The most convenient route to Youzhou was through Luoyang.

The capital Chang’an was over eight hundred li from the eastern capital Luoyang. Between the two capitals, there was a post station every ten li and a relay station every thirty li, making it the most convenient official road in the north. However, the relay stations only served for official information and goods transmission, or provided lodging for traveling officials. Ordinary citizens couldn’t stay there even if they had money, and had to seek out inns or temples for accommodation.

The Guanzhong region was narrow with a dense population. Even in abundant harvest years when grains were plentiful, food was still scarce. At the slightest natural disaster, famine would immediately break out.

Years ago, the capital region suffered a great famine year. Grain from the Jianghuai region couldn’t be delivered in time to feed the million people of Chang’an. The imperial family, with compassion for the people, took the harem women, imperial relatives and nobles, and tens of thousands of court officials to the eastern capital to “seek food.” The young Princess Wangshou had also made that trip to Luoyang.

However, that journey was like an imperial tour, with the royal palanquins proceeding in grand procession. Throughout the route, local officials spared no effort in their offerings, and Bao Zhu only remembered good food and entertainment, swaying along until they arrived.

This trip was much more difficult.

It should have been the season for wheat to ripen and be harvested, but the fields were cracked and hardened. As far as the eye could see, there were only withered thorns and wild grass. Though it hadn’t yet reached the point of corpses littering the fields, all trades had declined, a world apart from the prosperous density of the capital Chang’an.

Occasionally encountering street vendors along the road, they could still get a bite of hot food. If unlucky, they could only satisfy their hunger with the dried provisions and flatbread they carried, washing it down with water to barely swallow it. Often, even having money was useless.

Wei Xun and his junior brother were accustomed to such hardships and naturally didn’t find it bitter, but the princess’s precious body suffered greatly. The wooden saddle was hard, and after riding the donkey for two days straight, the skin on the inner sides of her thighs was rubbed raw.

She had complained to Wei Xun about the poor quality of the saddle, but he said it was a gift from the previous owner. If she hadn’t said she could ride and shoot and needed stirrups for support, he would have simply not used this set of tack at all, riding bareback on the donkey, which would have saved them another two strings of cash.

Wei Xun’s financial management style was to be frugal wherever possible. Though Bao Zhu was dissatisfied, she knew their travel funds weren’t abundant. If she consumed according to her previous lifestyle expenses, she feared they would run out of money before even starting the journey. So she could only grit her teeth and endure, secretly wishing in her heart to transform into a flying bird, sprout wings, and immediately reach her elder brother’s side.

As for Wei Xun, she secretly appointed him Minister of the Imperial Treasury in her heart, overseeing the Left Treasury and Right Treasury, specifically managing the national treasury’s gold, silk, and currency, as well as market goods and financial transactions. She thought bitterly that if he managed the national treasury with such stinginess, they would never again fear an empty treasury or expenditures exceeding income.

This day, as evening approached, the three of them sought lodging at a small inn by the roadside. The innkeeper said the private rooms were full, but there were still a few spots available in the large communal sleeping area. Bao Zhu didn’t know what a communal sleeping area was. Upon entering the room, she saw several bare-chested porters sitting on the bedding picking at their feet. Before she could clearly see the furnishings, she was driven out by their strong smell of sweat and foot odor, running outside the inn to dry heave.

She said with disgust: “I would rather sleep in the wilderness than sleep in there!”

Wei Xun said: “If we quicken our pace, we might still reach Xinfeng County before the city gates close. But you don’t have travel documents, so how to enter the county city is a problem.”

He had mentioned before that if they forged a slave trading contract, traveling with the status of a female slave would be convenient, but the difference between free and base status was enormous. In legal codes, slaves were no different from livestock, and the two classes couldn’t even intermarry. Bao Zhu was willing to disguise herself as a commoner, but would rather die than become a slave.

