Chapter 19: Sister Yao, why are you back?

After returning to the Confucius Hall, Mu Tong directly stopped the four people.

A smile spread across her face as she spoke loudly, "Not only did we have a top-ranking and a runner-up among the five of us, but the rest of us are also on the list. This is a great event that everyone should celebrate! I'm hosting you today, and no one can refuse. We have to celebrate properly."

"Junior sister, you are not allowed to refuse."

At the end, she emphasized something to Si Yao.

Just as Si Yao was about to speak, the clerk of the Confucius Institute suddenly came to him with a letter.

He said to Si Yao, "Student Si, this is a letter from Qinghe County."

Hearing this, Si Yao immediately reached out to take it.

He said to Mu Tong and the others, "You go to the restaurant first, I'll be there soon."

"OK--"

Seeing that she agreed, Mu Tong smiled brightly and said, "Then we'll wait for you at the Yunting Restaurant not far away."

After saying that, she and Zhou Rusheng and the other two left first.

Si Yao withdrew his gaze and went straight to the room on the second floor.

As soon as he entered the house, he couldn't wait to open the envelope.

Fang Zhiyue's immature handwriting is vividly displayed on the paper.

Si Yao didn't think it was ugly, but rather she felt that it was cute in its awkwardness. She couldn't help but curl up the corners of her lips into a faint smile.

Read down word by word.

The letter mentioned that he was doing well at home. In addition to carving walnuts every day, he also did not forget to practice the calligraphy copybook she left behind.

Si Yao looked at the little household things he mentioned in the letter and instead of feeling bored, she found them extremely interesting.

His eyes unconsciously became warm.

It was not until she read the last line that the smile on her face suddenly disappeared.

[I already know your feelings. That guy is a good one. He comes to visit me often. You don't have to worry.]

Si Yaomo couldn't help but frown.

What boy?

What does he mean by this?

She clutched the letter tightly and walked out quickly.

He went to Hu's shop again and wrote a handwritten letter to send to the post station, asking them to deliver it to Qinghe County as quickly as possible.

By the time Si Yao rushed to Yunting Restaurant, it was almost noon.

Mu Tong and his companions had already started drinking and were a little tipsy at this time.

"Junior sister, if you don't come over, we'll be done."

Mu Tong held the wine jug in one hand, burping, his cheeks flushed red.

The only one who was sober among the four was Kong Mengruan, who was sitting on the far right.

"Junior Sister Yuzhuo, what happened at home?"

She saw that Si Yao's expression seemed to be wrong and asked in a low voice.

Si Yao didn't answer, but asked, "Do all the students who made the list have to attend the Luming Feast in three days?"

“There is no such rule…”

Kong Mengruan said truthfully, "It's just that the prefect and officials from the state will be there that day. It's a good opportunity to meet the dignitaries, so most people won't miss it."

"And the most important point is that all the famous scholars from Yunyin Academy will be present. If we can take this opportunity to become a disciple of one of them, it will be of great benefit to us."

Yunyin Academy is the most famous academy in Yunzhou.

Although the top ten students can all enter the school.

But whether you can follow a good teacher depends entirely on your luck.

Any ambitious student would not miss this opportunity.

"Junior Sister Yuzhuo, as the top scholar this time, will definitely be sought after by the great scholars at the Luming Banquet. Junior Sister, don't worry."

She thought Si Yao was nervous about the Lu Ming Banquet three days later.

After saying this, he comforted her with a smile on his face.

Si Yao lowered his eyes slightly and said nothing.

By the time they left Yunting Restaurant, night had already fallen quietly.

Except for Si Yao who was sober, the other four were all drunk.

She asked the waiter at the restaurant to help take the four people to the Confucius Hall.

The next day at noon, Mu Tong woke up slowly, rubbing his forehead due to a hangover. He looked around the room but could not find Si Yao.

She went downstairs to ask the staff of the Confucius Institute, but learned that Si Yao had left the Confucius Institute before dawn and returned to Qinghe County.

"What?"

Mu Tong was shocked.

She widened her eyes slightly, "What about the Luming Feast in two days?"

Is Junior Sister crazy? Why is she leaving at this time?

*

Xingyu Village

Si Yao has been away for more than half a month.

Fang Zhiyue had already heard from the head of the village that Si Yao had become a juren, and even the first rank - Jieyuan.

The news spread throughout Qinghe County.

Their Xingyu Village also became famous overnight, and people from the surrounding villages knew that their village had produced a female emperor who won the highest prize in the imperial examination.

The door of the Si family was almost broken down these days, all of them came to congratulate.

Even matchmakers came to the door, vying to arrange a marriage for the Empress Jieyuan.

Fang Zhiyue felt his scalp tingling from trying to deal with it.

After much difficulty, he found an opportunity to sneak out and go to the town, where he handed the carved walnut carving to Boss Hu.

When Boss Hu saw him coming, he immediately greeted him with a smile: "Oh, my dear - you are finally here. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and I am looking forward to seeing the walnut carvings in your hands."

She led Fang Zhiyue directly to the private room on the second floor.

After entering the house, Fang Zhiyue pushed the bag in his hand to her with a somewhat apologetic look, "Please forgive me, Boss Hu. I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't had the chance to come to town. I've already carved these walnut carvings. Open them and take a look. There are three sets in total."

Boss Hu immediately opened the bundle and took a look.

