The Possession of My Beloved

Because of his father’s involvement in the case, her grandfather’s Escort Agency was haunted by the family members of the scholar who died in the Academy case at that time, and they make a fuss and cried all day long at their place.

Her father died clean, and all the family property was confiscated. So those crying family members went to ask her grandfather to pay the money.

After her grandfather filled in the big hole for her dead father, he accidentally lost a big escort business. Her grandfather didn’t pay timely enough and lose his reputation, and the business of the Escort Agency has plummeted ever since.

If Lu Xian had not concealed his sick father from taking risks, the sign of the Shenwei Escort Agency would have been taken off.

However, it was not easy to earn that money. Most of them were included in the accounts of the Mountain of Yang. That’s right because it was Miantang’s big uncle who dominates the Northwest mineral resources, and the old subordinates of the Eastern Palace are reluctant to give up, saying that Miantang is doing business for her family!

After the surprise of Miantang’s disappearance, Lu Xian and Lu Mu were not interested in the ore business. They scattered a lot of people to look along the river bank. It took a full year for them to be completely determined that she is dead.

However, the good money in the Northwest can’t be earned anymore. The barbarians have internal strife. Once their Kingdom changes, it will be replaced by others.

Miantang knew that both her grandfather and uncle valued friendship. She would rather drink porridge by herself and have to support the escorts. Especially those old escorts, who have no special skills, can’t be abandoned by her grandfather and uncle.

But now that the financial resources in the Northwest are drained, Miantang doesn’t want to go return empty-handed and add a burden to the family.

So she wanted to import and sell some goods with her dowry before crossing the river.

In the beginning, the war in the Northwest was so intense that the whole Northwest area was closed down. Even today when the war situation has greatly improved, the three Checkpoints in the Northwest are still closed.

Many merchants who were going to transport goods to the Northwest were blocked in Jintuo Town along the river after crossing the river.

A step forward, there are barbarians as evil as tigers and wolves. If they turn around and cross the river, who will pay for the freight?

Therefore, many merchants are in a dilemma and simply stay in the town to sell their goods at a low price.

They don’t need much, as long as they can sell the amount of their Capital. After all, if they catch the return freight, they will lose more.

However, the war has not stopped yet, the North and South trade routes are blocked, the passenger flow of Jintuo Town is not large, and many businessmen did not have good business with their carried goods.

After Miantang stayed in Jintuo Town, she planned to stay here for a few days and lead Liu Kun and the others around the street to inquire about the price.

Along the way, Miantang was confident.

Seeing the manner of the Lady, Liu Kun asked, “Are you gonna import some goods, Lady? These things are even less valuable when they cross the river. Why buy them?”

Miantang smiled and said, “So we are not crossing the river. We take the goods and sell them to the frontier of barbarism.”

Hearing what Liu Miantang said, Liu Kun’s eyes stared at her, “Are you crazy, Young Lady! How can we escape from the den of tigers and dragons? Even if Prince Sui doesn’t chase us, Agufan is not easy to deal with too!”

Miantang planned to persuade Liu Kun to switch sides while her uncle was resting in the Inn. So she took out a map she had drawn these two days and showed it to Uncle Liu.

“Now the Northwest war has not stopped, but the barbarians have begun to retreat strategically and defensively. When we go to the border, we will not encounter Agufan. Although most of the Checkpoints are guarded by soldiers, Tiebei Mountain has a shortcut. It’s loose when we enter and strict when we exit. If we catch the foggy weather, we can get in and out of some…”

Liu Kun had been living in barbarism for so long, but he didn’t know there was such a shortcut, so after listening to her, he was slightly surprised and asked Miantang how she knew it.

Miantang moved the corners of her mouth as if smiling and slowly said, “Prince Huaiyang ordered his soldiers to re-examine the border, especially the rugged mountains, to break through the lands of the Barbarian. He accidentally found that there was a mountain wall here, which was originally narrow and could not be surpassed. Later, he ordered people to widen it, to save them from those Barbarian soldiers making use of it who to make a secret attack guarding the three Checkpoints.”

