Entering the City

Shen Jingchuan lifted the curtain and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage was spacious and lined with thick, soft cushions. Lin Qingyao lay on her stomach atop them, her complexion much better than it had been yesterday.

Seeing Shen Jingchuan enter, she blushed slightly and said softly:

"Young Master Shen."

"Miss Lin." Shen Jingchuan nodded and found a corner to sit in, keeping as far from her as he could.

Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan rode alongside them, while Lin Yue sat on the carriage shaft and drove it himself. The carriage swayed and jolted toward Yuxi Prefecture.

For a while, the carriage fell quiet.

Lying on the cushions, Lin Qingyao stole a glance at Shen Jingchuan, then quickly lowered her head again, her thoughts in a slight jumble.

Shen Jingchuan had no mind to puzzle over the young lady's thoughts. He leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, resting, while his mind raced.

They would soon enter the prefectural capital, and his identity was a hurdle. He was an unregistered man with no travel permit or household registration—a major problem in ancient times.

He needed to come up with a story to get past it.

As he was thinking, the curtain lifted, and Lin Weiyuan's voice came through. "Young Master Shen, may I have a word?"

Here it comes.

Shen Jingchuan opened his eyes, understanding at once. What had to come would always come; the Lin Household couldn't possibly put their full trust in a man of unknown origins.

"Please, Chief Escort Lin."

Lin Weiyuan had dismounted and seated himself on the carriage shaft. Turning sideways, he tried to sound casual:

"Young Master Shen, you said you came from overseas. What's it like over there?"

A look of bewilderment appeared on Shen Jingchuan's face, and he sighed:

"To tell you the truth, Chief Escort Lin, I don't remember it very clearly myself."

"Don't remember?" Lin Weiyuan was taken aback.

Shen Jingchuan nodded and pointed to the back of his head:

"Didn't I tell you? I injured my head, and many things are hazy. I can't remember them. All I remember is that my name is Shen Jingchuan, and that I seem to have... come from far overseas."

Amnesia and an overseas origin: the all-purpose combo.

Shen Jingchuan shook his head, a pained expression appearing on his face:

"Whenever I try hard to remember, my head hurts. I only remember a vast sea and very tall ships... I can't remember anything else."

His act was so convincing that Lin Qingyao's heart ached as she watched. She hurriedly said:

"Father, stop asking. Young Master Shen's head hurts."

Lin Weiyuan glared at his daughter, but he believed Shen Jingchuan somewhat himself.

Judging by his appearance, Young Master Shen didn't seem to be pretending. And the clothes he wore and the helmet on his head were indeed strange, unlike anything from the Central Plains. Perhaps he really had come from some foreign land overseas.

"All right, all right. I won't ask anymore."

Lin Weiyuan waved a hand:

"Young Master Shen, take care of yourself. We can talk when you remember."

"Thank you for your understanding, Chief Escort Lin." Shen Jingchuan gave him a grateful smile.

After a few more pleasantries, Lin Weiyuan lowered the curtain, got down, and mounted his horse to continue the journey.

Shen Jingchuan leaned against the carriage wall and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had made it past the first hurdle.

After traveling for about two hours, the carriage finally reached Yuxi Prefecture.

Shen Jingchuan lifted the curtain and saw, in the distance, the mighty city standing atop the high loess plateau.

The walls were much taller than he had expected. Faced with gray bricks, they looked massive and imposing. The city gate was wide, with an endless stream of pedestrians, horses, and carriages passing through.

"Young Master Shen, that's Yuxi Prefecture up ahead," Lin Yue called from outside. "Our Zhenyuan Escort Agency is on East Street in the south of the city. It's easy to find."

"Mm." Shen Jingchuan nodded and glanced toward the city gate.

Several soldiers stood guard beneath the gate, but their checks weren't particularly strict. For the most part, they were just going through the motions.

Sure enough, when the carriage reached the gate, the soldier in charge recognized Lin Weiyuan at once and cupped his hands with a smile:

"Well, Chief Escort Lin, back from an escort job?"

"Just got back."

Lin Weiyuan swung down from his horse and handed him a small piece of silver with a smile:

"Thanks for your hard work, brothers. Buy yourselves a bowl of wine."

The soldier took it without hesitation, his smile growing even more courteous:

"You're too kind, Chief Escort. And who's in the carriage?"

"My daughter was hurt on the escort job, and there's also a distant relative who came from the countryside to seek refuge with me."

Lin Weiyuan glossed over it. "He didn't have time to get a travel permit. Do us a favor and let him through."

"Ah, what's the trouble in that?"

Without even looking, the soldier waved them through:

"If we can't trust the chief escort's people, who can we trust? Go on in, go on."

Lin Weiyuan jumped onto the carriage and called out, and the carriage rolled steadily through the city gate.

Shen Jingchuan heard everything clearly from inside the carriage and nodded to himself. That was more like it. How could the chief escort of a locally renowned escort agency not be acquainted with the city guards?

Once inside the city, the carriage slowed.

Shen Jingchuan lifted the curtain and curiously surveyed the prefectural capital.

The main street was broad, lined on both sides with shops: restaurants, pawnshops, grain merchants, blacksmiths... packed together like rows of roof tiles. People came and went, and vendors' cries rose and fell. It was far more prosperous than he had expected.

The road was paved with bluestone slabs. Though it was hardly spotless, it was much better than a dirt road.

"Brother Shen, what do you think? Our Yuxi Prefecture is lively, isn't it?"

Lying on the cushions, Lin Qingyao asked with a smile.

"Mm, it's quite lively." Shen Jingchuan smiled.

His gaze swept over the signs on both sides of the street. Most were written in traditional characters in regular script, and by guessing here and there, he could make out their general meaning. Fortunately, the writing was familiar and he could understand the language, so communication was no problem.

After traveling for about two quarters of an hour, the carriage stopped in front of an imposing residence.

"We're here." Lin Weiyuan jumped down. "Young Master Shen, this is our Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

Shen Jingchuan looked up and saw a vermilion-lacquered gate with two stone lions crouching before it. High above hung a black plaque bearing the words "Zhenyuan Escort Agency" in gold. The brushstrokes were bold and powerful, projecting confidence at a glance. It was indeed the grand display of a major escort agency.

"Shan'er, carry Qingyao inside. Be careful, and take her straight back to her courtyard."

Lin Weiyuan instructed:

"Yue'er, take Young Master Shen to the guest room in the western side courtyard to rest."

"All right."

Lin Shan carefully carried Lin Qingyao down from the carriage on his back and headed toward the rear courtyard.

Lin Yue walked over to Shen Jingchuan and said with a smile:

"Young Master Shen, come with me. Get some rest first."

"Sorry for the trouble, Brother Lin."