Chapter 92: Bandit
Hei Hu, groggy from sleep, heard this and quickly scrambled up to paw at his teeth, “Let me see, why aren’t my teeth replaced with gold by an immortal?”
Wei Assistant Secretary was so angry he kicked him, “You simpleton, who paws at someone’s mouth right away!”
After speaking, he bared his teeth to show Hei Hu, but Hei Hu just gave a simpleton’s laugh.
Wei Assistant Secretary asked, confused, “What are you laughing at?”
Hei Hu was even more confused, “Didn’t you smile at me first?”
Then Wei Assistant Secretary realized that every time he smiled, two gold teeth would be revealed.
From then on, our usually stern Wei Assistant Secretary smiled at everyone he met.
Jinsui rubbed his eyes and came out, pointing to the sky, “Last night, the Tooth Fairy visited. She saw that Wei Assistant Secretary was suffering from rotten teeth and healed them for you.”
Hei Hu’s eyes widened, “Really? What kind of immortal is the Tooth Fairy? We should build a temple for her!”
Fortunately, our Wei Assistant Secretary came to his senses and said sincerely to Jinsui, “Your Highness can also treat teeth? Thank you, Your Highness, for curing this subordinate’s long-standing ailment!”
Jinsui knew that other than Hei Hu, no one else was easy to fool.
“You’ve been working hard in the East Sea for many days. This King happened to have learned how to extract teeth. To reward Official Wei for his hard work, I pulled them out for you.
No need to thank me. Only when you are healthy can you work more for me!”
The logic was sound, but how could Wei Assistant Secretary not be grateful!
One had to wonder, where in the world could such a good Prince be found, who cared about even minor issues like a subordinate’s toothache.
Those two gold teeth alone indicated that the Prince had prepared them in advance.
Wei Assistant Secretary’s voice choked with gratitude, “This subordinate will certainly dedicate himself to repay Your Highness’s kindness.”
Hei Hu was still confused, “Ah? The Tooth Fairy is the Prince? Isn’t a fairy a woman?”
This made the deeply moved Wei Assistant Secretary break down in laughter.
The entire Border City was still immersed in yesterday’s great joy. Even today, the city was decorated everywhere with lanterns and streamers. The confetti from yesterday’s firecrackers had not been swept away, and Border Soldiers were seen everywhere chatting about yesterday’s wedding.
The women of the Tuntian Camp were still cleaning up the banquet venue, returning the tables, chairs, and bowls borrowed from various households. They scooped the thicker parts of the leftover dishes to make porridge, and mixed the thin broth with wheat bran to feed the pigs and dogs.
They all lamented that the food didn’t keep well in the heat. If it were winter, they wouldn’t have thrown away even the dishes with oil and salt! Once frozen into a lump, it was delicious to add a spoonful to the rice.
They all sighed that since the Prince arrived in the Border City, their lives had been getting better day by day.
Look, the babies’ bellies were round from eating, and there were even leftovers to feed the pigs and dogs.
Jinsui drank a bowl of vegetable and meat porridge and went to supervise the repair of the City Wall, only to find Cheng Yu, who was beaming, also present.
She asked in surprise, “Weren’t you given wedding leave? Who goes to work the day after getting married?”
Cheng Yu’s uninhibited demeanor and aggression were gone, replaced by that of an ordinary, warm, middle-aged uncle, who said with a chuckle:
“The Border City is in a state of renewal. How could this subordinate have the mind for leave?
Isn’t Your Highness meeting with the Yan siblings today to discuss opening a shop? I’ll handle things here, Your Highness, please go attend to your business!”
Jinsui initially wanted to persuade him to go back, but then thought, what else could one do for a holiday in this dilapidated Border City? Take the couple for a walk on the River Embankment, or go horseback riding in the Borderlands?
Wouldn’t that just be entertainment for the bachelors of the Black Feather Camp? If they want to work, let them. At worst, I, the boss, will give them a bonus.
It’s just as romantic for them to have a drink together at night, gaze at the stars, and be intimate in bed.
