"Be careful on the road."
Fang Qing naturally didn't try to stop her.
Zhao Shi'an looked at her deeply, and couldn't help but gently hug Fang Qing.
"I'm really leaving now, you should go to sleep soon too."
Zhao Shi'an walked out, but instead of going through the main gate, he went through a small door in the backyard and entered the house next door.
Although the two houses are on two different streets, one of the courtyards of the Zhao family's house is connected to Fang Qing's garden. Because the gate is behind a clump of crabapple trees, Fang Qing did not notice its existence even when she was touring the house.
The next day, the Zhao family's steward came to discuss the drinks and food with Fang Qing.
The butler offered several options for drinks. After tasting each one, Fang Qing chose two types of baijiu, two types of fruit wine, and two types of herbal tea.
As for the food, I heard that the chefs from Gao Yan Lou were hired, and the pastries were made by pastry chefs from the Imperial Kitchen.
Fang Qing tasted all the dishes and snacks, and they were all delicious. According to etiquette, Fang Qing chose twelve dishes.
As for fruits, they were either oranges transported from the south or melons and grapes sent as tribute from small countries in the west.
As for the arrangements for the guests, the steward divided them into areas according to their relationship with Zhao Shi'an and their official rank.
Fang Qing didn't understand matters of officialdom, but she heard the steward explain them to her.
She looked at the booklet while scribbling down the names of the people the housekeeper mentioned.
The register included everyone from the highest-ranking imperial relatives and nobles to officials of the ninth and sixth ranks.
Zhao Shi'an was the new emperor's right-hand man. He had already risen to the position of cabinet member at a young age and had a promising future. Therefore, almost everyone in the officialdom could speak with Zhao Shi'an.
"No Fang Nianci?"
She thought Fang Dashu should be at the front of the list, but after looking through most of the roster, she still hadn't seen his name.
"But what about Lord Fang from the Ministry of Revenue? I'm afraid he won't be able to come."
"What's wrong?"
"This happened before the New Year. After Princess Wu'an was arrested for treason, her private cronies accused each other. Someone dug up an article that Lord Zhao had written before. The article only mentioned Princess Wu'an twice. Then the people in the Censorate said that Princess Wu'an's cronies were sent to remote counties to serve as magistrates."
Fang Qing really didn't know about this; she didn't hear about it when she drank with Fang Sanhua's family during the Spring Festival.
"Has Lord Fang already left the capital?"
"We'll set off after the Lantern Festival."
It just so happened that our return to Beijing was at a different time than Fang Qing's and the others.
Fang Qing suddenly remembered what Zhu Ci'an had said: Fang Dashu would get into trouble sooner or later because of his mouth.
Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The steward looked at Fang Qing and said, "Princess, there's no need to worry. The master has already made arrangements over there. Although it's remote, it's still a good place."
"Where?"
"Jiaozhou, Cliff Island."
Jiaozhou is the southernmost part of Dali, and Yadao is a place that Fang Qing has never seen on a map.
That's definitely quite remote.
That evening, Fang Qing asked Zhao Shi'an about Fang Dashu.
"That article is secondary. It was Fang Dashu who said while drinking with someone that His Highness the Crown Prince was inferior to Princess Wu'an. Somehow, these words reached the Emperor's ears. After he ascended the throne, the Censorate submitted a memorial, and it was not unjust for the Emperor to demote him to Jiaozhou."
These words undoubtedly imply siding with Princess Wu'an; it would be good enough if they could keep their official positions.
However, judging from the Emperor's appearance, he is not a magnanimous person.
Now that the court has been purged, he can sit firmly in the court and enjoy good weather and abundant harvests. He will not need Zhao Shi'an, or Zhao Shi'an will become a threat to him. Will the emperor treat Zhao Shi'an the same way he treats these people?
Thinking this, Fang Qing looked at Zhao Shi'an and asked him the question.
“I know him. He is indeed not very broad-minded. The things you are worried about may happen.”
"So what are your plans?"
“I don’t live off the official position he gave me, nor do I have the belief in serving the country. Rather than waiting until he feels I’ve become a threat, I might as well say that I’ll naturally quit when I’m tired of official life.”
He spoke with remarkable ease, perhaps because he had drunk some wine with Fang Daniu at dinner, and now he was extremely relaxed, lying on the table, about to fall asleep.
Fang Qing couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.
"Are you drunk?"
"No, I'm just a little sleepy."
"Then go back to sleep."
Zhao Shi'an made no sound.
Fang Qing put down the account book in her hand and wanted to call him to get up and go back, but as soon as she touched Zhao Shi'an's hand, he grabbed it.
"Qing'er".
His voice was slurred.
Fang Qing touched his head; he didn't have a fever.
"Are you drunk or not?"
Zhao Shi'an shook Fang Qing's hand.
"Thank you for being by my side throughout my life..."
Fang Qing only heard "this lifetime," and without thinking much of it, she nudged his shoulder.
"Go back to sleep. How can the wedding proceed as scheduled if you get sick from sleeping here?"
Upon hearing about the wedding, Zhao Shi'an instantly sobered up.
Fang Qing called Xiao Liu to take Zhao Shi'an back.
Everything about the wedding has been taken care of, and even Fang Qing's dowry has been sealed in the warehouse.
While Zhao Shi'an was busy with official business, Fang Qing had some free time.
Since she came to the capital, many young ladies have sent her invitations, all of which are for flower viewing banquets or tea parties, but Fang Qing has turned them all down.
Now that she has some free time, she was thinking of visiting one or two people, but before she could make up her mind, the Grand Princess came and asked her to go to the Grand Princess's residence.
"The Grand Princess?"
“Yes, the current emperor’s own aunt,” the steward said.
"When can I go there?"
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