Chapter 318: Miss, That Man Asked If the Pillows and Quilts Were for Sale
“Yes, Guard Zhang, I can read and write. See if there are any clerical tasks I can help with. I’d like to become a minor official—maybe you could assign me something suitable?”
It was the middle of the night, and these men had been traveling for days. Yet none of them seemed the least bit tired. Zhang Hu, surrounded by eager comrades, deliberately put on a stern face and waved them away. But in truth, he was deeply surprised by Yu Luo’s trust and the heavy responsibility she had given him.
Compared to capability, Storm was just as competent—perhaps even more so. In fact, most of their sixteen thousand brothers were more inclined to follow Storm’s lead. But Yu Luo had chosen to entrust him with this important role.
Lying in bed, Zhang Hu felt exhausted at first, but the thought of his young lady’s trust filled him with excitement. Sleep was impossible. Instead, he got up, took out a brush and paper, and began drafting plans.
“Master, are you satisfied now? It’s a good thing the city guards didn’t bother checking the carriages. If they had discovered us hiding inside, we would have been humiliated!”
As Ah Zan spoke, Ye Lu shot him a sharp glare. Feeling guilty, Ah Zan immediately shut his mouth.
“Hmph, are you saying following me is disgraceful? Just think—if we hadn’t sneaked in, would you have ever imagined there was such a city in this desolate wasteland? That woman… she’s part of this City Lord’s household, isn’t she?”
Ah Zan dared not argue. He quickly shook his head and acknowledged his master’s brilliance.
“Of course not! But Master, you’re truly clever. Now we know the girl’s background. But… how did she even build a city here? Compared to Feng City, this place is so much grander! Feng City is a mess, but this Luo City is incredibly well-constructed! But Master, I don’t understand—why haven’t any of the major kingdoms noticed? Doesn’t the imperial court find it suspicious that someone built an entire city in the wilderness?”
“Idiot. If the authorities had taken notice, don’t you think I would’ve known? But you’re right about one thing—how dare this woman build such a city in the middle of nowhere? Not only that, but she managed to surpass the capabilities of the Feng City lords by several degrees! She’s not afraid of Feng City retaliating? And what about the imperial courts—won’t they send troops to destroy her?”
Ye Lu fell into deep thought, prompting Ah Zan to cautiously remind him, “Master, earlier, I noticed an inn. How about we rest there first?”
“Finally! You should have said so sooner! I’m exhausted. Following them on foot, without using my lightness skill, has been unbearable! Tomorrow, I’ll show up in front of that woman. She’ll surely be touched by my sincerity!”
Ah Zan: …
*
At the Inn
The two men booked an upper-class room. When Ye Lu heard that a luxury suite only cost fifty taels per night, he almost burst into tears of joy.
“Fifty taels?! That’s such a fair price! Compared to the rundown inns in Feng City, where a simple room can cost hundreds of taels per night, this is an absolute steal!”
Stepping into the suite, Ye Lu was further amazed by its elegant simplicity.
“The decor isn’t overly extravagant, but it’s tasteful and refined. In this wasteland, finding such an inn… and at such a bargain? This is paradise! After future auctions in Feng City, we’ll come here instead. This place is far more relaxing!”
“Master, I think you’re just biased because this city belongs to that girl,” Ah Zan teased.
“What makes you think this city is hers?”
“It’s simple! Those men we followed all call her ‘Miss.’ And they entered the City Lord’s residence. Doesn’t that explain everything?”
Realizing Ah Zan’s reasoning was solid, Ye Lu sprawled onto the bed and hugged the incredibly soft pillow.
“This pillow… what is this material?! It’s far more comfortable than the hard pillows in my palace! I need one! No, I need a whole set! Ah Zan, tomorrow, ask if they’re for sale! And this quilt—so warm and light! I want one of these too!”
“Yes, yes, Master, I’ll remember.”
A guest checking in at midnight was unusual—and the moment Yu Luo heard of it, she felt something was off.
“Miss, the city gates were already closed last night. If they wanted to stay at the inn, they should’ve checked in earlier. Why wait until the middle of the night? Their clothing suggests they are either wealthy or noble. I’m reporting this to you just in case—they could’ve spent half the night doing something suspicious.”
“They’re dressed richly? One of them—a young master with handsome features and a noble aura?”
“Yes, exactly! One glance, and you can tell they’re master and servant. Miss, how did you know?”
Yu Luo smirked.
“I know who they are. They must have sneaked in behind Zhang Hu’s carriages when he returned last night. You don’t need to worry. Just have someone discreetly follow them once they wake up. Don’t startle them—just observe their movements.”
“Understood, Miss!”
*
At Breakfast
Yu Haojie and Ye Jiamei arrived at the dining table to find their daughter deep in thought, her chopsticks untouched.
“What’s wrong? You look serious. I heard Zhang Hu’s group returned last night. Did you discuss his new responsibilities with him?”
“Yes, I did. It’s nothing major—let’s eat.”
After breakfast, Yu Haojie took his men to organize the newly opened shop.
Unlike regular stores, this one would exclusively sell modern goods imported through Yu Luo’s system
Such as toothpaste, tooth powder, toothbrush, handmade soap, soap powder, shampoo, conditioner, skincare products, balm, perfume, toilet paper, compass…
Basically, anything that could be repackaged to fit the era was stocked. Prices were clearly labeled, and everything was meticulously logged.
Walking into the shop, Yu Luo noticed a row of synthetic jewelry—cheaply made but marked up by thousands of times.
Seeing how her father had set the prices, she shook her head in amusement.
So cunning.
But she didn’t object. They had a monopoly on these goods. No matter how high the price, people would still buy them.
Just as she was inspecting the shop, the innkeeper rushed in.
“Miss! That noble-looking guest has checked out! But before he left, he asked me—are the pillows and quilts for sale?”