At that time, even when he came to the Wuning Checkpoint, he would sometimes start drawing at night. He did not guard her, and she did not deliberately go to see. However, she was born with good eyesight. She remembered this place when she served tea to him.

Now that the three Checkpoints have been recovered by Cui Xingzhou, the military use of the shortcut here must be greatly reduced. Miantang is sure that there are fewer guards here. If they can get in there, there will be a large market for goods to be transported to the three Checkpoints where materials are scarce.

There is no other way. Even if there is a war, people should wear clothes and take medicine!

Miantang wants to earn a fortune and return to the State of Xi with dignity.

Liu Kun can’t make up his mind about such a big thing. He wants to tell the Elder Master about it. But Miantang said, “I must do this. If you tell my uncle, won’t he tag along? Can he move with his body now?”

Liu Kun wanted to say something again. But Miantang said with a straight face, “Now there are so many people in the Shenwei Escort Agency, and they are waiting for money to buy rice and meals. You and my uncle dared to smuggle minerals. How come you are afraid to take action against such ordinary things as rice oil? Are you waiting for my Uncle to find a way to make money for you while on his sick bed?”

The words hurt her Uncle Liu’s self-esteem! People in the Jianghu just make a living by hanging their heads on their waistbands. What’s so terrible? Is he not as bold as a 19-year-old girl?

And Miantang’s words also spoke to his heart.

Some time ago, the State of Xi sent a letter saying that The Old Master was ill, but he was reluctant to take medicine. Thinking of Old Master Lu, Liu Kun wished he could sell himself to make money.

Miantang knew Liu Kun’s temperament very well. Seeing that he was hesitant, she knew there was a chance, so she told him her plan in detail.

Although Liu Kun did not know Miantang’s earth-shaking activities in the Mountain of Yang, he knew that the Lady was capable. In the beginning, Lady Liu made the route arrangement for the coal mine.

So after hearing what she said so thoroughly, he became more confident and decided to take up the plan and return to the State of Xi with a large amount of money.

Looking at Liu Kun, Miantang did not forget to encourage him, “This is the man I know, The Universe Master, Liu Kun!”

Liu Kun looked askance at the young Lady of his family and thought that her smile was just like that of Master Lu when he was young!

So the next day, when the Lu family motorcade set out, Liu Miantang covered her face with a scarf because of the cold, and let the carriage into the yard before getting on.

After the motorcade left for a long time, Liu Kun and his two subordinates followed Liu Miantang in men’s clothes and slipped out of the back door of the kitchen of the inn.

At that time, they did not go out. They watched Fan Hu, who lived across the street, lead people to follow them all the way and set out.

Miantang planned this way, there Fang Xie pretended to be her in her clothes with her face covered. If she could make use of the excuse of the cold and not get off the carriage, she could hide all the way. Fan Hu did not know that she would stay here on purpose and would protect her uncle wholeheartedly to return to the State of Xi.

Now that she has got rid of all the burdens, Miantang feels that she has no more worries and can finally show her ability.

As for the goods she wanted to buy, she also picked them out. Only the goods that were not easily damaged by turbulence, such as cloth and dried medicinal materials, were allowed.

She has opened a pharmacy at the border for a long time, and she also knows the market of medicinal materials by heart, so when she receives the goods and haggles, she’s being firm, stable, and accurate.

In addition, some drug merchants are eager to get back some money so that they can leave here. They finally grit their teeth and sell to this unfamiliar young man at a low price.

As a result, Miantang’s banknotes were full of three trucks.

She didn’t dare to buy more. She wanted to take a walk first. So she has made an appointment with other merchants who are eager to shake off the bottom of the goods. When she comes back, she will study the remaining goods with them.

Next, it is to deliver goods to the three Checkpoints.

Liu Kun never knew that Lady Liu could read the map so accurately. She entered the Barbarian Junshan Mountain and had many split paths. But Liu Miantang’s intuition was very good, and she came to the build shortcut smoothly.

Miantang was not in a hurry. She first asked an escort to look around. The escort said that he found a piece of charcoal halfway up the mountain, indicating that someone once camped, but now there is no trace. Looking at the traces of coal, it should have been left a long time ago.

