the wind". There are also large and small rivers in the city. Small boats can be seen passing under bridges everywhere, with fruits and small items on the bows. This is the water market of Jiyang.

People from the Central Plains had never seen such a scene before. He Yan lay on the carriage and looked out, marveling at it.

Lin Shuanghe sighed, "This Jiyang is indeed as the tourists say, it is really a fairyland. No wonder it is easy to leave but difficult to enter. If I were here, I would not want to leave. Look at the girls here, they are so pretty, they are totally different from those in Shuojing."

He Yan: “…” She thought to herself, that’s not what you said when you were in Shuojing.

She turned to look at Xiao Jue again. Xiao Jue was sitting in the carriage. He didn't seem to be very interested in the bustle outside the carriage. He sat there lazily with dull eyes, not showing any surprise at all.

"Governor, shall we go find an inn first?" she asked.

"What governor?" Lin Shuanghe said immediately, "We have already arrived in Jiyang, you can't call him governor, lest you be exposed."

He Yan: "What's my name then?"

"Of course I call you husband!"

When the word "husband" came out, He Yan and Xiao Jue were shocked. The expression on Xiao Jue's face was indescribable, very wonderful. He endured it for a while, waved his sleeves and said, "No need to call me now."

It will be uncomfortable to yell in the future, okay? He Yan felt extremely distressed. This job looked good, but he didn't expect it to be so difficult to carry out. He had to throw away his sense of shame. No wonder the exchange condition was to join the Southern Palace Army.

Xiao Jue said: "Let's find an inn to stay in first."

Jiyang is rich in resources and prosperous. You don't have to be picky when looking for an inn. They all look good. Chiwu chose a place closest to the city center so that he could get familiar with the city.

A few people put down the heavier things on the carriage first. Fei Nu came over and said, "Master, I just asked around and there is a restaurant nearby. The restaurant's proprietress will help buy and sell maids for wealthy families. If you stay here today, you can go and ask the proprietress to help you find a place."

Xiao Jue nodded.

He Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "I won't go."

After a pause, Lin Shuanghe asked, "He... Young Madam, what do you want?"

He Yan didn't really have anything else to do, he just couldn't bear to see other people selling their sons and daughters, even though he knew that some children might not have a bad life as maids in rich families, he just felt uncomfortable. When he followed the army, the people in the war-torn area were harassed by the Qiang people, and selling their sons and daughters was a common practice. If it was a son, it would be better, at most he would be sold to others as a long-term worker, but selling daughters was more common, He Yan had seen a girl of thirteen or fourteen being sold to a sixty-year-old man as a concubine for only a piece of baked cake.

Human life is so cheap.

She really didn't like seeing people being picked over like commodities.

"I...am I not a woman now?" She made up an excuse. "I can't run around in this dress. I don't look like Wen Yuyan. I thought, there is a clothing store nearby. I will go buy two women's clothes. If there are any jewelry, I will buy some too. When we meet Cui Yuezhi, we won't be exposed."

In order to make it easier to travel, she still borrowed Cheng Lisu's clothes. Now that she was in Jiyang, it was inappropriate to dress like a man.

When Lin Shuanghe heard this, he thought what she said made sense, so he said, "That's fine."

"Chiwu, follow her." Xiao Jue said, "Send a signal if anything happens."

Chiwu agreed.

Xiao Jue looked at He Yan again: "You are nearby, don't go too far, Jiyang is not like Liangzhou, it is better to be cautious."

He Yan nodded: "Okay."

"Then let's split up," Lin Shuanghe waved his fan, "Young Madam, remember to buy more beautiful clothes so that they can see how beautiful our girls from the Central Plains are."

Xiao Jue: "Shut up."

The three of them went downstairs of the inn first and left, leaving He Yan and Chi Wu alone.

Chi Wu thought to himself, what Lin Shuanghe said is wrong. He Yan is not a woman. No matter how she dresses up, she can't be beautiful. What's the point?

Just as he thought of this, he saw He Yan looking in the mirror and taking off the hairpin from her head. In an instant, her long black hair fell on her shoulders.

