CH 8

C8 – The Age of Turbulence

Tang Yue utilized his pot and rice to cook a sizable portion of chicken and wild vegetable porridge. Both he and Shan indulged in the meal until they were satiated and couldn’t move.

After completing his breakfast, the handsome young man got ready to depart. Tang Yue wished to accompany them since more company meant less boredom. Regrettably, the other party had no intention of taking them along. They bid farewell and left first.

“Well, given that they are of noble birth, we may run into them again in the future.” Tang Yue and Shan gathered their belongings and relocated them to their cart.

As they walked towards the cart, they were taken aback by what they saw. A horse was tethered to their cart, with brown fur and a sturdy build. It was trampling on the surrounding grass and flowers.

Tang Yue approached the horse, raised his eyebrows, and smiled, “What’s the situation? Where did this horse come from? It appears to be friendly and warm-hearted. I like it!”

He requested the mountain to transform the bull into a horse. With a carriage, their journey would be expedited.

Shan glanced at the horse with apprehension and shook his head, “No, no, young master. If this horse was abandoned by that noble person, it could be problematic if we don’t inquire.”

Tang Yue looked at him speechlessly. “Do you think a group of people would inadvertently forget about a horse, especially one tied to our cart?” He stroked the horse’s neck and greeted the animal fondly, but the horse spat on his face.

Encouraging Shan, Tang Yue advised, “Don’t hesitate, return the horse to its owner as soon as possible. This will give you a chance to locate him, and that would be a wise move!”

Shan, who was cautious by nature, couldn’t ignore the wisdom in Tang Yue’s words. Once he returned to the Marquis’s Mansion, he would report the matter to the head of the family who would undoubtedly handle it.

The use of horses made their journey significantly faster, and they enjoyed sightseeing along the way, eventually arriving in the imperial city five days later.

Tang Yue hopped off the carriage and gazed up at the towering city wall. The middle of the wall had two massive and beautiful characters that he couldn’t recognize.

Despite any obstacles they may encounter at the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion, or any possible demons or devils he may encounter, Tang Yue was deeply moved and willing to endure it all. He would rather face hardships than experience the bumpy and grueling journey.

The journey had taken a toll on Tang Yue, and he felt as though he was falling apart.

As Tang Yue was lost in thought, a young child, approximately six months old, ran towards them and leaped onto Shan’s body, clinging tightly to him.

The child, crying with joy, exclaimed, “Shan, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting here for six months, eagerly awaiting your return day and night.”

Tang Yue shivered with excitement, feeling goosebumps all over his body. Despite the significant age difference, he couldn’t help but imagine a romantic story about the union of the heavens and the earth.

Shan comforted Tang Yue with a pat on the back, then gently pulled him away saying, “Please come and meet the young master without being impolite.”

The boy’s elation subsided, and he quickly knelt down and kowtowed three times to Tang Yue. He acted so swiftly that Tang Yue couldn’t have stopped him even if he wanted to.

“You don’t have to bow…” Tang Yue thought to himself, fearing for his safety.

Tang Yue helped the boy up, realizing he would have to get used to being treated with such respect in the future. Otherwise, he would stand out and be perceived as an uncultured person.

The boy glanced at Tang Yue from the corner of his eye, seemingly wanting to look but too timid to do so. He was thin and had a dark complexion, and his eyes were sharp.

As always, elderly people loved children. Tang Yue gave the boy a handful of candy and asked for his name.

Tang Yue had purchased several items during his journey. He bought two new sets of clothes for himself and Shan, as well as gifts for the unknown adults and children back home. He spent all the money he had earned.

On his way through the last county town, he purchased a candy that tasted similar to modern brown sugar – sticky, sweet, and greasy with a faint aroma of rice. Despite its expensive price, a small packet cost him as much as two sets of clothes.

The little boy stuttered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence. He gazed at the candy in his hand and shivered all over.

Tang Yue was unaware that despite the comparatively better treatment of domestic slaves in this era, it was only slightly better than that of the slave society. They were valued less than a horse and could still be traded at will. In most cases, if the master provided them with a meal, it was considered a good day if they weren’t killed arbitrarily.

“He was called ‘He’, and it was Shan who helped him escape from the encirclement. Later, he advised Little He seriously, “Young master is kind. Keep what the master gave you and remember to be thankful.”

“En!” He vigorously nodded and chose the biggest candy, stuffing it into Shan’s mouth. He licked the smallest one a few times before safeguarding it like a treasure in his arms.

“So delicious!” The old man and young man chuckled until their eyes almost disappeared.

Tang Yue inwardly sighed. As he grew older, his heart had softened more than when he was young. He truly did not want to witness this scene.

However, he was cognizant of the fact that in this era of political turmoil, there were many more children who were even more destitute than this child. Although he had seen several on his journey, he couldn’t change anything alone.