No matter if you are a human or an immortal, you can still farm for me after traveling through time!

Once all guests are seated, the banquet officially begins.

In addition to the wife of Pingyao Hou and Yang Jinyu, there was also an old lady who had lived in seclusion and had not been seen for a long time. When the tragic news came that her son, daughter-in-law and newly born grandson died in the war, the old lady could not accept this huge blow all at once, and fell into a state of unconsciousness for a long time. After rest and conditioning, she slowly regained consciousness in the past two years and was able to communicate normally with others.

The left and right ministers and other officials also sat on the chair. Some of them were powerful ministers close to the emperor, and some were old friends of Pingyao Hou. They were personally entertained by the host to show respect.

After the guests were seated, the musicians and dancers slowly withdrew, and the next moment maids came in one after another carrying eight-treasure plates.

Gold cups, silver bowls, porcelain plates and ivory chopsticks were neatly placed on the dining table in front of the guests.

The first ten cold dishes served were: golden minced jade fish, shaved Wuxing fish, five-ingredient platter, pickled carp, pickled seafood, minced garlic, crystal cold noodles, golden tripe, stuffed cucumber and cheese platter.

Ji Qingyue likes to experience new things very much. Looking at these dishes that he has never seen before, he couldn't help but observe them carefully before officially tasting them, to see if he could try to replicate the delicious taste after returning.

Fish fry alone is divided into raw cuts and dipping dishes. Pickled fish is a pickled dish. Pickled carp is salty and spicy, while pickled seafood is sour and spicy. Crystal cold noodles are similar to aspic. Stuffed cucumber is cucumber stuffed with minced lamb. The cheese platter is filled with milk tofu and crispy cheese.

Next came the hot dishes and staple foods. After the thirty-six hot dishes were placed on the table one by one, Ji Qingyue was dazzled and no longer thought about replicating the food. Instead, he tasted them excitedly.

Because of his identity as a Hu merchant, no one around him was willing to talk to him, while Li Sanlang at the next table was chatting happily with other officials.

Ji Qingyue really likes this kind of banquet where he doesn't have to deal with superiors. He can enjoy the food quietly, which is the ultimate enjoyment of attending a banquet.

Although the dishes are rich and varied, the portions are moderate. They don’t look shabby and won’t make you feel full after eating a few.

The hot dishes are indeed the astonishing highlight. The cooking methods are not limited to steaming and boiling, but also include roasting, stewing, stir-frying and frying. The classic dishes from all over the world are made with ingredients from all over the world, which are colorful, fragrant and delicious. They are eye-opening and pleasing to the eyes.

Roasted lamb and deer are common, and there are also roasted shrimp and roasted camel hump, while roasted camel hump is a dish that only nobles can enjoy.

Hun Yang Mo Hu, Wu Hou Mackerel, You Soup, Leng Chan Er Soup, Hu Pao Rou, Milk-stuffed Fish...

Fortunately, the maids attentively introduced the dishes when serving them, so Ji Qingyue didn't have to guess blindly and could concentrate on enjoying the food.

For Ji Qingyue, this birthday party was just a simple banquet that could not be simpler, but for other guests, it was a gathering with political nature, not just a simple meal and fun.

The Pingyao Marquis Mansion was not only to celebrate Yang Jinyu's birthday, but also to let Yang Jinyu officially appear on stage in front of everyone, which both showed its legitimacy and demonstrated the importance of the Marquis Mansion.

Although Yang Jinyu will most likely have nothing to do with the title of Marquis in the future, everything is possible. Whether he takes the imperial examination or goes to the battlefield, he will need the support of the Marquis behind him.

From a distance, Yang Jinyu, a small person sitting in the chairman's seat, was talking with Lu Shu and other adults. His deliberately tense expression looked a bit pitiful and funny.

Mingming is still a child who has not yet grown out of his childishness. Sitting together with a group of veterans in the workplace, he has to be neither humble nor arrogant while being polite, which is also a test.

Perhaps because Pingyao Hou could not appear and only the two hostesses hosted the banquet, this birthday party was different from what Ji Qingyue had imagined, and was not as formal and serious as he thought.

Apart from some necessary courtesies and greetings, there was no unnecessary and inappropriate interaction between the person in the chairman's seat and the guests on the left and right. Whether it was the men's or women's area, there was no restraint at all. Everyone gathered in their own groups and talked to each other, chatting about family matters, gossip, and whispered to each other. It was very relaxing.

After the guests had filled their stomachs with food, the maids began to serve wine.