"you……"

He Yan turned around and said, "As a man, I'm going to a clothing store to buy women's clothes. It's bound to attract attention. How about letting my hair down first?" She asked Chi Wu, "How do I look now?"

Chi Wu: “…It’s, it’s okay.” He muttered in his heart, wondering why he didn’t notice that He Yan actually looked like a girl before. He thought it would be hard for people to look at him in a girl’s costume. Now that this guy has let his hair down… he really looks like a girl.

No wonder the young master chose him to go with him.

"Let's go." Chiwu said, "Let's go around the area while it's still light."

The two went out together.

Jiyang City is farther south than Liangzhou, and the weather there is much warmer. Now it is spring again, the sun is slightly rising, and those who are basking in the sun feel warm all over. The willow trees are turning lush green, and the spring scenery is endless.

The hawkers' cries were everywhere. The people of Jiyang originally made a living by fishing. The people were warm and open-minded, and everyone was warm and hospitable. When passing by a fruit vendor, he looked at He Yan for a few more times, and then he had to stuff a few fruits into He Yan's arms, saying, "Girl, take it, no money, I'll give it to you to taste!"

Chiwu: “…”

I was actually called a girl? This pretending is too good!

He Yan took it with a smile, handed a few to Chi Wu, and said, "Jiyang City is really good."

No wonder Liu Buwang's tone was full of nostalgia when he mentioned Jiyang. Thinking of Liu Buwang, He Yan felt a little worried. Now that she was staying with Xiao Jue, how could she find a suitable reason to go outside the city to look for Liu Buwang? Moreover, Liu Buwang's words were vague at that time. Now it seemed that Jiyang City was so big that it was really not easy to find someone.

While thinking about it, Chiwu had already asked the owner of a clay stall nearby: "Hey, bro, please tell me if there is a store selling ready-made clothes nearby?"

The stall owner smiled and said, "From your accent, you are not from Jiyang, are you? You asked the right question." He pointed in a direction, "Xiu Luo Fang in Jiyang, the largest clothing store, with the best and most clothes. If you want to buy clothes, this is the right place!"

Chi Wu thanked the stall owner and walked with He Yan in the direction the stall owner pointed.

He Yan was a little nervous.

Chiwu asked: "What's wrong with you?"

"I just feel a little uncomfortable buying clothes for women." He Yan said.

Chiwu nodded: "It is quite uncomfortable."

In both her past and present lives, He Yan has spent more time as a man than as a woman. But even as a woman, she doesn't care much about dressing up. She wears whatever the mansion prepares for her. If she really has to choose by herself, she won't be able to pick anything. She thought to herself, don't make a fool of yourself, it would be better if she picked something that doesn't suit her.

But no matter how scared you are, you have to go through this journey. Xiuluofang is not far from here, and you will arrive there soon.

The clay figurine stall owner was right. Xiu Luo Fang looked very big, with five floors in total, and looked like a pavilion. The two blue-clothed waiters standing at the door saw them coming and smiled and came forward to greet them. One of them said, "Sir, is this your first time at Xiu Luo Fang?"

He Yan nodded: "Not bad, we want to buy some clothes."

"Excuse me, is it you or this gentleman who wants to pick out clothes?" The clerk pointed upstairs and said, "In our Xiu Luo Fang, the first floor is men's clothes, the second floor is children's clothes, and the remaining three floors are women's clothes." He paused and said, "The higher you go, the more expensive the clothes will be." He smiled and rubbed his hands, "Look..."

"Let's go to the third floor." He Yan made a prompt decision.

"Okay!" The waiter replied with a smile, "Please follow me, both of you."

It was really big here, and each floor was covered with fine carpets, and the decoration was also very beautiful. Unlike the elegance of Shuojing, the layout of Jiyang was more gorgeous and lively, just like the people. There were murals on the walls, which seemed to show people having fun together. It was a long scroll, and the floating market was extremely lively, with people rubbing shoulders with each other, which was very interesting.

