Two small scooters were heading towards the town.
Shou Hou rode his horse at the front with his trusted subordinates, tasked with handling the rotation procedures.
On the middle scooter sat Gao Songmo, accompanied by several constables, responsible for guarding them and purchasing supplies.
Song Qingchao and the other three selected individuals were in the last cart.
She sat in the rear on the left side.
Bai Youan ambled leisurely beside them on his horse.
Song Qingchao: "Why are you following me?"
"The Eldest Princess asked me to protect you. What if something happened to you if you were out of my sight?"
Bai Youan fanned himself lazily, "Besides, I'm still waiting for you to cure my eye condition."
"Mr. Bai is quite attentive."
Song Qingchao clutched her handkerchief and lowered her head, coughing softly twice.
After speaking, she began to steal glances at the people seated around her.
Beside her sat a somewhat plump man, clearly from a wealthy family.
Though his attire was understated, the fineness of the fabric was evident.
From her observation, this man ate and stayed with the soldiers, suggesting he had connections in the Mobei region.
"Can we take off these anklets?"
He spoke without politeness, with a commanding tone.
Although the constables in front were displeased, seeing it was him speaking, they patiently explained why they couldn't be removed.
However, the man was insistent, showing no gratitude for the constables' explanation.
Gao Songmo retorted directly, "It's already merciful to bring you into the city. Now you want to remove the anklets? Have you forgotten your identities?"
The plump man wanted to retort, but it seemed he thought of something and finally closed his mouth.
Instead, the dark and thin man sitting opposite her spoke first.
"We followed you into the city to help, Sir. This is all hard work, and it's inconvenient for us to move with these anklets on, Officer."
He shifted again, the clinking of the chains making a grating sound.
"There are many people in the city, and this makes us conspicuous, doesn't it?"
"Malide, don't think I don't know what you're thinking!"
Gao Songmo showed no favor to the dark and thin man named Malide,
instead, he mocked him thoroughly.
The general idea was that Malide's background was that of a servant.
If it weren't for the substantial sum of money offered, he wouldn't have brought people with slave status into the city.
Malide's dark face flushed red at Gao Songmo's words.
But only Shou Hou could clearly see that this man, though appearing small, harbored great ambitions.
They were all criminals now,
but in Mobei, they could shed their slave status.
Then they would all be commoners.
What distinction would there be between masters and young ladies, or servants and attendants?
Song Qingchao covered her mouth and coughed hard again, then clutched the handkerchief to her chest.
She looked as if a single touch would shatter her.
"Lord Gao, if I may say, what Young Master Ma said is quite reasonable. This humble daughter is frail and can offer little besides wealth."
Her gaze swept over everyone,
seeing Malide's instantly straightened back, she couldn't help but scoff inwardly.
Her gaze finally landed on the man who had remained silent.
He wore a black forehead cloth.
She was quite familiar with it, though she didn't know his name.
"As for these older brothers, they are truly capable of assisting the officers. How about this?"
Song Qingchao took out five taels of silver from her embrace. "These chains are well-made. Let us deposit some money and have the chains removed first."
She coughed uncontrollably again, "We can redeem them after leaving the city, so it won't hinder the officers' business."
Gao Songmo chuckled a few times and pointed at Song Qingchao approvingly, "You are quite sensible."
Seeing Gao Songmo relent,
the man with the black forehead cloth took out silver without a word, while the plump man waved his hand, indicating an IOU.
The constables seemed accustomed to this and said nothing.
This further solidified Song Qingchao's suspicions.
Among the three, only Malide's expression showed a hint of distortion.
But Song Qingchao did not make things difficult for him.
She then smiled charmingly, "What are you brothers doing?"
She took out another twenty taels of silver. "Please allow this humble daughter the opportunity to show filial piety. We will rely on you brothers to take care of me along the way."
Neither of them said anything.
Only Malide's eyes immediately lit up.
But he still feigned politeness, "Younger sister, you are frail. It is only right that we brothers take care of you."
Song Qingchao looked at the dark hand reaching out,
and recalled the grasp Gao Songmo had on her that morning.
These men, truly, not a single one was good…
To avoid trouble entering the city, she had covered her face with a veil.
And still, they wanted to take advantage of her?
Younger sister?
She could very well show them what a "good sister" was.
Song Qingchao dodged his hand and directly placed the silver into the hands of the plump man beside her.
He didn't even look,
directly handing the silver to Gao Songmo and extending his palm, "Keys."
Gao Songmo didn't waste words and tossed them over.
They clattered onto the ground.
A few people picked up the keys and proceeded to unlock the anklets.
Song Qingchao successfully had her chains removed.
When they arrived at the town and disembarked from the scooter,
she felt as if she were floating, her feet feeling like they were treading on cotton.
Back in the military camp,
she had trained with sandbags tied to her body. She realized she would have to do the same when training soldiers in the future.
It was not a small benefit to speed and stamina.
Malide: "Younger sister, once we're in the city, if you need anything, just tell your brother."
Song Qingchao turned her head towards the voice,
and saw Malide's dark hand reaching out again.
She subtly retreated, her hem sweeping a circle on the ground, cleverly causing Malide to miss his grasp.
Malide awkwardly rubbed his hands,
"You are frail, it's best to rest more."
Song Qingchao curtsied, "Thank you for your concern, Sir."
Her demeanor was distant yet polite.
The address of "Sir" made Malide's heart blossom with joy.
He patted his chest, "Don't worry, younger sister, if you need anything, just find me."
Song Qingchao responded with an "Mm," then watched as Malide excitedly went to interact with the constables.
She lowered her eyelashes, brushed some dust off her clothes with her handkerchief, and walked forward.
As the saying goes, since she was already here,
why wouldn't she claim some compensation?
Moreover, with that person present, she wasn't afraid of her space being overloaded.
With a "hiss."
The horse's hooves, kicking up dust, stopped beside her.
Bai Youan, seated on it, dismounted directly.
She looked up at him.
In the backlight, the man's figure appeared even more imposing.
He held the horse's reins, glanced down, and then a smile curved his lips.
"You've gotten your wish."
Song Qingchao also gave a light laugh, "Misfortune is where fortune lies, and fortune is where misfortune hides."
She pulled the hem of her skirt and walked into the city, her voice melodious, "Do you truly believe in such things as pies falling from the sky?"