As soon as Huo Huaixi came out of the Emperor Emeritus's palace, he saw an eunuch shouting, "Emperor Emeritus, Your Majesty, great news! Prince Bei Jing has launched a surprise attack on the Xiongnu's rear, capturing the fierce Xiongnu general Dada Khan. The Xiongnu camp has retreated more than a hundred miles away."
"Hahaha, rewards, everyone gets a reward."
"Thank you for the Emperor Emeritus's gift."
...
Huo Huaixi lowered his head and looked down, a hint of mockery appearing on his lips, but it vanished in an instant. He strode away without lingering.
...
Shen Ajiao looked around but couldn't find a small ice sculpture she liked, so she decided to go back and find a piece of ice to try. She then dragged Lin Ruhai outside for a while, but they couldn't find Lin Daiyu. "Did she go back first?"
"No way?"
Shen Ajiao and Lin Ruhai decided to search again. After searching for a long time, they finally found Zhou Shun and Lin Daiyu at a place where people were performing the act of breaking a large stone on their chests.
Lin Daiyu covered most of her eyes with a handkerchief, and even hid her body behind Zhou Shun, only revealing half of her head.
[Both bad at the game and love to play.]
Lin Ruhai: What you say is absolutely right!
Lin Daiyu: You won't even let me be afraid?
Just then, a burly man swung a large hammer and smashed it down. With a loud crash, the boulder shattered into countless pieces.
"good!"
...
Daiyu quickly put the silver she had prepared into the tipping plate, and then stole a glance at the person who had been hit. Only when the person got up and stood up energetically, clasped his hands in a fist salute, did Lin Daiyu give a thumbs up.
Zhou Shun, "You're scared already?"
"You weren't this nervous when you saw that fire-breathing guy last time."
Lin Daiyu: "What's so scary about that? The fire-breathing mouth has been protected so it won't burn you. This thing has nothing on it, and it's scary just looking at it."
If it weren't for Lunar New Year's Eve, we wouldn't see anything like this. In the past, it was just a variety show, like walking a dog or performing with a monkey.
Zhou Shun said, "They're all just trying to make a living. What special measures do they have? It's all accumulated experience and training over the years."
Lin Daiyu's mouth gaped open. "Really, there were no protective measures?"
Zhou Shun suddenly laughed and said, "I was just kidding you. Look how scared you are."
"You! I hate you!"
"Haha, come on, I'll take you to have some tea. There's a teahouse on the street that I heard has a new tea that everyone says tastes good. It also comes with some snacks, which are savory."
Lin Daiyu snorted coldly, "I'm not going, I'm going to find Madam."
Zhou Shun said, "Okay, let's bring Sister Ajiao along."
The two turned their heads and saw Chen Ajiao and Lin Ruhai under the persimmon lantern tree in the distance. Each of them had a roasted sweet potato in their hand, steaming hot. Behind them, An was carrying a roasted pear, breathing out hot air, and wincing from the heat.
Shen Ajiao said, "You've finished watching, come on, let's go have some tea."
Zhou Shun didn't stand on ceremony and followed Shen Ajiao and Lin Ruhai to drink tea.
Lin Daiyu stuck out her tongue and hmphed, then quickly took Chen Ajiao's arm. "Madam, I want to eat the wontons from that place you mentioned last time. Can I eat spicy food?"
Zhou Shun raised his hand from behind, "I want to eat too."
Lin Ruhai rolled his eyes at Zhou Shun. Why isn't this guy home yet?
"Your father has already returned home."
Zhou Shun nodded. "I know."
Lin Ruhai: Aren't you going back to keep watch?
Zhou Shun lowered his head and fiddled with the sword at his waist. "Uncle Lin."
Lin Ruhai, "Hmm?"
“My grandmother said I don’t have to go back.”
Lin Ruhai... What a big deal! Should we tell him?
"I'm going to visit my second uncle after the New Year."
Lin Ruhai, you're telling me about this too?
Suddenly it occurred to me, isn't Zhou Yanzhe in the Northern Border? Is Zhou Shun going to find his second uncle? Is he going to the Northern Border?
