CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 397: LIFE IN THE CAPITAL IS FAR FROM EASY

Eighty thousand taels!

The reason it’s so expensive is mainly because of the location of this residence.

Qianyang City, as the Capital of Daxia, has always had a saying, "East is wealthy, West is noble." People living in this West City District are basically nobles, bureaucrats, and royalty.

This small residence used to belong to an Earl.

Unfortunately, the descendants were inept and got involved in things they shouldn’t have, eventually losing their title and family estate without justification.

This residence, naturally, was also confiscated.

For Yuan Yindi to acquire this residence, even though he spent eighty thousand taels, if it weren’t for Ruan Wan and Yuan Bao, even with more money, he wouldn’t have been able to buy it.

"East is wealthy, West is noble" is not just said for fun.

Having money alone, without enough status and position, you can’t even think about living in this West City.

Oh, and it should be mentioned that Qianyang City is divided into three parts: the Imperial City, Inner City, and Outer City.

The three cities are like three squares, nested inside one another.

The Imperial City includes the royal palace and most of the government offices, serving as the absolute core of the entire Capital City.

The Inner City surrounds the Imperial City, initially stationed with the guards.

Later, as Daxia grew stronger and kept the enemy outside the borders, only the three thousand elite Imperial City Guards remained stationed in the Inner City.

The other military guards were transferred to the outskirts of the Capital.

"East is wealthy, West is noble" refers to today’s Inner City.

After Yuan Yindi and his group entered the residence, Ruan Wan called for people to move down the various luggage, while Yuan Yindi went directly to the palace to see Emperor Xia.

As for Yuan Bao, he was mainly responsible for watching the two younger brothers.

"Big sister, when are we going outside to play?"

Once they arrived in the Capital, Yuan Shouqian’s spirits lifted.

He had heard people talk about the Capital a lot, but what is the Capital really like? Though his big sister told him a lot, he still couldn’t formulate a clear picture in his mind.

"No rush, we’ll settle down first, then go to pay respects to our elder relatives, and then we’ll be free to play!"

Yuan Bao still maintained a sense of etiquette.

Before, they lived over in Yanmen County, far from the Capital, only visiting occasionally during festivals, but now that they’ve arrived in the Capital, they must visit the relatives that are due.

However, Yuan Bao knew clearly that he didn’t have many relatives to visit.

Primarily, it was to visit his grandparents back in Yunyang City, and then his godparents and god siblings. As for others, Yuan Bao found that there wasn’t much relationship.

Feelings are not brought by blood but formed through interaction and connection.

Yuan Yindi didn’t stay long in the palace, chatted briefly with Emperor Xia, and hurriedly returned.

That evening, the family went to the Ruan Family.

The Ruan Family is Ruan Wan’s maiden family.

The grandparents of Yuan Shouqian and Yuan Shousun were there, and seeing these two cute little guys, they were very pleased.

As for Yuan Bao, he remained somewhat invisible on the Ruan side.

Even though Yuan Bao was now Princess Jiafu, in the eyes of the Ruan Family, it was all just luck.

The disregard from the Ruan Family was within Yuan Bao’s expectations, and she didn’t feel there was any issue with it.

However, Ruan Wan felt a bit displeased seeing her brothers and uncles belittling Yuan Bao.

"Sister Ruan, don’t be impulsive!"

Yuan Bao stopped Ruan Wan from getting angry, "I naturally don’t have much connection with the Ruan Family, it wouldn’t be good for you to have a falling out because of me."

"These people are too much!"

"No matter what, you’re still my nominal daughter!"

Ruan Wan said, puffing her cheeks in anger.

However, Yuan Bao just rolled her eyes upon hearing Ruan Wan’s words and said, "Sister Ruan, I see you as a sister, but you want to be my mother, you really go too far!"

Ruan Wan chuckled and said, "Little Jiaojiao, shouldn’t you call me mother?"

"Hmm, when you’re seventy or eighty, I’ll definitely call you that!"

Calling her mother was simply not possible, not in this lifetime.

Previously, Yuan Bao had called Yuan Yindi "dad" once, and even now she felt extremely awkward about it!

Considering her current situation, Yuan Bao was indeed deeply conflicted.

In psychological terms, she wasn’t even younger than Yuan Yindi or Ruan Wan, yet her body was only just over ten years old.

A little girl’s body with an adult’s mind, sometimes Yuan Bao herself felt quite out of place.

Thinking about getting older and potentially having to marry a somewhat immature little man made Yuan Bao’s head hurt.

She certainly didn’t want to be the older cow eating tender grass.

Besides, even someone of a similar mental age during this era was still somewhat childish.

As the saying goes, "If the path is different, we shouldn’t plot together."

Yuan Bao just felt that the men of this era were on a different path altogether.

Sadly, it seemed she didn’t have much choice.

"Alas, is it really impossible for me to travel back again?"

Yuan Bao lay on the bed, wearing a frown.

Since returning from the Ruan Family banquet, Yuan Bao wondered what path to take in her future.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t figure it out.

After tossing and turning for half the night, Yuan Bao finally drifted into sleep sometime after midnight.

And then, before it was even dawn, Yuan Bao naturally woke up.

After eight years of consistent training, Yuan Bao’s biological clock was firmly set, and she naturally woke up when the time came.

Before the sun rose, Yuan Bao naturally dedicated herself to a round of intense practice.

When the sun did rise, Yuan Bao stopped the breathing technique practice and focused on practicing her sword on the mountain instead.

Yuan Bao had no idea what her swordsmanship was called, but it was definitely high-end stuff crafted by her master. Since learning this swordsmanship, her strength had improved by leaps and bounds.

What was once considered a master like Mei Jiu could not withstand even one move from Yuan Bao now.

Yet, even with such skills, Ying Li still saw Yuan Bao as weak. And to prove her point, Ying Li had even given Yuan Bao a tough lesson.

Ying Li seemed a bit peculiar to Yuan Bao at that time.

She felt as if her master was afraid of something. However, no matter how much she tried to subtly ask, she couldn’t find out anything.

But, Yuan Bao trusted her instincts.

The following day after returning to the Capital, the family went to visit the Eldest Princess.

Contrary to being disregarded at the Ruan Family, Yuan Bao was exceptionally well-received at the Eldest Princess’s residence.

After all, she was Ying Li’s disciple.

Ying Li’s position was one the Eldest Princess would treat with respect.

After that, Yuan Bao followed her regular routine of training, occasionally going out for some fun, taking along her two younger brothers.

Yuan Shouqian and Yuan Shousun were very excited; it was their first time experiencing the Capital of Daxia up close, and indeed it was a very fun place.

To the two little guys, what made the Capital fun was mainly its abundance of good food.

All sorts of delicacies they’d never even heard of when they lived in Yanmen County.

"Big sister, big sister, this, this one!"

"Big sister, I want to eat this one!"

"And this!"

Once on the street, the two little guys truly let loose.