"Yes, ten sets of each. Is there a problem?" Jiang Shuyue looked at the shopkeeper with a puzzled expression.
The shopkeeper had never seen so many wedding gifts ordered at once. He swallowed hard and said, "No, no problem. May I ask when your wedding is? I can make them ahead of time."
If his cloth shop doesn't have enough embroiderers, he can find more outside. But he can't let such a big buyer slip away.
The embroidered quilt cover isn't fully embroidered, so it can be made quickly.
Seeing that the shopkeeper had misunderstood, Jiang Shuyue shook her head, "It's not my big day. It would be even better if it could be made within ten days."
Setting up an inn like a wedding chamber was unprecedented in Wanling Kingdom, and Jiang Shuyue didn't bother to explain.
The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly, "We can finish it in time, please rest assured, young lady. Our shop has the best and most embroiderers in the capital."
Then she turned to look at Nangong Zeyue, "Is there anything else you need, young master? There are ready-made wedding clothes over there, you may choose whatever you like."
Nangong Zeyue: "..."
You really know how to rub salt in the wound. I'd love to wear my wedding dress, but some people just don't get it.
"The bed sheets should be made according to the pattern and size on this drawing, and the embroidery on the pillowcases and duvet cover should match each other."
Seeing that Jiang Shuyue had taken out the blueprints and thus drawn the shopkeeper's attention, Nangong Zeyue felt a great sense of relief.
Jiang Shuyue selected everything she needed at the inn in one go, paid the deposit, and left the address of Juxian Pavilion before leaving.
As the shopkeeper watched the two handsome young men and beautiful young women leave, he muttered to himself with a hint of regret, "I thought they were a newlywed couple in a hurry to get married, but I didn't expect they had booked the restaurant."
After leaving the cloth shop, Nangong Zeyue asked Cangyun to escort Jiang Shuyue back to her residence, and then he went to the restaurant.
When Su Jin returned to the manor, he had already washed up and changed into the new robes that Qiu Ju had helped him prepare.
"Ah Jin, you've worked hard these past few days. Now we just need to wait for the results. Relax and don't think about the outcome."
In Jiang Shuyue's view, scientific expeditions are just like the modern college entrance examination. Before the exam, you are nervous, and after the exam, you are anxious. You can't see the results for a whole day.
Su Jin poured a cup of tea and handed it over, saying, "Sister, you've worked the hardest. The questions this time were alright, not too difficult."
“You’re younger than many of the other test takers. If you don’t get in, you can always wait another three years,” Jiang Shuyue comforted him.
She had experienced the college entrance examination in her previous life and knew that she shouldn't have too high expectations. If she passed, it would be a pleasant surprise; if she didn't do well, she shouldn't be too disappointed.
As evening fell, Nangong Zeyue returned and the group sat together, drinking and chatting happily.
Nangong Zeyue and Jiang Shuyue were talking about Juxian Pavilion and greenhouse vegetables. Su Jin, who didn't understand business, listened quietly while he and Su Nan took turns feeding Sui Sui.
Inside the palace, the Imperial Study was brightly lit. Seeing the Emperor listening intently to Xiang Song's report on the Imperial Examination Hall, Eunuch Ma quietly stepped aside to serve him.
"Your Majesty, all the candidates, along with the examinees, have been thrown into the office of the Prefect of the Capital. Lord Lu said he will definitely punish the invigilators severely as a warning to others."
Xiang Song only reported the key points; the scholar's punishment was very simple, and he didn't go into details.
Xiao Jingzhao nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Lord Lu's approach.
Xiang Song glanced at Eunuch Ma beside him and said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report."
Xiao Jingzhao slightly raised his chin. "There are no outsiders here, so speak your mind."
Eunuch Ma's eyes welled up with tears; the Emperor truly regarded him as a confidant.
"Your Majesty, this servant has come to see what the midnight snack has been prepared." Eunuch Ma bowed and withdrew.
