Author Archives: sandy

All of the teachers had experienced the apocalypse.

The instances inside the simulation chamber were very likely events that had truly happened, and some of them might even be the teachers’ own memories.

The flood of information crashed down on the students all at once, far beyond what they could emotionally bear.

The campus felt unusually quiet that day.

In classrooms, everyone listened attentively for once.

A girl stared at Bai Tang at the podium and suddenly recalled a day shortly after the semester began, when Teacher Bai had reacted abnormally strongly upon facing a simulated zombie.

Teacher Bai had frozen in fear, unable to move, yet instinctively pushed the student away, telling her to “run.”

Later, the principal had arrived in time, halted the zombie, and even issued a campus-wide notice suspending zombie rentals.

Back then, the girl had not understood the principal’s intention. She had thought the announcement was an overreaction.

Now, she finally understood.

“…”
She unconsciously bit the dry skin on her lower lip. Her note-taking slowed as she stared absentmindedly at Bai Tang’s back.

Bai Tang turned to write on the board. Her grown-out bob was tied into a small ponytail at the back. Because she was short, she had to strain onto her tiptoes to reach higher sections, leaving behind neat lines of increasingly confident handwriting.

The person who had once seemed so much like a student at the beginning of the semester had now become a proper teacher.

Teacher Bai, who froze at the sight of zombies yet still remembered to push students to safety in her fear… when she had been attacked by those wall-climbing zombies, had she been about the same age as them?

The difference was that no one had warned them about the apocalypse back then. No one had taught them how to survive.

The apocalypse destroyed their lives, took away their families, killed them… and then brought them back, placing them before these students.

Was that a gift, or a cruelty?

With what kind of feelings had the principal and teachers sorted through everything they learned from apocalypse and death in order to teach them?

Another strip of skin tore loose. Her lip split slightly, and the salty metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

The girl quickly lowered her head to wipe away the blood, then used the motion to brush the corner of her eye with her fingertip. Gripping her pen tightly, she hurriedly scribbled several meaningless words into her notebook as if to conceal something.

Today, she had understood many things.

For example, how Teacher Hao got the scar on his face, and why he killed zombies so skillfully yet always with visible disgust.

Why Teacher Liu often mentioned a clever, gifted granddaughter who was no longer around.

Why Teacher Zhao never dared look directly at simulated zombies.

And why the teaching staff at the school seemed so oddly assembled, ranging from freshly graduated shut-ins to retirees who had been out of work for over a decade, as though the principal had hired them without any selection at all.

Because death itself was unreasonable. It fell equally upon everyone.

And perhaps the teachers rarely left Fangzhou’s campus because, in this world, they had nowhere else to go. No homes to return to.

…

After class ended, the girl remained seated for a while. Many others did the same, slumped over desks scrolling through the forum or staring blankly at the lecture slides.

If someone from another school walked in, they probably would not understand why so many people looked sorrowful while reading posts that resembled triumphant “face-slapping” stories.

Suddenly, someone in the corner shouted, breaking the lifeless silence.

“Quick, check the announcement!”

*

[“Simulation Combat Chamber” Fully Upgraded!]

[New Feature: Replay]

[Users may now view a historical archive of cleared instance recordings. Users may also choose to upload their own cleared runs for others to reference… ]

“Does this even count as an update?” Zhang Han lay on her dorm bed scrolling through the announcement, puzzled. “Weren’t we already able to upload gameplay recordings to the forum? This just looks like they added an internal video archive organized by instance. It’s more convenient, sure, but what’s the big deal?”

The forum had indeed always allowed recordings to be uploaded, though with restrictions. Only players who cleared an instance could view others’ recordings.

“Can you finish reading first?” Shen Qingqing shook her head, helpless at Zhang Han’s impatience. “The important part is below.”

She scrolled down herself and reread carefully.

Her intuition told her this feature was far from ordinary.

Seeing Shen Qingqing’s focused expression, Zhang Han hurried to read on.

[The “Replay” function includes two modes: “Companion” and “Experience.”]

[Selecting Companion mode will allow the simulation chamber to generate a virtual character based on the uploaded clear data, enabling the uploader to act as a team partner during the instance. Note: teammate limits vary depending on instance mode.]

[Selecting Experience mode allows the user to enter the perspective of the uploader. Control authority will be handled by the uploader’s recorded actions, granting a fully immersive experience of their playthrough.]

[Users may even perceive portions of the uploader’s intense emotions in order to better understand their decision-making logic.]

Zhang Han froze upon reading the second option.

After a moment, she did exactly what Shen Qingqing had done, scrolling back up and reading it again.

“Immersively experiencing a previous player’s perspective… does this mean what I think it means?” Zhang Han looked up.

Simply experiencing classmates’ recordings was not particularly enticing.

But at that moment, the same name appeared simultaneously in both their minds.

—Anonymous Visitor.

*

Less than half an hour after the announcement was released, the room housing the simulation combat chambers was already packed.

After students who had just exited confirmed that the archive for Instance 004 truly contained a recording left by Anonymous Visitor, no one was willing to leave.

Many students who had already used their instance attempts that week refused to wait until next week. They began stopping people in line outside the chamber and proposing trades on the spot.

“I’ll swap you my reservation for next week and buy you a meal. Anything under fifty, order whatever you want.”

Although reservations were required for the simulation chamber, the schedule was flexible. Students could privately exchange time slots as long as both parties agreed and submitted the change through their student watches.

But as more and more students arrived after reading the announcement, anyone holding a slot for that week instantly became highly sought after.

The offers grew increasingly outrageous.

“Whoever swaps with me, I’ll bring you meals for a week! Any boys’ dorm, delivery to your door. Girls too, I’ll bring it downstairs.”

“I’ll do two weeks! I’m in the girls’ dorm!”

“…Seriously? We’re competing now? Fine, I’ll do a month. My home’s local. On weekends I’ll bring homemade chicken soup, ribs, plus the amazing duck feet and milk tea from near my house.”

“That’s excessive! Whoever gives me their slot, I’ll handle your meals, packages, water runs, and seat-saving for the entire month…”

A girl about to enter the room was suddenly blocked by countless hands reaching toward her from all directions.

She struggled to push through. “No trades! Move aside!”

Milk tea and duck feet meant nothing. Nothing could stop her from rushing toward the principal.

Just to enter an instance one week earlier, one group desperately tried to bribe while another desperately refused. The entire scene looked surreal to anyone watching.

A boy had only come to watch the spectacle, but after being shoved back and forth, he finally snapped.

“Can you all stop competing so hard? It’s just a clear-run video, isn’t it? Now that there’s an archive, and the people who came out earlier already confirmed Anonymous Visitor’s recording is in there, why don’t we just download it and watch it on the forum? Why do we have to go into the simulation combat chamber ourselves?”

Next to him, another boy with a face full of acne scars looked at him like he was an idiot.

“Are you dumb? The point of the new feature obviously isn’t the replay. It’s the companion mode and the immersive experience. Both of those require going into the chamber yourself. What’s the use of just watching a recording?”

“Tell me, do you want to team up with the principal or not? Do you? Do you?”

He was so excited that he nearly sprayed saliva onto the other boy’s face. The boy hurriedly wiped his cheek, imagined the scene, swallowed unconsciously, and admitted honestly, “Yeah… I do.”

“Exactly.” The acne-scarred boy rolled his eyes. “And the experience mode is even more insane. You step into the principal’s first-person perspective. She ‘controls’ the actions, and you can even feel some of her emotions. How is that any different from having a top-tier player teach you step by step? If you still can’t learn with that, you might as well pack up and go home to farm.”

“?” A classmate from the farming elective was offended out of nowhere. “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? Why are you looking down on farming as a profession?”

What did that have to do with them?

“…Sorry.” The pockmarked boy hadn’t thought of that and quickly apologized. After apologizing, he looked back at the first boy. “Now do you get why we’re fighting for it—wait, where’d he go?”

In the time it took him to apologize, the person he’d been talking to had somehow squeezed his way to the front.

The guy who had just been acting all detached and above it all now had his hand raised higher than anyone’s, bouncing up and down in the crowd.

“Look at me! I’ll wash your dirty clothes and stinky socks for a whole month! By hand! No pollution, no harmful chemicals!”

Boy: “…………Damn it!”

If he’d known, he never would have told him. Why did he have to run his mouth?

*

After finally breaking free from the overly enthusiastic crowd and getting into the room, Lu Dongyu’s hair was a complete mess from all the squeezing.

The offers her classmates had made were extremely tempting, but she did not regret refusing them for even a second. Staring at the neatly lined rows of capsule-style simulation pods in the room, her eyes shone.

Only an idiot would trade away the chance to enter a week early and clear an instance alongside the principal.

Lu Dongyu lay down in a pod with practiced ease. The hatch closed, and she quickly entered the main interface.

She had already played Instance 004 before. But she knew her own skill level, and had no intention of challenging the hidden boss-level mutated cat. Before playing, she had carefully studied forum guides, avoided every trap, and aimed only to clear steadily so she could add her own name beneath the principal’s record.

Now she opened the cleared instance records and found Beginner Instance 004 without difficulty. Sure enough, there was a new option at the bottom of the page that hadn’t existed before.

[Replay]

She tapped in. The first thing she saw was her own clear-run record. After the update, it did not only replay the first-person perspective. It also allowed students to review their runs from a third-person, god’s-eye view. Used properly, it could yield major benefits as well.

There was a toggle asking whether to upload the record to the public hall. It made Lu Dongyu instantly nervous. Only after confirming several times that sharing was turned off did she finally relax.

Her record was not something she could show anyone.

In the upper-right corner of the record page was a button: [Share Clear-Run Record]

Quite a few students who came to the simulation pods today had checked Instance 004. Two of them had even achieved decent results, so they chose to upload.

But Lu Dongyu ignored the other records. Her gaze locked onto the very top entry.

[Player Nickname: Anonymous Visitor]

[Clear Time: 5min 19s]

[Overall Rating: SSS]

[Visibility: Visible to All]

There it was. The principal’s record.

Lu Dongyu instinctively went to tap it, but stopped at the last second. After hesitating for a second, she decided to check other instances first.

Once she entered an instance, who knew how much time it might take? It would be better to confirm whether there were other updates, or whether any particularly strong students had uploaded records.

Returning to the instance selection page, the screen was filled with all kinds of instances, color-coded by difficulty: beginner in light green, intermediate in yellow, advanced in orange, and hell difficulty in dark red, instantly clear at a glance.

Lu Dongyu stared at the three dark red instances floating at the very top, and, almost involuntarily, reached out to tap one.

She knew perfectly well that no one had ever cleared a hell-difficulty instance, let alone uploaded a record. But… she just wanted to look. Just to see.

The page that loaded made her freeze.

On the otherwise empty screen, there was exactly one record.

And the ID on it was one she now knew all too well.

[Player Nickname: Anonymous Visitor]

[Clear Time: N/A (time tracking not implemented)]

[Overall Rating: N/A (scoring not implemented)]

[Visibility: Visible to All]

Lu Dongyu’s gaze went still, her pupils tightening slightly.

She reacted and quickly checked the other two hell instances.

Sure enough, they also had corresponding clear-run records, and the uploader was still Anonymous Visitor.

Unwilling to accept it, Lu Dongyu randomly opened more than a dozen instances in a row, and finally spotted the pattern.

Not every instance had a record uploaded by Anonymous Visitor, but the higher the difficulty, the more frequently her name appeared.

For the students, this was unquestionably great news.

The harder the instance, the more valuable a predecessor’s experience became, and this was the principal’s experience.

But… Lu Dongyu could not understand why Anonymous Visitor’s records had no clear time or rating.

Any instance played inside the simulation pods automatically came with statistics.

Unless the principal had not “played” those instances inside the simulation combat chamber at all…

Her mood slowly sank.

The answer was already obvious.

Connecting it to the forum’s theories, Lu Dongyu finally dared to be certain.

Every instance that had a clear-run record was the principal’s lived experience.

The primary purpose of opening the historical archive might be to show those experiences to the students.

Once she understood that, Lu Dongyu felt both shaken and exhilarated, yet also oddly bitter.

The principal might not teach in person, but what she was offering the students could be the most valuable thing in all of Fangzhou.

But what had it cost her to offer it?

For Lu Dongyu, simply because her own play wasn’t impressive enough, she was afraid to even upload her record publicly. Yet for the principal, what she had to share was her real memories, her emotions, and perhaps things she never wanted to face again.

Lu Dongyu thought again of Xiao Juan.

If that had truly been something the principal and Teacher Lu lived through, she could not help wondering. No one at the school had managed to save Xiao Juan so far… so had the principal done it back then?

After just one night together inside the instance, many people had grown fond of that “character” and cried at her death.

Then what about the principal and Teacher Lu, who had lived beside her and fought alongside her for months?

What had it felt like for them, losing such an important friend?

Lu Dongyu suddenly did not dare think further.

The page was still on the hell-instance clear-run record. She tapped replay.

As expected, a warning popped up.

[Warning: You have not cleared this instance and cannot use the replay function. Please return after clearing it!]

Lu Dongyu let out a small sigh, her heart heavy with wistfulness.

Who knew how long it would take her to catch up to the principal.

She really wanted… to help her as soon as possible.

₊˚.🎧📓✩

Previous

“Yes,” Jiang Ji nodded openly.

Jiang Nan patted his brother’s shoulder like a little adult, comforting him. “You’ll see him again next year.”

Jiang Ji rubbed his head and smiled again. “Right, next year.”

After twelve days of travel, they returned to their familiar home. By now, it was already November.

On the country road outside the village, the villagers saw a convoy approaching from afar, with guards accompanying it.

“Is that Jiang Ji and the others coming back?”

“What Jiang Ji? You should call him Duke!”

“Right, right, Duke! Is it them?”

The village head squinted into the distance and thought he recognized Lu Jiu at the front.

“It’s them! Everyone, come with me to welcome the Duke home!”

He shouted, tossed aside his hoe, and ran toward the road. The other villagers followed, rushing to the roadside. As the convoy drew near, they all dropped to their knees.

“Welcome home, Duke!”

Their voices rang out loudly.

Lu Jiu froze for a moment. Jiang Ji and the others, hearing the noise, leaned out to look, and when they saw the villagers kneeling in unison, they were stunned.

“Stop the carriage.”

The driver immediately pulled the reins.

Jiang Ji jumped down and ran over. “Village Head, Uncle Tugen, what are you doing? Get up, get up!”

The village head and the others stood, grinning. “You’ve become a Duke now. We can’t neglect proper etiquette. We had to kneel to welcome you.”

“No need for all this formality. Just treat me like before,” Jiang Ji said with a smile. He glanced at the fields. “I’ve been gone for over two months. How’s everything in the village? Have the sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes been harvested?”

“They have, they have,” the village head said cheerfully. “Just like you instructed, we dried off the moisture and stored them in the cellars. The corn’s all been dried too. The rice harvest is done as well. We raised ducks in the fields, and each mu yielded over five hundred jin.”

“That’s great. Sounds like things went well,” Jiang Ji said happily. “Soon, the court will send people from other regions to purchase seeds, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn. Make sure the rice is processed with winnowing machines to remove the empty grains. Everyone should be prepared.”

“Yes, Prefect Xu already issued orders. During harvest, we cleaned out the empty grains as instructed.”

“Good. Village Head, uncles, we’ve been traveling for over ten days. We’ll head back to rest first. Another day, we’ll host tea and snacks. Come by then.”

“Alright, alright, go get some rest.”

The villagers stepped aside, smiling as they watched them return, clearly overjoyed.

Jiang Ji and the others didn’t get back into the carriage. They walked home instead.

By evening, school had let out. Read the full chapter at HololoNovels.com. Jiang Nan spotted Dazhu under the big tree and immediately ran over, shouting, “Dazhu, we’re back! We brought you something really fun, it’s called a diabolo!”

Dazhu asked excitedly, “What’s that?”

“It’s something you spin on a string and can toss into the air! Come back with us, I’ll teach you how to play.”

“Okay!” Dazhu said, then asked curiously, “Is the capital fun?”

“It is! So many people, and it’s huge. You can’t even finish exploring it in a day.”

Jiang Ji watched Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei, and Dazhu ahead, then glanced at the fields and villagers on both sides. He felt a quiet sense of emotion.

The capital was wonderful, prosperous, and convenient. But returning to this familiar land, he felt his whole body relax.

A completely different kind of peace.

When they reached home, Lu Shun and the others, having heard of their return, came out to greet them.

“Duke, you’re back.”

“Young Master, Madam, Miss, Young Masters!”

Jiang Ji smiled. “We’re back!”

They were ushered inside amid cheerful chatter.

Seeing so many people returning together, Sister Guihua laughed and hurried toward the kitchen. “I’ll go cook more food right away!”

Han Qingshan, who hadn’t seen his daughter in quite some time, had returned with Yu Yang. Seeing this, he said, “We’ll help too.”

“Good, good, put your things down and come over,” Sister Guihua replied.

Xiang’er ran into Han Qingshan’s arms. “Father! Brother Yu Yang!”

“Ah!” Han Qingshan hugged her and patted her head. “Feels like my girl has grown taller again.”

Xiang’er giggled. “Not that fast.”

Everyone laughed. Xiang’er quickly went to help Jiang Xia with her luggage. “Miss, I’ll carry this.”

Jiang Xia handed her a lighter bundle. “Then take this one.”

Everyone returned to their rooms to freshen up. Lu Jiu and Lu Wen arranged accommodations and duty rotations for the guards.

