Chapter 125: A Chance Encounter on the Street

Seeing An Yi pouting, An Kang reached out to pinch her nose and laughed, "Little sister, don't look so gloomy. How about Big Brother takes you to the Outer City for fun and buys you some delicious treats?"

An Yi brushed his hand away and asked, "What delicious things are there in the Outer City?"

"Oh, there's so much! There are dozens of types of flatbreads alone—steamed lamb-stuffed cakes, sleeping steamed buns, lotus meat pies, seven-colored sesame cakes, fresh shrimp meat pies, lamb-fat wine cakes..."

"Alright, Big Brother, stop counting. Besides cakes, what else is good?" An Yi wasn't a glutton, but hearing about food made her reflexively swallow.

"There are all kinds of stuffed buns, hot and cold noodles, congee, rice, dumplings, and pastries." An Kang also swallowed. "The rock sugar amber cake is the best."

"Big Brother!" An Yi squinted at him. "Do you often go to the Outer City to eat good food?"

"I've been four or five times with my colleagues," An Kang smiled.

"Then let's leave early tomorrow." The slight reluctance in An Yi's heart vanished. She had never been to the Outer City, and it might be nice to stroll around tomorrow.

An Kang’s eyes flickered as he smiled, "Are you happy now?"

An Yi’s eyes danced, and she pursed her lips in a smile, nodding. "Hmm."

Security in the Inner City was better than in the Outer City. An Qinghe was very uneasy about An Kang taking An Yi out, repeatedly urging An Kang to take good care of his sister and not let her get hurt. An Kang promised faithfully.

The next day, the weather was clear. An Yi rose early, practiced swordplay in the bamboo grove, bathed, changed into clean undergarments, and donned a cotton-padded round-collared robe with a silk shawl.

Xingren used a horn comb to style An Yi’s hair. After buying Xingren, An Yi discovered she had found a treasure; the girl was skilled and fast at creating beautiful hair buns.

"Miss, is this outfit alright?" Xiangqin brought over a brand-new set of clothes.

An Yi glanced at the dark purple short jacket and the peach-red cotton-silk skirt. "Good, we'll wear this set."

Xingren arranged An Yi’s hair into a 'single-hearted' bun, quickly tying it with a red cord. She picked out a pearl-inlaid crescent-shaped silver comb, a butterfly hairpin, and a pale yellow silk flower from the jewelry box, pinning them into the bun. She held up a square bronze mirror and asked, "Miss, take a look. Is this okay? Should I add a gold swaying hairpin?"

"No, this is fine." An Yi preferred simple attire, but given her current status, she couldn't follow her own whims to wear plain cloth and thorns; she had to wear gold and silver. After changing into her new clothes, she took Xiangqin and Taoren to Jingli Garden to pay respects to her parents.

After breakfast, the siblings set off in a carriage for the Outer City. As usual, An Yi left Fangrong behind to keep an eye on Madam Huang, and coincidentally, on An Qinghe, to see if he would visit Madam Huang at Zhuijin Courtyard.

These days, An Qinghe had been leaving early and returning late, with no time to care for his beloved concubine. Today, with the siblings out, it was a good opportunity for him.

An Yi always harbored a sense of caution toward An Qinghe. This caution didn't stem from him, but from the man in her modern life she called 'Father'—the one who had pushed her down the stairs and sent her soul into this strange world. It stemmed from that prophecy-like phrase: "The bond between father and daughter is thin."

Her past life had reached its conclusion; what would happen in this one?

An Kang did not take An Yi to the "Cooked Flower Lane" where the snacks were sold, but instead brought her to Bo Tao Tower, a place where scholars often gathered.

An Yi didn't know what Bo Tao Tower was, and she suspected nothing of An Kang's special intentions today. She followed him off the carriage and into the building.

The first floor of Bo Tao Tower was no different from an ordinary restaurant, with neatly arranged tables and chairs, smiling waiters at the door, and a shrewd manager behind the counter.

The layout of the second floor was different; it was shaped like a square. The waiter led the five of them to a room. Pushing the door open, the room was small, with six soft cushions for kneeling and a low table on the tatami mat. Against the wall near the door stood a low cabinet with the Four Treasures of the Study.

An Yi took off her veil hat and handed it to Xiangqin. Not used to kneeling, she simply sat cross-legged.

Because there were female guests, the waiter lowered the bamboo blind in front and opened the door. Across a small courtyard, they faced the opposite private room.

The opposite room had no bamboo blind. With her excellent eyesight, An Yi immediately saw two middle-aged men in brocade robes sitting inside, with four burly men in black standing behind them.

The room to the left of the opposite side hadn't opened its door yet, and the room to the right had its bamboo blind lowered—likely occupied by other female guests.

An Yi frowned slightly. This setup felt like watching a show. She looked at An Kang with suspicion.

An Kang didn't explain. He ordered a pot of fine tea and three plates of pastries.

The waiter said, "Master An, it will begin in a quarter of an hour."

Once the waiter left, An Yi immediately asked, "Big Brother, what did you bring me here to see?"

"You'll know in a moment," An Kang replied with a mysterious smile.

