After eating the cake, everyone except Uncle Gu, Madam Zhang, and Xiao Renren went to the prefectural city to see the lanterns.
Even Yang Xiaohuan went along; she quite enjoys lively gatherings.
The emperor did not travel with them; they parted ways at the village entrance. He had already passed Qingzhou Prefecture and would not return, continuing along the original route, as he could not stay away from the palace for too long.
When he left this time, he took two pots of orchids with him from the Gu family. These were the favorites of his grandmother, who is now the Empress Dowager.
He brought fifty sets of toiletries, in all sorts of scents. Gu Nian didn't charge him ten taels per set, but only two taels per set.
Then they brought over three more vats of pickled chili peppers, because Gu Nian said that if stored properly, it would be enough for him to eat for a long time. He also gave him the recipe for making pickled chili peppers. The emperor wanted to pay for it, but Gu Shouxin and Cai Xiaolian refused.
I also need the cake recipe; his great-grandmother has bad teeth, so maybe she'll like it.
Along the way, he only took things from the Gu family's place; he had no interest in buying anything else.
The emperor instructed Gu Shouxin to study hard for the exam and strive to achieve something so that he could boast to others that he had a brother who was a high-ranking official.
The three time-traveling individuals, plus Lu Zheng, were internally ranting: "What official position does your brother hold? Isn't that something you arrange? You can show off whatever official position he holds, all you want!"
Because she had received a jade pendant that looked very expensive, Gu Xin gave the emperor five bamboo tubes of water, which contained jade beads.
Although the emperor didn't know what jade beads were, Gu Xin had done her duty with a clear conscience and reciprocated the gift, so she could rightfully consider the jade pendant her own.
...
"Master, should we send someone to give Magistrate Cheng a little warning?" Xue Qianyu reminded him after they parted ways.
"Write a letter to the prefect of Qingzhou, saying that a distant relative of yours is participating in this year's examination, and instruct him to inform all the counties under his jurisdiction to ensure fairness and prevent any favoritism or corruption! Specify Taoyuan County, and the prefect will know what to do!" the emperor said.
"As for Magistrate Cheng..." Xue Qianyu thought the emperor was going to deal with him directly!
"The magistrate of Taoyuan County should be replaced. However, with the imperial examination approaching, let him remain in office for now! When we return, we'll also need to change the status of Minister Sun." The emperor narrowed his eyes and said coldly.
"Yes!" Xue Qianyu understood.
The carriage arrived in Taoyuan County, and the group had lunch at Zuijianglou Restaurant before heading to the pier to board a boat to their next destination.
At the Gu family's house, Gu Xin went to sleep as soon as she got into the carriage.
She had a dream that was somewhat similar to her last dream.
She is now grown up, dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing a cape, strolling through the lantern festival.
There were many people at the lantern festival. She was being led by the hand by a man who held her tightly, as if afraid she would be separated from him by the crowd.
They walked and walked, stopping every now and then to buy a lantern, but Gu Xin could never see his face clearly; she could only feel that he was holding her hand very tightly.
Before long, she was carrying several lanterns and said in a good mood, "How about I collect all twelve animals?"
The man in front turned around and replied, "Okay!"
Just as she was about to see the man's face clearly, she woke up from her dream, and the word "good" still echoed in her ears.
She felt something unusual in her hand and instinctively pulled it back.
“Sisi, you still can’t hide it from her, huh? I told you she’s a light sleeper and she was woken up by a touch,” Cai Xiaolian said with a laugh.
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