Chapter 242: Crazy Couple 2

Ji Xiaosong took a deep breath, suppressing the rage and killing intent welling inside her as she quickly organized her thoughts.

‘The most important thing right now is to get myself and Ji Xiaohua settled and ensure our safety. Then I can implement my plan, one step at a time.’

She stood and tiptoed to the adjacent room. Pushing the door open, she saw Ji Xiaohua still curled up in a corner, her small, thin body trembling slightly. She was clearly not sleeping peacefully.

Ji Xiaosong’s heart softened. She went over and gently patted her sister’s shoulder.

“Xiao Hua, wake up.”

she called in a low voice, doing her best to sound gentle.

Ji Xiaohua groggily opened her eyes. A flicker of relief appeared when she saw her sister, but it was quickly replaced by a look of fear.

She whispered, “Sister, are… are you okay?”

A pang of sorrow struck Ji Xiaosong’s heart. She reached out to stroke Ji Xiaohua’s head and said softly, “I’m fine. Don’t be afraid. Let’s get something to eat, and then I’ll take you away from this place.”

Ji Xiaohua froze for a second, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, but the feeling was quickly replaced by hunger.

She nodded and whispered, “Sister, I’m hungry…”

Ji Xiaosong smiled, retrieving a steaming meat pie and a bowl of clear porridge from her space, and handed them to Ji Xiaohua.

Ji Xiaohua was completely stunned.

“Sister, did you just… pull that food out of thin air?”

“Not from thin air. Father brought these for us from the underworld. He just spoke to me in a dream. He said he knew that vile and ungrateful man, Li Zhixiao, wouldn’t treat us well, so he pulled some strings in the underworld to look after us.”

“So… can we always eat like this from now on?”

“Yes. Father prepared many things for us. We won’t have to suffer anymore. King Yama said that Father spent his life practicing medicine and saving people, accumulating great merit, which is why he was given this opportunity.”

Ji Xiaohua didn’t doubt her sister’s words for a second.

In ancient times, being wary of gods and ghosts was simply another way of believing in them.

Ji Xiaohua took the food and wolfed it down. She was clearly starving.

While Ji Xiaohua ate, Ji Xiaosong quickly set up a simple barrier inside the house to prevent their clansmen from easily forcing their way in.

Then, she secretly placed an even stronger barrier around their fields and property to stop the clan from coveting their assets.

After finishing, Ji Xiaosong returned to the house to find Ji Xiaohua had finished eating and was staring at her with wide, expectant eyes.

She walked over and asked softly, “Xiao Hua, are you full?”

Ji Xiaohua nodded and whispered, “Sister, are we really leaving?”

Ji Xiaosong crouched down, held her sister’s hand, and said earnestly, “Yes, we have to leave. It’s not safe here anymore. Our clansmen won’t leave us alone. How about I take you to the Capital City?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Ji Xiaohua’s eyes, but she quickly nodded and said firmly, “I’ll go wherever you go, Sister.”

A warmth spread through Ji Xiaosong’s chest. She gave her sister a gentle hug, then stood and said, “Alright. Let’s pack our things and get ready to leave.”

She quickly packed a few necessities into a tattered bundle, doing her best to make everything look in keeping with their circumstances.

Then, holding Ji Xiaohua’s hand, she quietly left the house.

After they left the village, Ji Xiaosong glanced back, a cold glint in her eyes.

She knew that Li Zhixiao and Xiao Mumu would return here sooner or later. She had to gather enough leverage before they did.

“Let’s go, Xiao Hua.”

she said softly, and holding Ji Xiaohua’s hand, she started toward the Capital City.

Along the way, Ji Xiaosong did her best to imitate her usual words and actions so that Ji Xiaohua wouldn’t notice anything was amiss.

She periodically took some food and water from her space, making sure Ji Xiaohua never went hungry.

After several days of walking, they finally reached a small town.

Ji Xiaosong decided they would rest there for a bit and use the opportunity to ask about news from the Capital City.

