Jingzhe strode toward the city gate. The closer he got to the gate, the more he could feel the oppressive sensation brought by the steep cliffs on both sides.
He quickly arrived at the city gate and saw guards in bright red jackets inspecting the travel permits of commoners entering the city.
Jingzhe took out the travel permit issued from the old capital to this place from his bosom, queued up among those merchants preparing to enter the city, and slowly moved forward. From the corner of his eye, he observed those people who had been intercepted by the city gate soldiers.
The inspection efficiency was quite high. Some people were let through after the guards asked a few questions, but there were also those who were stopped after just a glance at their travel permits.
Jingzhe found this strange. Earlier, when Pang Xiao had sent people to gather information, they surely would have had travel permits issued as well, yet they hadn’t been able to enter the city gate. Observing the people around him, he began to suspect what exactly the standards were for the city gate soldiers’ inspections.
When it was Jingzhe’s turn, he handed over his travel permit and smiled, “My master has come here to conduct business. The carriage is not far away.”
The guard looked at the words on the travel permit and stuffed it back into Jingzhe’s bosom, pushing him aside, “Next, next.”
“Hey! This military lord,” Jingzhe stumbled from being pushed, frowning as he stepped forward again, “Military lord, I have a travel permit in hand. Why won’t you let me pass?”
That guard looked Jingzhe up and down, as if confirming something, then shook his head, “Go away, don’t block others’ path!”
As Jingzhe was about to argue further, guards with ruddy complexions and robust builds came forward, one on each side grabbing his arms and carrying him away.
Naturally, Jingzhe’s martial skills weren’t afraid of these people. But to avoid drawing attention, he just pretended to be helpless.
The two guards carried him some distance away and casually threw him to the ground.
Jingzhe cried “Ouch” and took a solid fall.
Seeing those two walk away, he rolled up from the ground and patted the dust off his pants. Looking to the side, many people were gathered together discussing, appearing to be in the same situation as him.
Jingzhe rubbed his bottom and approached these people to strike up conversation.
“Why is this Jianchuan Pass so hard to enter? Are there some other rules inside Jianchuan City?”
“Young fellow, from your accent, you’re from the south, aren’t you?” An elderly man who had just walked out from the city, wearing a round-collared outer robe, asked with a smile.
Jingzhe nodded and said politely, “Elder, I came from the south following my master. The travel permit is also clearly issued, but they just won’t let us enter the city.”
The old man shook his head and walked outward with his family.
Jingzhe hurriedly followed the old man, pestering him like a persistent follower, “Elder, please teach me how to enter the city. Otherwise, my master will scold me for being incompetent.”
Jingzhe’s tone was sincere, and he was young and pitiful. The elderly man’s heart softened with compassion, and he said in a low voice, “This place is different from outside. Just having a travel permit won’t work—you need an ‘Entry to Sichuan Placard’ to enter the city gate.”
After saying this, he seemed to feel he had revealed too much. The old man’s expression changed, and he hurriedly got on his carriage, urging his family to leave.
Jingzhe stood in place, watching the old man’s carriage disappear into the distance, then went back to the crowd to inquire and observe.
He discovered that all those stranded here didn’t know about this “Entry to Sichuan Placard.”
Jingzhe found this saying novel and hid in the crowd to carefully observe those queuing to enter the city. After careful observation for a long time, he finally discovered the clue.
Those who were allowed through all had a small wooden placard on their waist, hand, or bundle, carved in the shape of a maple leaf with tassels hanging below. Only a few wore placards that looked somewhat different.
Jingzhe immediately confirmed that the old man’s words were true and hurried back to report to Qin Yining.
“…That’s how it is. The scouts the Prince sent earlier probably weren’t as lucky as I was and didn’t meet someone kind enough to give hints. I found it incredible when I heard—within the territory of our dynasty, there’s actually an additional rule like this. I had to crouch there and observe for a long time to confirm that this was indeed the case.”
Qin Yining stood in a shaded spot beside the carriage, gently waving a round fan with grape and vine patterns, her hand movements gradually slowing down.
“Princess?” Bingtang and Ji Yun at her side were somewhat worried.
Qin Yining lowered her fan and looked at Bingtang with bright eyes, “Where’s that jade pendant that Manager Qiu gave us?”
Bingtang was startled and hurriedly went into the carriage to fetch the brocade box.
Qin Yining opened the box and hung the maple leaf-shaped jade pendant on her wrist, then turned to the accompanying Tiger Guards and hidden agents, “I plan to try going in. If I can enter the city, that would be perfect. But we can’t leave no backup outside. I see that entering and leaving this city gate isn’t easy. If something happens, the people outside can also relay messages.”
She then pointed to two Tiger Guards and Xiao Man, “You three stay behind and wait for me to come out. If nothing happens, that’s naturally good. If something does, don’t be rash or impulsive—sending word to the Prince is what’s important.”
The three understood that Qin Yining’s arrangement was prudent and naturally bowed in acceptance. Taking their clothes, money pouches, and other belongings, they left the procession.
“Come, let’s enter the city.” With that, she got on the carriage.
The group responded, tidied up, and the procession headed toward Jianchuan Pass’s main gate.
The city gate soldiers saw Jingzhe again and felt quite impatient. What they hated most were those without Entry to Sichuan Placards who didn’t understand anything yet caused disturbances repeatedly.
Just as they were about to scold him, they saw that carriage stop. Two extremely pretty maidservants jumped down first, supporting a woman in plain-colored dress with a graceful figure and wearing a white gauze veil hat as she alighted.
The city gate soldiers rarely saw women of such beauty and bearing. Though the woman wearing the white gauze veil hat didn’t show her face, just watching her walk with steps as light as threading through flowers and brushing past willows made half their bodies feel weak.
What kind of family could raise such a woman? Without tens of thousands of silver taels, they probably couldn’t nurture such an exquisite young lady, could they?
While the city gate soldiers were lost in wild thoughts, Qin Yining had already approached and stopped five steps from the city gate. She raised the hand wearing the maple leaf jade pendant and waved her fan, the dark green tassels following her movements, creating a lively arc against the backdrop of her snow-white wrist and moon-white sleeves.
Jingzhe stepped forward again to present the travel permit, “We’re here to conduct business. That is my master.”
The city gate soldier remembered Jingzhe and naturally didn’t look at his travel permit. His eyes were fixed on Qin Yining, finally focusing on her wrist, his face showing shock.
“Please come in quickly. We’ve delayed your noble household for so much time—it’s because we were blind.” The city gate soldier’s attitude was like night and day, respectfully stepping aside to let them pass, and some even came forward to help drive the carriage.
The two men who had earlier carried Jingzhe and thrown him out came forward with red faces to apologize, enthusiastically stuffing wine pouches and pastries into his hands, “Earlier our heads were caught in the door. Little brother, please don’t hold it against us.”
“You two big brothers were just doing your duty faithfully. It’s nothing, nothing at all.” Jingzhe smiled as he accepted the items and returned the courtesy. Only then did the two seem relieved and returned to continue their duties.
Qin Yining’s group entered the city gate to find an earthen road sandwiched between cliff walls before them. Not far ahead, they could already see prosperous streets and walking civilians.
Bingtang said in a low voice, “Princess, there’s something suspicious about this jade placard.”
“Yes, when those people saw the jade pendant, their attitudes all changed like that. We might really have come to the right place this time,” Ji Yun also said.
Qin Yining nodded. At this point, she could confirm that Qiu Feishan had deliberately lured her here.