During the time when Qingjun and Qian'er had not yet finished their get out of class.

When Zhao Rong was in a daze outside the mansion, he actually thought about whether he should ask Tao Yuanran.

Matters related to the Dali Fengshan ceremony that is about to be faced.

Ask him for help.

As a great cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage who has lived for hundreds of years, this old man who likes to wear a Nanhua scarf must be well-informed.

Maybe you have witnessed the Fengshan ceremony of some great dynasties under the mountains in other continents.

However, this idea was abandoned by Zhao Rong shortly after it came up.

First, it is better to rely on yourself than on others.

As a Confucian scholar who studied etiquette, he felt a little strange asking about "great etiquette" from a Taoist gentleman who opposed etiquette.

Moreover, he was not completely clueless about the Fengshan ceremony.

Since entering the Mochi Academy, Zhao Rong has never slacked off in studying the six arts, including the art of etiquette, except for music, which was difficult to learn due to irresistible force.

He had some ideas of his own for the Fengshan Ceremony that he wanted to try.

Therefore, Zhao Rong knew that the reason why he had the idea of ​​taking a shortcut was because of the hidden desire lurking in his heart:

He was not afraid of failing the etiquette examination, but he wanted to... make a splash and lead Gu Yiwu and other students of Justice Hall to get excellent examination results close to full marks.

Even at the moment, it seems almost impossible to force Meng Zhengjun to give them high scores.

However, it is human nature to have fantasies of "shocking teachers and classmates" before an exam.

Just thinking about this scene makes me feel comfortable.

And if it’s hard for me to even daydream, then what’s the difference between me and a salted fish?

Therefore, Zhao Rong was no exception.

What's more, Gu Yiwu and other brothers from the Justice Hall took the initiative to get involved just to support him and vent their anger.

Doing the best and not letting them down was something Zhao Rong didn't say to them, but kept in mind.

As a result, Zhao Rong felt a desire in his heart and wanted to take a shortcut.

However, this time he was alert quickly and reflected on this thought.

Just like what he said when Gui cursed him when he woke him up at the foot of Youshan Mountain.

Under the water of the monk's heart lake, it is not terrible to have desires. What is terrible is that one is not aware of its existence and is thus subtly influenced by desires.

The lake of the heart cannot be clear anymore and is gradually polluted into a deep blue pond. By then, it is unknown what kind of demons and evil things will be bred.

Therefore, Zhao Rong gave up the idea of ​​taking direct advantage of the situation, did not speak to Tao Yuanran, and did not plan to ask Mr. Yan.

Just like what Master Meng said with a smile.

Fighting with others is endless fun.

What's more, she's a fussy old woman who's in menopause and still unmarried. Fighting with her, well, is double the joy.

Zhao Rong guessed what the old priest Meng meant, but he would definitely not express his understanding in front of the priest.

besides.

There is another important reason for not asking Tao Yuanran for help.

Just like what this Taoist old man who has lived in seclusion for most of his life just said, this time he entered the world, he saw the burden on his shoulders.

After being silent for most of his life, he wanted to have a good talk with the young generation in the cultivation world on the mountain, so that they could hear one more voice and have one more choice.

We cannot allow other schools of thought to take away our right to speak.

Therefore, Tao Yuanran had always openly and secretly invited Zhao Rong to visit him privately for tea and conversation.

Just before leaving, he told Zhao Rong his residence in Taiqing Prefecture.

Although Zhao Rong saw that the students in the mansion had various expressions about him being privately invited by Tao Yuanran, Xiao Qian'er also looked proud of Brother Rong'er.

However, Zhao Rong had sufficient reasons to suspect that in Tao Yuanran's eyes, besides being a friend regardless of age difference, he was probably also a young man who had gone astray, and an image of a beautiful jade of enlightenment who had been poisoned by the wrong Confucian ideas.

My goodness, Zhao Rong was a little afraid that once he went to the appointment, Tao Yuanran would even use the "honey trap" on him.

For example, call over a beautiful Taoist nun who is a Taoist cultivator from the Louguan Taoist sect and have her show him the way so that he won't take the wrong path again.

Let the beautiful Taoist nun show Zhao Rong a smooth path step by step.

While Zhao Rong was hesitating, he actually thought that it was hard to tell who would teach whom.

Therefore, after letting Qingjun accept Tao Yuanran's precious "meeting gift", it would be better not to take advantage of him too much.

