The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 30 Purchasing and Lodging
After eating and drinking their fill, the four continued walking towards the market.

Xiao Yi wasn't just wandering around. His eyes darted around and he spotted a sign that read "Raw and processed medicinal herbs, authentic medicinal slices," so he immediately went over.

It was a small pharmacy with a small storefront.

"Zhan Zhao, keep a close eye on the horses and prevent them from getting into any trouble."

"Look at what you're saying, who could I possibly have a conflict with?"

Xiao Yi stepped into the pharmacy, and the aroma of medicine filled him with a sense of exhilaration.

"Old man, buy some cork tree bark, turmeric, morning glory seeds, and alum."

"May I ask, sir, what are the ailments? And how many ounces are needed for each?"

Xiao Yi was unsure about the weight and hesitated.

Seeing this, Guo Xin stepped forward and said, "Just take three ounces each, no need to ask any more questions."

The old doctor didn't suspect anything, skillfully prepared the medicine, wrapped it in straw paper, and tied it securely with hemp rope.

"Phellodendron bark is 300 coins per catty; turmeric is purchased from Lingnan, 500 coins per catty; morning glory seeds are 200 coins per catty; alum is 150 coins per catty... totaling 216 coins, and the shop does not bargain."

Seeing that Guo Xin had paid, Xiao Yi let her have her way, secretly thinking that the medicine was very expensive.

"Mingyan, carry it."

"Yes, my lord."

After leaving the pharmacy, I went straight into the silk shop across the street.

Xiao Yi selected two sets of rough linen dresses, four sets of coarse cloth short jackets, four sets of fine linen outer robes, four pairs of new shoes, and four wool felt sheets.

After that, he bought four pairs of worn-out cloth shoes for a few coins at a street stall.

After hanging the items on the horse's back, Guo Xin yawned and asked, "Have you bought everything?"

"Bring some gifts as well."

Xiao Yi looked around and saw a bookstore with high-end decor. The signboard had three large characters, "Baohantang," and four smaller characters, "Zhenben Shancang." He stepped inside and bought writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Looking at the bookshelf again, I suddenly noticed a shelf with the words "Written by Wang Renyu, the Duke of Delian" on it, and a thought struck me.

He had seen information about Wang Renyu in Shi Dechong's study. Wang Renyu was a Hanlin Academician of the current dynasty. He was surprised that such a high-ranking official would publish a book, so he simply bought three volumes: "Anecdotes of the Kaiyuan and Tianbao Eras", "Idle Talks in the Jade Hall", and "Records of What Wang's Family Has Seen and Heard".

The book was a printed edition, but it was quite expensive, costing as much as seventeen strings of cash, or more than seventeen thousand coins.

Upon hearing the price, Xiao Yi was initially surprised, but his eyes lit up instantly.

He intended to give the city gate guard, Hua Nong, a generous gift, hoping that even if he couldn't open the city gate, he could still gather some information.

"Please wait a moment, sir. May I ask where there is a pawnshop?"

Upon arriving at the pawnshop, Xiao Yi handed over the two gold ingots and three pearls he had taken from Jie Hui, as well as the small red gold hairpin he had taken from Guo Xin's hair.

Finally, after a moment's thought, he took back a pearl as a spare.

After walking through the pig slaughter alley, I bought a cheap ceramic bowl with a chipped edge from a stall, and added some steamed black flour cakes, salted pickled vegetables as dry food, and various other miscellaneous items.

On the way back, passing a jewelry stall, Xiao Yi casually bought a very ordinary wooden hairpin and stuck it into Guo Xin's hair.

Guo Xin looked up and glared at him, pouting in dissatisfaction.

"Thank you for exchanging my gold hairpin for a wooden one, my lord. I'll give you... this instead."

She turned her head and looked around. She saw an ugly, chubby baby mask hanging on a mask stall two steps away. She grabbed it and put it on Xiao Yi's face.

Xiao Yi's demeanor changed instantly.

Guo Xin couldn't help but chuckle and clapped her hands, saying, "It looks good, it suits you perfectly."

Guo Zongyi also chuckled and picked out a frightening head mask.

For a few moments, they seemed to forget that they were still running for their lives.

After finishing our shopping, it's time to find lodging.

