It was still several tens of li from Qingyuan Town to the prefectural yamen. This time, Gu Qingyun and her companions did not rush as they had the past two days, instead maintaining an even pace and entering the prefectural capital before the city gates closed.
“Thank you, officers, for your protection along the way. Please accept this small token of our appreciation.” Upon parting, Steward Wei presented each of them with an embroidered purse.
Gu Qingyun raised an eyebrow as she accepted the purse. Following the incident with the shanxiao, she truly had saved the master and his servant.
Yet even without the pair, they would have had to make the journey anyway; it was merely an incidental favor, and accepting so much silver made her feel a little sheepish.
She pulled two Evil-Warding Talismans from her bosom and handed them over. “I won’t take your gift for nothing. You’ve seen how effective these talismans are, so consider them a gift from me.”
Flattered and overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, the Wei master and servant hurriedly accepted them. “Many thanks.”
“By the way, is that pitch-black magical artifact of yours for sale?” Steward Wei asked somewhat hesitantly, butterflies fluttering in his stomach as he wondered whether asking an expert to sell her magical artifact might offend her.
Gu Qingyun looked at him for a good while, then shook her head. “That item is not for sale.”
At those words, Steward Wei’s face fell with disappointment.
“However, I can give you a piece,” Gu Qingyun added, producing the scrap piece of lightning-struck wood from her pouch and handing it to him.
Her words set Steward Wei’s heart pounding wildly. Taking it with great excitement, he stroked it over and over. “Thank you, Officer! Thank you, thank you so much!”
Head Constable Liu eyed the item in Steward Wei’s hands with no small amount of envy. Sigh, having money truly is wonderful.
Gu Qingyun pondered for a moment before adding, “This small piece of lightning-struck wood is awkward to wear. If you aren't in a hurry to leave, you can leave it with me, and I’ll polish it into beads so you can carry it with you.”
Steward Wei nodded eagerly. “That would be wonderful! We won’t let you go through the trouble for free; we will pay for the craftsmanship.”
“All right. Come pick it up tomorrow morning, and bring your own red cord.” Gu Qingyun took back the small piece of wood. Having finalized the arrangement, she departed with Head Constable Liu and the others.
This time, Gu Qingyun and the others found a reasonably priced inn with modest accommodations and checked in directly. Head Constable Liu looked at Gu Qingyun and said, “Since there are no outsiders tonight, let’s find a proper restaurant to feast and not worry about acting all refined. Being around the Wei family these past two days, I haven’t even had my fill.”
Gu Qingyun rubbed her belly and nodded ruefully. “Uncle Liu, me too. The food at that fancy inn was exquisite, but the portions were far too meager. These past two nights, I had to sneakily stave off my hunger with steamed buns in the dead of night.”
“Oh, wow! Qingyun, you were actually hoarding food and eating alone? You could’ve spared a couple of those buns for us; we were starving too!” Zhao Si hollered from the side.
Head Constable Liu booked five rooms with the shopkeeper and handed them their keys. “All right, quit your bickering. Everyone head back to your rooms, put down your luggage, change into cleaner clothes, and tonight we’ll treat ourselves to a good meal. We’ll go to one of those ordinary food stalls. The owners there have family recipes honed over decades; the flavor is guaranteed to be superb.”
“All right, I’ll head back to my room and freshen up first,” Gu Qingyun replied, walking toward the room on the far right.
After setting down her belongings, she changed into a crisp martial outfit. Picking up the purse from the Wei family, she emptied its contents: a full four silver ingots, plus a banknote for one hundred taels.
She held the banknote and inspected it repeatedly. With this much money, she could buy plenty of things in the prefectural capital to bring home.
With that in mind, she stored the banknote into the Blazing Sun Saber’s space, returned the remaining forty taels to the purse, tucked it securely into her robes, and stepped out of the room.
As soon as she opened the door, her eyes met Wu Yong’s, who was just stepping out of his room as well. “Yo, Qingyun! How are you so fast? I thought you girls needed more time to get ready, but you’re even quicker than me.”
Gu Qingyun turned around and locked her door. “Uncle Wu, what do I have to fuss over? I just changed my clothes and came out. Let’s head out for dinner early; I’m famished.”
