Chapter Thirty-Three: An Unpleasant Journey

Pan Jun gripped the rope with an expressionless face, trying to steady herself, but the cart hit several small, consecutive potholes, causing it to jolt violently up and down.

After a loud thud as the cart dropped into a deep rut, Pan Jun submissively let go of her hold, and her entire body was flung outward...

She landed steadily on the ground and stood up, her vision swimming with sparkling silver stars. It took a long moment for her to recover from the dizziness. Looking ahead, she saw the mule cart rattling away, disappearing into the distance.

Pan Jun: ...

She saw the black cat bouncing up and down on the roof of the cart. Seeing her land, the cat yowled repeatedly, trying several times to jump off the cart to chase her, only to realize it had no good footing.

Pan Xiaohei: ...

Who could understand? It could walk across rafters as if on flat ground, scale roofs, and leap across ditches, yet it couldn't manage to jump off a mere mule cart.

Tao Ji heard the black cat’s sharp cries. Waving the reins, he shouted, "Stop yowling! It’s just this stretch; it’ll be smooth past this point. I offered to let you curl up in my arms, but you refused. I’m not even complaining about you scratching me..."

As Tao Ji grumbled, Xuan Miao felt a sudden unease. She leaned out to look behind them and noticed that Pan Jun, who had been sitting in the back, was nowhere to be seen.

Tao Ji was startled. He hurriedly reined in the mule, jumped down, looked behind the cart, and yelled, "She’s run off again!"

"Junior Sister, didn't you say you'd persuaded her? How did she manage to run away again?"

Xuan Miao: "Shut up. Turn the cart around. We’re going back to find her!"

"Will we even be able to find her?" Though he muttered, Tao Ji quickly turned the mule around and hurried back, making the already bumpy ride even more jarring.

Fortunately, the black cat had taken the opportunity while the cart was stopped to jump down and run ahead to find her.

Pan Jun had walked a few steps along the roadside, decided it wasn't worth the trouble, and sat down on a patch of clean grass to wait for them to come back.

Tao Ji rushed the cart back and, seeing Pan Jun sitting obediently by the road, pulled on the reins with a "Whoa!" They stared at each other across seven or eight small potholes.

Tao Ji sighed in relief and asked gently, "Why did you get off the cart?"

Pan Jun looked at him deadpan: "What do you think?"

Pan Xiaohei leapt into Pan Jun’s arms and meowed at Tao Ji.

In the end, Pan Jun huddled in the front with the black cat and the other two. Tao Ji, squeezed into the middle, said, "When we reach the next relay station, I’ll reorganize the cart and clear a spot for you."

Pan Jun snorted and asked, "Does Mount Sanqing not sell anything? Why buy supplies from so far away?"

Tao Ji sighed, "You’ll understand once you’ve lived on the mountain for two years."

Pan Jun had a bad premonition. She turned to Xuan Miao and said, "At the next stop, I need to send a letter and some money to my father."

Xuan Miao thought for a moment and agreed.

They had been traveling for several days and were now far from the capital and Kaifeng Prefecture; by now, no one should be watching them. Even so, before Pan Jun went to exchange the money, Xuan Miao performed a divination. Only after confirming it was auspicious did she take Pan Jun to the money shop.

"How much silver do you want to exchange for notes?"

Pan Jun thought about it, unsure if the money would reach them safely, and said, "Exchange one hundred taels first."

That was one plate of silver.

The silver was exchanged for bank notes, and they entrusted the money shop to deliver it—for a fee, of course. It was the first time Pan Jun had ever sent money. Once she clarified that there was a five-percent handling fee, she handed over all the notes and took the receipt.

That night, at the inn, Pan Jun sat in frustration, pondering how to write the letter so it wouldn't arouse suspicion, yet still let her father know it was her.

Sigh, it was her own fault for being so well-behaved for the past eight years that she had never established a secret code with her father.

Pan Jun could only write: "Old Pan, it has been many years. Hearing the news that you have been exiled to Datong, my heart aches deeply..."

Pan Jun wrote the letter under the name of an old friend, telling him that she was now living in seclusion on a mountain, practicing Taoism, eating well, living well, and growing healthier by the day. She told him not to worry, and to write to her whenever he could—or especially if he was in trouble.

She informed him that she had sent money through the Changde Money Shop. He could take the receipt and, by matching the secret message, claim the funds.

As for the secret message, Pan Jun wrote: "It is the name of my poor, lovely, and departed niece."

When signing off, Pan Jun hesitated before writing "San Zhu."

She had been sickly as a child and obsessed with cultivation, so she could neither go out nor did she wish to. Her two older brothers wanted to take her out to play but were afraid to. Caught in this dilemma, the three siblings often talked about how they would take her out to play once she recovered.

This world imposed great restrictions on women, especially those from official families. To have fun outside, dressing as a boy was best. Her second brother had not only prepared boy’s clothes, hats, and shoes for her, but had also given her many nicknames. Since she was the third child, all the names included "San," though they were all quite ugly.

Sigh, having too many names was a nuisance, but if she wrote it this way, her brothers shouldn't be stupid enough to misunderstand.

Pan Jun tucked the receipt into the letter, sealed the envelope, and went to the private courier station accompanied by Xuan Miao and Tao Ji.

Tao Ji walked by her side, cautioning her: "Did you write the address for Mount Sanqing in the letter? There’s no private courier station at the foot of Mount Sanqing, only a government emergency relay."

