"Emperor, I remember General Li returned..."
Yan Xiu stopped pacing, stood on the golden platform with his hands behind his back, and stared at Shen Quan with his dark phoenix eyes.
Shen Quan: ...
"General Li used to send some silver taels to Li Xiurong, but General Li should have reached Beihuang by now. Although he came back last time, he was in such a hurry that he probably didn’t have time to help Li Xiurong with anything."
"I suppose Li Xiurong must have left the palace without enough silver taels this time."
Shen Quan realized that the oppressive atmosphere above his head was gradually dissipating as he finished speaking, and he let out a heavy sigh in his heart.
Fortunately, his timely intervention saved him; otherwise, he might have joined Song Sheng in the dungeon.
"It’s getting late."
Yan Xiu looked out the window.
Shen Quan glanced at the blue sky where the sun had not set yet and nodded: "Indeed, I wonder if Li Xiurong has found a place to dine."
"She is so reckless; it might be good for her to go hungry and learn a lesson."
"The Emperor speaks wisely, but I heard that Qingle Park recently put on a play that’s quite popular. The Emperor has been handling affairs all day and must be tired; perhaps going to Qingle Park to listen to the opera would be a nice relaxation?"
Shen Quan looked at the stack of memorials on the dragon desk, which rose higher than a three-year-old child. He sincerely suggested.
"I haven’t listened to an opera in a long time," Yan Xiu sighed.
Shen Quan bowed: "If the Emperor dresses in civilian attire today and mingles with the commonfolk, naturally he can hear their voices more clearly, a blessing for the people."
"Quite right, let’s proceed then."
"Yes." Shen Quan had only half completed his bow when he noticed Yan Xiu already striding out of the threshold with his long legs.
...
Capital City’s bustling market.
Li Yuyu, carrying a small bundle, happily looked around left and right, occasionally picking up small items at the stalls to play with.
The purse filled with small silver pieces hung at her waist, while the silver notes given by Li Mo were carefully hidden in her clothes. Of course, she had prudently taken out a few silver notes worth several hundred taels and tucked them into her sleeves, just in case she stumbled upon expensive goods she wished to buy without exposing all her wealth.
Back then, she had watched many historical dramas and read many historical novels, gaining experience.
In such a bustling market, there were many thieves.
Being a charming young lady wandering alone made her an easy target for those with ill intentions.
Li Yuyu was munching on crispy peanuts she had just bought from a stall, pondering where to dine when suddenly someone called her from behind.
"Yu’er, it’s really you! I thought I was mistaken."
A young woman in a royal blue long dress cheerfully lifted her hem and ran to Li Yuyu’s side, directly grabbing her hand.
Li Yuyu: !!!
Who is this!
"Yu’er, why are you here? Are you also going to Qingle Park for the opera?" The woman tilted her head and asked with a smile.
Li Yuyu: ...
Does this person know who I am or not?
"Lingling, who is this?" A graceful woman in a pale pink long dress approached.
Li Yuyu turned her head to look.
Just as the woman looked over too, initially her charming eyes squinted slightly but quickly returned to their normal state.
"Mei’er, this is Yu’er, General Li’s younger sister. Yu’er, she is Zhao Mei, the daughter of Lord Zhao." The woman called Lingling finished speaking and winked at Li Yuyu: "She’ll be your sister from now on."
Li Yuyu: ?
Seeing Li Yuyu’s puzzled expression, Wan Lingling gently laughed and explained: "The Empress Dowager is helping the Emperor with matchmaking. Soon Mei’er will enter the palace to become a concubine."