Chai Shijing will be returning to Beijing in about twenty days and cannot go anywhere far.
Kang Yueran suggested, "There's nothing interesting in Anzhou. Let's go to Mingzhou. There's a jade mine in Mingzhou. Let's go buy a few pieces."
"Alright, let's drive slowly and get to Mingzhou in two days. We can have some fun there and then come back. The Lingfeng Temple on Lingfeng Mountain in Mingzhou is very effective in praying for marriage. Let's go and take a look."
Kang Yueran looked longingly. "Okay, then I'll have someone prepare things. Well, you told others that you were recovering from your injuries, so I'll tell others that Master wants to go out with me, and we can secretly go out and play for a few days."
The weather was getting cold, so Kang Yueran asked Niu Dayan to go to Anzhou and buy a spacious carriage. Liu Xiaocao laid out the bedding several times and picked up some things that would be needed on the road and put them into the carriage.
The day before leaving, Wang Hai brought 20 people to see Kang Yueran, "They all want to sign a death contract with you, and your family members agree. You can choose one."
The twenty people were decided by Wang Hai after consulting Mao Jian. He pointed at them one by one and introduced them to Kang Yueran, including their names, household registration, age, relatives, specialties, etc.
There were only two girls among them, Liu Sanya and Chen Rong.
Wang Hai introduced Chen Rong in particular, "Miss, Chen Rong is thirteen years old this year. She is smart and clever, and very talented in cooking. Even women who have been cooking for decades can't compare to her."
Liu Xiaocao is now in charge of Kang Yueran's daily life, but Liu Xiaocao has a family and can't take care of her all the time. She's not a good cook, so it's better to find someone to take care of her. "Then stay!"
Chen Rong was very happy and said loudly: "Thank you, young lady!"
Seeing that Chen Rong was left behind, Xiao Wuzi was extremely anxious and stepped forward and said, "Master, although I am small, I am also very smart. I, I can run fast."
Wang Hai laughed and said, "Little Wuzi is pleasant to talk to and has a quick mind. Manager Mao said he's a good spy."
Kang Yueran found Xiao Wuzi's anxious look very funny and said, "Okay, then stay."
Xiao Wuzi jumped three feet high, "Thank you, Master. Oh, no, thank you, Miss!"
Seeing this, the others began to recommend themselves. Wang Hai asked everyone to calm down and said to Kang Yueran, "Miss, we have checked the identities of these people and there is no problem. We are all willing to follow you, please accept us."
Since there's no problem with their identities, there's no harm in signing a few more. "Okay! Then you all stay. I'll give each of you twenty taels of silver."
Chai Shijing gave Yili a look. Yili went to the study to get paper and pen, wrote twenty-one indentures, and asked the twenty people and Wang Hai to put their fingerprints on them one by one.
These people were not very literate, so Kang Yueran arranged for them to learn to read first.
Chai Shijing said: "Yili doesn't have much to do on weekdays, let him help you train him."
After signing the indenture, they became master and servant, so it was good to understand some of the rules. "Okay, then I'll trouble you with the formalities. I'll have someone find them a courtyard to stay in. During the day, they can go to Jiaziyuan and learn to read with the teacher."
Yili accepted the task, "Yes, Yili understands."
Kang Yueran said to Wang Hai, "Take them back to Kaoshan Village first and have them hand in their work. Come back the next morning and learn calligraphy and etiquette from the teacher."
Everyone agreed, took the silver worth their status, and followed Wang Hai back to Kaoshan Village.
The next morning, Yiming and Hu Dacheng drove a carriage to accompany Kang Yueran and Chai Shijing to Mingzhou. Yili stayed in Qingpingzhuang to cover up and handle some official business for Chai Shijing.
The weather was a little cold, and Kang Yueran leaned on Chai Shijing, who was holding a book and explaining it to Kang Yueran.
"This is a book compiled by the literary giant Mr. Liuru, which summarizes the reasons for the fall of the previous dynasty. He believes that it was because Emperor Jing of the previous Zhou Dynasty was too concerned about his reputation after his death and was too eager for quick success.
While building the Grand Canal, compiling historical records, and implementing the imperial examination system to select talent were all beneficial to the country and its people, they also over-consumed national resources. Emperor Jing's reign lasted only seventeen years, so he was indeed a bit hasty.
Kang Yueran curled her lips. "I think the reason for the demise of the dynasty was that Emperor Jing died too early. He didn't indulge in pleasure just because the Zhou Dynasty was strong. On the contrary, he was a diligent emperor. He also didn't rest on his laurels. The construction of the Grand Canal and the implementation of the imperial examination system were contributions that will last for generations to come."
"I think the same as you. It's a pity that the Great Yong Dynasty previously valued military power over scholars. It wasn't until my father's generation that they began to value scholars. However, any dynasty is unstable in its infancy, so it's understandable that they prioritize military commanders."
Kang Yueran looked at Chai Shijing. Every time a similar topic was mentioned, Chai Shijing's eyes would sparkle with stars.
She knew that winning the throne was not his ultimate goal, but a beginning for him, a beginning that would allow him to realize his ideals.
She kissed Chai Shijing on the cheek and said, "You will be a good emperor in the future."
Chai Shijing held Kang Yueran's hand and said, "Together, we can promote the exchange of resources between the north and the south and make Dayong even more powerful."
"Well, I think the first thing we should do is make regular script the common writing style of the court. Since the common people don't have many opportunities to learn to read, we should choose the easier regular script."
Chai Shijing smiled and said, "Okay! Any more?"
"And..."
In the evening of the second day, the four arrived at Mingzhou City.
Kang Yueran put makeup on Chai Shijing, which essentially consisted of painting his face a few shades darker, thickening his eyebrows, and gluing a few stubbles on his chin. She also wanted to give Chai Shijing a mole, but Chai Shijing refused.
She also put makeup on herself and taped a scar from her chin to her neck.
Yiming and Dacheng also changed their clothes, so people who didn't know them couldn't recognize them.
Afraid that Chai Shijing would be recognized, the four of them chose a medium-sized inn to stay.
The next morning, the two went to Baoyu Tower, the largest jade shop in the city.
The Baoyu Building was large, with three floors. The first floor was similar to a counter; the second floor was a private room; and the third floor was also a private room, but it only sold rare items and only received distinguished guests.
After listening to the introduction, Kang Yueran chose a private room on the second floor.
The waiter brought two cups of delicious drinks and asked Chai Shijing, "Dear guest, please rest in the private room for a while. Tell me what you want to buy and I will go down and pick some for you to choose from."
Chai Shijing said, "Pick out a few pairs of jade pendants, and a few hairpins and jade bracelets. They must be top-quality."
The waiter glanced at Kang Yueran, and seeing that she had no intention of speaking, he bowed and saluted, "Yes, I'll go and prepare it right away. Please wait a moment, my two distinguished guests."
A quarter of an hour later, the waiter pushed the door open with six assistants. Each of the six assistants was holding a tray with various jade ornaments on it.
Chai Shijing took a look and didn't move. "These jades are too poor quality, change them!"
Kang Yueran really wanted to ask, "Do you have money with you?" "Wait!"
She stood up and walked to a tray, picked up a Ruyi hairpin with a white jade base and inlaid red coral, and said, "I like this!"
Chai Shijing stood up to take a look. "There are some colors on the white jade. It's not good."
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