Liu'er was not unfamiliar with this map.
The map had been a gift from Manager Gao, and later Miss Jun had instructed her to return it to Manager Gao, but unexpectedly Miss Jun had taken it back again.
However, she wasn't too clear on what the map was for.
"This map," Miss Jun said, with a smile at the edge of her mouth, "depicts all the places in the capital to eat, drink, enjoy and play. Although it's unsightly and rough, it wins in clarity and is very useful for us who have come to the capital for the first time."
Liu'er leaned against her shoulder to look at the map.
"Hey Miss, look." She pointed at the map, "There are even privies marked here."
Saying this, she laughed merrily.
"That's great, we won't have to worry about not finding a privy. This is indeed the most crucial thing."
The urgency of human needs truly was critical, which is why this map was so popular.
Miss Jun laughed and nodded.
Zhu Zan.
She raised her head to look forward.
Along the way, especially near the capital's relay stations and inns, there were always people selling this map.
Although the feudal authority would inspect for such maps, most of the time they turned a blind eye, because many maps were sold by the people at the stations.
The posthouse soldiers, most of whom were soldiers by status, were obviously perfectly exploited by Zhu Zan.
Zhu Zan had made a neat sum of money. One might think a coin or two was trivial, but the sheer quantity made it substantial.
Miss Jun pursed her lips and smiled.
Although the walls of the capital were in sight, there was still a distance to cover on foot.
Though the capital was said to be her home, home was only a small area within the imperial palace, and she had spent most of her time elsewhere. She truly wasn't very familiar with the capital.
She had lived a nomadic life, hustling about outside and never had the time to stroll around the capital. After getting married, there was no need for the hustle, and Lu Yunqi had said he would take her to enjoy all the capital had to offer. But the first year of marriage, she wasn't in the mood, and by the second year, she had died.
Miss Jun looked down at the map in her hands again.
But now, with this map, she could properly tour around by herself.
"Liu'er, are you tired?" she turned her head to ask the young girl.
This hurried travel was hard to endure even for many grown men, let alone a pampered young girl accustomed to comfort.
In the beginning, Liu'er couldn't even walk after getting off the horse, but she had persevered thus far.
Liu'er shook her head at her.
"Not tired at all," she said loudly, already aware of what Miss Jun intended to do, and she wrapped her arms around Miss Jun's waist, "Miss, let's hurry on."
Miss Jun patted her hand.
"Liu'er is truly amazing," she said, "Hold tight now."
She put away the map, gripped the reins firmly, and the horse galloped along the main road, kicking up a trail of dust.
...............…..
The searing heat of the capital was largely mitigated in the tea house surrounded by greenery.
Ning Yunzhao stood by the window watching the shade-covered streets, the tea in his hand having been untouched for half a day.
"Yunzhao, Yunzhao, more tea."
His companions behind him called out.
Ning Yunzhao turned his head to see a group of people holding up their teacups.
"Since you can't sit still anyway, why not refill our tea," they laughed.
Ning Yunzhao also smiled and accordingly went to one side to personally prepare the tea.
"Yunzhao, is everything really alright at home?" one companion approached and asked with concern in a low voice, "I've noticed you've been waiting for letters from home lately."
Ning Yunzhao smiled.
"Everything's fine," he replied sincerely, looking at his friend's concern and thought for a moment, "It's not about my family, it's some other matters."
Such an answer was already quite sincere, and his companion also had a sense of propriety. Though curious, he understood that pressing further would be inappropriate, creating discomfort for everyone.
"As long as everything's fine," he said with a smile.
As the words fell, there was the sound of footsteps dashing towards the door, and then the door swung open as a young scholar ran in, drenched in sweat.
"Big news, big news," he said in an excited, hushed tone.
The people inside turned to him with surprise.
"Has the chief examiner for March next year been decided upon?"
"Are the exam topics leaked so early?"
"Is the grand examination canceled?"
The more they asked, the less sense it made. The newcomer spat and waved his hand dismissively before hastily sitting down and taking big gulps of tea.
"It's big news about Thousand-Man Commander Lu," he finally said in a low voice.
Everyone at the table sat up straight.
"Has Rou Yaodao been raided?"
"Has Rou Yaodao been assassinated?"
Someone blurted out the questions without waiting for the newcomer to reply, but another companion laughed.
"That's impossible," he said. "Haven't you heard? Slave Guo of the Ritual Department, that eunuch who was with the emperor back at the secret mansion, just had his head smashed in by an inkstone a few days ago. Right there and then he was dragged away and beaten nearly to death with sticks, hurried off to guard the first emperor's tomb."
"I've heard about that," another chimed in. "Because Slave Guo took money and deliberately delayed a petition for half a day. When the emperor found out, he was furious. Everyone knows how much he hates eunuchs meddling in politics, which is why he punished him so severely."
The ministers liked this kind of action from the emperor, and it further enhanced his reputation for integrity.
"What? Does this have something to do with Rou Yaodao?" someone asked.
The speaking companion looked mysteriously at everyone.
"Of course, if not for Rou Yaodao making a move, how could a trusted eunuch like Slave Guo from the secret mansion fall so easily?" he said in a hushed voice.
"How did Slave Guo offend Rou Yaodao? Don't these people know how formidable Rou Yaodao is?"
"Well, that's not certain. Someone like Rou Yaodao is just a mad dog; does he need a reason to bite?"
The room filled with the buzz of many voices speculating.
Completely losing the spotlight to share his big news, the newcomer had no choice but to knock on the table.
"Listen to me, listen to me," he said.
Everyone turned their attention back to him.
"For Rou Yaodao, dealing with a secret mansion eunuch is nothing. Do you know what he's been up to lately?" the newcomer said with a light cough.
"Stop beating around the bush."
"Out with it!"
Everyone urged him on with anticipation.
"He bought a house in Five-meter Alley," the newcomer revealed.
At this, his companions collectively hushed.
"What's so strange about him buying a house?"
"Who doesn't know about all the properties he owns, both publicly and in secret?"
"It would be strange if he didn't own a single house."
The room was about to burst into laughter.
"Do you know what he's using that house for?" the newcomer huffed.
"As a prison for private punishment?"
"To stash his treasure?"
Everyone speculated about various possibilities.
The newcomer just shook his head and leaned forward with a lowered voice after no more guesses came.
"He's keeping a woman in that house," he said slowly.
The companions fell silent for a moment, then burst into disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
"He's set to marry Princess Jiuli this very month."
"Even if he wanted to take a concubine or keep a mistress, he'd have to wait until after the wedding."
The newcomer was very pleased with everyone's shocked reactions.
"It's absolutely true," he said. "Do you know who the woman is?"
Who could know that!
After all, the number of women and lovers that others maintained, Lu Yunqi seemed to know them all.
The companions quieted down to look at him.
"Do you all remember the cherry blossoms in April when he also came out to admire the flowers by the lake?" the newcomer said.
Everyone nodded; it was a rare occasion for Lu Yunqi to be seen out in daylight, and so the memory was vivid.
"He went into a teahouse, didn't he?" the newcomer continued.
Once more, heads nodded in agreement.
The newcomer straightened up with a meaningful smile.
"The girl who made tea in that teahouse is the one Thousand-Man Commander Lu keeps in that house," he declared.