Jiang Ji went back to the east wing. Just as he set down his luggage, Lu Shun entered carrying a teapot and cups.

After pouring him tea, Lu Shun reported, “Duke, all the cotton has been harvested. About thirty percent has already been processed and stored after drying. The rice, sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes have all been harvested as well. The sweet potatoes and potatoes are stored in the cellar, the corn is hung to dry, and the rice has been placed in storage.”

Jiang Ji drank two cups of tea. “Good. You’ve worked hard these past few months. Luckily you were here.”

Lu Shun smiled. “It wasn’t hard. I actually learned a lot.”

Jiang Ji smiled, then pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it over. “Oh right, the regent sent you a letter.”

Lu Shun quickly took it and read it.

After he finished, Jiang Ji said, “The regent said you should come work for me from now on. Are you willing?”

Lu Shun bowed. “I am willing. I will follow the Duke’s instructions.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Then from now on, you’ll be the steward of the Duke’s residence.”

Lu Shun looked up in surprise. “Duke, I’m only twenty-two. Aren’t you worried I’m too young?”

“Not at all. I’m only nineteen. At the very least, you know the capital better than I do, right?” Jiang Ji said.

Lu Shun’s eyes lit up. He knelt and kowtowed. “Lu Shun greets the Duke.”

“Get up,” Jiang Ji said, helping him to his feet. “While there’s still some daylight, let’s go take a look at the cotton warehouse.”

“Yes.” Lu Shun always carried the keys with him. “This way, Duke.”

“Call me young master like the others,” Jiang Ji said. “It sounds closer.”

“Alright. Inside the residence, I’ll call you young master,” Lu Shun said. “Outside, I’ll still address you as Duke.”

“Fine, suit yourself.”

Jiang Ji went with Lu Shun to inspect the cotton warehouses. Read the full chapter at HololoNovels.com. There were two, one storing raw cotton, the other storing cotton that had already been cleaned of husks and seeds.

Jiang Ji opened a few sacks to check. The quality was quite good. The processed cotton had already been sorted into three grades: high, medium, and low.

“Not bad.”

At the side, Lu Shun reported the figures, how many jin of cotton had been collected, how much money had been spent, how many workers were hired and what wages were paid. He also went over all household expenses for the past two months, how much rice had been harvested, how many jin of sweet potatoes and potatoes were stored in the cellar, and how much corn there was. Without even referring to an account book, he recited everything clearly, item by item.

Jiang Ji patted his shoulder, pleased and impressed. “You really are cut out to be a steward.”

Lu Shun smiled. “Thank you for the praise, young master.”

That night, the whole family gathered again to celebrate Jiang Ji’s return.

After dinner and a bath, Jiang Ji sat at his desk and began writing a letter to Lu Huaizhou. Using a fountain pen, he filled five full sheets of paper, detailing everything happening at home. At the end, he wrote plainly about how much he missed him, then folded the letter and placed it into an envelope, planning to have it sent from town the next day.

The following day, he retrieved the indenture contracts of Han Qingshan, Yu Yang, and Xiang’er, and brought them to the county office to complete the formalities, releasing them from servitude.

According to Yu Yang’s wishes, he was registered under Han Qingshan’s household and became his legal adopted son.

When they received their household registration documents, the three of them knelt before Jiang Ji in gratitude.

“Thank you, young master.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “Get up. You’re all free citizens now. You can stay a few more days before setting out. When the time comes, have Doctor Yang and two guards from the Lu residence accompany you to the capital. The funds for opening the shop are with the regent. Just tell him, and he’ll give them to you.”

“Yes,” Han Qingshan replied with a bow.

After settling their matters, Jiang Ji spent the next few days preparing for the opening of the textile workshop. He checked the assembled machines in the tool shed and had them moved into the factory. Read the full chapter at HololoNovels.com. He personally went to town to purchase dyes, long tables of various sizes, dye vats, bamboo poles for drying, and other necessary items. Once everything was ready, he went to the county office to complete the official registration, registering the textile workshop under Jiang Xia’s name.

He then had Lu Shun draft recruitment notices. With a decisive wave of his hand, Jiang Ji said,

“Inform the village heads in nearby areas. Our textile workshop is now hiring. Anyone interested can come apply and be interviewed.”

Next

The two main things Jiang Ji needed to accomplish in the capital were promoting winter wheat seeds and meeting Lu Huaizhou’s parents. He had completed both, and even successfully arranged his engagement. On top of that, he had gained the title of Duke Chang. It could be said he had exceeded expectations.

His next phase was to return and establish the textile workshop. Once things stabilized there, he could move to the capital and marry Lu Huaizhou.

However, he also needed to start planning his ventures in the capital.

He found Han Qingshan and Yu Yang and discussed future plans with them.

“Uncle Han, Yu Yang, in a few days I’ll be returning with my mother and the others. In about half a year, the whole family will move to the capital. I plan to open a restaurant here, but with my current status, it’s not appropriate for me to run it personally. I also don’t feel comfortable handing it to outsiders. I need your help. Are you willing?”

Seeing the young master’s trust, Han Qingshan nodded without hesitation. “We are willing. Wherever you go, we follow.”

Yu Yang nodded as well. “Just tell us what to do, Young Master.”

“Good.” Jiang Ji had expected this. “Here’s the plan. When we go back this time, I’ll return your contracts and free you from servitude.”

Both men were stunned. Han Qingshan exchanged a glance with Yu Yang and frowned. “Young Master, you want to free us? You don’t want us anymore?”

Jiang Ji blinked. “You don’t want to be freed?”

“No servant wouldn’t want freedom,” Han Qingshan explained. “But I am willing to remain a servant for life to serve you.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “You need to be free to help me run the business.”

Han Qingshan froze. Yu Yang thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, you mean that as Duke you can’t open a business, so you’ll use my master’s name. But servants can’t run businesses, so you’re freeing us for that?”

“Exactly.” Jiang Ji nodded. “I need you to act as the restaurant owners. It will be registered under your names. Essentially, I’ll be hiring you to run it for me. In a year or two, when the variety of vegetables increases, I’ll open a hot pot restaurant and have Yu Yang manage that one.”

“Understood, Young Master,” Han Qingshan said.

Yu Yang’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected to be entrusted with managing a shop as well.

Jiang Ji continued, “In addition to your monthly wages, at the end of the year we’ll split the restaurant’s profits eighty-twenty. You’ll take twenty percent. How does that sound?”

Han Qingshan was stunned. “Young Master, my wages are already enough. How could I take a share of the profits?”

With Jiang Ji’s abilities, the restaurant would certainly be profitable, especially in the capital.

Jiang Ji said, “Uncle Han, this is compensation for your work. Don’t refuse. Living expenses in the capital are high, and you’ll need to save a dowry for Xiang’er too.”

Han Qingshan was deeply moved. “Young Master…”

“That’s settled,” Jiang Ji said firmly, cutting off further protest. “I don’t mistreat those who follow me. As for how you divide that twenty percent, you can decide yourselves. Yu Yang, don’t worry. You’re still young. When we open the second restaurant, you’ll receive the same share.”

Yu Yang nodded. “I understand, Young Master. I’ll continue learning from my master.”

“Mm. I’ll ask the Regent to find a reliable manager. You may not have much experience yet, so learn from him.”

“Yes.” Both nodded.

Jiang Ji added, “I’ve already asked the Regent. Once you become commoners and live in the capital for a year, you can transfer your household registration here. We’ll be moving here as well. I’ll arrange a house for you. I’ve already picked one, a two-courtyard residence just behind the Duke’s estate. You can settle there with peace of mind.”

Freed from servitude, given a home, and entrusted with a career, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang were so moved they couldn’t speak. They both stood and knelt.

Han Qingshan said gratefully, “Thank you for your great kindness, Young Master. We will never forget it and will serve you for life.”

“Get up,” Jiang Ji said, helping them up. “Let me go over what needs to be done to open the restaurant.”

They sat down again.

Jiang Ji outlined the preparations: renovation, selecting staff, training cooks, hiring workers, training servers, and so on.

“…That’s about it. Management can follow the rules of our Jiang Ji Restaurant. There will be a manager to help, but training the chefs must be done by you. You’ve done that before. Also, as owners, you’ll need to learn management and bookkeeping.”

Han Qingshan nodded. “Understood.”

“Good. This afternoon we’ll look at the house. Tomorrow, we’ll check out potential shop locations. Steward Zhong has already found a few options.”

“Yes.”

After finishing the discussion, Jiang Ji let them go.

Back in their quarters, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang were both excited.

“Master, we’re going to be free,” Yu Yang said happily.

Han Qingshan nodded, his eyes slightly moist. “The Young Master treats us too well.”

Yu Yang sighed, “The luckiest thing in our lives was probably being chosen and bought by him.”

Han Qingshan nodded. “Indeed.”

Over the next few days, Jiang Ji became busy again, inspecting houses, visiting shop locations, and checking on crops outside the city. He wanted to settle everything before returning.

Lu Huaizhou knew Jiang Ji would be leaving once these matters were arranged, so he returned early every day to spend more time with him.

At night, as they lay together, Jiang Ji hugged him and said, “Our mothers seem to have set our wedding date. Next year, the eighteenth day of the fifth month.”

“Still seven or eight months away,” Lu Huaizhou said, dissatisfied.

Hearing the hint of impatience in his tone, Jiang Ji leaned in and kissed him, soothingly saying, “It’ll pass quickly. Besides, in the first month of the year I still have to come back to distribute spring wheat seeds, and also sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and cotton. The north can grow those too. Once the spring wheat is rolled out, we can promote other vegetable seeds as well. And we’ll need to spread chili varieties in both places, otherwise the restaurants won’t be easy to run.”

Lu Huaizhou tightened his arms around him. “When you go back to set up the textile workshop, will you have enough time?”

“Probably,” Jiang Ji said, a little troubled. “The main issue is finding a capable and trustworthy manager who understands textiles. We’ll also need to open a fabric shop back home, so it’ll all have to be managed together.”

“Have Uncle Zhong find one for you.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. “That works. Then I won’t hold back.”

“You don’t need to be polite with me.” Lu Huaizhou pulled him closer. “I’ve already told my mother. From now on, Lu Shun will follow you.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes brightened even more. “Is that really okay? He’s the next steward they’ve carefully trained.”

“It’s fine. We can train another one in the household. Steward Fu is still young.”

“Then I’ll go thank our mother tomorrow,” Jiang Ji said with a grin. “Oh right, I heard from Uncle Zhong that the residence is training new guards?”

“Mm. The Duke’s residence can have its own guard unit. I’ll assign you one, and have Lu Jiu and Lu Wen accompany you back.”

Jiang Ji frowned. “There’s nothing particularly important on my side, and with Lu Shun helping me, let Lu Jiu and Lu Wen stay with you. You have more to handle.”

“Your safety is the most important thing,” Lu Huaizhou said.

Jiang Ji fell silent.

His heart felt full. He leaned in and kissed Lu Huaizhou, only to be pulled closer as the kiss deepened.

…

Two days later, Jiang Ji had arranged everything and it was time to depart.

At the gates of the Regent’s residence, three carriages were ready. Lu Jiu and Lu Wen stood on either side with a squad of guards. They would accompany Jiang Ji back.

Madam Lu held Zhao Ru’s hand, saying her farewells. She glanced at Jiang Xia and said, “I still think Xia’er should stay. She could live with me, and I’d take her to gatherings. In a couple of years, we could find her a good match.”

During this time, while Jiang Ji had been busy, Madam Lu often came to accompany Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia, even taking them to a few flower-viewing gatherings. She truly adored Jiang Xia, lively, clever, and straightforward, without any affectation. She almost wished she were her own daughter.

Zhao Ru smiled. “No rush. Xia’er won’t marry until she’s eighteen. There’s time.”

Madam Lu sighed. “Honestly, why would Xiao Ji make his sister wait until eighteen to marry?”

Jiang Xia walked over with a grin and looped her arm around Madam Lu’s. “Aunt, eighteen is perfect. I can spend more time with Mother and with you. Once I’m married, I won’t have this kind of freedom anymore.”

Madam Lu tapped her nose affectionately. “You, honestly.”

Nearby, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were each playing with a diabolo, shaking it back and forth. They had recently learned it from Lu Jiu and the others and were having great fun, even buying several to bring back for their friends.

“Why isn’t Brother out yet?” Jiang Xia peeked toward the doorway.

Zhao Ru glanced over and smiled. “They’ll be out soon.”

Inside the room, Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji were locked in an inseparable kiss. Facing months apart, they both seemed intent on making up for the coming absence in advance.

When they finally parted, Jiang Ji’s eyes were faintly flushed at the corners. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs after the breathless moment.

“I’ll write to you,” Jiang Ji said, cupping Lu Huaizhou’s face. “And I’ll come back in the first month.”

“Mm.” Lu Huaizhou brushed his lips lightly against his, still holding him tightly.

Jiang Ji kissed him once more, then sighed softly and forced himself to pull away. “Mother and the others must be waiting. Let’s go.”

Lu Huaizhou paused, gently touched the corner of his eye, then took his hand and led him out.

At the gates, everyone turned to look as they emerged. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei stopped playing, knowing it was time to leave.

Lu Huaizhou said to Zhao Ru, “Aunt, take care on the journey.”

“You as well,” Zhao Ru replied, patting his arm.

He then looked at Jiang Xia, Jiang Nan, and Jiang Bei. “Be good. Study well.”

Jiang Xia nodded. Jiang Nan said, “Jiang—no, Brother Huaizhou, we’ll be back next year. Don’t miss us too much.”

Lu Huaizhou: “……”

Jiang Bei, far more reluctant to part, looked at him earnestly. To him, Lu Huaizhou, who had achieved top honors in the imperial exams and become Regent, was an idol.

“Brother Huaizhou, I’ll study hard.”

Lu Huaizhou patted his head. “Good.”

Jiang Ji stepped forward to Minister Lu and Madam Lu, bowing. “Uncle, Aunt, we’ll be heading home now. Please take care of your health. We’ll see you next year.”

Minister Lu nodded slightly. “Go on. Safe travels.”

Madam Lu held his hand and patted it. “Go on, good child. Remember to write.”

“I will.”

Jiang Ji turned back and embraced Lu Huaizhou once more. Then he helped Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia into the second carriage, while he took Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei into the first. Han Qingshan and Yu Yang boarded the last carriage.

Lu Huaizhou instructed Lu Jiu and Lu Wen, “I’m entrusting them to you. Protect them well.”

Lu Jiu and Lu Wen clasped their fists. “Yes, Your Highness.”

The convoy slowly departed from the residence. Jiang Ji and the others leaned out, waving as they left.

Lu Huaizhou watched the carriages recede into the distance, only withdrawing his gaze once they were out of sight.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Ji sat down with a faintly dejected expression.

Jiang Bei looked at him and asked, “Big Brother… do you really not want to part with Brother Huaizhou?”

Continue reading the rest of the chapter.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

Next

The carriage slowly entered the capital. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei leaned out by the window, their little heads side by side, curiously looking around, glancing left and right as they chatted.

“Jiang Bei, look! The streets are so wide, much wider than our county.”

“Yeah, this is the capital after all. Hey, what’s that? It looks so delicious.”

“I don’t know. Let’s have brother bring us to buy it tomorrow.”

“So many people…”

On the other side, Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia had also lifted the curtain and were taking in the sights, their eyes filled with curiosity, though they weren’t leaning out like the two boys.

Jiang Ji smiled. “Today, we’ll go back and rest properly. Tomorrow, Mother and I will go to the palace to give thanks, and in the afternoon, we’ll go out and explore.”

Jiang Nan cheered, “Alright! I want to eat delicious food! I’ll try everything in the capital!”

“You’ll need a really big stomach for that,” Jiang Bei said. “The capital is huge.”

“Are you silly, Jiang Bei? It’s not like we have to eat everything in one day. Today we eat on this street, tomorrow on another. Then we’ll get through it all.”

Jiang Bei pouted. “That’ll still take a long time. Maybe we won’t even finish before we leave. And… it might not even taste as good as what Big Brother makes.”

Jiang Nan replied, “Then if it’s not good, we just have Big Brother cook, right?”

Jiang Ji tapped him on the head. “You’re very good at assigning me work. Dreaming big, aren’t you?”

Jiang Nan held his head, grinning as he flattered him, “Brother, your cooking is the best.”

At that, the whole family laughed.

It had been a long time since they shared such a lively, joyful atmosphere. Jiang Ji felt deeply content watching them.

Back home, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei could be noisy and annoying at times, but after more than a month apart, Jiang Ji realized he had missed their chatter.

He said to Zhao Ru, “Mother, we’ll stay at the Regent’s residence first. After a couple of days, we’ll move to the Duke’s residence. After the housewarming banquet, I’d like you all to live with me at the Regent’s residence. Is that alright?”

Zhao Ru paused, glancing between the two of them. “Live at the Regent’s residence… even long-term? Would that be appropriate?”

“It will be fine,” Lu Huaizhou said. “Aunt, you’ve just arrived in the capital and aren’t familiar with it yet. The Regent’s residence has strong security and plenty of space. Living together will put both Jiang Ji and me at ease.”

Zhao Ru looked at Jiang Ji. “But later, when Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei grow up…”

“They can move back to the Duke’s residence when they’re older,” Jiang Ji said.

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei: “…”

Jiang Nan patted Jiang Bei’s shoulder. “It’s fine, we still have more than ten years.”

