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  Reminder: You can quickly find us on "79 Free" or "79 Net"... As the jade wheel passed through the crowded streets, it walked all the way to the entrance of Daozheng Gate opposite Xingqing Palace's Qinzhen Building. More and more people in the crowd were wearing various beast masks, making it difficult to distinguish between men and women. The atmosphere was unprecedentedly high, with people laughing and playing, unrestrained and carefree.

  While on both sides of the Xingqing Palace and Daozheng Hall, there were many beautifully decorated pavilions lined up in a row according to their noble ranks, all of which were about a foot high above the ground, with varying widths, using pine wood as pillars and tung oil tree as the platform. The four sides of the pavilion had colorful silk curtains hanging down, bright lanterns shining, and beautifully dressed young servants and maids standing around, not allowing anyone to get close. Laughter and joyful voices filled the air without ceasing, and the fragrance of famous incense and delicious food had already wafted over, truly a display of wealth and luxury.

  Peony was looking around, when suddenly Rain Lotus pulled her sleeve and whispered: "Dan Niang, look to your right, that's Liu's watchtower. Take a look at the old woman's appearance."

  Peony was silent for a moment, then looked up to see Madame Qi and Qi Yuzhu standing at the entrance of the pavilion, dressed in magnificent attire. Madame Qi's hair bun was about a foot high, with seven-tree flower pins inserted on top, her face frosty, staring fixedly at Peony's group with an expression so ferocious it seemed as if she would pounce over and tear them apart to eat them up.

  The peony quietly bowed slightly to Madame Qi. She didn't see Liu Chang's figure, thinking that he was probably not released yet or had gone out to have fun.

  Madam Qi saw Peony and instead of avoiding her, she even dared to salute her. Isn't this a provocation? Thinking of Liu Chuan who was still locked up, the arrogant and proud Qinghua County Master's daughter couldn't help but stretch out her hand, pointing at Peony, gritting her teeth and saying to the people around her: "Go bring that woman to me, I want to ask her how she dares to be so shameless."

  Liu Chengcai heard the sound, stepped out of the shed quickly, grabbed Qi's wife and pulled her back, turned around and smiled apologetically at Peony, with a helpless expression on his face, looking like a henpecked husband who was unable to do anything.

  The room was noisy, and Peony didn't quite catch what Mrs. Qi said, but she knew it wasn't anything good. However, at this point, she couldn't care less about that. Just as she was about to leave, a servant girl ran over to block her path, bowed politely, and said with a smile: "Young Mistress, Master has instructed me to tell you that the matter is settled. Please choose a date for our family to come and collect the book."

  Peony was taken aback, hadn't she already reached the Princess of Kang City? Was it that easy? She suspected there must be a trick behind this coincidence. Thanking Nian Nu'er, she continued on her way. No matter what the Liu family wanted, she would see this through to the end.

  Niangnu'er watched as Peony's figure disappeared, let out a soft sigh, and turned to go back. As soon as she stepped onto the viewing platform, Qi Furen asked with a cold face: "What did she come here for? Is she trying to flirt with someone, or climb up the social ladder by marrying into a good family?"

  Nian Nu'er lowered her head and said: "The young madam didn't say anything."

  Liu Chengcai lay on a rope bed, saying lightly: "No matter what, she is still your daughter-in-law now. What's the benefit of talking about her like this?" He glanced at Qi Yuzhu and his tone became slightly stern: "It's really not good to say that in front of the child."

  Qī Yùzhū heard this and immediately lowered her head, looking at her nose with her eyes and her heart with her nose.

  Madam Qi snorted and gave Liu Chengcai a cold glance. Liu Chengcai said, "Alright, I won't say anything else. I'll go visit Minister Min next door for a bit. I'll come back later to accompany you on the outing."

  At this time, there were many beautiful courtesans outside, especially in Minister Min's residence. Madame Qi's eyes sparkled as she smiled and said to Qi Yuzhu: "Yuzhu, aren't you close with Minister Min's wife? Take advantage of this opportunity and have your uncle bring you along, how about it?"

  Qī Yùzhū smiled and didn't speak, while Liú Chéngcǎi frowned and said: "What nonsense, I'm going to do something serious." He really was going to do something serious, what's with bringing a girl along?

  Madam Qi thought he had been found out, and said: "Take her over there, let the girls play by themselves, what's holding you up?"

  Liu Chengcai knew her temper and knew that if he didn't agree to bring Qi Yuzhu along, he might not be able to leave the doorstep.

  Madam Qi, seeing him back down, was satisfied and gave a signal to Qi Yuzhu with her eyes, indicating that she should help keep an eye on Liu Chengcai. Qi Yuzhu smiled warmly and followed closely behind Liu Chengcai.

  Liu Chengcai stood on the street, and at a glance, he saw Peony's back in the crowd of people, as well as He Dalang and others. He thought for a moment, then led Qi Yuzhu to a place where Madame Qi couldn't see them, and said warmly to Qi Yuzhu: "Yuzhu, my uncle has something important to attend to and can't accompany you. I'll assign two capable people to you, and you can go find Min Jia's wife to play with? Young people should have fun."

  Qī Yùzhū replied obediently and asked Liú Chéngcǎi cleverly, "When will Uncle return? I'll wait for you nearby to go back together."

