Chapter Fifty Concerns

  The maid looked at him with a faint smile.

  "So it is." Han Yuanchao nodded slightly, "I understand now."

  Without stopping or turning back, he didn't say anything and continued to ask about the customs of the capital city. The maid also didn't say anything else, just chatted and laughed as they proceeded forward.

  Looking at the wine house not far away, Han Yuan reined in his horse and beckoned a companion over.

  "Do you know how to ask?" he asked.

  That companion followed all the way and naturally heard what the maid and Han Yuanchao said. At this time, as soon as he was reminded, he understood and nodded with a smile.

  "Little brother, dare to ask, is there a Drunken Phoenix Pavilion here?" The companion said while looking up at the signboard outside, revealing a puzzled expression, with a thick accent.

  It's not time for dinner yet, and there aren't many people around. The waiters are standing scattered by the counter, and they all burst out laughing when they hear this.

  "Outsiders, you also know about Zui Feng Lou?" They laughed and said.

  "Yes, yes, three years ago, our young master had a meal here on his way and it was quite unforgettable. This time we came again, I specially looked for this place." Bao Dang said with a smile.

  Three years ago, in a year of great comparison, once again, students who were eager to learn and seek knowledge were common and not unusual.

  "Strangers, good memory, this is Drunken Phoenix Pavilion."

  "But now it's renamed Xianjianju."

  "After eating, it's unforgettable."

  The buddies were laughing and chatting, not suspecting a thing, and started talking to the companion. Before long, the companion had asked all the questions he needed to ask, and the store was starting to get busy. The companion took advantage of the opportunity to slip out unnoticed, and no one paid attention as he quickly returned to Han Yuan Chao and the maidservant's side.

  "It's not far, just over there in Songjiacun Village." Bao'er said in a low voice, pointing with his hand, "At the entrance of the village heading east, the house in front of a large pagoda tree."

  Han Yuanchao and his maid looked back, a village scattered in the winter fields not far away, clearly visible.

  Li Dazui is not his real name, but a nickname he was called after studying cooking.

  "Are you here to see the cowshed?" asked a withered old woman, opening her dim eyes. "Not to see the land?"

  Han Yuanchao looked puzzled, and the maid smiled and stepped forward.

  "No, we're not buying land," she said loudly. "I heard he's ill, so I've come with my husband to see if there's anything we can do to help."

  The old woman's eyes were dim and her ears were deaf.

  "That's good land, give us some more." she shouted loudly too.

  A woman came out of the house with red eyes, obviously having just cried.

  "Mother, has he arrived?" she asked, first seeing the maid stunned, then looking at Han Yuanchao, very surprised. "Young master, what brings you here?"

  Indeed, following Mr. Han has saved a lot of trouble. The maid glanced at Han Yuan Chao and thought that the young lady was considerate and thoughtful. However, if the young lady had helped because she saw injustice on the road, why didn't she pay attention to it at the time in front of the store?

  She thought of it in her mind, Han Yuan Chao had already met with that woman.

  Before he could speak, a hoarse and weak shout came from inside the house.

  "Don't sell the land, that's your dowry field. When I'm dead, you won't remarry, how will our family make a living?"

  The woman's tears flowed again, and she hastily wiped them away with her hand.

  Han Yu nodded slightly.

  "Don't worry, we're not here to buy land." he said.

  The old woman sitting at the door heard it this time.

  "What?" she shouted, staring with wide eyes, "Not buying land? Then what are you doing here?"

  The maid turned her head and smiled at her with pursed lips.

  "We're here to help," she said loudly.

  When Han Yuanchao returned to the inn, it was already after noon. His two companions were restless and waiting anxiously, and they both let out a sigh of relief when they saw him enter.

  "If you were really kidnapped by someone, how could we explain it to your parents?" They joked.

  Han Yuanchao burst out laughing and sat down, drinking a cup of hot tea to warm himself up.

  "It's neither a flower nor a robbery on the way." He smiled, rotating his tea cup. "I also saw that woman and man, the little maid gave them a bag of money and invited a doctor to diagnose and treat him. The man's illness is not serious, just melancholy. However, after this explanation, I think there shouldn't be any major problem."

  Companions nodded and let out a sigh of relief.

