Three days later, the group arrived in Tamsui, where the escort fleet split into two groups.

After escorting Master Zhao all the way north, he had to go back to Jiangnan with his two sisters and Ye first.

Zhao Liben and Zhao Shouzheng went directly to Beijing to prepare for the wedding. Although the journey north would be shorter, following the powerful Kuroshio Current would save many days. So they would go east from here, passing through Diaoyu Island, Ryukyu, Kyushu Island, and Tamra Island back to Tianjin.

After parting with his grandfather and father, Zhao Hao was relieved. He had no problem getting along with either of them. The problem was that when the two met, life became unbearable...

Zhao Hao couldn't solve this problem and could only stay away from it.

It took Zhao Hao ten days to travel 1,400 miles from Tamsui to the Yangtze River estuary. When the Zhenwo arrived at Sansha Wharf in Chongming County, it was already the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Chen Huaixiu, Jin Xuezeng and others were waiting anxiously. As soon as the former saw Zhao Hao, he couldn't help but complain, "Why is it so late? Is it still in time?"

"There's been a northeasterly wind on land for a few days, how can we avoid delays?" Zhao Hao said with a wry smile, "Hurry up, there's still time!"

Half a year ago, the eldest princess asked the Taoist priest of Baiyun Temple to choose a date for her wedding. Because she had to match the horoscopes of five brides, it was difficult to find a date. This year, the only day that was auspicious was the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, which was auspicious for everyone.

Otherwise we would have to wait until the year after next, because there would be no suitable day throughout the sixth year of Longqing.

High school students all know that there was no Longqing Seventh Year in history...

So no matter what, Zhao Hao had to arrive in the capital before the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month.

According to the plan, he would also go to Nanjing, Suzhou, and then head north, a total of more than 4,000 miles.

In twenty days, we have to travel 200 miles a day against the wind. It’s hard enough just to travel fast…

No wonder Sister Huaixiu was so anxious.

Secretary Ma and Qiaoqiao, who were following behind him, discussed it and whispered, "Why not not go to Jinling? If we only go to Suzhou, we should be able to make it in time on the way."

"No need!" Zhao Hao shook his head decisively and said, "Your family is from Jinling, so of course we have to go to Jinling to pick up the bride!"

"We are very grateful that you have this heart." Ma Xianglan said softly: "Don't be so formal and waste your time."

"That's right, everyone is here, why bother going back and forth?" Qiaoqiao nodded in agreement.

"Of course it's to let you ride in the bridal sedan and leave your parents' home." Chen Huaixiu explained for Zhao Hao with a sour nose: "Silly girl, this only happens once in a woman's life, and the master doesn't want you to have any regrets."

"I'm very happy that he has this intention." Qiaoqiao realized it later and said shyly with a red face. Her tone was not so firm anymore, and a feeling of happy anticipation surged in her heart.

As for Sister Ma, she is a model of saying one thing and thinking another, and she is looking forward to the wedding more than anyone else...

"Okay, okay, it's settled!" Young Master Zhao rubbed his cold cheeks and said, "I've thought about it. As long as we manage our time well and have a little money, we don't have to worry about any delays!"

"Good fellow..." Jin Xuezeng thought to himself, Master's time is so precious now that he has to find an opportunity to get married.

"You, go find Yang Fan and ask him to bring a galley over." Zhao Hao ordered him in a deep voice, "He asked Ryukyu for a few ships for research. They shouldn't have been dismantled yet...right?"

"Yes, Master!" Jin Xuezeng responded quickly. It was a rare opportunity for him to help his master, so he had to perform well. He did not take the sedan chair, but rode directly to the Jiangnan Shipyard.

"You must immediately ride to Nanjing to report the news. Be sure to explain clearly that we will be in a hurry, so please forgive us!" Zhao Hao instructed Huang Xiaohu again.

"Yes!" Huang Xiaohu hurriedly took a boat, then got on a horse in Taicang, and rode day and night to Nanjing. He would arrive around this time tomorrow.

"Grandma, you don't have to go to Nanjing with us, just go back to Suzhou." Zhao Hao smiled and said to Ye: "Xueying really needs you now."

"Okay." Ye nodded with a smile. From the perspective of time management, going to Nanjing first and then going to Suzhou when coming back can save at least one day.

Of course, did Mr. Zhao have other intentions? She probably did. But she was a good grandmother who saw through it but didn't say it. Besides, with Xueying's strength and status, she didn't need to compete for these details. At least she didn't need to compete with the two of them.

So Ye took a boat to Suzhou to arrange Jiang Xueying's marriage. This was good, as she would have several days to prepare and it would be more dignified.

When her boat left Sansha Pier, Qiaoqiao said anxiously, "Shouldn't we meet Miss Jiang first?"

"But we were the first ones to know each other." Zhao Hao answered softly, causing the slow-witted Qiaoqiao to freeze there.

In fact, Zhao Hao wanted to notify Nanjing by pigeon, which would be faster, but it was obviously more formal to send someone. Going deeper, wasn't it also because of this mentality that he insisted on returning to Jiangnan to welcome his bride?

There is no denying that although a man's heart is divided into many petals, it is impossible to truly divide it into five equal parts.