If they disguised themselves as famine refugees, generally compassionate county magistrates would tacitly allow passage, but aside from their clothes not matching, the princess’s skin, hair, and bearing didn’t look like someone reduced to desperate circumstances at all.

Shisan Lang said: “Small places like Xinfeng aren’t as strict as Chang’an. If we privately bribe the gate guards, we could probably enter the city, just need to spend an extra two or three hundred coins.”

Bao Zhu immediately agreed: “Let’s do that!”

Wei Xun reminded: “There are dozens of checkpoints to verify documents along the way. Bribing every time adds up to no small amount.”

Bao Zhu still firmly refused: “If I become a base servant, I could never turn over a new leaf. Even if I agreed, my ancestors couldn’t agree.”

So Wei Xun counted out three hundred coins from his saddlebags and gave them to Shisan Lang, having him go ahead to Xinfeng County to negotiate. If the matter could be accomplished, they would meet up early the next morning to enter the city.

Bao Zhu seemed somewhat surprised, asking: “This child is only eleven or twelve years old, can he handle business alone?”

Wei Xun smiled and said: “Poor children take charge of households early. He’s been making a living everywhere since childhood and is quite clever in dealing with people.”

Bao Zhu was still worried: “What if the bribery fails and the officials turn hostile and arrest him?”

“Shisan entered our school too late. Though he hasn’t learned much skill, self-protection is sufficient. You needn’t worry.”

Hearing his confident tone, Bao Zhu half-doubtingly let the young monk go on his own.

In any case, entering the city tonight was hopeless.

Wei Xun went to ask the innkeeper if there were any temples or villages nearby where they could stay.

The innkeeper said: “There is a nunnery nearby, but it’s a wealthy family’s ancestral temple and doesn’t accommodate outside guests.”

A guest sitting outside enjoying the cool evening pointed out: “Follow the official road east for one li, there’s a small path. Go north for six li, and there’s a place called Fang Village where you should be able to stay.”

The innkeeper scolded: “Don’t harm people, that village was abandoned long ago.”

The guest was also surprised: “How was it abandoned? I still have a distant relative living there.”

The innkeeper said: “How many years has it been since you came to Guanzhong? During the Jingyuan military rebellion, the rebel army was stationed there. They robbed everything they could carry and burned everything they couldn’t. What could be left?”

The guest asked in amazement: “Fang Village had a wealthy merchant with a huge mansion and over a hundred people in his household. Were they all massacred too?”

The innkeeper said with undisguised schadenfreude: “Master Fang, you mean? Years ago he often boasted about having a treasure in his home, and all the nearby families knew about it. So when the rebel army entered the village, they went to his mansion first. Under interrogation and torture, they found no treasure, so they emptied all his family wealth. Not even a dog or sheep from Master Fang’s family survived. Later his clan brothers inherited that large mansion, but soon after a plague spread, and the entire family died violently. Since then, no one has had designs on that mansion.”

The innkeeper’s wife came out and said: “In recent years, they say unclean things wander inside, with ghostly wailing throughout the night. Last year, a stingy traveling merchant who was reluctant to spend money wanted to get a bargain by staying overnight in that mansion, and he died suddenly the next day! It seems that Master Fang, even in death, can’t let go of his family treasure.”

Wei Xun listened intently with great interest. Seeing his expression, Bao Zhu secretly felt something was amiss. She asked the innkeeper’s wife: “Since someone died, didn’t the authorities send people to investigate?”

The innkeeper’s wife turned and said: “Of course it had to be reported to the authorities, but officials can’t control ghostly hauntings. Could they demand the person back from the King of Hell?” Then she said to Bao Zhu: “Young lady, you’re too delicate. When traveling, how can you expect the same comforts as at home? Hang a curtain to separate men and women in the communal sleeping area – people have beds, donkeys have feed. Isn’t that better than sleeping in the open?”

Bao Zhu thought of that room’s filthy smell – a curtain certainly couldn’t block it out. She firmly shook her head.

