Tang Huan was startled by Qin Yu's sudden appearance.

Tang Huan found the other person's serious demeanor particularly odd.

It seemed especially strange that she said those words while standing at the toilet door.

"Can I use the restroom first?"

"No!" Qin Yu blocked the doorway. "You have to promise to take me with you!"

Tang Huan looked at Qin Yu, "Who told you I was going to the capital?"

...

"Not going to the capital?"

Li Lianying couldn't help but spit out his tea.

Xue'e smiled and handed over a handkerchief, which Li Lianying awkwardly wiped his face with.

He asked Xue'e for confirmation, "How do you know that Lord Tang doesn't plan to go to the capital?"

When Li Lianying heard the maid say such things, he thought she had gone mad.

Or maybe he's just gone mad.

Even though Qihuai County has developed very well, it is still not as good as the capital.

More importantly, to be personally summoned by His Majesty is a blessing earned over many lifetimes; countless people would love to have such an opportunity but never get one.

Tang Huan was just a minor county magistrate.

Since he participated in the imperial examinations to obtain official rank, wasn't it all for the purpose of becoming an official?

How can one become an official without going to the capital? Isn't this just handing over the opportunity?

Therefore, Li Lianying thought it was impossible.

Xue'e said earnestly, "I don't think the lord will go to the capital. He has a deep affection for Qihuai County, and the people also have a deep affection for him, so I don't think he will leave here easily."

"But going to the capital was a tremendous opportunity for him; it was a chance that many people dreamed of—to get promoted and make a fortune!" Li Lianying emphasized.

“It is true for others, but not for adults.” Xue’e’s expression was firm, and she didn’t seem to be joking.

This left Li Lianying somewhat confused. Could it really be true?

No.

Perhaps the maid was joking.

Or perhaps she simply didn't know the bustling capital city, nor did she realize the vast difference between a county magistrate and a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

That's an insurmountable barrier.

It is an insurmountable gap.

"Even if the lord wants to go to the capital, the people will not let him leave."

"Why?" Xue'e's words puzzled Li Lianying even more.

Before Xue'e could answer, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the government office.

Hearing the loud noise, Li Lianying stood up and turned his head to look at the door.

He vaguely felt the ground shaking.

Could it be that bandits have attacked?

That's impossible. The city walls of Qihuai County are so high, how could bandits possibly get in?

The next moment, Li Daikui rushed in again in a hurry.

He nodded to Li Lianying first, then looked at Xue'e.

"The people know that Your Excellency has been summoned to the capital, and now they've all come looking for you. Where is Your Excellency? Let him come out and talk to us quickly, or I'm afraid the people won't let this go..."

Before Xue'e could answer, a large group of people had already poured in through the door.

These people included men and women, young and old, and everyone had a sorrowful expression on their face; some even had tears streaming down their faces.

He knelt down immediately upon entering the room.

This scene is deeply moving.

"this……"

Li Lianying was momentarily confused about what was going on.

Xue'e sighed, "To them, the adults are like second parents; they can't bear to see them leave..."

"What are you all doing, shouting so loudly? What kind of behavior is this!"

A shout rang out, and Tang Huan rushed over.

The people's voices grew louder when Tang Huan appeared.

"Sir, you can't leave! Qihuai County can't do without you, and neither can we!"

"Lord Tang, you can't leave."

"Lord Tang, we can't bear to part with you..."

"grown ups……"

The shouts echoed in my ears, accompanied by soft sobs and whimpers—what a shocking scene!

In just a short while, dozens or even hundreds of people had poured into the backyard of the government office, and it was easy to see that there were still countless people outside the gate.

Li Lianying was startled by this scene and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Tang Huan shouted, "Don't be sad, everyone. This is a good thing. Don't you all want me to be promoted? Besides, Eunuch Li came today with an imperial edict. If I disobey, I will be considered disobeying the imperial decree, which is punishable by death..."

Upon hearing this, the people sobbed again and took a step forward while kneeling.

But no one got up.

The meaning couldn't be clearer.

Behind them, Qin Yu watched this scene silently, his expression incredibly complex.

Not long ago, Tang Huan had told her that he would not leave, and revealed that after receiving the imperial decree, he would have Li Daikui leak the news so that the people would come forward.

Now all of this has happened.

Qin Yu shook his head helplessly, "If I could successfully enter the palace with you, perhaps I would have a chance to kill that woman with my own hands. But then, who knows how many more years I would have to wait..."

Opportunities are fleeting.

It wasn't that Qin Yu wasn't confident, but that Tang Huan wouldn't give it to him.

The farce lasted for nearly half an hour before the crowd reluctantly dispersed after Tang Huan's repeated reassurances and promises.

However, it was clear that the people did not leave, but remained waiting outside the government office, seemingly worried that Tang Huan would leave quietly.

“Eunuch Li, as you can see, I can’t leave Qihuai County because of the situation… The people are so kind to me, and if I just leave, I’m afraid many of them will do something rash. I have to think about them.”

Li Lianying's face was full of sorrow; he never expected this situation.

He had initially thought the maid Xue'e was joking, but now he realized that he was the one who was making a joke.

"Lord Tang, the imperial edict is right here. If you don't come back to the capital with me, it will be difficult for me to explain myself... Moreover, this would make it easier for His Majesty to punish me..."

Tang Huan gripped Li Lianying's hand tightly. "It's all my fault for implicating Eunuch Li. On one hand, there's my own safety and future, and on the other hand, there's the people. How can I choose?"

Li Lianying sighed and said, "Very well, this old servant will give you some time to properly appease these people, but you must come back to the capital with me by tomorrow at the latest, and we absolutely cannot delay for too long."

"I will do my best..."

Tang Huan reluctantly saw Li Lianying off from the government office, and then asked Li Daikui to take him to Tianyi Palace.

The reason for doing this was that they were worried Li Lianying would be drowned in the spittle of the people on his way there.

After all, many people believe that Tang Huan would not have left Qihuai County if it weren't for Li Lianying.

Li Lianying was extremely wicked.

Even with Li Daikui escorting him, Li Lianying still endured a lot of disdain and criticism along the way, with many of the words being particularly offensive.

But Li Lianying had no idea how to retaliate, so she could only urge Li Daikui to take her away as soon as possible.

"Are you really not going to the capital?"

Qin Yu looked at Tang Huan, who had sat down again to drink tea, and asked once more.

"You want me to go to the capital?" Tang Huan asked in return.

Qin Yu realized that his attitude was a bit too strong, so he toned it down a bit. "I just wanted to go to the capital to take a look, but I never had the chance."

Tang Huan sighed, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Even if we can get away with it this time, what about next time, and the time after that? Sooner or later, we will inevitably have to go to the palace to see that empress!"