It’s all about human relationships and karma, and you have to pay it forward.

So, just when Zhao Rong was daydreaming and thinking about going to the library tomorrow to find some books and deal with someone, a group of students walked out of the Xiaoyao Mansion.

Qingjun and Qian'er were among them, walking towards him.

Zhao Rong went to meet him.

It was already noon.

Concubine Zhao Lingfei said that she was going to Duyou City today as the teacher in the mansion had entrusted her with some tasks.

So Zhao Rong suggested that they go to Duyou City for lunch at noon, which would be a good opportunity for him to accompany Qingjun to deal with things and stroll around the city together. Qingjun and Qian'er readily agreed.

The three of them walked out of the palace through the north gate together.

…

"What, Brother Rong'er, you're leaving Duyou and going to Dali to participate in that strange test?"

Zhao Qian'er, who was originally listening to the conversation between Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei, frowned, grabbed Zhao Rong's sleeve, shook it, and asked.

Zhao Rong turned around and nodded with a smile. "It's okay. I'll be back after the Fengshan ceremony for the Dali royal family. It will be quick and not a big deal."

At this time, he stood between the two women.

Concubine Zhao Ling held Zhao Rong's right hand and listened quietly.

At this time, Zhao Qianer grabbed his left hand with her two little hands.

She spoke quickly, "Brother Rong'er, are all your classmates from the academy going?"

Zhao Rong kept smiling, but said vaguely, "Well... add me, there will be dozens of students."

He had not told them about Meng Xuezhen just now.

Zhao Rong did not tell the two girls that he had originally taken the initiative to go alone...

Concubine Zhao Ling, who had been listening quietly, raised her eyes and glanced at her husband.

The little girl opened her mouth, wanting to say something but stopped herself.

Finally, she lowered her head, frowned, and while she was smoothing out the wrinkles on Zhao Rong's sleeves, she stared at him and muttered to herself:

"Qian'er just came back, and the three of us finally got together. Brother Rong'er, you're usually busy with your studies at the academy, so it's fine that you can't come out to live with us, but why are you leaving now..."

"You said you'd be back very soon... But, but you always coax me like this every time you leave. Besides, just like what Mr. Tao said just now, the world is getting chaotic, and there is no peace on the mountain or on the ground..."

Zhao Qian'er muttered to herself as she stroked and pulled Zhao Rong's left sleeve again and again, but it seemed that she couldn't fix it.

Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei looked at each other.

Concubine Zhao Ling raised her pointed chin twice and gestured in the direction of the depressed little girl.

Zhao Rong saw this and smiled helplessly. He said softly, "This time it's really quick. How about...how about we make a pinky promise?"

Zhao Qian'er pouted, "No, men's words are lies."

Zhao Rong: “…”

He choked for a while and sighed:

"Then what do you think we should do? I have to go to this assessment. This is something the academy has already decided. It is no joke and cannot be changed at will."

Zhao Qian'er tilted her head and stared at Zhao Rong's right hand for a while, then suddenly raised her head, but not at Zhao Rong, but at her young lady.

She looked at Zhao Lingfei eagerly without saying anything.

Concubine Zhao Ling held Zhao Rong's right hand and held it tightly in the autumn wind.

She pursed her lips, closed her long eyes, and looked ahead at the bustling streets of East City.

Concubine Zhao Ling suddenly turned to Zhao Rong and said, "Husband."

Zhao Rong was a little confused, "What's the matter, Qing Jun?"

Concubine Zhao Ling bit her lip and said, "I...I also want to go down the mountain to Dali with my husband...I have been busy in the mansion recently, and the master has been asking me to be less...Forget it."

She paused, then said firmly, "Husband, I'll go too. Qian'er and I will accompany you to Dali."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rong remained quiet for three breaths under the two women's inquiring gazes.

He stretched out his hand, grabbed Zhao Lingfei's waist, held her in his arms, and lightly touched his forehead with hers.

Zhao Rong stared into his wife's autumn eyes and shook his head.

"No need to do that. Going to Dali this time is not a big deal. It's just a ritual art test. Listen to your teacher and don't leave Duyou yet."

Concubine Zhao Ling opened her lips to speak.

Zhao Rong looked at her pink lips and wanted to lean forward to cover them, but it was not convenient on the street at the moment, and Qian'er was still looking at him eagerly beside him.

