Everyone laughed and joked until evening when everyone had left. Only then did Zhao Shi'an keep the person from the Ministry of Rites behind to give him private instructions about the wedding.
The official who came to deliver the imperial decree was not of high rank and was somewhat in awe of Zhao Shi'an. When speaking to Zhao Shi'an, he slumped his shoulders and dared not look around.
Fang Qing brewed a pot of tea and served it to them.
"Sir must be tired from the journey. Let's talk about everything tomorrow and let him rest first."
"We dare not presume; it is our honor to serve Lord Zhao."
Fang Qing could only look at Zhao Shi'an.
"It's getting late. I'll have someone take you to rest, and we'll talk again tomorrow."
Zhao Shi'an spoke, and the official from the Ministry of Rites responded and left.
The official from the Ministry of Rites was supposed to leave after reading the imperial edict, but Zhao Shi'an kept him there for several days.
Before leaving, Zhao Shi'an had Xiao Liu bring a stack of silver notes and give them to the official.
"This is just a small fee to cover your expenses. Once you arrive in the capital, someone will contact you and they will cover any expenses you may incur."
The official held the stack of silver notes as if they were a hot potato, but dared not refuse Zhao Shi'an, so he had no choice but to accept them reluctantly.
Before she knew it, it was Chinese New Year, and Fang Qing finally finished reading through the pile of account books.
This year's Spring Festival was also very lively.
Some frightening things happened this year, but they're all in the past now, and everything is moving in a positive direction.
After the New Year, I was busy for a while, mainly dealing with people who came to offer New Year's greetings.
After the Lantern Festival, Fang Qing and the others packed their bags and prepared to go to the capital.
They didn't know how long they would be gone, so they asked Fang Er's wife, Xiao Ju, to help look after the house.
Since Xiaoju married Fang Eryou, she has managed everything inside and outside the house, and Fang Eryou and Wang Cuihua have been unable to make any waves. Their lives have become more and more prosperous.
Although Fang Daniu's family didn't speak to Wang Cuihua and Fang Er, they had a good relationship with Xiaoju.
After saying goodbye to everyone and leaving Fangjia Village, I arrived in the county town and greeted the Zhou family.
Thanks to Fang Qing, the Zhou family regarded her as their savior in Xichang Prefecture.
Upon hearing that Fang Qing was going to the capital to get married, Zhou Ning insisted on going with her.
"How can I not attend such a big event as Douya's wedding? When Zhao Shi'an and his colleagues come to congratulate us, what will people think if our family doesn't attend?"
Unable to refuse Zhou Ning's enthusiasm, Fang Qing waited for half an hour.
Zhou Ning packed his things quickly, took the bean sprouts with him, and got into the carriage. Zhang Daikui saw them off for a while.
Over the years, Zhou Ning and Zhang Daikui had never gotten anywhere. Now that the seedlings had grown up, Zhou Ning stopped thinking about it and just regarded Zhang Daikui as an older brother who could help him out.
After leaving An County, they headed towards the capital.
They would stop to rest at post stations along the way, and if there were any nice places, they would visit them. They traveled slowly and leisurely, and it was more than half a month later when they arrived in the capital.
Zhao Shi'an's residence, Fengyulou, had already been arranged. It was a large house near Chang'an Street, next to the Zhong family's abandoned official residence.
The mansion bestowed upon Fang Qing by the Emperor was on the next street. Although it was not as grand as Zhao Shi'an's mansion, it was quiet and elegant, and the surrounding area was inhabited by noble and distinguished families.
Zhao Shi'an had already had everything tidied up inside and out, so they could move in immediately.
When Fang Daniu and Zhao Shi came in, they couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. They were even unusually reserved when the servants bowed to them.
After all the servants left during the meal, they still lamented how uncomfortable life was here.
"Brother and sister-in-law will get used to living here."
“Those who were serving me just now were all children. I don’t feel comfortable making them do things for me.”
“This isn’t free labor. I heard they get paid one or two taels of silver a month. If you’re unwilling to pay that, the steward might sell them off to another place, where they might suffer even more.”
Upon hearing that it was one tael of silver, both Fang Daniu and Zhao Shi's eyes widened.
Even though they are better off now, they have never been so extravagant before.
"Father, Mother, treat this place as your own home. Those people work for us, and we pay them. As long as we don't enslave them, both sides benefit, right?"
Fang Daniu realized that this made sense, so he stopped dwelling on it.
Zhao Shi'an went about his business as soon as he got off the carriage, and Fang Qing waited for him until evening but he didn't show up.
Fang Qing didn't need anyone to serve her at night; the maids had already gone to sleep. She read a book for a while to pass the time.
Seeing that there was no more noise outside, she was just about to go to sleep when she heard the sound of the courtyard gate being opened.
Then came the sound of servants on night duty talking in the courtyard.
A short while later, footsteps lifted the curtain and entered the door, then went into the inner room.
Is there anything else to add?
Zhao Shi'an took off his heavy cloak and walked to the brazier to warm himself.
"No, I don't need anything. Where have you been?"
"I went to the palace to see the Emperor at noon, dealt with the backlog of official business in the afternoon, and just now went to check on Gao Wancheng's clues."
"Has Gao Wancheng not been dealt with yet?"
"When they were being escorted from Yizhou to the capital, they were rescued by his men."
"Still haven't found it?"
Zhao Shi'an shook his head, looking at the leaping sparks, and said, "There are clues pointing to Gao Ren."
"Didn't Gao Ren submit to the imperial court?"
Back in her hometown, Fang Qing had heard Zhao Shi'an say that the Eighth Prince was now in charge of the Yizhou army, and Gao Ren was working under him.
“Helping the court fight against the southwest back then did not necessarily mean he submitted to the court. As for him getting rid of Gao Wancheng, it might have been a personal grudge, or perhaps Gao Wancheng had something he wanted.”
"How does the imperial court intend to handle this matter?"
"The Imperial Observatory has already chosen an auspicious day for us, the third day of the third month. I will invite the Eighth Prince and Gao Ren on that day. If Gao Ren is guilty, he will naturally not dare to come back. If he does come back, we can pry Gao Wancheng out of his hands."
Judging from Zhao Shi'an's expression, he has something on his mind.
"That's almost a month until the third day of the third lunar month. Have you finished writing the invitations and everything else?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of those."
Zhao Shi'an handled everything, from the house to the wedding arrangements, so Fang Qing realized she didn't have to do anything.
"That dress..."
"The Ministry of Rites has already made it according to the rites. We should be able to receive it in a couple of days. We can try it on then, and if it doesn't fit, we can have them alter it."
Fang Qing sighed softly.
"I felt completely uninvolved in this marriage."
Zhao Shi'an's eyelid twitched.
"I just want to make things easier for you."
"That's really convenient. Is there anything else we haven't done? Have the drinks been ordered? What about the food?"
"I've entrusted everything to the housekeeper..."
"Let the butler discuss it with me. After all, we'll be hosting distinguished guests, so we need to be careful with the drinks and food."
"Okay, I'll go back and talk to him."
"It's getting late, I'm going to rest," Fang Qing said.
Zhao Shi'an opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say "I want to stay."
"Then I'm leaving."
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