After traveling for more than half a month, the eight-thousand-strong group reached Xuanzhou. Xie Yong had sent letters to his parents and uncles, and Xie Xiao led the whole family to greet them at the city gate early in the morning. Seeing the person leading the procession riding a bright red Heavenly Horse, they knelt and shouted, "Welcome Your Highness!"
Cui Yi's bad mood from the journey dissipated somewhat at this sight. He tried to be friendly and said, "Please rise. Thank you for the trouble, Minister Xie."
Xie Yong was a prosperous middle-aged man with three chins, indicating Xuanzhou's wealth.
Xie Xiao rose respectfully, "Thank you, Your Highness. Please come this way." He waved his hand, and the family stepped aside. Cui Yi entered the city proudly.
The eight thousand soldiers were temporarily stationed outside the city, while Cui Yi and his ten companions stayed at the governor's residence.
"Mother!" Xie Yuchan rushed into her mother Ye Shi's arms, tears streaming down her face.
Ye Shi hugged her daughter, rubbing her eyes, "My dear! How thin you've become. How could those two useless servants take care of you? My poor girl!"
The mother and daughter cried in each other's arms at the gate. Xie Xiao apologized awkwardly, "My wife missed our daughter too much. Please excuse us, Your Highness. Please come inside."
Cui Yi entered, and Xie Xiao followed closely, explaining, "Your Highness must be tired from the journey. From Xuanzhou to Gan Zhou takes only eleven days. You can rest here for a few days. I'll prepare provisions and horses before you set off. I've arranged the main chamber for you. Lunch will be served later, and I'll arrange a banquet tonight to welcome you."
Bai Lichan, walking a few steps behind, coughed softly, pretending to stroke the kitten in his arms, and whispered, "Minister Xie knows how to please, but unfortunately, he failed to discipline his daughter properly."
Xiao Qiu snorted angrily, "He's just flattering His Highness and ignoring us. How is that called knowing how to please?"
Bai Lichan didn't know how to explain and smiled without speaking. Chi Ying calmly said, "It's right that he ignores me. His daughter is about to become the princess. Why should he treat a concubine like a servant kindly? Look, even His Highness hasn't said anything."
Soon they reached the main chamber. Xie Xiao guided Cui Yi up the steps. As Chi Ying and the others were about to follow, a matron stopped them, "This is where His Highness stays. Follow me." Indeed, Chi Ying was treated like a servant.
Nong Yue glared, "Doesn't His Highness need someone to serve him? Does the Xie family separate couples?"
Ye Shi laughed softly, "I've already arranged servants for His Highness. Although the Xie family may not be much, we are proper and respectful. Since Miss Xie is not married yet, she naturally cannot stay with His Highness. Why are you in such a hurry?" Beside her, Xie Yuchan smiled triumphantly at them.
Xiao Qiu almost wanted to argue, but Chi Ying held her back, "Xiao Qiu, don't be rude."
Ye Shi, still attractive despite her age, showed her beauty. Xie Yuchan inherited her appearance, including the contempt in her eyes. "You must be tired from the journey. There's no need for you to serve here. Go rest."
Xiao Qiu was still indignant, but Chi Ying pulled her away.
The matron led them to a servant's room, which was clean and tidy. Chi Ying wasn't picky and sat on the bed, massaging her lower back. Carrying Xiao Cui Xian throughout the journey had exhausted her.
"Why are you afraid of them, Madam! They bully you even though you're a master. The Xie family is too disrespectful! His Highness promised not to marry that Xie woman. How thick-skinned is this family to keep trying to win His Highness over?" Xiao Qiu stomped angrily.
Nong Yue, changing Xiao Cui Xian's diaper, tried to calm her down, "Forget it. Things have changed. Listen to Madam."
Xiao Qiu pouted, "Madam, you are His Highness' wife. How can you let the Xie family bully you? If we bow our heads today, we'll never lift them again."
Chi Ying smiled bitterly, "Do you think I want to be disrespected? We're under their roof, and I can't help but bow my head. His Highness is going through a tough time, and I can't do much to help. Even worse, I'm dragging him down. Since His Highness won't submit, marrying Miss Xie is inevitable."
