"Miss Li, I've recently organized some information I gathered in the West Market. Would you like me to read it to you?"
Xiao Cui said, somewhat impatiently.
Princess Ankang nodded happily, signaling Xiao Cui to continue.
Xiao Cui immediately took a piece of paper from her bosom and began to read from it.
This paper contained some rumors Xiao Cui had heard and organized from the West Market. Some were true, some false, but as long as Xiao Cui felt they were worth noting, she recorded them all.
The Three Little Ones listened quietly to Xiao Cui's report inside the carriage, a hint of a smile in each of their eyes.
In any case, having an extra companion was something to be happy about for them.
Moreover, it was evident that Xiao Cui took the task Princess Ankang assigned her very seriously.
Even though Xiao Cui's intelligence gathering work was still relatively rough at present, with time and refinement, the Three Little Ones all believed Xiao Cui would be able to do better and better.
Xiao Cui nervously reported the information she had collected, while secretly observing Princess Ankang's reaction.
But every time she met Princess Ankang's gaze, Princess Ankang smiled and nodded at her, constantly encouraging her with her eyes.
Under Princess Ankang's encouragement, Xiao Cui gradually relaxed, and the sound of her reading the information gradually gained confidence, no longer as nervous as at first.
The Three Little Ones also couldn't help but curiously direct their gaze towards Xiao Cui's small note, only to quickly discover that it wasn't text, but rather a series of interesting patterns.
It seemed Xiao Cui had recorded the information she gathered in her own way.
The Three Little Ones exchanged a silent glance. Only now did they remember that they had never asked Xiao Cui if she was literate before.
When Xiao Cui finished reading the last piece of information, she looked up at Princess Ankang with some trepidation and asked:
"Miss Li, do you find this information useful to you?"
"Useful, very useful!"
Princess Ankang immediately replied decisively.
"Xiao Cui, you know. For certain reasons, it's difficult for me to access outside information like this."
"And the West Market, where you are, is the most prosperous place in the capital. There are many Hu Merchant from abroad and artists traveling from all over."
"The information collected from them is very useful to me."
"Xiao Cui, you did very well today. Keep it up!"
After affirming Xiao Cui's work, Princess Ankang did not forget to encourage her.
Then the little girl's expression sobered, and she said seriously:
"Xiao Cui, I will also tell you my true identity today."
"I am the Thirteenth Princess of Great Xing, named Li Ankang."
Upon hearing this, although Xiao Cui had long guessed Princess Ankang's identity, she immediately changed from a sitting to a kneeling posture in a hurry, preparing to bow down.
"This humble commoner, Xiao Cui, greets..."
Xiao Cui was about to perform a grand bow, but Princess Ankang stopped her with one hand, holding her body that was about to bow down.
"Xiao Cui, I am revealing my true identity not because I want you to bow to me, but because now that you have become my person, you naturally need to know who you are working for."
As a princess of the Imperial family, Princess Ankang's face was filled with majesty when she spoke these words, inspiring awe in others.
Li Xuan and Yu'er watched Princess Ankang's performance silently from the side, their hearts filled with relief.
Unbeknownst to them, the little girl now already possessed the demeanor of a Royal Princess.
Xiao Cui was held by Princess Ankang's hand, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't bow down.
Although she was older and appeared physically stronger than Princess Ankang, there was a vast difference in strength.
Xiao Cui had always thought Princess Ankang was delicate and frail, especially since the first time they met, Princess Ankang was still in a wheelchair and couldn't move freely.
Xiao Cui had always lived on the streets with her grandfather, considering herself stronger and more spirited than ordinary girls.
She had expected her strength to be greater than that of the pampered Princess Ankang, but to her surprise, Princess Ankang's first move opened her eyes.
Princess Ankang silently helped Xiao Cui sit steadily, then told her:
"Xiao Cui, you should still call me Miss Li in the future."
"As for my true identity, just keep it in your heart."
Seeing Princess Ankang trust her so much, Xiao Cui was deeply moved.
With red-rimmed eyes, she replied in a low voice:
"Understood, Miss Li."
Princess Ankang heard the familiar address and immediately nodded with satisfaction:
"That's right."
With that, Princess Ankang took out a ten-tael silver ingot from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Cui.
"Xiao Cui, this will be your monthly payment from now on. Don't think it's too little!"
Xiao Cui stared dumbfounded at the heavy silver ingot in her hand. After a moment of stunned, she quickly said:
"Miss, this, this is too much!"
