It would take at least ten days to half a month to travel from West City to the Capital. Most of the time, they could find an inn to stay in before dark. However, there were times when they could not enter the city in time, so they could only set up a tent on the spot.
Yu Wan woke up before dawn. She wanted to boil medicine for Yan Jiuchao. The more they entered Nanzhao, the hotter the weather became. This was not a good thing for Yan Jiuchao’s illness.
“Madam, let me do it.” When Zi Su heard Yu Wan’s movements, she hurriedly opened her eyes, lifted the blanket, and sat up.
Fu Ling also woke up. She rubbed her eyes and folded the blanket.
Yu Wan instructed, “There’s no need. You guys go take a walk on the streets. I heard from Grandma yesterday that we’re going to walk the mountain path for a day. Just in case we won’t encounter an inn, so prepare our rations.”
“Yes,” Zi Su agreed.
The weather in Nanzhao was hot, and the dry rations could not be put out for long. They were all eaten on the day they were bought. Zi Su and Fu Ling quickly tidied up the room, washed up, and went downstairs to buy dry food.
Although they were rushing, the Princely Heir Consort had never let the Princely Heir suffer any grievances in terms of food, clothing, and accommodation. Although they were dry rations, they were not as simple as steamed buns. She had bought some vegetables, fruits and meat. Ever since the Princely Heir couple did not like that Gu Master, their food had been separated from the Gu Master.
“How much is this?” It was rare for Zi Su to see a vendor selling hawthorn cake. If she remembered correctly, the Princely Heir seemed to like it very much.
The vendor said, “This is the last piece. I’ll sell it to you at a cheap price. Five copper coins!”
Five copper coins was not cheap, but on account that it was the last piece, Zi Su still wanted it.
“Go buy some crab roe pastries,” Zi Su said to Fu Ling. The Princely Heir Consort did not like sourness, nor did she eat anything too sweet. Instead, she could eat a few mouthfuls of salty crab roe crisp.
Fu Ling had no objections. Zi Su is the one responsible for buying, and she was only responsible for carrying them.
Zi Su bought food according to Yan Jiuchao and Yu Wan’s tastes. After that, she also bought some for the rest of the people. After interacting with each other for so many days, Zi Su had long memorized everyone’s appetite and taste.
The Princely Heir told her not to save money and buy whatever she needed. He had never been stingy with her and Fu Ling.
Zi Su was glad that she had met such a good master. She was also glad that she did not listen to the owner when she left the Silk Music Hall.
She was the daughter of an aristocratic family and had only ended up as a slave because of her family’s crimes. However, her words, actions, appearance, and bearing were definitely not something ordinary servants could compare to. When she found out that she was going to be sold to the Young Master Manor, the Hall Master said to her, “Yingying, do you know who you’re going to serve? He’s the master of Yan City. If you follow him, you won’t have to worry about wealth and glory for the rest of your life. Not only that, it won’t be difficult for your family to make a comeback.”
She had never mentioned this to anyone. It was unknown if the Hall Master was being kind or if she was doing this for her own benefit. However, it was undeniable that there was a moment when she was moved. She was once a rich young lady, but she had been reduced to a lowly maidservant. Who didn’t want to return to the past? Who didn’t want to reunite with their family?
But she didn’t do that. It could not be said if she did not dare or was unwilling, but in short, she extinguished that thought.
Fortunately, it was extinguished. Her two masters were really good, good to the servants, and had a better relationship with each other. But they were bad too. They were really so bad that people would tremble in fear.
Zi Su had not forgotten how Su Mu was defeated by her Princely Heir Consort step by step.
“Candied hawthorn,” Fu Ling said after taking a deep breath.
Zi Su glared at her. “Got it. I’ll buy it for you.”
Zi Su bought ten sticks of candied hawthorn and gave them all to Fu Ling. Fu Ling started eating. The two of them returned to the inn. When they passed by a rice and grain shop, a shifty-looking man suddenly rushed out. He bumped into Zi Su and took her money bag.
“Silver!” Zi Su’s beautiful face turned pale.
Fu Ling carried seven to eight large bags in one hand and ten sticks of candied hawthorn in the other. She chased after the thief as if she was flying and kicked him to the ground. The little thief had never been kicked so heavily before. His eyes immediately rolled back and he fainted.
Zi Su heaved a sigh of relief and walked forward to retrieve her purse. Coincidentally, at this moment, another man walked out of the rice and grain shop and came to the little thief. He looked at Zi Su, who had just obtained the pouch, and a trace of amazement flashed across his eyes. He said politely, “So you caught the little thief. Thank you, Miss.”
Zi Su bowed politely.
The man squatted down and found the purse that the little thief had stolen. “He stole mine too.”