"Get ready, clean up a few more rooms. We're expecting some important guests today, so be smart and take good care of them. You'll get a bonus at the end of this month."
After Tang Huan finished giving the instructions, the workers cheered and jumped for joy, and then quickly went to get busy.
Tang Huan and a few others waited there as well.
Meanwhile, the convoy, which had been spotted by sentries hiding outside the county, had already arrived at the city gate.
The first thing the people who jumped off the carriage noticed was the continuous black city wall, exuding a majestic and imposing aura.
Lei Yan's eyelids twitched. "Are you sure this is just a county?"
Wu Lanshan also said seriously, "It is taller and stronger than the city walls of some small countries. It is indeed not the work of a county. It is quite surprising."
"Hehe, you didn't expect that, did you? When Jingze and I first arrived, we were also quite surprised. There are even more unexpected things in this city. Just wait and see."
After saying that, Cui Yuanzhao took out a silver note and handed it over, "Keep the change, brothers, take the extra to buy some wine, but wait until after get off work to go drinking."
"Thank you, Young Master Cui." One of the soldiers guarding the city recognized Cui Yuanzhao, this wealthy and powerful young master, and immediately expressed his gratitude.
Cui Yuanzhao patted the other person on the shoulder, "You're welcome. You don't know yet, but your Lord Tang and I have already become sworn brothers in the capital. We're all family."
Upon hearing this, the soldier took out the silver notes he was about to put away again.
With a smile, he handed the silver note back to Cui Yuanzhao, saying, "If that's the case, then it wouldn't be right for us to accept the money again. Please take it back."
Cui Yuanzhao solemnly stopped them, saying, "No, even if I am Old Tang's own brother, I cannot break the rules of Qihuai County. You can keep it."
Because of Cui Yuanzhao's insistence, the soldiers no longer showed any courtesy.
Turning around, Cui Yuanzhao led everyone into the city. Lei Yan followed and asked, "What's the deal with that money? Does Qihuai County have any rules?"
“Yes, there’s an entry tax for entering the city, and everyone is subject to it, unless you’ve been here many times before.” Cui Yuanzhao didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.
After all, Qihuai County is only so big. If it accepts guests without limit, it will soon become a chaotic mess, and even we might not be able to get in.
On the contrary, a small entry tax can deter many people from coming to join the fun.
"Let's go to Zuixianju first. I'll settle everyone in before I go find Brother Tang."
The group headed to Zuixianju in a grand procession. As soon as they entered, Cui Yuanzhao spotted Tang Huan sitting in the hall, along with two girls beside him.
"Old Tang!"
Cui Yuanzhao shouted and plopped down next to Tang Huan.
Tang Huan looked up at Cui Yuanzhao, "It's you! I thought it was someone else."
"You don't welcome me?" Cui Yuanzhao retorted.
Tang Huan smiled. "Of course not, I just didn't expect your father to actually let you out."
After speaking, Tang Huan looked at the group of people following behind Cui Yuanzhao.
Wang Jingze and Lei Yan had met several times before, so they were naturally familiar with each other.
Tang Huan had no recollection of the remaining young men, but one of them caught his attention.
"Does Lord Tang know me?" Wu Lanshan asked with a smile.
Tang Huan clicked her tongue, "I don't think I've seen him before, but he looks familiar..."
Especially those eyes, deep and dark, as if I've seen similar ones before.
Cui Yuanzhao coughed softly and whispered in Tang Huan's ear, "He is Wu Lanshan, the heir of the Huaiqing Prince's family."
Seeing Tang Huan's puzzled expression, Cui Yuanzhao continued, "Prince Huaiqing was the late emperor's own brother, and thus the empress's own uncle. He was the one who fully supported the empress's ascension to the throne back then."
Tang Huan immediately stood up with a smile and extended her hand to Wu Lanshan.
"Oh, it's my cousin! I've heard so much about you, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner."
After shaking Wu Lanshan's hand firmly, Tang Huan quickly invited him to sit down, displaying great enthusiasm.
In contrast, Wang Jingze and the others were completely ignored, but no one dared to show it.
There was nothing they could do; Tang Huan's current status was special, and so was Wu Lanshan's.
Although it was only the first time Tang Huan and Wu Lanshan had met, Tang Huan asked them all sorts of questions in a friendly manner, making people wonder if they had known each other for a long time.
They acted as if they were close relatives.
The people around were stunned. Even Gongyang Tingbai and Qin Yuyang looked on in surprise, not expecting Tang Huan to have changed so much.
After learning Wu Lanshan's identity, Tang Huan's attitude changed, and she began to warmly entertain them, especially Wu Lanshan.
In the past, he wouldn't have done this kind of thing himself.
Everyone drank and chatted happily until the people from the capital had all drunk too much, at which point Tang Huan left with his men.
As soon as Tang Huan stepped out of Zuixianju, she shivered, and her previously hazy eyes immediately cleared.
He no longer wobbles when he walks.
It was as if everyone's impression of him was just that he had stumbled and stammered before.
Upon seeing this, Gongyang Tingbai and Qin Yuyang couldn't help but exchange a glance, their expressions quite intriguing.
"The emperor's cousin is here, and you're suddenly being so enthusiastic? Anyone who didn't know better would think it was your brother who came," Gongyang Tingbai remarked.
Tang Huan shook her head. "If it were my brother, I wouldn't treat him like this. He can do whatever he wants on my turf, and plenty of people would fawn over him. But the emperor's cousin is different."
While drinking, Cui Yuanzhao whispered some things about Wulan Mountain, which gave Tang Huan some understanding of the man.
He pondered for a moment and said, "What could be the reason that someone who was a genius a few years ago suddenly withdrew from the big stage of the capital due to a serious illness, and only recently reappeared?"
Gongyang Tingbai curled his lips and said, "I don't know. Anyway, we Northern Region people, let alone when we're sick, or even seriously injured, can't stay at home all the time. We definitely have to go out and meet people."
Tang Huan clicked her tongue and said, "That's right. But according to Cui Yuanzhao, after this prince fell seriously ill, he moved directly to the Prince's Mansion in the suburbs and has never been seen since. He even declined His Majesty's invitation to enter the palace."
"Then he must be faking illness," Qin Yuyang said suspiciously.
"He might be faking illness, or he might really be sick. We can't really say, but judging from the way he was drinking tonight, it seems more like the former."
That behavior doesn't seem like that of a patient.
"Make good preparations. It doesn't matter much to the others, but we need to take this young master seriously. We need to entertain them well these next few days."
After Tang Huan finished speaking, she walked forward alone. Gongyang Tingbai followed behind and retorted, "It's not certain whether he's working for your empress. Maybe he's secretly plotting against her."
Tang Huan turned around and smiled, "Then it's none of my business. As long as the Empress doesn't give any orders, Wu Lanshan will remain her cousin, and we can't afford to overstep our bounds."
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