Jiang Bei: “…”

Having just arrived, Zhao Ru indeed felt unfamiliar with everything. Especially with their sudden rise in status, she might have to interact with noble ladies in the capital. Having guidance from the Regent’s household would make things much easier.

“I just worry about troubling you, Jiang Yan.”

“It won’t be trouble,” Lu Huaizhou said. “It’s better for family to live together. I’m used to it as well.”

Zhao Ru then asked, “What about your parents’ side?”

Even if it wasn’t clear who was “marrying into” whose household, this was still the Regent’s residence. Zhao Ru worried his parents might have opinions about her whole family living there.

“They already know, and they think it’s a good arrangement,” Lu Huaizhou replied.

Zhao Ru glanced at Jiang Ji, who nodded. “Uncle and Aunt are very kind.”

That reassured her somewhat. “Then we’ll do as you say.”

Even though her son had been granted the title of Duke Chang, in this unfamiliar capital, their whole family was new and inexperienced. They didn’t know the customs or the people, and might unknowingly offend someone.

For now, the only person they could rely on was Lu Huaizhou.

Zhao Ru understood this clearly. Since she couldn’t help her son much yet, she would simply follow his lead.

The carriage traveled for another half hour before reaching the Regent’s residence. Eunuch Wu and the people from the Bureau of Weaving got down, paid their respects to Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji, then continued on toward the palace.

Zhao Ru and the others stepped down from the carriage.

The gates of the residence were imposing, flanked by two towering stone lions. The entrance was grand, with a plaque above reading “Regent’s Residence.”

Uncle Zhong stood at the entrance with the household staff to welcome them.

“So impressive,” Jiang Bei said.

Jiang Nan nodded. “It really is.”

Zhao Ru and the others were equally astonished. They had known Jiang Yan was the Regent, but seeing it in person made it real.

They had passed many grand households along the way, but none compared to this. Only now did they truly feel that Jiang Yan was indeed the Regent, a man second only to the Emperor.

Uncle Zhong stepped forward. “This old servant greets the Honored Lady, the young lady, and the two young masters.”

Lu Huaizhou introduced him. “Aunt, this is Steward Zhong. If you need anything, just tell him.”

“Alright.” Zhao Ru nodded, glancing at the staff. Most were men, with only a few servant women. She smiled at him. “We’ll be troubling you all from now on.”

Steward Zhong bowed. “It is our duty. Please rest assured.”

Entering the residence, Steward Zhong reported, “The quarters for the Honored Lady, the young lady, and the two young masters have all been arranged. Allow me to lead you there.”

Zhao Ru asked in surprise, “We’re all staying separately?”

He paused. “Not separately?”

Zhao Ru looked at Lu Huaizhou. “I’ll stay together with Xia’er, Jiang Nan, and Jiang Bei. We’re used to it. If we’re too far apart and only see each other once or twice a day, it would feel lonely. We can separate later when they’re older.”

Lu Huaizhou nodded. “As you wish, Aunt. Then you can stay in the Wutong Courtyard next to Jiang Ji and me. Would that be alright?”

“That’s fine.” Zhao Ru nodded in satisfaction. “Closer is better.”

Jiang Ji was also pleased. In large households, everyone usually had their own courtyard. Aside from formal greetings, even meals were often taken separately, which gradually distanced family relationships.

“Lu Jiu, take Uncle Han and Yu Yang to settle in,” Lu Huaizhou instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Lu Jiu smiled at them. “Uncle Han, Yu Yang, come with me. Now that you’re here, we’ll be eating well.”

Han Qingshan and Yu Yang bowed to Lu Huaizhou and the others, then followed Lu Jiu toward the back courtyard.

Yu Yang laughed. “Just tell me what you want to eat, I’ll cook it for you.”

Watching them leave, Jiang Ji said to Lu Huaizhou, “How about having the cooks from the Lu Residence come over to learn from Uncle Han and the others?”

“Alright.” Lu Huaizhou nodded, then turned to Steward Zhong. “Uncle Zhong, send someone to the Lu Residence to inform them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Steward Zhong immediately called someone over and sent him off. Not long after, two cooks from the Lu Residence arrived.

Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji brought Zhao Ru and the others to Wutong Courtyard. They arranged things just as they had at home. Zhao Ru and Xia’er stayed in the main room, while Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei shared the east wing.

Steward Zhong came in with two maids and two young servants. “Honored Lady, these are Chunmei and Xiahe. They joined the residence a few days ago and have already been trained. They will serve you and the young lady. These are Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba, from the original household. They will take care of the two young masters.”

Zhao Ru looked at the two young maids and the boys, nodding. “Alright, thank you for your efforts.”

After settling in and washing up, the whole family went to the dining hall for their first reunion meal in the capital.

“Oh, this braised lion’s head is quite well done,” Zhao Ru said after tasting it.

“Mm, I taught them,” Jiang Ji said with a smile.

Lunch had been prepared by the Regent’s household cooks. Jiang Ji had taught them several dishes when he had time. Of the eight dishes on the table, four were local specialties of the capital, and four were dishes Jiang Ji had taught, in case Zhao Ru and the others weren’t used to the local flavors.

“I thought so. It tastes just like yours,” Zhao Ru said with a smile.

Jiang Nan also gave his verdict, “Still not as good as what Brother makes.”

“Got it. I’ll cook something nice for you tonight,” Jiang Ji said, ruffling his hair.

Jiang Nan grinned.

Steward Zhong watched as the Regent sat at the table, a constant smile at the corner of his lips, clearly in high spirits, and couldn’t help but feel moved.

Since becoming Regent, Lu Huaizhou had been burdened with heavy responsibilities, growing increasingly reserved, rarely showing his emotions.

But ever since his return, Steward Zhong had seen a more relaxed side of him again, even smiling often, especially when he was with Jiang Ji.

He had never imagined the Regent could sit like this, at ease, sharing a meal with family.

Seeing this, Steward Zhong couldn’t help but smile, feeling deeply gratified.

After the meal, Zhao Ru and the others chatted for a while before going to rest. The long journey had left them exhausted.

When they woke, Jiang Ji personally took them on a tour of the residence.

“Wow, the Regent’s residence is huge,” Jiang Nan exclaimed, looking at the garden ahead. “We’ve walked so long, and there’s still a back garden we haven’t seen!”

Jiang Bei asked, “Big Brother, does our residence have a garden too?”

“Yes, but not as large as this one,” Jiang Ji nodded. “We have things to do tomorrow. The day after, we’ll go take a look. We need to prepare for the housewarming banquet.”

“Alright!” Jiang Nan clapped happily.

After wandering around for a while, toward evening, Minister Lu returned from duty, bringing Madam Lu and Lu Huaichuan with him.

Since Zhao Ru would be going to give thanks at court the next day, not only meeting the Emperor but also the Empress Dowager, Lu Huaizhou had specially invited Madam Lu to explain the proper etiquette. Madam Lu would also accompany Zhao Ru.

At the same time, this was also an opportunity for both families to meet over a welcoming banquet.

“Honored Lady.” Madam Lu, who herself held the rank of First-Rank Honored Madam, Lady Zhao Ru with a formal bow.

“Oh, Madam Lu, you’re too kind,” Zhao Ru said, somewhat flustered, returning the greeting. “You are Jiang—no, the Regent’s mother. Please don’t be so formal with me.”

Madam Lu took Zhao Ru’s hand and smiled warmly. “Then… in-law?”

“Yes, yes,” Zhao Ru nodded with a smile. “In-law.”

The two women laughed.

Zhao Ru called Jiang Xia, Jiang Nan, and Jiang Bei over. “Come, greet Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, and Brother Huaichuan.”

The three bowed and said in unison, “Greetings, Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, Brother Huaichuan.”

“This must be Xia’er,” Madam Lu said, looking at them. She took Jiang Xia’s hand and slipped a jade-green bracelet from her own wrist onto hers. “What a lovely girl. Aunt really likes you. Take this as a gift.”

Jiang Xia froze, staring at the bracelet. “Aunt, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“It’s nothing, wear it,” Madam Lu said, smiling. Jiang Xia had bright eyes and a delicate face, utterly endearing.

Jiang Xia glanced at her brother. Jiang Ji nodded. Remembering the etiquette Lu Shun had taught her, she curtsied. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Madam Lu held her hand, smiling. “I always wanted a daughter. Girls are so thoughtful. But in the end, I had another son.”

Lu Huaichuan said helplessly, “Mother, I’m still right here.”

“I wish you had been a daughter. At least you wouldn’t annoy me so much,” Madam Lu replied irritably.

Lu Huaichuan clutched his chest dramatically. “Mother, I’m heartbroken, truly heartbroken. You should comfort me…”

His exaggerated act made Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei burst into laughter.

“That’s enough, stop showing off,” Madam Lu said, half amused, half exasperated, ignoring him. She bent down and looked at the twins. “Now, which one is Jiang Nan, and which is Jiang Bei?”

Jiang Bei was about to answer when Jiang Nan quickly covered his mouth. “Aunt, you guess?”

“Oh? Let me guess,” Madam Lu said, pinching Jiang Nan’s cheek. “You’re the older brother, Jiang Nan, and this is the younger one, Jiang Bei. Am I right?”

She had already heard about the twins. The more mischievous one was Jiang Nan, while the steadier one was Jiang Bei.

Jiang Nan released Jiang Bei and said happily, “That’s right!”

Jiang Bei asked curiously, “Aunt, how did you guess correctly?”

Madam Lu tapped their noses and smiled. “You tell me.”

Jiang Nan: “…”

Jiang Bei: “…”

Seeing their blank, puzzled expressions, Madam Lu laughed happily. She took out two jade pendants from her sleeve pouch and placed one in each of their hands. “These are a matching pair. One for each of you, perfect for you to wear.”

The two boys were both adorable and clever, and Madam Lu liked them very much.

“Thank you, Aunt,” Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei said together, bowing in thanks.

Zhao Ru then presented a gift Jiang Ji had prepared and gave it to Lu Huaichuan. “I heard you’re preparing for the spring examinations. Aunt wishes you success—may your name appear on the honors list and may you take first place.”

Lu Huaichuan bowed with a smile. “Thank you, Aunt. I’ll gladly accept your blessing.”

After that, Madam Lu took Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia aside, chatting with them about life in the capital and explaining the etiquette for their audience with the Emperor the next day.

Minister Lu wanted to play a game of chess with Lu Huaizhou, but Lu Huaizhou declined.

“I need to go prepare dinner with Jiang Ji. You can have Steward Zhong play with you,” he said.

Minister Lu: “……”

Meanwhile, Lu Huaichuan took Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei to play in the courtyard.

It was the first meeting between the two families. Seeing how well everyone got along, Jiang Ji felt reassured. He went with Lu Huaizhou to the kitchen and prepared a full table of dishes.

That evening, both families sat together, chatting and laughing over a warm meal.

After dinner, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei were taken by Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba to wash up. Jiang Ji stayed in the main hall with Zhao Ru, listening as Madam Lu explained the details of their visit to the palace the next day.

The ceremonial attire for a First-Rank Honored Lady had already arrived. After taking Zhao Ru’s measurements, the Bureau of Weaving had rushed it to the capital in time.

With Madam Lu and the maids assisting her, Zhao Ru tried on the formal robes and practiced the proper etiquette.

…

The next day, Jiang Ji, Zhao Ru, and Madam Lu entered the palace.

Jiang Ji first brought Zhao Ru to meet the Emperor and express their gratitude. The young Emperor asked a few questions, then dismissed them.

Afterward, Jiang Ji and Zhao Ru went to see the Empress Dowager, where Madam Lu was already present.

After offering thanks and chatting briefly, they all took their leave.

Only after exiting the palace gates did Zhao Ru grasp Madam Lu’s hand nervously. “I didn’t make any mistakes, did I?”

Madam Lu patted her hand reassuringly. “No, you did very well.”

Zhao Ru let out a breath. “That’s good… that’s good.”

She glanced back at the imposing palace gates, thinking she never wanted to enter again. It was too nerve-wracking, as if a single wrong word could cost her life.

In any case, they had completed the formalities without issue and returned.

Madam Lu said, “If you need any help with the Duke Chang Residence’s housewarming banquet, just let me know.”

Jiang Ji replied, “Thank you, Aunt.”

The banquet was set for three days later, and invitations had already been sent. Over the next two days, they needed to prepare the residence. Early that morning, Steward Zhong had already taken people over to begin arrangements.

He had originally suggested moving items from the Regent’s residence to decorate the place, but Jiang Ji refused.

“No need. Everyone knows my family were farmers. Filling the place with expensive decorations would be inappropriate. We only need what’s necessary for the banquet—just a few essential items. Simple is fine.”

Steward Zhong cautioned, “Duke, people in the capital tend to judge by status. If there’s too little, you might be looked down on or mocked.”

“Let them mock,” Jiang Ji said. “Reputation is earned. Even if we display expensive items, they’ll assume they came from the Regent’s residence. Wouldn’t that make it seem like I’m putting on airs?”

Steward Zhong paused, surprised by Jiang Ji’s clarity, then bowed. “This old servant understands.”

Without elaborate decorations, preparations became much simpler. They only needed to focus on the banquet itself. Jiang Ji provided the menu, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang listed the required ingredients, and Steward Zhong arranged for everything to be purchased and prepared.

That afternoon, Jiang Ji kept his promise and took Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei out to explore the capital.

The city was bustling and dazzling. The family had a wonderful time. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei fulfilled their wish, sampling food everywhere they went, trying this and that until their little stomachs were round with fullness.

…

The next day, they visited the Duke Chang Residence together.

Though smaller than the Regent’s residence, it was still one of the finest mansions in the capital, many times larger than their home back in the countryside.

“Brother, is this really going to be our home?” Jiang Nan asked.

“Yes.”

Jiang Bei said, “Then we can bring Xiao Yi and Xiang’er and everyone else to live here too.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Exactly. We’ll bring them all over later.”

On the day of the housewarming banquet, which Jiang Ji had deliberately chosen to fall on a rest day, they rose early. Carrying rice, flour, oil, and other essentials, they symbolically “moved in” again, reciting auspicious phrases with practiced ease.

By mid-morning, guests began to arrive one after another.

It was the first time the Duke Chang Residence officially appeared before the capital’s elite, and the first time it hosted guests.

Upon entering, the guests admired the scenery, nodding in approval.

Autumn chrysanthemums bloomed in abundance, begonias were delicate and charming, camellias vibrant, golden osmanthus fragrant. Rock formations and ponds completed the scene, with fish swimming freely.

But when they stepped into the main hall, they paused in surprise.

Aside from tables and chairs, and a few plants and flowers on the tea tables, there were no calligraphy, paintings, screens, or decorative ornaments—not even a single vase.

It was… far too simple.

Many guests glanced at Lu Huaizhou, wondering why the Regent hadn’t added more furnishings.

Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji stood at the front hall greeting guests. Jiang Ji cupped his hands and said, “The residence is rather simple. If anything falls short in our hospitality, I ask for your understanding.”

Seeing how composed and open Jiang Ji was, the officials all waved it off.

Soon, servants brought out tea, pastries, and fruit. The tea was a rich amber color with a deep fragrance. After taking a sip, someone exclaimed, “Excellent tea!”

Others quickly tasted it as well. One asked in surprise, “Is this pu tea?”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Yes, I purchased it from a merchant I know.”

In truth, it was modern pu’er tea he had exchanged from the system, with more refined processing and a smoother flavor than what existed in this era.

Someone remarked, “I’ve had pu tea at His Majesty’s court before, but it wasn’t as rich as this.”

Even Prime Minister Shen said, “Full-bodied and mellow, with a lingering aroma. Very good.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “I’m glad you all enjoy it.”

While the men in the front courtyard appreciated the tea, the ladies in the back courtyard were captivated by the desserts.

Mango pudding, orange pudding, caramel pudding, osmanthus sesame jelly cakes, double-skin milk, and sweet potato cakes.

All of them were unfamiliar.

“Honored Lady, what is this? It’s delicious.”

“And this one, it’s translucent. These pastries are so delicate.”

Zhao Ru smiled. “This is called pudding. Xiao Ji made it with the kitchen staff.”

The ladies were astonished. “The Duke can make desserts too?”

Zhao Ru nodded. “He can cook as well.”

One lady added, “I’ve heard the Duke even prepared meals for His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Taifei. They all loved it.”

Zhao Ru nodded. “Today’s banquet was prepared by the household cooks, but they were all taught by Xiao Ji. Please enjoy the dishes later.”

Madam Lu had come early to accompany Zhao Ru in hosting. Seeing the reactions of the ladies, she felt reassured.

At the midday banquet, the guests were stunned once again.

The twelve dishes set before them were all unfamiliar, including the “new crops” Jiang Ji had introduced to court, corn, potatoes, and chili peppers.

Everything was delicious. Not only were the dishes excellent, even the rice tasted better than what they were used to.

“So this is the new rice the Duke has been promoting. It really does taste better.”

“These fresh potatoes and corn, and this chili as well. The cooking is superb. No wonder His Majesty and the Empress Dowager praised it so highly.”

“Once summer comes and the southern regions begin planting this new rice widely, we should be able to enjoy it too.”

“And the wheat as well. The Duke said it would taste better than before.”

“I’ve heard the Duke is experimenting with new vegetables outside the city. Perhaps we’ll have new vegetables even in winter.”

“Remarkable.”

The food was so good that the guests ate to their hearts’ content, still wanting more.

During the banquet, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager also sent gifts to congratulate the housewarming, adding great honor to the occasion.

