The Glory

Аftеr Madаm Zhоu lеft, Ji Lаn аnd Shu Hong steррed forwаrd. Ji Lan said, "Мiss, thаt Маdаm Zhоu doesn't lоok like a good pеrsоn at аll."

"Don't sреаk сarеlеsslу." Веforе Han Yan соuld oрen her mouth, Shu Нong interruрted Ji Lan: "Тhеrе аrе реoplе еverуwhеrе herе. Don't саuse troublе fоr Miss."

Нan Yan laughеd heartily: "Shu Ноng, dоn't be sо nervous. If yоu kееp suсh а stеrn fасе all thе timе, yоu'll get wrinklеs."

Shu Hong still wоre thаt ехprеssiоnlеss lоok. Han Yаn rubbed her nose—how bоring.

"Ji Lan, Shu Hong, I'll tаke yоu out fоr а stroll tоday."

Ji Lan's eyes lit up: "Miss, are we leaving the manor?"

"Miss, you must not." Shu Hong frowned: "If the master finds out, it'll be bad."

"Don't worry." Han Yan was very confident: "Father is busy enjoying family happiness now and won't think of us for a while. Besides, we won't go through the main gate. Shu Hong, keep the silver safe. We're going to the military officer in the east city to find a martial arts instructor for Brother Ming."

Shu Hong wanted to say more, but seeing Han Yan's determined expression, she swallowed her words. However, her brow remained furrowed with worry. In contrast, Ji Lan was so excited she didn't know what to do, hastily rushing back to her room to pack.

There was a dog hole in the rear wall of the Clear Autumn Courtyard, a secret Han Yan had discovered as a child. When she was young, she often took Ji Lan and Shu Hong out through the dog hole to play. After turning seven and learning the "Admonitions for Women" and "Rules for Women," she knew such behavior was improper and never did it again. But now, having been reborn, her mindset had changed considerably. The "Admonitions for Women" and "Rules for Women" were merely vulgar rituals that confined one's life. Why should she let these rigid rules make herself unhappy?

Han Yan had Shu Hong find a servant girl's outfit. The three of them, dressed in coarse cotton clothes, crawled out through the dog hole. Han Yan, crawling at the front, suddenly chuckled, startling Ji Lan.

"What's wrong, Miss?"

Han Yan shook her head: "I was thinking, isn't this actually quite joyful? Being a marquis's daughter is really boring—it's not as free as being a commoner."

Ji Lan shook her head: "Commoners aren't necessarily free either. Every family has its own difficulties. Miss, your life is something many commoners couldn't even dream of having."

"That makes sense." Han Yan nodded. Compared to her previous life, she was much more open-minded and cherished life more. In such a brief life, one must do what one loves. But first, after avenging her mother.

The three of them crawled out of the dog hole and brushed the dirt off their clothes. To avoid being recognized, Han Yan dressed as a servant girl, so no one paid her any special attention. They didn't hire a carriage and rarely went out, so they simply strolled and explored as they walked.

Unbeknownst to Han Yan, not far from the outer wall, an unfamiliar figure had been watching them. The man held a blade of grass in his mouth, watching their retreating backs with great interest. "The maids from the Zhuang Manor are really strange," he mused. "They don't use the perfectly good main gate but prefer to crawl through a dog hole." After a moment's thought, he shook his head and smiled. "Interesting."

The streets were bustling with people, and vendors lined both sides selling miscellaneous goods. Ji Lan rarely had the chance to leave the manor, so she touched this and looked at that, brimming with excitement.

Although Han Yan also found these things novel, she didn't show it, only occasionally revealing a hint of freshness and curiosity in her gaze. Shu Hong was the most composed, instinctively walking at the front to shield Han Yan by her side.Han Yan strolled along, lost in thought. If she had known the outside world was so fascinating, she should have sneaked out of the manor more often to enjoy herself. After all, her title as the daughter of a marquis was practically just for show—Zhuang Shiyang never paid her any attention. Since her mother's passing, fewer and fewer people in the manor cared about her. The less attention she received, the easier it was for her to come and go as she pleased.

Shunchang Martial Arts School was the most renowned martial arts school in the Great Dynasty. Its founder was Yang Qi, the martial champion of the previous dynasty, and the instructors here were all top-tier masters. Many noble families were willing to send their sons to the school to learn martial arts. Despite its fame, Shunchang Martial Arts School had an unwritten rule: all those seeking instruction could only train within the school's premises. Han Yan had heard that the current emperor's youngest son, the thirteenth prince, once wanted to invite the school's instructors to the palace to teach martial arts, but the martial champion directly refused. The emperor was furious and wanted to punish Yang Qi, but he was stopped by numerous ministers, and the matter was eventually dropped.

Han Yan admired that martial champion, not only because he dared to refuse the emperor directly, but also because she felt that by setting this rule, he had shown a sense of fairness. Since ancient times, the poor and humble have never had it as easy as the rich and noble, even in seeking education. But by keeping all students within the school, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the instructors could not engage in any underhanded tactics and would naturally teach with all their heart.

Thinking this way, she couldn't help but feel a bit curious about that martial champion of the previous dynasty.

As they walked, Ji Lan couldn't help but glance at the roadside stalls selling rouge and cosmetics. Han Yan teased her, "If you want to buy something, just buy it. Why are you being so stingy? I never knew you were this frugal."

"Miss," Ji Lan said seriously, "now is not the time. The manor is short on money right now. We can buy these things when we have more to spare."

Han Yan found this even more amusing. "I can still afford a box of rouge." She casually pulled a few copper coins from her sleeve. "Buy two boxes—one for you and one for Shu Hong."

Shu Hong looked slightly uncomfortable. "I don’t need such things."

"Are both of you trying to save money for me?" Han Yan was both exasperated and amused. "If that’s the case, why not save your monthly allowances too?"

At this, Ji Lan fell silent. Han Yan, however, felt a sudden realization—even a hero can be brought down by a single coin. Money was indeed a major problem for her now.

She looked around at the bustling crowd—merchants busy at work, farmers toiling diligently. Was there any way to earn money quickly?

For the moment, she couldn’t think of anything. Han Yan made a mental note of this matter, knowing that in the coming days, it would become one of her primary concerns.

The West City was even more prosperous than North Street. Perhaps because it was located near the trade routes, it was always bustling with travelers, making it livelier and more vibrant. The architecture here was also more intricate and exquisite, with green-tiled roofs and vermilion pavilions creating beautiful scenery at every turn. The streets were crowded with pedestrians, jostling shoulder to shoulder. Ji Lan and Shu Hong escorted her deep into an alley until they finally saw a tall building. Above it hung a pearwood plaque with the words "Shunchang Martial Arts School" written in bold, powerful strokes, particularly eye-catching.

Ji Lan stepped forward and knocked on the brass lock of the vermilion door. After a moment, the door creaked open, and a delicate-looking boy in a blue cloth jacket emerged from inside.Seeing the three women, the young boy was also taken aback. "Is there something you need, ladies?"

Han Yan smiled slightly. "We would appreciate it if you could lead the way. We are here to see Master Wu."

Since the Shunchang Martial Arts School opened, it had never accepted women. The boy froze for a moment, his face flushing red. "You are women."

"Does the Shunchang Martial Arts School have a rule that women cannot learn martial arts?" Han Yan looked at him with a cheerful smile. This boy was much more endearing than Ming'er—so naive and innocent.