  If Madam Qi had half the cleverness and intelligence of her niece, Liu Chengcai was very satisfied with Qi Yuzhu's performance, he smiled and calculated the time silently, saying: "You come over in half a time."

  They parted ways at the agreed time and place, each going in a different direction. The maid beside Qi Yuzhu said: "Second Mistress, are we going to look for Mistress Min?"

  Qī Yùzhū didn't respond, but instead looked up at the distant Ning Wang Fu's lanterns and called over two guards that Liu Chengcai had left for her. She ordered a maid to hand over some money and said with a smile: "I'm hungry, I heard that in the eastern market there are foreigners selling sesame seed cakes, crispy and delicious, who will go buy some?"

  The two of them didn't suspect a thing, and one of them went to buy some pastries while the other closely followed Qi Yuzhu. Qi Yuzhu grabbed the maid's hand and took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention to dash into the crowd, dodging and hiding as they quickly shook off the remaining person, filled with excitement and anticipation, hurrying towards the Ning Wang Fu's viewing platform.

  Just as she was looking at the Ning Wang Fu's watchtower, someone gently patted her shoulder, and a male voice said displeased: "How did you get here?"

  Qī Yùzhū was startled, turned her head around, and saw Liú Chàng wearing a cyan-colored round-necked robe with a tiger-headed mask in his hand, standing calmly in front of her. She was both shocked and flustered, looked around cautiously, and whispered: "Cousin, how did you get here? Be careful not to be seen by Uncle, I just parted ways with him."

  Liu Chang's face turned gloomy as he hummed a sound, put on his mask and said, "Follow me."

  Qī Yùzhū looked at the Ning Wang Fu's watchtower with a deep sense of regret, and then reluctantly followed Liú Chàng from behind. Before long, the two were swallowed up in the crowd.

  But Peony saw that Jade had stopped in front and was beckoning to her, so she hastily followed. Jade pointed to a high platform with crimson curtains hanging down and said: "That is the viewing pavilion set up by the Princess's residence. At this moment, our mistress and the county master are both inside. I'll go in first, you come over after a short while."

  Peony nodded in agreement and stood quietly with Xue Shi and others in the shadows, waiting for the right moment. When the time came, Xue Shi pulled Peony along and strode out: "The time has come."

  A few people slowly walked towards the viewing platform of Princess Kang, Peony and Xue did not deliberately go to see it, but like many commoner women around them, curiously watched the luxurious viewing platforms set up by these noble families, as well as the nobles themselves and their beautiful and fashionable young servants and maids, fully enjoying this moment of equality between scholars and commoners.

  Yu He didn't dare to look around, focusing on observing the gazebo of Princess Kang Cheng, suddenly saw a group of beautifully dressed women walking out from behind the curtain, among whom one wearing a cherry blossom-colored wide-sleeved cloak was none other than Madame Bai. Seeing Madame Bai's eyes coming this way, Yu He quickly pulled Peony, and Peony turned around, just in time to meet Madame Bai's gaze.

  Madam Bai only glanced at Peony's face, then turned back and whispered a few words to a noblewoman standing beside her, who was around forty years old, with a high nose and thin eyes, wearing a crimson purple gauze cloak, with a nine-tree flower hairpin on her hair bun, and a round face like the moon. The noblewoman glanced at Peony, then turned back and whispered a few words.

  Before long, a woman with her hair tied up in a red silk handkerchief and dressed in a white mandarin jacket with a crimson sash around her waist, wearing red-and-white striped Persian trousers with beautiful flower-patterned edges at the bottom of the legs, and wearing embroidered shoes, came out from the watchtower of Princess Kongcheng and rushed towards Peony. She bowed to Peony and smiled: "May I ask if you are the precious daughter-in-law of Liu Gongfu?"

  Her movements were as smooth as floating clouds and flowing water, making people feel pleasant to watch. The smile on her face was neither arrogant nor humble, and it was delightful to behold. Peony hastily returned the courtesy, smiling: "Exactly. Little woman He Weifang."

  The woman official glanced at Peony without revealing her expression, smiled and said: "My surname is Xiao. The mistress of my house saw that the young lady was extraordinary and had a heart to know her, please move to talk about it. I don't know if you are willing?" She pointed to the pavilion where Princess Kangcheng was staying.

  "Since you've given me your favor, I'd rather obey than show respect."

  Xue and others were about to follow Peony, when Xiao Nu Guan smiled and said politely but firmly: "The place is narrow, madam, you'd better wait here."

  Yu He took a step forward and smiled: "Dan Niang, I'll accompany you to the other side, when you come out later, you can see me at a glance."

  Xiao Nu Guan heard this and carefully measured Yu He, neither saying it was good nor bad, but simply turned around to lead the way. Yu He saw this and knew she had agreed, so she quickly picked up her skirt and carefully followed Peony forward.

  Xue's anxiety was somewhat alleviated as she turned her head to look back, finding the figures of He Dala and his brothers, and only then did she feel at ease. She watched as Yuhe was left standing under the eaves of a street stall, while Mudan followed Xiao Nvguan up into the viewing pavilion of Princess Kangcheng, gradually disappearing behind layer upon layer of curtains. Her heart tightened with a mix of fear, worry, and hidden hope, silently praying with clasped hands, wishing for heaven's blessing to be upon Mudan, that she might from now on know peace and no longer suffer hardship.

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  Episode 280 update.

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