After the group passed the central avenue in the county, Yin Qing ordered everyone to dismount from their horses and carriages, asked some servants to take care of the carriages and horses in an inn, and then took the remaining necessary followers to Tianniufang.
Not long after they walked, the guards and servants in the team began to look around or at each other inexplicably. Even Princess Changping looked surprised. When she saw that Yin Qing did not have any special expression, she asked.
"Sir, do you smell it? It smells nice. It smells really good..."
Yin Qing smiled and looked far away in the direction of Tianniufang.
"Ping'er, that's what I told you about, the fragrance of the jujube flowers in Ju'an Pavilion. This tree doesn't bloom every year, but once it blooms, the fragrance spreads across Ning'an County. There's a line in one of my father's articles: 'Green and yellow flowers grow on the branches, and half the county can smell the fragrance of the flowers.' That's what it came from."
On the street outside Tianniufang, Sun's noodle stall was open as usual. Naturally, he was not standing next to the stall. Even if he was not in school, he would be practicing calligraphy with Ji Yuan.
Yin Qing brought Princess Changping over from afar. Some of the plain-dress guards beside them were far ahead, while others were on the left and right, but they were basically in a position to try not to disturb the two of them. Even so, there were still four maids and attendants following behind them.
This was still very conspicuous to the villagers of Ning'an County, not to mention Sun Fu, who had been doing business and knew how to read people's expressions. When he saw this scene from afar, he knew that the newcomer was an important person, so he quickly instructed the four or five diners at the stall.
"Hey, you guys, just eat your noodles. Don't keep staring at the people over there, especially the women. Got it?"
"Ah? Old man Sun, do you know them?"
A chubby young diner looked up into the distance and asked Sun Fu.
Although life in Ning'an County was not bad, there were very few fat people in ordinary families. Even if they were not starving, they still had to work. But this diner was an exception, and he was a regular customer of the stall, so Sun Fu had a deep impression of him, so he made a special explanation.
"You guys have seen little of the world and don't know how dangerous it is out there. Although I don't know the people over there, judging from their appearance, they must be high-ranking officials. How dare you stare at their women? If you have a bad temper, I'll dig your eyes out!"
"Oh, is it that serious?"
Sun Fu nodded.
"Of course, if you have a sense of propriety, you can take a look, but the women from the rich and powerful families are all very pretty, and I'm afraid you guys can't stop looking at them."
Sun Fu deliberately spoke in a more serious manner to avoid causing trouble at his own stall.
"I know, I know!" "Yeah, eat your noodles quickly."
After chatting for a few words at the stall, seeing Yin Qing and others approaching, the stall owner and diners stopped talking about the outsiders and turned the topic to some trivial matters in life.
However, when Yin Qing and others got closer, they did not pass by directly, but slowed down their pace outside the stall. Yin Qing even bowed to Sun Fu.
"Hello, Uncle Sun. I'm glad to see that your stall is still open here."
Of course Yin Qing knew that the stall owner had changed a long time ago. The current stall owner was Sun Fu, the son of old man Sun. However, Sun Fu did not recognize Yin Qing. Seeing such a nobleman bowing to him, even though it seemed that he knew him, he felt a little scared.
Sun Fu wiped his hands on his apron and hastened to return the greeting.
"I wonder who you are?"
"Oh, I'm Yin Qing, the son of Master Yin from the county school."
After hearing this, Sun Fu immediately understood.
"Oh, you are, you are Yin Wenqu's son. I heard you are also a high-ranking official in the court?"
"Haha, Uncle Sun, thank you for the compliment. By the way, is Mr. Ji at home?"
Sun Fu said hurriedly.
"Yes, yes."
"Okay, you're busy."
“Hey hey!”
Yin Qing turned and walked towards the gate of Tianniufang not far away, and Princess Changping smiled and nodded at Sun Fu, then left with Yin Qing.
As soon as they left, the diners who had been silent at the stall hurriedly asked Sun Fu about Yin Qing. Some people even paid the bill in a hurry and left to tell their acquaintances that Yin Wenqu's son had returned. While Sun Fu was chatting, he slapped his thigh and realized that Sun Yaya was still in Ju'an Xiaoge.
Walking in the quiet alleys of Tianniufang, Yin Qing felt that it was the same as his childhood, with almost no changes. However, when the residents saw this scene, most of them avoided it from a distance. Although Yin Qing wanted to say hello, he didn't want to scare others, so he just let them go.
When approaching Ju'an Pavilion, Yin Qing turned around and gave some instructions to his entourage.
"Everyone else stay outside for a while. The princess, I, and the two captains of the guards will go in."
"yes!"
The servants behind responded together.
In fact, Yin Qing didn't even want to bring the two captains of the guards, but there was no other way. Giving such an order would make it difficult for the two of them. Although they knew that the trip was safe, they were following the emperor's orders and had to protect Princess Changping. The bottom line of sending away the guards and entourage was that the two of them must be there.
Far away outside the Ju'an Pavilion, the jujube tree that looks like a canopy has come into view, and the fragrance of the flowers seems to become more intense. The fragrance is not pungent, but makes people feel refreshed and pleasant.
Soon the other servants stopped, and the four of them stood alone in front of the pavilion. Almost everyone looked up at the plaque on the pavilion.
"What a great handwriting! It's definitely as good as Sangha Yoon's!"
Princess Changping complimented him, but Yin Qing felt that although his father's handwriting was also very good, it was still a little worse than Mr. Ji's.
