Outside the warm pavilion of the old royal palace, Batuer squatted on the steps, holding a felt cloth in his hand, wiping his boots back and forth.
She wiped them very carefully. There wasn't much mud on the boots to begin with, but she rubbed the felt cloth over and over until her fingers were hot.
Murong Xue passed by under the corridor, her soft whip lashing out in the air, the tip of the whip striking the corridor pillar.
"Are there flowers on the boots?"
Batuer was so frightened he almost fell to the ground, and quickly hugged his boots to his chest.
No, no.
Murong Xue leaned against the pillar, observing her flushed face.
"Tsk tsk tsk, ever since Chen Qing went back to Anyang, no one's been hiding by the wall to spy on you every day, and you're actually not used to it? You miss him?"
Batuer's ears were burning hot, but he refused to admit it.
"Who would have thought of that sneaky Han Chinese? I just... just that the sole of my boot was cracked, and I was seeing if it could be repaired."
"OK."
Murong Xue put away the whip, drawing out the last syllable.
"Keep mending it, and when you're done, wear it to Anyang to find him."
Batuer stood up in a panic.
"Princess!"
Inside the warm pavilion.
Tuoba Mang swaggered in carrying two baskets of meat buns. The steam from the buns hit his face. He handed one basket to Uncle Fu and held the other basket protectively in his arms, as if afraid someone would snatch it away.
"It smells amazing... it smells amazing!"
He coughed and scratched the back of his head.
"I bought it from the east of the city, Your Highness. Please try it. Sister-in-law Hua made the filling herself; the pork is mixed with winter bamboo shoots, it's so fragrant you'll want to swallow your tongue."
Su Yao sat at the table, fiddling with the abacus, without even looking up.
"And who is Sister-in-law Hua?"
Tuoba Mang grinned.
"The tofu seller in the east of the city, her husband died three years ago, her child is still young, her sister-in-law is a very nice person, and her steamed buns are delicious too."
Lin Qingdai peeled the orange, removed the fine white pith from the segments, and held it to Gu Moran's lips.
Gu Moran leaned back on the soft couch, a thin blanket covering his legs, ate a piece of food, and lazily opened his mouth.
" The Sister-in-law Hua' you mentioned last time, she sells rice cakes in the west of the city."
Tuoba Mang was thick-skinned and didn't feel embarrassed at all.
"That's different. The one in the west of the city knows how to make rice cakes, while the one in the east knows how to make steamed buns."
Su Yao moved the abacus beads rapidly, and after listening, she looked up at him.
"If you put that effort into patrolling, there would be three fewer people climbing over the wall in the south of the city at night."
Tuoba Mang hugged the steamed buns and hid behind him.
"My patrol duties don't prevent me from getting to know my sister-in-law."
"Shut up."
Murong Xue entered from outside, followed by Batuer, whose face was still flushed.
The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the warm room, and the orange peels were roasted by the fire, giving off a fragrant aroma.
Su Yao picked up the teapot, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.
" Young Master Pu, the Prince is resting. You—"
Before Uncle Fu could finish speaking, Pu Yunshan had already pushed open the curtain of the warm pavilion.
He was covered in sweat from running, his shoulders, cuffs, and hair were all covered in sawdust, and his shoes had kicked up some wet mud, leaving two dirty streaks on the carpet in the warm room.
Tuoba Mang stood up, holding the steamed bun.
" Pu Excellent, did you get chased by wild dogs?"
Pu Yunshan ignored him and walked straight to Gu Moran's soft couch, kneeling down on one knee.
"Your Highness."
Gu Moran finished eating the last segment of orange, and Shen Ling'er handed him a handkerchief. He wiped his hands before looking down at her.
"Whose manure bucket did you kick over this time? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Pu Yunshan's throat was dry, and sweat trickled down his temples.
"Lend me a thousand taels."
The warm room fell silent.
Su Yao's abacus beads stopped in mid-air, Murong Xue crossed her arms, and even Batuer forgot to eat his steamed bun.
Gu Moran leaned back on the soft couch and gestured for Lin Qingdai to peel another orange.
Why don't you go find your father?
"I... I won't look for him!"
" Pu Excellent, it seems you dare not let your father know what you're planning. But the money in our royal palace doesn't grow on trees."
He looked at Pu Yunshan.
