Tang Jue and Zhong Liangyu also decided to embark on the journey with them. The three were classmates and had always been on excellent terms. Tang Shan had no reason to refuse them, and Zhong Liangyu seemed even more promising than his own son.
Li Mingwei received a letter from Tang Shan. The clothes she made for Liu Yizhu had been sent to the mansion. She knew it was time to see him off.
Before leaving, Old Lady Wang specially bought paper money and took him to the mountain to visit his father's grave. This trip, he didn't know when he would be able to return and see his father again.
After the officials came with the good news, the people in town were still waiting to attend the celebratory banquet, but who would have thought he would be leaving? Many came to the town entrance to see him off.
"The Capital City is so far away, be careful on the road."
"I heard it takes more than half a month by carriage!"
"Indeed."
Some wealthier ones even gave him money: "It's not much, just a token. Take it and buy some food on the road."
Liu Yizhu thanked them one by one, then declined. Seeing his mother's eyes welling up with tears again, he bowed to the crowd, quickly pulled Li Mingwei away. If they lingered any longer, he wouldn't be able to bear it either.
Li Mingwei fetched the clothes from the Tang Mansion, had him try them on – they all fit perfectly – and packed them into a trunk for him, instructing the Tang servants to load it onto the carriage and tie it down.
Though there were only three of them, they would be gone for a long time, so they had quite a bit of luggage, especially Tang Jue. Tang Shan arranged two carriages for them, one horse-drawn and one mule-drawn.
Li Mingwei handed him a purse: "Here's some money, keep it safe."
Liu Yizhu silently accepted it.
He hadn't argued with her today, which surprised Li Mingwei: "So obedient today?"
"Did you want me to talk?"
"If you want to talk, then talk."
Li Mingwei was a bit puzzled. Why did he need to ask her about saying something?
Liu Yizhu fiddled with the purse, staring into her eyes, and said in a low voice: "Is your family in the Capital City?"
"Better keep your mouth shut."
He should have known.
Liu Yizhu pursed his lips. She had taught him etiquette for so long, made such nice clothes for him, prepared so many socks and shoes, even cloaks – things he had never used before in his life. She must be afraid he would embarrass her in the Capital City.
Seeing that Li Mingwei ignored him, he looked down at his clothes and sighed. It's better if he doesn't go out much in the Capital City, just focus on studying.
This time, even more people came to see them off, blocking the entire road. But with Tang Shan present, no guards dared to drive them away.
Li Mingwei straightened Liu Yizhu's clothes, disdainfully watching the foolish Yang Jingyuan clinging to Tang Jue and Zhong Liangyu, crying like a baby.
"Wait for me in the Capital City, I'll come find you in two years!"
"Okay, okay!" Tang Jue brushed him off. "I can't say if they'll wait for you, but I'll definitely wait."
Yang Jingyuan sadly looked at Zhong Liangyu: "Liangyu!"
"Get lost!" Zhong Liangyu gave him a kick and boarded the carriage.
"Isn't he exaggerating?" Li Mingwei exclaimed.
Liu Yizhu snorted twice. Li Mingwei looked at him, a bit displeased. She hesitated: "Should I go back and cry in my room? It would be so embarrassing to cry here."
"You..." Liu Yizhu choked up. "Never mind, don't cry."
If she cried, he would be at a loss...
"I'm leaving."
"Go on, then."
Li Mingwei squeezed his hand. "When the flowers bloom next year, I'll come find you."
"Okay."
Liu Yizhu kept turning back to look at her as he walked to the carriage. Li Mingwei smiled and waved at him. He bit his lip, boarded the carriage, and drew the curtain without looking back again.
Li Mingwei turned away and let out a soft sigh. Her lips quivered as she finally couldn't hold back her tears. Lady Tang handed her a handkerchief with reddened eyes and comforted her with a hug. In her youth, she too had been separated from Tang Shan for many years and understood the bitterness and heartache well.
Tang Jue peeked out of the carriage to take one last look at his mother, witnessing this scene. He glanced at the sullen, red-eyed Liu Yizhu, and wisely said nothing, only loudly instructing the driver: "Let's go."
"Yes, young master."
As the carriage moved forward, Tang Jue relaxed a little. It's a good thing he didn't find a wife yet.
They had only been traveling for a few days when the manager Tang Shan had arranged for them arrived in the Capital City first. He found an inn with his attendants, then followed the instructions to visit the back gate of the Li Family mansion and deliver the letter.
Ah Xiu received the letter with the familiar handwriting from the gatekeeper and guessed what it was about. The rankings from various prefectures must be out by now. It seemed her young master had made it onto the list.
She opened the letter, went to fetch a key, and headed to the back gate.
The gatekeeper respectfully greeted her: "Sister Ah Xiu, where are you going?"
Ah Xiu showed him the key. "To make some money for our young lady."
The gatekeeper immediately laughed: "Ah, I see. With exam candidates from all over arriving in the capital now, renting out the residence can fetch several times the usual price."
Ah Xiu gave a light snort. She would love to collect the money, but did she dare?
She stepped outside and sized up the rather young manager from the Tang Family waiting at the gate. She raised her chin: "So you're the one looking to rent?"
The Tang manager immediately bowed: "Yes, that's right."
Ah Xiu glanced at the carriage behind him. "Come, I'll show you around."
She approached the carriage and turned back: "Is this your family's carriage?"
"Yes, yes!" The Tang manager nodded vigorously and went to lift the curtain. "After you, miss. After you."
The gatekeeper frowned and called out loudly: "Sister Ah Xiu, should I find someone to accompany you?"
Ah Xiu waved her hand and looked at the Tang manager. She had some things to ask him, better not to bring someone else along.
The Tang manager didn't dare get into the carriage. He just stood beside the driver, lifted the curtain to ask for directions, and instructed the driver to proceed.
The gatekeeper saw that he seemed decent enough and said no more.
After the carriage had gone some distance, Ah Xiu lifted the curtain and said in a low voice: "Come in."
The Tang manager shuddered slightly, then slowly climbed aboard to face the stern gaze of Ah Xiu. He couldn't help thinking to himself, the young lady seemed so amiable, but her personal maid is so intimidating.
Suddenly remembering he had another letter, he quickly handed it to Ah Xiu.
Ah Xiu held the thick envelope, her head starting to spin. What did the young lady want her to do this time? Please don't let it be another kneeling punishment.
She cautiously opened it and scanned it briefly. Oh no, she was doomed to kneel!
Her mood soured as she stared at the Tang manager for a moment, then casually asked: "Are the young lady and child doing well?"
"Yes, they're both well," he replied.
Ah Xiu restrained the urge to slap him. Just as she'd told the old master, the young lady did have a child! Look, look, she was right, wasn't she?
After quietly gloating for a bit, she continued in a nonchalant tone: "I haven't seen our young master. Is he handsome?"
The Tang manager had seen Liu Simo at home, so he nodded and smiled: "Very handsome, looks just like his father."
Hehe!
It's a boy!
Ah Xiu studied the slightly foolish-looking Tang manager, forcibly suppressing her laughter, and continued her probing.
The Tang manager saw the thick envelope and thought she knew everything, so he tried to get on her good side by chatting with her a bit more.
However, Ah Xiu only realized at the end: "You're not from our young master's family?"
"No, my young master and your young master were classmates. They're traveling to the Capital City together this time."
Oh!
It seems the young master's family isn't very well-off if they don't even have a servant to prepare in advance.
No matter, the young lady has money to support him.