Afterward, it was said that many households began trying to replicate the desserts and the chili-free dishes served at the Duke’s banquet.

Some ladies even sent visiting cards to Zhao Ru to ask for guidance, and through these exchanges, Zhao Ru grew closer to several of them.

As for whether they succeeded in recreating the dishes, Jiang Ji didn’t bother to ask. He had something more important to prepare for, the betrothal.

Three days after the banquet, the matchmaker Wu arrived at the Regent’s residence. Minister Lu, Madam Lu, Zhao Ru, Lu Huaizhou, and Jiang Ji all gathered together.

Under the matchmaker’s guidance, both families formally expressed their consent to the marriage. They exchanged betrothal gifts and birth details, which were then placed together before the ancestral altar.

Three days later, after the name inquiry period and compatibility checks were completed, the two families met again. With the matchmaker as witness, the marriage was officially arranged.

After the engagement was settled and the others departed, Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Ji returned to their courtyard.

Inside the room, Jiang Ji held Lu Huaizhou’s hand with one hand and patted his chest with the other, letting out a breath. “It’s finally settled.”

During the three days of the name inquiry, Jiang Ji had been on edge. To avoid any mishaps, he hadn’t left the house and didn’t even allow Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei to go out, leaving the two boys bored out of their minds, clinging to Lu Jiu for entertainment.

“Mm.” Lu Huaizhou tightened his grip on Jiang Ji’s hand, his gaze deep. “We’re engaged.”

“From now on, we’re officially fiancés.” Jiang Ji looked at him with a bright smile. “Hello, fiancé.”

A soft smile touched Lu Huaizhou’s lips as he leaned in and kissed him.

“Hello, fiancé.”

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

Recently, Lu Jiu and Lu Wen had been following Jiang Ji everywhere. Whether he went to the estate or strolled through the capital, having them with him put Lu Huaizhou more at ease.

That day, after breakfast, the two went to wait for Jiang Ji, only to be told by Xiao Liu that he had already gone out.

“Gone out?” Lu Jiu was startled. “Went to the estate? That can’t be right, he’d take us with him if he did.”

Xiao Liu shook his head. “The Duke didn’t say.”

Lu Wen frowned. “Did he go alone?”

“He took Old Zhou and Old Wang,” Xiao Liu replied. Then he looked at the two of them, puzzled. “Why didn’t you go with the Duke?”

Old Zhou and Old Wang were guards Jiang Ji had brought from his own household.

“We didn’t know. He usually leaves around this time. He even said yesterday he’d go to the estate,” Lu Jiu said, brows tightly knit. “How long have they been gone?”

“About a quarter of an hour.” Hearing their concern, Xiao Liu grew anxious as well. “The Duke isn’t familiar with the capital, and neither are Old Zhou and Old Wang. How can they go out without someone who knows the city? Where could they have gone?”

“Don’t panic,” Lu Wen said quickly. “Maybe he just went out shopping. Xiao Liu, go find Uncle Zhong and have him send people to search. Lu Jiu and I will look first.”

“Alright.” Xiao Liu hurried off.

Lu Jiu and Lu Wen left the residence and asked the gatekeeper, “Did the Duke say where he was going? Which direction did he head?”

“He didn’t say. He went that way.” The gatekeeper pointed down the street ahead.

“Did he take a carriage?”

“No, he went on foot.”

Lu Wen analyzed, “No carriage means he probably didn’t leave the city. So not the estate.”

Recently, Jiang Ji had been busy arranging the planting for the lands of both the Regent’s Residence and the Lu Residence. Lu Huaizhou’s lands were to the east of the city, while the Lu family’s lands were to the west. If Jiang Ji were going there, he would have needed a horse or carriage.

Lu Jiu said, “Maybe he went to buy something. The Duke’s residence has just been renovated, maybe he needs to add furnishings?”

“That makes sense. I’ll check the Duke’s residence. You head east. I’ll search west afterward.”

“Alright.”

At the crossroads, the two split up, one heading west, the other east.

Lu Wen went to the Duke’s residence, which was currently only guarded by a gatekeeper sent from the Regent’s Residence.

“The Duke hasn’t come here,” the gatekeeper said.

Lu Wen continued searching west.

The two searched the streets but found nothing. They regrouped at a crossroads, then split again, one heading north and the other south.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ji, accompanied by Old Zhou and Old Wang, stood at the entrance of the capital’s official matchmaking office.

He had brought silver with him today, planning to hire a matchmaker first and then purchase the betrothal gifts.

He wanted to surprise Lu Huaizhou with the proposal, so arranging the matchmaker had to remain secret. That was why he hadn’t told Lu Jiu or Lu Wen, bringing only Old Zhou and Old Wang.

This official matchmaking office was part of the local government, essentially a state-run marriage bureau. It not only arranged matches for eligible young men and women but also registered children’s birth details. When those children reached marriageable age, the assigned matchmaker would visit and arrange their marriage.

Just then, a matchmaker auntie came out. Seeing the three of them, she greeted them warmly. “Young masters, are you here to hire a matchmaker or to register a child?”

“To hire a matchmaker,” Jiang Ji replied.

“Then come with me, I’ll take you inside,” she said, leading the way. “Different districts have different official matchmakers. Which street do you live on?”

“Zhuque Street, Duke Chang Residence.”

The matchmaker suddenly stopped and turned to look at him, eyes lighting up. “You’re from Duke Chang’s residence? Are you here to hire a matchmaker for Duke Chang?”

News of the Duke and the Regent’s impending marriage had been spreading all over the capital. Of course, official matchmakers had heard of it.

Old Zhou smiled. “Yes. This is Duke Chang himself.”

The matchmaker’s eyes widened in shock. “You… you are Duke Chang?”

Jiang Ji nodded with a smile. “Yes.”

She quickly bowed. “Greetings, Duke Chang. I failed to recognize you. Please forgive my lack of proper welcome.”

Jiang Ji gestured lightly for her to rise. “No need for such formality. I’m here to ask for your help.”

She looked him over. Though his complexion was slightly tanned, he was strikingly handsome, with a warm and approachable smile.

She led them into the main hall, poured tea, and said, “Duke Chang, may I ask if you’re hiring a matchmaker to propose to the Regent?”

Jiang Ji took a sip of tea and nodded. “Exactly.”

The matchmaker’s expression turned slightly odd, then she smiled. “Then you and the Regent truly think alike.”

“Hm?” Jiang Ji set down his cup. “What do you mean?”

“Both Duke Chang’s residence and the Regent’s residence are on Zhuque Street. The matchmaker in charge of that area is Sister Wu. She went to the Lu Residence early this morning. Someone from the Lu family invited her.”

Jiang Ji froze for a moment. “The Lu Residence also hired a matchmaker?”

“Yes, that’s why I said you and the Regent had the same idea,” she said with a smile.

Jiang Ji: “…”

If the Lu Residence hired a matchmaker, it must be for Lu Huaizhou’s marriage proposal. He blinked, realizing the situation had just become complicated.

They were both men. According to Great Sheng’s customs, the question of who proposes to whom was already a problem.

But now that the matchmaker for their district had already left, it wasn’t appropriate for him to chase her down at the Lu Residence.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Ji asked, “Auntie, are you free now? My mother hasn’t arrived in the capital yet. Could you explain the customs here regarding proposals and betrothal gifts? What should be prepared?”

The matchmaker nodded with a smile. “Of course. The customs here in the capital are like this, let me explain…”

Jiang Ji took out a notebook and pen. Sitting across from her, he wrote as she spoke, asking questions whenever he didn’t understand, filling several pages.

“…Those are the required betrothal gifts. Beyond that, Duke Chang can add more as he sees fit. Gold and silver items, jewelry, fabrics and furs, fine furniture, all are appropriate,” she said.

“Thank you, Auntie.” Jiang Ji noted everything down, then added, “If the matchmaker in charge of our area returns, please send someone to inform me.”

“Of course. I’ll notify you immediately.”

Jiang Ji gave her some payment and was just stepping out when she spotted a woman entering.

“Duke Chang, she’s back, she’s back!”

She quickly called out, “Sister Wu, come here quickly, Duke Chang is looking for you!”

The matchmaker surnamed Wu appeared slightly older. Hearing that Duke Chang was looking for her, she immediately walked over, assuming at first that Jiang Ji was merely a servant sent on his behalf.

“This young master, did Duke Chang send you to find me for a proposal?” the matchmaker asked.

The other matchmaker quickly tugged her sleeve and reminded her, “This is Duke Chang himself.”

Matchmaker Wu looked at Jiang Ji in shock, then hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Duke Chang.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “No need for formalities. I heard you just went to the Lu Residence. Was it Madam Lu who called for you?”

“Yes, it was indeed regarding your marriage with the Regent,” Matchmaker Wu said with a smile. “Duke Chang, please come inside.”

Jiang Ji still had questions for her, so they returned to sit down. The earlier matchmaker excused herself and went off to attend to her work.

Jiang Ji asked curiously, “Auntie, what did Madam Lu say?”

“Ah, well…” Matchmaker Wu hesitated. Such matters weren’t usually discussed casually with others.

Jiang Ji said, “Please feel free to speak. I’m not familiar with the marriage customs in the capital, so I wanted to see how the Lu family is preparing, so I can use it as a reference.”

Matchmaker Wu looked at him. Considering he had only recently come to the capital, it was reasonable he might not know the local customs. She asked, “May I ask, Duke Chang, why you sought me out?”

“I want to ask you to go to the Lu Residence and propose marriage on my behalf,” Jiang Ji said directly.

Matchmaker Wu paused, surprised. “Duke Chang, you also want me to propose?”

Jiang Ji blinked. So Madam Lu really was preparing for a proposal. He nodded. “Yes.”

“Oh my, what a coincidence,” she exclaimed, slapping her thigh lightly. “Madam Lu said your mother would be arriving soon. After the housewarming banquet at the Duke’s residence, she plans to formally come to propose. She asked me to reserve a date and we discussed the arrangements.”

That timing was almost exactly the same as Jiang Ji’s own plan.

Jiang Ji felt a bit conflicted. He had originally intended to go directly to the Lu Residence to propose, but now that he knew Madam Lu was preparing as well, it felt… awkward.

Madam Lu must have acted on Lu Huaizhou’s wishes. Only now did Jiang Ji realize that Lu Huaizhou might have had the exact same idea as him.

They both wanted to propose to each other.

If it turned into “you propose to me, I propose to you,” and outsiders found out, it would likely become a joke.

And given their statuses, they couldn’t just act carelessly.

“Auntie, since the Regent and I are both men, in our situation, how would it be most appropriate to handle the proposal?” Jiang Ji thought for a moment, then asked, “Is it possible to propose to each other?”

Matchmaker Wu considered carefully. She understood what he meant. Between two men, traditionally, the one who proposes would be seen as taking the dominant role in the household, equivalent to the “husband.”

But seeing that both Madam Lu and Jiang Ji had come to her, it was clear neither side had reached an agreement on that point.

After a moment, she said, “Duke Chang, have you discussed this with the Regent?”

Jiang Ji sighed. “I originally wanted to give him a surprise.”

Matchmaker Wu: “…”

As expected of someone experienced, she thought it through and said, “You are both of high status, one the Regent, the other a duke. It wouldn’t be appropriate for either side to appear subordinate. Why not skip the formal proposal altogether, or choose the same day for both families to meet? Your elders can exchange betrothal gifts, which would count as a mutual proposal, and then discuss the rest of the marriage arrangements together. How does that sound?”

That was exactly what Jiang Ji had been thinking. “Then the betrothal gifts would also be mutual?”

“Yes, that would work as well.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Auntie. I’ll go back and discuss this with the Regent.”

“Very well. Once you’ve agreed and set a date, just send someone to inform me. I’ll make the arrangements,” she said.

“Alright, I’ll trouble you then.”

After leaving the matchmaking office, Jiang Ji immediately began shopping.

He needed to prepare betrothal gifts.

The Duke’s residence was still largely empty. Aside from the items bestowed by the Emperor, which couldn’t be casually given away, everything for the betrothal had to be prepared by him.

He first sent Old Zhou back to fetch a carriage, then looked over the list the matchmaker had given him. It required twelve items each of gold, silver, and jade. He went straight to the best jewelry shop in the capital and bought the finest pieces. Anything that wasn’t exquisite enough, he didn’t even consider.

Passing by a tea shop, he selected several packages of the finest tea. At a silk shop, he picked out a few bolts of fabric. The most luxurious brocades had already been reserved by wealthy families, so those weren’t available and would have to be obtained through the system instead.

He continued shopping until, outside another jewelry store, he ran into Lu Jiu, who had been searching for him.

Lu Jiu rushed over when he saw him, then glanced at the carriage behind him. “Duke Chang, we’ve been looking for you for ages. Didn’t you leave without a carriage?”

“Oh, Old Zhou went back to fetch it,” Jiang Ji replied.

“Are you heading out of the city now?” Lu Jiu glanced at the sky. “It’s almost noon.”

“No, I’m buying betrothal gifts.” Jiang Ji looked at him, holding up his little notebook with a grin. “Good timing. I still need a lot. Come help me.”

“Be—betrothal gifts?” Lu Jiu stammered, completely stunned.

“Of course. Your Prince has such a grand household. I have to prepare properly too.”

Lu Jiu: “…”

“Come on, take me to pick out more gold and jade pieces. There’s still a big gap.”

Lu Jiu: “…You’re talking about them like they’re cheap goods.”

Jiang Ji patted his shoulder. “You get the idea. Let’s go.”

Helpless, Lu Jiu led him to the most renowned shops in the capital. Only then did he truly understand what “sweeping the stores” meant.

After returning to the residence for lunch, Jiang Ji went back out in the afternoon with Lu Jiu and the others, continuing to shop for betrothal gifts, practically combing through the entire capital.

By evening, Lu Jiu deliberately waited at the entrance of the Regent’s Residence. When Lu Huaizhou returned, he asked with a complicated expression, “Your Highness… have you prepared your betrothal gifts?”

“Hm? Why do you ask?” Lu Huaizhou replied, puzzled.

Lu Jiu answered, “Duke Chang bought the finest gold, silver, jade, silk, and tea in the city today. He also purchased a premium set of red sandalwood desk and chairs, and even had people exchange for a thousand taels of gold ingots… and ten thousand taels of silver ingots.”

Lu Huaizhou: “…”

Lu Jiu looked at his prince and said anxiously, “Your Highness, you need to start preparing quickly. Otherwise all the good items will be bought up by the Duke.”

Lu Huaizhou nodded. “Understood.”

His betrothal gifts were already being prepared by Uncle Zhong. His treasury was well-stocked, so there was no need to purchase additional items.

Returning to the courtyard, Lu Huaizhou saw Jiang Ji seated at the table, writing and sketching in his little notebook.

Hearing him, Jiang Ji looked up, his eyes lighting up, a smile spreading across his face. “You’re back.”

He raised his voice, “Xiao Liu, bring the meal.”

“Right away,” Xiao Liu replied and went off to arrange it.

Lu Huaizhou washed his hands, then walked over. “What are you writing?”

Jiang Ji snapped the notebook shut and refused to show him. “Secret.”

Lu Huaizhou: “…”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. He sat beside him, took a sip of tea, and asked, “Didn’t go to the estate today?”

“Mm, I had something to do.” Jiang Ji put his notebook away. “I went to the matchmaking office today. I was planning to hire a matchmaker, but only then did I find out you had Mother arrange one too?”

Lu Huaizhou nodded. “Yes.”

“I knew it was your idea.” Jiang Ji took a sip of tea, then continued, “But I thought about it. With our status, it doesn’t really work for one to propose to the other. So I discussed it with the matchmaker. What do you think about choosing a date and proposing together? The matchmaker said our elders can meet, exchange gifts, and consider that the formal step.”

Lu Huaizhou thought briefly and understood. He nodded. “That works.”

“And for the formal betrothal ceremony, we do the same?” Jiang Ji asked.

“Alright. We’ll follow your lead.”

Jiang Ji looked a bit worried. “I wonder if Father and Mother will agree.”

“After dinner, we can go ask them together,” Lu Huaizhou said.

“Okay.” Jiang Ji looked at him and sighed. “I originally wanted to surprise you. Who knew you’d act even faster than me.”

Lu Huaizhou smiled faintly and leaned in to kiss him on the lips.

Jiang Ji blinked, then wrapped an arm around the back of his head and kissed him back.

After dinner, the two went together to the Lu Residence and explained their plan for the proposal and betrothal.

A marriage between two men was unprecedented in the capital. There were no customs to follow, so everything had to be figured out step by step.

Minister Lu and Madam Lu thought it over. Minister Lu agreed and asked, “After the marriage, will you live at the Regent’s residence or the Duke’s residence?”

Lu Huaizhou replied, “At the Regent’s residence. Aunt and the younger siblings will live there as well. The security there is tighter, so it’s safer for them.”

Minister Lu looked at Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji nodded. “Yes, we’ll stay at the Regent’s residence. That way we won’t need to hire so many servants for the Duke’s residence, just arrange for regular upkeep. When Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei grow up and marry, they can move back and live there.”

Madam Lu smiled. “That sounds good. The Honored Lady has just arrived in the capital and isn’t familiar with things here. The younger ones are still small, so living together will make it easier to look after them.”

“Exactly, that’s what we were thinking,” Jiang Ji said with a smile.

With that settled, they only needed to wait for Zhao Ru to arrive in the capital to fix a date, and then the two families could proceed.