Seeing He Yan staring at the mural without blinking, the guy smiled and said, "This is the Water God Festival in Jiyang. We in Jiyang rely on water for our livelihood, and we worship the Water God every March. You two don't look like locals, so if you stay long enough, you can come and watch the Water God Festival together. It's really lively!"

"March?" He Yan asked.

"Yes, it's this month, the Water God Festival is so much fun! Girl, if you go, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!"

The people here were naturally warm and welcoming, and He Yan didn't say anything, but in her heart she was somewhat curious about the Water God Festival he mentioned.

When they reached the third floor, the waiter stopped and said, "This is it, young lady, take a look first."

He Yan nodded. Chi Wu felt a little uncomfortable. This floor was full of women's clothes. It would not be appropriate for a man like him to stay here. So he said to He Yan, "I'll wait for you downstairs. When you've chosen, just send someone to let me know."

He Yan said: "Okay."

Chi Wu left, and the waiter continued to show He Yan around, explaining to her as they looked: "This cherry red antique satin moonlit skirt was the best seller a while ago. Spring is here, and everyone likes to wear red. It looks the most eye-catching when going outings. If you want to attract your lover's attention, this is the best."

"This lotus-colored jade skirt with peony patterns is also nice. Paired with a round fan, it looks like a fairy in a painting. It is pure and elegant, noble and ethereal. It is wonderful!"

"Look at this. This is a colorful embroidered skirt with butterfly patterns. There are a hundred butterflies on it. They were all sewed by our embroiderers. Just imagine, if you wear a skirt like this among the flowers, you will definitely attract a lot of butterflies. Real and fake butterflies will swirl around you. How adorable!"

He Yan: “…”

The clerk of Xiu Luo Fang was so eloquent that He Yan was moved by his words. She felt that every piece of clothing hanging on the wall was unique and exquisite. Even an ordinary woman could look gorgeous in it. She was the only one on this floor at the moment. If more people came to look at the clothes, would the clerk be able to handle it?

Fortunately, she has some discernment and doesn't believe everything. However, after reading the entire third layer, she inevitably felt dizzy. There were just too many and she didn't know which one to choose.

He Yan thought for a moment and looked at the waiter: "Brother, I rarely choose clothes on my own, so I don't know which one to choose for a while. How about you help me find some clothes that won't make a mistake when worn, won't be picky about who wears them, and won't be rude at the banquet?"

The guy was also a smart man. After hearing what He Yan said, he knew that He Yan didn't know how to choose clothes, so he smiled and said, "No problem. Girl, I see that you have fair skin and are different from the girls in Jiyang. With such an outstanding appearance, if you can't choose the right clothes, wouldn't it be a pity to bury your beauty? Otherwise..." He walked to a piece of clothing, picked up a corner of the clothing and showed it to He Yan: "Take a look at this one?"

"This Tianxiang Juanyu skirt is very light and thin, and feels very delicate. The color is aqua blue, which matches your skin tone very well. The style is simple and generous, and you will definitely not be rude if you wear it to a banquet. There is only one of this skirt. If you like it, why not choose this one?"

He Yan walked to the skirt. Compared with the previous ones, this skirt looked much simpler, not so fancy, and felt very comfortable. He Yan smiled and said, "Then this one..."

"I want this skirt." A hand stretched out from the side and snatched the skirt from He Yan's hand.

He Yan looked back and saw a young woman in a yellow skirt standing in front of him. She had an almond face and peach cheeks, and her face was as beautiful as a lotus. However, her skin was a little darker, but her figure was very good and she was quite tall. She didn't even look at He Yan, as if He Yan didn't exist in front of her.

There were two maids in green clothes following behind her. One of them asked, "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you say hello to our young lady when you see her?"

The guy was startled, and quickly bowed and said, "Miss Yan."

The woman named Miss Yan snorted in response.

The guy turned around again, wiped his sweat, and said to He Yan: "Miss, how about...you choose another one?"

Even if he was a fool, he should have understood what happened. No matter where or when, there are always people like this who rely on their family background to act recklessly. The partner was innocent, and He Yan didn't want to embarrass him. Besides, it was just a piece of clothing, so he smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll just choose another one."

