The group stayed at this post station for only one night before departing for Qu City further south the next day.

Gu Yi sat curiously in the carriage, looking out. As the New Year approached, they weren’t the only ones on the official road.

Many people were hurrying home for the New Year celebrations. Ahead was the largest city within a hundred li, named Qu City because two rivers converged there.

In the book, the spring southern tour involved taking a boat from Qu City southward along the Luo River to the outskirts of Qingzhou Prefecture.

When Xiaoyan traveled, his whereabouts were kept secret, and occasionally changing routes midway was common. Several identical black-canopied carriages would travel in different directions as decoys.

Ordinary bandits couldn’t get near, and even those plotting in the shadows would find it difficult to pinpoint their exact route.

Very few people in the court knew that Xiaoyan was heading to Fuzhou, and even she had only learned it at the last moment before departure.

The close attendants would not gossip either.

Seeing Gu Yi frowning silently, Tao Jia said, “When we reach Qu City, Steward Gao says we’ll stay for a few days. Madam can rest well then.”

Though they had only been traveling for a few short days, Tao Jia had gradually grown accustomed to her new role.

Gu Yi nodded and sighed, “It would be good to rest for a few days!” Her body was quite delicate, and every carriage ride was uncomfortable.

Upon reaching Qu City, the first thing Gu Yi did was take a thorough bath and have a good sleep.

She slept until evening, and no one disturbed her.

When she woke up, she found the room empty except for a small lamp on the square table, alongside a teacup and a plate of pastries.

Tao Jia had gone somewhere…

Gu Yi got up, took a sip of tea, wrapped herself in a light brown cape, and walked out of the room to the ground floor of the post station.

She saw Zhao Wan with Xiuhe and two attendants standing at the door. Zhao Wan wore a deep red cape and held a hand warmer, seemingly about to leave for somewhere.

Zhao Wan looked up, saw Gu Yi coming downstairs, and called out, “Sister Yi, would you like to join us at the market fair?”

Gu Yi asked, “What market fair?”

Zhao Wan explained, “With the New Year approaching, Qu City always holds a market fair with lantern displays and bustling trade. Since we’re stopping here with nothing to do, would Sister Yi like to join A’Wan?”

Gu Yi looked around but didn’t see Xiaoyan, guessing it was truly just the women going out shopping. She nodded, “Yes, I’ll go with you.”

Before leaving, she instructed the servants remaining at the post station, “If you see my maid Tao Jia, please tell her I’ve gone to the market fair.”

Leaving the post station and heading toward the city gate led them to the Qu City market fair—two intersecting long streets teeming with people.

Vendors lined the streets selling furs, vegetables, fruits, and several small stalls offered snacks.

Gu Yi caught the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts and immediately felt hungry.

Looking to the side, she saw a shop with a small flag reading “Sugar-Filled Fragrance.” In front was a large black iron pot emitting white steam, filled with deep golden roasted chestnuts.

Seeing her stop, an attendant immediately went forward to buy a bag and handed it to her. “Mrs. Yi, try these. They’re local snacks you don’t often get at… home.”

Gu Yi took them with a smile. “Thank you.” Then she began peeling and eating the chestnuts as she walked.

Seeing her eating so enthusiastically, Zhao Wan asked curiously, “Are these chestnuts really that good?”

Gu Yi handed her one. “Try it yourself. They’re so sweet!”

As Zhao Wan took it between her fingers, an elderly voice nearby said, “This lady has a good face.”

Both “ladies” turned toward the voice.

It was an old man with a fortune-telling stand, wearing a black furry hat, his eyes tightly closed.

On his divination table lay several rusty copper coins and an ancient tortoise shell, looking quite shabby.

A street hustler.

Zhao Wan turned away, but the fortune teller continued, “My lady, you were born with a phoenix destiny. This humble one can tell your fortune for free.”

Zhao Wan was startled and turned to look at Gu Yi.

Gu Yi smiled slightly. “I guess… he’s talking about you, Sister Wan.” What kind of fortune teller is this, so incredible!

The old diviner’s ears twitched slightly. “Mrs. Wan, why not try? What’s the harm?”

Zhao Wan slowly walked to the divination table and stopped. “How do I try?”

The old man pushed the tortoise shell forward. “My lady, place the copper coins in the shell, shake it gently, and when the coins fall on the table, this old man can interpret the divination.”