When he saw the walnut carving inside the wooden box, his eyes lit up instantly: "Good, good, good."

She said three good words in a row.

Then he looked at Fang Zhiyue and said, "Your craftsmanship is truly superb. This small walnut carving can be made so exquisitely. Once it is sent to the shop in Yunzhou, it will surely sell well."

She closed the box carefully.

"Yunzhou shop?"

Fang Zhiyue was attracted by her words.

"Yes, I was just planning to find an opportunity to talk to my husband about this."

Boss Hu's face was full of smiles. "We have just opened a shop in Yunzhou, specializing in selling walnut carvings made by you. You can carve more on a daily basis, in any style, the more the better."

After hearing this, Fang Zhiyue felt as if a huge rock was suddenly pressing down on his heart.

Suddenly, I felt the pressure double. "If this...can't be sold, won't the boss lose the business?"

"My dear, don't be nervous—"

Boss Hu noticed his mood and smiled again with narrowed eyes. "The headmaster of our Hu Ji will be living in Yunzhou in the future. The shop will also sell some of the headmaster's calligraphy and paintings. We won't lose money. Actually, it was the headmaster who suggested opening a shop in Yunzhou, and it was she who decided to bring the walnut carvings in my husband's hand to the shop in Yunzhou to sell."

“It’s just like that…”

Fang Zhiyue felt relieved but also a little surprised.

I didn't expect that this matter was facilitated by the boss whom I had never met before.

He murmured softly: "The boss is such a good person..."

Boss Hu smiled quietly without saying a word, keeping his achievements and fame to himself.

The two talked for a few more words before Fang Zhiyue stood up and said goodbye.

Boss Hu escorted him out of the shop.

The waiter behind him came up and winked, "Boss, why are you so kind to this young man?"

"What nonsense!"

Boss Hu immediately turned around and patted her head, his face stern. "This young man is an acquaintance of our boss. If he comes here in the future, be polite to him. Got it?"

"I know, I know."

The waiter rubbed his forehead and nodded quickly.

All the gossip in my mind disappeared.

*

Fang Zhiyue did not stay in the town after leaving Hu's shop.

I went directly to the town entrance to find Aunt Zhang and returned to Xingyu Village.

It was just past noon.

By the time we returned to Xingyu Village, the sky had already darkened.

Fang Zhiyue went back home avoiding the villagers. Seeing that the people who had gathered at the door in the morning had all dispersed, he looked around and quickly slipped back home.

I didn't feel relieved until I closed the gate.

He walked towards the house.

Crunch——

The door opened gently.

"I'm back—"

A sudden female voice suddenly came from inside, startling Fang Zhiyue.

"who?"

His heart skipped a beat, and when he saw the figure in the room clearly, his eyes suddenly widened.

"Yao...Sister Yao?"

Fang Zhiyue looked at Si Yao who was sitting in the house in disbelief.

His eyes were wide open with shock.

"You, why did you come back suddenly?"

"Little Father, don't you want me to come back?"

Si Yao sat in his chair without moving. His voice was flat and unreadable.

The elegant face was hidden in the shadows and her expression could not be discerned.

"Of course not."

Fang Zhiyue quickly explained, "I was just too surprised. After all, I didn't receive a letter. It was a complete surprise."

He always felt that the atmosphere in the room was a little strange.

He pinched the corner of his clothes with his fingers and took the initiative to find words: "By the way, did you drive away those people outside the door?"

"Why, does my father want to invite those matchmakers in for a meal?"

Si Yao's tone remained calm.

She suddenly chuckled, "My little father, are you so anxious to find a husband for me? If I hadn't come back, would I have heard in Yunzhou that you had arranged a marriage for me?"

"No--"

Fang Zhiyue finally heard that she was angry.

He waved his hands, sweat pouring down his forehead. "How could I arrange a marriage for you without your consent, Sister Yao, you misunderstood me. Those matchmakers came to me on their own initiative after knowing you had become Empress Li Yuan. I was too busy avoiding them, how could I possibly meet them?"

"Sister Yao, please believe me. I really didn't."

Fang Zhiyue was so anxious that he almost cried.

Si Yao, who had been sitting on the stool, finally moved.

She slowly stood up and walked slowly in front of him. That elegant face finally appeared clearly in Fang Zhiyue's sight.

"It turns out that I misunderstood my father. It's my fault."

Si Yao took him to sit on a stool and said, "When I came back, I saw those people blocking the door. I thought that my father had invited them here."

"How could it be me..."

Fang Zhiyue sobbed softly, "How could I, how could I interfere in your marriage without your consent?"

“I was wrong…”

Si Yao slowly squatted down in front of him, gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with her fingertips, and said softly: "Little father, don't cry, it will hurt me."

Fang Zhiyue was still with his head down, wiping his tears with his hands.

He didn't notice that her words were too intimate.

He finally managed to get rid of the grievance in his heart, and saw Si Yao still squatting in front of him, his cheeks a little red.

"Sister Yao, why are you still squatting? Hurry up and stand up before your legs get numb."

He reached out to pull her—

Si Yao staggered and suddenly threw himself on him, hugging him tightly.

Before Fang Zhiyue could react, he had already let go of him and apologized: "My legs are a little numb, please don't blame me, little father."

The words in Fang Zhiyue's mouth were stuck in his throat.

His cheeks only turned redder as he helped her sit on the stool.