Chapter Thirty: Sensing Discomfort

Lin Miaomiao gazed at the empty house, suddenly feeling the hardship of daily life. Yet, she was still too young; venturing outside now would give some people an opportunity. Lin Miaomiao understood too well that, in this dynasty, the trade of people was legal, and many traffickers would sell children to brothels.

She looked around the house and took out the Three Character Classic prepared for her by Li Yanhe, written in the script of this era. The characters resembled the clerical script she had once practiced in her calligraphy classes.

But Lin Miaomiao couldn't write them. She had learned a few simple characters during her calligraphy lessons, but back then she was too lazy and disliked studying, so after a few classes, she stopped attending. The characters she wrote would likely be considered mistakes by people of this era. Lin Miaomiao could only guess at their meaning from the calligraphy.

She looked at the two wild children and pondered what she could teach them. Suddenly, she thought of the multiplication tables. The two wild children were only five or six years old, but outwardly Lin Miaomiao appeared to be a six-year-old girl, when in truth she was already twenty.

With a sigh, Lin Miaomiao began teaching them the multiplication tables, spending a long time at it. Soon, Li Yanhe returned with An Qi.

Li Yanhe had gone to the county seat to find the local officials. Because he wanted to implement Lin Miaomiao's pilot project, he could only forcibly demand that the local people reduce the number of those leaving. He even began instructing the county magistrates not to allow large numbers of people to depart unchecked. Though this policy would certainly cause panic among the people, it was preferable to refugees flooding the capital from all directions.

After finishing his business, Li Yanhe realized that their house in the county lacked bedding and food. So he took out some silver and purchased bedding and grain.

When Lin Miaomiao saw Li Yanhe and An Qi return, she noticed that Li Yanhe had bought bedding, food, and brought back several servants.

She looked at Li Yanhe with some curiosity. Li Yanhe smiled and said, "From now on, Hei Qi will follow you and help you with some tasks."

"These servants are yours to arrange as you see fit. He is Dan; he has read some books and can help Lin Langluan and Lin Langze with their education."

The young man called Dan seemed somewhat reserved. Lin Miaomiao was puzzled and quietly asked Li Yanhe, "Why don't they have surnames?"

Li Yanhe glanced at her and replied, "They are all convicts. Their families were implicated, so they have no surnames and can only serve as slaves."

Lin Miaomiao understood instantly. She looked at the two women and Dan. Li Yanhe then said to them, "Introduce yourselves."

The older woman spoke first: "I am Cui Liu. I used to be a housekeeper for my master's family. After the family encountered trouble, I was sold."

"I am Lanzhi. My parents were slaves, and so am I."

"I am Dan. I was once the son of an official family, but after my family fell, I was convicted, and so my descendants for three generations are slaves."

Looking at these people, Lin Miaomiao suddenly sensed the difference in social classes. She sat in a chair, nodded, and said, "I understand."

The three servants were all very perceptive. Born into servitude, they were used to reading their masters’ moods. They should have been kept in prison, then sold off.

If they were not sold quickly enough, they would be exiled; and during exile, these women might be abused to death by the prison guards.

It was clear that the master of this household was a powerful man, able to select them so easily. They were indeed skilled workers.

At this moment, Lin Miaomiao felt deeply conflicted. In the modern era, had someone told her she could buy servants with money, she would have strongly resisted such a practice. People were never commodities. Yet, in this dynasty, people could be bought and sold like goods, which made Lin Miaomiao, who came from the modern world, feel profoundly uncomfortable.

Feeling out of sorts, Lin Miaomiao returned to her room. The rice and bedding that Li Yanhe had purchased were swiftly distributed among the rooms by the three diligent servants.

She sat in a chair and looked up at the sky, which had grown overcast. Winter was approaching unnoticed. Lin Miaomiao felt the wind chill her to the bone and sighed inwardly, "Is winter coming?"

Li Yanhe heard her question and replied, "Yes, winter is coming."