Jiang Ji hurried to arrange all the lands belonging to both residences. Then he found time to exchange the remaining gold, silver, and jade betrothal items through the system, preparing everything in advance. As for fruits, pastries, and gift boxes, those would have to be prepared the day before.

Looking at the betrothal gifts piled in storage, Jiang Ji nodded in satisfaction. Now he just needed to wait for his mother.

…

A few days later, near noon, at the Ten-Li Pavilion south of the capital, a convoy of carriages slowly approached along the southern road.

Jiang Ji immediately stood and looked into the distance. “I wonder if it’s them this time?”

Lu Jiu had sharp eyes. He spotted He Ling riding at the front right away.

“Your Highness, Duke Chang, it’s He Ling. The Honored Lady and the others have arrived!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ji ran straight onto the road, waving eagerly toward the distance.

Lu Huaizhou also stood and walked to the roadside to wait.

On the other side, He Ling saw them as well. He rode up beside the second carriage and said, “Honored Lady, His Highness and Duke Chang are waiting ahead to receive us.”

Inside the carriage, Zhao Ru and the others had been traveling for over ten days and were all exhausted. Even Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei, who had been excited on the first day, had grown listless, now half-asleep.

Hearing He Ling’s voice, Zhao Ru immediately opened her eyes. “Xiao Ji and Jiang Yan are here?”

“Yes, just ahead.”

Zhao Ru quickly woke the children. “Xia’er, Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei, wake up. Your brother and Jiang Yan are here to meet us.”

Xia’er lifted the curtain and peeked out. “Ah! It’s really Brother! Brother—!”

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei rubbed their eyes and leaned out the window. Seeing the figures in the distance, their energy instantly returned.

“Brother! Brother Jiang Yan—!”

“Big Brother—Brother Jiang Yan—!”

They shouted at the top of their lungs, their little faces flushed with excitement.

Jiang Ji ran forward, seeing his mother, Xia’er, and Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei leaning out.

“Mother—!”

He leapt onto the carriage, lifted the curtain, and saw his family after so long.

“Mother, Xia’er, Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei.”

“Xiao Ji.” Zhao Ru saw her son and finally let out a breath of relief.

“Brother!”

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei grinned and threw themselves at him. Jiang Nan exclaimed, “Brother, we finally get to see you! Are we almost at the capital?”

“Yes, just ten more li.” Jiang Ji ruffled their hair and patted their backs, smiling. “The journey must’ve worn you out, huh?”

Jiang Nan nodded, his face scrunched. “Yeah… I didn’t expect the capital to be so far. It’s been over ten days. So boring.”

Zhao Ru laughed. “At least they didn’t cry or fuss, or it would’ve been exhausting.”

Jiang Bei protested, “We’ve grown up already. Why would we cry? Mother, you’re underestimating us.”

“Exactly, only babies cry and fuss,” Jiang Nan added, nodding, then turned to Jiang Ji. “Brother, we behaved really well.”

Jiang Xia smiled and teased, “Oh really? Then who was whining on the road, refusing to eat this and that?”

Jiang Nan: “…”

Jiang Ji raised a brow. “Oh? Jiang Nan has things he doesn’t like to eat?”

Jiang Nan hesitated, then said, “That was because I didn’t feel well! I had no appetite!”

Zhao Ru explained with a smile, “The journey was tiring. He wasn’t quite used to it.”

Jiang Ji rubbed Jiang Nan’s head and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“I don’t know, just uncomfortable. My head feels dizzy,” Jiang Nan said.

Zhao Ru added, “It’s nothing serious. We had a doctor look at him. He said it’s just adjusting to the change in environment. He’s already much better these past couple of days.”

Jiang Ji reassured him, “When we get back, I’ll cook something good for you. Want that?”

At the thought of his brother’s cooking, Jiang Nan immediately perked up. “Yes!”

The carriage came to a stop, and Lu Huaizhou stepped in. “Aunt, Xia’er, Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei.”

“Brother Jiang Yan!” the three children called out together.

“Mm.” Lu Huaizhou looked them over one by one. “After more than ten days of travel, are you all alright?”

Zhao Ru smiled. “We’re fine, don’t worry.”

With the family reunited, the carriage filled with chatter. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei excitedly talked about their journey and asked Jiang Ji about life in the capital. Laughter filled the space.

There were four carriages in total. Jiang Ji asked, “Why are there four?”

Zhao Ru explained, “One for Eunuch Wu, one from the Bureau of Weaving, and for the last one, I brought Han Qingshan and Yu Yang along. Didn’t you say the Duke’s residence would be having a housewarming? There will definitely be a banquet. I thought bringing them would make things easier.”

Jiang Ji brightened. “That’s perfect. You really thought this through, Mother. I had planned to bring them after the new year when we moved the whole household, but this works even better. Now the officials in the capital can taste our cooking.”

Zhao Ru nodded. “That’s what I was thinking.”

She looked at Jiang Ji and Jiang Yan. “How are things between you two?”

Jiang Ji smiled. “Uncle and Aunt have already agreed. We’re just waiting for you to arrive so we can proceed with the proposal.”

Hearing that, Zhao Ru’s last bit of worry eased. “That’s good.”

Jiang Xia blinked and smiled brightly at them. “Congratulations, Brother. Congratulations, Brother Jiang Yan.”

Lu Huaizhou’s lips curved upward as he nodded.

Jiang Bei asked curiously, “Second Sister, what are you congratulating them for? And what was that about proposing just now? Is Brother getting married?”

Jiang Ji grinned. “Yep, I’m getting married.”

Jiang Nan’s eyes widened. “But Brother, didn’t you say you wouldn’t get married for a couple of years?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Jiang Ji replied without hesitation.

Jiang Bei was startled. “Brother, you change your mind a lot.”

Jiang Ji lifted his chin. “Plans can’t keep up with changes. Things like this depend on fate, you know?”

Jiang Bei nodded vaguely. “Oh.” He didn’t fully understand, but if his brother said it, it must be right.

After a while, Lu Jiu called from outside the carriage, “Your Highness, Duke Chang, we’ve reached the city gates.”

Jiang Nan leaned out the window, took a look, and shouted excitedly, “Wow, we’ve arrived at the capital!”

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

A Duke has emerged from Changping County, something never seen before in the entire county or even the whole of Yunzhou. Both the Changping County yamen and the Yunzhou prefectural office issued proclamations of the joyous news, and before long, every commoner across the county and prefecture knew of it.

The next day, Jiang Ji’s household laid out a grand banquet, inviting the entire village as well as the local gentry of the county. Zhao Ru also invited Eunuch Wen and Prefect Xu.

Jiang Ji Dining Hall closed for the day, and everyone from the restaurant returned to the village to help.

Their employer had suddenly become a duke, and everyone at the restaurant was brimming with excitement.

At dawn, Han Qingshan and the others hauled all kinds of ingredients back to the village.

As soon as they arrived, Han Qingshan led Yu Yang and Xiang’er forward, kneeling before Zhao Ru and kowtowing three times.

Before Jiang Ji and the others had departed earlier, Lu Huaizhou had sent Lu Wen with men to Huawen County to gather evidence of the crimes committed by Han Qingshan’s former master and that young master.

A few days ago, Han Qingshan and Yu Yang had been brought to Huawen County as plaintiffs, only returning yesterday. They also brought back the remains of Xiang’er’s elder sister, burying her outside the city.

The trial concluded the day before yesterday. That family had finally paid the price for their actions. The young master who had abused Han Qingshan’s eldest daughter to death had not only harmed her, but had previously tortured another girl to death and abducted innocent women. This chapter is translated by Hololonovels.com. His crimes were numerous, and all were uncovered this time. He was sentenced to execution, pending final review and approval by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.

Several other suffering families, like Han Qingshan’s, finally received justice.

“Madam,” Han Qingshan said, kneeling on the ground with his forehead pressed to it, his eyes red, “this old servant thanks Madam and the young master for avenging my daughter. I am willing to serve like an ox or horse, and would not refuse even death.”

“Get up quickly.” Zhao Ru already knew of the matter. She hurriedly helped them up, stroking Xiang’er’s head as she said to Han Qingshan, “The great wrong has been avenged. From now on, just live well.”

“Yes. Ah, and I have yet to congratulate Madam.” Having just risen, Han Qingshan wiped his tears, then smiled and knelt again. “Congratulations, Madam, on being conferred First-Rank Honored Lady. Congratulations, Young Master, on becoming Duke Chang!”

Zhao Ru was both laughing and on the verge of tears from their earnestness. Smiling, she took red envelopes from the side and handed them out. “Thank you. Let us all rejoice together.”

The others from the restaurant stood nearby. They all knew what had happened to Han Qingshan’s family and could not help but feel deeply moved.

Looking at them, Zhao Ru asked, “By the way, where is Lu Wen?”

“Brother Lu Wen returned to the capital after settling matters on our side,” Han Qingshan replied.

“I see.”

After receiving everyone’s congratulations and distributing rewards, Zhao Ru smiled and said, “There will be many guests today. I’ll have to trouble you all.”

Manager Lü laughed. “Madam, rest assured. This is exactly what we are best at. With us here, you may leave the kitchen and the reception of guests to us without worry.”

“Good, good. Thanks to all of you.”

Han Qingshan and the others led people to begin work. With him overseeing the kitchen, the manager and Xiao Shan arranged the tables and chairs in front, setting out fruits and pastries, ready to receive guests one by one.

Zhao Ru watched them, then glanced at Lu Shun, feeling deeply relieved to have them. Otherwise, she would have been completely at a loss.

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei had taken leave for the day, as they were to go to the capital soon, and both were extremely excited.

They did not know how powerful a duke truly was and had even gone to ask Lu Shun to understand.

Today, the two wore long robes they rarely put on, and Jiang Xia also wore a ruqun she seldom wore. Before the guests arrived, they followed Lu Shun in learning etiquette, with Zhao Ru joining them as well.

Before long, guests began to arrive in succession, and they stopped.

Aside from the villagers, Prefect Xu, Lord Chen, the newly appointed county magistrate and assistant magistrate, the four great families of Changping County the Sun, Zhang, Lin, and Tian households as well as many gentry who came upon hearing the news all arrived one after another.

The three-courtyard residence of Jiang Ji’s family was filled with guests.

When the guests arrived, they brought gifts and firecrackers. The crackling sounds at the entrance rang out continuously, while inside, laughter and cheerful voices never ceased.

Master Lin and Master Zhang sat at a table drinking tea. Master Lin had visited Jiang Ji’s home several times before. Smiling as he looked upon the lively scene, he sighed, “Not even a year, and Brother Jiang Ji has become a duke.”

Master Sun also laughed. “Indeed, who would have thought?”

The Lin and Sun families had little conflict with Jiang Ji’s business and had instead benefited.

As for the Tian family, their restaurant business had already been affected by Jiang Ji, and the Zhang family would soon feel the impact as well, with no way to counter it. The two heads of household could barely force smiles.

They could only exchange bitter smiles.

Master Lin looked at them, especially at the strained smile on Master Zhang’s face, and felt particularly pleased.

Among the four families, Master Lin had previously lent estates to Jiang Ji twice and was thus more familiar with his household.

“I just heard something while I went to the latrine,” Master Lin said mysteriously. “Do you know what it was?”

Master Sun asked curiously, “What?”

“I heard the villagers say that Jiang Yan is actually the Regent,” Master Lin said in a low voice.

The others were shocked. Master Tian set down his teacup. “Uncle Lin, is this true?”

“It’s true. I heard it with my own ears.” Master Lin lifted his chin. “If you don’t believe me, go ask.”

Just then, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei ran over. Master Lin called out, “Young Master Jiang Nan.”

Now that Jiang Ji had been made a duke, Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei’s status rose with him, and even Master Lin and the others addressed them as young masters.

Jiang Nan looked at Master Lin. “Uncle Lin, what is it?”

Master Lin asked, “I heard people outside saying Jiang Yan is the Regent. Is that true?”

Jiang Nan, Jiang Bei, and Jiang Xia had only learned yesterday that their Brother Jiang Yan had such an astonishing identity.

Jiang Nan nodded. “Yes, they say he’s a prince.”

Jiang Bei corrected him, “He’s the Regent, not just an ordinary prince.”

Jiang Nan nodded again. “Oh, I know. But that’s still a prince, isn’t it? I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Jiang Bei: “….”

Once the news was confirmed, Master Lin and the others were left speechless.

No one had expected that the person Jiang Ji casually saved would turn out to be the Regent. Even in storybooks, no one would dare write something like this.

Master Zhang and Master Tian lost all thoughts of resistance.

A single duke was already enough to crush them completely, let alone adding a Regent on top of that.

Looking at Master Zhang’s bitter expression, Master Lin felt a surge of satisfaction.

He himself had not expected that his years-long feud with the Zhang family would be struck at through Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji’s household remained lively for the entire day. That very night, Zhao Ru and the others packed their belongings, and the next day they set off for the capital together with He Ling and his group.

…

The capital.

Jiang Ji returned from the estate outside the city. It began to drizzle halfway along the road. After entering the residence, he asked the gatekeeper, “Has the regent returned?”

“Reporting to Duke Chang, His Highness has not yet returned.”

Jiang Ji glanced at the sky. “It’s already dark, and he’s still not done?”

The gatekeeper was used to it. “His Highness is extremely busy. Envoys from the north, from Huíhé, will arrive in a few days. His Highness and the others are likely occupied with that matter.”

It was over half an hour later when Lu Huaizhou returned.

Jiang Ji had been waiting to eat with him. Lu Huaizhou brushed the rain from his clothes. “If I’m late in the future, you should eat first. Don’t let yourself go hungry.”

Jiang Ji told Xiao Liu to bring out the dishes that had been kept warm. “I want to eat with you.”

Lu Huaizhou’s expression softened immediately. After washing his hands, he sat down. “I was afraid you’d be hungry.”

“It’s fine to wait a little.” Jiang Ji placed a bowl of rice in front of him and asked, “How many days until the envoys arrive?”

“Three days.” Lu Huaizhou picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of chicken into Jiang Ji’s bowl. “There will be a palace banquet then. You’ll attend with me.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ji nodded and ate the chicken. “I heard they’ve come this time for a marriage alliance?”

Lu Huaizhou nodded. “They brought the young princess of their leader.”

Jiang Ji asked curiously, “The Emperor is only ten. They won’t just place her into the imperial harem, will they?”

Lu Huaizhou glanced at him. “In a few years, consummation would still be possible.”

“Oh.” Jiang Ji understood. “That makes sense.”

“How are things at the estate? Have the plantings been finished?” Lu Huaizhou asked.

These past few days, Jiang Ji had been going back and forth to the estate, arranging for winter crops that could survive the cold.

“Yes, the estate on my side has been arranged today.” Jiang Ji spoke while eating. “Tomorrow I’ll go take a look at the lands under your name.”

As Regent, Lu Huaizhou had been granted ten thousand mu of land by the late Emperor.

“Mm. Leave it all to you. Take Uncle Zhong and Lu Jiu with you,” Lu Huaizhou said, nodding, then added more meat to Jiang Ji’s bowl. “You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “It’s nothing. Once I finish arranging yours, I still need to go to the Lu Residence. Mother said the Lu family lands will also be entrusted to me for planting.”

Lu Huaizhou looked at him, smiling softly. “Mm. It’s all thanks to Duke Chang. I’ll have to hold tight to the Duke’s thigh.”

“Clinging to a thigh” was a phrase Lu Huaizhou had learned from Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji lifted his chin. “Easy. I’ll arrange everything perfectly.”

The two exchanged a smile.

The next day, Lu Wen returned.

Jiang Ji asked about Han Qingshan’s case, and Lu Wen reported everything in detail.

Hearing that the scoundrel young master had been sentenced to execution, Jiang Ji felt at ease. This chapter is translated by hololo Novels dot com. Han Qingshan and the others should finally be able to move forward.

A few days later, the Huíhé envoys arrived in the capital. Jiang Ji had gone outside the city that day and did not see them, but he heard it had been very lively.

The following evening, the Emperor held a palace banquet to welcome the envoys.

The banquet began at you hour. From shen hour that afternoon, the invited officials, accompanied by their families, began entering the palace.

Jiang Ji had gone out to the fields that morning and only hurried back in the afternoon. After washing up, he put on his purple ducal court robes for the first time.

As he walked toward the gate, he opened his livestream. He had changed the title yesterday to “Live: Palace Banquet,” and today the audience was large.

“Alright everyone, we’re heading out.”

“Go, go, I’ve been waiting forever.”

“Let’s see what a palace banquet looks like.”

“I’ve been waiting since this afternoon.”

Jiang Ji smiled. “Didn’t I clearly write the time?”

“We don’t want to miss even the smallest detail.”

“We want to watch the whole thing live, not a replay.”

When Jiang Ji reached the gate, Lu Jiu and Lu Wen had already brought the carriage and were waiting.

“Duke Chang, Lord Lu sent word that he, Madam, and the second young master are waiting for you at the palace gate,” Lu Jiu reminded him as he boarded the carriage.

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up in surprise. He hadn’t expected Minister Lu to wait for him.

As his future father-in-law, Minister Lu had reluctantly accepted his relationship with Lu Huaizhou, but likely still found him somewhat displeasing.

Yet at such a moment, Minister Lu had personally come to wait for him. He must have been worried that Jiang Ji, attending a palace banquet for the first time, would not understand the etiquette, and had come specifically to guide him.

“Alright, then let’s hurry.”

