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The wooden tub and hot water were both ready. Marquis Xuanping didn't call anyone inside and brought the large wooden tub and hot water in himself.
Unfastening the belt of his trousers annoyed Xiao Liulang. He didn’t have the strength and was unable to take it off for a long time. Eventually, he just threw himself into the hot water.
The rain seemed to have extinguished all the heat of the past few days and brought a hint of coolness of the early autumn. Xiao Liulang's body was cold until he soaked in the hot water, only then did his body gradually warmed up.
While Xiao Liulang was taking a bath under the shed, Marquis Xuanping went to fetch water, planning to take a cold shower and then change clothes on the carriage.
He wasn’t familiar with this place and only vaguely remembered that everyone had come out of the largest shed earlier, maybe the water was there too.
He went to the shed that served as a lobby and office.
Everyone was there, including Marquis Gu and the pile of food he had brought. The room was filled with the tempting aroma of meat and pastries.
Everyone looked at Marquis Xuanping in astonishment, with a bewildered look on their faces.
Marquis Xuanping glanced around. When he saw them gathering here earlier, he thought they were discussing some important matters, but it turned out they were just eating and drinking.
The Minister of Revenue asked, "Would Marquis Xiao like to have some? These were bought by Marquis Gu's people from the capital."
Marquis Xuanping swept his gaze at Marquis Gu in the room and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Everyone was here except his son-in-law, Xiao Liulang.
Great, just great.
Marquis Gu was clueless about the relationship between Marquis Xuanping and Xiao Liulang. Just as he was wondering how Marquis Xuanping had gotten involved with that poor country boy, he met Marquis Xuanping's gaze.
His heart suddenly thumped.
The rain stopped in the middle of the night. The next day was a sunny day, with a faint morning light and a clear blue sky. The air was filled with the scent of moist soil and flowers after the rain.
The disaster relief and farming tasks were completed successfully. Everyone packed their bags and planned to eat something before setting off back to the capital.
But no one expected to be greeted by the mouth-watering aroma of steamed buns as soon as they pushed open the wooden door of their sheds. Everyone's mouths began to water uncontrollably.
"Did they make steamed buns today? Did the villagers know we were leaving, so they specially made steamed buns for us?"
"These steamed buns smell so good!"
They were all officials from the capital with prominent family backgrounds. Normally, they were not easily tempted by a simple steamed bun. However, perhaps they had been here for too many days, they could no longer resist the smell of the steamed buns.
"Wait, this doesn't seem like the aroma of ordinary steamed buns. It's from Zhouji's! Their steamed buns have this buttery sesame fragrance!"
"That's right! It's Zhouji's steamed meat buns!"
Zhouji's steamed meat buns were famous in the capital. Unfortunately, they only made 100 baskets a day. They were always sold out quickly and it was difficult to get them.
The aroma was coming from An Junwang's shed.
"Could it be that Marquis Gu sent someone again to buy them? Marquis Gu is too considerate! He already bought so much roast duck and crispy chicken last night."
"Those were for An Junwang! We're just benefiting from his good fortune!"
"It looks like we're benefiting from An Junwang's good fortune again today."
Everyone spoke excitedly and hastened to walk towards An Junwang's shed.
However, they were dumbfounded when they arrived at the door. An Junwang was not there, only Marquis Xuanping and Xiao Liulang… as well as a teenager in a black robe.
On the table in front of the two people were several baskets of steamed buns, along with wine-steamed meatballs with egg sprinkles, scallion pancakes stuffed with donkey meat, and braised lamb scorpions that could make the neighbor's dog cry with envy.
All of them were Zhouji's most special dishes.
The group couldn't help but salivate at the sight of so much food in the early morning.
However, the three men couldn't finish all the food, so they must have intended to share it with them, right?
Sure enough, Xiao Liulang calmly asked, "Did you kill the steamed bun seller?"
Who could finish so many steamed buns!
Marquis Xuanping raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Then let's share them, Chang Jing."
Chang Jing walked over and picked up the steamed buns, leaving only one basket for Marquis Xuanping and Xiao Liulang.
Everyone watched as Chang Jing walked towards them with the basket of steamed buns, excited beyond words.
Then, they saw Chang Jing, with an expressionless face, walking past them.
Everyone: "..."
Chang Jing shared the steamed buns with the villagers.
There was one left, and Chang Jing gave it to the big black dog in the village.
Thereupon, everyone who could only gnaw at pickled vegetables and unleavened bread experienced what it was like to be worse off than a dog.
After breakfast, Marquis Xuanping packed Xiao Liulang into his own carriage. Even though Xiao Liulang strongly protested, his protests were ultimately ineffective .
Everyone also got into the carriages of various government offices. At that moment, Marquis Gu unexpectedly found that his carriage's wheels had been removed by someone.
Marquis Gu exploded on the spot, "Where are this Marquis’s carriage wheels? Who did it!?"
Everyone sat in their respective carriages, looking at one another.
Was it not obvious who did it?
Who had a higher official position here than you?
No one dared to speak, and it was An Junwang who spoke up, "Marquis Gu, if you don't mind, you may ride in my carriage back to the capital."
"I guess only that will do." Marquis Gu sighed heavily and got into An Junwang's carriage. This son-in-law was really good. He knew to lend a helping hand at a critical moment…
Before he could finish this thought, there was a loud bang outside, and An Junwang's carriage wheels were also removed by someone.
No one saw anyone take action, but the two wheels seemed to have betrayed them as they rolled out of the carriage all at once.
The carriage fell heavily to the ground, and Marquis Gu's head hit the roof, instantly creating a large bump.
The Minister of Revenue didn't want to wade into troubled waters, but since he had been entrusted by someone, he couldn't neglect An Junwang. However, taking care of An Junwang also meant taking care of his future father-in-law. So he had to invite them both onto his own carriage.
Marquis Xuanping walked out of Xiao Liulang's shed with Chang Jing, carrying Xiao Liulang's luggage and the medicinal herbs they had collected during these days.
The Minister of Revenue thought for a moment and cupped his hands towards Marquis Xuanping, saying, "This official also asks Marquis Xuanping, for the sake of Madam Xiao's face… Please show some mercy to this official."
Marquis Xuanping's mother, Madam Xiao, and the Minister of Revenue's mother were cousins, so strictly speaking, they were second cousins.
"Okay." Marquis Xuanping agreed.
The Minister of Revenue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Madam Xiao's face was still effective.
The next second, Marquis Xuanping kicked off the wheels of the Minister of Revenue's carriage!
He only said to be merciful to him; he said nothing about being merciful to the carriage.
When it came to bullying, Marquis Xuanping was a pro.
After these few incidents, no one dared to invite Marquis Gu onto their carriage anymore. They all left with their tails tucked between their legs.
An Junwang was also helpless, he bowed and cupped his hands to Marquis Gu before having Wu Yang find a wheel to install to his carriage before he set off for the capital alone.
Marquis Gu was left alone on the roadside with a wheelless carriage, and even the horses had run away...
He felt as if he had been abandoned by the whole world.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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