Who would put a green hat on themselves? - Chapter 15

**Yun San = Third Yun**

At the end of Vermilion Bird Street, a left turn leads to the bustling area visible from the river—a lively district of shops and markets known as the East Market.

The East Market is divided into Upper East Market and Lower East Market.

Entering the East Market from Vermilion Bird Street, one would first encounter the Upper East Market, which is structured in a grid pattern with five main streets and ten smaller alleys.

The shops in the Upper East Market cover all aspects of life—food, clothing, housing, and travel—catering to nobles, wealthy patrons, and high-class establishments such as restaurants.

The streets here are noticeably less crowded, with a few well-dressed individuals surrounded by servants. Occasionally, tourists visit the Upper East Market to experience something new. Although they may not afford expensive jewelry, they might splurge on a cosmetic for their wives or buy a pastry from a dessert shop.

The price of a pastry in the Upper East Market might be enough to support an entire family for a day, but it is not an unmanageable expense.

If they don’t make a purchase, shopkeepers might dismiss them rudely, driving them away with splashes of water. Nonetheless, this does not deter tourists, who laugh and dodge, moving on to the next shop.

“Go away! If you’re not buying, don’t just stand there!” A shop assistant, hands on hips, bared his teeth at a visitor dressed in plain gray cloth.

This harsh treatment is one reason why people in the capital are sometimes considered impersonal, though it is not entirely unfounded.

“Miss Yun San and Master Gu Liu! You’re welcome to come in. We just got a new batch of rouge!” Moments earlier, this shop assistant had been chasing people away, but upon seeing Yun Yue and Gu Cheng pass by, his demeanor and tone changed dramatically, more variable than the weather on a spring afternoon.

Not only did his expression change, but so did his voice.

Yun Yue ignored him and continued, with her horse trotting away. The shop assistant hurried back inside and said to the shopkeeper, “Shopkeeper Zhang, do you know who I just saw?”

“Was it not Miss Yun San and Master Gu Liu?” Shopkeepers in the Upper East Market are accustomed to dealing with high society, and such news spreads quickly among them.

“How did you know, Shopkeeper Zhang?”

“Your voice was so loud, even Mr. Gu across the street must have heard you!” Shopkeeper Zhang rolled his eyes.

“Do you think the Yun and Gu families are preparing for a wedding soon?”

“Don’t meddle in these matters. If you talk too much and someone spreads rumors that tarnish the young lady’s reputation, do you think you have several lives to waste?” The older Shopkeeper Zhang, having seen and heard much, could not help but advise the young assistant.

Some things should not be said too much, or it might cost you your life.

When they reached the end of the Upper East Market, the scene changed dramatically.

The crowds were dense and bustling.

Since horses could not enter, Yun Yue and Gu Cheng proceeded to the horse station at the south end of the Lower East Market and put their horses into the stables.

“Shall we go together?” Yun Yue smiled slyly at Gu Cheng.

Gu Cheng was somewhat hesitant. The Gu family’s upbringing was strict, and he had never deviated from the established norms. His actions and manners were always in accordance with societal expectations.

He did not like this rigid life and felt a desire for change, yet found himself powerless to make it. The young ladies in the Gu household walked in perfectly measured steps, smiled without showing their teeth, and moved like puppets without self-awareness.

Thus, when he saw Yun Yue riding a horse and racing with her brother during the autumn, his heart had stirred with excitement.

He admired and envied her carefree attitude and yearned for such a life.

“Let’s go!” If it meant experiencing things he had never encountered before, he was willing to try, believing that as long as he could stay with her, there would be many new and unseen sights along the way.

Though he wanted to, the well-dressed young master felt uneasy in the crowd, overwhelmed by the myriad of smells—smoke, sweat, and the aroma of people.

With his tall frame slightly turned, he shielded Yun Yue from the discomfort.

Noticing his unease, Yun Yue led him to a tea house.

The tea house was bustling with noise. In hot weather, everyone wanted a pot of cool tea to quench their thirst.

Seeing the crowded place, Gu Cheng felt as though butterflies were fluttering in his stomach.

He was somewhat of a germaphobe. The tables in the tea house were so close that when seated, he might bump into the next person’s shoulder, which made him uneasy.

“Waiter, reserve a private room!” Knowing that a pampered young master like Gu Cheng would struggle with the crowd, Yun Yue specifically chose a tea house with private rooms.

“One pot of snow bubble bean water, two plates of Imperial Concubine Crisp Mountain, and one pot of cool tea.”

This tea house was one of the most expensive in the Lower East Market. The owner had dug a cellar to store ice, selling cold drinks in spring and summer and switching to alcohol and tea in autumn and winter, making it a popular spot.

“Got it! I’ll bring it right away!” The waiter noted the items and left the room.

The private room was not large but had natural light from a skylight. However, Yun Yue requested the waiter to close it due to the heat.

Upon closer inspection, the room, though not luxurious, had a mat on the floor and a clean set of yellow pear wood table and chairs.