After finishing the Laba congee, Zhao Zhen prepared to enter the capital.

  Locals who had a relationship with him all came to the door to send off the ceremony, and it was lively for two days. It was decided to officially enter Beijing on the 10th of December. Xie Wan spoke directly that the shop lacked partners and asked to leave Li Ershun behind. Zhao Zhen knew that there were some past grievances between them, and now he had accepted Xie Wan's kindness, it was impossible not to give him face.

  On the tenth day, the citizens in the city also saw them off for half a street.

  Xie Wan let Luo Ju drive the carriage and stopped it at the entrance of the government office. Amidst the hustle and bustle, no one seemed to notice her. However, just as she was about to leave, Wang Yuchun suddenly walked over with a large bundle in his arms, his eyes red as he handed it to her saying: "I made a few pairs of shoes and socks for my sister, who knows when we'll meet again next time, take good care of yourself."

  At first, when she was about to get married, Xie Wan told her that the matchmaker was from the Zhao County Magistrate's family. She was shocked for a while because when Wang Shi arranged for her to marry Zhao Zhuo, he didn't hide it from her. Now, seeing that things had come full circle and they were together again, it seemed that marriage was indeed predestined. So, after getting over the shock, she quickly accepted the fact and didn't reveal a word to Zhao Zhen and his wife.

  Xie Wan had considered her a tool to get close to Zhao Zhen from the start, so after marrying into the Zhao family, she abandoned her and rarely saw her when visiting the Zhao residence. Now, suddenly seeing her hand over such a large package, she was somewhat taken aback.

  "There are a few pairs that I made a bit bigger, because I reckon you'll be growing up next year. Also, I saw that your heel isn't high, so I specially added a lace on the shoe face, which you can adjust to loosen or tighten later. Inside, there are also several insoles, you can take a look and see if you like them, if not, it's okay too."

  Wang Yuchun spoke in a soft and gentle voice, as if recalling every word to make sure nothing was left out. Her expression was shy yet reluctant, not like she was talking to her sister, but rather like she was parting with her loved one.

  "You like to eat the mountain walnuts and those wild flowers. Later on, I'm afraid they won't be available, when I see something interesting while I'm away, I'll bring it back for you..."

  Her voice grew softer and softer until it became a faint sobbing sound.

  Xie Wan lowered her head and opened the package, seeing a dozen or so pairs of embroidered shoes with various colored satin and velvet flowers neatly arranged inside. The usual indifference at the corner of her eyes suddenly disappeared somewhat.

  She wasn't unaware of Wang Yuchun's inner sorrow.

  She treated him differently, only because he happened to give her the joy and thought she didn't have at that time. This feeling is not a shocking and astonishing private affair, but a kind of dependence and reliance like a drowning person suddenly grabbing a floating wood. She believed that if she were a small cat or dog, when she was desperate and had no one to rely on, bringing her some comfort, she would also treat him as a close friend.

  If Wang Yuchun wasn't surnamed Wang, Xie Wan might have taken good care of her for the rest of her life.

  But because of her surname, Xie Wan could only give her a faint smile.

  "Thank you," she said.

  Jade-like jade blushed and lowered her head, turned around and disappeared into the long alley.

  The Zhao family's carriage drove onto the road heading in the direction of Kyoto, and by tomorrow morning at the latest, they would be able to arrive in the capital.

  Xie Wan returned to the mansion and immediately called Luo Jiyu Xueyu: "You go prepare, we will enter the capital in two days!"

  Zhao Zhen must be promoted from his current position as a seventh-rank official!

  He has a rich experience and a clear mind. Even if he can't become the master, as long as he is assisted properly, he can at least become a force to help the second house in the future. After all, among so many officials in the court and the government, how many of them are truly talented and capable? Some have real talents and learning, some are good at promoting virtuous people and accepting wise advice, but most people only have three parts of talent and seven parts of flattering and fawning skills.

  Compared with most people, Zhao Zhen really just lacked an opportunity.

  Now Xie Wan first needs a way to get into the official circle. She needs someone to tell her in time about Xie Rong's movements and position in the court, as well as his relationships and connections, so that she can judge how to make decisions.

  Zhao Zhen appeared at the Xie manor under Wang's instigation, and it was feared that until death, she would never have thought that she would become his subordinate. With the appearance of Xie Wei's letter in the Zhao manor, no matter how Wang explained, Xie Rong would always harbor resentment towards him whenever he thought about his beloved eldest daughter almost becoming the wife of Zhao Ju, who was destined to be a lifelong widower.

  Zhao Zhen has been in the officialdom for over twenty years and naturally has a good understanding of this. He will not pin his hopes on Xie Rong's ability to put aside their past grievances.

  Promoting Zhao Zhen to the capital is suitable as the first ear and eye set up by Xie Wan beside Xie Rong.

  After all, she is not like Xie Liang, who doesn't care about how he was unprincipled with Wang before Zhao Zhen. It's because in the future, the role he might play is more important than these things. If she can help Zhao Zhen get promoted, won't Zhao Zhen always maintain a good relationship with her?

  The role of the alliance is mutual benefit. Even if Rong Yong and Xie Rong are still on the same page in the future, she won't be completely out of options.

  She started setting up this chessboard from the day Wang intended to push Xie Liang towards defeat and infamy, and today it has finally begun to take shape.

  This is her first battle in the officialdom, she must win!

  After she passed down the message, because Luo Ju and others had already made preparations beforehand, they didn't say a word and went straight to work, with those who were supposed to pack up doing so, and those who were supposed to pick people up doing so.

