Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 139 The Two Women Meet
Inside the castle of Red Tide Territory, Louis was squatting among a group of children, his eyes crinkling with a smile as he patiently pointed them out.

Rehearsals for the Spring Festival are entering the final sprint stage.

And this play was written by him personally: "The Great Lord Louis Schemes to Crush the Evil Savages' Plot".

"Come on! Karl, make the next move even more powerful. You are the protagonist of this story, the guardian of Red Tide Territory!"

"Yes!" The little boy stood tall and proud, trying his best to look imposing.

Her cheeks were red from the cold, but her earnestness was just too adorable.

The children who were assigned to play the "evil Snowsworn" lowered their heads and complained softly, "Waaah... I'm not bad."

Louis smiled and patted their heads: "The villains are very important. Without you guys, how could the heroes be so powerful?"

Nearby, a row of ordinary-looking children were practicing "flowers, grasses, and trees".

Playing the role of a backdrop swaying around the granary, they happily shook their homemade large leaves.

"Remember, when the explosion happens, everyone has to fall backward together, pretending to be blown away, understand?" Louis gestured.

A child excitedly raised his hand: "Lord Louis, can we shout 'Ah—'?"

"Of course! The louder the better!"

Sif, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle: "You really put your heart into it."

The script is simple and straightforward: the Snowsworn sneak into the granary at night, but Louis, with his brilliant wisdom and resourcefulness, uses a fake granary to detonate the Fire Demon bomb, annihilating the enemy in one fell swoop, and the people cheer "Long live Louis"...

This is clearly a simplified version of the "Qingyu Ridge Ambush," a version specifically modified for residents with little education.

But I must say, the children were incredibly dedicated to their performances.

Especially the handsome young man playing Louis, dressed in a "lord's cloak," standing on a high platform with his hands on his hips, loudly swearing: "I, Louis, will never allow anyone to disrupt the peace of the Red Tide Territory!"

It was impressive and looked quite professional.

Just as the children were rehearsing enthusiastically on stage, with laughter and shouts rising and falling.

A guard hurried over, bowed, and reported: "Sir, a wandering merchant has come from out of town and wants to see you to discuss business."

Louis raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding the situation.

A wandering merchant?

Who else could it be? It's probably his "fiancée," Miss Emily, who's come to secretly spy on him.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, with a hint of mockery.

Of course, I was also a little curious, since I hadn't seen what my fiancée looked like yet.
But as a dignified lord, it wouldn't be right for him to rashly go and meet a wandering merchant.

Moreover, this great play has only just reached its most exciting part; how can we leave halfway through?
Louis straightened his cloak, stood up, and looked at Sif, who was handing out red ribbons to the young actors.

"Sif, could you please make this trip?" he said meaningfully.

"This wandering merchant... may not be so simple. Whether or not to do business is up to you, but you might as well invite them to stay and participate in tomorrow's Spring Festival celebration."

Sif looked up at him, and although she didn't quite understand what Louis meant, she nodded anyway: "Okay."

She put away the red cloth embroidered with a sun pattern, flicked her cloak, and turned to follow the guard.

Louis, standing still, watched her retreating figure, sighed softly, but a slight smile still lingered on his lips.

Did his fiancée meet with her lover ahead of schedule?

It's not that I have a bad sense of humor.

He looked down and patted the children's heads: "Come on, let's keep rehearsing, we're about to blow the whole place away!"

…………

Sif followed the guards to the group of "wandering merchants," her gaze lingering on the leader.

The other person was wearing a gray-blue cloak, with the hood half-covering their face, revealing only half of their silhouette: pale skin, cheeks with fine scars, and a pair of cold eyes.

"It's a woman?" Sif raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her voice.

But that's all. These days, all sorts of people can be found in wandering merchants' shops, so she wasn't too surprised.

I just had a vague feeling that this woman's demeanor was too clean and efficient, unlike that of an ordinary merchant leader.

On the other side, Emily also secretly sized up the silver-haired woman in front of her.

That beautiful short hair, those deep blue eyes, and that aura that clearly belonged to a northern tribe…

Emily quickly grasped a subtle feeling, one that seemed all too natural.