Gu Yi couldn’t help but curiously stretch her neck to see.

This fortune teller was extraordinary!

Zhao Wan gently shook the tortoise shell, and several clinking sounds were heard.

Four copper coins fell onto the wooden table one after another.

The old man reached out to feel the positions of the coins, saying as he touched them, “Mrs. Wan, in your youth, you enjoyed a pampered life, but unexpectedly, your family encountered a great change. However, with your determined nature, you turned danger into safety. In the future, you will soar nine thousand li, with a phoenix destiny born of fire.”

Zhao Wan’s expression changed slightly as she scolded, “Nonsense!”

The fortune teller chuckled softly, shaking his head. “If my lady doesn’t believe, so be it. Fate is determined by heaven. This old man is merely an interpreter.”

Zhao Wan turned to look at Gu Yi, seeing only curiosity in her expression, not anger. “Sister Yi, you should try too. Let’s see if this old man speaks truly?”

Gu Yi had already secretly believed this diviner, as his interpretation of Zhao Wan’s fortune matched the plot reasonably and convincingly.

She walked to the table, rubbing her hands. “Then I’ll try too?”

The old man made a “please” gesture.

Gu Yi put the coins back in the tortoise shell and gently shook it while silently asking in her heart, “Is it possible, is it possible to leave the palace and become a happy, wealthy lady—is it really possible?”

Suddenly, the coins fell with several pinging sounds.

Gu Yi saw that the tortoise shell was empty and said, “I’ve cast them.”

The old man reached out again to feel the divination, feeling for a moment, then furrowed his brows deeply, his forehead showing a deep furrow.

Gu Yi exclaimed, “Master, is something wrong?”

The old man kept saying, “Strange, strange, strange…”

And then? Master, please continue!

Gu Yi waited for a moment but heard nothing more, so she had to ask, “What’s strange about it?”

The old man took a deep breath and said with difficulty, “My lady’s fate seems to indicate an early death…”

Before he finished, one of the attendants shouted, “How dare you!”

Gu Yi quickly stopped the attendant and turned to the diviner. “Please continue, Master…”

The old man frowned, thinking to himself that the person before him indeed had the fate of an early death, but seeing her important background, he slowly shook his head and carefully said, “To be safe, please don’t be offended, my lady. Cast once more!”

Gu Yi was skeptical but reached out to shake the tortoise shell again.

After the coins fell, the old man felt them again.

How strange! Why was this divination completely different?

He didn’t dare be careless and carefully examined the coins.

His expression changed. Why did this person also have a phoenix destiny?

That couldn’t be right!

Seeing his expression change repeatedly, Gu Yi said softly, “Master…” What’s going on? Give me a straight answer!

The old man shook his head dejectedly. “This old man is not skilled enough to see through my lady’s fate…”

Fine then.

Gu Yi was quite disappointed but still said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s just for fun…”

Zhao Wan was also disappointed. Indeed, he was just a street hustler.

His accidental hit was probably just random words.

The clouds in the sky were blown away, and the moonlight grew stronger.

The group strolled down the long street and arrived at the bank of the Luo River, where several groups of women were already releasing lanterns.

Lotus lanterns, rabbit lanterns, various shapes—points of light dotted the water surface, creating a beautiful scene.

The attendants bought several lanterns and smiled. “Would the ladies like to go to the water’s edge to release lanterns?”

Zhao Wan chose a rabbit lantern, but saw that Gu Yi hadn’t moved. “Sister, aren’t you going?”

Gu Yi shook her head within her cape. “No, it’s cold by the water. I’ll watch you release the lanterns.”

Zhao Wan didn’t persuade her and went with Xiuhe to release lanterns.

Xiuhe was young, and this was her first time so far from the capital and her first time releasing lanterns. Occasional giggles could be heard.

Gu Yi stood in place, watching the river lanterns for a while. She saw a gold ingot-shaped water lantern floating over and remembered the five hundred taels of silver she had secretly brought in her trunk. She wondered if she could find a merchant house in Qu City to exchange it for bank notes.

Perhaps she could ask Tao Jia to go out tomorrow and quietly handle it?

As she was lost in thought, a voice suddenly came from behind: “You’re standing here and not releasing lanterns?”

Gu Yi was startled and turned to see Xiaoyan in black fur.

She smiled broadly. “Young Master is here? When did you arrive?”