In the past, the soldiers of the Border City, from top to bottom, were lazy and lived day by day, as just surviving took all their strength.
Since Jinsui arrived, they ate better, received their Military Pay, and stood taller. Now, the officials, big and small, are more motivated than Jinsui, the Prince.
Look, she had just returned from supervising and called Han Xing to wait for the Yan siblings, when she heard a soldier say that Captain Han had gone to the trade post at the foot of the mountain.
Several Herdsmen leaders were coming today for trade, so he had taken the trade Supplies there at dawn.
Wei Assistant Secretary was leading people to dry salt. The salt brought back from the East Sea was still very wet and heavy. Because the Salt Drying Field needed to be kept secret, a large courtyard was enclosed next to the most strictly supervised Iron Workshop.
He took the opportunity to go to the Iron Workshop again. He didn’t know until he looked, and was shocked. He had been gone for less than ten days, yet it felt like he had been gone for ten years.
Could these weapons be forged in such a small Border City?
Upon asking, he learned it was the Smelting Method taught by the Prince. Wei Assistant Secretary could only find it incredible. What else could the Prince do?
Smelting and fixing teeth were two completely unrelated skills, yet our Prince was proficient in both!
However, despite his surprise, he was more delighted. With the Prince in the Border City, why worry about its prosperity!
He then recalled the Prince’s reaction at Cheng Yu’s wedding yesterday and concluded that the Prince, knowing he could not marry and have children, felt a pang of sadness seeing others tie the knot.
His eyes immediately reddened again. Poor Prince, why couldn’t he be human?
Unfortunately, the temperature in the Iron Workshop was too high, and before his tears could fall, they were evaporated.
Meanwhile, Jinsui was sitting in the long shed of the Forceful Restaurant, drinking tea and waiting for the Yan siblings, while also jotting down ideas for opening a restaurant in a notebook. This was their usual route into the city.
As it was nearing noon, the Yan siblings had not yet arrived, but Huo Zi’an came galloping on horseback, “Your Highness, something’s wrong!”
Jinsui’s heart leaped, but her expression remained calm. She put down her brush and asked, “What is it?”
She thought Huo Zi’an had discovered outsiders and was afraid of alarming the soldiers, hence his forced composure.
However, she was told, “Something has happened at the trade post at the foot of the mountain. When Captain Han was trading with the Herdsmen, a large group of Bandits arrived, killed over a dozen people, and stole half of the Supplies.”
“Captain Han is leading troops in pursuit, and the Refugees are scattering in fear.”
Jinsui was greatly alarmed and shouted, “Hei Hu, blow the military horn, assemble three hundred cavalry, and follow this King to assist Captain Han!”
However, before that, she still needed to verify. She had Huo Zi’an lead her to the foot of the mountain, and indeed, she saw a scene of devastation. The Infirmary had already arrived to treat the wounded.
Seeing Zheng Family’s Cattle and horses among the casualties, as well as Refugees, Herdsmen, and Black Feather Camp Soldiers, Jinsui did not make distinctions and had them all treated.
Some Refugees, Women and Children who hadn’t escaped in time, hid in the woods and cried silently. They were accustomed to hiding; some children had been hiding from outsiders since birth.
They only opened their eyes and shed tears, their gazes like young beasts cornered by wolves, daring not to make a sound.
Jinsui felt immense pity. These were all people of Great Xia! They were her compatriots! In this era, they lived like wild beasts, their lives precarious.
The Herdsmen were a bit bolder, but they dared not say anything. They were not afraid of their Supplies being stolen, but rather of the Prince thinking they had brought the Bandits.
They chattered away in explanation, and some even knelt down and kowtowed to Li King.
Jinsui ordered a soldier to fetch some women from the Tuntian Camp to comfort these Refugees. She then saw Chen Yunniang arrive in a hurry with a few women, and Cheng Yu was with them.
This newlywed couple was truly unfortunate under Li King’s command, not even getting a day of wedding leave.
