The carriage stopped, and Shuran said, "Young master, we have arrived." He lifted the curtain.
Inside, Minnie and Sanruwi were playing chess. Minnie's face was scrunched up, but Sanruwi looked relaxed. He moved a piece to block an eye and captured many of Minnie's pieces.
Then he glanced at the board. "You lost."
Shuran took the chance to say, "Young master, the inn is here. Let's get down and rest."
Minnie stood up quickly but hit the carriage roof and cried out in pain.
"Clumsy," Sanruwi said, stepping down from the bench and leaving the word behind. Minnie rubbed her head and followed him out.
"Did you hit your head?" Jax heard Minnie's cry and came over. "Let me see." Minnie let go of her head. Jax checked and said, "It's okay. Just red, no big problem. I have some medicinal wine. Do you want some?"
"No need, it doesn't hurt much." Minnie twisted her waist and hips to move. She complained, "Sitting in the carriage so long is really uncomfortable. My waist and back ache."
Jax looked around to confirm Sanruwi had already gone ahead into the inn and hadn't heard this. He whispered, "Don't let Sanruwi hear that. His carriage is rare in the world. You'd feel worse in other carriages."
"How long do we still have to travel?" Minnie asked, touching her sore bottom. When they played chess, she hadn't felt the pain. Now she wanted a full body massage. No matter how well made, old carriages without shock absorbers were hard for someone used to modern transport and living indoors like her.
Jax calculated, "About twenty days in total."
"That long?" Minnie was shocked.
"You'll get used to it," Jax comforted her.
As Jax said, after a while the shaking felt normal. But at night, lying in bed, the aches reminded Minnie of the day's discomfort.
Shuran had served Sanruwi for many years and took good care of everything on the trip. The carriage always had snacks and tea. During travel, Minnie stayed inside playing chess with Sanruwi, drinking tea and eating snacks.
Sanruwi would never admit it, but he had to acknowledge that Minnie was quite clever. At first, she was easily bullied in chess. By afternoon, she learned some tricks and lasted longer in each game.
Still, she couldn't fight back yet, but her skill improved daily. Though she was new to setting traps, she could fight Sanruwi well. With a teacher's guidance, Sanruwi thought Minnie's skill could become strong.
Though travel during the day was tiring, the inns where they stayed were good. Most of the time, they didn't even need to stay at inns because people from Changfeng Escort Agency arranged everything.
Changfeng Escort Agency had many branches here. Jax helped them a lot. He was related to the young escort leader and a top disciple of Elder Xiao, so they were treated with respect. These tough men from the Jianghu were very generous and wanted to offer the best.
But Sanruwi always had a cold face, like someone owed him thousands of silver. When Jax introduced Sanruwi, he mentioned Sanruwi's reputation for not treating three types of illnesses. Everyone understood. Even the Sixth Princess didn't get special treatment; what chance did small people have?
Many people came at night asking Sanruwi to treat them. Sanruwi often ignored them but would check cases that interested him. Minnie had to bring the medicine box. Shuran's feelings were mixed. His young master finally woke up, but Shuran's position might be threatened.
In a few days, they would reach the Weiwǔ Escort Agency branch, Jax's family business. Changfeng and Weiwǔ were in the south and north, each powerful. They had become relatives through marriage to avoid fighting over territory.
With their young master's arrival, Weiwǔ Escort Agency also treated them carefully. Minnie, being a woman, was especially favored.
"Minnie, today we will arrive at Fengcheng," Jax said excitedly.
"Is it your hometown?" Minnie remembered what he said before.
Jax nodded. "If we hurry, we can get into the city today."
The sun was setting. The city wall's blue bricks turned red in the sunset.
"Fifth brother, here, here," Jax laughed and urged the horse forward to meet the newcomers.
"Yiying, why are you here? Kai, you too?"
Yiying happily linked her arm with her brother and chatted, "You arrived in Tan City two days ago. I guessed you'd make it home today, so I came to pick you up. Without me, you'd be stuck outside the city gate."
She smiled at the soldiers guarding the gate and said, "Thank you all. Just a small gift. Please have some tea." Yiying gave a silver coin to an old soldier. He smiled, "Miss Yu, you're too kind."
Kai smiled, "Fifth brother, Yiying has been waiting all morning. We waited for you the whole day."
While they talked, Shuran drove the carriage up. Kai saw Shuran's face stiffen and cursed silently. How come Sanruwi, the great man, also came?
Yiying recognized Shuran and knew Sanruwi must be inside. She happily pulled back the carriage curtain and smiled sweetly, "Brother Sanruwi."
Sanruwi nodded without reply. Yiying knew his personality and didn't mind. She liked Sanruwi's good looks.
Yiying had already married Kai as her main husband. Sanruwi's personality didn't fit a second husband. Though there was no chance between them, Yiying often came close to Sanruwi.