An Yi smiled. She had always been patient and didn't press him, waiting for the answer to reveal itself.

Just then, the door to the room on the left across the way opened, revealing five or six young scholars. Soon, the waiter delivered tea and pastries.

A quarter of an hour passed quickly. An Yi finally understood that the empty space was meant for scholars to discuss the affairs of the world. Today, students from the Donglin Academy and the Cuisheng Academy were having a literary duel.

The topic of their debate was: "A gentleman knows where he has no ease, knows the difficulty of farming, and if he has ease, he knows the reliance of the common people."

The first to take the stage was a delicate youth of sixteen or seventeen in a satin padded robe. An Kang whispered, "His name is Jiang Zhangke, the fourth son of the Right Vice Minister of Rites. He is seventeen, studies at Donglin Academy, and will take the autumn imperial examinations next year."

An Yi stared at An Kang. Was he bringing her here for a matchmaking session?

She didn't understand a word of what Jiang Zhangke said. He soon stepped down, and An Kang asked, "Little sister, what do you think of him?"

"Average," An Yi said coldly.

Next came a young man in blue, his face full of acne.

"His name is Li Shengran, the second son of the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. He is eighteen and studies at Cuisheng Academy, also taking the autumn exams next year."

After Li Shengran finished and stepped down, An Kang didn't ask for her opinion, sensing that his poor appearance wasn't worthy of An Yi.

Then came the second son of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.

An Yi couldn't even grasp the topic; all she could hear were archaic phrases. She listened to An Kang introduce them while bored, drinking tea and nibbling on pastries.

After finishing the pot of tea and two plates of pastries, she felt the need to relieve herself. "Big Brother, I need to go to the washroom."

"Xiangqin, Taoren, take good care of the Miss," An Kang said.

An Yi went downstairs with her maids. After finding the restroom, she felt refreshed. A flash of mischief crossed her eyes; she didn't want to return upstairs to hear about those green youths. Since she had finally come to the Outer City, she couldn't waste her time there.

An Yi found the waiter at the counter. "Go tell Master An upstairs that I’ve gone for a stroll and will be back to find him later."

Xiangqin slipped the waiter ten copper coins. The waiter pocketed the money and went upstairs to relay the message.

An Kang rushed down, but An Yi was already gone. He looked left and right, panicked. "Gengtian, you go look for the Miss in that direction; I'll go this way. Once you find her, bring her back to Bo Tao Tower."

The master and servant split up. Not long after, An Kang ran into Li Guyu.

"Brother Zhuzi," Li Guyu used the old nickname in private.

"Guyu, did you see Xi’er when you came over?" An Kang was sweating despite the cold weather.

"No, why is Xi’er missing?" Li Guyu asked with a frown.

"I brought her to see the literary duel at Bo Tao Tower, but she got bored and left with her two maids. I don't know where she went. What if something happens?" An Kang was too worried to think clearly, forgetting that An Yi was no fragile flower.

Li Guyu looked concerned. "The Outer City isn't like the Inner City; it’s chaotic. I’ll help you look."

"Will it delay your business?" An Kang asked.

"I have nothing urgent. Finding Xi’er is more important," Li Guyu replied.

"Thank you for the trouble," An Kang said gratefully.

"Brother Zhuzi, don't be so polite with me."

Compared to An Kang’s anxiety, An Yi was strolling leisurely. The weather was warm, the streets were crowded, and vendors were shouting their wares.

An Yi chatted casually with her maids, walking for half a street before turning into Cooked Flower Lane. The aroma of food was incredibly tempting, and the three began a culinary tour. An Yi, mindful of her health, only tasted a little of everything.

They found a table at a small dumpling stall to sit down. Before the dumplings arrived, trouble appeared.

"Pretty lady, why sit alone? Without company, it must be lonely. How about I come keep you company?" A lewd voice rang out.

An Yi looked at the group of thugs surrounding them, frowning slightly. A cold glint flashed in her eyes—she had forgotten to put on her veil hat when she left the tower.

These men were local bullies. Nearby vendors knew them and didn't dare provoke them, casting sympathetic glances at An Yi. Other customers at the stall quickly stood up and left, leaving only An Yi and her maids.

Xiangqin and Taoren looked fearful but didn't retreat, standing before An Yi and glaring at the men.

An Yi gripped her chopsticks, watching them calmly. As the leading thug reached out to grab Xiangqin, An Yi was about to strike when she heard a "whoosh." The thug let out a miserable scream as a stone struck the back of his hand.

"Boss!" the lackeys gathered around.

"Damn it! Which son of a dog is playing tricks? Come out if you dare—ah!" Before he could finish, another scream echoed.

The thugs didn't dare speak, looking around timidly.

An Yi’s eyes shifted, capturing a figure in white as snow in the crowd. She frowned slightly.

Seeing that An Yi had spotted him, the man in white walked out, waving a paper fan. He declared righteously, "This is the capital, under the Emperor’s feet! In broad daylight, you dare to bully a weak woman? You have no regard for the law! Today, I, this young hero, will certainly rid the people of this scourge!"