It was already late, and they had to find somewhere else to stay no matter what.

The two people and one donkey walked toward Xinfeng County for a while and indeed saw a path heading north. At the crossroads stood a man carrying baskets selling fish. Wei Xun went forward to inquire.

Bao Zhu waited impatiently, so she rode the donkey over to look. She saw that the rush-woven baskets each contained a clay pot filled with water, holding seven or eight fish of various sizes.

Seeing her interest, the fish seller quickly promoted his wares: “Young lady, buying fish? Fresh large fish, just caught this morning. Made into fish soup or pickled fish, they’re very delicious, fresh and sweet. Since it’s getting late, I want to sell them cheap and go home. Large fish only ten coins, small ones five coins.”

After eating dried provisions for several days, Bao Zhu had long wanted something different. Thinking of various fish dishes, her appetite was greatly aroused, and she immediately wanted to open her purse to buy some.

But seeing the fish had yellow backs and white bellies with cross-pattern scales, she hesitantly asked: “Are these carp?”

The character ‘carp’ was homophonous with ‘Li’, called the imperial surname fish. To avoid taboo, the government had repeatedly ordered prohibition of catching them. Those who disobeyed would be beaten with bamboo rods according to law.

With this question, the fish seller’s expression immediately changed. He shrilly retorted: “What carp? Don’t talk nonsense – these are clearly crucian carp!”

His stubbornness made Bao Zhu think she had mistakenly identified the fish, so she changed her words to say she wanted to buy crucian carp. But the fish seller absolutely refused to sell, shouldering his carrying pole and quickly walking away.

Bao Zhu was bewildered, not understanding: “The government indeed doesn’t allow catching carp. What’s wrong with asking?”

Wei Xun watched the whole show with great amusement: “Such matters have always been ‘if people don’t report, officials don’t investigate’ – they turn a blind eye. Who has time to watch daily? Poor people already struggle to make a living, of course they sell whatever they catch.”

Seeing the fish that was almost in her mouth swim away, Bao Zhu was greatly disappointed, pouting as she said: “I don’t particularly care about this either. Who knew he wouldn’t sell.”

“You’ve already exposed the rules of his trade. He naturally fears you’ll buy the fish then turn around and report him to officials. Even if he loses business, he doesn’t want this trouble.”

“Fine… Are there any inns or taverns nearby?”

Wei Xun shook his head: “Only the one we just passed.”

Bao Zhu felt worried: “What to do then? Are we sleeping in the open tonight?”

“Not necessarily.” Wei Xun’s eyes flickered, revealing a trace of excitement. “Since we’ve come this far, why not go take a look at that Fang Village.”

Bao Zhu’s almond eyes widened: “Didn’t you hear what that innkeeper couple said?”

Wei Xun said carelessly: “They’re just using scare tactics, wanting to force you to stay in their inn. They may not be telling the truth.”

While speaking, Wei Xun grabbed the donkey’s reins and walked onto that desolate small path, clearly having made up his mind.

Hearing no worry in his tone but rather considerable excitement, Bao Zhu cried out: “What are you doing? Even after being told it’s a haunted house, you still want to risk it?”

“It’s a rare opportunity. Since we’re already here, how can we not go see for ourselves?” While talking, Wei Xun quickened his pace, almost running.

Bao Zhu thought this was bad news and quickly leaned down to kick the donkey, but Wei Xun had already seized the reins, and his pace was extremely fast. How could she stop him? Though she cursed all the way, she was still dragged by him toward that so-called “haunted house.”

As the innkeeper had said, Fang Village had suffered from military disaster and become largely empty. Most of the thatched houses had been burned, with broken walls and ruins unfit for habitation. The entire village was pitch black without a trace of lamplight. In the desolation, it carried an aura of gloom, even more chilling than uninhabited wilderness mountains.

