The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45.1

Three days later.

You Ting got into a carriage and left through the side gate of the palace.

The carriage was a modest, dark greenish-blue, with layers of gauze curtains that wrapped the occupant securely.

Only on the wheels was a small palace imprint carved.

The palace did not completely forbid princes and princesses from traveling. They had two opportunities a month to leave the palace, provided they reported it and returned before the palace gates were locked for the night.

This perfectly catered to You Ting’s lovesickness, the “Xiangsi Chan,” which flared up on the first and fifteenth of every lunar month.

At this time, her unfavored status showed a slight advantage—the guards at the palace gate would not deliberately make things difficult, mostly just casually ignoring her.

As the carriage passed the palace gate, You Ting lifted a corner of the curtain.

She subtly met the gaze of the guards in front of the gate.

The guards on duty were young, unfamiliar faces, yet they possessed a calm, blood-stained temperament.

Their eyes were sharp, like freshly drawn cold swords.

You Ting thoughtfully lowered the curtain and asked Qing Su, who was beside her, “Have all the people guarding the palace gate been replaced now?”

Such a task was easy and leisurely, usually undertaken by the sons of officials or those who inherited their father’s position.

But the current guards were clearly not people nurtured by the gentle, romantic atmosphere of the capital.

Qing Su leaned out to look, suddenly meeting the guards’ sharp eyes, and flinched back, drawing in her neck.

She thought for a moment, “I think I heard someone say that the Imperial Guards originally guarding the palace gate were derelict in their duty a few days ago, so a new batch of people was replaced.”

“Derelict in duty?” You Ting asked, “Did this happen after He Zhige returned?”

Qing Su nodded, looked at You Ting, and opened her eyes wide in surprise: “Your Highness, do you think this matter is related to the Third Prince?”

“But, the Imperial Guard is such an important position, even for the most secluded side gate, how could the Third Prince…”

She dared not continue speaking.

If this matter was truly related to He Zhige, the underlying truth was not something a humble maid like her could easily guess.

You Ting merely smiled at her and said lightly, “He Zhige is very capable.”

Those new faces, a glance was enough to tell they were people who had returned from the battlefield.

Only those who had experienced life and death on the battlefield could forge such a temperament.

They were most likely He Zhige’s troops.

Had He Zhige already begun to slowly spread his influence into the palace?

Besides these few guards, how many more people had he installed?

As for why he chose the side gate, it was easy to understand.

After all, the reign of Emperor Ning Jing was still in effect, and he dared not be too brazen yet.

However, this was also a signal—

It represented that He Zhige had begun to reveal his ambition.

The military’s evaluation of He Zhige had always been high, but the civil officials had quite a few reservations about him.

When He Zhige campaigned, he never left any prisoners of war alive, and wherever he went, there were bound to be corpses strewn across the fields.

For the civil officials who advocated for benevolence, they felt his actions were too ruthless.

He Zhige wanted to win over the civil official forces, so he would definitely take this Imperial Examination very seriously.

When You Ting came out this time, besides seeing Song Yaozi, she also had to move one step ahead of He Zhige to find the successful candidates he intended to court.

The carriage slowly drove out of the palace gate and entered the most bustling main street, the Vermilion Bird Avenue.

You Ting told the coachman, “I plan to visit the Treasure Pavilion. You can stop there.”

The coachman acknowledged the command.

The Treasure Pavilion was the most famous extravagant spending spot in the capital, with antiques, jewelry, calligraphy, and paintings—it had everything.

It was most suitable for officials, dignitaries, and prominent families.

Because the jewelry styles in the Treasure Pavilion were novel, the materials were exquisite, and the prices were extremely high. The ladies and young women of the capital all considered it an honor to own a new item from the Treasure Pavilion.

So the coachman fully believed You Ting’s words. He drove the carriage near the Treasure Pavilion and stopped it.

“Your Highness, we have arrived.”

The curtain opened, and Qing Su assisted You Ting down from the carriage.

You Ting turned her head and instructed Qing Su to give a silver coin to the coachman.

She smiled slightly at the coachman, “You’ve worked hard driving all this way. It’s hot, go have a bowl of cool tea.”

“After looking at the jewelry in the Treasure Pavilion, I also want to experience their storyteller. I probably won’t be out for a while, so you can go and rest assured.”

The coachman held the silver coin, his face filled with pleasant surprise.

He had originally thought that Princess Shunan was unfavored, and the Duanyang Hall was notoriously lacking in supplies in the palace, so this trip would probably not be very rewarding.

But he never expected such good fortune.

He got money and didn’t have to wait under the sun.

His expression showed temptation, yet he still hesitated, “This… Your Highness, is this appropriate? If others knew…”

You Ting interrupted him, “If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who would know?”

She glanced at Qing Su, who understood and immediately said, “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything either!”

You Ting added, “If you really insist on guarding the carriage, then so be it.”

The coachman quickly replied, “Thank you for Your Highness’s benevolence!”