Seeing that Eunuch Ma had left, Xiang Song lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, the people you sent out to investigate the eldest prince of Liang have returned with news."
Xiao Jingzhao's eyes lit up, and he pressed, "Have you found any clues?"
"Yes, it's good news. We found out that someone was chasing a caravan back then, and there was a nanny and an infant in the caravan."
Xiang Song paused for a moment and then said, "The place where that caravan disappeared is within the territory of Yannan."
"Tell me whether the child is dead or alive?" Xiao Jingzhao frowned slightly.
"Some villagers saw the fighting and heard the baby crying. The entire caravan was dead, including the old woman. The baby is nowhere to be found."
"It was finally confirmed that the child had been rescued," Xiang Song added, emphasizing the key point.
Xiao Jingzhao narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, "Investigate. Send another group of people out to investigate. We must find out where that child is."
"I will arrange it immediately."
As soon as Xiang Song left, a bodyguard landed under the eaves in front of the window.
Xiao Jingzhao called out, "Come in and talk."
A bodyguard dressed in black leaped in through the window.
The guard knelt on one knee to pay his respects, then rose and whispered something to Xiao Jingzhao.
After listening, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingzhao's eyes, and he waved his hand, "You must obtain the evidence."
The guard stepped back, cupped his hands, and said, "This matter is of great importance. I have already sent men to pursue it."
Not long after the guards left, Eunuch Ma and the palace maids who were delivering midnight snacks entered.
Tonight's late-night snack is a plate of pastries and a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup.
Dr. Lin came today to check his pulse and said that he had excessive liver fire and should not take any more tonics.
With one unpleasant thing after another happening these past few days, how could Xiao Jingzhao not be furious?
After finishing his late-night snack, Xiao Jingzhao walked out of the imperial study and stood under the corridor, looking up at the sky, lost in thought.
The vast sky was as black as ink, as if it had been heavily coated with ink. The night wind blew, and the leaves rustled on the branches.
Suddenly, a figure flashed across the corridor. Xiao Jingzhao turned his head and saw it was Xiang Yang. He quickly asked, "How is it? Has she accepted Hu Qing?"
"Master, it's all settled. Hu Qing said the young lady has kept him on for a three-month trial period."
Xiao Jingzhao raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean?"
Xiang Yang quickly explained, "That means Hu Qing can't do anything wrong within three months, otherwise the girl won't keep him."
"There's such a method of personnel management?" Xiao Jingzhao stared at Xiang Yang in disbelief.
Xiangyang felt a chill run down his spine and shrank his neck, saying, "Don't worry, Master. You know Hu Qing's abilities. He will definitely gain the young lady's trust."
The next morning, a light rain began to fall, but Nangong Zeyue went to the restaurant to supervise the work despite the rain.
Cangyun took the seeds and went to the manor outside the city. Two large greenhouses had already been built on the manor, and Cangyun was eager to deliver the seeds to them for trial planting.
An hour later, the rain grew heavier, and the raindrops dripped down the eaves like pearls from a broken string.
Jiang Shuyue sat by the window, with pen, ink, paper and inkstone in front of her, her mind filled with the layout and planning of the restaurant.
The sound of the beaded curtain rustling rang out as Qiuju entered. "Miss, the scholars of the capital are all applauding and cheering."
Jiang Shuyue turned around and asked, "What major event has happened this time?"
"Miss, you don't know yet, but one of the examiners in the examination hall helped others cheat and was imprisoned in the Jingzhao Yin's jail. The Emperor was furious and appointed a Left Chancellor and a Right Chancellor at the morning court this day."
"There are also rumors that the emperor will hold a palace examination and personally select the top scholar after the results are announced, instead of waiting until next spring."
Then Qiuju vividly recounted the news she had heard that day.
Jiang Shuyue genuinely admired Xiao Jingzhao's abilities. She nodded and said, "Now is the time when people are in need. The Emperor is not bound by conventions. This year's candidates are fortunate."
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