Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 128

Xia Heng’s fingers were stained with seal paste. Wherever they told her to leave a fingerprint, she pressed one.

She had spent ages admiring her new household registration. Every part of it looked wonderful!

Once she added her fingerprints, the procedures were nearly complete. The document itself would take several more days because it had to be sent to the Ministry of Revenue for the great seal.

Xia Heng thought about that. Didn’t that mean Xiao Yaqing’s father would handle it?

She immediately felt even more reassured.

“Do you need me to take it to Uncle Xiao for his seal tomorrow?” Cang Chuli asked casually.

Prefect Song grew even more horrified.

Why didn’t you simply tell the Minister of Revenue to come here and stamp it for you?

Xia Heng hurriedly said, “No, no. I can wait a few days. I’m not in any hurry!”

In the end, she could not suppress a little “Hehe.”

It felt as though the shackles of slavery had fallen from her body. Life truly held more promise by the day!

Seated on a stool nearby, Cang Chuli watched her delight, and the corner of his mouth curved as well.

“Then let’s return. You can collect it in two days.”

“All right!”

Even after Cang Chuli had left, Prefect Song and the clerk who had just processed the household registration stood with their mouths slightly open.

Had that really been Cang Chuli just now?

When they reached their carriage, Xia Heng remembered Uncle Zhao’s instructions.

“General, Uncle Zhao asked this servant to order more charcoal for him on the way back today, so…”

“Mm. I’ll come with you.”

Cang Chuli told the driver behind them, “Return first.”

Without a word, the driver took the empty carriage back to the General’s Mansion.

Xia Heng stared blankly as she and Cang Chuli walked down the street together.

Huh? He was coming along just to order charcoal?

Then… was she buying snacks or not?

Xia Heng wrestled with the question all the way to the charcoal merchant that regularly supplied the General’s Mansion.

“Manager Chang!”

“Oh! Miss Ah Heng! Uncle Zhao didn’t come today?”

At the question, Xia Heng glanced back at Cang Chuli and introduced him.

“This is our General.”

The account book nearly slipped from Manager Chang’s hand.

“Gen—General Cang!”

“General Cang honors this humble shop with his presence! We made no preparations…”

Manager Chang hunched his shoulders uneasily.

What was happening? Did the General think he charged too much for the mansion’s charcoal?

“It’s fine. I am merely looking around.”

Cang Chuli’s casual reply halted Manager Chang’s wild speculation.

Xia Heng smiled awkwardly.

“Manager Chang, the mansion has been using more charcoal lately. We need to order another batch from you.”

Only then did Manager Chang recover.

“Oh, oh! I see. The same as last time?”

“The same quantity and kinds. How are your stocks?”

“Oh, Miss Xia! When the General’s Mansion gives the word, this humble one will squeeze out the stock even if I have to wring it from stone!

“But the cold came early this year. My charcoal kilns haven’t stopped lately, and I reckon we’ll have another cold snap in the depths of winter!

“When you return, Miss Xia, discuss it with Steward Zhao and place another order early. Several regular customers have already submitted theirs.

“Rest assured, this humble one runs a long-term business. I would never cheat you on weight, and the quality will be the finest!”

As Manager Chang spoke, his voice grew progressively louder. His final sentence sounded like an oath sworn to someone in particular.

Xia Heng hurriedly promised to inform Uncle Zhao when she returned.

After finishing the charcoal order, she turned and discovered that Cang Chuli had already entered the grain shop next door.

“What are grain prices this winter?”

The shop assistant was bent over adding grain to a measure and jumped when someone suddenly spoke.

He looked again. The man was handsome and appeared to be a wealthy young master, so the assistant relaxed.

“Thirty-five copper coins per dou for fine rice and ten for coarse rice. Is the honored customer looking to…?”

“Coarse rice has risen that much?”

Cang Chuli frowned. Grain prices often rose toward year’s end, but coarse rice had never climbed this sharply.

At the start of the year, it had cost five copper coins per dou. Now the price had doubled to ten.

The assistant hastily glanced at the other customers buying grain and became somewhat angry.

