Two handsome and strong horses pulled the carriage slowly through the busy long street. The horse's hooves knocked on the ground, splashing up clouds of sand and mist, and the bluestone slabs made a slight "creaking" sound under the wheels.
The brilliant sunshine spreads between the green tiles and red walls on both sides of the long street. The eaves that look like flying wings, the shop signs and flags fluttering in the wind, the carriages and horses coming and going, the endless stream of pedestrians, and the peaceful and comfortable smiling faces all represent the satisfaction of the people in the capital with the prosperous Ming Dynasty.
"Hey, Zhu Ping'an, where is your toad nest?"
Inside the carriage, Li Shu glanced at Zhu Ping'an, covered her nose with a handkerchief in her slender jade hands, and asked in a tone of annoyance.
Toad's nest? Damn it, this stinky girl is still as venomous, arrogant, and proud as ever! Such a beautiful face is wasted!
"Inside Chongren Gate, Dongsheng Inn." Zhu Ping'an closed his eyes and replied lightly.
Hearing this, Li Shu glanced at the maid Baozi, who then stuck her head out of the carriage door and whispered to the coachman outside. The coachman responded and drove the carriage towards Chongren Gate.
"Dongsheng Inn, what a vulgar name. It must be a small inn, but it is enough to be your toad nest." Li Shu curled her lips in disdain and rolled her eyes.
"This is a humble room, but my virtue is fragrant." Zhu Ping'an curled the corners of his mouth lightly.
"Snort~"
Li Shuqiong's nose twitched and she glanced at Zhu Ping'an with her ink-black eyes, sneering.
Hearing Li Shu's sneer, Zhu Ping'an opened his eyes slightly, glanced at Li Shu, and closed his eyes again with a smile.
After a while, the carriage drove along the long street, passed Chongren Gate, and arrived at the east end of the long street. A towering building stood out in front of us, which made people take a second look. In front of the building, there was a long flag with the words "Dongsheng Inn" written on it. It was tall and majestic. It was the most eye-catching building on this street. The inn was a three-story building, but it occupied a very large area and was located on the east side of the street, as if the long street had raised its strong arms high. It warmly welcomed guests from afar.
When the carriage stopped outside the Dongsheng Inn, Li Shu got off the carriage and looked at the obviously high-end inn in front of her, her mouth wide open in surprise.
"Where is this?" Li Shu looked up and down the inn, full of disbelief.
"Someone's talking about a toad's nest."
Zhu Ping'an curled his lips slightly, said something lightly, and then walked in first.
"Zhu Ping'an, wait for me."
Li Shu looked up at Zhu Ping'an walking into the inn, and couldn't help but pouting her lips. She muttered something like "Why are you so arrogant?", called Zhu Ping'an, and then followed him into the inn.
"Master Zhu, you have finished your exam. I just figured you would be back soon, so I have already boiled some hot water for you. Oh, by the way, I heard a magpie calling outside your window for a long time. The magpie is announcing good news. You will definitely pass the exam this time. I would like to thank you in advance."
As soon as Li Shu entered the inn, she saw a waiter who was extremely attentive, bending over and saying flattering words to Zhu Pingan.
"This is the young lady, right? Hello, young lady. She looks like a fairy from heaven. Young Master is so lucky."
When the waiter saw Li Shu, he immediately greeted her and complimented her.
"Thank you for taking care of me these days. Come and enjoy my painting."
Hearing the waiter calling her Young Madam, Li Shu's pretty face turned slightly red. She was secretly delighted, her eyebrows slightly raised, but her face was calm and indifferent. She glanced at Hua'er and gave the order.
"Okay, go do your thing."
The maid took out one of the many red envelopes that she had prepared earlier, gave it to the waiter, and then sent him away.
"Thank you, Madam Young Master, for the reward."
The waiter weighed the red envelope and his face was as bright as a flower.
Li Shu only brought her maid Hua'er with her upstairs and asked the others to wait downstairs. When they arrived at Zhu Ping'an's room, Li Shu opened her mouth again, surprised by the luxurious decoration in Zhu Ping'an's room.
"How can you bear to live here?" Li Shu asked after entering the room.
"Some time ago, there was an event at the inn. If you could make friends through literature, you could get free food and lodging for a month if you could come up with all the couplets. Well, that's it. You can still stay for more than half a month." Zhu Ping'an said lightly, and then casually put his bag on the ground.
"Why are you still holding it? Throw it away quickly, it smells so strong..." Li Shu looked at the bag that Zhu Ping'an put down, pinching her nose, full of disgust.
"Excuse me, please step aside for a moment. I need to change my clothes." Zhu Ping'an glanced at Li Shu and said lightly.
"You lecher, who cares about you?"
Li Shu rolled her eyes and pouted at Zhu Pingan.
Zhu Ping'an ignored Li Shu and walked to the closet, opened it, and took out a set of clothes.
"Yeah, you're going to wear this."
Li Shu looked at the clothes Zhu Ping'an took out, her pretty face full of disdain, her dark eyes also full of disdain, and sent Hua'er downstairs to get the clothes. "Hua'er, go downstairs and bring up the clothes I prepared."
Huaer responded and went downstairs happily.
After Hua'er went downstairs, Li Shu came to Zhu Ping'an and said seriously, "Zhu Ping'an, you know that this birthday banquet is very important. As long as I can coax my father, I can go back and ask him to cancel the engagement. Also, um, everyone in the mansion knows that we are engaged, so we have to pretend to be fine. Don't mess up, and don't think too much."
"Is it that serious?" Zhu Ping'an looked at Li Shu who was very serious. He felt that something was strange. They were about to break off the engagement, so why did she have to act like this
"Of course it's necessary. Daddy will be happy only if you perform well at the birthday party. If Daddy is happy, I can go back and cancel the engagement. You don't like this marriage either, right? Then let's make a deal." Li Shu looked at Zhu Ping'an with a serious look, and that little look made her look very convincing.
Zhu Ping'an looked at Li Shu for two seconds, then nodded. Seeing this, Li Shu's pretty face showed a hint of joy, and her eyebrows and eyes were full of energy.
"I just asked someone to buy the clothes for me casually, don't think too much about it."
When the footsteps of the little maid Baozi approached, Li Shu said another sentence, as if she was afraid that Zhu Ping'an would misunderstand.
Soon, the little maidservant Baozi came upstairs carrying a bundle and placed it in front of Li Shu like presenting a treasure. Two strong servants followed with a bucket of steaming hot bath water. After carrying the hot water upstairs and placing it in the bedroom, they went downstairs.
"You're so dirty, you should clean yourself up."
Li Shu glanced at Zhu Ping'an with disdain, and took the little maid Baozi to the outer room to pack clothes, leaving Zhu Ping'an to take a bath in the bedroom. (To be continued.)