Emily had a gut feeling: this woman's relationship with Louis... was not simple.

However, she didn't show any emotion.

This world is based on polygamy, so it would be abnormal for a nineteen-year-old nobleman not to have several close female companions.

Just a little bit of curiosity: how could someone be from the North?

And... I have to admit, this face is indeed quite good-looking.

Then Emily smiled slightly: "Are you an official here?"

“My name is Sif, and I am Lord Louis’s secretary.” Sif nodded.

"Secretary?" Emily raised an eyebrow and gave her a half-smile. "I'm Emily."

“Hello, Lady Amy.” Sif nodded politely. “My lord is currently very busy and unable to receive guests. However, I can make the arrangements on his behalf.”

“It’s understandable that your lord is very busy,” Emily said calmly, though a hint of disappointment lingered at the corners of her mouth.

She had hoped to at least catch a glimpse of Louis, after all, he was her fiancé, but she was unable to do so.

But he had already anticipated this; given Louis's current status, it was impossible for him to casually meet with a strange wandering merchant.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation quickly returned to the main topic.

Sif walked to the truck and glanced briefly at the goods on display.

Several bolts of silk of decent color, fragrant spice packets, some dried medicinal herbs, and several bags of dried fruit and oil from the south were all common items.

She casually ran her fingertips along the edge of a piece of silk and said lightly, "These... look like nice things, but they're not exactly in urgent need for our Red Tide Territory right now."

Emily smiled slightly, not showing any surprise. "Indeed, this trip was just a stopover in the North, and the goods we brought were just routine supplies, nothing rare."

Sif glanced up at her, a polite smile playing on her lips: "We'll hold off on the shopping for now."

At this point, the atmosphere wasn't exactly awkward, since everyone knew that this "business" wasn't the main point.

Sif suddenly remembered Louis's previous instructions and added, "However, tomorrow is the Lunar New Year in our Red Tide Territory. If you and your caravan are interested, you can stay and take a look."

Emily was still secretly figuring out how to shamelessly ask to stay, but unexpectedly, the words came to her doorstep.

Her eyes lit up, and she quickly replied, "Really? Thank you so much for your kind invitation, we will definitely stay."

She was polite on the surface, but inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. Excellent, not only could she stay, but she could also witness the festivals of the Red Tide Territory firsthand…

Maybe I can find another chance to catch a glimpse of my fiancé in person.

Seeing that the matter had been settled, Sif gestured: "Please come with me, I'll take you to a place to rest."

Walking along the street and through several alleys, one soon comes into view a row of semi-subterranean huts.

The house was half-buried underground, with only a low lintel and thick earthen walls visible.

Sif pushed open the door of one of the rooms: "You can stay here for now. Just let me know if you need anything."

The group went inside, and Emily looked around.

Although the house was simple and had little furniture, the corners were kept clean, and the wooden bed was covered with thick animal hides. The room was much warmer than the outside, making one feel at ease as soon as they entered.

In the corner sat a rough earthenware kettle and a few cups—simple yet thoughtful.

Emily looked around, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "This kind of house... I've never seen one like it before. It seems very suitable for the environment of the North. It must be especially warm to live in during the winter."

Her hand gently touched the wall, and she could feel the faint warmth coming through the thick layer of soil. She nodded to herself.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Emily nodded politely to Sif.

"You're welcome." Sif smiled slightly, then turned and left.

Once the door was closed, the room immediately became quiet.

Emily walked to the bedside and sat down, her fingers casually fiddling with the cup on the table as she reflected on her fulfilling day.

Although she didn't get to see her fiancé today, the Red Tide Territory had already given her too many surprises.

But thinking about tomorrow's celebration, she felt a surge of anticipation.

"I hope this 'Crimson Tide Lord' won't disappoint me..." she murmured to herself, her tone filled with barely concealed curiosity and anticipation.

…………

Emily opened her eyes before the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the thick clouds.

Faint voices could be heard outside, and a warm feeling wafted on the wind.