The so-called private courier stations were popular in the Jiangnan region and had a network across the country. There was a branch in Datong, making letter delivery quite fast and convenient.

They were at a courier station in Guangxin Prefecture. Choosing this over the official government relay was her final test. She didn't know if the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital suspected the Pan family. For the past two months, to avoid suspicion, she had deliberately kept no contact with them.

If things had gone smoothly, her second uncle should have returned to their ancestral home in Changzhou Prefecture by now. If not, he might still be stranded in the capital.

Pan Jun looked at Xuan Miao.

Xuan Miao met her gaze impassively.

Pan Jun grinned and said ingratiatingly, "Master Xuan Miao, once we leave the courier station, how about I treat you to a meal? You’ve really worked hard these past two months, going back and forth for my safety."

Xuan Miao looked away coolly and quickened her pace. "Let’s go."

Tao Ji’s eyes widened. He hurried his pace to walk a step ahead of Pan Jun, constantly turning back to look at her.

Pan Jun frowned at him, finding his dawdling and hesitant manner annoying. She sped up to pass him. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, shut your face."

"Hey," Tao Ji chased after her, "what does 'shut your face' mean?"

"Faces are for looking at; mouths are for talking. Yet you’re using your face to talk."

Tao Ji paused, took a deep breath, and caught up again, indignantly saying, "Why are you only treating the Junior Sister to a meal and not me? I’ve put in just as much effort these past two months."

Pan Jun thought for a moment and asked sincerely, "Can you help me find out how my second uncle’s family is doing?"

Tao Ji froze and shook his head. "We’re over a thousand miles from the capital. How could I find that out?"

Pan Jun: "Then never mind."

Tao Ji realized what happened and was speechless for a moment. So, she was asking for a favor from the Junior Sister; no wonder she was being all "Master" and offering meals. However, the Junior Sister really could help her find out about Pan Tao’s family.

The courier station was busy. A clerk was collecting mail at the counter, while others were sorting letters in the back. An old woman was having trouble writing her address properly, and the clerk was helping her rewrite it. Seeing the three of them enter, he immediately greeted them warmly, "Honored guests, please wait a moment."

After finishing with the old woman, he turned to them. "Honored guests, are you sending a letter or an item?"

Pan Jun’s eyes brightened. "You can send items, too?"

The clerk smiled and nodded. "We can send anything here."

Tao Ji immediately stopped her, "Don't send anything unless it's special. It’s very expensive, and they have money. What can't they buy over there?"

Pan Jun glanced at him and asked, "What if I wanted to send a person?"

The clerk blinked, then said, "That wouldn't be difficult. We have an armed escort agency right next door. Where do the honored guests wish to go?"

Pan Jun now had an idea. For traveling, it was best to find an escort agency. She held up her letter and said, "I’m just sending a letter."

The clerk greeted her warmly again. Seeing that she had written the address in detail, he calculated the cost. "From here to Datong, the postage is fifty-five wen. Would the honored guest like insurance?"

The ignorant Pan Jun asked, "What is insurance?"

The clerk smiled broadly. "It guarantees that your letter or item will safely reach the recipient without error. If there is any damage or loss, our courier station will compensate you."

He looked at Pan Jun expectantly. So, would she be sending an item?

Pan Jun didn't send an item, but she paid for the insurance anyway.

The insurance for a letter wasn't much. Once paid, the clerk stamped the envelope with a different colored seal and placed it in a separate, solitary box. Letters with insurance were separated from the others and given special protection.

Pan Jun was satisfied and asked, "About how many days will it take to reach Datong?"

The clerk smiled, "Seven days at the longest. If things go quickly, five days will suffice."

Pan Jun felt relieved. Once they left the courier station, she wandered around looking for a restaurant to treat Xuan Miao.

Xuan Miao didn't want the fuss. Once she understood Pan Jun’s intent, she said directly, "Just give me the money you were going to spend on the meal. Let’s consider it treated."

Pan Jun looked conflicted. "That doesn't seem right. Treating someone is for building a bond..."

"There is still a long way to go to Yushan County. The road is rough, and I don't want to delay any further. I’ll go help you gather information in a moment."

Pan Jun immediately took out the money, her face blossoming into a smile. "Thank you, Master."

She stuffed a string of coins into Xuan Miao’s hand. Seeing her accept it without complaint, Pan Jun’s smile grew even brighter.

Tao Ji looked away, unable to bear the sight, and Pan Xiaohei meowed and looked away as well.

Xuan Miao didn't want to delay. She turned around, "I’m going to find someone. You two go eat and buy whatever you need. We’ll meet at the mule cart in an hour."

Pan Jun and Tao Ji exchanged glances. Neither wanted to treat the other to a meal, so they turned toward a bun shop to buy their own food.

Pan Jun ate as she strolled. Tao Ji fed Pan Xiaohei a bite, constantly looking at her. "Are you really... a sheltered young lady from a noble house?"

Pan Jun: "My family has no money. My father is just a censor; we’re quite poor. The house is rented, we only have one servant, and we have to rely on my second uncle, who is a tutor, every month. Do I look like a child from a wealthy family?"

Tao Ji nodded, "That’s true, you don't look like one at all."

He looked left and right and asked, "What are we actually shopping for? I’ve bought everything I need. Let's just go back to the cart and wait."

He was tired from walking.

Pan Jun said, "I need to buy cinnabar."