Capítulo 1627: Chapter 1602: Business

Because they got up so early, everyone had plenty of time. After finishing breakfast, they had some time to argue over the sauce, but Zhou Lijun couldn’t wait. She had already taken a big box of bottles and got on the carriage early.

Seeing that they were not leaving, she couldn’t help but urge them.

Only then did the three of them pack up the sauce, put it in a basket, and then mounted their horses and went out together.

It was just barely dawn, and the market had just opened not long ago, so there were few people on the street. As they rode, the three expressed disappointment, “It’s too early. Can we even enter the palace?”

They didn’t know if the palace gates were open, but the gates of the royal city were.

The gate guards glanced at them curiously, but at the Vermilion Bird Gate, there wasn’t any detailed inspection. They usually just checked to make sure no unfamiliar persons or weapons were being brought in.

At this time, within the royal city, besides the slaves cleaning the streets, there was nobody else. Their carriage proceeded smoothly to in front of the Chengtian Gate.

The gate guards, seeing the three on horseback and the Bai Family-marked carriage, couldn’t help but twitch their mouths. One guard directly looked up at the sky and, after a while, spoke to the three, “You all are too early, aren’t you?”

Manbao jumped off her horse, and after being blown by the wind, was instead energetic, saying, “Do you think we wanted this? It’s just that the elders at home woke us up before dawn. Alright, check us in.”

Bai Shan handed his horse over to them, not hurried this time, and could directly register here, with them arranging to have someone send the horses to the Eastern Palace.

The horses quickly passed inspection and were sent inside, and then they took their own luggage down to queue for inspection.

At this time, it was only the three of them, with ample time, so none of them were in a hurry. The guards checked carefully, seeing that each of them carried a jar, they opened it, and an aroma immediately wafted over.

The guards couldn’t resist sniffing, looking down at the somewhat darkened sauce, “This is…”

“This is beef sauce,” Manbao also sniffed, saying, “Recently heard that some household’s old cow died, so this is sauce made by stewing chopped old beef meat.”

The guards couldn’t help but swallow their saliva; for guards often having mainly work meals, this sauce was very appealing.

The inspecting guard confirmed there were no issues and immediately sealed the jar again, then said, “Your family’s cook even has a skill for making sauce.”

Manbao proudly said, “This was made by my sister-in-law, she can make a lot of kinds of sauce.”

The guards were enviously speechless as they finished the inspection, then indicated they could go in, but the three didn’t move.

The guards felt the aroma of sauce was still lingering from their basket and said, “Why are you still standing here? Go in!”

Manbao said, “Let’s leave the things here first; we’ll wait for others.”

Zhou Lijun also jumped out from the carriage, curiously glanced at the guards, and then strolled leisurely to Bai Shan’s side, “Little uncle, say a good word for me when they come.”

Bai Shan nodded seriously, indicating no problem at all.

Bai Erlang said, “He wouldn’t say nice things, to say nice things you have to find me.”

Lijun followed suit, “Then Second Young Master, you also say a good word for me.”

Bai Erlang said, “Then you should change your address, you’ve called him ‘uncle,’ shouldn’t you call me ‘senior uncle’?”

Zhou Lijun glanced at Bai Erlang, who wasn’t much taller than her, not too willing, “He calls it because he follows my little aunt, what basis do you have?”

“I am your little aunt’s junior brother.”

“So what, didn’t I also study under Mr. Zhuang’s teachings? Under the same teacher, regardless of father and son, all are brothers, at most I call you a senior schoolmate.”

Bai Erlang: …

Bai Shan and Manbao burst into laughter.

Bai Erlang felt she was too tricky, saying to Manbao, “In this way, it seems I am a generation younger than all of you.”

The four of them, joking around, were becoming more spirited, but the guards were sleepy. Seeing them stand without leaving, they simply waved them aside so they wouldn’t disturb their dozing.

At this hour, no one else was coming, so they took the opportunity to quietly nap a bit.

After waiting for a long time, finally, fellow classmates arrived.

The first to arrive was Feng Zongping, who was also punished by his grandfather when he returned home, regardless of whether it was a big deal or not, he had to show his stance.

And as a young man just growing up, being late is indeed not a good habit, so he was punished.

That’s why he arrived somewhat early today. He thought he was early enough but didn’t expect someone even earlier and so much earlier.

Bai Shan looked at the vertical sundial and said, “We arrived a full two quarters earlier than you.”

Feng Zongping jumped off his horse, tossed it to his family’s attendant, then took his luggage from the servant’s hands, asking in bewilderment, “Why are you all here so early?”

Bai Shan countered, “Then why did you come so early this time?”

Well, everyone’s family has similar style parents.

Feng Zongping wasn’t in a rush to enter the palace, asking, “Since you all are here, why not go in?”

Bai Shan, unperturbed, smiled and said, “Waiting for you all.”

He opened the box Lijun carried, took out a bottle of Whitening Cream, and tossed it to him, “The Whitening Cream you asked about last time, two taels of silver per bottle, pay up.”

Zhou Lijun’s jaw dropped.

What surprised her more was that Feng Zongping truly opened his purse and took out two taels of silver for her, then turned to Bai Shan with a smile, “You even remembered, I almost forgot.”

Bai Shan looked at his dark complexion and said, “I fear you won’t find a wife.”

Manbao and Bai Erlang beamed with laughter.

Feng Zongping: …

He put the ointment in the basket for the guards to check, seeing they weren’t entering, simply stood with them talking, “Have you heard? Wang Ji beat up his nephew, heard he even whipped his butt raw.”

Manbao felt her butt tight, whispering, “Does this mean he can dodge impeachment?”

“No, but it’s a kind of attitude, right?” Feng Zongping glanced around, then lowered his voice, “My grandfather told me to just study well at Chongwen Pavilion, keep away from other matters. Alas, the Crown Prince is no longer a little boy with a hanging haircut; we companions only accompany him to study, persuasion affairs are still left to the court officials.”

Not just Manbao and Bai Erlang, even Bai Shan was utterly baffled, “Is there anything deserving persuasion in His Highness regarding this matter?”

It was their fault for being late, which was a trivial matter only exaggerated by adults, implicating the Crown Prince. Is there anything that His Highness needs to amend in this incident?

Feng Zongping shook his head, looking ready to continue talking, when more classmates arrived, he immediately stopped speaking.