The Regent’s Residence was close to the Imperial Palace, and they arrived quickly. Many carriages were already parked along the western side of the palace gate. Lu Jiu scanned the area, spotted the Lu Residence carriage, and drove over.

“Duke Chang, we’ve arrived.”

Jiang Ji lifted the curtain and stepped down. Nearby, Minister Lu and the others also got down upon seeing him.

Minister Lu wore formal court robes like him. Madam Lu was dressed in the splendid attire of a titled lady, and Lu Huaichuan wore a white long robe, full of youthful spirit.

“Uncle, Aunt, my apologies for keeping you waiting,” Jiang Ji said, stepping forward and bowing.

“Duke Chang.” Outside, Jiang Ji was addressed by his title. Minister Lu and the others returned the courtesy.

Lu Huaichuan grinned and added, “Brother Jiang Ji.”

“Mm.”

Each side addressed the other in their own way.

Madam Lu looked at Jiang Ji. Tall and well-proportioned, with a handsome face, he carried himself with ease. Smiling, she asked, “I heard from the gatekeeper that you went outside the city today. Did you just get back?”

“Yes. I came back, washed up, changed clothes, and then came straight here,” Jiang Ji replied.

“Did Huaizhou tell you the matters you should pay attention to?” she asked again.

Jiang Ji nodded and said earnestly, “He did. I’ve remembered them. It’s my first time attending such an important palace banquet. If I do anything improperly, I ask Uncle and Aunt to guide me.”

Minister Lu glanced at him and gave a slight nod. “Stay with me. Let’s go in.”

The group walked toward the palace. After passing the guards at the entrance, they had just stepped inside when a young eunuch approached from the side.

“Duke Chang, Minister Lu, Madam Lu, Second Young Master Lu.”

Minister Lu recognized him as one who served under Eunuch Wu and asked, “Is there something?”

The young eunuch bowed. “The Regent is still occupied and instructed this servant to escort Duke Chang to the banquet.”

Minister Lu: “…”

Jiang Ji’s eyes curved with a smile. “Go back and tell the Regent that I’ll go together with Minister Lu. Tell him not to worry.”

“Yes. This servant takes his leave.”

Seeing this, Madam Lu could not help but feel moved. Her eldest son truly had Jiang Ji in his heart.

She smiled. “Huaizhou is thoughtful as always, even sending someone specifically to escort you.”

“Mm, he has always been considerate,” Jiang Ji said, clearly pleased.

Along the way, they encountered many officials and titled nobles, all accompanied by their families. Upon seeing Jiang Ji and Minister Lu, they came forward to exchange greetings.

Lu Huaichuan nudged Jiang Ji lightly and whispered, “Brother Jiang Ji, a lot of ladies and young misses are secretly looking at you.”

Jiang Ji had already noticed. “Just curiosity. That’s only natural. Plenty are looking at you too.”

Lu Huaichuan lifted his chin. “Well, I am quite dashing.”

“…Both you and your brother do look the part,” Jiang Ji said, then asked with interest, “Do you have someone you fancy yet?”

Lu Huaichuan shook his head. “No. I spend all my time at the Imperial Academy. Where would I find the time for that? Besides, I’m only seventeen. At the very least, I’ll think about it after my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Jiang Ji glanced at Madam Lu walking ahead. “Has Aunt not arranged a match for you?”

“Not yet,” Lu Huaichuan said quietly. “Before, my older brother was there to take the attention. Mother didn’t notice me.”

Jiang Ji lowered his voice as well. “Then you’d better prepare yourself.”

Lu Huaichuan stared at him. “You’re that eager?”

Jiang Ji nodded. “I’ll reach my coming-of-age next year. I can start a family then.”

Lu Huaichuan: “…Can’t you wait a couple more years?”

“Your brother will be twenty-seven next year!” Jiang Ji glared at him. “You should think for him too.”

Lu Huaichuan sighed. “Alright.”

Jiang Ji patted his shoulder. “Take care of yourself.”

Madam Lu turned back to look at them. “What are you two whispering about?”

“Nothing. We were saying how beautiful the palace scenery is. Last time I came, I didn’t get a proper look,” Jiang Ji replied.

Lu Huaichuan: “…” Brother Jiang Ji, your ability to lie with a straight face is even better than mine.

Madam Lu smiled. “Then later, have Huaichuan take you around. He’s been here a few times.”

“Alright.”

Before it was time to be seated, those attending the banquet gathered in the Imperial Garden, admiring flowers and drinking tea.

Madam Lu separated from them and went to join the titled ladies and female relatives. Minister Lu led Jiang Ji and Lu Huaichuan to a side hall, where the officials rested briefly.

Seeing his father about to enter, Lu Huaichuan quickly pulled Jiang Ji back and said to him, “Father, we won’t go in. I’ll take Brother Jiang Ji to stroll through the Imperial Garden. He hasn’t seen it before.”

Minister Lu looked at them, his brows slightly furrowed. “Do not act rashly or cause trouble.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Ji looked at him. “Uncle, we’ll see you at the banquet.”

Minister Lu gave a slight nod. “Mm.”

Jiang Ji bowed, then followed Lu Huaichuan away.

“Good thing you didn’t go into that side hall,” Lu Huaichuan said. “It’s all officials in there. Boring. Like being at court.”

“You’ve never attended court,” Jiang Ji laughed. “You say it as if you have.”

Lu Huaichuan sighed. “Think about it. You see the same people day in and day out. Isn’t that just like court?”

Jiang Ji chuckled.

Lu Huaichuan led him into the Imperial Garden. As they passed a pavilion, five or six young men sat inside, sons of various noble families. When they saw Lu Huaichuan approaching with someone in purple ducal robes, they all paused in surprise.

One young man in fine white robes stepped forward, around twenty-one or twenty-two years old. “Huaichuan, is this… Duke Chang?”

“Yes.”

The young men immediately bowed. “Greetings, Duke Chang.”

Jiang Ji returned the courtesy. “Greetings.”

Lu Huaichuan turned and introduced the man who had spoken. “This is Qin Yuheng, eldest son of the Duke Qin’s residence, my cousin on my aunt’s side.”

“Ah—” Jiang Ji looked at the young man before him, refined and elegant like polished jade. Read the full translation on HololoNovels.com Something clicked, and he leaned in to ask Lu Huaichuan in a low voice, “Second on the Capital’s Eligible Suitors ranking?”

“Yes, yes, that’s him.” Lu Huaichuan couldn’t help laughing, then looked at him in surprise. “Brother Jiang Ji, how do you even know that?”

“Lu Jiu told me.” Jiang Ji shrugged.

Lu Huaichuan grinned. “Then do you know who’s first?”

“Mm. Your brother.”

Lu Huaichuan nodded with a smile.

Seeing the two of them laughing, the other young men exchanged confused glances.

Qin Yuheng asked, “What are you laughing about?”

Lu Huaichuan answered directly, “We were saying that Cousin, you’re ranked second on the Capital’s Eligible Suitors list.”

Qin Yuheng: “…”

Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“The Duke even knows about that?” one of the young men asked.

Jiang Ji nodded. “Mm, I’ve heard of it. I also know third place is the son of the Vice Minister of Justice.”

“Exactly, exactly. But now, aside from the Regent, everyone’s ranking has to shift down. Brother Yuheng’s second place won’t hold anymore, it’s going to change hands.”

Jiang Ji: “Oh?”

The young man grinned. “The Capital’s Eligible Suitors ranking was just updated recently. Second place is now yours, Duke Chang.”

Jiang Ji: “…Alright, I somehow ended up gossiping about myself.”

He smiled. “That ranking will be updated again very soon.”

Lu Huaichuan immediately understood: “…”

Everyone looked at Jiang Ji curiously. The same young man asked, “Why is that?”

Jiang Ji said mysteriously, “You’ll find out in a while.”

After that exchange, Jiang Ji smoothly blended into their group.

The young masters were all quite curious about him. Most were around the same age, some even older, yet he had already been made a duke at nineteen. Naturally, they wanted to see what kind of person he was.

They had originally assumed Jiang Ji came from a rural background. Even if his learning did not match theirs, they thought he might barely recognize a few characters. But after talking with him, they realized their impression was completely wrong.

Jiang Ji could follow any topic, and his words carried substance. Many of his perspectives were fresh and original. Even when it came to poetry and literature, he had his own interpretations.

These young men had all been somewhat proud of themselves before, but now they no longer dared to act superior. Instead, they began to feel a measure of admiration for Jiang Ji.

Lu Huaichuan looked at him and whispered, “Brother Jiang Ji, how do you know so much?”

Jiang Ji lowered his voice. “I’m just making it up as I go.”

Lu Huaichuan: “…”

After a while, a palace attendant came to inform them that the banquet was about to begin and they should take their seats.

Jiang Ji followed them into the banquet hall, where attendants led them to their assigned places.

The sky was beginning to darken, but the hall was already lit with brilliant lamps. The decorations were lavish and resplendent.

At the highest position was the Emperor’s throne. On either side were tables for the Empress Dowager and the Taifei, and beside the Empress Dowager was another table for Princess Qinghe.

Below, on the platform, was the seat of the Regent, Lu Huaizhou. Along both sides of the hall, desks were arranged. Officials sat according to rank, with their family members seated at tables behind them.

Aside from one elderly prince of the imperial clan, there were no other royal relatives present in the capital. As a duke, Jiang Ji’s seat was placed close to Duke Qin’s, near the front. Across from them, several tables were left empty, reserved for the envoys.

After Jiang Ji took his seat and waited a while, the envoys entered under the guidance of the Vice Minister of Rites.

Jiang Ji looked over. Among the envoys, there was indeed a young woman. She appeared quite young, her face veiled, dressed in red ethnic attire. Even in the late autumn chill, a slender section of her waist was exposed. Small bell ornaments adorned her wrists and ankles, chiming softly with each step.

As soon as she entered, she drew many gazes.

Once all the guests were seated, a moment later, an attendant announced, “The Regent arrives—”

Lu Huaizhou entered from the main hall doors, dressed in black robes embroidered with python motifs.

Everyone rose to greet him.

Jiang Ji lifted his gaze and met Lu Huaizhou’s eyes, smiling at him. Lu Huaizhou returned the smile.

“The Emperor arrives, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives—”

The Emperor supported the Empress Dowager as they walked in front, followed by the Taifei and the princess. They took their seats.

The guests bowed once more. The envoys stepped forward to pay their respects. The Emperor spoke a few words of welcome and declared the banquet officially begun.

Music filled the hall as performers from the Imperial Music Bureau danced in rhythm. The guests ate and drank while enjoying the performances.

Aside from the official performances, many young masters and ladies from noble families also presented their talents.

Jiang Ji opened his livestream. While watching, he covered his mouth slightly and whispered to his viewers, “See that? Everyone’s incredibly skilled. Even in ancient times, these young nobles were grinding hard. Without at least one specialty, you couldn’t really show your face out here.”

【That young lady playing the zither is so pretty】

【The young master who was doing the sword dance just now is handsome】

【They all look great】

“That young lady was playing the guzheng,” Jiang Ji explained. “A very distinctive traditional instrument.”

【Sounds so nice】

【The guy next to her, the one playing sideways, what is that?】

“That one is called a flute.”

【Streamer, streamer, can we have a giveaway for these instruments next time?】

【Those instruments must be pretty expensive】

【Streamer’s got money now, just do a normal giveaway, no need for super expensive ones. I really want to learn the guzheng, it sounds amazing】

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. “Sure. I’ll have someone go buy them tomorrow. Once they’re here, I’ll do a giveaway for instruments. There are lots of types.”

【That’s awesome!】

【Streamer, are you serious? These are instruments, whoever wins is basically hitting the jackpot】

【Ahhh I want to win so badly!】

“Serious.” Jiang Ji thought for a moment. “I can also get you some sheet music.”

【All hail the streamer!】

【I’m so excited! I study music, I want to learn!】

Up above, Lu Huaizhou had been keeping an eye on Jiang Ji the whole time. Seeing him covering his mouth, looking at the performers one moment and staring into empty space the next with a strange expression, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a faint smile.

He must be talking to immortals again.

Midway through the banquet, just as the atmosphere was at its liveliest, the envoys seated across from Jiang Ji, along with the princess, all stood and moved to the center of the hall.

Eunuch Wu quickly signaled for the music to stop.

The envoys bowed toward the upper seats. The leading envoy looked up at the Regent and the Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, Regent, our Huíhé tribe has long admired the splendid culture of the Central Plains. This time, I also carry an important mission entrusted by our Khan—to find a worthy husband for our beloved Princess Aizhu, to forge a marriage alliance and strengthen the friendship between our peoples for generations.”

All the ministers already knew of this and looked toward the front.

Lu Huaizhou asked politely, “May I ask whom the Khan and Princess Aizhu have in mind?”

Princess Aizhu lifted her gaze and looked directly at Lu Huaizhou.

Jiang Ji, watching from the side, felt his eyelid twitch. This translation is from HololoNovels.com. Could it be that Princess Aizhu had taken a liking to Lu Huaizhou?

The next moment, the envoy laughed heartily and said, “We have heard that the Regent is both accomplished in civil and martial matters, and exceptionally heroic. Our people have always admired such men. Princess Aizhu is willing to marry the Regent as his consort.”

Lu Huaizhou: “…”

Jiang Ji: “…”

The hall fell silent, all eyes turning to the Regent.

Even the Emperor widened his eyes slightly and glanced down at him. The Empress Dowager and Empress were equally surprised.

Minister Lu, Madam Lu, and Lu Huaichuan were all stunned.

Jiang Ji lifted his gaze, watching Lu Huaizhou closely, waiting to see how he would respond.

Lu Huaizhou glanced at Jiang Ji, then said calmly, “I already have someone in my heart. Princess Aizhu and the envoy should choose another.”

After those words, everyone was stunned again.

The Regent… had someone he liked?

Who?

All eyes turned toward Minister Lu and Madam Lu.

Minister Lu, Madam Lu: “…”

They couldn’t help but look at Jiang Ji, only to see him smiling slightly, seemingly quite satisfied, leisurely lifting his cup to take a sip.

Minister Lu, Madam Lu: “…”

One of the young men beside Lu Huaichuan tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Who does the Regent like?”

Lu Huaichuan brushed his hand away. “Don’t ask.”

The envoy and Princess Aizhu clearly hadn’t expected this response. The envoy glanced at the princess.

Princess Aizhu stepped forward and said in somewhat unpolished speech, “May I ask which family’s young lady the Regent favors? Could she come out and compete with me? Whoever wins will become the consort.”

Everyone was stunned. This Princess Aizhu was bold… and fierce.

“Pff—” Jiang Ji spat out a mouthful of tea and started coughing.

A nearby attendant quickly patted his back. After he finished coughing and noticed everyone staring at him, he waved his hand. “Carry on.”

Minister Lu, Madam Lu, Lu Huaichuan: “…”

A trace of amusement appeared in Lu Huaizhou’s eyes, but when he looked back at Princess Aizhu, his expression turned cold.

“Do you take me for an object to be contested over?”

His gaze turned dangerous, his voice low and chilling, as if freezing the air itself. An invisible pressure spread through the hall.

Princess Aizhu lowered her head, no longer daring to meet his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

The envoy quickly bowed, placing his right hand over his chest. “Regent, the princess merely admires you greatly. There was no intention to offend.”

Lu Huaizhou said coldly, “Then choose someone else.”

The envoy turned and spoke to Princess Aizhu in their own language. She bit her lip, glanced around, and suddenly pointed to the side. “Then I’ll marry him.”

Everyone followed her gaze. Silence fell again.

Minister Lu, Madam Lu, Lu Huaichuan: “…”

Jiang Ji was wiping his clothes when he sensed something off. He looked up, only to see that the slender finger of Princess Aizhu was pointing directly at him.

Jiang Ji: “…”

He blinked, completely baffled. What does this have to do with me?

Before he could speak, Lu Huaizhou’s expression darkened. “Duke Chang is not an option. Choose someone else.”

Princess Aizhu bit her lip, dissatisfied. “Why not him? You already have someone you like. Does he also have someone? Or is he already married?”

Jiang Ji stood up helplessly. “My apologies, Princess Aizhu. I also have someone I like.”

Princess Aizhu: “…”

She glared at him. “You’re lying!”

Jiang Ji kept a straight face. “I truly do have someone I like. We’ll be formally engaged soon.”

“You’re lying. Then tell me, who is it?” she demanded. “I heard you were only recently granted your title. You’re not married.”

Lu Huaizhou said in a deep voice, “The one he likes is me. He will marry me soon. Did you hear that clearly?”

As soon as those words fell, the entire hall was stunned.

What did the Regent just say?

The few young men who had spoken with Jiang Ji earlier suddenly realized—

So that’s what he meant about the ranking being updated.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

Previous

Next

Song Rushuang stared at the forum. When she reached the final sentence, her steps suddenly halted.

She stood at the dormitory entrance as people continuously passed by around her, yet everyone was staring at their wrist devices, too absorbed to even watch where they were going.

She had been following the thread closely, so she read the post almost the moment it was published.

Quite a few people nearby seemed to be reading at the same pace. When she stopped walking, several sharp intakes of breath sounded around her at the same time.

“…A parallel world?”

“Saving our world…”

“Humanity in that world has already gone extinct…”

Whispers spread, all carrying the same mixture of shock and heartache.

Song Rushuang suddenly recalled the principal’s words at the opening ceremony:

“2035 will become the final year in humanity’s long history.”

“But you have a chance to change all of this.”

