Edited by NZRose

  There were moats that serve as natural barriers in the south.

  The three major natural barriers, headed by Northern Pass, are connected in a line, separating the north and the south.

  After the Northern Pass, it was Jubei City.

  Most people in this city used to be family members of soldiers guarding the gate. Over time, they gradually developed into a large frontier city.

  ——There were soldiers and cultivators in the city. In each of the three Great Passes, there were immortal cultivators with nearly a hundred Yuan Ying realms sitting in town, and there were people on the walls who guard them day and night to prevent accidents.

  Ling Fengxiao has the Order of the Phoenix in her hand, so she can pass through all the obstacles unimpeded, but they can’t disclose their information on this trip, so they have to make plans.

  Lin Shu originally thought that they would climb the mountain next to him and go directly to the northern land boundary, but he didn’t expect Big Miss to enter the customs—perhaps for some other purpose.

  Lin Shu asked: “How do we get there?”

  Ling Fengxiao said: “We will wait.”

  They waited.

  The sunset was sinking, and the distant scenery was blurred by the fog, Ling Fengxiao explained the plan for the night to Lin Shu in detail.

  “These days, the political situation in the court is unstable. The two parties, the main war faction, and the main peace faction are attacking and biting each other. Minister Youcheng and Minister Shangshu were dismissed and sent to jail. The men and the women family members are being exiled across the border. According to the information, they will arrive at the Northern Pass tonight.” Ling Fengxiao lightly said.

  Lin Shu: “We will mix in?”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “En.”

  Later, she said: “There are other ways to enter the city, but if we use those ways, it would not be convenient to leave the city in the future.”

  Lin Shu: “?”

  Ling Fengxiao found a leeward place and spread a layer of fur on the ground. She and Lin Shu sat down and she hugged him. She leaned aside to block the cold wind and then explained.

  Lin Shu listened.

  ——The plan is like this: The two would first mingle with the two minister’s exiled women’s families that were charged with “Red Accounts”.

  What is a “Red Account”?

  Military prostitutes.

  Since ancient times, there have been women accompanying the army in the dynasty, most of them were composed of the family members of the exiled or demoted prime ministers, maids, and prisoners of war from other places, also known as the “Laundry House”.

  The Red Tent is in the army, but it can’t be any closer to the North-South border.

  “Ten years ago, Minister Youcheng was kind to the Phoenix family. Because of the fierce party struggle in the central court, Phoenix Mountain Villa was unable to intervene, so Lord Youcheng was demoted to prison. Now that his wife and daughter were exiled to the border and be humiliated in the laundry house, the Phoenix Mountain Villa can’t stand by and watch. I’m here to save them. “

  Lin Shu nodded: “Okay.”

  “After saving these people, You and I will also pretend to be military prostitutes who had escaped and went outside the city.”

  \r \r \r

  Lin Shu: “And then what?”

  Looking into the distance, Ling Fengxiao said slowly, “Thirty miles outside the city, there is a “black market.” In recent years, the relationship between the north and the South has been tense, and there was no longer a mutual market, but there are still private goods exchanges in the black market.”

  Fur and metal from the Northern Xia Dynasty, as well as tea, calligraphy, and painting from the Southern Xia Dynasty, all circulate in this black market.

  The market is a black market, and businessmen are also shady businessmen.

  However, these kinds of merchants often had extraordinary means to take things from Southern Xia back to Northern Xia without being detained.

  Since they can bring back things, they could also bring people back.

  Of course, bringing people is extremely dangerous.

  However, the saying that people die for money and birds die for food is not a false statement.

  Ling Fengxiao raised Lin Shu’s chin, looked left and right, and said with a smile, “You say, how much do you think we can be sold?”

  Lin Shu thought for a while: “Probably not cheap.”

  Ling Fengxiao said: “If the two of us were able to sell at sky-high prices, it would be impossible for black market merchants not to be tempted. In this way, we would be sold to Northern Xia and come to the home of the rich and powerful families in Northern Xia.”

  Lin Shu: “.……”

  This plan is very good.

  They would pretend to be military prostitutes who escaped from the Red Account. In their haste, they came to the black market by mistake. The crime rate must be very high. Once the crime rate is high, robbing individuals is not a big deal.

  Then, he and Ling Fengxiao will fall into the hands of black market merchants and will soon flow to Northern Xia.

  In the end, they will have an identity that can be used in Northern Xia—although this identity may not be glorious.

  Also, because he is actually a man, Lin Shu still feels uncomfortable.