  From now on, she must naturally avoid everyone's eyes and ears; otherwise, with her being a child without an adult watching over her, traveling to the capital alone would not make people feel shocked?

  She made a report to Wang's family under the pretext of going to her uncle's house for New Year's greetings and staying for a few days, and Wang's family couldn't stop her.

  Then he chose Shen Tian, Luo Sheng and his son, as well as Wu Xing to follow him, and Yu Xue and Yu Fang naturally followed.

  Xie Lang said to let her be bold and do it, but after all, this matter is not trivial, and she insisted on it for several days. "If that's the case, I'll go with you, and there's no reason why you should go to your uncle's house to bid farewell, and I won't go."

  Xie Wan initially didn't think he would go, but now that she heard him say so, she thought about it quietly for a moment and felt that with his temperament, going out to see the world was also a good thing. However, they had all left, what about the family?

  "Brother, you'd better stay. Have you forgotten that the Wang family has been eyeing our shops for a long time? They've been patient for over a year now, and with Huaguo about to get engaged, it's just when we need money. If none of us are around, what if they take advantage of us and make a move on our shops? So, brother, staying behind is also a task, which is to occasionally go to the shops and keep an eye on things."

  Xie Lang furrowed his brow, at a loss for what to do next.

  Xie Wan said, "Brother, you still don't trust me? I know what to do and what not to do, and I also know what's dangerous and can't be approached. When we arrive in the capital, we'll stay at the post house, with Luo Sheng and so many people watching over us, nothing will happen. Moreover, this place is only three hundred miles away from the capital, and we're taking the official road, it can be said that there's not even a hint of danger."

  But Xie Lang had never been out of Hejian Prefecture, and he was still worried about such a long journey.

  Xie Wan had no choice but to talk about the necessity of this trip to Beijing and its importance to their family's future, before he finally managed to persuade him.

  On the twelfth day, early in the morning, Luo Ju hurriedly drove the carriage, taking Xie Wan and Yu Xueyu Fang out of the mansion. Outside the North City Gate, Luo Sheng and his son had already hired a horse-drawn carriage and were waiting there with Shen Tian.

  The two sides merged and directly rushed towards the capital.

  At the same time, Zhao Zhen brought his family to settle in Hejian Guild Hall. Most of them were officials from Hejian Prefecture who came to report for duty, and they were all at the state and county levels. It was easy to get familiar with each other quickly.

  Zhao Zhen had to go to the Ministry of Officials for registration and assessment every day, so he left early and returned late. When he finally had some free time, it was already the 14th of the twelfth lunar month. Madame Zhao saw that he looked worried and asked: "Isn't Third Miss Xie still asking you to deliver a message to the Jing family? With such a good opportunity, why are you still dragging your feet and refusing to go?"

  "It's not that I don't want to go, it's just that I don't know how to get there."

  Madam Zhao listened with doubt, so he explained: "Although we say it's to deliver a message for Third Miss, after all, Third Miss is still helping me out by introducing us. If I go empty-handed, what would that look like? These past few days, I've seen my colleagues giving things like ginseng and deer antler, as well as jewels and jade utensils, all of which are extremely valuable. We don't have the money to buy such things right now, and that's what's worrying me."

  Madam Zhao was worried after hearing this. Although Zhao Zhen had been in the official circle for many years and couldn't be considered a clean official, he hadn't embezzled much money like others because he was eager to get promoted and feared that being impeached by the censor would affect his career advancement. Therefore, there wasn't much extra money on hand.

  The opportunity is right in front of you, but because of a little money, it becomes an obstacle. Is it really destined to be so?

  The couple sighed at each other, and Madame Zhao looked at the ring on her hand. Suddenly, she remembered: "I remember that Master still has two pieces of Shoushan stone, don't he? They were given by someone from below when we were in Fujian. This Ji Daren is also a learned man, probably interested in jades and stones too. Why doesn't Master take them out to give as gifts?"

  Zhao Zhen's eyes lit up and she nodded immediately: "Exactly! You quickly find it, I'll take the message to Third Miss for you!"

  Madam Zhao found the Shoushan stone and took a small lacquer wooden box that she used to store her headdress, lined it with red velvet, carefully placed the two stones inside, and then handed it to Zhao Zhen and saw him off at the door.

  The Jing family's residence is located in Luming Alley, where all the residents are officials of the third rank or below. From the outside, the entrance to the Jing family home is not particularly impressive, with a high wall built according to regulations, a large black-lacquered gate, and a length of no more than 100 zhang east-west and no more than 123 zhang south-north.

  Zhao Zhen stood outside the gate of the Jia family for a moment, seeing carriages and horses coming in and out like flowing water, but more were blocked outside the gate, sighing long and short.

  He waited under the big locust tree across the street until the figure thinned out, then got off the car and walked towards the gate with a box in his hand.

  The gatekeeper saw that he was neat and tidy, and heard that he had come to deliver a message for the Qinghe Xie family, so he led him into the mansion, past the screen wall, to the inner courtyard below the second door, where he rested before going to report.

  There were still a few people sitting in the hall, and they all cast inquiring glances at Zhao Zhen who had just arrived.

  He also glanced at him with a sidelong glance. Before long, a servant came over and said kindly to him: "Our master is busy seeing guests at the moment, I'm afraid it will delay Mr.'s business, so please leave Miss Biao's letter with me, and I'll pass it on."

  Zhao Zhen hastily stood up and said, "Lord Jing has something to attend to. Third Young Lady still has some words entrusted to me to convey to Lord Jing in person, so I'll just sit down for a bit."

  Jiading listened and had no choice but to follow him.