As travelers on the official road gradually increased, Wei Xun suddenly remembered something and asked: “By the way, what should I call you? I can’t very well shout ‘Princess’ in front of passersby.”

The young woman lowered her head, her cheeks gradually suffused with a layer of red.

At this time, the names of all noble ladies throughout the realm were kept strictly secret, men and women never inquiring about each other’s names, known only to the closest family members. A princess’s personal name was even more precious beyond measure, never leaving the palace, never recorded in history books. Only when a noble lady was about to marry would her personal name be revealed when exchanging birth charts with the groom’s family.

But now that she had fallen to wandering among common folk, where was there leisure to concern herself with such taboos? With a trace of shyness, she said quietly: “My real name is Bao Zhu, zhu as in pearl, but you cannot call me that.”

Wei Xun’s back suddenly trembled slightly.

Shisan Lang asked curiously: “If your name can’t be called by people, what’s the point of having one?”

Bao Zhu was unwilling to explain the various protocols regarding name taboos. Thinking of how Emperor Xuanzong liked the people to call him Third Prince Emperor, she simply said: “I’m ninth in the family order. You can call me Jiu Niang.”

Whether in the palace or among commoners, familiar people called men “lang” and women “niang,” adding birth order in front – this was the most common form of address.

Shisan Lang, having heard her personal name, suddenly remembered something and muttered quietly to himself: “Li Bao Zhu, the zhu is a living pearl…” His heart stirred and he called out loudly: “Senior Brother!”

Wei Xun seemed not to hear, continuing to lead the reins forward on his own. Shisan Lang found this strange and called out to his senior brother again. Wei Xun absent-mindedly responded but didn’t turn back. Though Shisan Lang couldn’t see his expression, he observed that his steps were unsteady and chaotic, inadvertently kicking a roadside stone.

Shisan Lang knew his senior brother’s Mirage Tower Steps had reached supernatural perfection – even running swiftly in darkness, such a thing would never happen. This absent-mindedness clearly showed he too had discovered some clues from the young woman’s name.

The three traveled eastward, each with their own thoughts.

Approaching Ba Bridge, where those leaving Chang’an traditionally bid farewell and broke willow branches as parting gifts. This should have been a season of lush vegetation, but Guanzhong was experiencing severe drought. Heaven hadn’t rained for most of the year, leaving even the willow trees bare. Even if there were willows, no one here knew her, no one would see her off.

Bao Zhu had often heard poets speak of partings at Ba Bridge. Now seeing the withered willow branches, she felt touched by the scene and couldn’t help shedding tears.

Wei Xun said: “It’s not too late to regret and turn back now.”

Bao Zhu stubbornly replied: “I don’t regret it. I’m just thinking of my little brother when I see Ba Bridge.”

Wei Xun said calmly: “He’s fine, currently staying in Qingyuan Palace, though like you, he cries endlessly.”

Bao Zhu was greatly shocked and quickly leaned forward, asking in a low voice: “How do you know?!”

Wei Xun turned back with a crafty smile: “I took a look while stealing oranges.”

Bao Zhu covered her mouth, forcing herself not to cry out in excitement. Daming Palace was in the northeast of the imperial city. Starting from Cuiwei Temple, going to the imperial tribute storehouse would never pass through the inner court, but returning from the inner court could pass by the storehouse. He hadn’t just glanced at Li Yuanyi while stealing fruit – he had specifically gone to check on her young brother and picked up some oranges along the way.

Qingyuan Palace was Noble Consort Song’s residence. She was a gentle old lady who avoided worldly conflicts. With Yuanyi staying with her, at least he wouldn’t be mistreated. For a moment she was deeply moved, tears flowing even more unstoppably. She wondered if the child could remember his sister’s words and persist in practicing calligraphy every day.

Seeing her crying like a pear blossom in rain, choked with emotion, Wei Xun sighed and said: “It seems Jiu Niang can only be cheerful after crossing Ba Bridge.”

