Chapter Four: Temporary Residence in Haozhou
In the east wing of a courtyard house at the end of the alley, Ruan Bi was practicing calligraphy by the window.
Dongxue brought in a basin of steaming water and said, "Miss, Granny Liu just went out and bought a packet of mugwort. I've boiled some mugwort water, so you should soak your feet in it; it can cure chilblains."
Ruan Bi hummed in agreement, put down her pen, took off her shoes and socks, and put her feet into the wooden basin. She immediately felt warmth in every pore, especially in the areas with chilblains, where the itching stopped instantly and replaced with a tingling, numb feeling that was incredibly comfortable.
The journey from the capital to Haozhou takes only three or four days by water and seven or eight days by land. However, because she first detoured to Zhuozhou, then returned to the capital, and then traveled west through Changying, the journey took her more than a month, filled with wind, frost, snow, and rain. Her feet were covered in chilblains, and she suffered terribly.
On the way, she encountered several groups looking for her, some from the Ruan family, some from the Han Prince's residence, and others sent by people she didn't recognize. The Ruan family group was the smallest, silent and only saying that a maid had gone missing. The Han Prince's group was the most arrogant, claiming to be searching for the Han Prince's runaway concubine, stopping carriages along the roadside and searching them, causing chaos. As for the other groups, they were relatively low-key. However, none of them expected that the Fifth Miss Ruan, born into a prestigious family, would be wearing a tattered fur coat, her face smeared with soot, sitting in a drafty oxcart with several lambs on it. One group stopped the oxcart, but upon lifting the felt blanket, they smelled a strong stench of sheep and quickly retreated in disgust.
After passing Changying, fewer people were looking for her. However, the freezing weather made the journey exceptionally difficult. When they reached Caizhou, heavy snow fell, and she and Dongxue huddled together, shivering uncontrollably, almost delirious…
Fortunately, all of that is in the past, and the sun is shining brightly outside the window now.
Dongxue leaned against the table, twirling a strand of hair with her fingers, looking at the wallpaper on the wall, and said, "Girl, why don't you repaint the walls of your room tomorrow?" "No need, I don't even know how long I'll be staying here."
"It still needs some covering, to make it look better. This place is really too shabby, it's unfair to the young lady."
"It's just a few days, no need to complain. We'll arrange a better place to stay once we get to Miaoxiang Kingdom," Ruan Bi said enthusiastically. She had traveled to Dali before and loved Yeyu Ancient City. The people there were simple and honest, hospitable, and women had a relatively high social status.
Dongxue paused, puzzled, and asked, "Miss, what exactly is this Miaoxiang Kingdom like? Why does it always sound like a place where immortals live, even though you've never been there? How do you know so much about it?"
These questions stumped Ruan Bi. Just as she was choosing her words, she heard a loud banging on the door.
Dongxue was delighted and said, "It's Zhou Zhuzi who's back," and turned to walk out.
Ruan Bi grabbed her arm and said, "Zhou Zhuzi just went to Sizhou. Even if he can get here today, it will definitely be after noon." Dong Xue's face paled: "Who could it be?"
"I don't know. Don't open the door. Let Granny Liu open it." Ruan Bi said, pulling her legs out of the basin, drying them, and putting her shoes back on. Just as she finished, Granny Liu came out of the main room, hurried to the window, and asked nervously, "Miss, who could it be?"
Ruan Bi calmly said, "Granny, don't be nervous. Maybe it's just a neighbor."
Granny Liu nodded and walked towards the gate.
Ruan Bi closed the window, stood by it, and listened to the sounds outside.
The door creaked open, followed by a chattering woman's voice: "Oh dear, Aunt Liu, why have you kept your door closed for the past two weeks since you came back from the capital? You haven't come to visit at all. Have you made a fortune and forgotten all of us neighbors?"
Dongxue pressed her hand to her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's Sister-in-law Luo! I thought it was someone else." Granny Liu said with a smile, "Even if you've become rich, you can't forget your old neighbors, can you? I just caught a cold on the way and I'm not feeling well. My son is out, so I'm staying home to be lazy. I plan to go out again in a couple of days."
“I knew it! How could Aunt Liu be such a snob? Auntie, this is rice cake my family made for the New Year. Let my Dong-ge try it; it's not very good, so please don't be offended.” “What a coincidence! Dong-ge was just asking for rice cake, and you, Second Sister-in-law, brought it over. Then I won't stand on ceremony.” “Don't be so polite, we're neighbors, no need for formalities.” After a pause, Second Sister-in-law Luo's voice became a little hesitant. “Aunt Liu, there's something I'm really embarrassed to ask. I just realized I'm out of salt while cooking at home. Could I borrow a spoonful from you? I'll return it when I buy salt tomorrow.” “It's just a spoonful of salt, no need to return it. Wait a moment, I'll get it for you right away.” Aunt Liu said, going into the kitchen on the far west side of the back to get the salt. Second Sister-in-law Luo said loudly, “Auntie, where's your wife? Why isn't she well?”
