There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 179, Part 3: Gu Changning

Li Shuchen left the Flower Robe Pavilion satisfied after hearing this. If only all men had this kind of awareness, and if everyone were a gentleman, where would all the injustices come from?

Li Shuchen then went to the West Market and bought ten bundles of gold ingots and a bunch of incense.

I secretly slipped three sheets of poetry out, and then quickly left without lingering at the scene.

Next, I went to Taipei and bought a pot of grape wine, a pot of plum wine, a pot of Shaoxing wine, a pack of mung bean cakes, a pack of rice cakes, a pack of coconut jam cakes, a roast chicken, and a pound of beef.

He quietly tossed out three more sheets of poetry, and then quickly left after tossing them all.

Finally, I strolled to the South Market, bought some vegetables and firecrackers, and then tossed out the last two poems.

After getting into the carriage, we returned to the inn.

Li Shuchen was exhausted after a day of shopping and fell asleep as soon as she lay down on the bed.

The first day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zixing (1194) is the Ancestor Worship Festival.

Early in the morning, the people got up and busied themselves, and the sound of firecrackers could be heard all the while.

Li Shuchen was jolted awake and decided not to go back to sleep.

I went straight to the kitchen and started making dumplings.

It's a holiday after all, so grandparents should at least get something hot to eat.

Knead the dough, chop the filling, roll out the wrappers, and wrap them up.

Li Shuchen did it all by himself; even when Grape offered to help, he refused.

After cooking the dumplings, Li Shuchen wrapped them in thick clothes and put them in a food container to prevent them from cooling down too quickly.

We also packed another portion of roast duck so that my grandparents could have a taste.

Li Shuchen handed the food box to Grape and went to fetch Li Wanbai.

"Wanbai, come on, I'll take you to meet my grandparents."

"Hey~"

The carriage arrived at its destination smoothly.

After Li Shuchen alighted from the carriage, a wave of sorrow washed over him. He gently touched Li Wan's white hair and said...

"Wanbai, do you see this little house? My grandparents live in it."

Li Wanbai was stunned. This was not what it had expected. Could people live on this small mound? Where would it tie itself?

Li Shuchen carried everything to the earthen slope, knelt down, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Grandparents, Chen'er has come to see you again. Did you miss Chen'er? Chen'er missed you very much. Grandparents, guess what Chen'er brought this time?"

"Ta-da! It's dumplings! Hahaha, you didn't expect that, did you? I brought dumplings for my grandparents. I made them all by hand, one by one, with pork and scallion filling. They smell so good! I even brought vinegar so grandparents can dip them in!"

There's also wine here. The grape wine and plum wine are for Grandma; Chen'er really likes those two. This pot of Shaoxing wine is for Grandpa; it's very mellow and fragrant.

Oh, and there's also roast duck! Grandpa and Grandma, wait here, I'll roll it up for you.

Li Shuchen rolled up the scroll while tears streamed down her face. She couldn't figure out what Li Wanbai was doing, and the horse lowered its head and collapsed.

"Grandpa and Grandma, please try this! This is the roast duck that Chen'er made. It smells so good!"

Chen'er bought another big orchard. All the peaches, oranges, persimmons, apples, and these incredibly delicious golden pomelos in front of Grandpa and Grandma are from Chen'er's orchard. Isn't Chen'er capable? You should all try some!

Li Shuchen picked up the winter clothes next to her again.

"Winter is almost here, are you feeling a bit cold, Grandpa and Grandma? Don't worry, Chen'er brought you winter clothes, hehehe, they're lined with goose down, so they're lightweight and warm, Grandpa and Grandma will definitely love them."

After Li Shuchen finished speaking, he began to light the winter clothes, until all four down coats were completely burned.

"Grandparents, remember to come to Chen'er's dreams and tell him if these winter clothes are warm enough. Chen'er bought ten bundles of gold ingots, and I will burn them all for Grandparents, so that Grandparents can become underground tycoons."

Li Shuchen kept pointing at the gold ingot.

Li Wanbai remained obediently lying down, without making a fuss, running around, or pestering Li Shuchen for dumplings, fruit, or roast duck.

Li Shuchen finished counting the gold ingots and looked back.

"Wanbai, why are you lying down? Are you missing your family? But I don't know where your family is. When I bought you, your mother had already been bought by someone else."

"Hmm~"

Li Shuchen patted Li Wanbai's head again.

"It's alright, Wanbai. We'll meet again someday. Let's go home."

Three Treasures Hall

Li Shuchen rested her chin on her hand and stared out the window for a long time before calming herself down. But she still felt like a heavy stone was pressing on her heart, and she couldn't let it go.

He was slightly out of breath.

Oh dear, why hasn't Changning come to see me for so long? It's been half a month already. Could something have happened to him?

Thinking of this, Li Shuchen hurriedly took Li Wanbai's hand again and rushed to the entrance of the princess's residence.

He jumped off the carriage, ran to the door, and said...

"Brother, I am Li Shuchen, do you remember me? I would like to meet your Princess Changning."

"Miss Li, of course I remember, but my eldest daughter, Princess Changning, is not at home."

Li Shuchen was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Not at home? Then do you know where she went?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Li, I don't know about that."

Li Shuchen was somewhat stunned upon hearing this.

"Oh, thank you, brother."

Li Shuchen returned to the inn by carriage and pondered deeply.

She went to look for her, but she wasn't at the manor. So where did she go?

Xiao Jizi said he would protect Princess Changning until she survives this year. Since it's a life-threatening ordeal, it can only happen once. To survive the year, the ordeal will occur closer to the New Year. It's only early October now; there's still November and December. She should still be safe for now.

Thinking of this, Li Shuchen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little better.

But then I thought, if I'm injured and have to stay in bed all the time, that would be terrible. No, I need to go again tomorrow.

She was determined to get up very early; she refused to believe she wouldn't be able to see Changning.

The next day, Li Shuchen got up at 5 a.m. and hurriedly led the slightly awake Li Wanbai to the princess's residence.

He jumped off the carriage again and ran to the gate of the princess's residence to ask...

"Brother, may I go see Princess Changning?"

"Miss Li, you've arrived. Princess Changning is not at the residence."

"Not here? I got up so early, and she wasn't here. When did she leave?"

It was around 5 AM.

"So early? Alright, then please remember to tell Princess Changning that I've come to see her, and that she should come looking for me if she has time."

"I will convey this to my princess."

"Thank you, brother."

On the third day, Li Shuchen waited at home for a long time, then grew restless. Why hadn't Changning come yet? If she didn't come, he would go find her himself.

They took Li Wanbai's hand and went to the princess's residence.

Li Shuchen dismounted from the carriage and asked...

"Brother, is Princess Changning at the manor?"

"not there"

"Your family's Princess Ning is already so busy even though you're not here yet?"

"Miss Li, we don't know either."

"Then please tell your Princess Changning to bring more guards and attendants when she goes out."

Li Shuchen took out a handful of silver from his purse and gave it to the man at the door.

The elder brother accepted the silver and said happily.

"Don't worry, Miss Li, I will definitely convey these words."

"Thank you, brother."

Li Shuchen frowned as he boarded the carriage. He hadn't seen Changning for three days. What had she become so obsessed with?

The carriage kept stopping and starting, making her feel nauseous and wanting to curse the horse.