Chapter 147 - Knife Game
The next morning, Sheng Li and Ying Lili got ready, wearing the clothes of the commoners. Sheng Li had put on a fake mustache and beard so that none could recognize him. On top of that, he had worn a conical hat. General Wang and General Xiao also had changed their looks.
"Crown Princess, I also want to go with you," Hu Jingguo told Ying Lili who looked at Sheng Li.
"You are not coming with us," Sheng Li sternly said.
"Your highness, why are you angry at me? I brought your favorite fruits to your room yet you are getting angry with me. This is not good," Hu Jingguo asserted, and then looked at Ying Lili.
"Let him come. What will he do here all alone? It isn't like you are going to carry him on your back," Ying Lili pronounced.
"We are not going outside to play a children's game. Don't ruin my mood in the morning," Sheng Li remarked and looked at Wang Hao who handed him a dagger. Sheng Li hid the dagger inside the sash that he had worn on the waist.
"Your highness, I live the life of a commoner so I know how they act and talk. You shall take me with you and forget about last night," asserted Hu Jingguo. Wang Hao thought to help him so he agreed with him and told the Crown Prince that they should take Hu Jingguo with them.
Sheng Li nodded and walked out of the hall. Governor Tzu-Yang was waiting for the Crown Prince outside the hall. Seeing the Crown Prince, Tzu-Yang bowed his head. "Your highness, I will send some security behind you. Going outside without any security can be dangerous," Tzu-Yang stated.
"Governor Tzu, we two generals are enough for giving protection to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," Wang Hao affirmed. Tzu-Yang agreed with that and asked them when they would return.
"We will be here by the evening," Sheng Li replied.
"Your highness, what about your lunch?" Tzu-Yang worriedly asked.
"We will have lunch in the market. Don't let anyone find out about this else you know the result," Sheng Li in a threatening tone said.
"Your highness, do not worry. Everything has been taken care of. No one knows about your arrival to the Province except me and a few others," Tzu-Yang assured the Crown Prince who nodded and walked ahead followed by the others.
As they reached outside the residence of Tzu-Yang, Sheng Li gestured to Wang Hao to leave. Ying Lili asked Sheng Li where General Wang was heading.
"He has an important matter to handle," Sheng Li replied. They changed the route and took a forest route to reach the market so that no one could see them coming from the residence of Governor Tzu.
After twenty minutes, they reached the market. The market was packed with people as if they had gathered for some special occasion. "Xiao, why is there such a crowd today?" Sheng Li questioned.
"Your highness, the traders have come from the other cities to sell the items here. Usually, around this month, they come here," Xiao replied in a low voice. Sheng Li hummed.
Sheng Li saw Ying Lili and Hu Jingguo had gone to a stall where vegetables were being sold. He too went there along with Xiao Zhan.
"Brother, how much does it cost?" Ying Lili asked the seller, holding a radish in her hand.
"Ten cents, young lady," the shop owner replied.
"Ten cents for one radish? Isn't the price too much?" Hu Jingguo asked the shop owner.
"Young man, if you do not want to buy, then go away. Do not trouble me," the shop owner stated, and snatched the radish from Ying Lili's hand.
"Why is this radish so expensive? Forgive me, but my wife and I have shifted with our family to this Province yesterday and also forgive my servant for his rude behavior," Sheng Li stated and looked at Hu Jingguo.
He then turned his gaze back to the shop owner and continued, "The place where we used to live has cheap prices so we are not aware of the environment of this province," Sheng Li politely said. Hu Jingguo and Ying Lili were astonished to see the way Sheng Li was talking.
"Why did you even shift here? The crops have been destroyed by the changing climate. It is the reason prices are hiked up. The people are trying to leave this province but we cannot even leave," the shop owner told Sheng Li.
"We heard that this countryside is pleasant to live in. I think someone gave us the wrong information. But then, this is such a big issue. Why isn't this being reported to the higher-ups? The Great Emperor listens to everyone's grievances," Sheng Li asked.
"I do not know," the shop owner replied. Sheng Li nodded and then took a pouch full of coins from his pocket. "I would like to buy some radishes," Sheng Li said and picked three of them. The man wrapped them in paper and handed them to Sheng Li.
Sheng Li looked at Hu Jingguo and handed him the wrapped radishes. They walked forward when Ying Lili told Sheng Li that she did not know he could be polite too. "You misjudge me too much," Sheng Li told Ying Lili.
"The shop owner did not tell us the complete truth," Sheng Li stated.
Ying Lili looked at him through the veil and said, "I know. He was nervously moving his fingers." They kept walking and observed the market activities. Sheng Li halted in front of a restaurant. "Let's go in," Sheng Li said and walked inside the restaurant with the others.
Taking a table, Sheng Li ordered tea for them. At the other table, five people were seated who were talking loudly. "You won 50 silver cents?" the other man asked in bewilderment.
"Yes."
"But that game is dangerous. You can lose your hand," another man worriedly said. "Last time when I played that, I almost lost my thumb," he said with a terrified expression.
"I even heard that the place where this Knife Game is played is not good. You should not go to such places, Qi Yun," the same man advised him.
"You know that this is my only source of earning and I am efficient in this," Qi Yun pronounced proudly. "The one who introduced me to this game was telling me that he would let me enter the Group, which is known for its terror in the province. Even the Governor fears the leader of the group. Last time they destroyed the Public Distribution Food Office because the Empire is not helping us," Qi Yun asserted with a broad smile.
Sheng Li raised his brow and almost stood up from his seat when Hu Jingguo pulled him down by grabbing his hand. "I don't think his highness shall intervene," he whispered.
"What?" Sheng Li exclaimed.
Hu Jingguo then stood up and went towards the table where those men were seated. "Brother, I also want to make money with my elder brother. Will you take us there?" Hu Jingguo asked Qi Yun who was startled.
Sheng Li glared at Ying Lili. "Whom is he calling his brother?" Sheng Li questioned in a low voice. Ying Lili shrugged her shoulders when they both heard the voice of the same man.
"First show me that you and your brother can play this Knife Game," Qi Yun told Hu Jingguo who immediately agreed to that.