There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 396 The Century-Old Problem

"Uh... we still need to make a lot more money."

Unfortunately, her inn duty had a deadline; if she didn't complete it within the allotted time, Xiao Jizi wouldn't be able to go home.

If she can't go home, she'll have to keep doing missions.

She didn't want to work for the system her whole life; she had to finish as soon as possible.

“I’ve saved up quite a bit of money over the past two years, you can take it and use it first,” Gu Ziying said, then looked at An Lan, “Go and get my coin box.”

"No, no," Li Shuchen hurriedly refused. "Ziying, you're getting married soon. You should keep this money as your dowry. I earn enough for myself; I just want to earn more and save."

"Yes, now that you're the wife of a top scholar, you should hurry up and start saving up for your dowry," Gu Ziying joked.

"In the blink of an eye, you're all getting married," Princess Changning sighed softly.

"Hasn't Young Master Ruan been pursuing you? What are you thinking?" Li Chen asked curiously.

"I feel... I don't have any romantic feelings for him, only gratitude, even though he's been very good to me."

"Yes, if you don't like someone, don't force yourself. Being nice to you shouldn't be a criterion for choosing a partner."

I'll listen to you.

After the three finished their meal, Li Shuchen patted his stomach and suggested...

"Let's go for a walk in the back garden to digest our food. The elm-leaf plum blossoms there are in full bloom, their pink and white petals complementing each other, just like little plum blossoms—it's so beautiful and interesting!"

"Where did you see that? I didn't know about it," Princess Changning asked suspiciously.

"Just now, I took you up to the house... cough... to see it, have you forgotten?" Li Shuchen winked at Princess Changning.

"I remember now, that's right. Let's go then."

Princess Changning pulled Gu Ziying to her feet.

The three of them walked together towards the back garden.

Halfway there, Li Shuchen clutched his stomach and cried out.

"Ouch, my stomach hurts so much, Changning, come with me to the outhouse."

“Alright,” Princess Changning readily agreed, then looked at Gu Ziying, “Ziying, you go to the back garden first. I’ll accompany Li Shuchen to the outhouse; she’s clumsy and doesn’t know the way.”

I'll go with you.

"No," Li Shuchen interrupted, "You're dressed so beautifully today, don't let the smell bother you. Changning, just stay with me. Let's go, I can't hold it in anymore."

Li Shuchen pulled Princess Changning along as they ran.

Gu Ziying watched the two figures gradually disappear and shook her head helplessly before walking towards the back garden.

……

Princess Changning, now back on the roof, was utterly bewildered. Looking at Li Shuchen, who was looking up and searching for something, she couldn't help but kick him.

Li Shuchen turned around in pain

"Why did you kick me?"

"Didn't you say you needed to use the outhouse? Why did you take me up to the roof? And to make matters worse, I have to lie down on the roof tiles. They're cold, hard, and hurting my bones."

"That's because you're too thin; I don't mind it being uncomfortable."

"I'm not lying down anymore, help me down," Princess Changning said, rubbing her sore elbow as she stood up.

"Don't you want to see if Young Master Xiao and Ziying might bump into each other?"

"It can't be such a coincidence, can it?" Princess Changning said, disbelievingly, but her body betrayed her, and she leaned back down.

The two lay low for a moment, then saw Yunshan Lan's figure appear in the back garden.

"Young Master Xiao is here," Li Shuchen whispered.

"Really, where?"

"Under that biggest peach tree, do you see it?"

"I saw it! I saw it! He saw Ziying, and Ziying saw him too! They made eye contact!"

……

Princess Changning, standing on the ground, glared at Li Shuchen with displeasure.

"I asked you to take me with you, but you wouldn't. Then, when I told you not to take me, you took me faster than anyone else. I haven't even seen them say a word yet."

"Seeing them meet is enough. Let's go see the flowering plum trees somewhere further away."

Li Shuchen pulled Princess Changning and walked in the opposite direction from Gu Ziying.

until

Vast expanses of flowering plum trees came into view, blooming recklessly and unrestrainedly, their dense petals overlapping each other, bending the branches under their weight.

Sunlight filters through, making the thin petals almost transparent, shimmering with a soft, pearly light, and releasing a sweet, intoxicating fragrance.

"There really is a Chinese flowering plum; you really didn't lie to me."

Princess Changning bent down to smell the fragrance of the flowers, her expression innocent and carefree.

Li Shuchen lay on the wooden chair, basking in the sunlight, closing his eyes to savor the feeling of spring.

"Let's rest here for a while, then we'll go find Ziying later."

"it is good"

One person admires the flowers, another is slightly tipsy; the days are peaceful and serene.

"Sister, you're here too!"

Li Shuchen opened his eyes and got up, only to see Li Lingxiao walking towards him from afar.

"Why are you here?"

"I was accompanying Brother Xiao to digest his meal when we unexpectedly ran into Sister Gu, so I made an excuse to leave and ended up here while wandering around."

"No classes today? Why are you here to help Young Master Xiao propose marriage?"

"Brother Xiao asked me to take him to the place where he catches wild geese early this morning. I thought about the importance of Brother Xiao's marriage to Sister Gu, so I asked the teacher for leave. I watched Brother Xiao catch those two wild geese with my own eyes. They weren't hurt at all; they were the most beautiful pair."

“Normally, the geese used for engagement gifts are purchased by servants, but it's quite thoughtful of Young Master Xiao to catch them himself,” Princess Changning said, sitting down next to Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen looked up and asked Li Lingxiao a crucial multiple-choice question.

"On the day your brother Xiao and your sister Gu got married, did you go to help your brother Xiao or your sister Gu?"

Li Lingxiao answered without hesitation.

"Brother Xiao knows very few people in the capital. As his good friend, I will definitely marry Sister Gu in the presence of his relatives and friends. But if Sister Gu is wronged after the marriage, I will definitely stand by her side, even if it is her fault."

Li Shuchen nodded in satisfaction after listening.

"That's right, your sister Gu didn't spoil you for nothing. We're going to stand by your sister Gu."

"Does Young Master Xiao know how you treat him?" Princess Changning asked Li Lingxiao.

"If Brother Xiao truly loves Sister Gu, he will only see me as loyal and reliable once he finds out."

Li Shuchen sighed and said, "Household servants are still the most loyal; they know whose side to stand on."

Princess Changning asked in confusion

"Which servant? Whom is he loyal to?"

"Alright, alright, it's about time. Let's go find Ziying."

Li Shuchen avoided answering and led the two back to the back garden. After exchanging pleasantries, they each went home.

March 19th, the eleventh year of the Purple Star Dynasty

It was the day to set off for peace talks.

Li Shuchen got up early and instructed everyone at the inn on matters.

The eighth and ninth brothers, one carrying a sword and the other a saber, followed closely behind Li Shuchen, never leaving his side.

Grape, carrying Li Shuchen's bundle, followed closely behind.

Li Shuchen turned around and said, "You don't need to follow me anymore. I'm really not bringing anyone this time."

"Miss, please take us with you. We can protect you. The journey is dangerous; you might encounter bandits and be in great danger."

The eighth brother persuaded him, and the ninth brother nodded.

Grape followed closely.

"And take me with you, I'll take good care of you, Miss."

Li Shuchen explained, "Yu Ying will also be going, and so will the Mulan Army. They will protect me, so you don't need to worry. It's not that I don't want to take you, but the mountain roads are difficult to traverse, and the fewer people going, the better."

"With so many envoys on the mission, and General Liang also having to protect important court officials, how can he possibly manage everything? It would be safer to bring us two sisters along."