—You.

She had once believed those words were simply meant to encourage students to work hard and change humanity’s fate through their own efforts.

But now she realized there had been another meaning.

To change the ending that belonged to “you.”

As for the principal’s own world, its ending had already fallen.

Human history had concluded in 2035. And according to the forum’s speculation, Teacher Lu arrived at Fangzhou only after his death, which meant the principal herself very likely…

Back at the start of the semester, they had once speculated about the principal’s motives.

Thinking of this, Song Rushuang felt her chest tighten all the way up to her throat. Midway toward the stairwell, she abruptly changed direction and headed back toward the dormitory exit.

Behind her, the elevator chimed open.

“Xiao Shuang!”

She turned. It was Sun Wei.

Standing beside her were Su Huaijin and freckled Tian Tian, one on each side. All three looked hurried, the latter two nearly supporting the mobility-impaired Sun Wei as they moved.

“Where are you going?” Sun Wei asked.

Song Rushuang froze.

Where…

Her instinct just now had been to head toward the administrative building, but being called out made her realize how impulsive she was acting.

Was she really going to find the principal and ask about all of this?

She was not even close to the principal. Wouldn’t that be far too abrupt?

While she hesitated, Sun Wei spoke first.

“We’re going to find the principal. Want to come with us?”

The three looked anxious, staring at her intently after asking, waiting for her answer. Song Rushuang blinked in surprise.

She pressed her lips together, then nodded firmly. “I’m going too.”

*

When Song Rushuang and the others knocked on the principal’s office door, Fu Qing was browsing the student forum.

From the day she drew Lu Yan from the recruitment card pool, she had already anticipated that the students would eventually discover the secret of “rebirth.”

In fact, the revelation had come later than she expected.

Midterms must have taken up too much of the students’ attention. It had taken nearly a full week after classes began for them to notice that Teacher Lu and the “Lu Yan” in the instances were the same person. Their observational skills were honestly worrying.

So when Song Rushuang and the others heard “Come in” and pushed open the door, they were greeted by the sight of the principal lounging casually with crossed legs, leisurely scrolling through the forum.

Song Rushuang’s hand paused on the doorknob.

Fu Qing looked up. “Is something wrong?”

Song Rushuang jerked as if burned and hurriedly released the handle. Before coming, her mind had felt like an overloaded CPU, filled with countless things she wanted to say and emotions she could not contain. Yet the moment their eyes met, none of the words would come out.

“Um…” she stammered.

Sun Wei could not stand her hesitation and leaned forward from behind. “Principal, is what they’re saying on the forum true?”

She faltered slightly. “You… you really came back from the apocalypse?” …

Fu Qing glanced at the breathless girls.

They must have run all the way here. Their breathing had not even settled, yet their eyes never left her, filled with helplessness and regret.

The freckled girl from the publicity team, Tian Tian, nervously looked her up and down, as though searching for signs of injury while simultaneously afraid to find any. She covered part of her face, peeking through her fingers, unable to hide her concern.

They wanted to ask how she had come to this world, whether she had been hurt, whether her wounds had healed, yet feared saying the wrong thing.

They wanted to promise they would work hard, yet felt such promises were too light.

So everything showed plainly on their faces.

All four stared at her expectantly.

Fu Qing was worst at handling looks like that. It made her feel like the head of some stray animal rescue organization. She waved a hand, gesturing for them to sit wherever they liked, and before they had even settled down, she said casually,

“It’s true.”

Su Huaijin stumbled mid-step toward the sofa. Sun Wei nearly fell flat onto the floor with a loud thump.

All four stared at her in stunned disbelief.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Fu Qing rested her elbow on the desk, propping her chin in her hand. “I thought the reasoning was pretty simple.”

“If it weren’t from personal experience, who could state such an exact timeline?”

Su Huaijin’s mind worked quickly, and she blurted out, “But you even know when the last human died. That’s impossible!”

Song Rushuang immediately realized this was indeed a paradox.

If the apocalypse had truly been experienced firsthand by the principal, then she should have had no way of knowing the exact moment humanity went extinct.

The earlier theory that the principal was a government agent, and that the apocalypse prediction was merely intelligence analysis, had gained support precisely because of this contradiction.

In the students’ understanding, when Fu Qing said “the last human died five years after the virus outbreak,” it was only a general statement, not literal proof that she had personally witnessed the final death.

But the certainty in the principal’s tone now left them confused.

After Su Huaijin spoke, Fuqing’s expression turned slightly strange.

A sudden, absurd thought rose in Su Huaijin’s mind. “You… don’t tell me… were you the last person alive?”

The other three felt as though lightning had struck them.

The freckled girl’s mouth fell open as she let out a weak, “Ah?”

Fu Qing’s expression looked very much like confirmation.

Su Huaijin stammered, “But that still doesn’t make sense… Even if you lived to the end, you wouldn’t know whether other humans were still alive somewhere else on Earth.”

Fu Qing tapped her cheek lightly with her index finger. “You could consider that… additional information that came with rebirth.”

Rebirth.

The word landed heavily, and the four girls’ moods instantly grew heavy.

On the way here, each of them had secretly hoped the principal would deny the forum’s speculation. They wanted her to say she had never actually experienced the apocalypse, that the “Lu Yan” in the simulation chamber was merely a virtual character modeled after a real person.

That as long as everyone worked together, they could change the predicted future and prevent all the imagined tragedies.

Not… this.

Not learning that the principal and teachers carried the weight of an already determined ending while helping them change their fate.

Even if they succeeded, the world the principal and teachers came from would never return to what it once was…

Bitterness welled up in Song Rushuang’s chest.

The air grew still. The four sat side by side on the sofa, hands unconsciously resting neatly on their knees, each expression more sorrowful than the last.

After a long silence, Fuqing spoke faintly, breaking it.

“With those expressions, you’re making me feel like I died again.”

The four: “……”

Fu Qing watched them for a moment, satisfied. “Not bad. I’ve never seen what people look like mourning me before.”

The four: “…………”

Forget the fact that no one could ever witness their own mourning scene. Even if that were possible, when the principal died, the only things left to mourn her would have been zombies!

They nearly blurted this out, hastily covering their mouths at the last second.

That was close.

The heavy atmosphere shattered into disarray. The girls exchanged glances, each seeing determination reflected in the others’ eyes.

They would not let this world be destroyed.

If they succeeded, then when everything ended, the principal and teachers could begin new lives in a new world.

The thought eased their hearts somewhat. Only then did Song Rushuang remember the detail she had temporarily overlooked.

—the principal had survived until the very end.

Human extinction was tragic, but… the principal was incredible.

Realizing that someone this formidable was personally teaching them made Song Rushuang want to jump in place and scream with excitement. But with the principal right in front of her, she could only clench her fist quietly, restraining herself with great effort.

Still shaken, Su Huaijin instinctively began analyzing again to calm herself.

“Wait. If the instances in the simulation combat chamber are all real events, or at least partially real, then it’s too coincidental that we would just happen to encounter teachers from our own school inside them. Unless the real instances weren’t randomly generated, but uploaded by someone.”

She muttered to herself as she reasoned.

“The Xiao Juan instance existed before Teacher Lu arrived at the school, which means it wasn’t uploaded by him personally, but by someone else at the school…”

Fu Qing sucked in a sharp breath and interrupted her before she could continue. “Hold on.”

This girl was far too smart. If she kept going, the entire truth would be uncovered.

Fu Qing strongly suspected that the forum account posting long analytical essays every time was actually Su Huaijin’s alternate account.

Su Huaijin looked at the principal innocently.

They held each other’s gaze for two seconds before Fu Qing’s eyes shifted toward one side of the desk.

Throughout the conversation, a system panel had been floating there, invisible to the students. The pale green student forum interface continued refreshing nonstop.

It was not only Su Huaijin sitting before her. Others on the forum had already guessed that the blurred-out protagonist in the Xiao Juan instance might actually be the principal herself.

The reasons were obvious: “young,” “reliable,” “acquainted with Lu Yan.” These descriptions made it difficult not to think of Fu Qing.

The simulation chamber instances they had treated as games were very likely real experiences lived by the principal and teachers.

And everything the principal had told them, from the opening ceremony until now, had been true.

She had never lied. There had never been any conspiracy. From beginning to end, she had been completely open with them. It was the students who had hesitated to fully trust her, repeatedly doubting her instead.

Their emotions surged violently.

Shock, guilt, sorrow…

All the feelings accumulated over time erupted at once, turning into deep self-reproach.

A notification popped up in the corner of the system panel:

[Student Favorability rapidly increasing detected!]

[Student Favorability has exceeded 40%]

[Reward obtained: 1000 Teaching Points]

[42%… 46%… 50%…]

Fu Qing’s favorability rating had been hovering around 39% recently. Today, it finally broke past that threshold.

What she had not expected was that even after passing 40% and receiving the reward, the number continued rising rapidly.

Only after surpassing 50% did the growth finally begin to slow.

Watching the digits still ticking upward past the decimal point, Fu Qing finally made a decision.

The students had just given her a thousand points. Perhaps she should give them something in return.

[Facility Upgrade]

[Add “Replay Function” to all Simulation Combat Chambers?]

[Cost: 200 Teaching Points]

Fu Qing moved her finger and pressed confirm.

Hadn’t the students been complaining that the instances were too difficult, that they didn’t know how to clear them?

Perfect timing.

Now that the secret of rebirth had been exposed and she had gained additional teaching points, she could take this opportunity to provide them with a model answer.

₊˚.🎧📓✩

Next

Including Song Rushuang, the students had always treated each instance inside the simulation combat chamber as if it were a game dungeon.

They assumed it was fictional and unreal. So although rationally, for the sake of training effectiveness, they immersed themselves as though it were the real world, completing each scenario seriously and saving every resident within it, emotionally they still regarded it somewhere deep down as a fabricated story, merely special training environments deliberately created by the school to help them adapt to an apocalyptic future in advance.

Within these instances, they always held a subtly superior perspective, observing and judging the suffering and struggles of the NPCs.

Game after game, they watched characters repeat the same stories again and again, only to reach different endings each time based on the players’ choices.

It inevitably created the feeling of a god controlling fate.

They discussed on the forums which adventures were more exciting, which NPCs were unforgettable, and complained about troublesome NPCs who delayed their progress.

Kind and lovable NPCs received gentler treatment, while annoying or inconvenient ones were avoided with faint traces of guilt.

There was nothing inherently wrong with that.

Because inside the simulation combat chamber, they were players, the “Fourth Calamity.”

It was a game. Their training ground.

But what if that was not the truth?

……

Even as she entered the instance, Song Rushuang remained dazed.

The people in the hall had all been shaken by the revelation and forgotten to form teams. She ended up selecting a familiar instance alone and entering it by herself.

This was already her fourth time playing this instance. Because its setting closely resembled the neighborhood near where she lived, she believed it might someday become relevant and had intentionally practiced it repeatedly.

The scenario resembled Instance 004 somewhat, though set at a different point in time. Here, the zombie tide had already erupted, causing a massive chain-reaction car crash on the highway. The “protagonist’s” vehicle was trapped in the middle, and she needed to break free from the chaotic crowd, escape the congested roadway, and safely return to a residential complex one street away.

Having played the same instance many times, Song Rushuang had long developed muscle memory.

In a haze, she passed two hidden “plot triggers” purely by instinct, escaped from the crushed and deformed vehicle, and ran forward for quite some distance.

Not far away, zombies climbed onto car roofs, scrambling across collided vehicles on all fours. They pressed their faces against sunroofs, peering down at trapped passengers, creating scenes both grotesque and surreal.

Screams echoed everywhere. Flames shot skyward. Thick black smoke billowed upward. People behind her ran forward like mad, and from time to time someone was knocked down and devoured. Amid the chaos, only Song Rushuang, as a player, seemed out of place, staring at the hellish world with a detached, unreal gaze.

Had all of this once truly happened?

Was this a real world no different from the one she lived in?

Her limbs stiffened as her mind and senses overloaded, dissolving into indistinct noise.

Until a cry jolted her awake.

“Mom! Mom!”

Song Rushuang snapped out of her trance and looked toward the sound.

In the middle of the highway sat a sedan, tightly wedged between vehicles on all sides. Inside was a little girl, about four or five years old, her face streaked with tears as she desperately slapped the window with her small hands.

“Mommy!”

Her mother sat motionless in the driver’s seat, held in place by the seatbelt, head tilted sideways, blood flowing from her mouth and nose. She had clearly died in the crash. The little girl, secured in a child safety seat, had miraculously survived unharmed.

But if left alone, within minutes she would be swallowed by the zombie horde. Her ultimate fate would be infection or starvation.

This was a “fixed event.” To return home, the protagonist inevitably had to pass the car where the little girl was trapped.

The first time she played this instance, Song Rushuang had tried to save the child. But the car doors were completely warped and jammed. The only way to rescue her was to break the window, and when the protagonist awakened she had no suitable tools. After several attempts, Song Rushuang abandoned the effort as zombies approached too quickly.

Every time afterward, she rushed past this point as fast as possible, as if covering her ears could make the girl’s desperate cries disappear.

But this time, by sheer coincidence, Song Rushuang stopped.

The little girl’s cries carried on the wind, clearer than ever before.

Her heart pounded violently as she turned her head.

About forty meters behind her stood a stalled bus. There had to be window-breaking tools inside.

But the bus windows were covered in bloody handprints, and shadows moved within. They might already be zombies. Even if the bus were safe, going back forty meters meant deliberately moving closer to the zombie tide. Combined with the time needed to find tools, break the window, and rescue the child, her chances of survival would drop drastically.

“But…”

“To hell with it,” Song Rushuang cursed.

Without hesitation, she turned and ran toward the bus.

Two minutes later, Song Rushuang came running back, gripping a red emergency hammer in her hand, her face smeared with blood.

She smashed the window, reached inside to unlock the door, unfastened the little girl’s seatbelt, then hoisted the still crying and struggling child onto her shoulder. Facing the zombie horde closing in, she clenched her teeth and sprinted toward the residential complex at her fastest speed.

By the time she finally cleared the instance, her clothes were soaked with sweat, and she looked utterly disheveled.

Panting heavily, Song Rushuang stared at the results panel that appeared before her.

Because of the added burden of the little girl, her completion time had been delayed by a full eleven minutes. She had also failed the optional objective of gathering supplies along the way. Her rating dropped, leaving her with only a B-, worse than even her first attempt.

Every statistic looked terrible. Only one detail changed.

When she expanded the detailed list, the number under “People Rescued” silently shifted from zero to one.

It was not part of the instance’s grading criteria. It did not affect the rating or grant bonus points. In the past, Song Rushuang would have considered it as insignificant as all the other omitted data.

But now, she no longer thought that way.

That extra person mattered.

The dull ache in her shoulder from carrying the girl faded rapidly as the instance ended. Song Rushuang stretched instinctively, then suddenly paused. Lowering her head, she murmured unconsciously,

“I wonder… in the real world, did the person who passed by, someone like ‘me,’ stop to save her…”

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Because she realized that regardless of whether the girl had been saved back then, within five years she would end up like everyone screaming, crying, and desperately struggling to survive on that highway. Either a walking corpse, or a handful of dust scattered across barren earth.

*

When Song Rushuang left the combat chamber, she still had not sorted out her emotions.

Only on the walk back to the dormitory did she remember to open her student watch and check the forum.

The forum had already exploded.

The homepage refreshed constantly as new posts appeared one after another, all centered around the simulation combat chamber instances and Teacher Lu’s identity.

[I’m confused. How could the instances be real events?]

[No. If both Teacher Lu and the instances are real, then this isn’t something that already happened.
It’s something that is going to happen.

What the instances show are futures that haven’t occurred yet.]

[So… the principal and teachers all traveled back from the future?]

The students, suddenly confronted with such shocking information, found it hard to accept.

In truth, the idea of “time travelers” had been raised before.

As early as the opening ceremony, people had questioned how Fu Qing could predict future events so precisely.

The fully immersive simulations, the holographic watches, technologies clearly beyond their era, combined with the mysterious restriction that prevented them from revealing apocalypse-related information, and the inexplicable decision they had all made to choose Fangzhou University during college applications… all these unbelievable events seemed explainable only if the principal were a time traveler or a novel-like protagonist possessing a system.

But the principal had never given an answer, so these theories remained speculation, growing increasingly fantastical through repeated private discussions.

Of course, others argued that time travel and prophecy sounded too much like fiction. They tried to find scientific explanations instead. Perhaps the principal was actually a secret agent sent by the state, secretly preparing civilian forces to resist an impending disaster, which explained access to advanced technology not yet released publicly.

As for why a group of students had been chosen, perhaps similar missions existed elsewhere, and schools like Fangzhou had already been established across the country.

Students, with their relatively simple social networks, would also be less likely to leak sensitive information abroad.

—The apocalypse might even be the result of actions by foreign nations. The predicted timeline might not be prophecy at all, but intelligence gathered by agents and analyzed by experts.

As for the inability to reveal information, perhaps it was some form of subconscious psychological influence. That part was left to personal interpretation.

Human instinct rejects the absurd and the irrational. Because this explanation felt more realistic, it gained many supporters. Until now.

The appearance of a younger Teacher Lu inside the Xiao Juan instance shattered that theory completely.

Guessing about time travelers and confirming that one truly existed nearby were entirely different things.

Knowing the apocalypse would happen and realizing someone around you had already lived through it were also entirely different.

The students were losing their minds.

Amid the chaos, many began trying to analyze and organize the overwhelming information.