Bao Zhu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said despondently: “Fallen to such circumstances, what is there to be cheerful about?”

He said seriously: “Well, you’ll have left Chang’an then. The imperial decree for mourning and vegetarian diet can’t cross the bridge. Look at those food stalls ahead – they dare sell fried fish, duck meat, blood soup, heart, liver, stomach and lungs, all cheap meat dishes at ten coins per serving, economical and affordable. Jiu Niang no longer needs to observe vegetarian diet for Princess Wangshou and can break her fast as desired!”

Hearing this ridiculous nonsense, Bao Zhu was both angry and amused. She scolded him for talking rubbish, while Shisan Lang complained of sore feet and begged for one coin to buy fried dumplings. With their disruption, her melancholy mood passed.

Chang’an’s million inhabitants consumed countless amounts of grain, vegetables, and charcoal daily. These bulk goods had to be transported from various places, with ox carts and horse wagons coming and going constantly. Because prices in the suburbs were slightly cheaper than in the city, cart drivers and porters often gathered here to rest, making it as bustling as a marketplace.

The food sold at nearby stalls was all specifically provided for those who sweated and labored. Never mind the taste – they were generous with salt. The men stripped their outer shirts halfway, rolling them around their waists, bare-chested and sun-darkened, sweating as they crowded together eating and drinking.

Seeing this, Bao Zhu firmly refused to go eat there.

Wei Xun said: “The food and drink for palace nobles was all transported by these people. Does Jiu Niang look down on them?”

Bao Zhu wouldn’t admit it, only saying their undressing was unseemly and it wouldn’t be proper for her to join them.

She also saw many raggedly dressed refugees crowded on the other side, too poor to afford even ten-coin crude food and drink, gnawing dry bread with cold water.

The porters stripped to the waist because of hot weather, but these refugees truly deserved to be called barely clothed, their bodies patched together from eastern and western scraps of rotten cloth, covering the top but not the bottom. Many small children were simply naked, placed in baskets like piglets for sale.

Bao Zhu asked: “Are these people also going to Chang’an?”

Wei Xun said indifferently: “Yes, whether fleeing soldiers and bandits, severe drought, or locust swarms. Since they can’t survive in their hometowns, better to seek livelihood in the city. Whether as servants or laborers, they can earn money through physical strength. If all else fails, they can sell themselves to become well-fed slaves.”

Bao Zhu was stunned, never having imagined such survival methods. While sympathetic, she also secretly feared that after their travel money ran out, these two thieves might sell her.

Shisan Lang took money to buy two hot fried dumplings and handed them to the young woman. She saw these spherical pastries were dark yellow in color with a rancid smell – who knew how many months the frying oil hadn’t been changed. She refused to eat them, so the little monk got them all.

After traveling less than two hours, a fat black man riding a mule suddenly caught up from behind. He had a head as big as a bushel, a face like a meat platter, eyes squeezed into slits, and his head seemed directly embedded in his shoulders with no visible neck. The man held a white banner reading “Miraculous Healing,” with a medicine box hanging from his mule – clearly a traveling doctor.

The fat man on the thin mule looked like a large meatball pressed on a small meatball, quite comical in appearance. Bao Zhu couldn’t help looking twice, but the fat man also looked back, examining her carefully from top to bottom. His small eyes flashed with keen light, like evaluating meat on a chopping block, making her extremely uncomfortable.

“Fine donkey.”

The young woman was furious – he praised the donkey first!

“Beautiful woman too.”

Bao Zhu gripped her riding whip tightly, ready to lash him hard if he came closer.

At this moment, Wei Xun, who had been leading the reins, moved from outside to inside, positioning himself between her and the traveling doctor.

The fat black man asked eagerly: “Where did Senior Brother get such a fine donkey and beautiful servant?”

Wei Xun didn’t turn back, replying coldly: “I bought them.”

