Scholar Fu really is his brother. Although not by blood, and not even a distant relative, to Emory, Scholar Fu was closer and more trusted than any blood relation.
If it were not for Scholar Fu back then, Emory might have already died long ago, full of pain and hatred between loved ones and enemies.
Scholar Fu was also the only link Emory had after fleeing to the southwestern edge of the continent, when he had nothing else left.
No matter what, even if it meant death, Emory would never let Scholar Fu suffer disgrace because of him!
Thinking this, Emory's eyes filled with determination and anger. No matter how unwilling or full of grievance he was, now he could only bite his tongue to end his life.
But just as his teeth touched his tongue, looking at Elara sitting calmly with a faint smile, Emory's breath stopped. Suddenly he remembered what she had just said — "As long as you can satisfy me, I will have no choice but to…"
Emory's breathing quickened. So if he could satisfy her, she could spare Scholar Fu?
Since being caught and brought to the princess's mansion, no matter how much whipping or torture he suffered, Emory had always gritted his teeth and never gave in.
Especially after that incident, he no longer cared much about his own life or death. He only thought about Scholar Fu being here too, and how he had to find a way to save him.
But how did this woman know about his relationship with Scholar Fu?
The situation didn't allow Emory to think too much. He gasped and looked straight at Elara:
"You... if I agree to do anything you want, satisfy your demands, will you stop taking it out on others?"
Elara had been staring at Emory, seeing the determination in his eyes, seeing his lips move as if to bite his tongue, ready to end his life. She was about to tell Tres to act. At the same time, she questioned the rumors System 92 had scanned about Emory.
She wasn't doubting System 92's ability, but suspected that most of the rumors about Emory were probably wrong.
Someone who was so afraid of disgrace that he would rather bite his tongue to die didn't seem like someone who would betray the sect that raised him.
Seeing him finally understand the trap she left in her words and give up on biting his tongue, willingly falling into her plan, Elara smiled slightly and nodded carefully.
"Of course, if you satisfy me enough, I won't look for others."
Emory took a deep breath, staring at Elara's calm smile, and said through clenched teeth:
"Fine! I agree!"
Before Elara could speak, he stared at her fiercely and said word by word, "But you must keep your promise! Otherwise, I'd rather both of us go down together!"
Elara wanted to say, fine, fine! Every man in this princess's mansion she wanted to use always gave similar threats.
But seeing Emory stare at her without missing a detail of her expression, she held back and kept her princess attitude, nodding with a bit of criticism, "Okay, as long as you can satisfy me, I'm willing to talk."
Hearing her agree, Emory closed his eyes and forced himself to prepare to risk everything.
He didn't expect that woman not to tear his clothes immediately, drag him to bed, or whip him until he looked the way she wanted.
Instead, she handed him a bowl of still warm porridge, with a calm and elegant voice.
"Eat first. After you finish, I will take you to another place and explain how to please me."
...
The next morning early
Elara, who stayed up half the night, got out of bed with dark circles under her eyes. She secretly complained to System 92:
"System, you really gave me a terrible body…"
She used to stay up two days and two nights without much effect. Now after just two hours last night, she felt drained.
Elara yawned tiredly.
System 92 felt guilty and urged: "Mistress, do you want to use your national fortune points to exchange some health?"
Her body was really damaged, almost half in the grave. System 92's shield helped her move freely, but staying up late made her very tired.
Elara didn't even open her eyes. "Can my national fortune points fix my problems now?"
System 92's voice softened. "Sorry Mistress, not yet. It can only slow the damage…"
Elara chuckled. "Then I'll save them for now."
She remembered System 92 said fortune points had many uses, and her life still had nearly a month left, so no rush.
After speaking, Elara threw off the covers and tried to get up.
But as soon as her leg stretched out, a jade-like big hand held her calf gently.
The big hand carefully helped her put on her shoes and socks.
Elara blinked and fully opened her sleepy eyes to see who was there.
It was Mathias, kneeling by her bed, quietly waiting for her to wake and serve her.
Elara looked at Mathias's clean and handsome side face. The scene of last night came to her mind.
When she came back late and exhausted, she only noticed someone in her bed after lying down.
It was Mathias.
He had been left on the couch the first night she arrived, after passing out from severe injury.
