The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 13

As the autumn deepens, the evening breeze brushes against the face, and the morning dew wets the grass, only to warm up by noon.

The carriage moves steadily along the road. Exhausted, Bai Zhi dozes off and doesn’t wake until the next noon. She sits up, dazed for a moment, then lifts the carriage curtain to glance at the driver.

Noticing that the driver isn’t the same as yesterday, her confusion clears. No wonder they could travel through the night without tiring—someone had taken over.

She frowns, pondering for a moment, but ultimately says nothing.

The carriage jolts, and the person sleeping beside her turns over, their alluring eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again.

Bai Zhi rolls her eyes. This troublemaker really can sleep.

Fortunately, they don’t continue traveling the next night. They stop at a small town and find an inn.

“Guests, are you staying? How many?” the innkeeper asks warmly.

Bai Zhi feels the broken silver in her bag, glances at the driver, who remains expressionless, then looks at Wei Ziwan, who smiles sweetly.

“Three.”

“Alright, 500 coins per room. How many rooms would you like?”

(Here, it’s assumed that one copper coin equals one wen, and 1,000 wen equals one tael of silver, with the purchasing power of one tael roughly equivalent to 100 yuan today.)

Bai Zhi thinks to herself that the price is manageable. “Two rooms.”

Her entire savings amount to only three taels of silver, and this night alone costs one tael. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of dry food in the carriage, or they might have had to sell it to avoid going hungry.

The driver glances at Bai Zhi but says nothing.

Wei Ziwan raises an eyebrow, already understanding the eunuch’s plan.

As expected, the driver takes one room, while she and Bai Zhi share the other.

The innkeeper leads them upstairs, the two rooms adjacent. He opens the door and asks, “Would you like food and wine?”

Both the driver and Wei Ziwan look at Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi tightens her grip on her bag. “No need.” As if she could afford such luxuries.

Once inside the room, she eyes the only bed, steeling herself to maintain her composure.

She turns to Wei Ziwan with a smile. “It’s late. Let’s rest.”

Without even removing her clothes, she lies down on the bed, taking the inner half.

Wei Ziwan is stunned. This shameless eunuch. She purses her lips and says, “I’d like to bathe and change.”

Bai Zhi rolls her eyes. “Bathing requires hot water, and that might cost money. As for changing, you don’t have any spare clothes, do you?”

This troublemaker wore palace maid clothes in the cold palace. Naturally, she had to change when leaving the palace, just like Bai Zhi, who only has one set of ordinary clothes.

No, worse—Bai Zhi has two undergarments to change into, while this troublemaker has nothing, truly penniless.

Wei Ziwan takes a deep breath. This stingy, miserly eunuch.

She forces a smile. “Husband, could you buy me a set of clothes? Even coarse cloth will do.”

“No.” Bai Zhi stretches lazily on the bed, refusing outright.

As if she’d spend her own money on clothes for this troublemaker. With only two taels left, and no idea how many more days it will take to reach Ninglin Prefecture, she won’t waste her silver on her.

Wei Ziwan takes another deep breath. If not for her current predicament, she’d gladly perish with this wretched eunuch.

She lies down beside Bai Zhi, fully clothed, the two of them sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.

By the third night, they stop in a much larger town.

Having stayed at an inn before, Bai Zhi takes the initiative. “Two rooms.”

“Would you like a heavenly room, an earthly room, or a human room?”

Bai Zhi: “…” Why is this different?

She grips her bag, suppressing her unease, and feigns calm. “What are the prices?”

“Heavenly rooms are two taels per night, earthly rooms one tael, and human rooms 800 wen.”

After hearing the innkeeper, Bai Zhi turns to the driver and whispers, “How about we don’t stay tonight and keep traveling?”

The driver glances at her and nods. “As you wish, miss.”

Bai Zhi pauses. “Yes, Miss Wanwan means this.”

Wei Ziwan, aware of Bai Zhi’s financial situation, doesn’t object, though she finds the conversation between the eunuch and the driver a bit odd.

Over the next few days, they stay one night in a small town, spending one tael, and then spend the rest of the nights in the carriage.

When the dry food runs out, they buy buns.

Bai Zhi counts the coins in her bag. After scrimping and saving, they finally arrive with just five wen left.

The carriage stops outside a manor. The driver bows to a kind-looking young man. “Young Master.”

Bai Zhi hesitates, then introduces herself. “I’m Bai Zhi. Pleased to meet you, Young Master.”

The young man looks at her in surprise, then says solemnly, “I’m your cousin, Bai Li. You… you can call me Elder Brother from now on.”

“Elder Brother.” Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan say in unison.

Bai Li nods. “The manor doesn’t support idlers. If you stay, you must follow the manor’s rules. If you don’t wish to stay, you may leave now.”

Bai Zhi immediately glances at Wei Ziwan, then turns back. “I wish to stay.”

She trusts her adoptive father. This journey was to seek refuge with her uncle, and now that she’s even called her cousin “Elder Brother.” of course she’ll stay.

As for this troublemaker, whether she stays or not is another matter.

Wei Ziwan steps forward, standing beside Bai Zhi. “Since my husband is staying, I will naturally stay as well.”

Bai Li continues, “In that case, hand over all your belongings. Each person will receive a monthly stipend of 100 wen, with food and lodging provided. Additionally, each person must tend to two mu of farmland, and the harvest will be your own.”

If they can’t even support themselves, there’s no point in staying.

He stands still, as if giving them time to reconsider. It’s not too late to back out now.

Unexpectedly, Bai Zhi’s eyes light up, and she steps forward eagerly, even opening her bag. “Elder Brother, I only have five wen on me. Does that mean I can receive another 95 wen?”

Wei Ziwan is even more straightforward. She stands there, her tone lively. “I have nothing. Does that mean I can receive 100 wen?”

After speaking, they exchange a glance, feeling like they’ve struck a bargain.

Bai Li: “…” Looking at the five coins in Bai Zhi’s hand, he feels a pang of discomfort.

“Follow me to get settled. The steward will give you your full stipend later.”

Bai Li can’t help but muse. In the past, those who came seeking refuge found the manor’s demands too harsh. Some left immediately, while those who stayed took a long time to decide.

A situation like this is truly rare. It seems his cousin has had a particularly hard life.

After settling the two in a room, Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan exchange another glance, neither speaking.

As Bai Li is about to leave, they finally ask, “Elder Brother, how do we bathe and change here? Are there spare clothes?”

Bai Li can’t help but twitch his lips. Yes, this feeling—it’s as if these two are here to freeload.

Hold on. The reason Bai Zhi is like this must be because they’ve had such a difficult life.

“From now on, you’ll be considered half-masters of the manor. Servants will take care of your daily needs. Just give them your orders. However, farming and earning money will be up to you.”

He then looks at Bai Zhi. “After you’ve settled, come to the main hall to find me.”