Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1165 - 1162_1

Chapter 1165: Chapter 1162_1

The second day of the Dragon Boat Festival started early with a drizzle.

Just as Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er were about to leave the house, Shangguan Xuanyi received news that Lei Wu finally believed. He sent someone to tell Shangguan Ruixi about this.

As for the team he’d sent to investigate Lei Wu’s background, there was still no news.

Hearing Shangguan Xuanyi’s words, Xiao’er casually asked, "The traitor within Nangong Country?"

"Yes. Let’s go! Jinghao will be leaving soon."

"Okay!" Xiao’er agreed offhandedly, and they set off with the children to see Jinghao off at his parents’ house.

It wasn’t just Jinghao, but also Wen Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu.

Just as Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu wished, they also received assignments to head south. Liu Zhiwen was going to be placed nearer to Jingrui, while Liu Zhiwu would go directly with Jinghao to Zezhou, with Jinghao as the Magistrate, and him as the County Magistrate.

The difference in their positions was quite remarkable.

However, aside from the third-place examinee and second place, some candidates with high marks and renowned family backgrounds had become county magistrates, while the rest usually started as county magistrates.

Though their official positions were low, this imperial examination held the record for the highest appointment rate. It could be said every one of the scholars who received an appointment had de facto power!

With such ambitions, every appointed scholar stepped onto the political stage, ready to make their mark.

Difficult times create heroes! They were excited, for a larger political stage awaited them in the future.

Jinghao and his two brothers, Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu, had indicated beforehand that no one needed to accompany them. However, everyone showed up anyway.

Xiao’er initially planned to bring the children, but they had to remain at home due to the rain.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er arrived at Marquis Shengping’s mansion.

Upon not seeing Xi’er, Xiao’er asked, "Where’s Xi’er?"

On such a day, there was no way that girl would miss out! Knowing that Jinghao was leaving for the south for several years, she had to bid him farewell.

Mrs. Liu replied, "Xi’er wanted to come along, but she developed a fever this morning. I made her stay in bed and forbade her from going out."

"A fever? It’s not severe, is it?" Xiao’er was a bit surprised. Given that Xi’er had been raised eating food from the space, it was safe to say that she’d never fallen ill in her life!

"It’s not severe. She’s slightly feverish but appears lively and jovial. I just didn’t want her to catch a chill in the rain," Mrs. Liu replied.

Xiao’er didn’t give it much thought after hearing this, they had plenty of medicines at home, after all. It wouldn’t be a problem.

Everyone set off together, accompanying Jinghao, Liu Zhiwen, and Liu Zhiwu as far as Shili Pavilion.

Gazing at their sons receding away on the carriage, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Tan felt a mix of reluctance and joy.

The reluctance stemmed from knowing they wouldn’t see their sons for several years, the joy from seeing them finally achieve something. From then on, their life could only become better and better!

"Mom, good men should have ambitions. This is a good thing; you mustn’t cry," Xiao’er comforted Mrs. Liu, as she noticed a faint sheen of tears at the corners of her eyes.

Wiping away a tear, Mrs. Liu said with a smile, "I’m joyful, dear. You’ve all grown up and achieved success."

"In the future, Jinghao will be even more accomplished. Let’s go back now. The rain is getting heavier," Xiao’er said with a faint smile, glancing at the distant sky shrouded in dark clouds. Yet what did it matter? After the storm, there would always be sunlight.

Who in life hasn’t encountered trials and tribulations? However, sunny days are always more numerous!

Everyone returned to their respective mansions.

Only Jinghao, Liu Zhiwen, and Liu Zhiwu were together in one carriage, intending to take a passenger ship at the pier.

The journey was long, but traveling by water was much faster than by land, which would save them about ten days’ time.

They had their luggage sent ahead of time by the family’s merchant team. They only carried small bundles with them, traveling very lightly.

When they arrived at the pier, the rain had already subsided.

A Shi family passenger ship was docked at the pier, and the captain was waiting for them. As their employers’ great-great-grandchildren, he had to personally see them off!

After the captain greeted each of them, he smilingly said:

"I didn’t expect the young masters to arrive so early. And I thought that with the rain, you might want to stay indoors for a while."

"We can’t afford any further delays in our trip," Jinghao explained.

"Very well, I’ll set sail immediately. I assure you, we won’t delay the young masters’ appointments!" On hearing this, the captain hurriedly ran off.

Jinghao, Liu Zhiwen, and Liu Zhiwu all laughed.

The rest of the day was rainless, with the sun beating down on the deck. The passengers on the ship all hid in the cabin. The ship continued southward without anchoring for the night.

At night, when the heat had dissipated, the passengers who had been cooped up in the cabin all day couldn’t help but go out on the deck for fresh air.

After dinner, Jinghao and his two brothers also left the cabin and went to the deck, intending to enjoy the river breeze and then retire for the night.

When they arrived at the deck, they saw two familiar figures, one tall and one short, leaning against the guardrail.

A sense of unease rose in Jinghao’s heart.

He strode over. Xi’er just happened to turn around and see Jinghao. "Second Brother! You’ve finally come out!" she greeted cheerfully.

On seeing the two of them, Jinghao’s face darkened, looking more ominous than the morning sky.

At that moment, Gu Qiling also turned around. After glancing at Jinghao, she became anxious, but still mustered up the courage and said softly, "Senior Brother!"

"Both of you?" Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu were so shocked they couldn’t speak.

"How come you two are here?" Jinghao barely managed to utter this sentence through gritted teeth!

Xi’er, however, was not afraid of him. She knew that Jinghao was just a paper tiger. Compared to Xiao’er, he and her other brother were powerless against her. She always ended up having her way!

With a brilliant smile on her face, Xi’er said, "We planned to accompany you to take up your post!"

"Nonsense!" Jinghao looked stern and admonished, "Accompany me to take up my post? Do you know how many years I’ll be gone? Do you think this is a game? Tomorrow, when the ship docks, if there’s a ship going back to the Imperial Capital, you’re going back immediately!"

"I refuse!"

"It’s not up to you..." Jinghao was about to say something.

But then Gu Qiling pleaded, holding onto Jinghao’s sleeve, "Senior Brother, we won’t be a burden to you. We’ve never been to the south, and we heard that the trees there are green all year round. We want to see that."

Knowing that Jinghao was more susceptible to a soft approach, Gu Qiling quickly tried to act coquettishly.

"No! If you want to see, we’ll..." Jinghao was about to suggest visiting after they marry, but then realized there were other people on the deck, so he quickly amended, "You can see it another time. Now the south is at war, it’s too chaotic! Tomorrow, you must board a ship back to the Imperial Capital!"

This time Jinghao would not acquiesce under any circumstances!

He knew once they were there, he would certainly be overwhelmed with work. Plus, he was unfamiliar with the place, he couldn’t possibly handle this additional responsibility.

These two had just toured a brothel and now they presented him with this unexpected situation. Was it that they found his life too carefree?