One bite was enough to instantly captivate the taste buds of all three of them.
Song Anhao, who was being held and seated on a lap, saw his older brothers and sister eating with their heads down, completely engrossed. Restlessly, he reached out to grab at the bowls on the table.
Song Jinzhao dipped her chopsticks in a bit of the broth and brought it to his lips.
A pale pink little tongue darted out. After licking it and sucking it in, his eyes lit up.
After eating and drinking their fill, they returned to the inn for a nap. When they awoke, it was raining again outside.
"Jinzhao, are you awake?" Song Dazhuang knocked on the door from outside, his voice tinged with urgency.
Song Shixue rubbed her eyes, got up, and opened the door.
Song Dazhung stood with his fists clenched at his sides, his face full of worry.
"I just heard merchants from Liaodu downstairs saying a band of mountain bandits has appeared at Half-Moon Cliff. They've robbed and killed many traveling merchants.
The Haoyue City magistrate's office is going to Half-Moon Cliff to suppress the bandits tomorrow. Should we wait until the authorities capture them before setting out again?"
With Song Jinzhao around, Song Dazhuang felt somewhat reassured.
But the bandits were ruthless killers, and she was only one person.
It was definitely best to avoid the danger if possible. Anyway, the Haoyue City magistrate's office would go to suppress them tomorrow, so it wouldn't delay them for more than a few days.
Song Jinzhao agreed.
Fortunately, they had set out early; a delay of a few days wouldn't matter.
After paying for two more days' rent and seeing the rain had stopped, Song Jinzhao took Song Shixue and Song Anhao out for a stroll.
They left Song Qiming alone in the room to study. Song Dazhuang and Song Gaoli were staying next door, so they would hear if anything happened.
Staring at the delicate, flower-like pastries arranged on the shelf, a faint floral fragrance wafted to her nose.
"One of each," Song Jinzhao said, chewing and nodding. "We'll buy a couple more boxes to take on the road when we leave."
Song Shixue mumbled an agreement, nodding. She had never eaten pastries made with peach blossoms before.
That evening, while eating downstairs in the inn, the guests at the next table were discussing the Half-Moon Cliff bandits.
"Just now, a scholar escaped back to the city gate. I heard he was on his way to the prefectural city for the examinations. He was stabbed in the chest and is barely clinging to life."
"They say that band of bandits kills without blinking an eye. They rob anyone, and would even slaughter a dog running past for its meat."
"I wonder if the authorities can catch them. If not, no one will dare go to Half-Moon Cliff anymore."
Song Dazhuang wiped cold sweat from his chin.
Thank goodness the rain had kept them from traveling today. Otherwise, they might have ended up like that scholar, also stabbed by bandits.
It didn't rain all night. When they woke the next day, the rainwater on the ground had mostly evaporated, only the soil in puddles remained a bit soft.
Song Dazhuang was eager to know if the authorities had captured the bandits. He kept the window open, staring intently toward the city gate.
It wasn't until dusk, as the sun was nearly set, that the magistrate's constables returned, dragging two corpses.
Song Jinzhao observed the constables' bedraggled appearance; almost every one of them was injured.
Only two corpses. The matter probably wasn't resolved.
"Uncle Dazhuang, I'll go out to gather some information. You watch them at the inn."
Song Dazhuang hurriedly put down his teacup. "Wait, I'll go with you."
After instructing the children to stay in their rooms and not go out, Song Jinzhao and Song Dazhuang headed straight for the Haoyue City Magistrate's Office.
Arriving at the gate, they saw no one coming out. Song Dazhuang could only vaguely make out through the main entrance that there were many constables inside, with a physician treating their wounds.
"What are you doing?"
A constable guarding the magistrate's office gate saw Song Dazhuang craning his neck and tiptoeing furtively, and immediately strode over with his blade to question him.
Song Dazhuang's shoulders jerked. He immediately put on an ingratiating smile and said, "Sir, we're escorting a child from our family to the prefectural city for the examinations. We heard there are bandits at Half-Moon Cliff. Have they all been caught?"
The constable's frown deepened upon hearing this. He raised his blade to block Song Dazhuang's chest. "Don't pry into official business. Move along."
Song Jinzhao grabbed the constable's sleeve, letting a handful of copper coins slip into his palm.
"The bandits are fierce. If they haven't been completely eradicated, we wouldn't dare travel. Time is tight, and the exam cannot be delayed. Please, sir, could you give us some guidance?"
The man clenched his hand, gauging the weight. The hand holding the blade slowly lowered.
He lowered his voice. "That band of bandits is numerous, each armed with sharp blades and vicious in their attacks."
"We thought we had brought enough men today, but who knew their leader was highly skilled in martial arts? Many of our brothers were wounded by him. We only killed two minor thugs today; the rest fled into the mountains."
"If you value your lives, wait a couple more days. The Magistrate is preparing to post a notice seeking capable individuals to deal with that leader."
Song Jinzhao asked, "About how many bandits are there?"
The constable rolled his eyes upward in thought. "At least thirty escaped, and there might be more back at their stronghold."
"Who knows where they came from? There have been bandits around Half-Moon Cliff before, but they were just a ragtag bunch. Now it seems they've become a real force."
On the way back to the inn, Song Dazhuang couldn't stop sighing.
"What should we do? Over thirty bandits, and even the magistrate's office couldn't kill them. We might be waiting forever."
Song Jinzhao looked straight ahead, her mind on what the constable had just said.
Although the prefectural exam was still over half a month away, and they could stay in Haoyue City a few more days,
who knew what else they might encounter later?
Posting a notice to find someone to deal with the bandit leader... that notice should be posted tomorrow.
Hearing that the Half-Moon Cliff bandits hadn't been eliminated, both Song Qiming and Song Gaoli grew worried.
If they couldn't leave and missed the prefectural exam, what then?
Song Qiming looked at Song Jinzhao and asked, "Elder Sister, can't we take a detour?"
Song Jinzhao shook her head. "A detour would take a month to reach Anyang Prefecture."
"Let me go check the magistrate's notice when it's posted tomorrow. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you miss the exam."
Seeing Song Jinzhao's resolute expression, Song Dazhuang felt uncertain.
The constable said the bandit leader was highly skilled in martial arts. If they tried to charge through, could Song Jinzhao defeat him?
Not to mention there were over thirty other bandits.
After breakfast, Song Jinzhao went out onto the street. Seeing a crowd gathered at the city gate, she walked over.
A notice of reward was pasted on the grayish-brown brick wall, the ink on it looking barely dry.
One hundred taels of silver. The Magistrate of Haoyue City was quite willing to spend money.
This also indicated that the bandit leader was indeed a tough problem.
Song Jinzhao walked up to a constable and inquired, "If someone takes down the notice, do they go alone to kill the bandit leader, or do they go with the magistrate's men?"
The constable gave her a strange look, sizing her up. Why was a young woman asking this?
Mindful of the other commoners nearby, the constable explained, "Of course they go with the magistrate's men. The volunteer who takes the notice only needs to deal with the bandit leader. The other bandits will be handled by the constables."
Song Jinzhao pressed further, "If someone takes the notice, how many constables does the Magistrate plan to send along?"
The constable shook his head. "His Honor didn't say, but definitely no fewer than yesterday."
