Isn’t it good for the five of us to be together?

The princess continued to talk to me: "The Wanshou Festival is a festival celebrated by the whole country in Nanyang. It is as lively as the Chinese New Year. Every pilgrim attaches great importance to it. It is not only a festival in Nanyang, but also envoys from Beiyin, foreign lands, overseas and other places will visit. , so the grand ceremony can be imagined.”

I understand, no wonder Ling Hengyuan and Qin Che said that Beiyin would visit next month, presumably to celebrate Ling Hengyuan's birthday.

The princess continued: "On the day of the Longevity Festival, courtiers, clans, aristocratic families, envoys, etc. all have to give speeches and congratulate you. Today, the princess of Japan will take you to buy gifts. It is a pity that if the harem of the Holy Emperor is not empty, otherwise it will not be possible. You can watch a big show. You may not know that the concubines in the late emperor's harem will do their best on the Wanshou Festival and they can pull off any tricks."

I said haha, I can imagine the scene.

While we were talking, the boy who had been sent out had already returned and said to us: "The general has agreed to return to the princess. Master Chen can leave the house."

Then he said to me: "The general said, please remember to take Attendant Meng Dong with you, please be careful on the road."

After hearing this, the princess looked shocked: "Is this what Qin Che said? He would actually let someone go?"

I said: "Princess, it's true, let's go."

The princess looked open-eyed: "Sure enough, if you live long, you can see the iron tree blooming."

The streets were very lively, as if preparations for the Longevity Festival had begun in advance. Winter is coming at the end of this month. People wear crude cotton-padded jackets in all kinds of colors. There are also yamen hanging lanterns on the streets. The air is full of the smell of the New Year.

I wear a curtain hat and the rate of turning heads is extremely high. Meng Dong supported me very carefully. I saw that she was still a little thin, so I asked, "Didn't the general's office give you new clothes?"

Meng Dong said: "Sir, I have received it, but I still have my mother and a young sister at home, so I have kept it with my family."

I understand. Passing by a ready-made clothing store, the princess took us in. It must be under the name of Ling Hengyuan. The shopkeeper was very respectful to the princess.

I said to the shopkeeper: "Bring me some of the new cotton-padded clothes in the shop, and some sets of hand-made clothes, all packed and delivered..."

I turned to look at Meng Dong and asked, "Where do you live?"

Meng Dong was flattered: "Sir, this is impossible."

The princess said: "My lord asks you, just answer. Don't refuse."

I smiled and nodded.

Meng Dong was embarrassed and said: "My subordinate lives at Gate No. 6, Yinghua Lane."

The shopkeeper had already packed the clothes and handed them to the boy beside him. The boy immediately went out to deliver the things with nimble hands and feet.

Meng Dong: "I would like to thank you, sir."

I said: "You protect me, so I will be lenient to you. It's not easy for a woman in this world. You can't even imagine the hardships you have endured when you become a servant in the palace. Bear with peace of mind. I just ask you to be more dedicated." Just stay with me."

Meng Dong's tears flashed: "Yes!"

After shopping around for a long time, I still couldn't find what I wanted as a gift. Ling Hengyuan is in a position above ten thousand people. Does he want anything? Although things don’t need to be expensive, they should at least be eye-catching.

Perhaps because of my weak constitution, the princess took us to a teahouse to rest for a while.

This teahouse is very grand. When you go in, you will see that the people who come there seem to be either rich or noble.

The princess found a side room, which was also surrounded by light fragrance, and there were performers who specialized in playing music. She was enjoying tea and listening to music.

The princess told me quietly: "This teahouse is under my name. If I have time, just let the shopkeeper tell me my name, and I will foot the bill."

I was surprised. I thought the princess was not good at doing business before, but now that the teahouse looked so impressive, I actually underestimated her.

I rested for a while in the elegant seat, but the princess was still so full of energy. I asked, "Does the princess know what His Majesty's preferences are?"

Thinking about it, I feel ashamed that I have been conquering Ling Hengyuan for so long and I don’t even know what he likes... Well, he enjoys killing people.

The princess thought for a while and said: "This princess really doesn't know. Your Majesty seems to like everything and seems to be indifferent to everything. Apart from things that make Your Majesty lose his patience, I have never seen His Majesty being obsessed with anything. .”

When he thought of getting along with Ling Hengyuan, he would either remain expressionless or sneer at the King of Hell. Except for that time when he howled in the snow, he rarely showed his emotions.

Suddenly I had an idea and asked the princess quickly: "Does the princess know where there is a jewelry shop?"

The princess said: "There is the largest jewelry store in the capital on this street. Do you want to go?"

I nodded.

Princess: "Then let's go."

I was stunned: "Ah? Now?"

Princess: "Don't you have enough rest?"

I was embarrassed: "A bit..." After that poisoning, my physical fitness dropped very quickly, and I felt like I was back to before liberation.

The princess followed me to rest for a while, and then the group got up and went.

It is indeed the largest jewelry store in the capital. The facade is as big as two teahouses and has three floors. The highest floor in Nanyang Capital is limited to three floors. I guess the owner of this jewelry store also has a background.