The aroma of bread and porridge filled the slightly chilly air, like a harbinger of the upcoming Spring Festival, making one feel a sense of anticipation.

She put on her cloak and opened the door just as sunlight streamed onto the freshly swept street.

People in the streets and alleys gradually came out of their homes.

Everyone wore their cleanest and most presentable clothes.

Although most of them were still coarse cotton clothes, they were washed clean and ironed neatly, and Emily couldn't help but slow down her pace because of that meticulousness.

"Is it because there's a holiday today?" she murmured to herself, looking at the bustling crowd in the square, and couldn't help but follow their footsteps.

Then she, accompanied by several guards and Nora, arrived at the square and found that a queue had already formed.

The line was divided into several columns. Although there were many people, the order was surprisingly good, which was completely different from the refugee scene in the North that she had in mind.

Emily thought she would have to wait a long time, but to her surprise, it was her turn in less than ten minutes.

She was stunned when she took the wooden bowl and bread from the soldier.

The bread was baked to a golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside; it was clearly made with high-quality rye flour.

The porridge in the bowl made her almost doubt whether she was dreaming.

Not only are the rice grains distinct, but there are also chopped vegetables, minced meat, and even a hint of scallion aroma.

The porridge has a rich, warm color and a light sheen of oil.

Upon smelling it, her stomach started growling.

"This isn't food that ordinary people can afford, is it?" She stared blankly at the food in her hand, a doubt creeping into her mind.

Winter has just ended, and the territory's granaries should have been empty by now. How could they still make porridge of this quality?

She turned her head and asked the middle-aged woman beside her in a low voice, "Excuse me... do you eat this well every day?"

The woman glanced at her, noticing her neat attire and recognizing her as a foreign merchant, and explained with a smile:

"No, it's a celebration today, that's why we have hot porridge and big loaves of bread. Lord Louis said we should all eat something nice and have a good time."

Emily breathed a slight sigh of relief; it really was just a special day.

She said that at this time of year, many places are still struggling to make ends meet, so being able to eat a bowl of porridge like this every day is too much of a luxury.

“However,” the woman continued, slowly sipping her porridge, “we can go to the grain station once a week to collect grain, which we can then take home and cook ourselves. We get quite a lot, enough to eat our fill three times a week.”

Emily paused in her movements.

She looked up, staring blankly at the other person, almost thinking she had misheard.

Looking at the woman's undisguised expression of satisfaction, he was momentarily speechless.

Is this... really not a lie?

In late winter and early spring, the residents of Frostspear City are considered wealthy if they can have two meals a day, or even just half a meal.

But these people in front of me... have rosy complexions, relaxed expressions, and even have the energy to chat and laugh.

This place... is as rich as a dream.

"Three...three meals a day?" she repeated softly, her tone even a little hesitant.

"Yes, indeed." The woman smiled. "They have enough to eat and are warm enough, and the children no longer cry about being hungry."

The woman slowly put the last spoonful of porridge in her bowl into her mouth, her voice filled with sincere gratitude: "Thanks to Lord Louis... if it weren't for him, we wouldn't be where we are today..."

The woman spoke and laughed, a smile that mingled the bitterness of the past with the hope of the future, which left Emily somewhat stunned.

Emily had initially only been secretly observing, with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, to see what kind of person her fiancé, whom she had never actually met, really was.

After all, in her ears, he was just a young nobleman with a distinguished military record and an overly sharp edge...

She wasn't sure if he was just all show or if he actually had some real skills.

But she never expected that what awaited her was not a cold list of military achievements, nor empty praise, but a town like this.

She looked down at the hot porridge, and the warmth from her palms gave her a strange sense of peace.

"Make sure you eat your fill," the woman reminded him with a smile, "there's a competition later."

"What competition?" Emily looked up and asked curiously.

"Hmm." The other person scratched the back of their head, seemingly unsure how to describe it. "It's like... a rope, and people pulling each other... well, it's like... whoever can pull whom."

Emily was completely confused and tried to piece together the scene in her mind, but she couldn't figure out what kind of "competition" it was.

(End of this chapter)