Zhao Baozhu followed the vendor’s directions into the city. He had thought the market near the city wall was already bustling, but the further in he went, the more crowded it became. Clutching his ragged cloth bundle tightly, he dodged through the crowd, watching as roadside vendors turned into shops inside buildings, the dirt road became paved with bluestone, and the buildings on both sides grew taller and taller, until they almost blocked out the sky.
Zhao Baozhu looked up at a tavern whose eaves curved like the wings of a bird, red lanterns hanging from the corners, rising seven or eight stories high. Each floor seemed to serve a different purpose: people eating could be seen through the first three floors’ windows, musicians playing zithers on the fourth, and higher up, women in colorful dresses leaned against railings, long sleeves fluttering in the air—
Zhao Baozhu’s mouth had not closed since entering this place. He stared blankly at everything before him. He had never left his hometown before; though he had heard of the capital’s prosperity from neighbors and traveling merchants, what he saw with his own eyes far exceeded his imagination.
At that moment, a waiter suddenly rushed out of the tavern, holding a large food box, anxiously looking toward the end of the road.
Zhao Baozhu followed his gaze. Turning his head, he saw a young man in blue riding a fine horse galloping toward them. The waiter immediately raised the food box above his head; in just a few breaths, the rider arrived, reached out, snatched the box, and disappeared like the wind.
Zhao Baozhu raised his hand to shield himself from the dust kicked up by the horse, staring wide-eyed at the disappearing figure, blurting out, “Who dares to ride a horse so recklessly in the capital?”
Hearing him, the waiter, who had been about to leave, turned back and whispered, “Shh! That’s a servant from the Shangshu’s residence. Keep your voice down.”
Zhao Baozhu’s eyes widened even more, that was only a servant. The waiter sized him up with disdain and turned away, unwilling to say more to a beggar.
Zhao Baozhu came back to his senses and hurriedly stopped him: “Wait.” The waiter turned back impatiently. Zhao Baozhu smiled ingratiatingly: “May I ask how much it costs to stay here for a night?”
The waiter’s eyes widened in surprise, looking at him like a monster. Beggars dared stay at their tavern now? Could he be a spy sent by competitors?
After a moment of calculation, he answered: “A lower room costs five taels a night.”
Zhao Baozhu’s eyes nearly popped out: “What?!”
He didn’t even have two taels total, and this place charged five taels for a single night!
Seeing his expression, the waiter knew he was overthinking it. This was just some beggar who seemed to have lost his mind. He scoffed and turned to leave.
Zhao Baozhu stood there, stunned. He was completely stunned by the sight of the exorbitantly priced restaurant in the capital.
In truth, this wasn’t the waiter’s fault. The kind soldier had directed Zhao Baozhu to cheaper inns near the outskirts, while the vendor pointed him to the most prosperous area in the capital. This place was far from the city wall but within two li were the residences of court officials, and further ahead lay the palace walls.
With such prime location, the high prices were only natural.
Unaware of this, Zhao Baozhu asked at several nearby inns and found the prices similar, and thus assumed all inns in the capital cost this much. His heart sank into despair.
“Where did this beggar come from? Get out!”
Once again, Zhao Baozhu was driven away by guards at an inn entrance, falling to the ground clutching his head.
“Ouch!” His shoulder hit the steps, and he cried out, glaring angrily at the waiter: “Why are you hitting people?”
The waiter stood arrogantly, hands on hips, looking down his nose at him: “Get lost while I’m still in a good mood! If you dare disturb the honored guests again, this Laozi will beat you to death!”
After he said that, the guards at his sides raised their wooden clubs high, making as if to beat him. Seeing this, Zhao Baozhu scrambled to his feet and bolted outside. Though the waiter was hateful, a gentleman could take revenge in ten years, it was more important to stay alive right now!
Zhao Baozhu weaved through the pedestrians and no longer dared ask at any inns. He definitely could not afford them. By now it was noon, and the streets had become visibly more crowded and packed. Zhao Baozhu was jostled back and forth among the crowd, his eyes filled with the pale northern sunlight, and he suddenly felt dizzy and faint.
He had not eaten or drunk anything for an entire day. The hunger in his stomach had gradually turned into numbness, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. Zhao Baozhu staggered along with the crowd, raising a hand to wipe his forehead while pressing his stomach with the other. The last time he had eaten was a steamed bun in a ruined temple outside the capital. That tiny bit of energy had long since been digested. Now nothing remained at all.
He should’ve asked the abbot at the temple for two more buns earlier, Zhao Baozhu thought regretfully.
Panting heavily, Zhao Baozhu failed to notice that the crowd had carried him closer and closer to the imperial city. Suddenly, someone slammed into his shoulder. Zhao Baozhu stumbled, shoved out of the crowd and into a narrow alley.
“Ow!”
His forehead knocked against a wall built of green stone bricks. He cried out in pain and turned angrily behind him. “What kind of person are you–”
Rubbing his forehead, Zhao Baozhu found that all the good impressions he once had of people in the capital had completely vanished. Why were every one of them so annoying! Right now his head was spinning, and he had no energy to argue with anyone. Nor did he want to return to that road more crowded than the New Year market back in his village. So he simply leaned against the wall and walked deeper into the alley.
