After smearing mud on their faces, Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran walked into the village.
Ji Wuran knocked on the door of a house a few households away from the village entrance.
"Who are you?" an old man answered the door. He didn't open it fully, only revealing a crack, and then looked at them vigilantly.
Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran exchanged a look. Ji Wuran said, "Elder, my sister and I are going to the capital to find relatives. We were attacked by bandits on the way, but luckily we escaped. We finally saw this village. Could you let my sister and I stay for one night? We'll leave tomorrow."
"Father, who is it?" a man's voice came from inside.
The old man replied, "Guests seeking lodging."
Ji Wuran continued, "Elder, we won't stay for free." As he spoke, Ji Wuran took out a pouch from his sleeve and tipped it over. Only two copper coins fell out.
Ji Wuran awkwardly handed the copper coins to the old man and said, "Elder, as you can see, we only have these two copper coins left. Could you let us stay for one night?"
Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in the old man's cloudy eyes. He looked at Ji Wuran and said, "No. Leave quickly."
Ji Wuran was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, the old man moved to close the door.
Just as it was about to shut, the door suddenly opened again. A younger man poked his head out and sized up Ji Wuran and Xue Xingyue. When he saw Xue Xingyue, a flicker of admiration crossed his eyes. He opened the door and said, "Weren't you looking for lodging? Come in!"
Ji Wuran and Xue Xingyue exchanged a look. Ji Wuran asked, "Weren't you refusing?"
The man said, "My father is a bit senile. Please don't mind him. Come in quickly!"
Ji Wuran nodded, and he and Xue Xingyue entered the house.
The room was not large, with only an east and west room. Since Xue Xingyue was a female, Ji Wuran, the young man, and the old man shared one room, and Xue Xingyue had another.
After a brief exchange, Xue Xingyue learned that this was the most remote village in Jiangnan, and it would take several more days to get out of Jiangnan.
The young man's surname was Sun, and the old man was his father. Before entering the room, Ji Wuran said a few words silently.
Xue Xingyue understood perfectly. Ji Wuran said, "Don't fall asleep."
Xue Xingyue entered the room. The room had a damp smell.
She sat on the simple bed made of wood, fully clothed, with her eyes slightly closed.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from outside, and then it disappeared.
Xue Xingyue opened her eyes. Through the cracked window, she saw a figure run out. That figure was not Ji Wuran.
"You're awake?"
Xue Xingyue turned around. Although she couldn't see the figure in the darkness, she recognized the voice. It was Ji Wuran's voice.
"Was that Sun Dahai who just went out?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran nodded. "Yes."
"What did he go out for?" Xue Xingyue frowned slightly.
Ji Wuran said, "This Sun Dahai doesn't seem like a farmer. Instead, he seems like..."
Xue Xingyue's gaze paused slightly as she said, "Like a mountain bandit?"
Ji Wuran nodded. "Yes, exactly like a mountain bandit."
"Then let's leave here quickly," Xue Xingyue said.
Ji Wuran said, "Your Highness, I'm afraid it's too late now."
As soon as Ji Wuran finished speaking, they saw Sun Dahai followed by many people outside the door, holding weapons.
Xue Xingyue quickly went to the back window and opened it. It turned out to be a bottomless abyss.
Ji Wuran spread his hands and said, "I'm afraid escape will be difficult today."
Xue Xingyue looked at the approaching Sun Dahai and said in a low voice, "We'll act according to the circumstances!"
Ji Wuran nodded. "That's all we can do."
Ji Wuran returned to Old Sun's room. The people led by Sun Dahai only surrounded the courtyard and did not enter.
This continued until dawn.
Xue Xingyue had not slept all night, not knowing when Sun Dahai would bring people in, so she dared not fall asleep. It was only when Ji Wuran came to call her that she felt she couldn't hold on any longer and finally slept for a while.
When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Xue Xingyue opened her eyes and saw that Ji Wuran was not in the room. She was slightly startled and quickly got out of bed to find him. When she saw Ji Wuran entering with a bowl of soup and a sweet potato at the door,
She felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
"Have something to eat. Although it's a bit crude, it's better than starving." Ji Wuran placed the meal on the half-broken table.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward and glanced at the dark soup in the bowl. She didn't drink it, but ate a few bites of the sweet potato.
"Where are those people?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran whispered, "They left this morning with Sun Dahai."
"Does that mean we're safe?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran replied, "I don't know, but we should be safe for now."
"What about Sun Dahai's father?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran said, "He went to the fields. He'll be back at noon."
"When can we leave here?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran glanced at the sweet potato in Xue Xingyue's hand, thinking that Princess Xingyue had probably never eaten such a sweet potato before.
"I'm afraid we can't for now. Someone is guarding outside the village," Ji Wuran said.
Xue Xingyue put down the remaining half of the sweet potato and said, "Alright, we can rest here for a while."
"You must not have slept well last night. Now that Sun Dahai is not back, hurry up and get some sleep. I'll stand guard for you," Ji Wuran said.
Xue Xingyue initially didn't want to, but she knew that she was indeed feeling sleepy.
Since she couldn't resist, she stopped insisting. After Ji Wuran left the room, she lay down fully clothed.
Ji Wuran walked out with the half-eaten sweet potato left by Xue Xingyue. He looked at the sweet potato with a few bites missing, then suddenly reached out, picked up the sweet potato, and took several large bites.
This thing he had never eaten before, he now felt was a delicacy, even carrying the faint fragrance of Princess Xingyue.
After finishing it, his gaze froze for a moment. What was he doing?
At noon, Old Sun returned, carrying a few sweet potatoes, clearly freshly dug.
"Uncle Sun," Ji Wuran stepped forward to take the sweet potatoes from Old Sun's hand.
Old Sun said apologetically, "This year has been dry, and there are very few vegetables. Only sweet potatoes are edible, otherwise, we would starve. We can only ask you two to eat sweet potatoes."
"Uncle Sun, you're too kind. There's no need to be so formal when we're out," Ji Wuran said.
Old Sun poured some water into the pot and put the sweet potatoes in.
"Uncle Sun, did your son, Sun Dahai, go hunting?" Ji Wuran asked as if casually.
Old Sun's body stiffened slightly, and he said, "Yes, he went hunting. He'll be back very late. After you've eaten the sweet potatoes, the two of you should be on your way."