He then happily pocketed the silver coin. After watching You Ting take Qing Su into the Treasure Pavilion, he found a teahouse and sat down.

A while later, You Ting and Qing Su reappeared at the back door of the Treasure Pavilion.

The Treasure Pavilion’s back door was built very discreetly to protect the privacy of its guests.

Stepping out led to a cool, narrow alley. No human voices could be heard, indicating it was likely not in a bustling commercial area.

After casually browsing the Treasure Pavilion, You Ting showed her palace token to the manager.

“If possible, please find two sets of commoner’s clothes for me and my maid.”

This was a noble person from the palace, and the manager naturally couldn’t refuse, nodding and bowing in agreement.

The Treasure Pavilion was highly efficient. In less than a quarter of an hour, two sets of simple but clean clothes were delivered.

You Ting and Qing Su tried them on, and they fit surprisingly well.

After thanking him, she also informed the manager of her intention to leave through the back door.

The manager immediately personally led her and Qing Su to the back door.

After watching their figures disappear, the manager returned to the front hall.

The young assistant beside him asked in confusion, “Why are this noble person’s requests so strange?”

The manager glared at him, his tone becoming a little heavier, “You’ve been working at the Treasure Pavilion for so many years, why can’t you control your mouth!”

“What should be said, and what shouldn’t be said, don’t you have any sense?”

“A noble person’s actions naturally have a noble person’s rationale. How can a rascal like you easily speculate!”

The assistant repeatedly apologized, and the manager’s expression slowly softened.

He earnestly admonished, “Remember, you can’t afford to offend any noble person from the palace, no matter who they are. Think twice before speaking in the future.”

The assistant agreed.

“Besides,” the manager said slowly, “it has nothing to do with our Treasure Pavilion what these noble people want to do.”

“But if we help her, regardless of the size of the matter, she will owe our Treasure Pavilion a favor.”

The assistant suddenly understood and smiled, flattering him, “No wonder I can only be a runner, while you can be the manager. You are truly far-sighted!”

The manager rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Stop flattering me, hurry up and close the back door.”

At the back door.

You Ting carefully looked around. After confirming that there was no one else, she spoke, “Let’s go.”

Qing Su asked curiously, “Your Highness, where are we going?”

“Beitang Street.”

The place name felt a bit unfamiliar. Qing Su thought for a long time before she recalled relevant memories.

“That place is a mixed bag, what are you going there for, Your Highness?” Qing Su asked worriedly.

Beitang Street was considered the capital’s slum area. The poorer the place, the more chaotic it was, gathering many ruffians, scoundrels, and local thugs.

Unless absolutely necessary, no one in the capital wanted to go near that place.

You Ting said, “That’s why we had to dress up like this.”

Qing Su was still a little afraid, and weakly said, “Do we have to go?”

You Ting nodded, “We must go.”

She thought for a moment and looked at Qing Su’s slightly pale face, “If you are really scared, you can wait for me outside, and I’ll go in alone.”

“How can that be!” Qing Su reacted strongly, “I am Your Highness’s maid. How can I let Your Highness venture into danger alone!”

She encouraged herself, staring intently at You Ting, looking as if she were facing death fearlessly.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, Qing Su will definitely protect you with her life!”

You Ting was amused by her appearance. Anyone who didn’t know would think she was going to (venture into a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair).

She smiled and shook her head, reassuring her, “Don’t worry. If anything truly happens, I will definitely be able to protect you.”

Qing Su wanted to say something more, but You Ting stopped her with a raised hand.

You Ting glanced at the sky and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s hurry up and set off.”

The walk from the Treasure Pavilion to Beitang Street was not a short distance.

Qing Su was slightly breathless from walking. This was her first time leaving the palace for such an unfamiliar place, and she couldn’t help but feel curious: “Your Highness.”

“How are you so familiar with the roads here?”

Clearly, Your Highness hadn’t left the palace many times before, and every time she did, Qing Su was by her side. She could ensure that Your Highness had never once been to Beitang Street.

But looking at You Ting now, she was clearly confident and at ease.

You Ting casually said, “Do you think I only read leisure books?”

The entire capital, including the whole territory of their country.

She had already firmly memorized it all.

Qing Su was even more surprised: “Why did Your Highness memorize all this?”

“To pass the time and in case of need.”

You Ting smiled, “See, isn’t it being used now?”

Qing Su nodded in a half-understanding way, looked up at You Ting, and showed an admiring gaze: “Your Highness is truly amazing!”

She couldn’t even remember the routes within the palace clearly, yet Your Highness could clearly remember places she had never been to.

It was truly miraculous!

“It’s nothing,” You Ting replied casually, glancing at her, “As long as your mind isn’t only thinking about food all day, and you put in a little effort, you can do it too.”

Qing Su giggled sheepishly.

You Ting’s steps suddenly stopped. Looking at the messy and desolate area in front of her, she said, “We’ve arrived.”

In stark contrast to the prosperity and cleanliness of Vermilion Bird Avenue, this area was desolate, the houses were dilapidated, and the atmosphere felt gloomy.

