The next morning, Yan Wushuang woke up on the tree and looked down to see Liansheng asleep on the table.
She suddenly became interested and casually plucked a leaf from the tree, throwing it towards the oil lamp on the table.
With a "ding," the oil lamp rolled to the ground. The noise startled Liansheng awake. He looked down and was filled with regret, blaming himself.
"How could I be so careless and knock over the oil lamp? What will I do at night without it? How will I study?"
He tried to salvage it, his hands scrabbling aimlessly on the ground, but it was no use.
Yan Wushuang jumped down from the tree and walked into the room with an arrogant air. Seeing his despondent look, she curiously asked,
"It's just an oil lamp, why are you so upset?"
Liansheng said sadly,
"A liter of lamp oil costs ten coins. I only have five coins on me now, not enough to buy lamp oil. With the imperial examinations approaching, what should I do?"
As he spoke, he began to cry with distress.
Yan Wushuang said displeasedly, "A grown man, why are you crying? So useless. Watch this."
After saying that, she picked up the oil lamp and tried to use her powers to make it brand new, but she couldn't change it at all. It remained as it was.
It was then that she discovered with horror that she had no divine power. She cried out in panic,
"What's going on? What's going on? I have no divine power. I have no divine power."
Liansheng, who had been very sad, couldn't help but laugh when he saw her foolishness.
"Hahaha, are you trying to make me laugh?"
Yan Wushuang had no choice but to give up. Seeing him laugh, her guilt lessened slightly, and she asked him,
"Now that the oil lamp is gone, what should we do?"
Liansheng then remembered that he still had a basket of sweet potatoes in the kitchen, which he had carried back when he entered the city. He said,
"I have an idea. We can sell the sweet potatoes, and we should be able to earn some more money."
"Okay, good."
He suddenly became worried again.
"But the sweet potatoes are our food. It's fine if I skip a meal or two, but you're a girl. How can your body withstand skipping a meal or two?"
Yan Wushuang laughed heartily upon hearing his words.
"Look at you, so weak and frail. Then look at me, strong and robust. I won't go hungry. Alright, let's go sell the sweet potatoes quickly."
With that, she pulled Liansheng towards the kitchen. In a corner, they found a basket of sweet potatoes. Liansheng picked out several to eat.
The rest were to be sold. Yan Wushuang picked up the bamboo basket and asked,
"Where should we go to sell them?"
Liansheng smiled slightly and said to her, "You're a girl, so I should carry the basket."
Yan Wushuang insisted, "I'll do it. You're too thin and weak. How about we eat something good after selling them?"
"Okay, we can go to the market ahead."
"Alright, let's go."
Saying this, the two walked out of the door, left the courtyard, and headed for the market.
Meanwhile, on Xue Gucheng's side, it was supposed to be the day he followed Aunt Gu to water the flowers in the garden.
However, Wan'er heard that her father had gone to court today. The Emperor was currently troubled by the drought in the northwest, and it was estimated that he would not return until evening. This meant she could go out and play for the entire day.
So, she secretly changed into men's clothing and came to find Xue Gucheng.
"Tianming, Tianming." She called him from afar.
Xue Gucheng stood up and looked up at her. Even in his servant's clothes, he could not hide his past handsomeness and elegance.
Wan'er ran up to him and said to Aunt Gu, "Aunt Gu, I'm borrowing Tianming for a day. I'll return him tomorrow."
Aunt Gu became worried, "Miss, if you run out privately without the master's permission and take Tianming with you, and the master finds out, I will be punished."
Wan'er was not worried. She said, "Don't worry, I've already told my mother, and she'll help me keep it a secret."
Seeing that the madam knew, Aunt Gu no longer stopped them. "Then, Miss, please be quick and return soon."
"Thank you, Aunt Gu."
After thanking Aunt Gu, she grabbed Xue Gucheng and walked out of the garden. Xue Gucheng asked curiously, "Miss, where are we going?"
Wan'er said, "We're going to the market. There are many delicious things and fun things to do there."
"But, isn't it too much for you to sneak out like this?"
Wan'er heard his concern and coaxed him, "Don't you remember anything? And you appeared on the street.
I guess there might be some clues there that can help you recall things, so do you want to go?"
Hearing her say this, Xue Gucheng also felt it made sense, so he agreed, "Since Miss wants to go to the market, I'll accompany you."
"That's more like it." Wan'er was overjoyed to get a satisfactory answer.
