The next day, there was no need to go to work, so Manbao lingered in bed for a bit. It was only when she heard the knock on the door that she got up.
Xu Yu brought warm water for her to wash up and then turned to tidy up the bed. She noticed the book by the bedside, her eyes flickering slightly. She glanced back, saw Manbao washing her face with her head down, and reached out to pick up the book.
The book had a common blue cover, with five big characters on the front, "History of Ancient dical Science." She was about to open it for a look when Manbao’s laughing voice suddenly ca from behind, "Just put that book on the table. After you’ve made the bed, bring breakfast here."
Xu Yu was startled, but her hands steadily placed the book on the table nearby. Without turning her head, she continued to straighten the quilt and replied with a smile, "Yes."
After drying her hands, Manbao hung the towel on a rack, walked back to the table to pick up the book and flipped through it. Xu Yu, after making the bed, quietly retreated.
Keke only spoke after she had left, "Host, she’s gone far."
Manbao softly uttered "Hmm" and, instead of placing the book in her book box, stored it in the system. She thought to herself that such books should be placed in the system from now on. It’s too troubleso to keep them in the book box, and putting them on the shelf is too conspicuous.
Manbao organized the dical kit and placed it on the rack, then stuffed so items she’d need to take out of the palace into her cloth bag.
By the ti Xu Yu brought breakfast over, the book on the table had already disappeared.
Manbao sat in the outer room to have breakfast and told her, "You can go about your chores. I’ll take this out myself once I’m done eating."
Xu Yu acknowledged, bowed, and quietly left.
After finishing her al, Manbao placed the tray outside the door, then slung her cloth bag over her shoulder, securely locked the door and windows, and went to the next door to et up with Bai Shan and the others.
Bai Shan and the others also brought only their schoolwork out of the palace, leaving everything else behind, so they traveled lightly.
This ti, they exited through Changle Gate. Without any ti restrictions, they walked leisurely, mainly to accommodate Yin Huo, otherwise, they would have dashed off.
Over the past eight days, Yin Huo had been well cared for. Manbao’s prescribed dication was delivered to the Imperial Hospital, which provided him with the necessary dicine. Ma Fuming, the eunuch who served them in that chamber, would help him brew the dicine. Combined with Manbao’s acupuncture, his health was quite good recently.
So when they strolled leisurely towards Changle Gate, he was only slightly out of breath.
The carriages from each family were already waiting outside Changle Gate. Bai Shan and the others spotted Daji and waved before running over.
Daji asked with a smile, "Young master, where are Daoli and the others?"
"They’re being kept at the Eastern Palace. This ti during our break, we’re not going horseback riding, so we didn’t bring them along."
The weather was hot now, and they definitely wouldn’t have the inclination to ride out under the scorching sun for horseback riding in the countryside.
Daji chuckled, helping them onto the wagon by putting down the step ladder.
The carriage gradually moved toward outside of the imperial city.
Today, there weren’t many people in the imperial city, only the thirty students and their families who had co to pick them up. Since the court officials also had a day off, most had returned ho the night before, and didn’t even co to the imperial city today.
Besides a few on-duty individuals, the entire imperial city seed deserted, yet those on duty wouldn’t be loitering outside their offices.
Thus, everyone could freely ride out of the imperial city. Upon reaching the fork in the road, so turned to exit through Vermilion Bird Gate, while others continued ahead to leave through Anshang Gate.
Chongyuan Courtyard was southeast of Anshang Gate, not far from the imperial city, so they exited directly through Anshang Gate.
Back at Zhou Residence, Zhou SiLang was indeed at ho. He had just returned to the capital yesterday and had only then learned about Manbao’s appointnt as a fifth-rank official.
Seeing her now, he was utterly delighted, "You really beca an official?"
Manbao modestly nodded, "So-so."
Zhou SiLang grinned widely and asked, "Do you have an official credential?"
Manbao beca wary, "What do you need an official credential for?"
"To use it as a protective talisman, of course! Just imagine, in Chenggu County, if I had your official credential, would the county magistrate dare allow the Luo Family to bully our family?" He reasoned, "Even if they didn’t arrest the Luo Family mbers, at least they wouldn’t dare let them continue to bully us."
Manbao thought for a mont and agreed, "You’re right, but how to use the official credential is a very serious matter, Fourth Brother. Don’t use it to commit misdeeds or abuse power; otherwise, whether anything happens to you or not, I might end up beheaded."
Zhou SiLang, who was scheming a little in his mind, was startled and asked, "Is it that serious?"
On the side, Bai Shan laughed and explained, "It’s not a trivial matter. A few years ago, it was reported that a minister from the Ministry of Personnel gave his cousin an official credential. That cousin used it to occupy land in his hotown. After being reported, the entire family was exiled to Lingnan."
Zhou SiLang was struck as if by lightning and quickly promised Manbao, "Rest assured, I won’t misuse your official credential. At most, if we get bullied badly, we’ll bring it out to clear the way."
Only then did Manbao say, "I’ll write one for you later."
She was genuinely concerned that her Fourth Brother, while traveling outside, might get bullied. Having an official credential ant they could better enlist the aid of soldiers if they ran into bandits on the road.
Manbao went to write the official credential while Bai Shan couldn’t help but ask Zhou SiLang, "Has Fourth Brother Zhou decided to go to Xiazhou?"
Zhou SiLang nodded, "Once we’ve decided on Sixth’s marriage and set the wedding date, we’ll leave. At most, we’ll return in two months, just in ti to prepare for Sixth’s wedding."
Fourth Sister-in-law Zhou’s illness had improved, and the matchmaker Zhou SiLang had initially hired had already made arrangents with the Qiu Family. They were now only waiting for Ms. Fang to recover so she could represent the won of the Zhou Family and accompany Zhou SiLang to finalize the engagent.
Once the engagent was settled, a good date for the wedding could be chosen imdiately, and both families could start preparing.
Zhou SiLang still asked Manbao, "Tomorrow is your Sixth Brother’s engagent, are you going?"
"Are we having a feast at ho?"
Zhou SiLang shook his head and said, "It’s too troubleso. Let’s eat at our family’s restaurant and invite Mr. Zhuang and Old Madam Liu to join in for so fun. The Qiu Family has also invited a table of relatives and friends, so it should be lively enough."
He was referring to the evening al, but prior to that, the betrothal gifts needed to be settled before inviting people. However, this marriage had been discussed between the two families for quite so ti, and they had already gone over all the issues that needed discussing. They didn’t foresee any problems.
Thus, Manbao nodded in agreent and went along with Zhou SiLang, Zhou Wulang, and his wife to the Qiu Family the next day.
Zhou Lichong and the others wanted to join in the fun as well, but since they were juniors, Zhou SiLang felt bringing too many people might look like a confrontation, so he didn’t let them go. Instead, he had them help out at the restaurant, preparing lunch and dinner als.
Zhou Liulang was early dressed anew, loaded with gifts by Zhou SiLang, and personally brought them to the Qiu Family.
Old Man Qiu had also earlier invited relatives from the Qiu Family and his in-laws to be witnesses. Upon eting, Zhou SiLang and Old Man Qiu clasped hands warmly, exchanging cordial greetings.
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