“Wow! The brothers just split up and Senior Brother already struck it rich.”

Wei Xun glanced at him sideways: “You have objections?”

The fat man quickly lowered his head respectfully: “Fourth Brother dares not!”

Then Shisan Lang called out in a weak voice: “Fourth Senior Brother.”

Only then did Bao Zhu realize this fat black man was their senior brother!

The traveling doctor on mule chattered, trying to find out where the money came from, but Wei Xun simply ignored him. Unable to bear it, Bao Zhu asked the fat man: “You see me riding the donkey while he walks – what makes you think I’m a servant?”

The fat man laughed heartily: “Senior Brother always acts strangely and goes against convention – this is nothing. I only know he’d die before becoming anyone’s servant, so naturally you must be the servant.”

This reasoning was perfectly logical. Bao Zhu ground her silver teeth secretly, wanting to whip him, but unfortunately his mount swayed just beyond whip range.

One mule and one donkey rode side by side. After the fat man made small talk for a long time with Wei Xun answering curtly and not even looking at him properly, the fat man could only honestly state his purpose: “Senior Brother’s eye for feng shui is unmatched in the world. Why work alone? If we several partner up, you’d only need to read qi and locate points while brothers handle everything else, and we’d give you thirty percent. How about it?”

Wei Xun flatly refused: “No.”

The fat man steeled himself and held up four fingers: “Forty percent – really can’t go higher. We several aren’t as carefree as Senior Brother, having families to feed with high expenses.”

Wei Xun looked disdainful and laughed: “Am I saving this money to buy my own coffin? Even at full share, I won’t do it.”

The fat man was completely defeated, assuming he had other sources of income. Knowing this person’s proud temperament couldn’t be persuaded with words, he gave up the idea. After some idle chatter, he took his leave. Before departing, he examined the young woman and donkey again with lingering interest, muttering to himself:

“This woman is beautiful indeed, but unfortunately she’s alive.”

Bao Zhu could bear no more. She pressed her legs together and urged the donkey forward. Unexpectedly, this thin donkey had remarkable power, leaping forward to the mule’s rear. If not for her years of horseback riding, she might have been thrown off. The distance was perfect – she immediately lashed out with her whip at the fat man’s table-wide back.

The whip struck solidly, but the sound was muffled, as if hitting a wooden post. The fat man seemed completely unaware, acting as if nothing happened, not even turning his head as he rode away.

Bao Zhu stared for a moment, then angrily said to Wei Xun: “That black-faced brute was so rude and presumptuous – why didn’t you kill him?”

Wei Xun shook his head: “Killing him would be easy, but I’d also suffer some minor injuries. Not worth it.”

Shisan Lang, who had been silent, now breathed a great sigh of relief and came to her side to advise: “This fat man is very troublesome. Jiu Niang shouldn’t provoke him. Fortunately you encountered Senior Brother in the tomb. If Fourth Senior Brother had been the one digging graves, that would have been disastrous.”

“How disastrous?”

“This… better not to say.”

Bao Zhu saw his evasive, hesitant expression – clearly not words proper for a young lady’s ears. She asked again: “That black-faced man looks over thirty – how is he fourth while Wei Xun is the senior brother?”

Shisan Lang answered: “We don’t rank by age but by when we joined.”

Bao Zhu thought to herself that this group included monks, Taoists, and traveling doctors, all with bizarre appearances and enormous audacity. If she hadn’t left the palace and seen it herself, she really couldn’t believe such strange people existed in the world.

After walking a bit further, they saw the fat black man waiting again at the road ahead.

Bao Zhu felt disgusted and told Wei Xun: “If he speaks rudely to me again, I’ll shoot him with an arrow.”

Wei Xun smiled without stopping her: “You can try.”

But the fat man wasn’t looking at them – he was watching elsewhere. A team of officials came from Chang’an’s direction, escorting several hundred people of all ages. These included gray-haired bent old women and children barely knee-high, all men, women, elderly and young wearing prison clothes and wooden cangues, crying continuously in misery that made passersby turn to stare.