Miantang nodded, the result was what she expected. The people of Prince Huaiyang were eager to push forward. This shortcut had lost its military value, and the local people did not know about it, which gave her great convenience.

If she is right, the border will be lifted soon. At that time, she will not have the convenience of exotic goods, and the goods will not be sold at a high price.

The opportunity to make good money is within these days in the gap.

She has to make good use of it. After making enough money and having the capital to make a big deal, their journey will be smoother…

When it comes to making money, Liu Miantang’s eyes are bright. To be honest, Miantang heard her uncle say vaguely that she had helped Ziyu on the Mountain of Yang before and she couldn’t figure out why.

There are so many businesses that can earn money in the world. Why does she have to commit herself to a rebel to make a living? Could it be that she and that Ziyu had mutual feelings in the beginning? She really can’t remember. She thinks that Ziyu should have forgotten too.

After all, Cui Jiu also told her about the marriage of Ziyu and the daughter of Commander Shi… Although Cui Jiu didn’t have good intentions, it seems that her relationship with Ziyu has been completely broken.

But why did he want to break her hamstring? In Miantang’s intuition, she always thinks that this should have nothing to do with the sick Master Ziyu.

In short, the person who broke her hamstring should live a good life. If such big revenge is not repaid, Liu Miantang will change her name to Liu Grandson Tortise!

In Liu Miantang’s mind, there are too many things to do, which temporarily diluted the sadness of parting. That kind of sadness of an abandoned wife is only suitable for the Lady who has no worries about living.

Liu Miantang has more than one hundred people to support, and her seriously ill grandfather is waiting for filial piety. Even if she thinks of the sweet past with her handsome fake husband, she has to wait until she is free.

Miantang is now on her journey during the day. At night, she discusses with others the next schedule. When she returns to her small tent in the wild, her legs are sore and she is so tired that she can immediately fall asleep once she closes her eyes.

The sorrow that was supposed to be overwhelming had no time to bother her.

By the time they got to the third Checkpoint, Miantang and her party were all worn out. Miantang felt that she was stinky. But they are waiting to sell their goods as soon as possible!

So Miantang can’t take care of matters like washing her clothes. She found a street corner and displayed her goods. Someone came to buy them immediately.

In the beginning, there were not many people, but gradually there were repeat customers who brought people to buy. Even unidentified barbarians came to buy goods.

Miantang is not a military family member now. She is full of speculation and profiteers, and her sense of morality is immediately lowered.

As long as the barbarians don’t buy swords and curing medicine, or they aren’t those barbarians and bandits, and they have real gold and silver, and they are willing to pay three times higher than the Han people, she will also sell them!

In addition, they also buy one and give one for free. If it was some small injuries, this half-doctor will give them a prescription!

Because of the advice from Lady Lin, Miantang also has some experience with barbarian accents.

She found that the people who came to buy her medicine several times were all barbarians with high noses and the accents of the tribe of Wangqi. It can be seen that they were not from the same tribe as Agufan, and what they bought was also medicine for simple colds and old diseases. It seems that someone was seriously ill, so they came to the three Checkpoints to buy medicine regardless of the danger.

But the next day, the person who came to buy the medicine became an acquaintance of Miantang.

When Miantang saw Lady Lin appear in front of her carriage with several tall attendants, she couldn’t help looking up.

She is now dressed in men’s clothes, and her face is not very clean. She wonders if Lady Lin can recognize her.

Unexpectedly, Lady Lin burst out laughing and said to her, “Little brother, I think you’ve been busy for a long time, it’s also time to have a cup of tea. Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”

This remark made several old women who bought medicine look at them. They thought that the barbarian woman was too indiscreet to pull a man to drink tea in the street.

No wonder they say that barbarians have no etiquette. Even if they are women, when they see handsome Han people, they can rush into the bed curtain!

However, the little brother who was asked was also impolite. He nodded and said yes, and then followed the barbarian woman.

When she arrived at a courtyard, Miantang looked at the respectful men who were with Lady Lin. Some of them looked familiar. They should have bought medicine with her before.

Miantang then asked, “It seems that Lady Lin has found your relatives. I didn’t expect you to have also come to the three Checkpoints.”

Lady Lin said, “Simple words can’t explain why am I here, let’s go in and talk.”

