"No matter what, I will remember this favor from you, Huaidao," Luo Yi said earnestly.
Given the size of Youzhou, it seemed impossible for them to raise an army and declare independence. Even with the Tang Dynasty facing numerous enemies, Luo Yi was well aware of this. Even if they could live a carefree life for the time being, they couldn't avoid eventual destruction. The best outcome, of course, was to ensure the safety of their family and live out their old age in peace.
“I have already written to your father, and I expect he will send someone to pick you up soon.”
"I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"We're family, no need for formalities. You should take better care of Tong'er from now on. He's like his father, a bit slow-witted," Luo Yi said, waving his hand.
"My cousin is mature beyond his years, so you can rest assured."
"Let's go! Let's go eat." Luo Yi felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, and her mood brightened considerably, with a smile spreading across her face.
Qin Mu readily agreed and followed them out of the courtyard.
"The second son is not young anymore. I plan to let him retire and return to his hometown. I ask His Majesty to send someone else to govern Pingzhou," Luo Yi suddenly said on the way.
"My younger brother, Luo Shou, is the prefect of Pingzhou," Luo Yi explained, seeing Qin Mu's confused look.
Luo Yi's decision to relinquish power was undoubtedly a wise one. Qin Mu said admiringly, "You're truly insightful!"
"Haha! In my life, what haven't I experienced? I still have that much courage. Your uncle is a master at fighting, but as for being a person and an official, tsk tsk!" Luo Yi said with a hearty laugh, but then sighed with some disappointment.
It was inappropriate to comment on Qin Mu's situation; the only option was to remain silent and maintain a smile.
“You’re a very bright kid! When you get to Chang’an, you’d better take good care of your uncle,” Luo Yi said with a smile.
"I wouldn't dare, I'm counting on my uncle to take care of me!" Knowing that Luo Yi was joking, Qin Mu didn't take it seriously.
“Chang’an is a deep place! But it’s alright for you younger generation. It’s just that you, child, have actually chosen the path of Confucianism, which is a bit unexpected.” Luo Yi stroked his beard and said thoughtfully.
Qin Mu wanted to ask, but Luo Yi smiled and said, "I haven't been to Chang'an for many years. How would I know if you ask me?"
That's true, so Qin Mu had to suppress his curiosity again, but he still felt a longing for Chang'an.
The meal was plentiful, featuring donkey meat, venison, and mutton, a rustic yet refined style; roasted, stewed, boiled, and cold-dressed, with a variety of dishes. There were also several kinds of pastries, completely different from the barren and resource-scarce ancient times I had imagined.
Of course! This is the life of the rich and powerful. This is the best and most satisfying meal Qin Mu has had in over a month. Just for this reason, he has to work harder.
Although the food was good, it wasn't enough to make Qin Mu lose his composure. After all, the difference between this world and the other world was still huge. This made Luo Yi nod in approval, marveling at Qin Mu's extraordinary nature, considering that he came from just a small mountain village.
As for why Luo Yi believed Qin Mu based on a single letter, it's because very few people knew about the relationship between the Qin and Luo families. Even fewer knew the details, and the explanation in the letter was reasonable and consistent with the timeline. Most importantly, even if someone wanted to scheme, they wouldn't send a young man like Qin Mu, especially one who was Qin Qiong's son.
Although Luo Yi claimed to be unfamiliar with Chang'an, that was merely a polite remark. How could someone who supported Li Jiancheng not pay attention to Chang'an? Especially after Li Shimin ascended the throne, Luo Yi sent even more people to Chang'an.
The family dinner ended quickly because Qin Mu didn't drink. Afterwards, Luo Cheng took Qin Mu and Luo Tong to stroll around Youzhou City.
The three of them walked, as if to digest their meal, followed by two armed guards.
Qin Mu was still very curious about life in ancient times, and this was his first opportunity to stroll around. However, he was disappointed. The street vendors he had imagined were nowhere to be found. There were quite a few shops, but very few people went inside. Even the streets were nearly deserted, with only a few people occasionally passing by.
"Why is it so desolate?" Qin Mu couldn't help but ask.
"Today is the eighth day of the month, and there will be more people tomorrow. In Youzhou City, there is a big market on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th of the month," Luo Cheng explained.
Qin Mu then realized that cities, like towns, also had market days. Thinking about it, it made sense; with current transportation, how could ordinary people possibly go to the city every day?
"Jibei Tower! This restaurant seems to be doing quite well."
After following Luo Cheng for half an hour, they arrived in front of a restaurant. This restaurant was doing very well, with small groups of people constantly entering.
"It used to be very quiet."
"Is there something on your mind today?"
"It is said that a long time ago, there was a high platform in front of us," Luo Cheng said, glancing at him.
"Golden Terrace?" Qin Mu asked in astonishment. He hadn't expected that the legendary Golden Terrace, where one could buy a horse's bones for a thousand pieces of gold, was right here.
"You don't know?" Luo Cheng asked, his lips twitching. He really wanted to ask, "If you don't know, how did you write the poem?"
Awkward! Utterly awkward! Qin Mu innocently explained, "I've only heard about it. It was just a spontaneous thought."
Only then did he realize that these people had come here because of the trouble he had caused.
"Young Prince!"
"General Luo!"
As soon as the three entered the restaurant, everyone inside stood up and bowed.
Luo Yi nodded in acknowledgment. No one seemed to mind that Luo Yi didn't speak, as everyone clearly knew that was just his character.
"I've just eaten, so I won't have any wine or dishes. Just bring me a pot of good tea and some pastries." Luo Cheng ordered the waiter who came over, after choosing a seat by the window.
"They're mostly sons of officials, and a few are from merchant families," Luo Cheng casually introduced the people on the first and second floors of the restaurant.
There are no private rooms available, so their location is pretty good. They can see the street outside the window, and they can also see half of the first floor.
"No one before me, no one after me. On their own, these two lines of poetry are incredibly powerful," a young man exclaimed, shaking his head.
"Gazing upon the vastness of heaven and earth, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and tears stream down my face. These last two lines evoke a completely different state of mind, stirring deep emotions within the reader. I truly admire the author's talent," another person added.
"Does anyone know if any great Confucian scholars have recently come to Youzhou?" A man stood up from a nearby table, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked.
Seeing everyone shaking their heads or looking at others blankly, the young man sat down with some disappointment.
Everyone was discussing their own poems, which Qin Mu found somewhat amusing. Although these were poems plagiarized from another world, he didn't feel guilty, as this was a matter for scholars.
Thinking about the vast collection of Tang and Song dynasty poems in his mind, he felt that there would definitely be many similar experiences in the future. Previously, due to hyperthymesia, Qin Mu rarely went out and was unwilling to interact with others. This feeling now made him feel particularly good. He even had a little bit of anticipation.
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