In the misty fine rain, the horse carriage departed, leaving only one Swordsman in front of the chessboard at the Mountain God Temple, cold and quiet.

  Zhou Xuan was still sitting in the carriage with his needlework, the heavy broadsword pressing down on his leg, his fingers lightly tapping on the scabbard, humming "When I see injustice on the road, I shout out loud - when its time to take action, I take action"

  The needle smiled and said: "Brother-in-law, how can you be so bold, betting your life on this sword with someone? Its really worrying. Hmm, is this sword good?"

  Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "I dont know if this sword is good or not, but I do know that I wont lose." As he spoke, his right hand grasped the hilt and pulled out half of the sword. Suddenly, a gleam of dark green light flashed, illuminating Zhou Xuans and Zhen Shens faces with an eerie glow, and a chill ran down Zhou Xuans spine.

  The sword is about 10 cm wide and approximately 1.1 meters long, the carriage is narrow, Zhou Xuan didnt dare to fully pull it out and pushed the sword back into its scabbard, saying: "Seems like a good sword, made a profit."

  She smiled with a hint of mischief, her mouth corners curling up, and her plump cheeks revealing a playful look, making Zhou Xuan think she resembled the actress Shu Xiang from a later era.

  His wife looked like Lin Qingxia in her youth, his sister-in-law resembled Shu Qi, and Zhou Xuan couldnt help but burst out laughing.

  The needle thought its face was dirty somewhere and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe it clean, while Zhou Xuan laughed even louder.

  The needle threaders face turned red as she plucked up her courage and said, "Youre laughing at me for not wiping away the dirt, are you? Then help me wipe it off." She handed over her handkerchief.

  Zhou Xuan was stunned, took the handkerchief, and the sewing needle body had already leaned in a bit closer, looked up with her face, closed her eyes, and her eyelashes fluttered very quickly.

  This momentum, Zhou Xuan is not unfamiliar, he had a girlfriend Suoxin who was like this before, Zhou Xuans heart skipped a beat, whats wrong with Big Auntie, it doesnt feel right.

  Zhou Xuan could only pinch a corner of her handkerchief and gently wipe the left eyebrow of the needle, saying: "Okay, clean."

  Embroidering needle sits upright body son, face cheek a burst of heat.

  The atmosphere in the carriage was a bit ambiguous, and Zhou Xuan said: "Sister Zhēnzhī, tell me about your experiences in the palace. What interesting stories do you have about that talented Emperor Li Yu?"

  "Brother-in-law, you cant address the Emperor directly by his name," said the needlework woman with wide eyes.

  "Right, right, Ill definitely pay attention."

  Zhen Needle said: "The emperor is talented, good at calligraphy and painting, able to write poetry and lyrics, and also proficient in music. He appreciates people with talent, and Brother-in-law is so talented that if he has the opportunity to meet the Emperor in Kyoto in the future, he will definitely be recognized by the Emperor."

  Zhou Xuan thought to herself: "This Li Yu is definitely someone I need to meet. Its still early now, and I havent fully explored the city of Jiangzhou yet. The beautiful and unmatched Little Zhou Hou is also someone I must pay my respects to. Let me see just how beautiful she is, that she could make Song Taizong Zhao Kuangyi so infatuated. But now history has taken a different turn, and that rascal Zhao Kuangyi wont have the chance to force himself on Little Zhou Hou." She said out loud: "My humble talents wouldnt dare enter the capital, Ill have to rely on my sister-in-laws introduction."

  Zhen Needle said: "My brother-in-law is laughing at me again, I am a small palace maid of Jingxu Palace, how can I have such great ability to recommend talented scholars? Besides, I am not a person of Jingxu Palace now."

  "Who lives in Jingxu Palace?"

  "Princess Qingle, she is the only princess of our Tang Dynasty. The Emperor has only one son and one daughter, Crown Prince Li Jian and Princess Qingle Li Chu Zhu, both were born to Empress Xiao."

  At this time, the carman shouted again: "Its bitter, from early morning till now, more than three hours have passed, only a few dates have been eaten, and there is no strength to crack the whip."

  Zhou Xuan looked up and saw that a wine flag had been erected by the roadside, inserted into a large camphor tree. Under the tree was a small hotel. The driver had seen the hotel and called out in distress, hoping Zhou Xuan would treat him to a meal.

  Its now around 3 pm and we still have 15 miles to the city, everyone is hungry, fruits cant be eaten as a meal.

  Zhou Xuan said: "Dont be sad anymore, Ill treat you to two cups."

  The coachman pulled in his horses with a "Hoo" and exclaimed: "Thank you, Master Zhou! Thank you, Master Zhou!"

  The small shop had four square tables. Chefu, Laifu and Tang Xiaosan sat at one table. Zhenni naturally couldnt sit with them, so she sat at another table. Zhou Xuan very generously sat face to face with Dajiezi.

  The small shops wine and dish menu is monotonous, only having sweet rice wine and yellow cattle meat, but there are many bitter melons, calabazas, and pumpkins, arranged on a table to look very sumptuous.

  Zhou Xuan saw that the hotels wall was pasted with a cluster of new auspicious characters, and casually asked: "Who else is having a wedding here? Are four tables enough for a wedding banquet?"

  The shopkeeper came over, in his early twenties, with a refined and cultured appearance like a scholar, but with a furrowed brow, looking quite depressed. He lowered his voice and said: "Im the newlywed one down there. Alas, isnt it all because of the imperial harem selection that things have been stirred up?"

  Zhou Xuan listened and heard that it was another marriage arranged by the imperial selection, and he became very interested. He laughed and said: "Those who are afraid of being selected into the palace must be beautiful and virtuous, boss is lucky."

  The shopkeeper was about to speak when he suddenly closed his mouth, because a woman in a red skirt came out of the back room. She looked around twenty years old, with a round face like a silver basin, and pockmarks on either side of her nose. A flower was still tucked into her hair, and she had a pleasant smile as she brought over steaming hot rice wine to both tables. With a warm demeanor, she said to the shopkeeper, "Xiaoyin, business is good on this rainy day, take good care of our guests."

  The shopkeeper nodded and said, "You see, sir, this is my wife. Her father had asked for her hand in marriage several times before, but I had declined politely. However, six days ago, he suddenly used the excuse of selecting a daughter-in-law to send her to my house. I have no parents or brothers, and being weak and powerless, I was forced to accept the arrangement. This small shop originally belonged to her father, and now Ive inherited it. But I dont want to run the shop; I want to study and take the imperial examination."

  Zhou Xuans eyes widened in shock, "Marriage, marriage, how many marriages in this world are fake and use your name to carry on."

  The needle slipped out of her hand and fell under the table. She couldnt help it, she wanted to laugh, especially looking at Zhou Xuans silly expression.

  Boss, youre better than me. Having a wife who loves you is a blessing. I can tell by the way your wife looks at you that shes a caring person, right?

  The shopkeeper nodded and said, "Thats right."

  Zhou Xuan said: "Thats it, live a good life, reading books is boring. In this peaceful and prosperous world, opening a small shop is more comfortable."

  "Young masters insight is extraordinary, after this guidance, I feel much more at ease in my heart. May I ask your esteemed surname and great name?"

  "Zhou Xuan, I live in Jiulianfang, inside the city. If you need anything, just come find me. I like making friends."

  "Im so glad to have met Master Zhou in the lower village."

  ……