The farther he went, the more distant the noise outside became. Zhao Baozhu looked up and saw tree branches stretching over the stone walls, sparse green buds growing upon them. They were probably planted in the courtyards of nearby homes.
Separated from the bustling main road by only one street, this alley was exceptionally quiet and secluded. And the location was obviously excellent. Zhao Baozhu looked up and could even see the pointed roof of Guangfo Temple not far away.
He did not know how long he walked, but the dizziness in his head grew stronger and stronger until he could barely stand. He could only support himself against the wall and inch forward slowly, inwardly crying bitterly. If he fainted here, who knew whether anyone would even discover him!
His legs trembling, Zhao Baozhu turned a corner, and suddenly a vermilion-red gate appeared before his eyes.
Zhao Baozhu stopped and stared blankly upward. Two red lanterns hung before the gate, and on the stone pedestals flanking the steps were not stone lions, but two exquisitely crafted stone lamps.
His eyes filled with amazement. Looking up again, he saw there was no plaque hanging above the gate. Compared to the inns outside, it appeared much plainer. The building inside did not look especially tall either.
Maybe this place would be cheaper?
Standing at the entrance, Zhao Baozhu hesitated. He wanted to knock and ask, yet feared being beaten out by guards again like before.
After wavering for a while, however, he was simply too hungry and exhausted. In the end, he still decided to step forward.
Unexpectedly, the moment he raised his hand, the gate was suddenly pushed open from inside.
“Ah!”
The door slammed into Zhao Baozhu’s forehead, instantly making his vision swim.
His legs gave out and he crouched on the ground at once. At the same time, a startled voice sounded above his head: “Who are you? Why are you squatting here?!”
Covering his already injured forehead, Zhao Baozhu lifted tear-blurred eyes and saw a richly dressed young master standing before him.
His vision was blurry now. He could only make out that the young master was tall, dressed in a moon-white robe. Gold embroidery patterned the hem within inches of him, faintly glimmering beneath the sunlight.
The one who had just spoken was a man in green robes standing beside the young master, glaring furiously at him now. Zhao Baozhu blinked, and a tear slid down from the corner of his eye. He realized this white-robed young master was perhaps the owner of this inn.
“I-I’m here to stay at the inn—”
Zhao Baozhu swayed as he tried to stand, but a sudden wave of dizziness struck his head, and his feet abruptly lost balance.
Bang.
With a muffled sound, Zhao Baozhu collapsed onto the ground. Darkness pulsed before his eyes in waves. Once the dizziness subsided somewhat, he heard the green-robed young man suddenly shout in a raised voice: “What are you doing?! Quick, someone come drag this beggar away, ”
Zhao Baozhu’s vision cleared somewhat. Blankly, he stared at the moon-white robe in his hands and realized he had fallen at the inn owner’s feet.
Gathering the last bit of strength in his body, Zhao Baozhu said, “B-Boss… can the room fee be a little cheaper?” After saying this sentence, he could no longer hold on and collapsed headfirst at the young master’s feet.
***
Deng Yun watched the little beggar who had appeared from nowhere clutching his young master’s robe with filthy hands, even leaving two black handprints on the moon-white fabric, and nearly screamed.
“T-this–” Deng Yun completely lost his usual composure. Turning frantically toward the guards hurrying over from the courtyard behind him, he shouted, “What are all of you doing?! Hurry up already!”
He knew that because of the floods in the south these past few days, large numbers of refugees had poured into the capital. These guards had definitely gone off drinking again with their wages! That was how this little beggar had managed to reach the gates of the Ye residence.
He’d deal properly with those lazy good-for-nothings later! Deng Yun ground his teeth inwardly. Turning back around, he reached out to pull the unconscious Zhao Baozhu away himself.
Yet just as his hand touched Zhao Baozhu’s sleeve, a cool, clear voice came from behind him: “Wait.”
Ye Jinghua lowered his eyes and looked at Zhao Baozhu lying at his feet. His gaze swept over the boy’s dusty face and the damp tracks left by tears beneath his eyes before pausing briefly upon his swollen forehead.
The little beggar did not seem very old. He wore only a thin cloth garment. February in the capital had not yet begun to warm. If he were left outside, he might very well freeze to death.
Ye Jinghua said calmly, “Help him inside first. Give him some sugar water.”
Hearing this, Deng Yun’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Young master, how could this–”
How could this sort of beggar enter the Ye family’s gates!
Ye Jinghua turned and glanced at him once. Deng Yun’s words abruptly stopped, and he lowered his head. “Yes.”
Ye Jinghua lowered his gaze again and gently pulled his robe free from Zhao Baozhu’s hand before turning to walk back into the residence. As he walked, he said, “If he doesn’t wake after drinking the sugar water, call a doctor.”
Deng Yun’s eyes widened even further. Not only were they taking in this little beggar, they were even going to spend money on a doctor for him?! Watching Ye Jinghua’s retreating figure, Deng Yun’s lips moved several times, but he dared not speak. He knew the young master was going to change clothes. This was not the time to disturb him, the Emperor was still waiting in the palace!
