Chapter 62 - Teahouse

The sun gradually went down replacing the sky with a beautiful orange canvas signifying nighttime was fast approaching.

In the carriage, Liu Weimin asked Jiang Ying Yue if they were to stop to have dinner and stay at an inn or continue the journey. "Yue Yue, are we having dinner in the carriage or are we stopping by somewhere for dinner? And are we staying at an inn for the night or are we continuing the journey?"

Jiang Ying Yue answered as if she had planned this long ago. "We are going to have dinner outside and stay at an inn there too. What do you think?"

Liu Weimin shrugged his shoulders indicating he did not mind anything. He was used to long journeys anyway as he always travel with his father for business purpose. Therefore, he did not mind even if they spend the night in the carriage.

"I don't mind. Anything will do for me." He said nonchalantly.

Jiang Ying Yue nodded and asked the coachman to stop them at the nearby town.

According to her master, there would be a town near them after half a day's journey if they traveled with Ignium horses which they did. So, according to her calculation, they must be near the small town.

Jiang Ying Yue had long discussed her journey with Yan Hua before she departed. They went through everything meticulously.

Initially, it wasn't that Yan Hua didn't want to follow and send her all the way to the bottom of Mount Trux but it was her that rejected his offer. She reason was: She would like to travel on her own and learn everything from this trip without her master's help- even if it was just sending her. She wanted to experience everything on her own.

Thus, Yan Hua could only reluctantly agree to her wish.

He had to agree that Jiang Ying Yue's reasoning was correct. It was better for her to experience everything all by herself without his help even on the smallest part. From the start till the end of the journey, she would be all by herself; despite now the fact that she Liu Weimin with her.

But it didn't matter much. They both could learn together and rely on each other for survival.

It did not take long before a small town came to view.

It was a lot smaller than both the capital city and her town near the mountain. Although by now, she would call it a city instead of a town. It was clearly almost as big as the capital city alright? So how could it be a town?

This town was busy albeit it being small.

Her luxurious carriage of course drew onlookers but they merely reacted a bit before resuming whatever they were doing beforehand.

From the look of it, Jiang Ying Yue deduced that this town must be a stop point for merchants and mercenaries. They would stop here for a bit of time and then leave unlike her city where people would stay there for weeks or even years.

The carriage halted and both Jiang Ying Yue and Liu Weimin got down the carriage.

They then got into an inn to book their rooms first before going for dinner.

When they entered double storey inn, the bustling noise in the inn immediately quieted down.

Why? Because the guests that were having tea and wine there all saw a handsome young man, in a dark green robe entered the entrance. Beside him was a young girl in a white robe with a embroidered white veil covering her face.

Seeing youngsters here wasn't a rare occurrence for them as some of them would travel with their parents and mercenary group to gain experience outside and usually, they were of middle class families but these two clearly exuded noble auras.

Their temperaments and clothes already gave away that they were nobles instead of just a normal rich merchant.

Although both Jiang Ying Yue and Liu Weimin tried to be low-key with their clothing by wearing something plain but the material clearly showed the quality of it.

That inn was the best one in the whole town so the guests there were of middle-class and above. Some of the rich merchants immediately recognize the material of their clothes.

Jiang Ying Yue did not care about the look given by the people around her. All she knew was that she was famished. She wanted to book the room and go eat!

Arriving at the counter, she asked politely. "Hello sir. May I know if there's any room available for tonight?"

The teenager at the counter was stunned. Although she was covering her face, her voice alone was enough to make his heart beating wildly. He looked at Jiang Ying Yue and forgot to even blink.

Seeing this, Liu Weimin furrowed his brows. *Ehem* He cleared his throat loudly; afraid that that kid wouldn't hear him.

He almost forgot that he was a teenager too for a moment. Liu Weimin was only 17 ah!

The teenager realized his mistake and he blushed.

"Yes we have miss. Would you like to book the normal room or our vip room?"

"Give us 2 vip rooms and one normal room please." Jiang Ying Yue ordered.

The process was fast and they went out of the inn in no time.

Walking with Jiang Ying Yue, Liu Weimin was puzzled. He felt like asking Jiang Ying Yue and he did just that. "Yue Yue, what are the 3 rooms for? Is there anyone else following us? Or...." Looking around as if he was afraid someone else would hear, he whispered. "Or is that room for your secret lover?" He made an evil laugh.

Jiang Ying Yue really felt like smacking this guy's head. In front of others, he had that strict and stern aura so why was it in front of her he was actually this playful?

"What secret lover? That room is for our coachman. We can't let him just sleep outside can we? The weather is a cold now and it'll be cruel to do so. He is a human being too. He must be really tired from driving us around and this is the least we could do for him." She smiled and walked away.

Liu Weimin slowed down on his tracks and looked at the girl's back.

He then recalled back of what she said just now. Before this, he had never thought of that. To him, the coachman was just a servant. Although he did not treat his servants badly, he had never treat them that kindly either.

He never even thought of what they would do when their master was away. But, this 13 year-old girl had thought of it.

Liu Weimin really respected her from the bottom of his heart. This girl, was someone with a stern personality but she was kind to others. But she was far from being weak. She knew how to treat others nicely and repay back when someone treated her evilly.

He felt really proud of being her friend.

Liu Weimin followed behind Jiang Ying Yue curiously of her destination when he saw her going towards the parking area and approaching the coachman who was lying on top of his seat.

The coachman heard footsteps coming and he immediately sprang up from his seat upon seeing Jiang Ying Yue.

"Ah y-young miss. Is there anything you need help with?"

Jiang Ying Yue stopped in front of the carriage and asked. "Why didn't you go to the public bath area? You can have a bath and sleep there too." She asked curiously. Usually, coachmen would go to the public bath place near the carriage's parking lot to take bath and sleep at a cheap price.

The coachman scratched his head, embarrassed. "I will go there later on to take bath young miss. I will just be sleeping here tonight. Is that okay?" He asked for her permission.

Jiang Ying Yue furrowed her brows.

The coachman thought that she was angry. He felt really nervous.

But he was completely wrong. Jiang Ying Yue was currently wondering why would he want to spend the night here in the cold. Unless he wanted to safe money.

"Why do you want to sleep here?" She asked.

The man answered honestly with a meek voice. "Actually, I am saving money. My wife will be giving birth to our first child soon so I want to save as much money as I can. Sleeping here will save me 10 copper coins."

As expected she was right!

What a good man he was. She was touched. She knew the man wasn't lying based on his facial expression.

His salary was 10 taels per month and he was willing to sleep outside just to save 10 copper coins? She felt sad.

She then said, "Coachman Wu, that is your name right? I have booked a room for you tonight at the inn. Just tell my name and they will lead you to your room."

She took out 100 taels and gave it to him. "This is for you. Have a proper dinner with his money and the rest just consider it as my gift to you."

The man was about to refuse when he heard her said, "Just accept and don't refuse it. You deserve it for your good work." With that, Jiang Ying Yue did not wait for him to reply before walking away.

Coachman Wu, a 27 year-old man looked at the money in his hands.

His eyes got watery and he muttered softly. "Thank you young miss for your grace."

Walking side by side with her, Liu Weimin looked intently at this kindhearted friend of his. She clearly cared for the people around her but she just did not know how to express it with words. She could only do it through her actions.

He shook his head and smiled.