The town was not prosperous, but it had everything one could need.
The group entered the city in an orderly fashion.
Leaving the conspicuous constables behind,
Song Qingchao and Bai You'an followed at the rear of the procession.
One wore a mask covering the upper half of his face, the other a veil covering the lower half.
Although their features were hidden,
Their outstanding bearing still drew frequent glances.
Song Qingchao said softly, "Can you not be so conspicuous?"
Bai You'an turned his head and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Song Qingchao: ...
"Are you here to replenish medicinal herbs this time?"
Bai You'an nodded, "Does Miss Song intend to help?"
"Is this my payment?" Song Qingchao looked at the street vendors, silently noting the locations of the shops she wanted to visit. "Mr. Bai, please buy some extra mugwort; it will be useful."
Bai You'an chuckled, his interest piqued, "Miss is quite adept at ordering people around."
"I am doing this for your own good."
Song Qingchao said no more, taking out a silver note and pressing it into Bai You'an's hand. "This is my additional payment."
She smiled meaningfully and then walked away quickly.
Bai You'an rubbed the silver note in his hand, but his eyes lacked their usual clarity.
The group headed straight for the post station.
After presenting their tokens, the post station attendants hurried to prepare the supplies.
The post station collaborated with merchants.
Before long, the attendants returned, pulling the goods.
It was clear everything had been prepared in advance.
Song Qingchao was frail and unable to lift or carry anything.
She was unwilling to use Bai You'an's resources to sustain herself, and since she didn't need physical strength now, she saw no reason to waste limited resources.
So, she picked up a fan and began fanning the constables.
Ma Lide and the other two engaged in the heavy labor, loading the goods onto the small carts they had arrived with.
She saw mostly rice and millet, along with some dried vegetables.
Finally, a dozen bags of black flour steamed buns were placed on top.
These would be their rations from now on.
She then looked ahead at the man wearing a black headband, who was loading half a sheep, a sack of dried salted fish, and several cages of chickens and geese.
He also tied a few young sheep to the wheels of the cart.
However, as the goods were being loaded, the constables remained motionless.
Even the merchants stood aside without moving.
Song Qingchao said nothing, merely continuing to fan diligently and offering a few flattering words.
She knew all too well the purpose of bringing her here.
"Shopkeeper, may I trouble you to inquire about the approximate cost of these goods?"
The shopkeeper, who had been standing silently, immediately beamed. "Miss, rice is 30 wen per bag, vegetables are 3 wen per jin, lamb is 20 wen per jin, chicken is 9 wen each, and geese are slightly more expensive at 10 wen. The black flour buns and dried vegetables, along with the salted fish, are cheaper, but there's a large quantity. For all of this, I'll give the constables a discount, totaling 15 taels."
Song Qingchao heard this and felt no particular emotion.
She had money, after all.
When an issue could be resolved with money, she never haggled.
"You have all worked hard on this journey, esteemed constables, and brothers, you have taken care of me. I haven't had to exert myself physically. These heavy tasks were not necessary for me."
She took out 15 taels of silver and placed them in the shopkeeper's hand. "This payment should rightfully be mine."
The shopkeeper beamed and repeatedly agreed.
Even the constables relaxed.
Song Qingchao then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed lightly, before frowning and removing the gold studs from her earlobes, placing them in the shopkeeper's hand.
"Shopkeeper, please bring a few more jars of good wine, something potent."
The shopkeeper glanced at the constables' expressions. Seeing them nod, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ma Lide and the other two stood nearby.
The other two seemed indifferent, but Ma Lide's face looked as if he had eaten something foul.
Still, he rubbed his hands together and quickly said that Song Qingchao was too polite, having not given them a chance to handle it and taking the initiative to pay.
Song Qingchao ignored him, brushing off his words with a few sentences.
Next, the constables arranged their accommodations.
Song Qingchao, as she wished, managed to secure a private room by "flashing her wealth."
In total, she had spent 50 taels of silver by now.
Her room was at the innermost side, adjoining Gao Songmo's room, followed by Ma Lide and his two companions, and the outermost rooms were occupied by the remaining constables.
It was worth noting that she was staying in the most ordinary side room, which cost only 50 wen per night.
Five taels of silver would be enough for a month's stay.
Song Qingchao stood at her doorway, looking down with a cold gaze at the people eating and drinking below, then pushed open her own door.
Once inside, her movements became swift.
First, she took a lock and secured the door from the inside.
Then, while changing into a dark grey, round-necked male robe, she surveyed the layout of the room.
The room was tidy, with all the necessary furnishings.
After a quick glance, she took out the items she had "borrowed" from Bai You'an and tucked them into her chest.
She then took out several fishing lines and her favorite Zhuge repeating crossbow.
She concealed the Zhuge repeating crossbow beneath the window directly opposite the bathtub, after which she briefly set up the device and then lowered a rope from under the window.
She had scouted this room while the goods were being loaded in the courtyard.
Its location was excellent.
Song Qingchao looked around and, seeing no one, quickly slid down. Upon landing, she retracted the rope into her spatial dimension, leaving no trace.
She felt her way along the wall and climbed over.
By the time she emerged from the alley and reached the main street, she had changed her attire.
Song Qingchao took a deep breath as she stood on the bustling street.
The feeling of freedom was wonderful.
She tucked a fan into her waist, imitating Bai You'an's languid demeanor,
Glancing at stalls on one side and then the other.
Finally, she was drawn to a small boy squatting on the ground selling herbs.
"Customer, would you like to see bellflower root?"
Song Qingchao nodded.
She had originally squatted down with great ladylike composure, but halfway through, she realized something was amiss and immediately spread her legs.
"Take a look, sir. These are all hand-dried by my grandmother, and they are very effective."
Song Qingchao picked up a piece and brought it to her nose to smell.
"Would you like some? They're not expensive, 2 wen per liang."
The little boy held out two fingers, then weakly pulled them back.
Song Qingchao raised an eyebrow and looked at him, then waved her hand. "How much do you have?"
"Not much, just this. If the gentleman buys it all, the price can be lowered further."
His voice grew softer, but he finally said loudly, "All of these are excellent medicinal herbs! Much better than those in the apothecary!"
Song Qingchao couldn't help but smile at his earnestness. "Do you have anything else at home?"
The boy nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Honeysuckle, Scrophularia, Rehmannia, Forsythia, Gardenia, Gentiana, Anemarrhena... my family has many medicinal herbs, but I only brought out a small amount today."
Song Qingchao grew more excited as she listened. Although she had asked Bai You'an to find herbs,
The quantity was insufficient.
She needed to plan for the future.
"I'll take all of these, and whatever else you have at home. You can set the price." Song Qingchao took out some loose silver from her embrace. "This is a deposit."
After the boy took the loose silver, his eyes widened, and he stammered in disbelief, "This is too much."
He quickly returned it. "When do you want it delivered? You can pay then."
Song Qingchao refused and directly shoved the silver back into his hand. "Take it. I have a larger deal I want to make with you."