She was cheerful and generous. For Jax's sake, Sanruwi also treated her well.
"Minnie, we're in the city now. Do you want to get out and walk around?" Jax asked.
"Sure." Minnie got off the carriage. She saw that Sanruwi was still sitting motionless inside, so she asked, "Teacher Sanruwi, aren't you getting out?"
Sanruwi lowered the curtain and ignored her.
Yiying said from the side, "Brother Sanruwi has never liked crowded places."
Sanruwi didn't like showing his face in public because of his appearance. Things like shopping were out of the question for him.
"You're Sister Minnie, right? I heard about you from Kai." As Yiying spoke, she reached out and touched Minnie's face. "So smooth! It feels so nice! Sister Minnie, if you were a man, I'd definitely marry you!"
Uh… Minnie didn't know how to respond.
"Minnie, this is my sixth sister, Yiying. Yiying, Minnie isn't as crazy as you. Don't scare her."
Yiying wasn't angry. She made a face at Jax, then pulled Minnie's hand. "Sister Minnie, let's go, ignore them!"
Yiying was only sixteen this year, still in that sweet and innocent stage. Her hair was styled in a simple fairy-like bun, pinned with a carved green jade hairpin. She wore pearl earrings, a pink short skirt, and soft deerskin boots, with a short dagger at her waist.
Her smile was bright and lively, full of youthful energy that turned heads. Jax led the horse, walking alongside Kai and chatting. Shuran drove the carriage slowly behind them.
These days on the road, Minnie hadn't had time to walk through any markets. Every stop was either an inn or the escort agency. Walking like this down a street felt fresh and interesting.
Her eyes wandered all around. As expected, there were many more men than women. Most of the women were well-dressed, while men filled the shops.
Judging by the clothing of the passersby and the prosperous stores, the economy here seemed pretty good. That was at least something to feel glad about, Minnie thought optimistically. "Sister Minnie, over here." Yiying pulled Minnie into a shop.
Jax and Kai followed. A staff member came to take Jax's horse. Shuran whispered something to Sanruwi, and after a while, Sanruwi finally got off the carriage and went inside too.
This was a well-known jewelry shop in Feng City. "Fifth Brother, you missed my sixteenth birthday. You have to make it up with a big gift."
Jax agreed readily, "That's my fault. See if there's anything you like." Yiying was a regular here, and even the shopkeeper came out.
Seeing Jax, he greeted him, "Young Escort Master Jax, you're back. What a rare guest. Quick, bring tea!" Jax, Kai, and Sanruwi sat down one by one to drink tea while waiting for Yiying to browse. Minnie couldn't help admiring the service in ancient times.
Modern places couldn't compare. If modern shops served tea and snacks to the men accompanying women shopping, maybe men wouldn't be so afraid of going shopping with them.
"Sister Minnie, which one looks better?" Yiying was torn between two hairpins the shopkeeper recommended. One was a golden butterfly hairpin with kingfisher feathers. The craftsmanship was delicate, and the feathers shimmered with different colors as the angle changed.
The wings and antennae even trembled slightly, like a real butterfly. The other was a white jade lotus hairpin with two blossoms leaning together. The carving was intricate, even down to the stamens and young buds.
The petals had a faint pink tint, making them look even more tender. "They both look good." Minnie answered honestly.
She thought both were pretty. Everything displayed in the shop looked nice. She never paid attention to this kind of thing before, so giving an opinion wasn't easy.
Yiying hesitated for a moment. Then she stuck both hairpins in her bun, one on each side, and turned to ask the men nearby. "Which one looks better?"
Kai praised them endlessly. Sanruwi just glanced up without saying anything. Jax said, "If you like them both, then get them both."
Yiying's eyes lit up. "Then I'll get both." The shopkeeper was naturally happy. He took matching boxes and packed the two hairpins carefully.
Yiying kept the butterfly one for herself and handed the lotus one to Minnie. "Sister Minnie, your skin is so fair and delicate. This will look beautiful on you."
Minnie quickly shook her head. "I don't need it. My hair's too short." "You can use it," Yiying said, stuffing the wooden box into her hands.
"My maid Piya is very good with hair. When we get back, I'll have her style it for you." Piya had served Yiying since she was little, and her mother had arranged for Piya to officially stay by her side when she turned fifteen.
Minnie shook her head harder, trying to break free and not take the box. But Yiying was surprisingly strong. She gripped Minnie's hand tightly and said loudly, "Sister Minnie, this white jade lotus hairpin is a gift from my fifth brother to you. If you want to thank someone, thank him!"
"White jade lotus?" So this was the legendary twin lotus, Minnie thought. Sanruwi's eyes darkened. Twin lotus?
Kai looked like he wanted to say something, but Yiying stopped him with a glance.
Jax was momentarily distracted, then smiled and asked, "Finished picking?" He stood up to pay the bill.