He interrupted directly, his tone unquestionable: "Be obedient, my lady, be good."

Concubine Zhao Ling slowly closed her lips, pondered for a moment, and before Zhao Qian'er could anxiously try to persuade her, she spoke first.

"My dear husband... I will do as you say. However, I don't have to go, but Qian'er must accompany you."

She shook her head and said, "One of me and Qian'er must be by your side, otherwise I won't feel at ease."

When Zhao Qian'er heard this, her anxiety turned into joy.

The little girl raised her head, grabbed Zhao Rong's right hand, and stared at his profile without blinking.

Zhao Rong looked slightly hesitant, "Qian'er? She just entered Xiaoyao Mansion. Will it delay her cultivation progress if she goes to Dali with me?"

Zhao Qian'er spoke before Zhao Lingfei, smiling:

"It's okay, it's okay. I just came back from the trial. Nothing happened. Uh, there will be a Qingyuntai competition in a few days. It will be my first competition after entering Xiaoyao Mansion. It is similar to the mid-month assessment of your academy."

She said indifferently: "But you don't have to go. Just don't compete. Anyway, the first place in the Haoran Realm of Qingyuntai must belong to the young lady. And..."

Zhao Rong was curious, "And what."

Zhao Qian'er looked Zhao Rong up and down, tilted her head and said with a smile: "Besides, how can the Qingyuntai competition be more fun than Brother Rong'er?"

The corner of Zhao Rong's eyes twitched violently.

Damn it, what kind of vicious words are you saying?

You are a little girl, what on earth are you thinking about all day long?

Concubine Zhao Ling's pretty face also turned dark, and she glared at Zhao Qian'er with her beautiful eyes.

The little girl seemed to realize that there was something wrong with what she said, and her cheeks turned slightly red.

She stuck out her tongue, then quickly hugged Zhao Rong's left hand, which he wanted to pull back, puffed her lips into a round little face, and explained seriously:

"Ah! What are you thinking? Humph, it turns out that you become impure after getting married... I mean Brother Rong'er knows a lot of fun things and can take me to play with him."

“…”

The three of them suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere became very awkward.

This fun thing you are talking about, is it serious?

Zhao Rong felt that his eyelids could no longer be controlled and kept twitching.

Zhao Lingfei looked at Zhao Qian'er, who couldn't contain her joy and smiled, and suddenly she felt a little panicked...

This... this naughty girl wouldn't want to... be in front, right?

A hint of worry flashed across Concubine Zhao Ling's eyes. Her pretty face turned serious and she narrowed her eyes slightly, staring at Zhao Rong's face.

The latter felt his wife's dangerous gaze and hurriedly shook his head like a rattle, and he was almost about to raise his hand and swear to the sky.

Well, I swear that I will never take Xiao Qian'er to do the most fun things before I take my wife to do the most fun things.

And we have to hide the most interesting things, so that Xiao Qianer can’t play with them first…

Concubine Zhao Ling used her bare hand to hold down the hand that Zhao Rong was about to raise.

She nodded her head.

In fact, Zhao Lingfei knew that Rong'er might have over-interpreted her meaning, but... it didn't matter, some things could be discussed later.

At this moment, Rong Erge's attitude made her very happy and satisfied.

Right now.

Zhao Rong still had a hesitant look on his face. "This time we are going to Dali as a representative of the academy. If we bring Qian'er with us..."

Zhao Qian'er: "Don't tell me that Linlu Academy doesn't allow you to bring anyone with you?"

Zhao Rong shook his head. "That's not the case. Ordinary servants and maids can be brought along, but if Qian'er is brought along..."

Before Zhao Rong could finish his words, Zhao Qian'er suddenly tiptoed forward, stretched out her little hand, and pinched his nose.

Her little hands shook left and right. Zhao Rong was stunned and didn't react for a while, and his head also shook along with them.

The little girl's eyes curved into crescents when she smiled, and two white, pointed little canine teeth were revealed under her pink lips.

"Brother Rong'er, Brother Rong'er, have you really forgotten or are you pretending to forget? Qian'er is your maidservant. Hum, I am the young lady's maidservant who came with her as a dowry... You, you are my son-in-law, um, are you going to deny your debt?"

Zhao Rong didn't dare to say a word.

He indeed subconsciously forgot Xiao Qian'er's identity, or rather... he had never regarded Xiao Qian'er as a maid.

