All arrangements made, Yun Xiao and Xiu Xiu changed into plain green servant clothes and tied their hair like men. Pi took one look and couldn't help but laugh.
In the blink of an eye, the females transformed into males. It was quite convincing; if they didn't speak, most people wouldn't recognize them.
Even so, Yun Xiao remained uneasy. She took some stone rouge from the dressing table, smeared Xiu Xiu's face black, and applied some to herself. Now, no one would recognize them.
The two delicate guests turned into two dark, unappealing youths, indistinguishable in a crowd.
"Let's go."
Yun Xiao gave the order, delightedly taking the lead. Xiu Xiu followed her mistress with a dejected expression, filled with displeasure, a stark contrast to Yun Xiao's joy.
She didn't object to cross-dressing, but couldn't they avoid smearing their faces black? It was too ugly. Unfortunately, the person in front paid her no mind.
Without orders from Yu Xuan, no one dared to enter privately. Because Yun Xiao was the current Empress, the servants in the Prince's mansion were still wary.
This provided them with convenience, and they passed through unimpeded, heading straight out the back door of Yu Xuan's residence. Upon exiting the back courtyard gate, they entered the Prince's mansion's rear garden.
At this time, there weren't many servants. Any they encountered were rough laborers. Seeing Yun Xiao and Xiu Xiu, two black-faced young servants, they merely nodded. The two then smoothly exited the Yun Prince's mansion.
The street behind was equally deserted, with few pedestrians. This area was filled with wealthy estates and mansions, with few shops, hence not many pedestrians. Those occasionally seen were servants from various households.
Carriages passed by from time to time, kicking up dust, arrogant and brazen.
Yun Xiao led Xiu Xiu, walking briskly towards the more crowded areas. They were acting discreetly now; they dared not use a carriage from the Yun Prince's mansion, so they had to walk.
Although Yun Xiao's background was humble, her past self was a skilled martial artist, so walking was no difficulty for her.
Soon, the two crossed a street and merged into the bustling market.
The bustling street was teeming with people, with shouts rising and falling. On the sides of the street, various small commodities caught their eyes. Yun Xiao watched with great interest.
Behind her, Xiu Xiu was out of breath. While trying to keep up with her mistress ahead, she gasped for air. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have come out even if beaten to death.
"Mistress."
Xiu Xiu opened her mouth to call out to her mistress, but realizing the address was inappropriate, she immediately stopped, trying to find a suitable term, but ultimately came up with nothing.
Since Yun Xiao was dressed as a young servant at this moment, neither a young lady nor any sort of mistress, Xiu Xiu was in a dilemma. The person ahead impatiently called out, "Hurry up! What are you dawdling for? You look like a woman!"
At these words, Xiu Xiu was so angry she rolled her eyes, wanting to cry out to the heavens, "Your Majesty, I *am* a woman, alright?"
On the crowded street, Xiu Xiu resigned herself to following her mistress, muttering as she walked, "Mistress, can you walk slower? I can't walk anymore."
"En," Yun Xiao turned and sized up Xiu Xiu.
This fellow truly seemed unable to walk. Her steps were as if her feet were leaden, making it difficult to move. Her face was covered in sweat, and the dark rouge had slightly smudged. She wiped her face with her hand, leaving streaks of white and black, making her look like a little calico cat.
At this moment, she blinked her tearful eyes, becoming even more adorable. Yun Xiao couldn't help but burst into laughter, leaving Xiu Xiu bewildered.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
After speaking, she reached to touch her face, only to find her hand covered in black dust. Angrily, she pouted and cried out indignantly, "Mistress, look! This is all your idea!"
As the two were talking, a gust of wind suddenly blew past them. Before they could figure out what was happening, a dark shadow zipped through between them and vanished far ahead in an instant.
Yun Xiao's dark pupils narrowed, and she felt her waist. Sure enough, the purse containing her silver was gone. Her eyebrows rose, and she became interested.
"Good! Someone actually dared to steal from me in broad daylight. If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'll write my name backward!" As the thought settled, her feet were already moving like the wind. She tossed a sentence back, "You stay here and wait. My silver has been stolen."
She had already flashed away. Xiu Xiu looked astonished, her eyes wide open for a long time before she reacted. By the time she did, her mistress was nowhere to be seen, and her face instantly turned ashen.
Though she couldn't see clearly, her pupils had lost their color. What if Her Majesty got into trouble?
On the lively street, two people, one in front and one behind, ran with all their might, occasionally knocking over vendors' goods, drawing a barrage of curses. But there was no sign of the figures, only a trail of wind and falling dust.
While Yun Xiao wasn't exactly a martial arts master, her legwork was truly impressive. Moreover, she had already noticed that the person ahead was slowing down, seemingly unable to run any further.
This boosted her confidence, and she sprinted with even more effort. The crowds gradually thinned, and the figure ran into a secluded alley, finally reaching a deserted spot and collapsing, unable to run further, panting heavily.
He bent over, clutching his chest, with large drops of sweat rolling down his head.
Yun Xiao was not much better, breathing heavily and cursing furiously.
"You damned thief! How dare you steal my silver? I'll catch you, flay you alive, and then hand you over to the authorities!"
"You're too cruel! I only stole some silver, do I deserve to be flayed alive? And handed over to the authorities? Do you think the authorities are run by your family?"
The thief's sharp reply made Yun Xiao realize that this person was a female, and a feisty one at that. "Fine, you stole my money and now you have an excuse? Today, I'll spar with you."
"So you're a little lass who does such shameful things. Why don't you marry me? I'll provide for you."
Yun Xiao provocatively teased the thief with a half-smile, her demeanor somewhat roguish. However, the thief was not to be outdone, and replied with a smirk, "Are you sure you have a penis?"
Her face was full of disdain, clearly indicating she knew Yun Xiao was also female. By this time, both had recovered their breath and glared at each other.
Yun Xiao's pupils were sharp and fierce like a lion's. Her body suddenly leaped forward, soaring through the air.
The thief was startled and reacted a beat too slow, being smashed to the ground by the person who descended from the sky.
Yun Xiao stepped on her back, applying pressure, rendering her unable to move.
"You want to fight me? You're still too green."
After speaking, she gracefully bent down and picked up the purse from the thief's hand.
Seeing her defeat, the thief immediately begged for mercy, "Big sister, please spare me! I have a seventy-year-old mother, a sickly father, and a pile of younger siblings! Don't send me to the authorities!" Her performance, complete with tears, was quite convincing. Yun Xiao remained unmoved, watching as if enjoying a show, and asked playfully.
"And is there also a helpless infant, an invalid husband, and a whole family waiting for your salvation?"
"Uh," the thief looked up. How did this sister know? Could she have encountered a peer? A flash of excitement crossed her tear-streaked face, and she spoke excitedly, "Are you perhaps a fellow thief? Sister, are you also a thief?"
Yun Xiao was angered by this. She pressed down harder with her foot, causing the thief pain in her chest, heart, and flesh, eliciting continuous pleas for mercy.
Yun Xiao let out a cold laugh, "Who are you calling a thief? You are the thief! Your whole family are thieves! Your ancestors for eighteen generations are thieves!"
The thief was stunned. Enduring the pain, she looked up in surprise, "Sister, how do you know?"
Yun Xiao was utterly speechless. She looked up at the sky. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the weather was incredibly fine. She had no reason to get angry over such a person.
With a lift of her foot, she released the thief on the ground. The thief nimbly got up, wearing a fawning smile, "Sister, let's chat. It's rare to meet someone so compatible."
This fellow had latched onto Yun Xiao, following her around devotedly, ignoring her cold expression.