"I'm sorry," the clerk turned his back and whispered, "Ms. Yan usually doesn't come to our clothing store. Even if she does, she won't come to the third floor. I don't know what happened today..."

"Nothing." He Yan gave him a reassuring look, "No need to explain, I understand."

"Thank you very much."

The waiter walked up to Miss Yan and said with a smile, "Miss Yan, do you need me to pick out some clothes for you?"

"Who are you to choose for me?" Miss Yan said disdainfully, "Go and let others choose. I don't need your advice."

The waiter retreated to the side and returned to He Yan. Compared to the sarcastic Miss Yan, this one was much more gentle and easy to talk to. He smiled and said, "Young lady, take a look at this? This Su embroidery pipa skirt is waist-pinched and has very wide sleeves. Wearing it is like walking in the clouds. It is also very beautiful. The color is also pear blossom white. When the young lady wears it, she will definitely have a beautiful figure and charming charm."

He Yan laughed when he heard this. This guy is just selling clothes, why did he say such compliments? It made people feel embarrassed. He Yan looked at the clothes and thought they were not bad, so he said, "Then this one will do."

As soon as the words fell, the maid beside Miss Yan reached out and pulled the dress that He Yan was pointing at over to her, saying, "Our Miss wants this one too."

Again?

He Yan frowned slightly. If it happened once, it would be a coincidence, but twice, it would be intentional. But she had never seen this woman before, so why did she target her so often?

She turned around, faced the other person, and asked politely, "Excuse me, young lady, have I offended you in any way?"

"No." Miss Yan looked at her and raised her eyebrows and said, "I'm just picking out a piece of clothing. How can I offend you?"

"One or two is nothing," He Yan smiled, "but won't you choose whatever I choose later?"

Miss Yan pursed her lips and said arrogantly: "It seems that you are not stupid."

"I don't understand, why is the girl like this?"

"You always ask why, that's fine, but I'm not your husband, so how can I help you solve your doubts? I'm here today, even if I buy all the clothes on the third floor, that's my ability. If you don't agree, just buy them. There are so many clothes, there must be one that I don't want. But..." She looked He Yan up and down, her tone was not without contempt, "Look at you, it doesn't seem like you can afford to buy much."

The dress He Yan wore was made by Cheng Lisu. The material was not bad, but she had been traveling for days and was exhausted. She had just come from a guest inn and had not had time to change her clothes. In the eyes of others, she looked dirty and miserable.

How lucky was she that she could meet such a proud young lady even when she went out to buy a wearable piece of clothing. He Yan was always simple and rough when dealing with men. Even if she was not convinced, she would just fight at most. But it was different for women. She couldn't beat a girl in the street.

"The Embroidery Shop is not owned by a girl," He Yan said patiently, "I just want to buy a piece of clothing, please don't cause trouble."

It would have been better if she hadn't said this. Once she said this, the woman was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her hair stood up. Her beautiful eyes widened and her voice became sharper than before. She said, "Looking for trouble? You actually said I was looking for trouble? Where did you come from, country bumpkin? It's fine if you don't know me, but you're still full of dirty words! You want to buy some clothes? You look so shabby, can you afford it?"

He Yan: "I..."

"Young Madam!" a voice interrupted.

He Yan looked back and saw that Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe had found their way here without him noticing. Chi Wu and Fei Nu were following behind them, and there were two little girls in pink clothes with double buns, standing timidly beside them.

Xiao Jue walked forward. The women in Jiyang were beautiful and sexy, and the men were masculine and powerful. Young men like him who were handsome, elegant and heroic were rare.

Miss Yan stared with her eyes wide open.

Xiao Jue stared at her for a while, then suddenly curled his lips and leaned close to He Yan's ear. His voice was very low, but just loud enough for everyone around to hear.

"What's the alarm, ma'am?"

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

Yanyan's skills in fighting at home are all on her uncle. It's so pitiful for her uncle that he has to fight at home himself [covering his face]