NOVEL NEXT WORLD 2.2
Liu Chuirong lowered her eyes and leaned against the cave wall. The sound of rain continued outside, a gentle patter that lulled her into a hazy sleep by the fire, her heart weighed down with uncertainty about the future.
Shen Jingzhi stood up and glanced at the sleeping Liu Chuirong and Lvzhu before silently leaving the cave. Qingzhou is dozens of miles from the capital. By now, their carriage has likely been looted clean. If these two weak women travel alone, they’ll suffer greatly.
Reaching into his robes, he took out a jade token—one custom-made for the Han Tribunal—and left it beside their belongings.
After considering his options, Shen Jingzhi decided he couldn’t take them back to Qingzhou himself, as he still had unfinished business there. But he couldn’t just leave them to fend for themselves either.
At dawn, Madam Liu, who usually left town early with her ox cart loaded with dry goods, spotted a lone figure standing by the deserted path.
She was instantly alarmed. Could it be a man-eating mountain spirit? Not daring to lift her head, she urged her ox to charge ahead, hoping to rush past.
But to her horror, the “mountain spirit” seemed to be following her.
“Madam, madam.” Shen Jingzhi called out politely, noting how she kept her eyes tightly shut.
Realizing he was human, Madam Liu let out a relieved breath and scolded, “You brat! Why on earth would you scare an old lady like that?”
Shen Jingzhi hurriedly apologized, “Madam, I sincerely apologize. My sister and I were thrown off a cliff when our horse was spooked. She needs to reach the capital. Would you be so kind as to give her a ride? Here’s some travel fare.”
He handed her a heavy pouch of silver. Feeling its weight, Madam Liu’s face lit up with joy. No wonder I heard magpies singing this morning—I’ve stumbled upon a walking fortune!
“Alright, alright! No problem! I’ll make sure your sister gets to the capital safe and sound,” she promised cheerfully.
The morning sun peeked over the horizon, birds chirped, and the fresh air carried the scent of earth and leaves—a serene and picturesque scene.
Satisfied, Shen Jingzhi returned to the cave and woke Lvzhu, who in turn gently shook Liu Chuirong awake.
“Miss, wake up. We need to get going. Madam is still waiting for us at home.”
Liu Chuirong stirred, glancing around, but Shen Jingzhi was nowhere in sight. Realizing he had already left, she felt an unspoken relief. That man is no ordinary person. It’s best to avoid unnecessary entanglements in the future.
“What’s this?” she asked, looking at the dagger and token Lvzhu handed her in confusion.
“Master Shen asked me to give these to you. He said the dagger is for self-defense, and the token is for seeking help in the capital. He told us to find someone named Mo Ran at the Han Tribunal if we run into trouble—he’s an old acquaintance of Master Shen and will help us. Also, he left this jade pendant, saying it might come in handy at a critical moment.”
Liu Chuirong took the token and pendant. The white jade token bore the carved character Shen in bold strokes, exuding a commanding presence. The jade pendant was smooth, translucent, and carried an unmistakable air of prestige.
The Han Tribunal was the most powerful investigative body in the capital, overseeing the three major judicial offices. Even in distant Qingzhou, Liu Chuirong had heard of its reputation and understood the significance of this token and pendant. She instructed Lvzhu to store them carefully before climbing up the rock face beside the cave.
At the top of the cliff, Madam Liu immediately recognized the two young women Shen Jingzhi had mentioned and rushed to greet them.
“You must be the ones Master Shen told me to wait for!” she said eagerly, reaching for the bundle in Lvzhu’s hands to help load it onto the ox cart.
“No need, madam. May I ask your name? We’ll be troubling you on the journey.”
“Just call me Aunt Liu. You, young lady, look like you’re from a noble family—so fair and delicate.” Madam Liu patted Liu Chuirong’s hand as she helped her onto the ox cart.
The ride was far from comfortable compared to a carriage, but the fresh air and forest scenery offered a unique charm.
Madam Liu, a lover of stories, entertained the girls with various tales along the way. At the most suspenseful parts, she would deliberately pause, leaving Lvzhu hanging and begging her to continue.
With Lvzhu’s playful antics and Madam Liu’s storytelling, the journey was anything but dull.
Three days before her elder sister’s wedding, Liu Chuirong and Lvzhu finally arrived in the capital.
The ox cart blocked both sides of the passage, and impatient people waiting to enter the city shouted, “You two outsiders, how long are you planning to block the way?!”
It had been years since Liu Chuirong last returned to the capital. Seeing the guards at the gate conducting strict inspections, she wondered, Since when did the checks become this strict?
As their turn approached, Liu Chuirong motioned for Lvzhu to hand her the travel permit. However—
Lvzhu suddenly grabbed her mistress’s sleeve, her expression panicked. She glanced around anxiously and quickly told Aunt Liu not to wait for them and to go ahead into the city.
“What’s wrong? Why are you acting so secretive?” Liu Chuirong was equally puzzled by Lvzhu’s reaction.
Lvzhu pulled Liu Chuirong aside, hiding near the side of the city wall, and whispered in her ear, “Miss, our travel permit is missing.”
The moment she heard this, Liu Chuirong felt a loud buzzing in her head, her vision darkened for a moment, and panic surged in her heart. What should we do now?!
Lvzhu quickly supported her, afraid she might collapse.
Liu Chuirong recalled the robbery by mountain bandits earlier and realized the permit must have been lost during the chaos.
Now, calling for someone from the Ding’an Marquis Manor to pick her up was not an option. Her mother would certainly question her, and telling the truth would only lead to a scolding, which wouldn’t solve the problem.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Chuirong forced herself to calm down. Without a travel permit, how can we enter the city?
Lvzhu observed the long queue of commoners at the gate. Trying to blend in was unwise—it could lead to trouble and even implicate her mistress.
The Weiyuan Army guards at the city gate were still inspecting travelers. In the queue, two elderly women chatted about how refugees from the north were being denied entry without permits, as the authorities feared spies might sneak in.
Liu Chuirong’s heart sank further. What now?!
Lvzhu was equally flustered, wringing her hands. “What do we do? It’ll be dark soon.”
“Miss, should we send for someone from the manor to fetch us?”
Liu Chuirong shook her head. That won’t work. If it were that easy, the refugees wouldn’t be stuck here.
Then, an idea struck her. She reached into her sleeve and retrieved the jade pendant Shen Jingzhi had given her before departing. She slipped past the crowd and presented it to one of the Weiyuan Army soldiers guarding the gate.
The soldier took the jade pendant and examined it. The fine texture and intricate craftsmanship were impressive, but what truly startled him was the emblem of the Han Yasi engraved on the front.
“Officer, I lost my travel permit. Could you make an exception for me?”
To avoid drawing attention, Liu Chuirong wore a conical hat that concealed her features. The guard’s expression changed instantly when he saw the emblem.
He lifted his gaze to scrutinize Liu Chuirong. She was dressed in a white cloak, with a sheer veil obscuring her face. Her eyes, visible through the fabric, were unreadable.
“Please wait a moment, miss.” The soldier, no longer impatient, spoke in a noticeably more respectful tone.
He then instructed a fellow guard to take his place and turned to head inside the city gate.
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T/N:
“No wonder I heard magpies singing this morning—I’ve stumbled upon a walking fortune!”- This phrase is a humorous way of saying that someone has encountered good luck or a financial windfall. In Chinese culture, magpies are considered symbols of good fortune and happiness.