"You borrowed a thousand taels, how are you going to pay it back?"
Pu Yunshan lowered his head, his fingers curled up on his knees.
"I swear, as the young master of Mount Qingcheng, that I will serve the Prince's Mansion without pay for three years. During these three years, I will do whatever the Prince asks of me."
Gu Moran didn't reply immediately.
The orange that Lin Qingdai had peeled rested on his fingertip. He opened his mouth, ate it, and slowly swallowed it before looking at Su Yao.
" Madam Su, draft a contract."
Su Yao closed the ledger and pulled out paper and pen from under the table.
"Really three years?"
Gu Moran raised a finger.
Five years.
Pu Yunshan raised his head.
Gu Moran looked at him, her tone still casual.
"If you're in a hurry for money, I won't stop you. The title of Young Master of Mount Qingcheng is valuable; it won't lose money for five years."
Murong Xue couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Your Highness is quite the businessman; taking advantage of people's desperation, you dare to raise the price even after five years."
Gu Moran his head to look at her.
"What do you know? If I really wanted to make things difficult for him, why didn't I ask him why he borrowed the money? I simply value his talent and want him to stay by my side for a few more years."
Pu Yunshan stared at the paper on the table, his chest heaving several times.
"Okay, five years it is!"
To repay her debts, Hongxiu was willing to sign a life-or-death contract; what did it matter if she worked for free for five years!
Su Yao wrote very quickly. The contract clearly listed the time limit, duties, and prohibition against leaving Yi Prefecture without permission. Before the ink was even dry, she pushed it in front of Pu Yunshan.
"Click after you've finished reading."
Pu Yunshan didn't even pick up the paper; he dipped his finger in the ink and pressed it heavily under his name.
"Silver notes."
Su Yao looked at the handprint, a hint of helplessness on her lips.
"You didn't even ask what we're supposed to do over the next five years?"
Pu Yunshan stood up.
"Your Highness wouldn't harm me."
Gu Moran raised an eyebrow.
"Your words make me blush."
Su Yao took out two five-hundred-tael silver notes from the box and handed them to Pu Yunshan.
Pu Yunshan took the banknote, confirmed the serial number and amount, and then turned to leave.
Uncle Fu chased after him to the door.
" Young Master Pu, it's getting dark. Where are you headed?"
Pu Yunshan did not turn back.
" Flower-Between Pavilion "
Gu Moran watched his retreating figure, then picked up her teacup.
The system panel flashed before my eyes.
[ Pu Yunshan's destiny line has completely shifted.]
[ The Son of Destiny's fortunes have plummeted to rock bottom.]
[Successfully absorbed the Qi. Reward for the host: Blueprints for the Thousand-Mile Observation Mirror, sugar refining technology, and refined salt purification technology.]
[The activity level of the Heavenly Dao has increased significantly. To protect the host, this system will monitor it in real time.]
Gu Moran squinted.
Telescopes are useful for marching and sentry duty.
Sugar refining is another way to make money.
As for refined salt, it can only be obtained secretly; it cannot be touched openly.
And what about the Heavenly Dao of Heaven? Will it arrange for a new chosen one?
Tuoba Mang chewed on his steamed bun, thought for a long time, and finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"Your Highness, were Pu Excellent deceived by the people from the Flower-Between Pavilion?"
"He was willing to jump in; who could stop him?"
Su Yao pressed the contract into the ledger and tapped the words "five years" with her fingertips.
"Does Your Highness really intend to use him for five years?"
Gu Moran took a sip of tea.
"The young master of Mount Qingcheng, Fourth Rank swordsman, is efficient and even brings his own pig. Where can you find such a good deal?"
Lin Qingdai reached out and tucked the blanket around him, her voice low.
"Should we send someone to follow Flower-Between Pavilion?"
Gu Moran placed the teacup back on the table.
"Tell Song Wan to keep an eye on things from a distance, just in case this fool actually kills someone."
Murong Xue snorted.
"If his dad finds out, he'll probably chase him down from Mount Qingcheng and beat him up."
[The live storytelling is out! Which wife's voice do you like best? (^ω^)]
[Thanks to: Xixi for the character summoning, Yujian for the love letter and flowers, Chiji, Shan Hai for the likes, Daodun for the update reminder, Zhao Gou, Lvjiu for the milk tea, and all the babies for their love and support~~~]