"Try this one." Gu Liu, who had been fascinated with the nine-linked rings for some time now, took out the largest one from the box and handed it to Li Xia.

  Li Xia shifted in her seat and began to untie it.

  Jin Zhiyan walked over, stood shoulder to shoulder with the King of Qin, looked at it for a while, took out a nine-linked ring, clumsily removed and re-wore, wore and removed again, removed the first ring, held it in front of the King of Qin, "Isn't it difficult? It's really not easy to do so quickly, you try?"

  "What's not easy about it?" Qin Wang interrupted Jin Shu's words and immediately changed the subject, "What about the sugar you asked someone to make? How long has it been? Why didn't you let someone go and hurry them up? You're getting more and more careless!"

  The King of Qin turned his face to look at Lu Yi, "And you, don't you see what time it is? This is Hengshan County, not Hangzhou City. Do I have to grope my way back in the dark? How are you doing your job? Now I have to worry about these things myself?"

  Lu Yi bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

  Gu Liu was so focused on watching Li Xia solve the nine linked rings that he heard Qin Wang's words but didn't take them in.

  Jin Zhiyu glanced at the exquisite doll that had somehow fallen under the table, then looked again at Gu Liu, Li Xia and Li Wenshan who were trying to solve the nine linked rings puzzle, and finally glanced at Qin Wang, as if he had gained some insight.

  Jiulianhuan is Gu Liu's idea, a puppet, but it was personally chosen by Wang Ye...

  The little servant rushed over to urge them on, and in a short while, several tea and wine scholars really carried two large baskets over.

  Li Wenlan's face turned red with excitement as she reached out to pull Li Xia, "A Xia A Xia! Look look!"

  The Qin king glared at Li Wenlan and Li Xia, who were staring at the sugar jar by the water's edge, grunted, lifted his foot and walked away, "It's getting late!"

  Take a few steps out, suddenly turn around, fold the fan and point at Li Wenshan, "The day after tomorrow, come to the academy, no later than the first quarter of the morning, can't be late, there's a morning class!"

  Before Li Wenshan could respond, Qin Shan stormed off with a whoosh of wind.

  Lu Yi walked at the end, looking at the doll that had fallen under the table and was ignored by everyone. He looked around, bent down to pick it up, hid it behind his back, and quickly followed them out.

  …………

  Returning to the county government office, Li Wenshan first went to the front office to tell County Magistrate Li that he would be teaching a morning class at the academy in two days' time. County Magistrate Li hastily handed over the official business in his hands to the two secretaries and led Li Wenshan into the rear office.

  The day after tomorrow is the first class, so I have to leave tomorrow.

  All the students of Wan Song Academy live in the academy, no need to find a place to stay, but luggage needs to be packed, and there are people to follow, Li Wen Shan still doesn't have a servant, needs to pick someone from home again, and also gifts for the teacher...

  He should have taken his son there in person, paid respects to the teachers and elders, and entrusted him to their care. But he was bound by duty and could not leave without permission...

  It's all serious business!

  Magistrate Li led Li Wenshan into the upper house, and had just spoken half to Mrs. Xu when he suddenly stopped, regretfully patted his forehead, "Dong Jie, you go and ask Nian Nian to come over, let her listen."

  Magistrate Li explained to Dong Jie, and then brought a hint of inexplicable guilt, explaining to Mrs. Xu, "After all, the nanny has seen more things."

  Zhang's wife followed Li Dong in, and County Magistrate Li hastily stood up, bowing his head to let her take the seat of honor.

  "Your Honor, there's a distinction between the upper and lower classes. Although there are no outsiders present, we still can't be careless." Zhong Yini gave a proper greeting to Magistrate Li and Lady Xu, and even Li Wenshan showed respect with a serious expression, saying to Magistrate Li...

  Magistrate Li was both moved and ashamed, "Auntie's scolding is right, it's me... Auntie knows my heart..."

