Scourge Messenger

Chapter 37 Missy

"I'm Qian Gongyu of Baiyun Qianshi, what about you?"

"Jiang Shi."

"Jiang family? Jiang family, could it be the Nanyang Jiang family? No, I heard that the Nanyang Jiang family has long since fallen from prominence, and the crows have scattered when the tree falls... Could it be the Qiantang Jiang family?"

"orphan."

"But you're definitely not an ordinary commoner. You're about my age, yet you're so skilled in combat. Even the elite disciples of prominent families who first entered the Dao and then honed their skills can hardly match you. Furthermore, you're so beautiful and so powerful, which means your parents must be from aristocratic families with centuries of heritage." Qian Gongyu vowed, "Only noble blood can produce noble offspring."

Qian Gongyu had been talking non-stop ever since Jiang Shi boarded the carriage. Even if she said ten things and Jiang Shi only replied one, she never tired of it. With her help, Jiang Shi successfully cleaned the lime from his eyes and changed out of his filthy coarse linen bridal suit.

It's worth mentioning that even with Yan Qing's perspective before his time travel, this carriage was the most comfortable and luxurious vehicle he had ever seen. It featured carpets woven from silk and gold and silver threads, velvet-covered benches, and a translucent crystal coffee table. Two corners of the carriage were designed as fan-shaped display cabinets, one filled with uniquely shaped wine bottles, the other displaying various spiritual jade artworks.

Although packed to the brim, it never feels cramped, as every piece of furniture fits perfectly within the carriage's interior, creating a smooth flow of movement. No matter what you do, you won't feel blocked by furniture. It's a perfect example of a concise yet concise arrangement. And this is just the living room; there's also a bathroom and a bedroom with a bed.

At the same time, there was a violent storm outside, but the carriage was as stable as a rock. Apart from the slight shaking of the lights hanging on the roof, there was almost no other impact. This shock absorption technology simply amazed Yan Qing.

Anyone who understands the performance and decoration of this carriage can have a most intuitive impression of its owner:

Dead rich man.

Jiang Shi naturally went to the bathroom to change clothes, but don't get me wrong, as a game for all ages, The Messenger doesn't have such an obvious loophole as "changing clothes." All characters change clothes instantly. However, if they insist on streaking, they'll be equipped with underwear. The style and color of the underwear are closely related to the character's last outfit. It seems as if the character is cutting their own underwear to avoid streaking, protesting the player's impolite behavior, just like Ashley in Resident Evil 4, who covers her skirt because of the player's perspective.

"Sure enough, I thought of this dress the moment I saw you. It suits you so well!"

Jiang Shi changed into a knee-length dark blue dress with white accents. The cuffs and collar were embellished with white lace. She paired it with dark trousers and brown leather boots, looking both dignified and feminine. Qian Gongyu, however, wasn't entirely satisfied. She circled Jiang Shi twice, muttering, "You could wear some jewelry on your chest, a belt and jade pendant around your waist. You can leave your hair down, but it'll look better tied up with a headband..."

Qian Gongyu said as she took out things from the jewelry box next to her to dress up Jiang Shi. Yan Qing took a look at the equipment column and saw that all the slots were occupied by various purely cosmetic equipment that did not increase defense and had no special effects.

"I just killed someone. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble by treating me like this?"

"Trouble? How can there be any trouble? I didn't help you deal with those black dogs." Qian Gongyu's tone was full of disdain.

Yan Qing thought about it and realized that those constables were indeed wearing black clothes and black boots under their straw raincoats.

"By letting me get in the car, isn't that helping me escape?"

"It seems you, Jiang Shi, don't quite understand the relationship between us nobles and the government." Qian Gongyu raised an eyebrow, finally displaying the arrogance and confidence of a young lady. "As long as we nobles haven't explicitly violated etiquette, who in the government would dare to punish us? Besides, those black dogs had bad intentions to begin with. They didn't have any arrest warrants; they simply wanted to take you away because of your beauty. Even if I had taken you away, I wouldn't have violated any laws of Daliang. What could the government do to me?"

