Free Web NovelChapter 2351: Chapter 2326: Arrival in the Capital
Manbao and his group couldn’t stay long in Xiazhou, so after visiting their longevity plaque on the mountain, they prepared to return to the capital city with joy.
At this time, thanks to Xiang Ming’s assistance, Dayu had met seven or eight matchmakers in Xiazhou City but hadn’t found the wife he was looking for.
He could only pocket the silver and followed the group to bid Zhou Man farewell, saying, "I’ve heard the capital is big. Are the people sold there any better?"
Manbao also learned Dayu’s spouse criteria from Zhou Lijun. Seeing him looking sadly towards the capital, she patted his shoulder and said, "Brother Dayu, if you want to marry a heavenly fairy-like person, you must first transform into a god-like one yourself. Only then can you be a match for them, and you might have a chance to meet such a person."
Dayu: "... Is such a heavenly fairy-like person? Not even as good as you?"
Manbao shook her head earnestly, "No, much stronger than me. Apart from knowing some characters and a bit of medicine, all I have is intelligence and beauty. The rest I can’t achieve."
Dayu paused, pondering, "Should I broaden my conditions then?"
The brothers behind him immediately said to Zhou Man, "Lord Zhou, how can you remind him? He should stay single."
"That’s right. If he marries, it will only harm the girl. If she doesn’t meet his expectations, wouldn’t they become a pair of resentful companions?"
"Exactly, exactly. He should continue looking for such heavenly fairy-like people."
Dayu waved them away, "Shoo shoo, why are you everywhere?"
Manbao said, "If you wish, you can come with us to the capital to see."
Dayu was slightly tempted but shook his head, "Forget it, if my big brother finds out I privately ran to the capital, he would kill me."
Yang Heshu chuckled and said to him, "Xiazhou has a large population, especially after April each year when many merchants arrive, usually bringing their female relatives. Brother Dayu, if you don’t mind, you can visit Xiazhou City a few more times. You might meet your destined one."
Manbao and Bai Shan both recommended Xiazhou, "Indeed, Xiazhou has a large population. Finding a wife depends on feeling. You meet more people, and maybe one will catch your eye."
Dayu looked at them skeptically.
Manbao, somewhat indignant said, "Suspicious of us? Haven’t you noticed, I’m already engaged, so don’t I have more experience than you?"
Bai Shan turned to look at her, wanting to tell her, "Even if you’re engaged, you don’t have more experience than others."
Who knew Dayu would think deeply, slightly nodding, "Makes sense."
Bai Shan quickly pulled Manbao and everyone to say goodbye.
Yang Heshu and Ms. Cui nodded and smiled at them, "Take care on the journey. We’ve prepared plenty of vegetables, smoked meat, and frozen meat for you. According to the schedule, you might spend New Year’s on the road, and it will be difficult to find inns or restaurants. Prepare more for the road."
They further instructed, "Do not linger too long on the road. If you don’t return after the seventh day, it will be difficult to explain to His Majesty."
Manbao and Bai Shan agreed together and then set off.
Their convoy merged with Xiang Ming’s caravan, traveling together up to Yongzhou before splitting.
Manbao and the group rushed swiftly towards the capital. Zhou Lijun and the group decided to stay for a day at the Yongzhou villa before entering the capital the next day.
Thus, Manbao and the group entered the capital with a truly simplified convoy, totaling just three carriages of luggage, directly reducing nine baggage carts.
The ox carts carrying the wounded soldiers also picked up their pace, but when oxen increased their speed, they lacked stamina, so they didn’t run very fast.
Thankfully, Yongzhou wasn’t too far from the capital, and Manbao and the group finally arrived before the hour of Shen.
Upon entering the city, Manbao was momentarily bewildered, not knowing where to go, until Mr. Zhuang said, "First, let’s go to the post station, then to the Honglu Temple next door to submit the official seal, send someone to deliver a message to the palace, and finally wait at each one’s house for news."
Mr. Zhuang said, "Today is the fourth of the month, and the offices have not yet opened for official matters, so His Majesty might not summon us."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt relieved and immediately headed to the post station. Of course, they didn’t need to stay at the post station—the wounded soldiers on the ox carts did. Manbao also didn’t want them to pay, nor did she herself, directly telling the Post Station Steward, "These are patients who’ve been vaccinated with cowpox. His Majesty might summon them later, so don’t neglect them."
The Post Station Steward looked at the soldiers, who were either old or missing arms and legs, speechlessly for a while, "The patients chosen by Lord Zhou... are indeed quite unique."
Manbao laughed, "Not at all, not at all, anyway, I leave them to you now. Please take good care of them."
She then handed the retreating old soldiers her address, "I live at the Zhou Residence in Chongyuan Courtyard. If you need me, just ask around; you’ll find it. Here’s my visiting card."
The old soldiers immediately took it, and the Post Station Steward, seeing this, dared not neglect these people, and with a smile, led them to their rooms to rest.
Mr. Zhuang led Manbao to the Honglu Temple to submit the official seal.
The Honglu Temple had officials on duty who were surprised to see Zhou Man return at this time and then rejoiced, "Oh, Lord Zhou, Lord Zhuang, you finally returned."
They had heard of their news twenty days ago, but the people hadn’t returned until now. They were very worried, afraid they had encountered bandits or accidents en route, having survived the campaign to the west but faced trouble when triumphantly returning to the capital.
However, while there were officials on duty at Honglu Temple, it couldn’t issue the certificate at this moment, so they couldn’t provide Zhou Man with the completion document. Yet they still took their seal, smilingly giving them a receipt for the seal and then inquiring happily, "Lord Zhou, was the journey smooth?"
Manbao nodded with a smile, "Very smooth. Those who have been vaccinated with cowpox are currently staying at the nearby post station. Later, the Imperial Hospital will come to diagnose and confirm the situation. His Majesty might also summon them."
The official from Honglu Temple was pleased and quickly asked, "Have you sent someone to notify the palace?"
If not, he didn’t mind letting someone from Honglu Temple make the trip.
Upon hearing that Assistant General Nie had already sent soldiers over, he was slightly disappointed and then smiled, "Today is the fourth. Offices haven’t opened for official matters, so notifying the palace’s safety is good enough. His Majesty might summon the lords over the next couple of days. After the lords have traveled, it’s best to go home, freshen up, rest, and wait for the palace’s notice."
Manbao agreed and took the receipt, leading her people home.
Assistant General Nie intended to take his men back to the military camp, so they divided the luggage on the street.
Among the three carts of luggage, one and a half carts comprised the soldiers’ belongings and... readily burned ashes. Everyone took out some boxes from the other cart, inspected them a bit, and said to Steward Li, "That box contains some of our things."
Steward Li checked the list, verified it, and opened the box for them to retrieve their items.
