The inn was already bustling.
Young waiters hurried from room to room with copper pots, delivering water. Several guests sat in the lobby downstairs, seemingly fellow lodgers.
Outside, the street remained quiet and deserted, with few pedestrians and vendors just beginning to set up their stalls.
The plump innkeeper, wearing a well-worn fox fur hat, stood at the doorway with his hands tucked into his sleeves, gazing at the sky. "Oh dear, the sky has turned so gloomy, I fear it's going to snow."
Li Man'er sat by the window, holding a cup of hot tea. Liu Ya, seated opposite her, nervously clutched the teapot, as if ready to refill her cup at any moment.
Before long, Li Nian, her father's brother, and a contingent of guards also descended the stairs.
"Man'er, you're up so early."
"Third Uncle, I only just came down."
Li Nian glanced at the sky. "It looks like snow. Everyone prepare yourselves."
"Yes!"
"Yes."
The guards, well-trained, knew how to travel in such weather and what to prepare, requiring no supervision.
Breakfast was soon served. Li Nian and his group were accustomed to the martial life and did not have many particularities when traveling. They all ate in the lobby.
"The nearest town is seventy li from here. If it snows, it will be difficult to reach within a day. We might have to spend the night on the way," Li Nian said, worried. Spending the night outdoors in heavy snow felt like courting death.
"What if we stay here for a day?" Li Wenchang, concerned for Li Shu, wished he could fly to Mobei. However, no matter how anxious he was, it was not advisable to spend the night outdoors in the snow; it would truly freeze people to death.
Li Man'er stated, "Third Uncle, let's stick to the original plan and travel. This snow won't fall."
Li Nian was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Li Wenchang, seeing his similar astonishment, and then asked, "Man'er, why do you say that?"
Li Man'er replied, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. Just trust me this once. I know the gravity of the situation and would not risk a dozen lives. Besides, if anything truly happens, I won't be able to escape either."
"No, Man'er, tell me properly, what's going on."
Li Man'er thought for a moment and said, "Third Uncle, let's talk in the room."
"Alright!" As it was a matter of great importance, Li Nian did not hesitate and followed Li Man'er upstairs.
Since they were uncle and niece, and Li Man'er was dressed as a man at the moment, no gossip would arise.
"Third Uncle, I've always wanted to tell you about my sect, but you and Third Aunt have considered me so much that I never got around to explaining. My sect members are called Xuan Yi. My master is an reclusive expert. Our sect excels in medicine and also in divination."
Li Man'er's words completely bewildered Li Nian.
"Wait, are you doctors or fortune tellers?" He was getting more confused the more he listened.
"Both, perhaps! All members of the Xuan Yi sect are highly intelligent. Some excel in medicine, some in poisons, some in astronomy, some in the arts of the five elements and the eight trigrams. Of course, some are versatile and excel in everything. As for your niece, I am not talented enough. Having followed my master for a short time, I have only learned medicine, alchemy, and a bit of astronomy. I have only a superficial understanding, and dare not make bold judgments on major matters or glimpse heavenly secrets. Only for trivial matters like this can I be confident."
Li Nian was stunned speechless. He didn't know what to say.
What kind of master had his son apprenticed himself to?
"Then, does your father know about your skills?"
Li Man'er gave a faint smile and shook her head. "No one in the manor knows about this. Only you, Third Uncle, know. I hope you will keep it a secret for me."
"Of course." Li Nian seemed to recall something and immediately added, "From now on, if you have any concerns, you must tell me privately. Don't speak them out carelessly in front of everyone."
Li Man'er knew he was concerned for her and agreed, "Don't worry, Third Uncle, I know what's important."
"Mm." Li Nian felt much relieved and looked at Li Man'er with increasing satisfaction. He thought of his eldest son, the fool, who didn't know the treasure he had in his daughter and cast her aside like worn-out shoes. It made him furious.
If Xing'er could have half the abilities of her elder sister in the future, he would be able to sleep soundly with joy.
"Alright, let's go downstairs. We should depart soon."
"Okay!"
Uncle and niece went downstairs together. Li Nian gave a few instructions and then ordered them to set off.
The innkeeper, out of kindness, advised them to stay another day, fearing they would be stranded by heavy snow.
"Thank you, innkeeper, but we have important matters to attend to and cannot afford to delay. Farewell."
The innkeeper could only cup his hands and offer a few words of blessing.
The Li family's caravan slowly departed. The plump innkeeper stood at his shop entrance, sighing, "They're risking their lives for money. I wonder what kind of escort service they are..."
As they left the town, the sky was still overcast, and a biting north wind whipped at their faces like knives.
Li Nian insisted that Li Man'er not ride a horse, wanting her to sit in the carriage.
Li Man'er agreed and sat in the carriage, swaying gently as she watched Li Qingyan.
After traveling about twenty li, the weather suddenly cleared up. A large sun hung in the sky, the north wind subsided, and the temperature even seemed to rise a little.
"That's strange!" Li Wenchang looked up at the sky, recalling Li Man'er's earlier words. He wondered if this was more than a coincidence.
Li Nian, however, was in high spirits. "Let's go, on our way!"
The group sped towards their destination.
The plump innkeeper in the small town still stood at his doorway, looking up at the sun and then at the increasing number of pedestrians on the street. He murmured, "The weather changes so quickly. How strange. They're lucky, heaven itself is helping them."
That evening, the group successfully reached their destination town and found an inn to stay.
The dinner that night tasted particularly good. To relieve their fatigue, Li Nian permitted everyone to have two cups of wine.
These men, accustomed to receiving military orders, could not afford any lapses. Getting too drunk would cause trouble. Two cups were merely for satisfaction.
In the evening, Li Nian secretly asked Li Man'er again, "Man'er, what will the weather be like tomorrow?"
"Third Uncle, tomorrow we will reach Dingzhou. It's a prosperous place, with a town every ten li and a village every eight li. There's no need to worry about the weather; we'll always find lodging."
"I was just asking."
"You're curious, aren't you? You want to see if my predictions are accurate."
Li Nian chuckled dryly and said, "I won't disturb your rest." He then pushed open the door and left.
Li Man'er gazed at Li Nian's retreating back, lost in thought. She mused that among the Li family's children, only Third Master Li was truly good. As for Li Shu...
She didn't want to judge him.
He might be a good general, but he was certainly not a good husband or father.
Second Master Li was selfish and self-serving. He desired a spotless reputation while also wanting to profit from wealth, yet in the end, he gained nothing and instead abandoned his wife and daughter.
As for Fourth Master Li, he was simply a dissolute wastrel, a scoundrel, not worth mentioning.