There are a dazzling array of jewelry, jade, etc. in the shop. I took off the curtain and hat, so I could see more clearly.

Perhaps we were dressed in gorgeous and expensive clothes, and the shopkeeper came to greet the guests in person. He seemed to be shocked by my eyes. He was stunned for a while, and then immediately regained his composure: "Are you two distinguished guests going to choose jade?"

I said, "I want to pick a jade bead and tie it with a red rope to make a sword spike. I wonder if the shopkeeper has any advice?"

The shopkeeper smiled and said: "Of course there is. Do you know that the girl is going to give this sword spike to her lover?"

what?

The princess smiled at the side and answered for me: "It was given to my lover. Shopkeeper, you don't know. She and her lover have already been in love with each other for a long time. There is only one sign that they are about to fall in love. Shopkeeper, you have to be careful." Pick.”

I said awkwardly: "That's not true..."

The princess stopped me from talking. Seeing that I had already said everything, I thought I was too lazy to explain.

After some explanations from the shopkeeper, I chose a glass bead and an East bead. They were both beautiful and expensive.

When I gave the silver, I felt a pain in my body.

The shopkeeper asked the craftsmen in the shop to weave sword spikes for me. The princess asked me: "Do you want to give one to the Holy One and one to Qin Che?"

I nodded.

Princess: "I really have you, and the water I hold is as level as anyone else's."

I originally didn't want to give it to Qin Che, but if he knew that I gave something to Ling Hengyuan, he would definitely make a fuss.

In just one stick of incense, a black Dongzhu sword tassel and a vermilion glazed sword tassel were ready. Putting them each into a box is a big deal for me.

After returning home, when Qin Che comes back, I will directly give him the black Dongzhu sword spike.

Qin Che's eyes were bright. After opening the box and taking out the sword spike, he kept playing with it.

I laughed at him and asked, "Does Archer like it?"

Qin Che said: "I like it, I like it very much. I like everything Aji gives me."

He took out the sword he was wearing, and it was just like what I remembered. It had a cold light. He moved the dark black sword tassel upwards, and it seemed a little softer. The sword tassel was not too big or too small, so it would not affect the sword dance. , but it’s also very beautiful, let alone Qin Che, I’m very satisfied with it.

Qin Che had already seen the other box in my hand and asked, "Is the sword spike in my hand also?"

I was a little embarrassed and said, "This is a longevity gift prepared for the Holy One."

I opened the box and showed it to him. He looked a little downcast and said, "I thought this was the only one Ji gave me."

I opened my mouth before speaking, but Qin Che said on his own: "However, I am very happy that Ah Ji can think of bringing me one. I think he will prepare a second one for me as my birthday gift." .”

Looking at his expectant eyes, although my vision was blurry, I couldn't ignore the strong emotion, and I said: "Of course it is."

Qin Che looked like a child who got a lollipop, with a big smile on his face.

He looked at the glazed sword tassel and said, "This is not as good-looking as mine."

I laughed at him for being stingy.

I didn't know at the time that this first gift to Qin Che would also be the only one. If I had known better then, I wouldn't have called him stingy.

At the end of the month, I was summoned into the palace by Ling Hengyuan. The Qinzheng Palace was full of charcoal fire, and Ling Hengyuan was no longer the kid who couldn't even be roasted by the fire.

I sigh.

As soon as Ling Hengyuan waited for me to arrive, he asked me: "How is Qin Che's illness in the middle of the month?"

I said: "The symptoms of the disease this month are very mild, and the general can suppress them on his own."

Ling Hengyuan nodded: "That's very good. Your contribution to his affairs is indeed the greatest."

I lowered my eyes and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."

Ling Hengyuan: "You must also know about the Wanshou Festival next month. Envoys from foreign lands will also come to visit. They brought many gifts for this trip, including medicine for your detoxification."

I was pleasantly surprised: "Your Majesty has thought of me this time, and I am very grateful."

Ling Hengyuan: "Get up, don't be so grateful, your eyes are sorry for you."

Ling Hengyuan continued: "This holiday banquet, have you thought about how you will come to the banquet?"

Me: "What status?"

Ling Hengyuan said: "Do you call yourself the distant cousin of the Nanyang Zhenguo General, or do you call yourself Chen Yueji, the strategist of the Nanyang Craftsmanship Department?"

After Ling Hengyuan finished speaking, options appeared:

"Chen Yueji, the distant cousin of General Nanyang Zhenguo"

"Nanyang Craftsmanship Department Chen Yueji"

I looked at the options and hesitated.

Choosing one of them shows that my position lies with the General's Mansion, and my every move is just a vassal of the General's Mansion, but there is no pressure in this status.

Choosing the second option shows that my position lies in the Craftsmanship Department. These days, the Farming Machines and Improved Textile Machines of the Craftsmanship Department have made me famous. What I will face is the scrutiny of everyone, and the pressure is not small.

I chose the second one.

I said: "If you are happy to serve your country, you should dedicate yourself to it."

Even though my vision was blurry, I could still see that the waves in Ling Hengyuan's eyes moved slightly, and the smile reached his eyes.