She pulled Miantang into the room and saw two barbarian women playing with little walnuts on the Kang.

When little walnut saw Liu Miantang come in, he stood still and stared at the dirty young uncle who let things drift.

Miantang was so embarrassed that she was afraid that she would stink the baby upside down if she were to hold her godson.

Lady Lin directed at the two old women and said, “Go, boil bath water for this distinguished guest, and get ready all kinds of food to eat.”

The two women were ordered to leave immediately. Lady Lin didn’t disdain Miantang either. She took her hand and sat down on the Kang, saying, “Time passed quickly. You and I haven’t seen each other for several months. If I hadn’t gone to the street today and heard my servant say that he bought medicine at your store yesterday, I would have missed the chance to see you.”

Miantang looked at Lady Lin and said, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Lady Lin shook her head, Pointing at the baby climbing towards Miantang, she said, “It’s my son. He has been suffering from a high fever for several days, and I am so worried that I led people to the three Checkpoints to seek medical help. But I didn’t expect that the three Checkpoints were blocked for many days, and there was no place to buy medicine. I was going to send someone to break through the blockade to find and buy herbs, but you came here. Besides, your prescription is very good. My son got rid of his high fever when he took a pair of medicine juice, and now he has the strength to be naughty again!”

Yea, Little Walnut is rubbing his little finger against the back of Miantang’s hand. His Godmother is a little dirty. Little Walnut is serious about cleaning it up. Miantang can’t help laughing or crying.

TL/ Note: Little Walnut is so cute O.O

Next, Lady Lin said what happened after she left Miantang.

It turned out that after Fan Hu had sent her to the place for resettlement, Lady Lin’s father’s trusted subordinate found her. Her father was the chief of the tribe.

Although her father was away, there was still his remaining prestige or influence. Their tribe suffered misfortune and was suppressed by outsiders. Someone must rise and lead and revive the glory of the tribe of the past.

Lin Siyue, as the new leader of their tribe, carries all their hopes and makes the originally loose people more cohesive.

Lady Lin spoke vaguely and did not mention the name of their tribe. Liu Miantang didn’t ask too much in detail too. After all, it’s a barbarian affair. As a drug merchant, she should not be too inquisitive.

But Lady Lin is curious about why she is like this now as a family member of the army. Miantang didn’t want to reveal the identity of the Northwest Commander to the barbarians. She simply said that she couldn’t get along with Cui Jiu. They had already split up for good and no longer lived together.

If it were changed to another woman, she would ask the reason carefully. However, in Lin Siyue’s opinion, it is too normal to abandon a man or two.

She only nodded and said, “If it wasn’t that we require men to have children, they wouldn’t be of much use. I followed the businessman to the Checkpoint to avoid disaster in the tribe. In fact, even if his family didn’t drive me away, my child and I wouldn’t stay long… But Military Master Cui looks good. It’s not a loss if you can’t live with him. You can find a better one in the future.”

Miantang laughed and thought that her astounding the world with her extraordinary idea was perfectly normal in the eyes of barbarian women. She thinks she also took a fancy to the looks of the Second Young Master of the Hu family at the beginning. So she used his appearance and gave birth to a son through him! After all, the custom of barbarians does not distinguish between grandchildren.

Lin Siyue’s son is the Little Prince of their tribe.

Miantang then took a hot bath in Lin Siyue’s place. Lin Siyue also took out her clean coat and asked Miantang to put it on.

Little Walnut became more clingy after Godmother washed and smelled good. Looking at her Godmother’s beautiful face, he smiled shamefully and had to make a wet kiss on his Godmother’s face.

However, after Miantang had enough to eat and drink and when she was packing the food for her Uncle Liu when she was leaving, she still touched a pot of ash in the kitchen and smeared it on her delicate face.

Uncle Liu and the others are resting in the cart and horse shop after selling their goods. Seeing Miantang carrying the food box, they ate like a wolf.

With the support of the rich, the medicinal materials of Miantang soon sold well. If they didn’t manage to purchase, they still directly ask them when will the new stocks come again next time.