"But now that I've killed someone, am I still not a criminal?"

"Without a wanted warrant from the Ministry of Justice, who can say you're a criminal? Daliang isn't like those barbarians in the north. We must uphold etiquette and the rule of law." Qian Gongyu smiled. "Even if there's a wanted warrant, I can just say I didn't know. Searching for criminals and delivering wanted warrants are the government's responsibilities. Are you really going to put the blame on us?"

"But you'd better find a way to get a household registration badge," she added. "Not to mention that without one you'll be considered an illegal resident. You're probably planning to participate in the annual Mansu Forest Fair, right? Without one, you can't enter."

Yan Qing naturally didn't understand what Hudai was. Fortunately, Qian Gongyu was a good teacher - or perhaps she just liked talking to "Jiang Shi" more - and soon he understood the importance of Hudai in the Liang State of Jiangnan.

Household bands refer to the various colored wristbands worn by everyone here. Although there are various combinations due to occupation, official position, and assignment, they can be generally divided into nine colors, corresponding to three major classes: poor families, prominent families, and aristocratic families.

The three colors of the poor are gray, brown, and black. Because these three colors are considered dirty and muddy nowadays, they are also called "turbid colors";
The three colors of prominent families are blue, green, and grass. The higher the status, the lighter the color, so it is also called "clear color";
The three colors of aristocratic families are vermilion, purple and gold. Gold is a privilege of the royal family. These three colors are also called "noble colors" because of their high status.

In the Liang Kingdom of Jiangnan, the household belt system connected the entire country like capillaries. Almost everyone wore a household belt. The hidden households of aristocratic families common in the north were almost extinct here. It could even be said that anyone without a household belt in Jiangnan was either a traitor or a criminal. "Does legal identification really need to enter the Mansu Forest?"

"At least a black belt or higher," Qian Gongyu said firmly. "Not even a black belt means your family is unknown in the local area, you don't hold a position in the government, and you're not even a quasi-courier. Your family has made no contribution to the court, you yourself have made no contribution to the court, and your strength is not enough. You will definitely not be allowed to participate in the Mansu Forest."

"I understand. Please let me go before we reach the Mansu Forest. I will find a way to get in directly."

"What can you do?"

"Infiltration."

"What if you get caught? You're an illegal resident, the authorities will arrest you!"

"I was discovered just now, but the person who came to arrest me is already dead."

"The guards of Mansu Forest are the imperial guards responsible for protecting Jiangnan City. They are much stronger than the constables. You will die!"

"Then die."

Qian Gongyu clearly hadn't expected this kind of answer, and the words she'd prepared were choked back in her throat. She moved her lips and stammered, "There's a way, actually. After all, my Baiyun Qian clan is a prestigious family. If you're willing to beg me..."

Qian Gongyu quickly glanced at Jiang Shi and saw that he remained expressionless. He immediately changed his tone and said, "Meeting is fate. My Baiyun Qian clan is always willing to help others. I would have helped you even if you didn't ask!"

She took out a black belt from her bosom. If you look closely, you can see that the black belt is inlaid with blue silk threads.

"This is my family's black belt. Even though it's not registered, the Mansu Forest officials won't mind if you come with me." She said, "You can use this belt."

"Thanks."

Since he could enter openly, Yan Qing naturally would not make things more difficult for himself.

"But Liang State has strict etiquette, and people of different status must abide by the rules that suit their status." Qian Gongyu asked tentatively, "In front of outsiders, you have to pretend to be my bodyguard, otherwise others will get suspicious."

"no problem."

"Then what will you call me outside?"

"My lady."

Qian Gongyu nodded sharply at the call of "Miss," her face flushing slightly. She clenched her fists and said expectantly, "Say that again?"

"My lady."

"Wait, our Baiyun Qianshi's accent is like this, you should pronounce it like this—"

"Shut up, Miss."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)