Lin Miaomiao watched the falling leaves, then turned to Li Yanhe and asked, "Do you know the next line after 'winter is coming'?"

Li Yanhe shook his head. Lin Miaomiao flashed her charming tiger-teeth smile and said, "Then spring won't be far away."

Li Yanhe felt his heart lighten at her words. As they drew nearer to Da'ankou, his spirits had grown heavier.

"Winter’s arrival is never a good omen—it means war is near. If the winter isn't too cold, the barbarians will pass it safely."

"If it is too harsh, this place will become a hell." Li Yanhe was weary of such a life, but he could not leave.

Since he arrived at Da'ankou at fourteen, it was fated that he could not return to the capital without a summons. How long had it been since he truly rested?

He saw Lin Miaomiao was in low spirits, but did not know why. After some time, he heard her sigh heavily.

Li Yanhe walked over, intending to say something, but Lin Miaomiao suddenly hugged him and said, "Let me hold you—just for a moment, and I’ll be better."

Li Yanhe embraced her, instantly feeling that this was home. As he held her, his own anxious mood gradually eased.

He recalled someone once asking him why he stayed here.

His answer had always been, "Because the emperor’s command or my father’s wishes are hard to defy." Now, Li Yanhe could say it was because he did not want the child to be harmed, so he fought to protect this place.

After An Qi had settled everyone, she came outside and saw Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe embracing in the courtyard.

It was the first time An Qi had seen her master so good-natured, allowing someone to hold him. Li Yanhe sensed An Qi behind him and cast a calm glance.

Without hesitation, An Qi turned and left. Lin Miaomiao held Li Yanhe for a long while, gradually calming down.

She looked apologetically at Li Yanhe and said, "Sorry, I was feeling down. Thank you." She smiled warmly at him.

Li Yanhe rubbed her head and said, "It's nothing. I'm here for everything. Do whatever you wish."

He gave her his promise, but Lin Miaomiao did not truly understand Li Yanhe, nor his real feelings.

She nodded, and Li Yanhe carried her back to her room. Feeling truly exhausted, Lin Miaomiao closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

Crown Prince Li Hanwen put down his brush and carefully arranged the memorials before him, sighing heavily. His father had fallen gravely ill in recent days.

Thus, Li Hanwen had been acting as regent, with all the memorials placed before him by Grand Eunuch Bai Qiu at regular intervals.

After he finished reviewing them, Bai Qiu would collect them all. Li Hanwen pressed his fingers to his brow, while Fourth Prince Li Deren, noticing his brother’s fatigue, gently massaged his shoulders.

"Brother, Father is ill these days and needs rest. Should we go visit him?" Li Deren asked quietly.

"What secrets can there be in this palace? Most likely Father is traveling incognito; he isn’t even here, so how can we visit him?"

Li Hanwen replied blandly. Li Deren frowned and continued, "What about the Imperial Noble Consort and Virtue Consort..."

Li Hanwen responded, "You must understand: the performance must be convincing. After all, they depend on Father."

Li Deren said no more. Li Hanwen looked at him and said, "Keep a close eye on Seventh and Ninth Brothers."

"If they cause any trouble, it won’t be good. The capital is peaceful now; if anything happens while I’m regent, I’ll surely be blamed."

"They haven't even entered the Six Ministries and already want to stir things up. If they do get in, will they turn the world upside down?"

Li Hanwen spoke calmly, but the cold light in his eyes grew stronger. Regent duties were never easy.

If he performed well, the ministers would praise him, and the emperor might grow suspicious—the crown prince could pay dearly. If he performed poorly, ministers would attack him, and those supporting other princes would petition for his removal.

If the heir proved incapable, even the emperor might reconsider keeping him. Li Hanwen was busiest at this time.

Yet his brothers still plotted against him. The capital was the foundation of the Great Yong Dynasty; if they meddled with it, he would not escape unscathed.

Li Deren watched his brother absentmindedly tapping the table, and knew his brother’s mood was low.