Elara was busy all day yesterday and forgot that the original owner liked to have a man sleep with her every night.
Seeing Mathias taking up half her bed, she immediately kicked him off.
She remembered clearly. She patted the bed beside her and said, frowning against the strong sleepiness, "This is my bed. Don't think about taking my place. Your place is there, go now!"
Elara thought back and felt like facepalming.
She was just too tired and weak last night, her broken body couldn't hold up, so she was so confused.
Thinking this, Elara glanced at Mathias still helping her with shoes and socks, but saw nothing unusual in his usual calm face.
Forget it, last night's things were meant to change the original character's story anyway.
Thinking of the original's routine every morning...
After eating breakfast, Elara brought Mathias and Uno with her. As usual, she turned herself into Miss Bai San, then disguised the two men too. The three of them first went to the street to pick up the ten stone mills she had ordered the day before.
Stone mills are simple to make and don't need any fancy decorations. Elara paid a good price, so the shop owner made them overnight just as she asked.
After Uno led some people to deliver the mills to the merchant house, Elara took Mathias to check the four city gates of Plumera Capital.
She found that a large number of refugees had disappeared from the gates, especially the East Gate, where there were no longer piles of people. The guards at each gate only caught a few refugees to ask questions. After hearing that a merchant group was hiring, they stopped asking and were happy the day's work would be easier without chasing people off.
Now, refugees filled the Plumera State like scattered grains of rice. To save money on buying servants, many merchant groups and rich people hired directly from them. As long as they didn't cause trouble, no one cared.
Also, the head gate guard, Captain Yang, had just been publicly whipped yesterday. His face and body suffered, and now he was still lying in bed, unable to get up. No one dared to report small matters to him at this time, afraid they might get into trouble for nothing and not make it back.
Elara listened from a distance and heard the remaining refugees whispering about the merchant group recruiting people. Seeing that the stronger young ones were all planning to try, she stopped watching and went straight to the Bai Merchant House.
Outside the city,
About two hundred meters down the slope from the Bai Merchant House,
Elara sat inside the carriage and saw a long line of people stretching ahead.
These people wore torn clothes, had yellow faces and thin bodies. They were refugees who had come from the four gates of Plumera Capital.
All of them craned their necks to look ahead, clearly hoping to be recruited right away and receive food to stay alive. But even though they were anxious, most didn't push or fight; instead, they lined up calmly and patiently in long rows.
Elara raised her eyebrows slightly at the sight.
Just as she was wondering who had organized them, she saw a tall young man in front. He grabbed a refugee trying to cut in line and, with a firm motion, lifted him and threw him out of the queue.
"Anyone who doesn't follow the rules won't be hired!"
"If you want food from the merchant group, stay in line and behave! Don't play tricks!"
Seeing how quickly and firmly the young man dealt with the rule-breaker, the rest of the refugees immediately became more obedient. Even those who had stretched their necks to look ahead quickly stood back in line.
Elara stared at the tall young man for a moment and realized he was actually Damon in disguise.
His face was covered with thick fake facial hair that almost hid his entire face. His hairstyle and clothes were changed to a typical merchant guard's uniform. If Elara hadn't seen him yesterday, she would never have guessed this strong man was the handsome Damon.
While she looked at him, he seemed to notice and turned his head toward her.
His eyes flickered under the heavy beard. After making sure the refugees were in order, Damon walked over in big strides. Standing tall outside the carriage, he looked at Elara through the curtain she had lifted, then bowed respectfully.
"Princess."
Elara smiled slightly and moved her face closer to the window under her veil, speaking softly, "Wrong, it's Miss Bai San."
Damon paused and quickly corrected himself, "Yes, Miss, I was mistaken."
Seeing that he came, Elara got out of the carriage with Mathias.
Just as she lifted the curtain, Damon handed her a clean damp cloth soaked in medicine.
"Miss, these refugees may carry diseases. The apothecary said this cloth can help prevent infections."
Elara raised an eyebrow, took the cloth, and stepped out of the carriage. She looked up at Damon and asked, "Why aren't you wearing one?"
Damon gave a slight cough and leaned in a little. "My beard… it was soaked in the medicine earlier…"
So that's how it was. Elara glanced at the thick facial hair again and figured it really could act as a mask. She didn't ask more questions and walked toward the merchant house with him while glancing around…