This man looked so distinguished. Why was he complaining that coarse rice was expensive?

It was not as though this shop alone had raised prices. Had he come looking for trouble?

“Honored customer, this grain shop has always treated old and young fairly! This is the market price everywhere. If you don’t believe me, ask around outside!”

Xia Heng emerged in time to hear him.

“Brother, that isn’t what he meant. Coarse rice was only eight copper coins a short while ago. We simply didn’t expect it to rise so quickly.”

The young woman spoke kindly, so the assistant realized he might have misunderstood. Looking at Xia Heng, he began to blush first.

“Miss, I didn’t mean anything else either. The harvest was poor this year, and with New Year approaching, prices change every day. It may seem expensive, but in many places, people can’t buy grain at all!”

Xia Heng smiled at him. Cang Chuli stepped in front of her and blocked her from the assistant’s view.

“Did you not purchase grain from the south this year?”

The assistant curled his lip.

“Honored customer! The south is where buyers have been snapping up grain most fiercely this year. Otherwise, prices would never have risen so much!

“Fortunately, we have some reserves from last year and can hold out for a while. But let me tell you quietly—buy what you can now, and buy extra.

“Who knows what things will look like next year!”

Cang Chuli said nothing more.

Xia Heng thanked the assistant for his kind warning, ordered several dou of rice, and asked that it be delivered to the General’s Mansion.

“General Cang?!”

A scholar-looking man recognized Cang Chuli from afar.

When the grain-shop assistant heard that the customer was a general, his mouth fell open. Every moment of their exchange flashed through his mind like scenes in a revolving lantern. What had he said? Had he behaved improperly?

The scholar hurried over and bowed to Cang Chuli.

“This commoner, Mu Sheng, greets the General.”

“Why are you here?” Cang Chuli asked.

Mu Sheng froze. Wasn’t that supposed to be his line? It was perfectly normal for him to be here.

He quickly answered, “This commoner came to purchase paper.”

Cang Chuli nodded. Mu Sheng continued, “Many thanks for the General’s help last time! Otherwise, my second brother could never have escaped danger so easily!”

Cang Chuli looked into the distance.

“When the Zhenbei Army suffers injustice, I will see that justice is done. Your second brother was merely made another man’s scapegoat. Tell him to be more astute in the future.”

“Yes, General!”

“Mm. Let’s go.”

Mu Sheng assumed the words were addressed to him and stood bewildered. Then he heard the woman beside Cang Chuli answer, “Yes,” and follow him.

“You! You’re that maid from the General’s Mansion of Northern Pacification?!”

Mu Sheng’s shout stopped Xia Heng in her tracks.

Cang Chuli stopped as well.

“You know her?”

Xia Heng honestly shook her head. They had met only once, hadn’t they?

He had been crying so loudly that day and directing his entire tirade at Cang Chuli. He never even lifted his eyes. He should not have seen her.

“Of course I know her! I was at the training grounds that day too! Who doesn’t know the General’s Mansion of Northern Pacification has a maid as valiant as any man?”

Mu Sheng’s words made Xia Heng a little embarrassed. A scholar truly was educated. Just listen to that choice of words!

“I also heard what happened during the Winter Hunt. Xia Lang received exactly what he deserved! Miss Xia need not dwell on it!”

“Thank you, Young Master Mu. You flatter me!”

“We’re leaving.”

Cang Chuli had no interest in listening further and strode away. Xia Heng hurried after him, looking back to call, “Thank you, Young Master Mu. We’ll take our leave!”

Mu Sheng watched them depart.

Cang Chuli glanced sideways at Xia Heng and suddenly asked, “Why have you stopped wearing your face covering lately?”

Xia Heng did not understand.

“Huh? This servant’s chin has healed, and I haven’t caught a chill lately. I’m perfectly healthy, so I stopped wearing it.”

Cang Chuli looked at her smooth chin.

“Many people in the capital have caught chills recently. Wear it the next time you come out…

“Otherwise, you might infect the people in the mansion when you return.”

“Oh. This servant understands.”

Xia Heng nodded. Were many people catching chills lately? How had she not heard about it?