Xiao Qiu was shocked, "What? His Highness agreed to marry that woman? How could he?"
Chi Ying shushed her, "Keep your voice down. We're in the Xie family's house."
Nong Yue finished changing the diaper and went to fetch water. Xiao Qiu calmed down and began massaging Chi Ying's shoulders, "Madam, is it true that His Highness will marry Miss Xie?"
When Xiao Qiu called her "Madam," it meant she was speaking as her personal maid rather than a servant of the Wangfu. Chi Ying knew Xiao Qiu had always been loyal and protective, and she couldn't bear to say anything harsh.
Chi Ying sighed, "His Highness didn't mention it. I suggested it myself. Half of the court officials support the Crown Prince. My father sacrificed my happiness to cling to the Crown Prince. Now even the emperor is helping the Crown Prince to suppress His Highness. Life is unfair. Even if you don't fight, you still become a thorn in others' sides."
Xiao Qiu argued, "Everyone else is abandoning His Highness. You should support him. Aren't husband and wife supposed to be one?"
Chi Ying smiled again and sighed, "Just my support isn't enough. Gan Zhou is desolate, and food is scarce. The most important thing is grain. Right now, only the Xie family can help His Highness."
Xiao Qiu nodded, understanding vaguely. She asked worriedly, "Does this mean we'll have to live under Miss Xie's shadow forever?"
Chi Ying turned around and held her hand, "Xiao Qiu, you've been with me for so long. Though we are mistress and maid, I've always seen you as my sister. Look at my situation now. My parents abandoned me, and my husband is marrying another woman. Every day will be a struggle. Living under Miss Xie's control will be the least of my worries. I think it's better to find a decent family in Xuanzhou to marry you, so you won't suffer with me in Gan Zhou."
"Madam!" Xiao Qiu's eyes welled up with tears, "I don't want to leave you. I want to serve you for life! No matter how much hardship, I'll endure it with you!"
"Xiao Qiu..." Chi Ying felt a lump in her throat and hugged her tightly.
Nong Yue brought hot water and saw the two hugging, feeling sad. She forced a smile, wrung out a hot towel, and handed it to Chi Ying, "Madam, don't be sad. Wash your face and rest. You've been carrying the little miss in the carriage all day. You must look presentable for the banquet tonight."
Chi Ying agreed and washed her face and hands. She lay down, and Xiao Qiu covered her with a quilt. Then, they both went to the outer room to rest.
All three were exhausted from the journey and slept through lunch. When Chi Ying woke up to her daughter's crying, it was nearly late afternoon, and her stomach growled. She had no milk for the baby and couldn't rely on a wet nurse. She had to get up and eat the cold food.
The food was cold and unappetizing. Chi Ying wanted to call someone to reheat it, but the servants mocked her. An old woman doing needlework sneered, "Wangfu servants think they're special? Reheat your own food if you want to eat."
Chi Ying clenched her teeth, took a few deep breaths, and restrained herself. She returned to the room, intending to wake Xiao Qiu or Nong Yue, but seeing them sleeping soundly, she decided not to disturb them. She ate the cold, hard rice and vegetables alone.
The dishes were barely edible. The meat was tough, and the soup was greasy. The only decent dish was tofu, but it was cold. Chi Ying forced herself to eat, knowing she needed energy to feed her daughter.
Nong Yue and Xiao Qiu woke up at dusk. Chi Ying had changed into clean clothes and waited for someone to call them to the banquet. She thought dinner would be better than lunch, but it turned out the banquet didn't involve them. Xie Xiao had invited only Cui Yi.
Nong Yue fetched food from the kitchen and encountered Bai Lichan, who had only three steamed buns and a plate of dark pickles. He joked, "I have to retract my earlier statement. Xiao Qiu was right. Xie Xiao doesn't know how to please. At least my cat gets fish."
Nong Yue brought back two dishes and a bowl of soup, which wasn't enough. Bai Lichan shared one bun and got half a bowl of soup in return.