Ruan Bi heard faint footsteps approaching the east wing and quickly pulled Dong Xue behind the wall.
A moment later, the window was pushed open a crack, and a triangular eye darted around, revealing three parts shrewdness and seven parts curiosity.
Granny Liu brought out some salt from the kitchen and saw Luo Ersao peeking through the window. She immediately became displeased and coughed lightly with a sullen face. Luo Ersao quickly turned around, smiling awkwardly, and made up a story: "I saw a figure in the east wing just now and thought it was your wife, so I thought I'd say hello. But your wife is a bit shy and hid."
"Sister-in-law Luo, you must be seeing things," said Granny Liu with a stern face. "My wife is in the main room with Dong-ge'er. There's no one in the east wing."
"Really? Maybe I misread it. Oh dear, Aunt Liu, I have to go back now. The whole family is waiting for me to cook dinner. I'll come back to talk to you another day." As she spoke, Luo Ersao nimbly stepped forward, took the salt from Liu Mama's hand, and walked out the door. Just as she stepped out, she heard the door slam shut. She stopped, her smile vanished, and she spat fiercely, "Isn't she just an old woman who serves others? What's with all the arrogance!" Not satisfied with just spitting, she spat on the door again before she felt better.
Granny Liu stood close to the wooden door, listening to her footsteps clattering away into the distance, before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
He rushed to the east wing and asked Ruan Bi with a worried expression, "Miss, what should we do?"
Ruan Bi reopened the window and said casually, "It's nothing. I guess she just saw that we keep the door closed all the time and was curious, so she found an excuse to come and take a look."
Dongxue and Granny Liu exchanged a glance and asked, "Are you sure it wasn't someone else who came to our door?"
Ruan Bi smiled and shook her head, saying, "Those people came to our door and just broke in. Did we really need to send someone over to test the waters? But there are too many people in this alley, and they're all busybodies. It's not suitable for us to live here. Let's head south as soon as Zhou Zhuzi comes back." Seeing that Dongxue and Granny Liu were still worried, she added, "Of course, you can stay here and live here too."
Dongxue frowned in displeasure and said angrily, "Girl, what are you saying! From now on, wherever you go, I will go too. Don't even think about leaving me."
After saying that, he smiled and looked at Granny Liu.
Unlike Dongxue, Granny Liu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Dongge'er and I will naturally follow you, Miss."
Ruan Bi naturally understood her concerns. "Let's talk about it when Zhou Zhuzi comes back."
At Shenshi (3-5 PM), Zhou Zhuzi returned, travel-worn and without even taking a sip of water. He went straight into the east wing and said, "Fifth Miss, I've inquired in Sizhou. Ships heading south to Guangzhou can be hired at any time. However, I heard from some ship owners at the docks who travel to Guangzhou that Jiaozhi (Vietnam) is in turmoil, with fighting every day. There are also Jiaozhi pirates roaming the coast of Guangzhou, so it's not very safe."
Ruan Bi frowned.
Jiaozhi (交趾) was ancient Vietnam, bordering Guangxi and Yunnan. The route to Miaoxiang (妙翔) involved passing through Guangzhou and Guangxi. If Jiaozhi is at war, then the journey to Miaoxiang will be temporarily impossible. What should be done?
“Young lady, I’ve also heard something else.”
"What's up?"
Zhou Zhuzi hesitated for a moment before saying, "I heard that the Emperor issued an edict to commend you a couple of days ago."
Ruan Bi asked, puzzled, "Me?"
"Yes, it is the girl."
Dongxue was completely confused. She stamped her foot and said, "Zhou Zhuzi, explain yourself clearly."
"I don't understand it either. I just heard some merchants from the capital say at the Sizhou Inn that Miss Ruan Wu prayed for her mother's well-being and entered the Yuxu Temple to cultivate for three years. The Emperor believed that her filial piety moved Heaven and Earth and issued a special decree to commend her. He even said that Prince Jin personally went to the Yuxu Temple to issue the decree. Now everyone in the capital praises Miss Ruan Wu as a great filial daughter."
The winter snow remained shrouded in mist, blinking as it looked at Ruan Bi.
Ruan Bi understood, and overwhelmed with emotion, she was speechless for a moment. No one else would do this, nor would anyone else be capable of doing it.
He arranged for a young woman named Ruan Wu to stay at the Yuxu Temple. Did that mean he could live under a different identity? After a long silence, she looked up at the three people who were staring at her expectantly and said, "Let's stay in Haozhou for now."
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