He gave Zhou Shun a deep look and asked, "Can your family withstand the test?"
Zhou Shun laughed and said, "I'm just a nobody, what kind of test could I possibly be facing?"
His second uncle had already gone to the northern border. His second uncle earned his military merits on his own. He was just gaining experience, and he would still have to take the imperial examination when he returned.
"Good lad, come on, let your uncle invite you for tea."
As Shen Ajiao and Lin Daiyu were chatting, they suddenly saw Lin Ruhai, who hadn't been very fond of Zhou Shun, patting Zhou Shun on the shoulder with great satisfaction and even offering him tea.
What happened to your father?
Lin Daiyu shook her head, indicating that she was also puzzled. In the past, her father would be lucky if he didn't chase Zhou Shun away, let alone invite him for tea.
"Good thing."
"It's a good omen." At least from now on, if Lin Ruhai sees Zhou Shun, he'll either be on the exam paper or sitting on the sidelines.
As a result, on the first day of the new year, Shen Ajiao and Lin Daiyu received a letter from Zhou Shun, saying that he was going to experience the local customs and culture of various places and would send them local specialties when he arrived.
Shen Ajiao and Lin Daiyu were also full of doubt. This person didn't say a word yesterday, but today he dropped a bombshell.
Lin Ruhai smiled without saying a word, only saying, "A good man's ambition lies in all directions."
Lin Daiyu didn't say much, but silently returned to her room.
Shen Ajiao cursed inwardly, "You brat, you didn't even say goodbye before leaving. You really don't treat me like your older sister!"
She fed him so much good food, and even yesterday's red envelope was the thickest one. He just left like that, so heartless and ungrateful. She's furious and will never play with him again!
Lin Ruhai couldn't care less about Shen Ajiao and Lin Daiyu. There were too many things to do these past two days. The matter of the Dowager Consort in the palace had to be kept secret, and when news of Shui Rong's matter came back, the Emperor Emeritus would inevitably have to take some action.
Yesterday I met Prince Teng, who was returning to the capital to report on his duties, in the palace. He was sarcastic and spoke in unison with Shen Shinan, which was really annoying.
Having to face them on the first day of the new year is bad luck.
However, he still greeted Shen Ajiao and told her that Wang Ziteng had returned to Beijing.
Shen Ajiao frowned, "Is this person petty and narrow-minded?"
Seeing Lin Ruhai's furrowed brows, Shen Ajiao knew that this man was not as simple as Madam Wang; he was a difficult person to deal with.
"And what about Madam Wang?"
Lin Ruhai said, "He was sent back yesterday afternoon. They said that an old nanny around him confessed that she had borrowed some money in the name of the Rongguo Mansion, relying on the family's power. However, it wasn't usury, but rather she borrowed money from her own relatives at a higher interest rate."
"As for Tan Chun, Wang Ziteng said that he had found Tan Chun."
Shen Ajiao's eyes darted away. "He admitted his mistake, didn't he?"
Lin Ruhai laughed and said, "Of course you've mistaken her for someone else. After all, Tan Chun is dead, so where is Tan Chun now?"
Shen Ajiao felt a little guilty, "That's right, Tan Chun is so young and has never left the house, how could outsiders know her?"
Why are you looking at me? It has nothing to do with me.
Lin Ruhai smiled enigmatically, “Yes, what you say is quite right, Madam.”
Seeing Lin Ruhai looking at her, Shen Ajiao felt a little uneasy and quickly said, "You're just going to let him go like that?"
"A fine of one thousand taels of silver, revocation of the fifth-rank imperial decree, and an order to rectify the situation."
Lin Ruhai paused for a moment, then said, "The Ningguo Mansion has submitted a petition stating that the Duke of Ningguo has passed away and requesting that the plaque be replaced."
This was something Shen Ajiao hadn't expected; someone must have given the Ningguo Mansion an idea.
Just as Shen Ajiao was wondering who it was, Wang Xifeng arrived at the door.
However, instead of her usual cheerful smile, she came running with red eyes.
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