[Everyone calm down. Based on dialogue between the protagonist’s teammates in the Xiao Juan instance, the story takes place about half a year after the virus outbreak, near the end of winter. And the Teacher Lu in the instance looks much younger than he does now. No one disagrees with that, right?]

In terms of appearance alone, aside from hairstyle, Lu Yan had not changed dramatically.

The greater difference lay in his temperament.

[So let’s assume there is at least about a three-year time gap between Teacher Lu and the Lu Yan in the instance. But in our reality, the instance’s events occur more than a year in the future, around February 2031.]

[Can we hypothesize that after the instance storyline ended, “Lu Yan” survived in the apocalypse for roughly three more years, then died and returned to our timeline, becoming Fangzhou University’s “Teacher Lu”?]

As soon as this analysis was posted, many agreed.

[That actually lines everything up… including the principal’s statement that humanity goes extinct five years after the apocalypse. Teacher Lu didn’t survive past five years…]

[Holy crap, I’ve got goosebumps.]

[Can the teachers see the forum?? Is it okay for us to speculate like this?]

[Reply: The principal has never stopped us from speculating, and they definitely know about the simulation instances, so I think we’re fine for now.]

Soon, dissenting opinions appeared.

[I don’t think this is time travel, for two reasons.

First, Teacher Lu’s appearance has changed. If this were time travel, it would mean physical time travel, not just consciousness transfer. That would mean the older Teacher Lu returned to the current timeline after surviving several years in the apocalypse. But then where is the younger version of Teacher Lu who should exist in this timeline?

Second, the instance worlds are not completely identical to ours. Has anyone played Instance 036? Its location, though censored, almost perfectly overlaps with the map of City B that I visited this summer. Even the street names match. I assume they’re the same city.

However, a famous century-old shop mentioned by NPCs in the instance does not exist in the real City B.]

Two minutes later, the same poster replied again:

[To make sure my memory wasn’t wrong, I checked the map again. I’m certain. I hid in that shop with NPCs during the instance. Someone even said it was a famous tourist spot, but the owner couple had turned into zombies and their craft would be lost.

But when I searched for that shop just now in the real City B, there was absolutely no information about it.

If anyone has a simulation reservation soon, try Instance 036 to verify.

In short, time travel implies movement within the same timeline. But I think the world the teachers once lived in might be a parallel world extremely similar to ours.

A parallel world connected to ours in time.

In that world, the apocalypse has already arrived and humanity went extinct. Our world has not yet reached that point. Everything the principal and teachers are doing… is to save our world.]

₊˚.🎧📓✩

After the first aid course officially began, although it was met with plenty of complaints, some people gradually began to realize how practical the class actually was.

From handling everyday wounds, to medications and treatments for common illnesses, to methods of dealing with emergency situations… what the first aid course taught were the most essential things, yet also the ones most easily overlooked.

Once classes truly got underway, many people discovered just how little they actually knew. They did not understand the Heimlich maneuver, could not perform standard CPR, and even had only a vague grasp of how to use basic medications.

Some even realized that certain medicines they had been taking for years under their parents’ guidance had been used incorrectly all along.

Knowledge that should have been common sense had, over decades of education, been intentionally or unintentionally omitted.

“Why don’t elementary or middle schools teach this?”

“Can safety lectures held only once every year or two really make us remember any of this?”

“If I hadn’t come to Fangzhou, but gone to a normal university instead and continued living a ‘normal’ life, maybe I would never have learned these things. People only think to learn after suffering losses, but by then… it might already be too late.”

“What knowledge is truly necessary, and what knowledge is just a waste of time? Were our past standards of judgment wrong…?”

Similar voices echoed repeatedly across the forum. Some questioned, others reflected.

Some even looked back and realized that the method of “creating wounds on simulated zombies for practice,” though somewhat cruel, was remarkably clever.

Reading a book ten thousand times could never compare to personally experiencing a wound once.

When time was limited, this was undoubtedly the most efficient way to learn.

After going through several twists and setbacks, the first aid course quickly gained recognition from the vast majority of students.

At the same time, the infrastructure course also officially began.

Since the infrastructure course was not mandatory, the number of students was smaller, and with only one class per week, its first session started several days later than the first aid course.

By then, students’ impressions of the first aid class had already improved, and they welcomed the first infrastructure lesson with anticipation.

In their imagination, a course that had begun more than two months later than the others should have rushed through material at high speed from the very first lesson, just like the first aid class.

But unexpectedly, the first request made by the new teacher, who carried an unmistakable air of exhausted office-worker fatigue across her face, was for them to use class time to walk one full circuit around the campus.

“Every corner must be visited.” Xu Mingyue handed out printed copies of a large campus map. “If you can’t remember where you’ve been, mark it on the map.”

Holding the maps, the students stared at the familiar campus layout, confused.

Xu Mingyue showed no intention of explaining. After an awkward silence, someone finally could not help asking, “That’s it?”

“That’s it.” Xu Mingyue nodded matter-of-factly, then glanced at the time. “Out of your two-hour class period, you’ve already wasted three minutes.”

“One class a week, two hours each, and we’re using it to go for a walk?” Hearing her mention “wasting time,” a student raised his voice. “Teacher, aren’t you going to teach?”

Moreover, although Teacher Xu was new, the students themselves had already lived on campus for more than two months. With frequent chase-style activities during physical education classes, they were already thoroughly familiar with every corner of the school. Since Fangzhou’s campus was not particularly large to begin with, many even felt they knew it better than the high school campuses where they had once spent three years.

Under those circumstances, spending two hours walking around seemed like the real waste of time.

Compared to the first aid class, which dove straight into fast-paced instruction with hands-on wound creation from the very beginning, the infrastructure course, slowly guiding everyone through campus exploration, appeared almost excessively unhurried.

The two new teachers represented complete opposites. If students had to choose, they would much rather pick Teacher Lu’s teaching method.

After all, they had less than ten months left. At such a slow pace, would there really be enough time?

Xu Mingyue herself was unhurried, yet the students began worrying on her behalf.

“You believe you understand this school very well—” Xu Mingyue repeated their words. She lowered her gaze to the map spread across the lectern, nodded slightly, and said, “Alright then. Can anyone tell me, if a zombie horde attacks and surrounds the entire campus, where is the most likely place for them to break through first?”

The student who had been leading the questioning froze.

Xu Mingyue did not pause.

“Tell me, if I wanted to dig an escape tunnel, which area of the campus has soil best suited for excavation? Where should the tunnel be placed to ensure the fastest assembly and evacuation of all teachers, students, and future shelter residents?”

“……”

“If zombies breach the walls and the campus falls, which building should be chosen for defense to hold out the longest before reinforcements arrive?”

“……”

“With less than ten months before the outbreak, where should we begin reinforcing the campus for maximum efficiency? Where should traps be set to stop the greatest number of zombies? Where would watchtowers have the best visibility? How much manpower and time would all of this require? …Who among you can answer these questions?”

The rapid-fire questions struck one after another, leaving the classroom completely silent.

Xu Mingyue scanned the room, spread her hands slightly, and said with some disappointment, “You know nothing, yet you tell me you understand this school very well—”

“Southwest corner.”

Her words were interrupted. Xu Mingyue paused and looked toward the corner of the classroom.

A thin boy sat there, wearing delicate, scholarly-looking rimmed glasses. Xu Mingyue remembered him somewhat, because when the maps were handed out, he had been the only one examining it carefully. Not only had he studied it seriously, he had even lowered his head and traced the map inch by inch with his fingertips, as though mimicking feet measuring the land itself.

Now the boy lifted his head. His voice was quiet but steady, as if the answer had come only after careful thought.

“If a zombie horde attacks, the most likely breakthrough point would be the southwest corner of the school—the section of wall south of the experimental fields. The brick wall there already has cracks. After wind and rain exposure, it won’t stay sturdy for long.”

“The second most likely point is the eastern side of campus. The terrain there is higher, and while there’s a river to the west, the city lies to the east. Zombies are more likely to approach from the east. Once their numbers increase, the brick wall won’t hold. Besides, the residential area with the dormitories is closer to the east side. Zombies have an instinct to move toward humans, and a large concentration of living people would attract them.”

His analysis was orderly and precise, combining detailed observation with an understanding of zombie behavior.

Xu Mingyue’s brows relaxed. She asked gently, “What’s your name?”

“Liang Yi,” the boy replied.

Xu Mingyue nodded, offering praise without hesitation. “Good answer.”

She then turned to the rest of the class. “Any other questions?”

This time, the voices of opposition disappeared. A few students scatteredly answered, “No,” while more lowered their heads, staring at the map in astonishment.

They understood what Teacher Xu meant.

It seemed they had never before looked at their current school, their future shelter, through this kind of lens.

And because of that, they had overlooked something very important…

Stimulated by Liang Yi’s example, the infrastructure class students quickly followed Xu Mingyue’s instructions. Holding their maps, they left the classroom and began “walking practice” around campus, eyes wide as they searched for answers to those questions.

But after circling twice, they soon found themselves completely lost again.

The familiar buildings before them, the familiar walls, the familiar flowers and greenery. How was it that, when described by Teacher Xu and Liang Yi, everything suddenly seemed filled with hidden meaning?

Why could they not see anything at all?

Meanwhile, Liang Yi had already set off with a clear objective the moment he left the classroom. Without slowing his pace, he moved swiftly from place to place. In a short time, the map in his hands was already covered with dense notes.

Behind his glasses, his eyes shone even brighter than usual, as if Xu Mingyue’s words had sparked a major realization. He muttered to himself, “How did I not think of this earlier…”

The people trailing behind him, ears perked up: “……”

They felt restless with curiosity. Think of what? Could he finish the sentence?

Before long, a long line of followers had formed behind the top student Liang, tagging along step by step while copying his notes.

Someone asked humbly, “Liang Yi, how did you figure out that escape tunnel question?”

Liang Yi stopped and gave him a puzzled look. “Didn’t you all see it just now? You dig it right there!”

Everyone: “???”

When did that happen? See what? Dig where?

A group who had all been considered top students back in high school now felt the helplessness of struggling learners who could see the answer but still could not understand the solution process.

Liang Yi sighed and began explaining.

“To decide where an escape tunnel should be dug, you have to consider multiple factors.”

“First, when an emergency occurs, people must be able to reach the tunnel entrance quickly from the residential area, so it cannot be too far from the dormitories. Ideally, we should estimate how long the shelter can withstand a zombie horde. If we assume the school will be breached in three minutes, then the time required for everyone, from the first person to the last, to enter the tunnel cannot exceed three minutes. That means we also have to consider evacuation speed and total population—”

“Second, manual excavation of an underground tunnel requires evaluating soil composition. If the soil is too loose and lacks cohesion, the tunnel may collapse. If it is too hard, excavation becomes too difficult, and ten months may not be enough. Wet clay is easy to shape but cracks after drying. Loess soil is porous and requires waterproofing… all of these factors must be considered. Also, since our school is near a river, groundwater must be taken into account, meaning the tunnel should be as far as possible from the western side where the river is.”

“Third, construction time. Assuming the first one or two months after the zombie outbreak remain relatively safe for digging, we would still have only about a year to complete the tunnel. While ensuring everyone can evacuate safely within xx minutes, we must calculate how long, wide, and tall the tunnel should be, how many cubic meters must be excavated, and assuming each person can spare one hour per week alongside their studies—”

Liang Yi spoke fluently and at length, leaving listeners’ mouths hanging wider and wider open.

While they had still been wandering around like headless flies, someone had already written an entire essay in his mind.

“This class… is it really this deep?” one person murmured weakly, clutching the map.

Liang Yi nodded seriously. “Yeah. The subject is incredibly profound.”

He had a feeling that if he mastered infrastructure studies, then not only Fangzhou, but any location could be transformed into a shelter in the future.

During wilderness exploration, or when trapped somewhere and unable to return on time, they would no longer panic over the lack of a suitable hiding place.

From the perspective of survival rates, this class was no less important than medical first aid.

Hearing Liang Yi say this, several students fell into thoughtful silence. Then, sighing helplessly, they bit the ends of their pens and hurried off with troubled expressions to study the different soil types he had mentioned.

……

The goal of the infrastructure course was not only to teach students how to build and maintain shelters, but more importantly, to help Fu Qing transform the campus itself.

In the system marketplace, a single escape tunnel cost 1000 teaching points, yet it was an essential facility.

Otherwise, if a zombie horde surrounded the area and the shelter fell, those hiding on campus would become trapped beasts in a cage.

Fu Qing suspected the system had deliberately set such a high price precisely because it knew how necessary the tunnel was.

But if more than two thousand students across the school worked together to dig it, then according to Xu Mingyue’s calculations, each person would only need to spare half an hour per week to complete an escape tunnel roughly one thousand meters long within eight months.

The manpower of over two thousand people was not something to underestimate.

The same applied to reinforcing the perimeter walls and constructing traps.

If properly utilized, a single infrastructure course could save Fu Qing several thousand teaching points, which could instead be used to purchase other essential facilities or upgrade buildings.

All of this had already been carefully discussed between Fu Qing and Xu Mingyue before the course curriculum was designed.

As the first aid and infrastructure courses gradually fell into rhythm, another voice began to emerge across campus.

After several days of classes, more and more people realized that Teacher Lu looked strangely familiar.

……

Within a vast space, the light suddenly warped, like the flickering signal of an old television losing connection. Translated on Hololo novels. A figure soon emerged from within it.

Song Rushuang’s feet touched solid ground as she opened her tightly shut eyes.

Bluish glowing particles floated through the air like jellyfish, expanding and contracting, creating a dreamlike underwater world tinged with an advanced futuristic atmosphere.

Two or three other students stood nearby, looking around in confusion just like her.

This was the open hall of the simulated combat chamber.

The four roommates from Dorm 1111’s women’s hall failed to secure reservations for the same time slot this week, so Song Rushuang had to come to the combat chamber alone. Students who did not have a “player” team and entered the simulation combat chamber by themselves but still wanted to play multiplayer instances would gather in the open hall to find others to connect with.

Since reservations for the simulation combat chamber were made through wristbands in scheduled time slots, students who booked the same period would usually log in at roughly the same time. During those few minutes, it was easy to run into others, and the chances of successfully forming a team were quite high.

If you arrived a little early, you might even encounter students from the previous time slot who had just finished their battles and were preparing to log out.

Song Rushuang had arrived three minutes earlier than usual today. Standing in the center of the hall, she waited patiently for more people to log in, hoping to spot someone she knew. Clearing a dungeon together with familiar classmates would naturally lead to better coordination.

Before the next group arrived, however, she encountered the last batch of players exiting.

Within the distorted lines of light, three figures appeared one after another. Their session had ended, and by all logic they should already have heard the warning prompting players to log off. Yet the three stood motionless, as if they had not heard anything at all, staring blankly ahead like people who had lost their souls.

What had they experienced inside the instance?

Curious, Song Rushuang recognized one of them as a classmate from her practical combat class and hurried over. “You Jia, what’s wrong?”

It took two calls before You Jia snapped back to awareness. Even upon seeing Song Rushuang, she still looked unreal, her pupils unfocused as she murmured, “Rushuang…”

Now genuinely worried, Song Rushuang grabbed one of her hands and squeezed her palm. “What happened? Which instance did you play? Why are you reacting like this?”

“Xiao Juan,” You Jia muttered.

“What?”

Song Rushuang frowned.

She had also played the Xiao Juan instance once after hearing others praise it. She had taken the role of the trusted female protagonist, but like most players who went in without reading a guide, she had failed to save Xiao Juan and had personally witnessed her death. The experience had left a strong emotional impact on her.

But that had been before midterms. After the intense pressure of exam preparation and exam week, many memories had blurred.

Hearing those two words again now stirred something within her, as though a forgotten memory had lightly brushed against her mind.

Seeing the commotion, others nearby gathered around.

Red and blue vertical lines began flickering across You Jia’s body, indicating she was about to be forcibly logged out. Yet she only stared at Song Rushuang, her voice heavy with dazed disbelief.

“Teacher Lu… he appeared in the Xiao Juan instance.”

Her voice trembled, speeding up as she spoke.

“…He was the one who treated the ‘protagonists’ and provided them with gasoline.”

“Lu Yan. That person was also named Lu Yan. He looks exactly the same as Teacher Lu!”

Memory flashed back instantly, freezing into a vivid image.

The man wore a barber’s white cutting cape, jumping up from his chair. As he turned and jokingly scolded the protagonists, his sharply defined profile appeared. It was Lu Yan, younger than he was now.

Song Rushuang had only played the Xiao Juan instance once, together with her three roommates. With more teammates, her attention had naturally focused on coordinating with them and protecting Xiao Juan, the mission objective. Besides, the Lu Yan back then differed from the present Teacher Lu in hairstyle and demeanor. Because of that, she had overlooked something: long before Teacher Lu ever arrived at the school, they had already had a “brief encounter.”

Like lightning striking overhead, Song Rushuang froze where she stood.

After a brief silence, shock rippled through the surrounding crowd.

“What did you say?!”

“What does that mean? Teacher Lu is someone from the instance?” someone blurted out. “But he clearly exists right in front of us… no, that’s not right.”

His expression suddenly twisted, turning as grim as the three others’, as though he had finally realized what this implied.

“It’s not that Teacher Lu is fake, but… the instance is real?”

“So those weren’t virtual plots and stories created by the simulation combat chamber,” he murmured dreamily. “They were things that actually happened?”

₊˚.🎧📓✩

Previous