On the deck, a young Confucian Scholar and a pretty maid stood towards the back of the crowd.
The ship had already docked, and the two did not rush to disembark, quietly standing behind and watching the anxious passengers exit first.
Zhao Rong’s gaze returned from the southward-flying geese formation overhead.
In the past two days between traveling back and forth to Du You City and Great Li, he had dealt with the Academy’s matters during the day, as well as the minor yet life-threatening issue with Qing Jun, then he had dinner at the Summer Insect Pavilion with its extraordinary meal, before returning overnight on the Cloud Sea Ferry.
Zhao Rong exhaled softly.
This time, he had managed to accomplish the tasks he had planned.
When he went to see Meng Zhengjun, although she did not show much affection, she handled matters professionally, providing a nearly adequate response, saying she would naturally return before the ceremony began and warning everyone not to slack off...
Furthermore, Zhao Rong had also brought back three cups of Zhengguan Spring Water, and... a sachet belonging to a certain little Fox Demon.
The former would be used after he successfully achieved Seeing Heart and Understanding Nature and practiced that Cultivation Technique, the name of which he still did not know.
As for the latter, well, it was his sachet now...
That silly Fox Demon belonging to the Su family shouldn’t think about escaping quietly; just wait obediently for this young master to return.
Zhao Rong reached out and touched the sachet hidden in his sleeve, then glanced at the little Qian’er beside him.
She was leaning against the nearby railing, staring with wide eyes at Su Qingdai below at the jetty, and she was not looking at him.
Zhao Rong discreetly withdrew his gaze.
Moreover, there was the matter of last night.
During the dinner at the Summer Insect Pavilion, the drink that was not part of the usual offerings, consumed by Qing Jun, had caused the Bamboo Horse Sword to retreat half a step in Class A, awakening the rare Innate Divine Ability of the Time-Space Domain, which later seemed to have caused quite a stir inside and outside the city.
Further on, Zhao Rong did not know how Qing Jun had handled it.
Zhao Rong couldn’t help but turn his head to look towards Du You City in the distance.
After squinting for a few moments, he shook his head and turned back around.
Right now, his most important task was to rush back after handling the matters in Great Li.
The small affairs, Qing Jun’s incomplete Bamboo Horse, and the mysterious Summer Insect Pavilion along with Zhao Shopkeeper’s hidden secrets... all awaited his return to deal with.
Shortly afterward, the deck of the ferry cleared out, with most of the passengers already having disembarked.
"Let’s go, silly girl, stop staring, it’s our turn to get off now."
Saying this, Zhao Rong stepped forward, leading Qian’er off the boat.
A hand in his sleeve, clenching the sachet, hesitated for a moment.
Eventually, the sachet was squeezed tightly by his fingers and then returned to the Sumeru Object.
Zhao Rong looked straight ahead.
There was a ’keen second wife’ nearby, best not to act rashly...
Suddenly, he murmured softly, "The consort used to live atop Qiantang Mountain. Flowers fall and bloom, irrespective of the passing years..."
"Rong’er Brother, what are you reciting?"
"Oh, nothing," Zhao Rong casually replied, blinking, "It just suddenly reminded me... reminded me of some poems by a talented lady I read last night, um, a talented lady."
"Wow, to be praised by Brother Rong’er, this lady must be quite impressive."
Descending the stairs, Zhao Rong couldn’t help but laugh, coughing twice, then seriously said, "Yes, it seems she is not only unparalleled in poetry but I’ve heard her embroidery is also quite exquisite. Truly a woman of both talent and art."
"Hmm, truly impressive. Such a woman would indeed bring fortune to whoever marries her... wait, do you know her, are you talking about Miss Fish or maybe Teacher Zhu? Or perhaps Miss Su, Miss Li?"
Suddenly, Qian’er turned her head.
Her nimble tongue quickly listed several women from last night’s dinner table.
Zhao Rong turned his head with a smile, without any pause: "You guessed right, it’s Miss Su, but she’s actually called Su Dahuang, um, Qian’er, do you know her?"
"Su Dahuang? I don’t know her." Qian’er muttered, glancing at him, "I thought it was that Fox Demon Miss Su."
Zhao Rong smiled but did not speak.
He looked at the crowd gathering beneath the ship.
The jetty, built on a cliff, did not quiet down immediately despite most of the passengers having left.
Because someone had yet to disembark.
Many passengers couldn’t help but stop nearby, turning around to gaze at the still crowded area welcoming guests at the jetty.
There were hundreds of people.
Especially at the very front of the crowd, two figures were particularly conspicuous.
One was a ravishing Fairy in a black dress, her 3,000 strands of black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, dressed in a body-hugging dark dress as night, studded with moving stars, adorned with a mysterious purple veil that revealed a pair of cold, arrogant eyes.
Her demeanor was exceedingly aloof and detached, but at this moment, her eyes were unwaveringly fixed on the disembarkation area ahead.
Adjacent stood a handsome young man in bright yellow casual clothes, appearing as if the child of an affluent family.
However, behind him silently stood several women from the Li Clan, subtly guarding him, and further back, a large group of sword-carrying guards.
Many onlookers sobered up...
As people were quietly amazed, the young woman and man, both the center of attention, suddenly almost simultaneously showed a delighted expression and quickly stepped forward to greet.
Zhao Rong, descending the stairs with Qian’er, heard familiar shouting.
Su Qingdai and the young Emperor hurried forward, leading a large group of people.
Zhao Rong instantly became the center of attention at the jetty.
The young Confucian Scholar nodded calmly, greeting them and then exchanged pleasantries with various factions present.
Then, a familiar figure from the Justice Hall approached Zhao Rong with a smile and said: