Chapter 102

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Mo Li hurriedly stretched out a hand pointing toward the back courtyard.

Shaowei walked quickly over, Zhan Zhan flying even further ahead.

The not-large back courtyard had no lamps lit, dim and unclear; Shaowei had just fixed her gaze to search when she first heard a familiar cow cry: "Moo—"

Shaowei ran to that crude ox shed, the green ox stepping forward a few steps to meet her, gently pressing its head against Shaowei, a low moo sounding from its mouth.

Shaowei put one arm around the green ox's neck, while bending down to use her other hand to feel beneath the ox's broken hoof, and actually touched a section of icy-cold hard iron hoof; for a moment both startled and delighted, she hurriedly turned her head to ask: "Where did this iron hoof come from? Who thought of this method? It fits so perfectly!"

Zhao Qie'an approached carrying a wind lantern: "It was Mo Li."

Mo Li, following close behind, nodded his head, raising one hand high to claim credit.

Shaowei looked at Mo Li with great surprise, only feeling this raccoon made her feel strange; Mo Li ought to be renamed Mo Li (Strange Raccoon).

She was just about to ask Mo Li a question, but was bumped back a step by the green ox; the green ox excitedly urged her on, raising a front hoof and bringing it down to stamp.

Shaowei understood, and so led the green ox out from under the shed, one person and one ox circling in the not-large back courtyard; the ox was happy, the person was also happy.

The green ox, having gained an incomparably fitting iron hoof, the whole ox added even more lofty majesty, just like an Iron Hoof General who had been on the battlefield with merit to his name. Zhan Zhan followed flying a few circles, then settled reassured on the green ox's head top, folding wings and raising head, bearing an air of shared honor.

Mo Li ran back into the stove house to dish out rice; the manservant said to Shaowei: "Let's go, the rice gets cold fast, eat while we talk."

"Mm!" Shaowei, because of the nirvana-reborn green ox, felt her heart stirred and uplifted; she led the green ox together toward the front courtyard, staring at that iron hoof again and again.

"At first it also wasn't used to it, always tripping and kneeling down, then climbing back up." The manservant said: "Two months plus walking to the capital, finally broke it in; the whole ox's spirit also improved."

Previously the manservant had only stayed in the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion for a few days before being urged by Shaowei to leave, to go find Mo Li.

Mo Li was very obedient, moving the green ox nearby to a wind-sheltered spot, changing medicine and turning the ox over day after day.

When the manservant found Mo Li, he saw the ox still alive lying there eating grass, and couldn't help feeling this matter could only be entrusted to Mo Li, and only Mo Li could do it — this raccoon had great strength, and wouldn't feel anxious panic; as long as the things to do were clearly instructed to him, he would unconditionally obey.

Mo Li took very good care of the green ox, and took care of himself also very well; wild chicken, wild rabbit, wild vegetables, wild fruits, even meat and vegetable pairing; although robes were dirty, spirit remained full.

Before the cruel, food-scarce winter days thoroughly arrived, Zhao Qie'an promptly took this raccoon and that ox away together.

Besides going to find Mo Li, Shaowei additionally entrusted Zhao Qie'an to help keep an eye out for news of Qingxiang Sister and Shan Gu.

Afterwards Shaowei made the decision to go to Chang'an, so entrusted Liu Qi to send people with the manservant to deliver a letter; in the letter Shaowei explained her decision and considerations, letting the manservant choose for himself whether to go together; if he was unwilling to go it was also fine, taking Mo Li and leaving far away was also good; to prove she wasn't speaking in anger, she repeatedly added: 【Even if not going together, I still won't be angry.】

When Liu Qi's people returned to Wuling, they brought back the manservant's reply letter; Shaowei unfolded that roll of silk cloth, familiar large and ugly font meeting her eyes; the meaning of the words also as always shallow and plain: 【Going together, we'll go first.】

Shaowei had to wait for the Wunü Team to depart together; Zhao Qie'an, upon receiving the letter, began heading north, but walking with the ox was slow, only arriving in Chang'an on the seventh day of the first month.

This side had just bought a house and settled down when he inquired and learned the Wunü Team would soon enter the city; so he hurriedly went out of the city, guarded near the post station, found an opportunity to transmit that crude map to Shaowei.

In the hall house, rice and dishes were quickly set out; three people squeezed around one old small table sitting down.

The green ox lay outside the hall house; Zhan Zhan used her beak and claws, busy to the point of impossibility to untangle, to help the green ox groom the knotted-to-impossibility fur on its neck.

Shaowei picked up her chopsticks, looking at the just-right three-person meal, couldn't help asking: "How did you know I would come find you tonight?"

"These few days we've all been cooking rice later, cooking one extra portion." Zhao Qie'an said while shoveling rice: "If you don't come, me and Mo Li will just split and eat the extra portion."

Seeing the two eating so fast at this time, clearly they had eaten too late and were already very hungry, Shaowei then temporarily held back the pile of questions that had reached her mouth in her throat.

Waiting until seeing Zhao Qie'an eat down half a bowl of soft mushy millet rice, Shaowei, who had held it in for a good while, finally released those questions queued up in her throat one by one: "Is Qingxiang Sister well?"

"When I went, her family courtyard gate was locked, no one at home inside." Not waiting for Shaowei to grow anxious, Zhao Qie'an continued on: "But I've inquired; she and her mother received a family letter from Chenliu Commandery, afterward they set off with the letter-carrier toward Chenliu Commandery."

Shaowei couldn't help thinking: Ji Jin sent a letter this fast to take her to Chenliu? Or did something happen?

"Do you know what matter they went for? When leaving, were they happy or anxious?" Shaowei asked pressingly, not at ease.

"The specifics cannot be known, but before going out they inevitably had to go to the County Office to get an 'Identity Token', to explain the reason for distant travel to the county officials; I've inquired, the mother and daughter's given explanation was going to Chenliu to discuss marriage matters."

Zhao Qie'an said: "The village people also say it's to discuss marriage; also saying Qingxiang's father was injured in Chenliu Commandery, can't rush back in a short time, probably not at ease leaving mother and daughter alone at home; now many places again show signs of renewed war chaos, taking people early to reunite is also steady and safe."

Shaowei only then reluctantly set her heart at ease, merely... Qingxiang Sister is going to be betrothed to Ji Jin? After betrothal comes marriage, bearing shared children?

Shaowei seriously pondered for a moment, felt betrothal was also very good; this way, in the future the two would never have to separate again, can stay together long and stably.

Although her own front path is unknown at this time, very hard to reunite with everyone again, but Qingxiang and Ji Jin at least can be closely connected; so everyone doesn't count as scattered everywhere.

Thinking like this, Shaowei felt some slight comfort; therefore she then asked about Shan Gu.

Shan Gu left Taoxi Township earlier than her, attempting to go search for Grandma's remains whereabouts.

"When me and Mo Li set off, that child still hadn't returned; now don't know if he's returned or not." Zhao Qie'an said: "If you're not at ease, later entrust someone to inquire a bit."

Shaowei nodded, thinking Shan Gu originally went together with the escorting-bride team, reckoning the journey wouldn't be too fast; after reaching the destination, still need to search for a period; calculating, should be near year-end before able to return... while the manservant set off, it was only late October.

And if Shan Gu had already returned by year-end, seeing her not there, would inevitably be very anxious.

Shaowei's heart was concerned, but thinking of her own current situation, even if wanting to contact Shan Gu, could only do it secretly; otherwise very easy to bring disaster to him as well as the Zhou Family Couple; therefore even though a hundred kinds of concern, still must be careful again and again.

Thinking of these things, Shaowei felt a few parts discouraged; this discouragement quickly transformed into indignation — she clearly never did wrong, yet must be tied hand and foot because of those people's viciousness, afraid of implicating those around her; shows those people really couldn't be more deserving of death.

Shaowei forcefully shoveled rice, double chopsticks pounding the ceramic bowl making clanging sounds; suddenly she even more keenly realized the importance of her own strength.

If she were weak and powerless, to those around her she could only be an ill-omened star unsuitable to meet. Not wanting to be a disaster star, must become sufficiently formidable, make those who turned her into a disaster star all disappear.

Shaowei on her own generated a bout of sullen anger; then looking at Mo Li and the manservant before her, and the green ox lying outside the hall, she belatedly realized the preciousness of being together.

And at this moment looking closely at Mo Li and the manservant, only saw this one raccoon one servant both wind-dust weary, faces from travel weathered, hair buns disordered, robes worn old. Thinking both were running about following her orders, then thinking of their clean appearance back when Jiang Fu was there, Shaowei couldn't help feeling derelict; she had raised them really poorly.

A moment, Shaowei picked out the vegetable meat from her own bowl separately giving to the two, while saying: "I ate when I came, not hungry."

Then turning head to look at this excessively remote broken house small courtyard, couldn't help asking the manservant: "Why buy a house here, not go pick a slightly better residence? You living here looks very miserable."

If saying it's to be closer to the shrine where she is, but on her way here she also clearly saw quite a few normal residences.

But heard the manservant say: "The other houses are all very expensive; buying would be somewhat strained."

This answer was absolutely not within Shaowei's imagination; she felt shock: "You're saying there's no money left?"

It was not that Shaowei, unfamiliar with managing a household, did not know property was expensive; rather, when she had stayed by Jiang Fu's side before, household slaves had constantly sent money and goods, and Jiang Fu had boasted that his private treasury outside was inexhaustible.

Shaowei naturally would not believe such grand talk, but judging by daily expenses, it was indeed quite durable.

At this moment the household slave said: "The journey to Chang'an has cost a great deal, and the remaining funds are indeed few; we need to save some."

Shaowei could not help asking: "Has all her family wealth been spent?"

The household slave was stunned: "When did she ever leave behind any family wealth?"

Shaowei was even more stunned than him: "Then where did the goods you sent before come from?"

The household slave fell silent for a moment, then answered truthfully: "They were all taken by me from unjust households."

Shaowei widened her eyes, the bowl and chopsticks in her hand nearly slipped, and she stammered: "You... you mean stolen? All stolen? Those goods, and the letters too, were they stolen?"

She said many "stolen" words in one breath, but the household slave showed not the slightest change in expression, nodding calmly: "Yes, following her these past years, you might say you grew up eating from a hundred households and reading the writings of a thousand families."

Shaowei, holding her bowl, was completely struck dumb.

The household slave did not forget to give her psychological counseling: "I only take the unjust wealth of unjust households; you eat and use more, and they can be considered to be accumulating merit and dispelling calamity."

He also objectively explained their current frugality: "Chang'an naturally has no shortage of unjust households, but security here is too strict; after taking things, one often has to go to outside regions to launder stolen goods. Now that we must settle here, we naturally cannot act as freely as before; being cautious is the best policy."

"Moreover, though this place is somewhat dilapidated, it has the advantage of being hidden and remote, very good at concealing people's eyes and ears." While speaking, the household slave turned to look outside the room: "Decades ago during the wars, many people were buried alive here; it is a place of ill omen, said to be frequently haunted, so the house price is especially reasonable."

He had come here that day following the house broker, first looking at the house a hundred paces ahead; after hearing the price, he then asked the other party if there were any more sinister choices.

Hearing these words, the house broker knew he had met a customer driven mad by poverty.

A house of utmost wickedness and evil, and suitable for such utterly wicked and starving people.

Thus the broker brought that poor widower and his foolish son to this old house nearest to the Living Person Pit; the original owner had long since moved away, never expecting that in his lifetime there would be any possibility of selling this house.

Hearing all this, Shaowei understood: living here not only meant a bitter fate, but also required a hard life.

At this moment the wind outside the room sounded like ghostly wails; the household slave said: "No need to worry; we can suppress it."

Shaowei thought, not only could they suppress it, she even felt as if returning to her ancestral home.

Putting down bowl and chopsticks, Shaowei took out the money bag from her person and placed it on the table: "Take these and use them first, you and Mo Li."

This was what Liu Qi had given her for the journey; she had not thought much of it before, but now facing the pressure of supporting a family, she only then knew how precious gold and silver were.

The household slave looked at that money bag, made of quite good material, guessed its origin, and could not help asking: "Besides money, what else did the Sixth Prince give?"

"There are also ten people secretly escorting me all the way to Chang'an; they have also found lodging in the city." Shaowei said: "When I do not need them, they will not recklessly follow. Rest assured, Liu Qi likely has his own lodgings in the Capital; we need not feed them."

The latter half of this sentence seemed rather ungenerous and unassuming, but indeed the situation was currently so tight.

Shaowei was somewhat worried; on the way here she had still ambitiously thought she would also raise her own people and dark guards like Liu Qi, but now this idea seemed truly naive and presumptuous; what raising people could not lack most was money.

But Shaowei still told this plan to Zhao Qie'an.

Zhao Qie'an was a wandering martial artist with a solitary mindset; hearing her say this, he thought for a while before nodding, his expression gaining a measure of seriousness.

Though their pockets were empty, it did not prevent the two from first discussing and fantasizing about it for a while.

Afterwards the two also discussed how to secretly investigate Chi Yang's movements; after discussion, this matter was temporarily handed over to the household slave to take charge of, with each of the two attending to their own duties, both the open and hidden lines proceeding.

After all matters were discussed one by one, the household slave looked again at the young woman before him who was actively pushing these matters forward, feeling that in these short few months she had truly grown up a great deal. From this could also be seen that her heart to kill and seek people was firm and serious, with no ambiguity whatsoever.

Most people in the world, after realizing a matter is difficult to the point of almost being impossible, often automatically give up. But after she had cried angrily that one time, she instead became even more unwilling to retreat, quickly adjusted her mindset, and just like that came to Chang'an.

Zhao Qie'an considered himself never to have seen anyone so stubborn, yet with such strong ability to act, as if being stubborn, getting angry, crying and shouting, thinking, and rushing off to kill people all at once, simply dazzling and hard to deal with.

Therefore he often felt helpless toward this child, always being led by the nose by her; it was only natural.

This child who made him feel helpless, after saying the serious business she wanted to say, at this moment turned her head to look at the green ox outside the room, and only then remembered to ask one sentence: "Why has Mo Li never told you his origins? Do you think Mo Li is called Mo Li for no reason? Is this Iron Hoof truly made by his own hands?"

"Has she never told you Mo Li's origins?" Zhao Qie'an said: "You think Mo Li is called Mo Li for no reason?"