Then she took Xue Gucheng to the street to play.
At this time, Yan Wushuang and Liansheng also arrived on the street and found a corner to set up a street stall. Liansheng then started to hawk his wares.
"Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, fresh sweet potatoes."
As soon as the cry was heard, a woman came forward and asked, "Young man, how much are these sweet potatoes?"
"One coin each."
"So cheap."
"Good things are cheap."
The woman picked and chose from the basket of sweet potatoes, selecting three that were relatively large.
"I'll take these three."
"Okay." As he spoke, Liansheng took out a few stalks of straw from the basket and tied the three sweet potatoes together. The woman also took out a purse from her怀 and handed three coins to Liansheng.
Liansheng looked at Yan Wushuang and handed her the money, saying, "Hold onto this for me first."
Seeing them so affectionate, the woman envied them and said, "This must be the young man's wife, right? She's so beautiful, and you two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"
Yan Wushuang hurriedly explained, "No, no, no, we're just friends."
"Friends? Hahaha, that's good too. You really look well-matched. Alright, I'm leaving now."
"Farewell, sister."
Yan Wushuang returned the money to Liansheng somewhat helplessly, saying, "See, people are misunderstanding. You should keep it yourself."
Liansheng helplessly lifted his torn pocket and said, "Look, how can I keep it?"
Yan Wushuang was very helpless and could only keep the money for him.
Just then, a dandy young man walked over from a distance, followed by three or four attendants.
One of the attendants saw Yan Wushuang on the street and found her very beautiful. He nudged his master and pointed at Yan Wushuang, saying,
"Young master, look, there's a stunning beauty."
The dandy young man looked closely and indeed saw a beautiful woman. Her extraordinary and refined beauty was like a fairy, striking his young heart.
It made him drool, and he couldn't help but touch his chin with his hand, saying, "Indeed, she's like a celestial being descended to earth. Let's go and take a look."
"Alright."
So, the group of ruffians walked towards the small stall and asked Liansheng, "Are you selling sweet potatoes?"
"Yes."
"How much are they?"
"One coin each."
"Good, I'll take this whole basket of sweet potatoes."
Although he said this, he couldn't hide his lecherous gaze towards Yan Wushuang. Liansheng carefully counted the twenty sweet potatoes and said happily,
"Sir, that's twenty coins in total."
The dandy young man generously took out a silver ingot and placed it in Liansheng's hand, saying, "No need for change."
Then, he lecherously moved closer to Yan Wushuang and asked,
"Little lady, you are truly a national beauty, extraordinary and refined. May I know where you live? We can escort you back."
The attendants behind him also chimed in, "We can escort the little lady back."
Yan Wushuang looked at these bold and lecherous ruffians and couldn't help but laugh.
Seeing her laugh, the dandy young man couldn't help but praise, "You look so beautiful when you smile, like a flower, it makes my heart flutter."
As he spoke, he reached out to touch her. At that moment, Liansheng suddenly stood in front of Yan Wushuang and said, "Sir, since you've already bought the sweet potatoes, please leave quickly."
The dandy young man impatiently said, "Mind your own business. Who is she to you? Why are you meddling?"
"She is my wife," Liansheng said firmly.
Yan Wushuang was surprised by his words.
Hearing Liansheng say this, the dandy young man and his companions burst into laughter.
"Look at your shabby appearance.
You actually have such a beautiful and dignified wife? Stop joking. If you know what's good for you, get out of the way, or don't blame us for being rough."
Liansheng threw the silver in his hand and said angrily, "I don't want your business anymore. Take your silver and go!"
"Oh, you refuse the toast and insist on the penalty? You're asking for a beating." As he spoke, he was about to slap Liansheng, but his hand stopped just before it reached his face. Everyone looked in unison and saw that the dandy young man's hand was tightly grasped by Yan Wushuang.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, she stood up and kicked him flying.
At this moment, people around, hearing the commotion, also gathered. Wan'er, who was strolling with Xue Gucheng, saw that there was something interesting happening and
pulled him over, squeezing into the crowd and clapping, shouting, "Good, good, well fought."
Xue Gucheng looked at the woman who was fighting and found her very familiar, but he couldn't recall where he knew her from.
Just then, someone shouted, "How dare you hit my young master? You're tired of living! Attack!" Then, the three or four men swung their fists and attacked.
Yan Wushuang pulled Liansheng aside, kicked one person, and with a few more punches, knocked them all to the ground.
