Yi Ning and Xu Yaochen walked towards Chaoyang Mansion.
Going out alone will make you lonely, and it will be cumbersome if there are many people.
It’s best to travel in groups of two or three.
After a week's journey and having company, the two of them didn't feel that much time had passed.
Xu Yaochen, in particular, now admires Yi Ning.
This Mr. Yi claims to be a mortal, but he knows everything.
Not only can he not be surprised when encountering ghosts and monsters, he can also tell the efficacy and function of various flowers and plants seen on the road.
This knowledge is not found in books at all. After Xu Yaochen asked about it, the other party said that it was medical knowledge, but he had never heard of the word medical knowledge. It seemed that his talents were lacking.
What impressed Xu Yaochen the most, as a scholar, was that Yi Ning could actually recite poems and write poems.
Along the way, if the other party casually said a poem, it would make Xu Yaochen think about it for a long time.
Therefore, during these days, the scholar often persuaded Yi Ning to take part in the imperial examination with him, but Yi Ning refused because he did not understand the reason for debate.
"The sea laughs, and the tide surges across the Taiwan Strait~"
Brother Yi, who was walking in front, started singing that weird but top-notch ballad again.
Xu Yaochen was also affected by it, grinned, and hummed: "Follow the waves, just remember this day~"
After listening to it so many times, who wouldn’t know how to sing it?
Feeling anxious in his heart, the scholar picked up his bookcase and trotted to follow.
The winter sun is shining high, pines and cypresses are swaying in the wind, fish are jumping out of the water in the stream, the path beside the stream is overgrown with weeds, and two wanderers are singing songs and walking leisurely.
...
Chaoyang Mansion covers an area of 60 square kilometers and has more than 800,000 residents. It is the largest city in the northern border of Daqian Kingdom.
The thirty-meter-high bluestone city wall forms a circle and surrounds the entire Chaoyang Mansion. There is a text displayed every 100 meters on the city wall.
Condensing text into a formation is the work of Confucian monks.
North gate of Chaoyang Mansion.
Yi Ning ran into some trouble.
"General, I heard that the fee to enter the city is ten cents, why did it increase five times today?"
Yi Ning spread out his right hand, and in the palm of his hand there were ten copper coins, which he had asked for from Lou Weng before, specifically for the purpose of entering the city.
With his left hand, he took out his pocket and felt the touch of his fingers. Apart from the friction of the cloth, there was also half a copper plate.
"You said you heard that you carry so much goods into the city for free?"
The registered soldier pointed at the bamboo basket on Yi Ning's back and said impatiently, "If you don't have money, get out of the way."
The bamboo basket contained herbs collected along the way, so naturally they couldn't be thrown away.
There was a squeaking sound from behind, it was other people queuing up.
Yi Ning could only look at Xu Yaochen who had already entered the city.
Xu Yaochen was looking over here in the city, and realized something was wrong, so he ran over quickly.
After understanding the cause of the matter, he patted his chest and said he would give it, and then ran to the corner alone and counted the coins in his pocket.
After a while, he took fifty copper coins and handed them to the guarding soldiers with a magnanimous face, and called Yi Ning to enter the city quickly.
Yi Ning opened his mouth, but finally kept silent and followed the scholar towards the city.
Xu Yaochen looked arrogant, but Yi Ning knew that he was also a poor scholar, and his family had exhausted all their savings to raise money for him to take the exam.
Come to think of it, Xu Yaochen didn't have much money left.
There is still a whole week before the government examination, so accommodation, food and drinks are all expenses.
ten minutes later.
After some comparisons, they finally found the cheapest inn in a corner of the city.
"Brother Yi, you really don't want to live with me?" Xu Yaochen put down his book box and asked again.
"No, I still have something to do. I owe you copper coins, and I will pay them back as soon as possible." Yi Ning shook his head.
In the wild before, they had a lot to live on, but they didn't have much money to spend, so Yi Ning ate and drank with Xu Yaochen.
Nowadays, when entering the city, everything costs money. You don't need to eat, and you are not afraid of the cold. There is no need to waste the scholar's money.
Xu Yaochen's chest thumped loudly: "Oh, it's okay! There's no need to rush to pay back the money, I still have some expenses."
"Take this and take it every day. Drinking it will clear your head and help with the examination." Yi Ning took out a few packets of herbal medicine from his bamboo pocket.
Here is Suanzaoren Decoction, which has the effects of nourishing blood and calming the nerves, clearing away heat and relieving troubles.
The main medicine is Ziziphus jujuba kernel, and licorice, Anemarrhena, Poria, Chuanxiong and other substances are added according to the needs.
Xu Yaochen did not refuse, and after taking it, he said goodbye: "I will be here recently. If Brother Yi has nothing to do, you can come see me."
"Definitely!" Yi Ning returned the favor, then left the inn and walked towards the street.
A corner of the ancient street is crowded with vendors and bustling traffic, highlighting the prosperity of Chaoyang City.
"I'm selling steamed buns~delicious meat buns~"
"High-quality silk cloth, please come and take a look!"
"Seobing, freshly baked sesame cake~"
The shouts of hawking kept coming and going.
Yi Ning walked on Qingshi Street, looking at the delicacies on both sides of the street, and swallowed her saliva. Although she was not hungry, she smelled really greedy.
This strengthened his determination to make money, but before that, there was something to do.
"Captain Yihui's residence should be right in front." Yi Ning muttered to himself as he looked at the street corner.
move on.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for Yi Ning to see the mansion with the plaque "Nie Mansion" hanging on it.
The mansion is bustling with traffic, and the vermilion door bears witness to the noble status of the owner.
"So lively?" Yi Ning raised his eyebrows and followed the crowd to the captain's mansion.
Naturally, he was stopped.
The gatekeeper looked Yi Ning up and down. He had a white robe without any decoration, a beast hat, and a bamboo bag on his back, looking like a mountain man.
After thinking that today was the master's birthday, the concierge resisted the urge to drive people away and said, "Master, do you have an invitation?"
"No."
"But which official's relatives and friends?"
"no."
"..."
The concierge took a deep breath and said, "Then please go and wait outside. Today is my birthday. If anything happens, come back in a few days."
Yi Ning still looked kind and said: "Please help me to inform you that Chen Cai'er's friend wants to see you."
"Chen Cai'er?" The concierge rolled his eyes. He had never heard of this person before, but the other person's tone was full of confidence, as if the master would come to see him if he announced his name.
The little concierge didn't dare to gamble, so he said "wait a moment" with a pleasant tone and ran towards the house.
Yi Ning stood with his arms and waited quietly. He was already thinking about how to make money after conveying the words.
Selling herbs? Cure? You can try whatever you feel.
After a few minutes of this.
Then the concierge ran out angrily.
Yi Ning had a bad feeling in her heart and asked, "Where is Colonel Nie?"
"The master said he didn't know him! He's gone!"
The porter said angrily, "Please leave the Captain's Mansion now, or I will call someone."
do not know?
Yi Ning was very sure that Chen Cai'er's son was this school captain, but now the other party actually said that he didn't know him.
We have known each other for twenty years since childhood, how can we not know each other?
"Still not leaving?" The concierge's tone became cold.
Yi Ning looked at the mansion again, turned and left.
Originally, he was going to go about his own business after bringing a message.
But now, Yi Ning recalled the way Cai'er and Wang Ergou dissipated, and compared it with Nie Lang's attitude.
Yi Ning was a little unhappy.
A real man is born in heaven and earth. If there is injustice, what should he do?
"Cai'er, since you are no longer alive, please allow me to speak with Nie Lang Haosheng on behalf of your family."