The status of Qiaoqiao and Sister Ma cannot be compared with Xueying, let alone Xiaojing, the young county lord, but they weigh more in Zhao Hao's heart.

It's not because of pity for the weak, but because "If life could only be like the first sight". It's because companionship is the longest confession of love, and staying together is the warmest love.

They have been with him through thick and thin for four years, dedicating their best youth and love to him. Naturally, they will receive his purest affection...

~~

Jin Xuezeng was always efficient and soon returned to the dock with a beautiful paddle boat.

The rowers were all skilled Ryukyu rowers, and Zheng Xun was also there.

Zhao Hao asked and found out that it was almost the New Year, and the Ryukyu court delegation went to Jiangnan Hospital to visit King Shang Yuan. Because the paddle boat was too eye-catching, the Ryukyu officials changed it to an ordinary sand boat at the Jiangnan Shipyard to go to Kunshan.

Zheng Yu was not interested in seeing the coffin stuffing, so he stayed in the shipyard to learn from Yang Fan. With the comradeship he had established on Nan'ao Island, he certainly wanted to strike while the iron was hot and build a good relationship with the popular person in front of this young master.

When Zheng Xun heard that the young master wanted a boat, he was immediately overjoyed. He didn't expect that he was so lucky... Oh no, so lucky that he would actually have the opportunity to help the young master in this important event in his life.

This is a great fortune! He immediately took the prince's boat and went with Lord Jin to pick up the young master.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Zhao Hao also breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ordered people to reward each rower with a red envelope of one hundred taels!

The rowers were stunned by the huge pie that fell from the sky and couldn't believe their ears. It was not until Zheng Yu repeated it to them that they cheered excitedly.

Zhao Hao only had one request for them: hurry up! Race against time!

Without further ado, let's set off now.

While everyone was getting on the boat, Zhao Hao said to Jin Xuezeng and Yang Fan who had rushed over, "Let's talk about everything after I get married. I'm in a hurry now."

"Master is getting married, so I have to contribute something, right?" Jin Xueceng smiled and took out a gift list and presented it to him.

"Yes, me too." Yang Fan also presented a gift list.

"Then I won't be polite." Zhao Hao accepted it with a smile, waved his hand again, asked the two to go away, then turned to look at Chen Huaixiu.

"Old Niu and Old Ma have also joined in. They know that you don't have time to argue with them, so they asked me to pass them on." Chen Huaixiu also smiled and took out two gift lists. Needless to say, there was also one for her.

Perhaps it was because he returned to the Sand Ship Gang's old nest, or perhaps it was because he did not have the emotional support before going to the battlefield, but at this moment Chen Huaixiu regained his former gentleness and restraint, just like the woman in Nan'ao Island who boldly gave him her black hair, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Of course, the more important reason was that she didn't want to disrupt Zhao Hao's performance in the slightest before he got married.

Zhao Hao stared at her deeply, and suddenly showed his wrist quickly. There was a bracelet made of black silk...

Chen Huaixiu's bitterness suddenly disappeared. He couldn't help but smile and said softly, "You still think it's not messy enough? Just throw it away when no one is around."

"Don't even think about it." Zhao Hao snorted, turned around and got on the boat.

Looking at his back, Chen Huaixiu smiled. Chongming Island in the dead of winter had a touch of brightness.

~~

As a result, the rowers, with the help of the northeast wind, rowed 600 miles upstream along the Yangtze River in just two days and brought Zhao Hao and his party to the outskirts of Jinling City.

On this day, the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Mr. Zhao successfully recovered at least two days of time. It can be seen that to be a master of time management, one must first be willing to spend money.

Huang Xiaohu, who arrived the day before, had already mobilized the people in Jinling City to take action. Yu Jiachang, Fang Zhanggui, and Qi Jingyun, who had now completely accepted Xiaocangshan, had been waiting at the outer Jinchuan Gate for a long time.

After the greetings, Shopkeeper Fang and his wife took Qiaoqiao home.

Ma Xianglan was an orphan and had no brothers or sisters. Even if there were relatives at home, she would not look for them. However, she had already worshipped Yu Jiachang as her adoptive father a few years ago and left his house. Yu Jiachang was of course very happy and had been arranging things at home for a long time. He happily took her home and waited for the young master to come and pick her up the next day.

After Yu Jiachang let go of Xiaocangshan, he thought he would be marginalized, but he unexpectedly became the son's godfather. This is really a rare good fortune.

You know, although Mr. Zhao has many wives, he doesn't have many fathers-in-law, so being a father-in-law is enough!

~~

Zhao Hao returned to the Zhao family's old house by the Qinhuai River, where his dream began...

The days are short in winter, and it was already dark when Zhao Hao got home. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar courtyard, scenes from the past emerged before his eyes, and he suddenly felt some different emotions.

When I came here, I was still a teenager playing hide-and-seek, but now I have grown up and am about to get married.

He suddenly felt a panic urge to escape and did not have the courage to face the drastic change in his life that was about to happen.

Just then, the guard reported that Lord Hai had arrived.

"Please come in quickly." Zhao Hao shuddered, just like when he was a child and learned that his head teacher was going to visit his home, all his little emotions disappeared.

p.s. I wish you all a happy May Day.