At this moment, the man who had spoken fearfully got up to help his master and complained,
"Young master, I didn't expect this little lady to be a martial artist. We're no match for her."
The dandy young man said, "Hurry up and leave! This is embarrassing!"
After watching the show, Wan'er pulled him away. Yan Wushuang, by chance, caught a glimpse of someone who looked like Xue Gucheng and hurried forward to grab him.
The person turned around, but it was just a passerby. The passerby said displeasedly, "What do you want!"
Yan Wushuang, disappointed again, apologized, "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
She then returned to Liansheng's side and found that the silver ingot had not been picked up. Excitedly, she picked it up and gave it to Liansheng.
"Liansheng, look, the silver is still here."
Liansheng said disdainfully, "I don't want silver from people like that."
Yan Wushuang persuaded him, "Look, your sweet potatoes are all ruined. If you don't take it, where will you earn ten coins? Don't be silly, take it. We're going to have a big meal today."
Liansheng then smiled and praised her, "You were so cool just now."
"I think so too."
Laughing and talking, they picked up the scattered sweet potatoes and then chose a restaurant to eat.
At this time, Wan'er also brought Xue Gucheng to the street where she had met him. Xue Gucheng closed his eyes and tried to recall, but he couldn't remember anything.
However, he smelled a special fragrance in the breeze, a familiar scent, but he couldn't remember anything now.
Seeing that he had thought enough, Wan'er pulled him to a mask shop and pointed to a floral mask, saying, "Look how beautiful it is."
As she spoke, she picked it up and put it on Xue Gucheng to show him. Xue Gucheng, seeing that she liked it, said, "Since you like it, let's buy it."
As he spoke, he was about to take out money to buy it, but Wan'er quickly took out money and bought two masks, one for herself and one for Xue Gucheng.
"Try them on and see how they look?" Wan'er pleaded.
Xue Gucheng had no choice but to put on the mask. Wan'er also put on a mask and pulled him along the street.
At this time, Yan Wushuang and Liansheng had arrived at a restaurant called Xiaoyao Lou and sat on the second floor by the railing.
She casually looked down at the street and saw two people wearing masks walking by below. They were holding hands and looked very intimate.
She thought the man behind looked very much like Xue Gucheng, but she couldn't be sure. Her Xue Ge wouldn't be so intimate with others.
She guessed it might just be that their heights were similar, so she didn't think much of it.
Just then, a waiter came up with the dishes, saying, "Two, your dishes are here. Please enjoy."
As he spoke, he served the dishes one by one and then retreated.
Liansheng beckoned to her, "Miss Wushuang, try it quickly. These are all good dishes."
Yan Wushuang picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, her eyes sparkling with joy. "It's delicious. It's a pity there's no wine."
"That's easy to solve." As he spoke, Liansheng turned his head and called to the waiter, "Waiter, bring us a pot of good wine."
Yan Wushuang quickly called out, "Bring several pots."
"Alright."
Liansheng looked at her in surprise and asked, "Why drink so much wine?"
"You don't know, people like me who fight for justice love to drink."
"But you can't drink so much at once."
"I'm known as 'never drunk,' you can try if you don't believe me."
"Let's try then."
As they were talking, the waiter brought the wine and placed it on the table, saying, "Two, here is the wine you ordered."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome. Enjoy your drinks." With that, he turned and left.
Yan Wushuang took a bottle of wine and drank more than half of it in one gulp. Liansheng was directly shocked, looking at her with his mouth agape.
"What, are you afraid to drink?" Yan Wushuang provoked.
Liansheng, not to be outdone, opened the bottle and took a big gulp, but he coughed repeatedly.
"If you can't drink, don't. I'll drink," Yan Wushuang advised him.
"No, we agreed to drink together, so you can't drink alone," he said, raising the bottle again and drinking.
Yan Wushuang laughed heartily, "Since you insist on drinking, I'll drink with you."
As she spoke, she also drank. They drank for an unknown amount of time until Liansheng fell asleep on the table.
She also felt she had had too much, so she pulled Liansheng and walked downstairs. Just as they were about to go out, the waiter chased after them, saying,
"Miss, Miss, you haven't paid yet."
Yan Wushuang then remembered that she had to pay, so she took out the silver ingot and handed it to the waiter.
The waiter ran to give it to the shop owner. After the shop owner made change, he had the waiter return it to Yan Wushuang.
Yan Wushuang took the money, put it in her怀, and said, "Thank you," before taking Liansheng back.