  "It's nothing." Han Yu turned the conversation around, smiling slightly at the two of them, "This divine residence seems to have a connection with Liu Zhang and Liu Yu Zhuo from the Ministry of Personnel's secret archives."

  The two companions' eyes widened instantly, and they took a deep breath of cool air. As adults, everyone knew what this meant with just one sentence.

  "Ah, the Yuan dynasty!" They involuntarily straightened their backs, their faces suddenly turning solemn. "This matter is indeed not good!"

  Han Yuanchao turned his teacup around, looking calm.

  "In the Yuan Dynasty, who exactly wants to use you as a gun?" a fellow asked.

  "No matter who the person is, this matter ends here. No matter who comes to say what again, Yuan Chao, you have already drawn your sword to help those in need, that's all. From now on, it's just closing the door and studying hard, waiting for the exam. Everything else has nothing to do with you." Another one said.

  "In this imperial city, on the court grounds, the water is too deep for us to probe. One of them also said with a hint of hidden worry, 'I thought it was just an interesting story, but unexpectedly... indeed, the romance and intrigue are only found in books.'"

  Just then, the window creaked loudly, startling the two of them so much that they almost jumped up, only to find that it was just the wind.

  Han Yuanchao couldn't help but laugh, dispelling the solemnity of just now, his expression becoming cheerful, and he got up to close the window.

  "Don't think too much about it, maybe it's just a simple matter of helping someone in need," he said. "Otherwise, why would she remind me that this divine residence is related to Liu Xiaoshu?"

  "There's no such easy thing in this world." The companions shook their heads.

  Han Yuanchao let out a loud cough, and his companions looked over to see him pointing at himself.

  "I helped that woman simply because I saw an injustice, even if I had known about Liu's affair at the time, I would have still spoken out, isn't this a simple matter?" He said with a smile.

  The two of them burst out laughing again at one sentence.

  "In the Yuan Dynasty, how many people like you were there?" The companions laughed and shook their heads.

  "Perhaps this maid's master is one of them." Han Yuanchao smiled and said.

  The companion shook his head and smiled wryly.

  "In short, this matter ends here in the Yuan dynasty. If anyone else comes looking for it, push them away at all costs." They said with a straight face.

  Han Yuanchao smiled slightly, not speaking, and looked out the window. The north wind rolled in, and two mischievous young men threw firecrackers into the snow, setting off a burst of snowy fog. He couldn't help but laugh, reached out to close the window, and blocked out the distant and near continuous sounds of firecrackers going off.

  The Xiu Wang Fu had already removed the funeral decorations, but due to the mourning rituals and etiquette, there were no red decorations or festive colors added, so the atmosphere was not as thick as in other people's homes.

  The King of Jin'an County pays respects to Queen Xiū.

  "It's great that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are urging you to return," said Xiū Wáng Fēi with a hint of relief, "you can go back after the New Year."

  The King of Jin left with some reluctance.

  "Mother, I'll stay with Father King for a while," he said, "at least half a year..."

  "You're talking nonsense, child." Empress Xiu interrupted him, her brow slightly furrowed. "Half a year, plus the journey, you'll be away from the capital for a whole year. A year is enough time for Her Majesty and His Majesty to become strangers to you."

  The Prince of Jin'an lowered his head.

  "You're grown up now, don't be arrogant and self-willed. You've been conferred the title of King, but you haven't received your fief yet." Princess Xiu said with a few words of deep meaning, "You can't lose the heart of a ruler."

  King of Jin'an Commandery Shi Li responded accordingly.

  "The two young princes are still young, it's rare that you can stay in the palace and raise them together with the same education, living together day and night. In the future, your relationship will be deep, others want to have this opportunity but don't." The Empress Dowager continued.

  The Prince of Jin'an County, Fudi, paid his respects again.

  "Thanks for your motherly teachings." He lifted his head, with a hint of gratitude and affection.

  The beautiful queen nodded.

  "Moreover, your younger brother's title of national duke will also be settled." She said, with a few parts of delight and a few parts of depression. "Your younger brother's national duke is not comparable to your title of king, you brothers both staying in the palace does not conform to etiquette or system."

  The King of Jin'an looked at Queen Xiuxian and lowered his head.

  "Yes," he said, "the child will set out for the capital at once."