  "I know everything, sir and madam. Please take a seat." Zhong Yiniang smiled politely, bowed slightly in response, and gestured for the standing Li County Magistrate and Xu Madam to sit down.

  Magistrate Li sat down uncomfortably, leaning forward towards Nanny Zhong. Madame Xu glanced at Magistrate Li's manner and didn't dare sit properly, instead half-sitting on the edge of the kang.

  "Mother, please come, it's about discussing the matter of Shan Ge going to Wansong Academy to study in two days. The luggage and clothes are trivial matters, but there are two major things that need to be heard from Mother's opinion. First, who should be chosen to serve Shan Ge on his way? This person must be steady, knowledgeable, and able to distinguish between importance and unimportance. Second, whether I should follow him or not? If I don't go, it would be a loss of etiquette towards the teacher, but if I do go, I wouldn't be able to leave my post... Now, sending someone to Hangzhou to ask for Luo Shuai's instructions might be too late..."

  Clock aunt listened attentively to Li County's words, swept a glance at Mrs. Xu, and bowed with a smile: "Old master, as for choosing someone, what kind of person can our family choose? Among these few people, they all grew up under my care. In my opinion, Wutong is the most suitable, but it would be a bit of a sacrifice for you, old master."

  "Not to be outdone... I also think Wu Tong is good, that's what I thought." County Magistrate Li hesitated for a moment before immediately agreeing. Wu Tong was too reckless and loved wine and wandering around... Fortunately, he knew what was important.

  "Besides, Master knows that I am a woman who stays indoors, this matter still needs Master to make the decision himself." Zhong Yiniang saw Li County Magistrate nodding and seemed to have let out a sigh of relief.

  Li Xia sat on the kang, with both arms resting on the low table, propping up her cheek to gaze at Nanny Zhong.

  Let Wutong go with Fifth Brother, how can she bear to part with Wutong, her trusted right-hand man? She had known for a long time that Fifth Brother was going to Hangzhou to study, and letting Wutong follow him was probably something she had planned all along... Hmm, it's just as well.

  Magistrate Li weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided to write a letter for Li Wenshan to take to the mountain chief. He still didn't go.

  The big thing was settled, and Mrs. Xü and Lǐ Dōng were busy packing up things for Lǐ Wénshān. Magistrate Lǐ called in Wú Tóng to give him a thousand instructions and ten thousand reminders.

  Li Wenshan returned to his study and packed up the books, brushes and ink he wanted to bring along.

  Li Xia slipped out quietly and went to find Fifth Brother Li Wenshan.

  "I was just looking for you." Li Wenshan saw Li Xia come in, put down the book in his hand, and pulled Li Xia to sit down at the table. "I have to leave tomorrow, I've thought about it, I need to find Mr. Qin to borrow someone to send messages back and forth between home, but I haven't figured out how to get this message into your hands without letting Father and Mother know..."

  "It's a small matter." Li Xia swung her leg, interrupting Wu Ge's words, "Zhong Yiniang let Wutong follow you over, I think she is going to make a move."

  "What's going on? How can I let Wutong follow me like this? Can't...hurt me?" Li Wenshan looked bewildered.

  "Wutong can do too many things, let Wutong spoil you, let Wutong humiliate you in front of Qin Wang or Shan Chang and Tong Xiang." Li Xia said slowly.

  "How is this possible? What... what's in it for her?" Li Wenshan's face was full of incredulity.

  "Eldest brother, think about it, she fell from the high and noble position of our ancestors to now being on the same level as Hong's servant girls, what brought her up? What was it for?"

  What else is Father Ah trying to emphasize the distinction between superior and inferior for?

  "What did Father say about the body contract being sealed and delivered? Do you think it's possible? The real ancestor of the Hou Mansion would let out the body contract? Would the imperial court allow you to ignore the legitimate grandmother and not invite her for the seal, but instead invite a slave?"

  Li Xia asked a string of questions, and Li Wenshan blinked repeatedly, hardly daring to believe it, but thinking about it, it was indeed the case...

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