The Legend of Zhuohua

Chapter Two

The master and servant duo hurriedly traveled at a leisurely pace. They spent a quiet yet cozy New Year's Eve in a halfway inn and arrived in the capital city, Dingjing, on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

In a narrow alley to the east of Dingjing, two small figures quietly appeared. The master and servant rented a small courtyard, paid half a year's rent, and used up half of their savings. This was because the landlord, seeing the two young girls with sweet mouths, kindly reduced the rent by ten percent.

"This street is called Huaxiang Alley. Here they sell flowers, and there they also sell flowers, but of a different kind." The woman raised her eyebrows, revealing a somewhat disdainful expression. "You two young ladies should avoid going out at night to prevent any unpleasant encounters."

The woman looked at the two slender and small girls in front of her, feeling a bit of pity and concern. Both the master and servant were dressed in plain gray coarse clothes, presumably for the sake of convenience in traveling. They both disguised themselves in male attire, but upon closer inspection, one could still discern their original gender.

Mu Zhaohua's mother grew up in a brothel, and she was skilled in dressing and makeup. Mu Zhaohua, having been influenced since childhood, also learned these skills. However, she made slight modifications to the makeup and appearance. While others aimed to look attractive, she went the opposite way. With a few strokes on her face, she concealed the alluring charm between her brows and eyes. At first glance, others only saw a seemingly innocent and simple girl, devoid of any coquettishness or hostility. Even the landlord, a shrewd and ambitious woman, couldn't help but feel a bit of pity and care when looking at Mu Zhaohua's moist, black, and bright eyes. She added a few words of concern.

Mu Zhaohua showed the woman the route they would take. Since the woman couldn't read, she waved her hand to decline and pushed the paper back. Mu Zhaohua smiled and said, "Thank you, Madam Lu, for your guidance. We are here in the capital to take part in the imperial examination, and we won't cause any trouble for you, Madam Lu."

Madam Lu, the woman surnamed Lu, was taken aback. "You are such young girls, and I didn't expect you to be female candidates!"

Mu Zhaohua lowered her head with a hint of shyness. "My mother passed away early, and my father asked me to study with him for a few years."

Madam Lu, upon hearing this, became even more sympathetic and fond of Mu Zhaohua.

"I see. It's truly commendable for you to be so diligent at such a young age. Although women's education is now open, female candidates are still rare. If you encounter any difficulties in the capital, come find me. I live three miles away."

Mu Zhaohua listened attentively and nodded gratefully, bowing to express her thanks. She then took out a sachet from her sleeve and said, "I noticed that Madam Lu seems a bit tired, perhaps having trouble sleeping. I have a sachet here; placing it under your pillow can help improve sleep. You might want to give it a try."

Madam Lu, seeing the delicately embroidered sachet, couldn't resist accepting it. She sniffed it, and a medicinal fragrance wafted through, calming her mind.

"How can I accept such kindness?" Madam Lu said with a smile, holding the sachet tightly. "I didn't expect you to have this skill."

Mu Zhaohua smiled and said, "There's someone in my family who is a doctor. I learned a bit from a young age."

No one would trouble a doctor, especially a girl as cute and lovely as Mu Zhaohua.

"This needlework is also excellent. Your mother must have been a refined lady," Madam Lu praised generously.