Wu Yong grinned and nodded. “We’ll go as soon as the other three come out. I’m starving too.” Seeing that no one was around, he leaned closer to Gu Qingyun. “This trip was a massive score for us! With this silver, once I get back, my wife will pamper me to high heaven. I’m definitely going to enjoy a few comfortable days.”
Gu Qingyun subtly took a few steps to the side. Is Uncle Wu seriously showing off his marriage right now?
“Uncle Wu, when you go back this time, buy Auntie some scented balm and hairpins. She’ll treat you even better.”
“Don’t you worry, I definitely will. I’m not like Head Constable Liu and the rest of them. Every time I travel out, I always bring back little trinkets for my wife and kids. My wife dotes on me the most; every time I return home from outside, she cooks up tonics to nourish me.”
Gu Qingyun chuckled. “Uncle Wu has the right idea. ‘He who cherishes his wife shall thrive and prosper.’ Things will only keep getting better for you.”
“What are you two whispering about? Come on, let’s go eat,” Head Constable Liu called out as he walked over.
“Nothing much! Qingyun was just praising how well I treat my wife at home, bringing back little gifts whenever I travel.”
Head Constable Liu gave a perfunctory laugh. “What’s there to praise about that? She’s your own wife; it doesn’t matter if you don’t bring anything. It isn’t easy for us to earn money out here, so some expenses are just unnecessary.”
Gu Qingyun smiled and said nothing more. Most men shared that mindset. It was someone else’s family affair, so there was no need to argue.
Leaving the inn, the group strolled down the street. It was dusk, and crowds were wandering about, the atmosphere thick with the lively buzz of daily life.
In just the brief time they had been walking, Gu Qingyun heard people mention Caixiang Pavilion and Yuehua Pavilion dozens of times.
During her last visit, she had never even heard of these two establishments. She hadn't anticipated people discussing pleasure houses and brothels so openly on the streets. Moral standards were truly in decline.
Lost in thought, she accidentally bumped into Zhang San ahead of her. She followed the direction of his and the others’ gazes.
Leaning against the railings of a three-story wooden building were several alluring young women. When Gu Qingyun’s eyes met one of them, the woman even threw her a flirtatious wink.
Seeing the leering, starry-eyed looks on Zhang San and Head Constable Liu, Gu Qingyun cleared her throat with a dry cough. In that cough, she infused a strand of spiritual energy, snapping them back to their senses. “Uncle Liu, what are you looking at?” Gu Qingyun asked knowingly.
Head Constable Liu laughed hollowly. “The scenery in the prefectural capital is truly fine. Come, let’s go eat first.”
Gu Qingyun gave a cool smirk, showing him no mercy. “Aiyo, Uncle Liu, do you remember the ‘scenery’ Uncle Wang went to see a while ago? It wasn’t much different from the scenery here in the prefectural capital, and he ended up bedridden at home for seven whole days before recovering.”
“Uncle, do you still remember the County Magistrate’s grim face? We have to be careful when we’re away from home. Don’t you think these women are a little too beautiful?”
Head Constable Liu shuddered. “Qingyun, are you saying...”
Gu Qingyun spread her hands innocently. “I didn’t say anything.”
Head Constable Liu and the others dared not look any longer, suddenly feeling as if gazing at those beauties any longer would get them devoured alive. They quickly bowed their heads and scurried away.
Gu Qingyun turned back to glance at the pretty women on the upper balcony and sighed. These women truly lived tragic, ill-fated lives.
The group continued walking. After barely a li, Wu Yong tapped her shoulder and signaled for her to look off to the side.
She turned her head to look and was dumbfounded. On the balcony of a pleasure house stood several tall, slender, and exquisitely handsome young men. Some were tall, some shorter, but without exception, their faces were strikingly attractive.
Gu Qingyun stared at their figures. She realized that after only a few months away, she barely recognized the prefectural capital. The city was truly nurturing, giving rise to so many beauties.
“Ahem! Qingyun, you’re drooling,” Wu Yong teased with a sly grin from beside her.
Gu Qingyun blushed crimson. “How could that be? I was admiring the architecture of this building, not looking at anything else! Uncle Wu, were you the one caught staring and now you’re trying to pin it on me?”
With that, she shook her head and strode straight ahead, leaving Wu Yong staring blankly behind her. Listen to that—can a decent person even say something like that with a straight face?
Rate on N.U.
