Finally, their carriage rolled onto a narrow road that cut through the edge of the forest. The night was heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine, and the faint chirping of crickets echoed beneath the trees. Soon, the darkness gave way to a clearing where a small, isolated village lay nestled among the hills. Mo'an, a place long forgotten in the records of the Great Qi Dynasty.
According to Shen Yuqing, only about thirty families lived in the settlement. In the entire village, there were only two inns. One looked old and shabby, while the other shone more brightly, its lanterns swaying in the night, known among travelers as the better choice.
Xiao Lu, their driver, slowed the horses and brought the carriage to a halt before the brighter inn. Warm light spilled from its windows, and the fragrance of wine and roasted meat drifted faintly into the street. Sliding open the small wooden panel, he called softly to Shen Yuqing, "Commander Shen, we've arrived. This is the best inn in Mo'an."
They stepped down into the cool night air and entered the inn.
Inside, Shen Yuqing went directly to the counter. The innkeeper looked apologetic as he explained, "There are only two rooms left."
Just as Shen Yuqing opened her mouth to speak, the doors banged open. A tall man in fine clothes strode in confidently, his voice loud and commanding. "Give me the best of the rooms that remain. I'll pay whatever it costs." His gaze slid disdainfully over Li Jun, as if certain the young man could never afford such a price.
Shen Yuqing's expression darkened. Her hands clenched at her sides as irritation flared, she had clearly arrived first, yet this man dared to snatch the room right from under her nose.
"Hey, I was here first. The room should go to me," Shen Yuqing said sharply.
The sly innkeeper gave a greasy smile. "Well… since there are so few rooms left, the price tonight is thirty taels per room."
Shen Yuqing's brows furrowed. "Thirty taels?! In a small village like this?"
Before she could argue further, the tall merchant smirked, puffing out his chest. "I'll pay. Give me the room. And if these two young ladies wish to share my bed tonight, I certainly won't refuse." His eyes swept shamelessly over Shen Yuqing and Wang Wuyue.
Li Jun, standing next to Shen Yuqing, raised an eyebrow. "Thirty taels? Too cheap. I'll offer… fifty taels!" She had no intention of letting such a lewd man get his way.
"Jun…" Shen Yuqing whispered, disapproving of Li Jun's decision to raise the price.
"It's okay, Qing'er. Let me handle this," Li Jun said softly.
She stepped forward, subtly blocking the merchant's wandering gaze, shielding Shen Yuqing and Wang Wuyue from his insolent eyes. Though her movements were gentle, her stance carried a quiet authority that made the man falter for just a moment.
"Sixty taels!" the merchant barked, his pride unwilling to yield.
Li Jun leaned forward, her fan snapping open with a sharp flick. She waved it once in front of his face, making him scowl. "I want this room," she said coolly, lips curling into a playful smile. "Make it… seventy taels."
The merchant's jaw tightened. He sucked in a deep breath and shot back, "Fine… eighty taels!" His voice trembled with irritation, though he tried to look composed.
"One hundred taels! And I want the best room in the inn!" Li Jun's words landed like thunder, turning heads in the common hall.
The merchant nearly choked. "One hundred?! Here?! Impossible… Alright then, one hundred and twenty taels!"
The sly innkeeper's eyes lit up, his grin spreading wider as he rubbed his hands together. Beside them, Wang Wuyue exchanged a troubled glance with Shen Yuqing. She didn't like how the empress was recklessly throwing away so much silver for the sake of pride; to her, it was wasteful, even foolish, to see wealth burned in a contest of egos.
Li Jun laughed aloud, leaving both girls puzzled as to what she found amusing. She patted his shoulder with a cheeky smile. "Wait… actually, you can take the room. Enjoy your night."
Then she held Shen Yuqing and Wang Wuyue's hands, leaving the merchant stunned and humiliated. Red-faced, the man swallowed his pride and stumbled toward the counter, forced to pay the ridiculous price of one hundred and twenty taels.
Even as he went upstairs, the inn's common room hummed with whispers, everyone knew he had been thoroughly played.
Wang Wuyue tugged her hand lightly in Li Jun's grasp, a quiet refusal that spoke louder than words. Li Jun sighed inwardly and glanced at her. Just then, the innkeeper leaned forward eagerly. "Young Master, there is still one more room left…"
Li Jun only gave a small laugh and shook her head. "No need. We'll stay at the inn across the road."
The innkeeper suddenly stiffened and reached out to stop her. His voice dropped to a hurried whisper. "Young Master, you mustn't! Everyone knows, the inn across the way is haunted. Are you truly willing to spend the night there?"
"Haunted? I am not afraid of ghosts. The human heart is far more frightening than any spirit. If there are ghosts within, then I wish to see them with my own eyes."
She didn't buy it, certain the innkeeper was just playing dirty against his competitors.
The three of them crossed the quiet road and stopped before the other inn. Compared to the lively lanterns behind them, this place was dark and shabby. Its wooden walls leaned slightly, the paint long faded by wind and rain. The sign above the door creaked as it swung in the night breeze, adding to the eerie feeling.
Shen Yuqing pushed open the heavy door, the hinges groaning. Inside, the hall was dim, lit by only a single lantern that cast restless shadows across the walls.
Then the innkeeper appeared. She was a young woman; her face was stiff, her eyes sharp and unfriendly. She offered no greeting, only a cold glance. Shen Yuqing walked up to the counter and requested two rooms.
"Two rooms. Two taels each."
The price made Shen Yuqing pause, shockingly cheap compared to the outrageous thirty taels demanded across the road.
The innkeeper clapped her hands, and a sleepy-looking servant appeared, bowing politely before leading them upstairs. Shen Yuqing and Wang Wuyue followed right away, but Li Jun suddenly stopped in her tracks. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a woman in white clothing.
"Jun, let's go," Shen Yuqing's voice startled her.
"You go ahead first. I'll catch up," Li Jun replied, forcing a smile.
With a skeptical look, Shen Yuqing went upstairs, while Wang Wuyue had already dashed ahead.
Li Jun, driven by her never-ending curiosity, tiptoed toward a half-open door at the back of the hallway. Slowly, she pushed it open. The wooden door creaked like it hadn't been touched in years.
The room was empty except for dusty furniture and broken jars. How could there be no one here? I was sure I had seen a woman who looked like Sadako. Was it really a ghost?
Just as she turned to leave, a broom toppled over with a loud clang. Li Jun yelped and nearly jumped high enough to touch the ceiling. She was ready to unleash a flying kick when a small cat crawled lazily out from behind the broom.
"What are you doing here?" the innkeeper asked with an unhappy expression.