"Xiao Cui, I can't accept it, I can't accept it!"
In Xiao Cui's view, she merely summarized the gossip she heard daily and reported it to Princess Ankang.
The fact that she could earn so much money in a month made Xiao Cui feel like she was taking advantage of Princess Ankang, and it made her uneasy.
At Xiao Cui and her grandfather's stall, a knot generally cost only five copper coins, and it was buy two get one free.
Ten taels of silver, she and her grandfather would have to sell, sell, a lot of knots to earn that much.
Xiao Cui's mind went blank for a moment; she couldn't even calculate how many knots they would need to sell to earn such a huge sum.
Seeing Xiao Cui decline, Princess Ankang immediately said with a serious expression:
"Xiao Cui, don't think this job is simple."
"It's not easy to do it well at all."
"Moreover, if someone with ill intentions finds out you are my person, you might encounter danger."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui replied without thinking, "Miss, I'm not afraid of danger!"
"You're not afraid, but what about your grandfather?"
Princess Ankang immediately retorted.
Xiao Cui was speechless, unsure how to respond.
Although she had made this final decision after much deliberation.
But in front of Princess Ankang, Xiao Cui could not calmly say that her grandfather was not afraid either.
Initially, Xiao Cui's grandfather was very much against Xiao Cui doing such dangerous things.
But when Xiao Cui made up her mind, her grandfather did not try to persuade her further; instead, he supported her decision.
Xiao Cui was quite surprised at the time and asked her grandfather why he no longer tried to dissuade her. Xiao Cui's grandfather said helplessly, "Anyway, you won't listen to me, so I might as well shut up and not bother you."
"Since you've made up your mind, you must do it well."
"Don't disappoint those who trust you."
"Although Grandpa can't help you with anything, he doesn't want to drag you down either."
With that, Xiao Cui's grandfather continued to weave knots as usual, silently.
And Xiao Cui understood that this was all the love her grandfather could give her.
Seeing Xiao Cui fall silent, Princess Ankang continued to persuade her:
"Xiao Cui, this money is not only to make your and your grandfather's lives better, but also to ensure your safety."
"In the future, we always need to find ways to improve our self-preservation, and what can be done without money?"
Looking at Xiao Cui's expression, Princess Ankang knew she had taken her words to heart.
"Besides, this money isn't that much. It's mainly because I don't have a stable source of income right now."
At this point, Princess Ankang seemed a little embarrassed.
"But don't worry, your monthly allowance will increase, and if you make contributions, I will also have extra rewards."
Princess Ankang promised.
This skill of painting a grand picture seemed to be self-taught.
"Is this the Imperial family bloodline?"
Li Xuan mused to himself.
After a moment of thought, Xiao Cui nodded and replied:
"Alright, I'll listen to Miss."
This time, Xiao Cui did not return the heavy silver ingot in her hand; instead, she gripped it tightly, unwilling to let go.
Seeing Xiao Cui accept the silver, Princess Ankang was also happy.
Honestly, it was her first time handling such matters, and she was afraid she wouldn't do well, but at least for now, it seemed to be going smoothly.
"After settling the matter of the monthly allowance, there's one more thing we need to discuss."
Princess Ankang pondered for a moment, then continued:
"Coming directly to Xingqing Palace like this is not good; it's too conspicuous."
"Xiao Cui, from now on, you'll just be responsible for collecting information, and then I'll have Li Xuan come and get it. How does that sound?"
Upon Princess Ankang's suggestion, Xiao Cui suddenly became flustered:
"Miss..."
"But, but I'm illiterate."
Xiao Cui bowed her head deeply, her hand holding the silver ingot loosened a bit, and the confidence she had just built up wavered again.
However, Princess Ankang's reaction surprised Xiao Cui.
Princess Ankang said indifferently, "It's alright, Li Xuan is very smart. If you tell him, he'll remember everything and come back to tell me."
"Li Xuan, can you understand?"
Xiao Cui had no concept of Li Xuan's intelligence, so she couldn't help but be a little doubtful.
"Xiao Cui, don't worry."
"You'll know in time."
Princess Ankang did not explain too much about Li Xuan's intelligence.
Anyway, such things would naturally become clear with prolonged interaction.
Once Xiao Cui had interacted with Li Xuan a few times, Princess Ankang believed Xiao Cui would understand.
"Just knowing how to write isn't enough; when I encounter someone illiterate like Xiao Cui, I can only rely on body language."