Chi Ying realized this wasn't because Xie Xiao didn't know how to please but because Xie Yuchan instructed the servants to mistreat them. Poor Bai Lichan, who hadn't offended anyone, suffered with them.
They ate a half-full meal and were hungry again before dark. Xiao Qiu tried to get more food but returned empty-handed and dirty.
"Madam can't go hungry like this. What will the little miss eat at night?" Nong Yue was worried.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
In her panic, the robe slipped off her shoulders. The cold of October made her sneeze violently. Cui Yi shouted loudly, "Bring the sable coat!" Nong Yue came forward with the coat, and Cui Yi personally draped it over Chi Ying. A warm feeling welled up in Chi Ying's heart. Rubbing her itchy nose, she smiled and said, "I'm fine now. Didn't you remember what I said before? We must not offend the Xie family at this moment. It's just a few days of hardship; we can endure it. There's still a long way to go, and we shouldn't be too particular."
Cui Yi's face turned extremely ugly. "Am I nothing without the Xie family?"
Chi Ying sat beside him at the table and gently persuaded, "Your Highness, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook a meal without rice. Even if you are a war god, you cannot fight on an empty stomach. After this incident, even my own father sided with outsiders to kick us when we're down. The Xie family is still willing to support you, which is very precious. Regardless of what Xie Xiao has in mind, wouldn't you grab the only straw at hand when you're drowning?"
Cui Yi snorted heavily, still unwilling to give in. "Once we take control of the local taxes in Ganzhou, how could we worry about food? I've made up my mind. Tomorrow morning, I will set out."
"Ah!" Chi Ying tried to stop him again, but Cui Yi shook her off and left.
Xiao Qiu anxiously said, "Your Ladyship... His Highness is right. Why do we have to rely on the Xie family? At worst, we won't live as luxuriously as before, but we can still eat and dress warmly, can't we?"
Chi Ying smiled bitterly. "Eat and dress warmly? Eat the northwest wind and wear thatch skirts? Do you think the emperor will provide enough food for us to reach Ganzhou? If His Highness doesn't plunder along the way, how would the Crown Prince have another chance to step on us?"
The truth was once again hit by Chi Ying. Early the next morning, Cui Yi went to the army camp outside the city and asked Cao Qian about the remaining food supplies. Cao Qian hesitated and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, the remaining food might last less than three days."
Cui Yi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. "How could it run out so quickly?"
Cao Qian complained endlessly, "It's cold, and we've been marching continuously. The soldiers need energy."
Cui Yi's eyes were filled with stars, and he stood there speechless for a long time. "The consumption of food is actually similar to previous expeditions. It's just..."
"What?" Cui Yi asked coldly.
Cao Qian bowed his head extremely low and said helplessly, "The grain allocated by the Ministry of War is less than seventy percent of what we used to get. General Dai almost quarreled with them, but the final document still showed such a small amount."
Cui Yi gasped, turned around, and left. Cao Qian was shocked. "Where are you going, Your Highness?" "To find food!"
Cui Yi rode back to the governor's mansion and rushed straight to Chi Ying's courtyard. As soon as he entered, he asked, "How much silver notes did we bring?"
Chi Ying was eating breakfast and was startled by him, nearly choking. Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, she said, "We brought everything we could. The imperial decree came so suddenly that most of our wealth was in cash, and we couldn't immediately exchange it..."
"How much exactly?!" Cui Yi was almost driven mad.
"...Less than one hundred thousand."
One hundred thousand taels of silver—during the Jianyuan period of the Great Chu, a dou (unit of measurement) of rice cost about forty coins. Calculating, it seemed enough for eight thousand people to eat for five years. However, this was all the property of the Wu Wangfu. How could it all be converted into rice? Recruiting soldiers and purchasing weapons required money. Food was just one part of living expenses. After deducting other costs, the remaining silver would only be enough for less than half a year.
Even if they bought all the rice, who would sell it to them? Ganzhou was desolate, and the locals barely had enough to eat themselves. Xuanzhou was rich in fish and rice, but its trade was controlled by the Xie family. With the Xie family against them, who would sell them food? Even if they did, they would surely raise prices and extort them.