"Your main city is quite prosperous."
Looking at the bustling traffic around him, Xu Shi couldn't help but sigh. Putting everything else aside, the living atmosphere here was indeed much better than that of the City of Sin.
The main thing is that it's more lively—there are pedestrians coming and going, vendors hawking their wares, and soldiers and priests preaching from time to time. People are also chatting and laughing with each other.
This is not seen in Night City. People usually don't have the mind to do this. Most shops are unmanned. Who would waste time chatting and gossiping?
"Actually, it's just like the main city."
Xiao Mei smiled and said, "The empire has many counties under its jurisdiction, but those places are not as lively as they are. They are much more sparsely populated than Silver Pine Island."
Is that so?
Xu Shi nodded. "I always felt that Miss Xiao Mei knew a lot about things. No wonder Brother Pan sent you to be our guide."
"The royal mechanic who took office was my mentor."
Xiao Mei didn't hide anything from him, "The current one is my senior brother... I left Silver Pine Island for a long time before, and at that time I was traveling around visiting various places."
"I see."
Xu Shi realized that this was not just a matter of understanding; it meant that having connections in the court made things easier, which explained why the procedures seemed so effortless.
"Huh? What's that?"
Xia Ke'an's attention wasn't on that; instead, it was drawn to a shop on the roadside. "Daddy, Daddy, I want that!"
Looking in the direction she was pointing, I saw a small snack stall.
The vendor sells apples coated in sugar. He is very skillful and his hands fly, first carving various exquisite patterns on the apples, then pouring syrup over them. When the sugar is shone on them by a small stone lantern, they look beautiful and are very popular with children.
"Then let's buy it."
Xu Shi was not a stingy person; it was only natural for him to spend money on his beloved daughter. He immediately stopped the carriage, stuffed a few silver coins into her hand, and said, "Go and pick what you like."
"Dad is so good, thank you Dad!"
The white-haired little girl smiled broadly; this time, her father wasn't a bad dad anymore.
"My husband is biased! I want some too!"
Seeing this, Jiang Chengcheng suddenly felt a little jealous and started to act coquettishly, pulling on Xu Shi's arm.
She might not necessarily want to eat it, but she needs to have one.
"Okay, okay, I'll buy, buy, buy."
Master Xu was wealthy and generous. After thinking for a moment, he simply jumped off the carriage and returned shortly with a pile of candied apples. "Here, this is for you."
"And this is yours, my Mrs. Xia."
Thank you.
Xia Wuyou smiled, holding the small gift with obvious delight.
"There's a share for both of you too."
Xu Shi then handed one to each of the Feng and Ling sisters. They clearly wanted it, showing that they rarely came to the Imperial City, as there were no such things on Silver Pine Island.
"Thank you, Master!"
Pan Feng took a big, hard bite.
"Thank you, Master."
Pan Ling, on the other hand, was much more refined; the joy of the sweets eased her inner turmoil.
"What about mine?"
Feeling resentful at being left out, Xie Qingyan stretched out her hand towards the scoundrel with a sour face.
How did you get here?
Xu Shi looked like he'd seen a ghost. "I'd forgotten about it if you hadn't said anything... Haha, just kidding. Look, this one is carved with a little pig, it's perfect for you."
"Hmph, I wonder who's the pig."
The woman rolled her eyes at him. This guy just doesn't know how to say nice things... Fine, I'll just treat this pig like him and bite it off in one go!
"Why don't you have one too, little Qin?"
Xu Shi didn't forget anyone, not even Shen Qin.
"I……"
Shen Qin didn't want this kind of thing, but she didn't dare refuse it, so she carefully accepted it and held it in her hand, feeling at a loss.
"That's not right."
Xu Shi asked seriously, "What should we do after we take the things?"
"……Thanks."
Shen Qin lowered her eyes and pretended to take a bite.
It's really sweet, cloyingly sweet.
The taste wasn't unpleasant, but it was a different feeling from the forced pleasure it brought to the soul.
She was touched for a moment, but quickly dismissed the idea.
"Xu Enren's family is very harmonious."
Xiaomei saw this and couldn't help but praise him.
"Right?"
Xu Shi was quite pleased. "Want one too?"
"I'll pass, it'll hurt my teeth."
"Then I'll eat two."
So the final scene is quite interesting. When Xu Shi and his group passed through the city and entered the royal castle, everyone was holding a candied apple that they hadn't finished eating...
Upon arriving at the palace, the ministers, who were on high alert, were stunned by what they saw.
What's going on here? You've brought your whole family on a spring outing?
Xu Shi didn't care. He finished the apple in a few bites and said with a smile, "Xu Shi, the envoy of the City of Night Sin, is here to meet the Empress on behalf of the city-state."
Then he discovered that there seemed to be no women here, not even a female official.
Where are they?
"...Her Majesty the Empress is still getting ready, please wait a moment."
A middle-aged man spoke up; he looked like a military general. Even in the imperial court, he was still wearing armor and carrying a sword, clearly indicating that he held a high position.
When he spoke, everyone else fell silent.
The wait wasn't long, only a minute or two, before the voice of a female official came from behind the curtain: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
As the supreme ruler of the Hualan Empire slowly walked out, everyone was momentarily stunned.
Because she is a beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a long dress and white stockings.
At first glance, she was about the same age as Gu Yi. She wasn't very young, but among this group of middle-aged and elderly ministers with stubble beards, she could easily be mistaken for a little girl, giving her an incongruous feeling.
Xia Wuyou, Jiang Chengcheng, and Xia Ke'an blinked, then all turned to look at Xu Shi with strange eyes.
How do you know that?
You came here secretly before, didn't you?!
(End of this chapter)
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