Xiaoyan saw her bright eyes, her snow-white face nestled in the fine fur of her cape, appearing round and puffy like a fur ball from a distance.

Standing here motionless just now, she also looked like… a little fool.

He couldn’t help but laugh.

Gu Yi: Why do I feel like I’m being laughed at?

Xiaoyan saw her eyes slightly shift as she blinked, revealing a bewildered expression. He couldn’t help but reach out to touch the fur at the edge of her hat, feeling its soft warmth, before slowly saying, “I was busy with official business during the day. When I returned to the post station and heard you had gone out, I came to check…”

Gu Yi nodded and pointed into the distance. “They’re all releasing river lanterns over there. Would Young Master like to go?”

Xiaoyan looked over, heard the laughter, and shook his head. “No, they would feel uncomfortable if I went.”

Then he stood beside her without moving.

Gu Yi turned her head to examine his profile, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his dark brown glass-like eyes reflecting the rippling light, his gaze falling on the riverbank as if truly watching people release lanterns.

She couldn’t help but look away.

Xiaoyan was looking at the Luo River.

This river flowed through Qu City southward, a vital waterway.

The Luo River flowed directly to Qingzhou, the source of life for Qingzhou.

Only with clear rivers and calm seas could there be a source of life.

The fingers of his right hand inside his sleeve curled slightly, his index finger and thumb gently rubbing together, dried blood turning to powder and dispersing.

The Qu City defense commander, Xiao Lü, was brave to place someone here, but this person lacked loyalty and wanted to serve two masters. He deserved his death.

Zhao Wan, having released her white rabbit lantern, turned back to see that a figure had appeared beside Gu Yi.

The Emperor.

She smoothed her dress and walked toward them.

Approaching, she smiled, saying softly, “The Qu City Lantern Festival is indeed lively. When did Young Master arrive? Did you see the dragon boat lantern that passed by earlier?”

Xiaoyan shook his head and smiled faintly. “I came late and didn’t see it. It’s good that you enjoyed yourselves.”

Gu Yi noticed that Xiaoyan always spoke politely and courteously to Zhao Wan, with an attitude that could be described as gentle and respectful.

Could this be the crushing advantage of rank?

Zhao Wan lowered her eyes with a slight smile. Earlier, Sister Yi and A’Wan also visited the market fair, which was very lively. It seems Qu City is truly well-governed.”

Xiaoyan responded with an “Oh” and raised an eyebrow to ask, “Were there any curiosities at the market fair?”

Zhao Wan smiled. The local snacks were quite good. Sister Yi loves chestnuts and bought a bag from Sugar-Filled Fragrance.”

Xiaoyan laughed lightly. “Is that so…” His gaze turned toward Gu Yi.

Gu Yi nodded, sincerely expressing, “They were delicious.”

Xiaoyan gave her an amused look. “It’s getting late. We should return to the post station. If you still want to go out tomorrow, you can explore more. We won’t leave Qu City until the day after tomorrow.”

On the way back, Gu Yi paid special attention to the two exchange houses in the city, noting their approximate locations.

At the post station, Tao Jia was waiting in the room. “Madam, this servant went out to buy a sachet, but you had already woken up. I wanted to go look for you, but didn’t know where you had gone.”

Gu Yi waved her hand. “It’s fine.” She lowered her voice. “But I have something I need you to do tomorrow…”

Tao Jia’s face showed surprise as she also lowered her voice. “What is it?”

Gu Yi explained her intention to exchange silver for bank notes and gave Tao Jia detailed directions to the exchange houses in the city.

After listening, Tao Jia nodded slightly. “It’s not difficult. This servant will try her luck tomorrow… But… if it’s really to help the Gu family, couldn’t you just give them silver directly?”

Gu Yi shook her head firmly. “No… It’s safer to exchange for bank notes…”

Just as she finished speaking, three light knocks came at the door.

Someone was knocking.

Gu Yi turned around, her heart racing, wondering how much of their conversation the person outside had heard. But she and Tao Jia had been speaking very quietly, and unless someone was deliberately eavesdropping, they shouldn’t have heard…

She called out, “Who is it?”

“Mrs. Yi, it’s me, Steward Gao.”

Tao Jia saw Gu Yi nod and went to open the door. “Steward Gao, what’s the matter?”

Gao smiled faintly. “The Young Master requests Mrs. Yi’s presence in his room for a conversation.”