Xiao Yi didn't dare stay at the official post station, as it would be too easy to give away his secret. He also didn't choose a large inn on the street. Instead, he led his horse into the depths of the rammed earth alley and found a small inn with an unassuming facade.

Looking up, I saw the signboard read "Peaceful Inn," a very auspicious meaning.

"This is the one."

Upon entering, the inn, which faces the alley, serves as both a storefront and a restaurant. Elmwood tables and benches are set up, and a group of traveling merchants and two or three simply dressed travelers are having their breakfast. The people are diverse and not easy to question.

There are stables in the backyard, and east and west wing rooms on the first floor, all with shared beds. Upstairs are wing rooms.

The shopkeeper was fiddling with his abacus behind the counter when he saw a customer arrive. He rushed forward to greet him, but was startled by the three masked figures behind Xiao Yi.

"I am honored by your presence, sir. May I ask what brings you here?"

"We need a side room for one day, for the four of us, master and servants, to rest and feed the horses."

"Stay at...this little shop?" The shopkeeper looked surprised.

"Yes, is there something wrong with it?"

"No, no, sir, rest assured. Our shop is clean and fair. We have bean feed in the stables in the backyard, but it will cost extra."

"Feed them with fine feed, no need to remove the saddle, we'll leave as soon as the city gates open."

"Yes, yes, I will certainly instruct them to take good care of the horses... However, lodging must be recorded in the lodging log, as this is a rule set by the government."

"His surname is Xiao, and he is a proofreader in the Secretariat. He went out of the city on business but encountered a city lockdown and was too lazy to return to the inner city."

"Alright! Please come inside!"

The room was simply furnished with a large bed that stretched to the floor, a square table, two benches, a ceramic oil lamp, and a kettle, nothing else.

After bolting the door, Xiao Yi immediately took out the ceramic bowl he had just bought, crushed the cork tree bark, turmeric, and alum, poured in water, and mixed it into a yellowish-brown liquid.

"come over."

Xiao Yi first beckoned to Guo Xin and said, "Come closer."

"What to do?"

"Close your eyes."

Xiao Yi dipped a cloth in the medicine and applied it to Guo Xin's face.

Soon, the medicine dried up, and the skin turned a sallow, malnourished color.

These are some tips he learned on film sets before.

Then they mixed morning glory seeds with alum and water to make black mud, used it to make a large mole on Guo Xin, and dyed his eyebrows thicker.

"what--"

Guo Xin was quite disgusted, yet curious. She shook her head as she looked at it. The next moment, Xiao Yi looked up and met her gaze.

"it's your turn."

"I do not want it."

"Close your eyes."

"Ouch, it's so cold... Am I going to become ugly too?"

"Don't worry, I can wash it off once we're out of town. Just pull the collar down." "You lecherous scoundrel, taking advantage of me."

"Don't move, roll up your sleeves."

"Ouch, it itches! Don't rub it on your palms."

Xiao Yi looked at Guo Xin and saw that her originally fair skin had turned sallow, but she still looked pretty.

He then added another mole to the corner of her mouth.

But not enough.

"I need to shave half of your eyebrows."

"no!"

"Madam said she would listen to me."

"Shaving off eyebrows is going too far!"

"..."

After the makeover, the three members of the Guo family finally showed a clear difference in temperament and appearance from before.

Xiao Yi yawned, unpacked all the luggage, and sorted the copper coins and silver ingots separately. He said, "The copper coins are divided into eight small bags. Everyone take two bags. Qingwen and I will take the silver ingots. Everyone should also hide a small piece in their hair to prevent them from getting separated."

"How could we get separated?" Guo Xin yawned.

"Just in case we get separated and lose contact, we'll meet at the dumpling stall. If we don't see you after two days, we'll find a way to leave the city and meet you at a soup noodle shop near the south gate of Liyang Town."

"Okay, okay. Go get some sleep?"

“Take turns sleeping, keep an eye out for any movement, and we’ll leave as soon as the city gates open,” Xiao Yi said. “I’ll sleep first, but make sure to wake me up before 3 PM so I can go see that city guard.”

"What use is it to see him? He's just a lowly soldier; he can't even decide to open the city gates."

"He is a messenger."

"so what?"

Xiao Yi intuitively felt that she was someone he could win over, so he didn't bother to say more and said, "Qingwen, Mingyan, you two guard first."