In this desolate ruined village, the only structure that hadn’t suffered fire damage was that legendary Fang family mansion. This mansion had four or five courtyards front to back, with spacious buildings, high halls, and thick pillars. Clearly the former owner had been very wealthy, but now it stood empty and dark, inspiring fear in people’s hearts.

Unless one was part of a well-equipped, numerous barbarian merchant caravan, other lone travelers would never willingly camp here. Outdoors there were not only biting mosquitoes and insects, but also various dangers from wild beasts and bandits. If drenched by dew and falling ill, the weak might die far from home.

Bao Zhu was extremely unwilling, but as night deepened, she had no choice but to reluctantly follow Wei Xun inside.

The courtyard had grass over a person’s height, with vines crawling all over the walls. Though it was still summer and steaming hot outside like a cooking pot, inside the mansion it was eerily cold, with drafts coming one after another, emanating a chill.

Wei Xun unloaded the saddle, bridle, and luggage from the donkey, saying: “Weren’t you always complaining about the hot weather? This place is great – nice and cool.”

Bao Zhu angrily snatched the bundle from his hands. After traveling all day covered in dust, she needed to wash under a roof indoors, otherwise she’d have to continue dirty tomorrow.

Wei Xun took out flint and tinder from his belt pouch, lighting a candle for her. Bao Zhu didn’t dare go deep inside, found a side room, moistened a cloth with water to briefly wipe her body. But the room reeked of mold with nowhere to sit or lie down. Her heart was filled with fear, so she quickly took her bundle and returned.

Wei Xun held a candle, examining the main hall everywhere. Bao Zhu saw an old coffin with peeling paint by the wall. Suddenly feeling a blast of cold, gloomy wind hit her face, she was terrified and couldn’t help shouting: “You see this thing and still want to stay here?!”

Wei Xun laughed: “This isn’t any special furniture – nothing to fear.” He went over and knocked on the coffin wood. The wood sounded solid and resonant – clearly empty. Then he applied force with his arm to push off the coffin lid. Feeling it quite heavy to the touch, the lid opened with a thunderous crash.

“Look, clean and dry, never used by a dead person.”

Bao Zhu didn’t want to approach the coffin but stood on tiptoe for a glance. Inside was indeed empty. Perhaps because it had been sealed for years, the interior looked newer than outside, without dust or mold smell, only a faint woody scent.

Wei Xun said: “It’s common for elderly people to prepare burial materials for themselves in advance, keeping them at home and applying lacquer coat after coat. When emperors ascend the throne, before doing anything else important, they first conscript laborers to prepare their mausoleums.”

Hearing him say this, Bao Zhu felt it seemed reasonable. But seeing this coffin already so old and worn, clearly its owner hadn’t used it after death.

Wei Xun casually said: “You can sleep in here tonight.”

Bao Zhu thought she’d heard wrong, asking in bewilderment: “What did you say?”

“The other furniture is all rotten and decayed. Only this is clean – I’ll let you sleep in it.”

Bao Zhu’s face immediately turned deathly pale, staring with terrified, wide eyes, crying out tremblingly: “Absolutely not!”

Wei Xun noticed the strange quality in her voice. Seeing her hugging the bundle tightly with both hands, her face ashen, he realized his mistake. This young girl had once been buried alive in a coffin.

Thinking of this, he felt slightly guilty and said: “Just joking, don’t take it seriously. I’ll go find some straw to make you a bed.” With that, he took the candle and was about to leave.

Bao Zhu thought of staying alone with a coffin and was so frightened her hair stood on end. She quickly called: “Wait for me!”

After thinking, she put down her bundle, hung the quiver at her waist, took out her bow and arrow and nocked it.

Seeing her armed, Wei Xun couldn’t help but laugh: “You plan to shoot an arrow when you see a ghost?”

Hearing his mocking tone, Bao Zhu said hatefully: “Even if I can’t hit a ghost, I’ll shoot you with an arrow to vent my anger!”

Wei Xun laughed: “Wei would be honored to experience the princess’s archery!”