She led Ji Xiaohua into a humble inn and rented a room.

After getting Ji Xiaohua settled, she went downstairs alone and asked an attendant, “Young man, excuse me, how much farther is it to the Capital City?”

The attendant smiled and said, “Miss, it’s still another ten days’ walk to the Capital City from here. But if you’re lucky, you might be able to hitch a ride with a merchant caravan. That would be faster.”

Ji Xiaosong nodded and asked, “Has anything important been happening in the Capital City lately?”

The attendant thought for a moment. “I hear it’s been very lively in the Capital City. The new scholars are all going to have an audience with His Majesty. Oh, right! I also heard that one of the scholars, a man named Li Zhixiao, caught the eye of the First-Grade General’s granddaughter. What a lucky man!”

A glint of cold fury flashed in Ji Xiaosong’s eyes, but her expression remained placid.

She thanked the attendant, turned, and went back upstairs to their room.

Ji Xiaohua was sitting on the edge of the bed. When she saw her sister return, she whispered, “Sister, how much longer until we reach the Capital City?”

Ji Xiaosong walked over, stroking her head. “We’re almost there,” she said gently. “Just a few more days. Xiao Hua, once we’re in the Capital City, I promise I’ll make sure you live a good life.”

Ji Xiaohua nodded, her eyes filled with complete trust.

Ji Xiaosong led Ji Xiaohua on the long trek, and they finally arrived at the Capital City.

The hustle and bustle of the Capital City was dazzling to Ji Xiaohua. She gripped her sister’s hand tightly, her eyes a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Ji Xiaosong, however, remained calm, a frosty look in her eyes.

She first found an inconspicuous inn to settle Ji Xiaohua in, warning her not to leave the room. Then, she went out alone to the First-Grade General Mansion.

The First-Grade General Mansion was located in the most prosperous district of the Capital City. Its vermilion gates were tall and imposing, flanked by majestic stone lions. Several guards in full armor stood on either side, their sharp gazes sweeping over the pedestrians.

Ji Xiaosong stood on the street corner opposite the mansion, studying the residence from afar.

She smoothed out her clothes and walked straight toward the mansion gates.

“Halt!”

A guard at the gate immediately blocked her path. “The General Mansion is a restricted area,” he barked. “No loiterers allowed!”

Ji Xiaosong’s expression was calm as she said evenly, “I have urgent business with General Wu. Please be so kind as to announce me.”

The guard looked her up and down. Seeing her simple, almost shabby clothes, his eyes filled with scorn. “The General attends to a thousand matters a day. He’s not someone the likes of you can see. Scram, before we get rough!”

Despite the guard’s hostility, Ji Xiaosong remained calm. She raised her gaze slightly, her tone striking a perfect note of earnestness. “Sir, I am a distant relative of General Wu, from his home village. My family has suffered a sudden calamity, and with nowhere else to turn, I came to the Capital City to seek refuge with the General. Please, sir, I beg you to make an exception and announce my presence.”

The guard frowned at her words, clearly skeptical. “A relative of the General’s from his village? Do you have any proof?”

Ji Xiaosong was prepared. She produced a slightly tarnished Copper Coin from her sleeve and handed it to the guard. “This is a token General Wu left for my grandmother when he departed our village years ago. He said that if we ever fell on hard times, we could bring this to find him.”

The guard took the Copper Coin and examined it closely. He saw that a faint character for “Wu” was carved into it, clearly done by hand.

He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “Wait here. I’ll go inside and report this.”

Ji Xiaosong smiled faintly and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

The guard turned and entered the mansion, leaving Ji Xiaosong to stand at the gate, her gaze calmly sweeping over her surroundings.

She knew that General Wu was of humble origin. His family had been poor in his youth, and he had climbed to the position of First-Grade General step by step through military achievement.

‘A man with such a background is bound to have many poor relatives coming to him for help. Even if General Wu doesn’t receive them all personally, he won’t ignore them completely.’