Chapter 116

The eighth day of the month.

The weather was fair.

Favorable: traveling, moving, opening a business, signing contracts, planting trees.

Unfavorable: none.

A carriage slowly made its way towards Kan'er Village.

Along the way, the mountains were cold and the water was chilly, yet there were no riotous refugees.

Green shoots emerged from beneath the snow.

The mountains were a patchwork of white and green.

The carriage driver thought this journey was extremely treacherous and prepared to risk his life, but the reward was truly high, so he risked his life anyway.

Unexpectedly, upon entering the jurisdiction of Ming County, he felt a sense of tranquility.

He even saw a tea stall.

An old woman and a young man were running the stall.

On this winter day, steam rose from the hot tea.

The carriage stopped.

A white, elegant hand emerged from the carriage curtain.

Some people exude such grace with just one hand that it sets your imagination soaring.

One would think a stunning beauty was seated inside the carriage.

But when the curtain was drawn back, it revealed an old woman with a face full of wrinkles.

Her face was riddled with wrinkles and dark spots, bearing no resemblance to a beauty.

Yet, when she alighted from the carriage, walked, and sat down, she carried an air that made one think they were seeing a noble lady or exquisite beauty.

She seemed extremely distinguished.

The old woman took a sip of tea and rested for a while before boarding the carriage again.

Meanwhile, the carriage driver inquired,

"How do I get to Kan'er Village? Is it far from here?"

"Not far, just around this mountain. When you see the village entrance bustling with many people, that will be Kan'er Village. Big brother, are you visiting relatives?"

"I'm just delivering someone. I'm the carriage driver, taking a passenger here. I don't know what business my passenger has, it's not my place to pry. Perhaps they are visiting relatives." The driver laughed.

He noticed the old woman carried only a small bundle, likely just a change of clothes.

Yin Ping sat upright in the carriage.

She rose through the ranks from lowly palace maid to senior servant to nursemaid.

Step by step, she climbed the ladder among the inconspicuous servants in the palace harem.

The group of young maids who arrived with her all perished.

Those who came a year before her also died.

Those who came a year after her also died.

She alone survived.

And ultimately left the palace alive.

She was no longer called Ping Zhi.

She changed her name and settled into a suitable marriage under the surname Yin, taking the name Ping.

She thought that after enduring so much suffering, barely surviving by sheer luck, her life would improve.

She didn't seek great wealth or status, only hoping to live out her remaining years in peace.

But unexpectedly, her husband was forced to his death, and she was imprisoned and nearly starved to death by his unfilial sons.

Ultimately, she was accidentally rescued during a rebel uprising.

She used the rebels to eliminate those unfilial sons, but then the rebel leader summoned her and asked her to undertake a task.

To serve as a tutor for two young girls.

From General Zi's tone, she gathered that one girl was older, perhaps to be married off in a year or two, while she was primarily tasked with teaching the younger one.

Having spent a lifetime clawing her way through the palace harem to survive, Yin Ping was highly pragmatic and immediately agreed.

Before coming, she had inquired about the family and was informed by General Zi's people.

When she heard that the young girl's father had once been branded an unfilial son, she was initially repulsed.

She despised unfilial sons, just like her husband's wicked sons.

However, she had no right to be choosy.

She had no opportunity to select.

Even if General Zi said she could refuse, he could simply find someone else, allowing her to return.

But she knew that without General Zi's protection, she, an elderly widow, would not survive long in this chaotic world.

After dividing her late husband's remaining wealth among the elderly and infirm of his clan, she packed a small bundle and boarded the carriage.

The biting cold wind whipped.

The distant mountains rose in layers.

Her graying hair whipped in the wind.