"it is good."

Xiao Yi had been busy all night and could finally lie down.

Listening to Guo Xin's even breathing and the sounds of the bustling city of Kaifeng coming from outside the window, she quickly fell asleep.

I don't know how long I slept, but in my dream I heard a loud banging on the door.

"Open the door!"

"Soldiers are inspecting the shop! Open the door immediately!"

The knocking on the door was urgent, and the shouts were rude.

Xiao Yi was woken up by Guo Xin and suddenly opened his eyes.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly outside the window, and Guo Xin, who was beside him, also woke up with a start and sat up straight alertly.

"Don't panic, everyone. Remember who you are."

Xiao Yi instantly snapped out of his daze, straightened his slightly wrinkled official robe, sat down by the window, and picked up a copy of "Idle Talk in the Jade Hall" to read.

He took a deep breath and said, "Zhan Zhao, open the door."

"Yes." Guo Xin unlatched the door.

Six armored soldiers standing at the door strode in.

Xiao Yi slammed the book on the table in displeasure, raised his head slightly, and with a hint of official authority, asked in a tone of annoyance at being disturbed, "What's all this noise?"

The leader of the team scanned the room with sharp eyes, his imposing manner slightly softened, and he gave a formal, businesslike bow, his voice cold and stern.

"We are ordered to search suspicious persons and check their belongings. Please do us a favor."

"What do you mean by suspicious?" Xiao Yi refused to budge an inch.

"Anyone who checks in or seeks lodging today is suspicious."

Xiao Yi felt a slight chill in his heart. He took out the forged official document, unfolded it, and said calmly, "I am Xiao Yi, a proofreader in the Secretariat. I am here to deliver a message outside the city on the orders of my master. Because the city gates are closed, I am temporarily resting here."

The group's gaze swept over Xiao Yi, glanced at Guo Xin and the other two, but did not linger on them. They stepped forward and squinted to examine the silk paper.

"Where is Secretary Xiao going? And who is his mentor?"

Xiao Yi frowned impatiently, his tone turning cold, and said, "Do I also need to tell you about Su Sikong's matter?"

The group initially appeared more respectful, but after a moment, their expressions turned mocking as they surveyed the inn's surroundings.

"Oh? So you're a disciple of Prime Minister Su. My apologies. But orders from above are strict; those who need to be checked must be checked. So... a simple search will suffice."

"Here!"

The soldiers were overjoyed and immediately began searching their bags and bedding.

Out of the corner of Xiao Yi's eye, he could tell that their target was quite clear. They didn't search them; they just picked up the small bags containing flatbread and medicinal herbs, weighed them briefly, and then left them alone. This suggested that what they were looking for must have some weight.

It was indeed something like a military tally or seal.

As he pondered, Xiao Yi saw a soldier put the silver ingots and pearls from his bag into his pocket.

"Boom."

He immediately slammed his hand on the table, feigning great anger.

"You scoundrels! You dare to steal the travel expenses of an official appointed by the court? How will you exploit the common people?! Are you the Imperial Guard or the Capital Region Patrol Army? Which side? Which capital? Give me your names!"

When he got angry, the team actually respected him more.

"Scholar Xiao has misunderstood. The brothers have worked hard too. It's just a small matter."

They apologized but refused to return the money, as if they were not responsible as long as Xiao Yi didn't know who they were.

A moment later, a soldier said, "We didn't find anything."

"Thank you for the tea money, Scholar Xiao. Goodbye... Let's go!"

Xiao Yi's eyes narrowed as he memorized the appearance of the soldiers who were stealing money.

One had high brow bones, narrow eyes with an arrogant look, and a sparse, yellowish beard with each hair clearly visible; the other was tall, thin, and hunchbacked, with a narrow, cone-shaped face, wide-set eyes, mostly white with small pupils, and a evasive look in his eyes.

"Take care and don't bother seeing me off." Xiao Yi said, his anger subdued, "I'll remember you."

"No need for your concern, sir."

With a light sneer, the officers and soldiers strode away.

The door was bolted back on.

The anger on Xiao Yi's face vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

Guo Zongyi was stunned by the sudden change in his expression, and exclaimed in amazement, "Wow!" softly, "Amazing!"

(End of this chapter)