Jiao Yue was eating while there seemed to be tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. She grabbed Shen Li's hand and said, "Miss, you don't know. I really love the food in the Western Yue State! I've never..."
Before she could finish, Shen Li stuffed a piece of meat into Jiao Yue's mouth and said, "If it tastes good, eat more. You still need to watch your tongue in the Western Yue State."
As she spoke, Shen Li gave a meaningful look at the people at the next table. Xuan Yuan Jue immediately understood. Jiao Yue didn't say any more and just kept eating.
Suddenly, a young girl at the next table walked over with a cup in her hand. "Sir, I took a fancy to you at first sight. I wonder if I could offer you a drink?"
The customs in the Western Yue State were very open. It was not uncommon for men and women to express their love in public. So the people around just looked on with interest and didn't find it strange.
Xuan Yuan Jue was surprised for a moment, but finally smiled and picked up his teacup. "Sorry, I don't drink alcohol. I'm afraid I can't fulfill the young lady's wish. I can only use tea instead of wine."
He thought the girl would understand the refusal in his words. But unexpectedly, she drank up the wine in the cup and turned the cup upside down to show it was empty.
"Sir is willing to drink. That's already giving me enough face. My name is Ru Ping. May I sit at the same table with you? I just want to make friends with everyone here. After all, we should make more friends when we're away from home."
Shen Li frowned. This woman was the one who had been giving her strange looks at the beginning. Now she was offering a toast and then asking to sit at the same table. Anyway, she was trying to get close.
But Xuan Yuan Jue suddenly stretched himself. "Miss Ru Ping, I'm very sleepy now. Maybe I caught a cold a few days ago and didn't rest well. I may have to go back to my room now. Please feel free."
After saying that, regardless of whether it was polite or not, he covered his head and walked upstairs. But Ru Ping still persisted and shouted, "I naturally understand that the sir is not feeling well. But I wonder if I could know your name?"
Out of politeness, Xuan Yuan Jue waved his hand and looked back. "If the young lady wants to know, I'll naturally tell you. My name is Xuan Yuan Jue."
Xuan Yuan Jue didn't even change his name. Presumably, he thought this name was not well - known in the Western Yue State. Shen Li thought about it and didn't stop him.
Suddenly, Jiao Yue couldn't help laughing. Ru Ping clearly felt it and looked back at Jiao Yue coldly. "You're just a low - class maid. What are you laughing at?"
Hearing this, Jiao Yue immediately slapped the table and stood up. "What did you say?"
Ru Ping didn't take Jiao Yue seriously at all. She just gave a light laugh and turned away. Jiao Yue wanted to chase after her, but Shen Li quickly grabbed her. "Don't be impulsive. This woman is not simple."
After the meal, Jiao Yue followed Shen Li back to their room. She hugged her shoulders angrily. "That woman is so rude. She was so gentle and polite to Young Master Xuan Yuan just now, but then treated me like this! And you still won't let me get even!"
Shen Li was calm. She had roughly learned about the Western Yue State before. The customs here were open and they also valued class status very much. So it was normal for her to mock Jiao Yue.
Shen Li patted Jiao Yue's hand. "Don't bother with her. From now on, you'll disguise yourself as my sister. Don't dress like a maid anymore. Then no one will gossip about this kind of thing. You should also be cautious in your words and deeds in the future."
Suddenly, a tear fell unconsciously. Jiao Yue hugged Shen Li and cried loudly. "Miss, I don't deserve to be called your sister. I..."
Shen Li also hugged Jiao Yue tightly. She had seen Jiao Yue's loyalty over the years. She patted Jiao Yue's back. "This is the Western Yue State. It's okay..."
Actually, when they were preparing the clothes, they had asked the shopkeeper to prepare a few more sets of clothes for a young lady. Shen Li took them all out of the box and gave them to Jiao Yue.
Jiao Yue kept declining. "Miss... this won't do. I'll go buy my own. If I take these, you'll have no clothes to wear."
Shen Li directly put the clothes in Jiao Yue's hands and told her to try them on. She locked the box. "These were prepared for you long ago. Don't think too much."
After saying that, Shen Li seemed to think of something. She suddenly turned back and pointed at Jiao Yue. "Stop crying. Otherwise, your eyes will be swollen. People will think I've sold you off."
Hearing this joke, Jiao Yue stopped crying and smiled. She walked back to her room with the clothes in her arms, looking back three times at every step. Shen Li also asked a servant to find two young maids from the Western Yue State. One for her and one for Jiao Yue, just to hide their identities.
Early the next morning, the group got on the carriage and headed for Heishui Village outside the town.
Before they arrived, Xuan Yuan Jue suddenly lifted the curtain and pointed at the mountain not far away. "Look, isn't there much more black smoke than yesterday? I can even faintly smell a burnt smell in the air."
Shen Li frowned. Indeed, the hillside was different from last night. A piece of it was suddenly bald. Just like... Suddenly, the two said in unison, "There's a fire!"
The others were confused. Jiao Yue looked around. "Where's the fire? Is it the carriage? Sister, let's jump out of the carriage quickly."
Shen Li held Jiao Yue down. "It's okay." Xuan Yuan Jue put down the curtain. He looked at Shen Li and pondered. "We'll know when we get there."
Suddenly, the carriage stopped. The coachman said helplessly, "Sir and Miss, the road ahead is blocked. The carriage probably can't pass."
Xuan Yuan Jue got off the carriage and found that the already narrow road was completely blocked by fallen trees of all sizes and various stones, as if someone had done it on purpose.
Shen Li tried to go forward and found that there was only a small gap against the wall. She could barely pass through it with her light - footed skill.
Xuan Yuan Jue also got through smoothly. He shouted to the others, "Those who are not good at light - footed skill should stay here and go back to the inn to wait for us."
The maids they bought and the coachman didn't know light - footed skill. Only Jiao Yue was left. She got through easily.
Shen Li picked at the stones on the rock wall and found them very firm. Even if they tried to smash them, they might not be able to. She picked up some stones and compared them with those on the rock wall. Shen Li found something strange.
Xuan Yuan Jue also picked up a stone. "You've noticed it too, little one. These things must have been moved here by someone. It seems that someone doesn't want us to go to Heishui Village. But we must go!"
Shen Li threw the stone to Jiao Yue. "Keep it. There may be danger later. There's more than one enemy."
Shen Li had already felt that someone had been following them all the way. There were still figures moving in the grass. Suddenly, an arrow shot over. Shen Li quickly grabbed the stone she had given to Jiao Yue and threw it out. Fortunately, she was fast enough and just knocked the flying arrow away.
Xuan Yuan Jue immediately protected Shen Li behind him and shouted at the grass where the arrow came from, "Who's there?"
The next second, it wasn't one person who came out, but two! Ru Ping was chasing a black - clothed man who was carrying a bow and arrow on his back!