Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 314 Lost
The envoy suspected that Yan Ciwan was up to some trick again, and asked in a hoarse voice.

Where are we now?

Yan Ciwan paused slightly, looking around. "Hmm... Where is this place? I don't recognize it."

Upon hearing this, the envoy nearly jumped off the cart.

"Don't you know the way?"

Yan Ciwan readily admitted, "Yes, I've never been to Chang'an before. This is my first time in the West Market. I have absolutely no idea what's around here."

The envoy nearly fainted from anger: "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Because you didn't ask."

Do I even need to ask about this?! The envoy took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the anger that was about to erupt.

Arguing and getting angry would only waste time and energy; he needed to stay calm. The most important thing right now was to find Chonghuafang as soon as possible.

He propped himself up with one hand and struggled to sit up. He looked around and saw that although there was no curfew tonight, the street was strangely deserted with hardly any pedestrians. Most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed, and only one shop was open.

The night was dark, and the envoy was still dizzy, so he couldn't make out what was written on the shop sign.

He could only ask Yan Ciwan what kind of shop it was.
Yan Ciwan glanced at it and casually replied, "Zhang's Coffin Shop, it should sell coffins, right? You want to buy a coffin?"

"I'm not dead yet, why are you buying a coffin?!" The envoy cursed inwardly, but could only weakly say, "Go ask the shopkeeper where this is and how to get to Chonghua Lane."

"Oh."

Yan Ciwan dragged the cart forward. The envoy was too exhausted to hold on any longer and lay down again.

When Yan Ciwan arrived at the coffin shop, she heard the sound of sawing wood coming from inside, indicating that there were still people working inside.

Yan Ciwan called out from inside, "Is the shop owner in?"

The sound of sawing wood disappeared, and footsteps approached from afar. Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a coarse cloth shirt came out.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. His clothes were covered in wood chips, and his face was dusty.

When he saw that Yan Ciwan had come pulling a cart with someone lying on it, he immediately understood everything.

He first offered his condolences, then cautiously asked, "When did your loved one pass away?"

Yan Ciwan was taken aback for a moment, then followed up on what the other person was saying.

"Just left tonight."

The shop owner sighed: "Life is unpredictable, and there's nothing we can do about it. What size and material of coffin do you want? Our Zhang's Coffin Shop has been open for over fifty years. I took over this shop from my father. Our craftsmanship is quite well-known in Chang'an City, so you can rest assured about the quality of our workmanship."

Yan Ciwan looked embarrassed: "We are from out of town. Something happened in our family, and we traveled a long way to Chang'an to stay with relatives. I never expected this to happen. I didn't have much money with me."

The shop owner looked sympathetic: "Oh, I see. It's alright. My coffins aren't expensive. The cheapest one is only 120 coins. The wood and workmanship are quite good. Why don't you come in and take a look?"

“But…” Yan Ciwan glanced at the cart behind her, looking hesitant.

"Let's take him to our backyard first. There's a thatched shed there that can shelter him from the wind and rain."

"it is good."

The shopkeeper led the way, with Yan Ciwan pulling a cart behind him. The envoy, lying on the cart, overheard their conversation. He wanted to stand up and question Yan Ciwan: why did you spread rumors that he was dead?!
But to avoid frightening the shopkeeper and causing unnecessary trouble, the envoy could only suppress her anger and lie on the cart, pretending to be dead. Seeing Yan Ciwan, a frail woman, pulling the cart, the shopkeeper offered, "Shall I help you?"

"Thank you, I can manage on my own."

The shopkeeper glanced at the man lying on the cart and tentatively asked, "Is this your father?"

Yan Ciwan shook her head: "No."

The shop owner was a little surprised; he had thought the two were father and daughter.

He couldn't help but press further, "Then what is he to you?"

Yan Ciwan said softly, "He is a servant in my household."

The shopkeeper glanced back at the person lying on the cart and thought that even the servants were dressed so elegantly, so this young lady must be from a very wealthy family.
He exclaimed, "As the master, you actually dragged the servant's body to buy a coffin yourself. You are so kind. He must have died without regrets for having such a conscientious master as you in his life."

The envoy lying on the cart: "..."

Very well, he is now not only a dead man, but also a dead servant.

They walked around in circles and eventually arrived at the back door of the coffin shop.

The shop owner helped Yan Ciwan lift the cart so that the wheels could pass over the threshold and smoothly enter the backyard.

The shopkeeper saw the envoy lying on the cart. He was pale, his lips were blue, his right arm was missing, and his body was wrapped in blood-stained strips of cloth. He looked like he had died a very tragic death.

The shop owner wanted to ask how the person died, but he was afraid that asking too many questions would be offensive, so he could only suppress his curiosity and lead Yan Ciwan to the store in front.

There were three coffins on display in the shop, two of which were already made.

The shopkeeper pointed to the coffin on the far left against the wall and said, "It's made of boxwood. You can take a closer look; it's quite thick and has excellent sealing properties. It'll last for many years. Originally, it was made to order, but the family changed their minds and didn't want the coffin anymore, so it's been sitting here unused. I see that its size is similar to your servant's, so it's fate. If you really want it, you can take it for one hundred coins."

Yan Ciwan circled the coffin once and said readily, "This is it."

The shop owner was overjoyed at the quick sale, but knowing the other party was holding a funeral, he couldn't show his delight. He could only ask, "Do you want to prepare the body for burial now, or should I deliver the coffin to your residence tomorrow?"

"Let's prepare the body for burial now."

"Okay, I'll carry the coffin to the backyard right away. You can wait in the backyard for a while."

Yan Ciwan turned and walked out of the shop, returning to the thatched shed in the backyard.

As soon as the envoy saw her return and that there was no one else behind her, he immediately sat up and asked in a low voice, "Why did you lie and say I was dead? And why did you fabricate such a false identity for me?"

Yan Ciwan explained calmly, "If I'm walking outside with a man in the middle of the night, I need to come up with a good reason, otherwise people will definitely get suspicious."

"Then you don't need to say I'm dead!"

Yan Ciwan shrugged: "Anyway, I've already said it, and it's too late to change my mind now."

The envoy was furious. He felt that this woman was doing it on purpose! She clearly had other better excuses, but she deliberately made up such a terrible false identity for him. She was just trying to make him suffer.

He suppressed his anger and asked, "Don't forget, you didn't come here to buy a coffin; you came to ask him for directions to Chonghua Lane."

Yan Ciwan made a shushing gesture and said, "Someone's coming!"