Wei Xun’s group moved to the roadside to watch.

Bao Zhu asked: “Who are all these people?”

The fat black man answered: “Because Princess Wangshou died suddenly, the imperial physicians’ diagnosis and treatment were inappropriate and ineffective. The emperor decreed that all their relatives be arrested and exiled to Qianzhong.”

“What?!”

Bao Zhu was shocked, both horrified and ashamed, unable to look away for a long time.

The burial of her servants and eunuchs was something she learned indirectly from Wei Xun without seeing it herself. But this procession of old and young, everyone grief-stricken, with even passing travelers sighing in sympathy and escorting officials reluctant to whip and hurry them – how could she not be deeply shaken?

She murmured: “People have their destined fate. Imperial physicians cannot bring the dead back to life. Their relatives shouldn’t be implicated. This dynasty’s laws are strict – if tried by the Three Courts, perhaps there’s hope for reversal?”

The fat black man glanced at her mockingly: “You’re quite naive, girl. What is law? This case involves the emperor’s lawsuit. His Majesty speaks with heavenly authority, his words becoming law. Sentencing them to exile was already the result of high officials pleading mercy. Compared to the princess’s life, we common people are just rats, sparrows, and insects.”

As the procession of elderly, young, women and children passed, the fat black man dismounted his mule and watched them off respectfully. He sighed: “Qianzhong is thousands of mountains and rivers away, with poisonous mists and miasma. At most half these people will survive the journey. Imperial physicians and traveling doctors are both medical practitioners – I’m half a colleague too. It’s sad when similar creatures suffer.”

Wei Xun’s group was heading east to Youzhou, while the exiles went south to Qianzhong – the two groups parted ways.

After those people disappeared from sight and their crying could no longer be heard, the fat man mounted his mule, gave a shout, and that thin little mule kicked up its four hooves and ran with the momentum of a startled horse, disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Witnessing this, all three remained silent, the atmosphere heavy.

After a while, Shisan Lang said: “Such things are like floods, droughts, or plagues sent down by heaven – beyond human power to save. My ancestors were also officials, later convicted and the whole family executed. I was a baby in swaddling clothes, exempt from punishment, sent to a temple to be raised, and grew up to this size.”

Bao Zhu asked in surprise: “Whose descendant are you?”

Shisan Lang answered: “My secular surname is Du.”

Bao Zhu fell silent. The ‘Du He case’ was known throughout the realm at the time. The Du family ancestor was one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, and his son even married a princess. Who knew the descendants would be unworthy, becoming involved in a rebellion case. Ancestors had been enfeoffed as marquises and appointed as ministers, reaching the heights of human subjects, while descendants became little monks begging for survival – truly the tricks of fate.

Shisan Lang spoke of this without pain, as if telling someone else’s story. Having been an infant, he naturally remembered no parental love, neither enjoying family wealth nor experiencing the tragedy of extermination. Hearing him speak of “fate like natural disaster” was even more heart-shaking.

Bao Zhu steeled herself, gripped the reins tightly, and said proudly: “If someday I can discover the truth, I will certainly vindicate those just exiled and clear their names!”

Wei Xun looked up at her, his gaze holding a trace of approval: “Having such thoughts, you’re not too selfish after all.”

Bao Zhu asked back: “Why are you following me then? That black-faced man tempted you with profit but you refused, you’re not interested in official position either – what do you really want?”

Wei Xun led the reins without turning back:

“Same as you – just curious about the truth.”

Author’s Note:

Q: How to avoid clan extermination for robbing imperial tombs?

A: Already had the clan exterminated (dog head)

Note: Du Ruhui’s son wasn’t exterminated, only he himself was executed. Marrying a princess certainly had great benefits.

Oil dui is similar to fried sesame balls