Chapter 616: Chapter 618: Le City

Jin Qianqian felt it was best to leave such headaches to others.

Watching Li Xia happily run over to Lichun and the others, she finally reached up to press her temples.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ancient Wen Heng appeared at her side, reaching out to touch her forehead.

"It’s nothing, just a small situation has come up. Why don’t we have the kitchen prepare some food? Mrs. He and the others should be down soon, right?"

Jin Qianqian felt it was best not to discuss these matters until they were settled.

Ancient Wen Heng glanced at her and went along with her suggestion. "Let’s see what specialty dishes they have here.

You were here for a while last time. Why don’t we go together?"

Jin Qianqian replied, "Their bamboo shoot dish is quite good..."

That night, as Lichun and the others helped Jin Qianqian prepare for bed, their faces were full of complicated emotions.

"Madam, I feel that Li Xia is just looking for a companion to spend her life with," Lidong finally brought up the topic while helping Jin Qianqian make the bed.

Jin Qianqian removed a hairpin from her hair. "That’s right. Isn’t everyone who gets married looking for a companion to spend their life with?"

"I mean, she might not actually like Yang, the leader of the escort. Otherwise, how could she not even know that he isn’t in Le City?"

Jin Qianqian countered with Li Xia’s own previous words, "Li Xia has been busy these days. She probably just overlooked it."

"But Yang..." Lichun paused for a moment. "Madam has so many capable people under her. It’s better to choose someone whose background we know well."

"It’s like how I chose Ming Feng. We’ve both signed indentures to our master, so we can be of one heart as husband and wife and serve the master together."

"But Yang’s situation is different. After all, he’s just hired. If he decides to return to his hometown someday, is Li Xia supposed to just leave with him?"

Jin Qianqian said, "I’m not that particular. I know what you’re worried about.

Don’t worry. As long as Li Xia has made her decision, after a few years when someone can take over her duties, it’s not impossible for me to release her from her indenture."

’Even for a personal maid, with whom I share a closer bond than with others, the necessary rules must still be observed.’

Just then, Ancient Wen Heng walked into the room carrying their two children. "Once you’re finished, you may leave."

No matter what other questions Lichun and the others had, they could only suppress them for now. They finished tidying up, performed a Fuli, and withdrew.

"You took them for a walk? How was it? Didn’t buy anything?" Jin Qianqian asked curiously, seeing them walk in empty-handed.

During dinner, the two little ones had been clamoring to go out and look around, and Ancient Wen Heng had indulged them.

"Many people had already packed up their stalls and gone home, so there was nothing much to see. Aren’t we resting here for a day tomorrow? I’ll take them for a proper walk then."

Jin Qianqian said, "You just spoil them. But I suspect you won’t be free tomorrow."

Ancient Wen Heng looked at her in confusion. Jin Qianqian picked up an invitation from the table and placed it in front of him. "This is from Prefect Nan. He sent it over when he learned our party had checked in. The other officials received one too."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Have someone send our regrets. I’ve already promised to spend time with Luo Luo and his brother. I can’t go back on my word."

He still remembered that Prefect Nan had made his choice back then. Since he had no intention of fostering goodwill, there was no need for such superficial gestures now.

Holding another invitation from Lady Nan, Jin Qianqian looked resigned. ’I don’t want to go either, you know.’ "In that case, I’ll go to the appointment alone tomorrow!"

"If you don’t want to go, then don’t. They should know better than to blame you." Ancient Wen Heng saw Gu Ben Can reaching for the invitation, so he simply placed the boy on the kang bed and let him play by himself.

"If neither of us goes, it will be hard to justify.

Don’t forget, I still have some business properties here," Jin Qianqian directly rejected his suggestion.

"Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare." Ancient Wen Heng had the confidence to back up his words.

Jin Qianqian sighed softly. "Just now in the main hall, the other madams received their invitations and readily accepted.

It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to say anything different at that moment, so I tacitly agreed."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Then I’ll go with you tomorrow."

’I can’t let my wife go alone while the others are all attending as couples.’

"Let’s see how things are tomorrow and decide then!"

However, they weren’t given a chance to choose. Early the next morning, Prefect Nan and his wife arrived at the inn, having already set up a large table full of breakfast dishes in the main hall.

Hearing the report from Lichun and the others, Jin Qianqian turned to Ancient Wen Heng. "Well, they’ve cornered us at our own door. I don’t think we can refuse now."

Ancient Wen Heng also knew this was Prefect Nan’s way of showing deference, a silent apology for what had happened a few years ago.

"Then let’s go down together and meet them." Things having come to this, it would seem too deliberate if he still tried to find an excuse to avoid them.

The two of them quickly got ready and came down to the main hall, each holding a child’s hand, only to find Mr. He and the others already engaged in a lively conversation with their hosts.

Seeing them arrive, the group quickly stood up to greet them. "Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu."

Ancient Wen Heng said with a smile, "You gentlemen are up quite early. It makes us look like we were sleeping in."

Lu Shenggen replied, "We’re all on the same side here, no need for such formalities.

Besides, we’re traveling light, while you have children to look after. You’re naturally much more tired from the journey than we are. We all understand."

Just then, Gu Benluo took his younger brother’s hand, stepped forward, and greeted each of the elders present.

Watching the two little puddings perform their Fuli so properly, Wu Yichen smiled and went to take Gu Ben Can’s hand. "How was your outing with your father yesterday? Did you get anything good to share with your Uncle?"

The children of these few men were already married, and some even had children of their own. This made them unable to resist wanting to get close to children of this age.

Gu Benluo, holding his brother’s hand, said, "It got dark very quickly after we went out yesterday, so we didn’t get to buy anything at all. But Father promised he would take us out again later to look around. Uncles, would you like to come with us?"

Wu Yichen reached out and patted his head. "In that case, Uncle will have to tag along. Remember to buy something for me."

Gu Benluo hesitated for a moment, then puffed out his chest and said, "As long as it’s less than one tael of silver, I can afford it.

But if it’s too expensive, I might not be able to afford it right away. Could we wait until I’m old enough to earn my own silver?"

His words made everyone nearby laugh. "By the time you’re earning your own silver, who knows if we’ll ever find ourselves in this city again."

Prefect Nan, who had been standing to the side, secretly sized up Ancient Wen Heng.

The young, handsome, yet imposing face made him a little flustered. He quickly walked over. "Mr. Gu, I’ve heard so much about you. Mrs. Gu, I trust you’ve been well."

Mrs. He and the others all looked over, wondering to themselves. ’So they knew each other from before?’

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