The inn in town was quite clean. Nestled in the central plains, this region had enjoyed several years of favorable weather, and many prosperous families lived here, so the inn was bustling with guests coming and going.
Qi Yuan sat in her room, listening to the Head Escort speak.
The Head Escort looked at the young woman before him with a complicated expression. “Miss, we’ve mobilized thirty-six escorts from both our Henan and Hebei branches… just to protect you alone…”
He had been quietly speculating about Qi Yuan’s identity the entire way.
Though the times were relatively peaceful, it was still uncommon for a lone young woman to hire such a large escort team and spend so lavishly. Wasn’t she at all concerned someone might covet her wealth?
Qi Yuan gave a nonchalant hum and raised her brows. “Thirty-six men, plus the maid you helped me find—how much silver altogether?”
The Head Escort hesitated, weighing the matter silently before replying, “To ensure your safety on the journey, no less than five thousand taels.”
Five thousand taels—after subtracting costs, the escort agency could net at least two thousand taels. They wouldn’t have to worry about wages for the first half of the next year.
Qi Yuan smiled, pulled a bundle of silver notes from her sleeve, counted out five, and handed them to him. “Go ahead and count.”
Five notes in total, each worth a thousand taels, stamped with the seal of Four Seasons Bank—there was no need to verify, the value was plain to see.
The Head Escort swallowed hard, privately wondering if he’d just run into the biggest sucker of the century.
Who was this girl—some rich merchant’s pampered daughter?
Maybe she had a secret lover waiting for her, and she was eloping to meet him? That would explain such extravagance.
And if that were true… with no elder by her side, carrying such a fortune…
Then in some remote, deserted place on the road…
“Head Escort?” Qi Yuan looked at him with a smile and chuckled softly. “Are you thinking that, with me carrying so much money and no protection, even if I die on the road, no one would know I ever hired your agency?”
Her words pierced his thoughts like a blade, and the Head Escort’s face flushed with embarrassment and alarm.
Just then, Qi Yuan deliberately revealed a small silver pendant.
It gleamed with a fresh shine—not the darkened, worn kind passed down through years of use.
The moment the Head Escort saw it clearly, a chill swept across his scalp. He forgot the silver notes entirely and lunged for the pendant.
Qi Yuan easily pulled it back and looked at him calmly. “Langfang, Qili Village. Huang Wenjun. Head Escort Huang, right? Your family line has only one male heir per generation. You lost two children before this one, and your current son just turned one recently. Correct?”
…
She had investigated him!
Which meant she wasn’t just some random orphaned girl!
How could an ordinary girl have such insight, such worldly awareness—and even dig up his background before hiring him?
She had even visited his home beforehand!
Huang Wenjun’s heart thudded wildly, and a shiver ran down his spine. Goosebumps rose on his arms.
His mouth was dry. “Who… who are you?”
“A customer,” Qi Yuan said with a serene smile, locking eyes with him. “Let’s not play games, Head Escort Huang. You’d best keep your men in check. If I tell you to go east, you go east. If I say west, you go west.”
She glanced at the five silver notes still on the table. “The money’s yours. I’m a proper client—I hire you, I pay. I expect you to be proper escorts. If anything happens to me, I guarantee your family will suffer far worse than I do.”
She picked up the notes and handed them to him. “Do you understand me now, Head Escort Huang?”
How could he not?
Huang Wenjun silently accepted the notes, his heart heavy and grim.
Qi Yuan continued before he could speak: “This is your wage. Once the task is complete, I’ll give you another thousand taels to divide among your men. Head Escort Huang, do you still have any questions?”
Heart racing, Huang Wenjun shook his head instinctively.
Qi Yuan, satisfied, waved him away.
When he stepped out of the room, gone was the smugness of earlier. He barked at the lazy guards who were ready to gamble: “Get your heads on straight! No gambling, no drinking!”
His sudden change in tone stunned the guards. “Boss, it’s just some girl going to meet her lover—do we need to go this far?”
This wasn’t even a dangerous job. Why act like they were protecting some big-shot?
Huang Wenjun’s face darkened. He kicked the speaker hard and swept his gaze across the group. “That much silver, that big of a deal—anyone who doesn’t want the job can get lost!”
His outburst silenced them all. Heads hung low.
Seeing this, Huang Wenjun changed his tone: “Let me tell you something—we’re raising your shares. Once this job’s done, everyone gets an extra twenty taels! Twenty taels!”
Eyes instantly lit up all around.
Twenty taels—some people had to do ten trips to earn that!
Now they’d get it in one go? And extra?
Everyone quickly put away their gambling tools and snacks and busied themselves with their duties.
Even the guy who got kicked grinned and ran off to arrange night patrols.
Huang Wenjun looked up toward the window where the light still burned upstairs. His heart was a tangle of nerves.
Around midnight, he leaned by Qi Yuan’s door, eyes closed in rest, when he heard the faintest sound. He snapped alert. “Who’s there?!”
His shout brought the other guards out of hiding, all calling: “Boss, what’s wrong?!”
The window shook. Qi Yuan opened it and asked lazily, “What’s the matter?”
“Someone was on the roof just now!” Huang Wenjun said, heart pounding. “Miss, you…”
Qi Yuan yawned and gave him a knowing look. “No need to worry. Let’s keep moving forward as planned. No need to be so tense, Head Escort Huang.”
…
How could he not be tense?
He felt like he was aboard some pirate ship he hadn’t signed up for!
Qi Yuan snorted softly, raised an eyebrow, and said no more.
—
Elsewhere, one of Liu Jinghong’s confidants returned to the post station with a report.
Liu Jinghong frowned. “Thirty-six people?”
He scoffed. The Eldest Princess and crown prince were certainly generous—thirty-six bodyguards just for Qi Yuan!
But that couldn’t be the full picture. These were likely just for safe passage. Once she reached her destination, there would surely be more reinforcements.
He pressed his lips together. “Still no news from His Highness?”
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