In the secular world down the mountain, dowry maids are also called concubines. Concubines refer to women who are married into the husband's family together with the wife.

However, Zhao Rong's situation is somewhat special. Since he is a son-in-law, Qingjun has the final say on how to arrange Qian'er, the maid who comes with her as a dowry.

Moreover, although Qian'er is Qingjun's personal maid and dowry maid, she is now also the pride of Taiqing Xiaoyao Mansion, with unlimited future. She has long since left the status of a maid in the Duke of Jingnan's Mansion of Great Chu and is a genius in cultivation who is being supported and trained by the Zhao family of Great Chu. Her status is incomparable.

Now, in the Zhao Clan of Great Chu, the only one who can nominally command her is Qing Jun...

Soon, the three of them discussed and decided that Zhao Qian'er would accompany Zhao Rong to Dali as a maid or book boy.

Zhao Rong continued to accompany Qingjun and Qian'er shopping. With his company, the two girls felt better and had more smiles on their cheeks.

Especially Qian'er, when she saw something interesting, she would pull Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei's hands and run around without stopping for a moment.

The little girl's high energy made Zhao Rong a little overwhelmed. If he kept her with him, wouldn't he be exhausted to death?

At a certain moment, Zhao Qian'er was running in front, with Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei following behind.

Zhao Rong glanced at his wife's beautiful profile and saw that she seemed to be in a good mood.

He suddenly sighed to himself and shook his head gently.

Concubine Zhao Ling turned her head and asked, "What's wrong with my husband?"

Zhao Rong looked down at their interlocked hands. He squeezed her hand and sighed, "When I think about not being able to see Qingjun for a while, I feel a little reluctant."

This is the truth that Zhao Rong has been holding back in his heart, but why did he say it out loud now...

Concubine Zhao Ling was shy and lowered her head gently.

"I...I can't bear to leave my husband either."

She paused, her picturesque eyebrows slightly frowned, "Husband, how about letting me go too?"

Zhao Rong shook his head. "We have already discussed it. You just stay in Duyou City and do your own thing. Qian'er and I will be out for a while and will be back soon."

"By the way, Qingjun, I'm leaving in two days. Why don't we play a little longer today and not go back so early? I heard that the night market in West City is very lively. We can go shopping at night. Well, it's late now, so we can stay out for a night. I can go back to Linlu Academy tomorrow."

As Concubine Zhao Ling listened, her frown gradually relaxed, and then she remained silent with a calm and peaceful face.

She didn't seem to understand Zhao Rong's suggestion to spend the night outside and did not comment.

About an incense stick of time later, the three of them found a restaurant in a busy area and had lunch.

Later, in the afternoon, Zhao Rong and Qian'er accompanied Qingjun to Dongcheng to handle some matters assigned by her teacher and went to some unfamiliar places, but Zhao Rong did not ask much.

Then, after Zhao Lingfei finished her business, the three of them discussed and went to the beach where Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei had embraced and reconciled, to revisit the old place.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the salty breeze from the North Sea.

At dusk, the three of them left the beach.

Zhao Rong glanced at the dim sky, then at the brightly lit street market not far away that seemed even more lively, and decided to make one last effort.

He said to Zhao Qian'er, who was still in high spirits after playing for most of the day:

"Xiao Qian'er, that street looks interesting. Let's go take a look and buy some snacks. We're a little hungry."

But before Zhao Qian'er nodded, Zhao Lingfei spoke first, her tone serious.

"Husband, it's getting late. You'd better stop wandering around. You've been busy these past few days, and you have important things to do tomorrow. It's better to rest early."

Zhao Rong looked at his wife's cold expression, feeling helpless, but still smiling, "I'll listen to you."

Zhao Rong stopped a carriage for them.

Concubine Zhao Lingfei and Zhao Qianer boarded the car one after another.

Under the carriage, Zhao Rong opened his mouth, ready to say goodbye to them.

"Wutong Street, Qinglian Residence."

Zhao Lingfei suddenly told the coachman an address that seemed both strange and familiar to him.

Zhao Rong was slightly stunned.

In the carriage, Concubine Zhao Ling turned her pretty face away and didn't look at him.

It also makes it difficult to see her expression at the moment.

But the clear and soft voice of the woman with autumn eyes who was sitting upright floated gently towards her.

Just like the quiet yet gentle evening breeze tonight.

"Husband, don't... don't just stand there like an idiot. Get in the car."