However, Miantang’s imported cloth is not selling well. Most of the people who came to ask were to buy broken pieces of cloth and go back to repair them. Now the war is not over, and the people at the three Checkpoints who ran here from breathing under the hooves of the barbarians. They don’t care about beauty.

Miantang secretly wrote it down, drew up the list, figured out the goods to be imported next time, and asked where the largest ranch was.

She then took the cart of cloth and talked with the rancher. Finally, the rancher agreed to exchange five sheepskins for the cart of fine cloth.

On the way back, Miantang sat in the empty carriage and cut the sheepskin. Uncle Liu helped her poke the hole with an awl and sew it with thick thread. He made a simple and plump sheepskin coat, and also made a sheepskin ear cap for Uncle Liu and the others.

Now it is Autumn, and the Northwest is colder than other places. At night, it’s like winter.

When she left, she left not only the title deed of the house but also the sable cloak lining of the sky-high price.

While preserving her noble character, Miantang was also very cold, especially when she was on her way to the countryside, the night wind, and her yearning for the sable coat were endless…

So along the way, she wore her Uncle Liu’s half-worn fur coat.

Now that she had the sheepskin jacket she sewed, she returned it to Uncle Liu. The sheepskin jacket is very plump. It can be covered with a thick cotton jacket. A thick hemp rope is tied around the waist and it is tight. She is not afraid of the cold wind anymore.

Miantang is a young girl who loves beauty after all. After wearing new clothing, she stands on the carriage and asks if she looks good.

Uncle Liu straightened his sheepskin cap, looked at her little dirty face looked at her bloated clothing, and said pointedly, “Like a shepherd…”

Seeing Miantang’s face broken down, Uncle Liu hurriedly mended the situation and said, “But look warm!”

Miantang nodded with a little satisfaction. After all, this new clothing made others’ eyes feel comfortable.

The way back is not as rushed as when she came. For example, she sat on the cart and watched the red sun gradually set in the sky. In the vast field, the scene of “Long river with the round setting sun” was also very magnificent.

In the light of the dizzy red sun, Miantang had some time to think about the war situation that she heard about at the three Checkpoints. It is said that the hundred and thirty thousand troops of Prince Huaiyang were assembled and headed for the area where the Barbarian army went deep under the command of the Marshal.

It is said that Cui Xingzhou, Prince Huaiyang, took the lead in the oath-taking rally of Masters in the State of Zhen, and all the soldiers had their epitaphs. They vowed to drive away the Barbarians to the North of Qiyin Mountain so that the Barbarians would not be determined to invade the Central Plains within a hundred years.

Some of the people who said these things saw it with their own eyes at the Jinjia Checkpoint and followed other people to see them off for ten miles.

It is said that Prince Huaiyang has a bright golden helmet and a strong heroic style, which makes the people in the street cry and shout hoarsely… In that grand scene, even the old man will give birth to the blood of a young boy!

Miantang breathed a sigh of relief and half closed her eyes to imagine that a man with long legs and a broad back like him would look so beautiful in a thousand man’s armor. If he wore shiny gold armor, he would certainly look more powerful!

Thinking about it, Miantang gently hummed a tune. That is a military song that inspires soldiers when they march. This is what she overheard him humming when she was bathing with him in the hot spring. The tone is low and not suitable for women to sing.

However, when Miantang deliberately lowered her voice, she even sang the military tune with a sense of desolation, accompanied by the squeaking of wheels, and as the journey moved on, she could not look back…

In fact, there are not many boring and melancholy moments like this, which are more valuable than bath water for Miantang.

When she returned to the Jintuo Town again, the money and silver in her hands became sufficient, and her whole person looked like a spinning top again. This time, she had understood the market in her mind and formed a team of ten carriages at a time. In addition, it is not only for transporting medicinal materials but also supplies such as iron pots, salt, oil, and noodles.

However, after Miantang had made some calculations, she still felt that there was not enough oil and water.

She thought for a moment and remembered what she saw in the pasture when she changed the sheepskin. So she crossed the river. After some wrangling with the sheep traders on the other side of the river, she agreed on a price. If she can bring back the special black tail fat sheep on the Grassland of the three Checkpoints this time, the sheep traders are willing to pay a high price to collect them.