  But thinking about it, it’s really the fastest way to get into the upper class of Northern Xia to be bought by the face.

  Then, the two may have a chance to watch the “Witchcraft Gathering”.

  ——As for how to get the blood poison sample, it is another matter.

  The night was getting darker, and the city was lit by distant lights.

  Ling Fengxiao hugged Lin Shu a little tighter: “Is it cold?”

  Lin Shu: “It’s not cold.”

  Although his clothes were not thick, Big Miss has been consciously sending out some spiritual power, so that he can avoid the erosion of the cold wind.

  It would be strange for a boy to be held by a girl like this if he didn’t pretend to be a woman. But at this time, he pretended to be a weak girl and thought it was acceptable.

  He leaned on Big Miss, and had nothing else to do except to observe the embroidered shapes on her dress.

  Observing and observing, then he realized a problem.

  There was a problem with his women’s clothing.

  It is not a matter of the dress, but a question of his breasts.

  In his opinion, girls have breasts more or less.

  He looked down at himself, flat.

  Lin Shu: “.……”

  He wanted to tell the problem, but when he saw Big Miss’s chest——

  There seems to be no ups and downs?

  Okay.

  Then there was probably nothing wrong with his own breasts.

  He continued to be held peacefully by Big Miss, waiting for the convoy that escorted the women.

  Night completely covered the whole sky and earth, the moon rose, the sky was a deep black color, and a continuous galaxy lay across it.

  Big Miss said: “The Academy was full of bamboo, and the night sky here is not as beautiful.”

  Lin Shu: “Yeah.”

  After “Yeah”, he felt that this answer was a bit perfunctory, and it was estimated that he would be beaten, and added: “The Weeping Star Waterfall is beautiful without bamboo.”

  Big Miss looked at the sky while saying: “Then when we return to the Academy, we will go to the Weeping Star Waterfall to see the stars.”

  Lin Shu: “En.”

  Big Miss said, “Although we could watch the stars unfettered, we would no longer be able to meet in the middle.”

  Lin Shu asked: “Why do you say that?”

  Big Miss told him a story.

  It started with a funeral five years ago.

  When the highly respected Xiushui died, two learned scholars, Lord Su and Lord Cheng quarreled over the memorial ceremony. One of them made a speech to ridicule the other.

  Lord Su, who spoke sarcastically, certainly had his reasons, and Lord Cheng, who was ridiculed, could not be moved by his true anger.

  If they were ordinary people, they would be fine. But these two people were extraordinary. They both held important positions in the court. Lord Cheng, who was ridiculed, was full of peaches and plums all over the world. There were countless disciples and students, and their teacher was ridiculed. How could they not bear a grudge?

  What’s more, these two gentlemen have different political views. They have always been at odds with each other in the reform of the new law and the main battle of peace. The students of the two sides also have a bad relationship.

  Sometime later, Lord Cheng’s students found a reason to criticize Su Zhenchang in court, accusing Su Zhenchang of the questions when presiding over the bachelor’s scholar exam, mocking the government, and disrespecting His Majesty.

  Naturally, Lord Su has to defend himself, and his best friend is Shangshu. He pointed out that this was an act of obvious revenge for personal reasons. They’re afraid that the disciples of Lord Cheng were in collusion with each other and may be suspected of forming a party. They hoped that His Majesty would see it clearly.

  Originally, this reason was justified and well-founded, but the bad is bad. Lord Su’s close friend is not only a friend but also his fellow villager.

  He said that Lord Cheng was suspected of being cronies, and Lord Cheng could naturally attack them and form parties.

  The new hatred and the old grievance came up together, the two factions attacked back and forth, and the situation was almost unstoppable.

  Naturally, the criticism of these learned Confucians will not stay at such a low level as a personal attack but should start with serious political issues such as political opinions and the new laws.

  If they insist on the main battle, they will complain about the drawbacks of the war. If they advocate reform, they will attack the drawbacks of the new law.

  From then on, the court Hall of the Southern Xia Dynasty became a mess.

  This matter was originally very serious, but it may be because the Big Miss was in a good mood, she only spoke in a story-telling tone, and when it came to wonderful things, she even lost both sides.

  Lin Shu couldn’t help laughing.

  ——Then he was hugged tight by Big Miss and his body was pulled down. He was a little out of breath.

  Big Miss laid him flat on the fur, and lay down herself, looking at the moon and stars in the sky together, without speaking for a long time.

  He and Big Miss were leaning closely together, there was shallow breathing in his ears, his whole body felt warm, and he thought that the world was very quiet and beautiful.