An unknown stench, fishy and foul, permeated the air.

Qing Su wasn’t sure if it was psychological, but she always felt that the weather became overcast as they reached Beitang Street.

The cold wind was gusting, and it was quite frightening.

She instinctively moved a few steps closer to You Ting, “Your… Your Highness, do we really have to go in?”

You Ting said, “Stick close to me. You’ll be fine.”

Her tone was cool and indifferent. Qing Su’s heart, which was originally extremely tense, slowly calmed down.

Your Highness is so amazing, nothing will happen!

Others might not know, but Qing Su, as You Ting’s personal maid, clearly knew that You Ting was very skilled.

Every time the Seventh Prince came to cause trouble, no matter what method he used, Your Highness was always able to beat him until he cried and went back.

Qing Su nodded and whispered, “Your Highness, I trust you.”

As they walked further into the desolate street, the air seemed to become even more murky.

There were few people visible on the street. The ones they occasionally saw were mostly sallow and skinny, like skeletons.

They mostly just glanced coldly at You Ting and Qing Su, then withdrew their gaze.

Their eyes were calm, devoid of any ripples, exuding a sense of lifelessness.

As if nothing could stir their hearts.

Having seen the prosperity of the Treasure Pavilion, where noble people in silk and satin robes came and went endlessly, encountering such a desolate scene made Qing Su’s heart ache slightly.

“Your Highness,” she murmured softly, “there is such a place right under the Emperor’s nose.”

It was simply, simply like a lifeless hell.

You Ting averted her gaze from these people and sighed, “While the rich indulge in wine and meat, the poor freeze to death on the roadside.”

“Emperor Ning Jing wants to see a prosperous and harmonious world, so the Prefect of the Capital can only create a prosperous and harmonious scene for him to see.”

In this world, there is light, and there is darkness.

There is wealth, and there is poverty.

Some people spend money lavishly and indulge in nightlife; others fight endlessly over a single grain of rice.

This is even more so right under the Emperor’s nose.

Emperor Ning Jing only wants to see how flourishing and peaceful the world he governs is.

He doesn’t want to see any filth that would ruin his grand tapestry of the nation.

Yes, these poor people who can’t even afford food are disgusting blemishes in the Emperor’s eyes.

With the person giving orders at the top being this way, what could the Prefect of the Capital do?

He could only drive all these people to Beitang Street, the most remote corner of the capital.

It was like driving away a group of rats that everyone wanted to beat.

Qing Su’s own family background was not wealthy, which was why she sold herself into the palace to be a maid. She felt a degree of empathy for this situation.

“It’s so pitiful. But Your Highness, why don’t they find a way to make a living?”

Like her, choosing to sell herself into servitude.

Although it was an inferior status, at least she had food and drink.

If she was as lucky as Qing Su and met a good master, her life could be considered decent.

“Most of the people living on Beitang Street are the old, weak, women, and children, without much ability to go out to work.”

Or, they are just beggars who only want to muddle through life.

Qing Su nodded, “No wonder most of the people we’ve seen on the way are women and children.”

Every one of them was as thin as a bamboo pole, with sallow complexions and dry, messy hair like wild grass.

“Moreover,” You Ting sighed softly and continued, “many of the women here are either refugees whose hometowns suffered disasters, or widows of soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.”

For them, being able to survive was already difficult, let alone finding a way out to work.

They were skinny and weak, perhaps even plagued by illness. What kind of master would be willing to hire such a person?

Qing Su’s eyes widened: “How can this be? Shouldn’t those refugees all have disaster relief funds, and those widows, didn’t the army give them resettlement money?”

They were given, of course.

It’s just that not all officials were good officials who governed for the people.

After layers of exploitation, how much was left when it reached these people’s hands?

Qing Su lowered her head, feeling a little sad, “So many difficult things are happening in places we can’t see.”

She whispered, “But they just want to live. What did they do wrong?”

You Ting smiled slightly, a pity in her smile that Qing Su didn’t understand.

She said, “In this world, it’s not easy for anyone to want to live.”

Qing Su asked, “How does Your Highness know so many things?”

“I’ve told you before to read more books with me, but you always find excuses to sneak out and play.”

You Ting looked at her sideways and said seriously, “Reading can enlighten the mind, and reading can open up wisdom.”

“Look at the children here. How many want to read but can’t even afford a single page of paper?”

Qing Su looked to the side.

A ragged child was squatting on the ground. His clothes were large and loose, picked up from who knows where, casually tied and secured with a hemp rope.

The child picked up a twig and seriously wrote characters on the dirt ground.

The handwriting was wobbly, but he wrote with great concentration.

Qing Su lowered her head in shame, “I understand, Your Highness. I will definitely study hard from now on!”

“Bang!” A small stone hit the back of the writing child.

Several children of similar age ran over and stepped on the characters that had just been written, erasing them all.

“Xiao Liu, stop writing. Hurry up and come with us to beg for money on the street!”

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