When a guard was about to knock on the door, Yin Qing raised his hand to stop him, then he stepped forward and gently knocked on the door of the small courtyard.
“Boom boom boom…”
"Mr. Ji, it's me, Yin Qing!"
A series of footsteps came from the yard, followed by the sound of a door latch being pulled.
"Squeak~"
The courtyard door opened, revealing a little girl in a white scholar's robe, looking at Yin Qing and Princess Changping with curiosity.
"Qing'er is here? Come in."
"The master asked you to come in!"
Sun Yaya said something and stepped aside. Yin Qing and Princess Changping entered the small courtyard with the two captain guards. Except Yin Qing, the other three were observing Ji Yuan and the situation in Ju'an Pavilion.
The courtyard was very clean and the furnishings were simple. There was a well covered with stone slabs, a stone table, four stone benches, and a jujube tree that filled the entire county with fragrance. Ji Yuan was sitting behind the stone table and was now standing up to greet everyone.
"I am Jiyuan, a commoner. I am honored to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Changping!"
Ji Yuan bowed to Princess Changping and winked at Sun Yaya who had returned to his side. The latter immediately reacted and followed suit.
"I, Sun Yaya, greet Her Royal Highness Princess Changping!"
"Sir, don't be so polite. And you, don't be so polite. I am here with the master to deliver the invitation to the elders. It's the younger generation who are here. Sir, please don't embarrass Yang Ping."
Ji Yuan nodded, took the gift, and asked everyone to sit down.
"Please take a seat. I'll make you some tea."
Seeing that Yin Qing wanted to speak, Ji Yuan raised his head to stop him and pointed at the stone table.
"Qing'er, take the princess over there and sit down. According to the customs of Ning'an County, when a new person comes to your home for the first time, the elders have to make sugar tea. You can't skimp on it. I'll go prepare it for you."
The newlyweds came hand in hand and drank the sugar tea made by the elders together, which meant they were very sweet. Since Ji Yuan said so, Yin Qing couldn't refuse.
When Ji Yuan brought out the tea tray, there were already four teacups, a teapot, and a small ceramic jar on it.
Ji Yuan personally poured hot tea for Yin Qing and Princess Changping, then opened the small ceramic pot and used a small wooden spoon on the side to scoop some crystal clear particles into the teacup.
Oddly enough, in the Ju'an Pavilion surrounded by the fragrance of jujube flowers, as soon as Ji Yuan opened the pottery jar, a special sweet fragrance wafted out of it. Just smelling it made the four of them feel refreshed.
"Please use!"
Ji Yuan placed the teacups in front of Yin Qing and Princess Changping, then poured two more cups and handed them to the two guards.
"You are not new here, so you don't have to drink sugar tea."
The two guards were also very observant and quickly thanked him and took the teacups.
"Thank you, sir!"
Of course Yin Qing knew that this sugar tea was definitely not simple. He nodded towards Yang Ping and took the lead in raising the cup to taste it. A sip of sugar water went down his throat. Not only was the aftertaste sweet, but a refreshing breath accompanied by a warm flow flowed into every part of his body.
Princess Changping's eyes widened as soon as she tasted it, and then she became so fascinated by the sweet taste that her eyes turned into crescents. She drank the syrup in one gulp without realizing it.
"Sir, this Ning'an County sugar tea is so delicious, it's more than worthy of being selected as a tribute to the emperor!"
Seeing that Yang Ping was still unsatisfied, Yin Qing handed her the cup from which he had taken a sip.
"This kind of sugar tea is not available everywhere, and there is not enough for tribute. Here, I'll give it to you!"
Yang Ping was smart. She looked at Ji Yuan and then at the tea set and the "sugar jar" on the table. She had just said this, but Ji Yuan did not pour another cup for her. She already understood something.
She wanted to refuse, but under Yin Qing's gentle gaze and her lingering love for the syrup, Yang Ping took the teacup. This time she took several sips carefully, and after tasting the exact flavor, she gave the remaining half cup to Yin Qing.
"Hehehe... Seeing you two being so affectionate, I feel relieved!"
Ji Yuan smiled and sat down on the stone bench opposite. Anyway, the two guards were standing on the left and right and didn't want to sit.
Yang Ping looked at the side of the stone table, where there were pens, ink, paper and inkstone. Some of the papers had words written on them, but most of them were the same words written many times. Although they were not in the form of a book, the words were very lively and elegant.
"Is this Mr. Ji's handwriting?"
Yang Ping asked, and Sun Yaya, who was eyeing the candy jar with envy, jumped twice.
"No, no, Princess, this is my handwriting! The master's is so beautiful, my handwriting can't compare!"
Yang Ping was slightly surprised. How could such a young child, and a girl at that, write such beautiful characters? But it didn't look fake.
"Yaya, that's all for today. You can go home first and come back tomorrow."
Sun Yaya was very excited now because she actually saw a princess, but when she heard Ji Yuan's words, her little face fell.
"gentlemen… "
"Be good and listen to me."
"Oh... Then I'll go back..."
Sun Yaya began to pack up the four treasures of the study on the table and put them into a small bookcase next to the stone table. Then she carried the small bamboo bookcase on her back and walked out of the yard, looking back every few steps.
As soon as Sun Yaya left, Ji Yuan glanced at the guards on both sides, and the two of them walked to the side like possessed, and stood next to each other on the left and right walls of the courtyard. This surprised Yang Ping a little, but Yin Qing did not react.
Ji Yuan nodded at Yang Ping.
"He does have a bit of the royal bearing of remaining calm in the face of adversity!"