Xiao Xitian and Du Tieshan had been to the prefectural city. Although it was prosperous, compared to the capital, the prefectural city was like a small county town…
Walking on the long street, shops with dazzling array of goods and tall corner towers were everywhere. Small vendors gathered in groups, coming and going incessantly.
Young masters from wealthy families strolled the streets with a large group of servants. Ladies from prestigious families, wearing veils and accompanied by maids, all flocked into rouge shops…
Although the weather was cold, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the common people for shopping.
Xiao Xitian lifted the curtain and blinked her big eyes, "Wow, it's so lively!~"
The scene before her eyes was truly ancient, wasn't it much more real than the fabricated scenes in TV dramas?
Xiao Xitian looked up at the sky. The blue sky was cloudless, without a trace of haze, and the air was very fresh…
"Sweetie, should we find an inn to stay for the night before looking for Young Master Xiao?" Du Tieshan asked.
She drove the carriage to the side of the street and stopped, then carried Xiao Xitian down.
"Sister Shan, it's still early. Let's go directly to the imperial palace!" Xiao Xitian said.
If she didn't find that brat quickly, her second brother would be in danger…
So she dared not delay for a moment.
Du Tieshan twitched her lips. Sweetie said it so easily. The imperial palace was where the Emperor lived. How could ordinary country folk like them get in?
As if sensing Sister Shan's concern, Xiao Xitian patted her small satchel, "Don't worry, we can definitely get in!~"
Although the golden token that brat gave her was snatched by the one-eyed man, the jade pendant that Uncle Huang gave her was still there…
Outsiders might not recognize this thing, but the guards at the imperial palace should recognize it!
"Alright, sister-in-law believes you!~" Du Tieshan smiled with her lips pursed.
Just then, a vendor selling candied hawthorn approached, smiling and saying, "Madam, buy two strings of candied hawthorn for your daughter. They are very sweet and made fresh this morning!"
Du Tieshan: "…"
Sweetie was her sister-in-law, not her daughter.
"How much per string?" Du Tieshan asked with a smile, seeing Xiao Xitian licking her lips while looking at the candied hawthorn.
The vendor held up five fingers, "Five copper coins per string. If you buy two, I'll charge you nine copper coins!~"
Du Tieshan: "…"
The prices in the capital were indeed not cheap.
If she remembered correctly, such a large string of candied hawthorn only cost three copper coins in Heyang County.
Du Tieshan opened her money pouch and was about to take out silver when Xiao Xitian had already paid, "Sister Shan, I can buy them myself!~"
After speaking, she handed another string of candied hawthorn to Du Tieshan, "Here, Sister Shan, you eat too…"
Du Tieshan was touched by this.
She almost forgot that Sweetie could sell milk to earn money now. In the old Yun family, she was a 'little rich woman'.
"Mmm, so sweet!" Du Tieshan took a bite and smiled at Xiao Xitian, "As sweet as Sweetie!~"
Xiao Xitian tilted her little head, her big eyes turning into crescent moons.
When Liu Cuirong was around, Xiao Xitian had never interacted with her like this…
Now, she realized that Sister Shan was the best.
The vendor wandered around for a while, but no one bought candied hawthorn. He came back to Xiao Xitian, "If you want more, I can sell you two more strings for eight copper coins this time!~"
Du Tieshan didn't want Sweetie to eat too much sugar, as it was bad for her teeth. She asked the vendor, "Do you know how to get to the imperial palace?"
The vendor was slightly stunned and asked curiously, "Why are you going to the imperial palace?"
That was where the Son of Heaven resided. How could ordinary people dare to go there…
Xiao Xitian's eyes curved, "We have something to discuss with the Emperor!~"
The vendor: "…"
Looking at your clothing and appearance, you should be from the countryside. Is the Emperor someone you can just meet?
"If you walk to the end of this street, you'll reach the imperial palace!~" the vendor said.
"Thank you, uncle!" Xiao Xitian bowed to him, then took Du Tieshan's hand, "Sister Shan, let's go…"
"Okay!"
Du Tieshan held the carriage with one hand and Xiao Xitian with the other, walking forward along the long street.
The vendor was bewildered. Who were they?
Were they another group of people from a small place trying to find the Emperor to claim kinship?
At the same time, on a official road leading to the northern frontier, a mighty procession appeared…
The leader was the one-eyed man who was recruiting conscripts everywhere. In front were teams of cavalry, and behind them followed hundreds and thousands of young men.
They wore tattered clothes, some with broken shoes. The cold wind howled, making them shiver.
Yun Er Man was also in the队列. He craned his neck, constantly looking around, trying to escape unnoticed by the soldiers…
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking to you. What are you looking at?" A soldier carrying a spear kicked Yun Er Man in the backside.
Yun Er Man gritted his teeth in anger and retorted, "My eyes are on me, I can look wherever I want. What business is it of yours?"
Upon hearing this, the soldier grabbed Yun Er Man by the neck and was about to hit him, "You scoundrel, who are you snarling at? Believe it or not, I'll strip your clothes off and make you march naked?"
Yun Er Man: "…"
How perverted are you to strip a grown man's clothes?
The one-eyed man heard the commotion and looked back at them, "Stop making noise. There seem to be a few young men ahead. Go and catch them!~"
The imperial court had never ordered them to recruit conscripts. It was just that this one-eyed man was eager for quick success. If he could achieve military merit, he would not have to worry about his future or even eight generations of his descendants…
"Yes!" The soldiers responded and ran forward eagerly.
Yun Er Man narrowed his eyes and jumped, trying to get a clear view of what was happening ahead.
It was better not to look, but just one glance made Yun Er Man speechless with shock.
"My heavens, he… why is he here? It's over, it's all over!~" Yun Er Man anxiously rubbed his hands, but he couldn't warn the other person to run quickly. He could only watch helplessly as the soldiers went to arrest him.
Alas, why did he meet Lao San in such a place?
Didn't he go out with his elder brother to collect pelts?
If both he and Lao San were conscripted, what would happen to the entire family?
That's right, the one walking towards them was Yun San Man.
He had met a few young men on the road and decided to travel together.
Unexpectedly, as they were walking, they saw a large group of soldiers approaching. His heart pounded, and a bad premonition surged.
"Could I be this unlucky?" Yun San Man murmured.
He didn't need to guess to know what these soldiers were up to, so he turned and ran.
Seeing this, the soldiers mounted their steeds and chased after him, "You coward, trying to run? Catch him!~"
Yun Er Man, in the队列, closed his eyes, "It's all over…"