Chapter 23 – Hints of a Mundane Life

“An auction?” Yun Jingfei questioned. “Are these commonplace here?”

“Hmm?” Qin Yun replied, raising his head slightly. “Well, there’s not really any set time for them. They usually happen when something worthwhile shows up. But since Jin City is a place where all forms of commerce converge, large auctions like this one occur a few times a year. There are also some smaller ones spread out throughout the city almost every day. Are auctions not common in the Cloud Empire?”

“I wouldn’t know,” she replied, stretching her tired muscles and joints before letting all the tension flow out of her. She felt weakness throughout her body, yet was also refreshed. “There was mostly no need for the imperial palace to go to any auction. When something caught our eye, they would usually prioritize us.”

“Oh… Somehow, I pity them.”

“How so?” Yun Jingfei frowned.

“Hmm? Don’t tell me it never crossed your mind? I’m sure the imperial palace was a good customer, but such a monopoly only means they sold those items for much lower than they could have. Auctions, even after the auction house’s cut, tend to yield much more return than a single high-paying customer. It’s a choice between reliability and higher returns.”

“So, you also know about economics, now?”

“I’m surprised you don’t,” Qin Yun said frankly. “Didn’t they teach you about rulership?”

“You think they would?” Yun Jingfei snorted. “An imperial princess? Twelfth in line for the throne? What would be the point?”

“What did they teach you, then? How to be a wife? Somehow, I doubt it,” Qin Yun chuckled.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Have you looked at your cooking lately?” he smiled.

“I’m getting better,” she grumbled. “You wouldn’t be any better if you never had to learn. I’ll surpass you in no time. Mark my words!”

Ever since they had left their small refuge and returned to Qin Yun’s abode, Qin Yun had taken it upon himself to teach her the basics of survival as an adult.

Since her youth, she had been sheltered, all her needs met through the labours of others. Never once has she felt herself wanting. Even when she became a cripple, she was still cared for.

But now, everyone she once depended on was gone. She had to fend for herself—laundry, cooking, even gathering food. In truth, she was like a child newly exposed to the world’s rough edges.

Obviously, Qin Yun could have supported her. Adding just one burden to his charge wouldn’t have changed anything, but what would be the point of that?

Yun Jingfei hadn’t been given to him as a child he had to care for. She was supposed to be his wife and would need to act like it. She couldn’t always be on the receiving end of his support.

Their partnership had to be mutual.

“I’ll be holding you to that,” Qin Yun said. “Speaking of which, isn’t it your turn today?”

“Oh. You’re right. All this exercise has made me quite hungry too. Any special requests? I seem to recall we have some vegetables that have started to wilt. How does soup sound?”

“Good idea. Makes it much harder to burn.”

“Hey! It only happened once… or twice.”

“Or thrice, but who’s counting.” Qin Yun joked playfully. “Also, add the hare I caught this morning. We can’t just be eating vegetables and rice all the time.”

“You caught a hare?” Yun Jingfei said, rummaging through the storehouse that was now back to its original purpose, leaving with a large cauldron big enough to feed a dozen people. “Why haven’t I heard of this?”

Yun Jingfei looked rather silly, standing there holding a metal stockpot twice the size of her torso. Qin Yun had to block his mouth with his hand so as not to burst out laughing.

Catching his reaction, Yun Jingfei’s eyes narrowed, and she stormed back into the storehouse. Clangs and clatters echoed as she hunted for a pot that actually fit the task.

Qin Yun could only sigh.

As he was busy with his construction project, he had delegated the maintenance of this storehouse to her. He didn’t expect much, no big repairs to be done, just keeping it nice and tidy, but it seemed even this was too much for her.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

It only took her a week to become lost in a space that small.

Thankfully, their yurt, the only other structure as of yet, was only used for sleeping. It consisted only of a bed, a mass of animal hides they used as bedding, as well as a single rack for all their clothing, of which there wasn’t much.

Even if she had been left to her own devices, there was little mischief she could manage there.

Moments later, Yun Jingfei reappeared, the right pot in hand and a triumphant grin on her face. She looked so pleased with herself that Qin Yun could only shake his head in amusement.

“Do you need help with the fire?” Qin Yun asked.

Unlike when they were trapped, they didn’t have access to the modern appliances that the residence offered. Qin Yun had yet to begin on the kitchen area. They could only use more primitive methods, ones Qin Yun had used before, such as a clay oven next to the storehouse, with only a small thatched roof shielding it from the rain.

“I’m good,” Yun Jingfei said, psyching herself up. “How would I dare call myself a member of the Soaring Phoenix Sect if I can’t even manage to start a single puny fire!”

However, try as she might, her attempt was pitiful. She tried, time and again, using a steel knife and flint Qin Yun had provided, but all she managed was a few sparks. The wood she sought to use as fuel never so much as ignited.

After a few minutes of futile attempts, she could only plead for Qin Yun’s aid, her pitiful gaze doing most of the work.

It was wild to see the changes that happened in a mere month. Her taciturn, restrained attitude had faded, replaced by an almost childlike glee. Sometimes, Qin Yun wondered if she was even the same person.

It seemed that freedom had been something foreign for most of her life. Qin Yun could imagine why. Palaces, as well as most sects, weren’t places where children could just do as they pleased. Decorum was instilled into them from an early age.

Still, not all were sunshines and rainbows. Qin Yun wasn’t that naive. He knew the darkness that lay beneath wouldn’t be eclipsed on such short measures.

Her wounds ran much deeper.