"I wonder if Thousand Stars Pavilion has any long-distance sound transmission techniques that could help me learn to speak."
Li Xuan thought of this problem and decided to ask Elder Ye about it next time he visited Thousand Stars Pavilion.
Moreover, as he continuously cultivated Yin Yang True Qi, he also discovered various peculiarities of True Qi.
If he could find the right method, it shouldn't be difficult to produce sound using True Qi.
After all, the Dragon Tiger Wind Fierce Roar he cultivated earlier was also a type of sound skill, and there must be similar ones.
At that time, speaking with the help of True Qi might also be possible.
Seeing Princess Ankang's confident arrangements, Xiao Cui couldn't say much. She just agreed on the next meeting time and waited for Li Xuan to visit her home.
Once everything was settled and they saw that it was late, the Three Little Ones used the carriage to send Xiao Cui back before the market closed, and then they returned to Xingqing Palace just in time.
Back at Xingqing Palace, the Three Little Ones gathered around the table, eating dinner.
"Li Xuan, what do you think of the news Xiao Cui brought today? Is there anything worth your attention?"
Princess Ankang asked Li Xuan.
Initially, developing Xiao Cui as Jingyang Palace's informant outside the palace was Li Xuan's idea.
Now that Xiao Cui had brought her first report, it was naturally up to Li Xuan to evaluate it.
Li Xuan wagged his tail, thinking for a moment. Among the many pieces of information Xiao Cui brought, there was indeed one that left a deep impression on him.
Recently, a Hu Merchant was offering a high price to recover a lost item.
It was an unremarkable landscape painting, not by a famous artist, but the Hu Merchant said the painting held great significance to him and was willing to pay one thousand taels of silver to buy it back. He also offered a reward of fifty taels of silver or more to anyone who provided relevant information, with the exact reward depending on the importance of the information.
This Hu Merchant had only started spreading the word in the West Market yesterday, but it had already attracted countless people eager to earn this exorbitant thank-you fee.
However, most of them were opportunists; some directly copied a fake based on the information the Hu Merchant provided.
Others offered vague, ambiguous information, hoping to trick him into giving them a thank-you fee.
But this Hu Merchant was not foolish; no one had managed to gain anything from him yet.
After a day, the excitement gradually died down. By evening, most people were just spectators, curious to see who could manage to extract some money from this stingy Hu Merchant.
Although the news sounded ordinary at first, Li Xuan did find a point of interest in it.
The Hu Merchant was looking for an unremarkable landscape painting.
Coincidentally, he had previously obtained such a painting, and it was still in the Internal Affairs Bureau for Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng to study.
It was the one from which the half-treasure map was found among the goods from the robbed Ping An Trading Company.
"It can't be that coincidental, can it?"
Li Xuan pondered to himself, feeling he might be overthinking it.
But since they had nothing to do recently, a stroll around the West Market wouldn't hurt.
Li Xuan expressed his interest in this news and wanted to visit the West Market tomorrow. Princess Ankang and Yu'er naturally had no objections.
During this period, besides cultivating in Xingqing Palace, they had nothing else to do.
Going out of the palace was fun for a while, but after seeing all the novelties, it became mundane.
The main reason was that they had no playmates in the capital to hang out with; there was a limit to how much fun three people could have wandering aimlessly.
Rather than aimlessly running around the capital, Princess Ankang preferred to stay in Xingqing Palace to read and cultivate.
This was unavoidable; after all, the Three Little Ones all had homebody tendencies.
To prepare for going out tomorrow, the Three Little Ones went to bed early after dinner.
The next day, Chief Steward Shang personally drove them to the West Market.
On the way, after hearing Li Xuan mention the Hu Merchant's high-priced search for the painting, Chief Steward Shang also became somewhat interested.
"Oh, that sounds interesting."
Chief Steward Shang said with a smile, exchanging a glance with Li Xuan, both understanding each other's meaning.
Evidently, they both thought of that half-treasure map.
But the other party was acting so conspicuously, they were probably well-prepared.
Therefore, Li Xuan and Chief Steward Shang both wanted to see what trick the other party had up their sleeve.
Even if it turned out to be a false alarm, they would suffer no loss; they would just consider it a way to pass the time.
And when they parked their carriage and entered the West Market, their attention was immediately drawn to a spot where many people had gathered.
From afar, they could see a large banner, and next to the banner, a figure was hanging.
[A Thousand Gold for a Son, A Promise Worth a Thousand Gold!]