Songlao wine with the fragrance of pine flowers is very unique and has a mellow taste, making people feel as if they are in an endless pine forest. It is a favorite wine of literati and elegant people.

Ji Qingyue took a sip, and as the spicy wine went down his throat, the scent of pine filled his nose, instantly reminding him of the memory of when he first entered the world of the painting, accompanied by the scent of pine. It was not a good memory, but it was worth remembering.

Unlike men, women prefer a foreign wine - Sanlejiang, a wine brewed from Amla, Viril and Haril. It tastes sweet and sour and is easy to drink.

The birthday banquet lasted for more than an hour, during which dishes were served continuously. As the musicians and dancers entered the banquet hall again, it indicated that the banquet was about to come to an end. After eating and drinking, it was time to enjoy the singing and dancing.

The maids brought basins for the guests to wash their hands and rinse their mouths, indicating that the banquet was about to end and they could go home on their own.

It was only a little after noon and the hour of Wei was not over yet. The scorching sun was scorching. Thanks to the ice jars everywhere, the banquet hall that accommodated more than a hundred people was not so hot.

After the birthday banquet ended, many people asked to leave at the appropriate time. As the host, Yang Jinyu naturally had to stand up with his aunt to see the guests off. When the distinguished guests asked to leave, he had to escort them out of the banquet hall and personally instruct the servants to escort them out of the marquis's mansion.

Although Yang Jinyu had been sitting in the chairman's seat and talking with the guests, he would glance at the guests below whenever he got the chance, and was relieved to see Ji Qingyue and Li Sanlang still at the table.

Just as he was anxiously waiting for the opportunity to find Ji Qingyue, the Marquis's wife beside him seemed to know his intention and said in a gentle voice, "Jinyu, Lord Li took great care of you when you were in Lijia Village. You should go and thank him in person. Besides, didn't you want to ask Hu Shang about planting cherry trees? Go ahead, your grandmother and I are here."

Yang Jinyu was immediately overjoyed. She did not bother to maintain her solemn demeanor and thanked her aunt and grandmother with great joy. After bidding farewell to all the adults and elders, she suppressed her excitement and walked down.

"Brother Li San!"

Li Sanlang turned his head and saw Yang Jinyu walking towards him with expectant eyes, and he knew why he came.

"Brother Li, would you and...this Pu Yan Alang come with me to the courtyard? I've had people look for a few spots, but I haven't decided where to plant the cherry tree yet. Pu Yan Alang, please come with me and take a look."

So, the three of them, followed by their servants, left the central hall where the banquet was held and officially entered the depths of the marquis' mansion.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Marquis' Mansion covers an area of more than one hundred acres. In addition to the main courtyard where Yang Huang lives, there is another independent and fully functional large courtyard. That was the courtyard where Yang Jinyu's father lived before he died. Since he led soldiers to guard the border and died in the battlefield, this courtyard has been uninhabited until Yang Jinyu was found.

After a year of renovation, the courtyard finally welcomed its new owner.

Walking along the corridor through one small garden after another, we finally arrived at the small courtyard in the northwest corner of the marquis's mansion.

Yang Jinyu frowned and dismissed the servants, telling them to do their own thing and not to follow him. He wanted to sit in the Ziyu Pavilion in the garden with his two guests and no one was allowed to disturb them.

After watching the servants walk away, Yang Jinyu turned around and looked up to see Ji Qingyue trying to suppress a smile. He was so frightened that he explained, "I know Brother Ji doesn't like servants to serve him, I...I..."

After Ji Qingyue confirmed that there was no one around, he reached out and pinched the child's face, interrupting his anxious explanation.

The child's face is still so soft.

He understands what the child is worried about and afraid of.

"I know, don't panic." Ji Qingyue reluctantly let go of her hand and pulled Li Sanlang and Yang Jinyu towards the pavilion by the pond. "Change is not a bad thing. You are the eldest son of the Marquis's mansion. Whether it's fine clothes and delicious food or the servants around you, they are all earned bit by bit by your family elders. You should enjoy and use them with peace of mind."

"However, just like an official must do what is required of him according to his position, you, as the eldest son of the Marquis's mansion, must also do what is required of you."

Yang Jinyu was very afraid that his change would cause Ji Qingyue to change as well. Not only would she ignore him, but she would even distance herself from him. If that happened, he would truly be alone in Chang'an...

My second uncle was far away in Ganzhou, and my aunt and grandmother were both his relatives, but they had only been together for a few months and were not yet truly close to each other.

To put it bluntly, psychologically, he would rather rely on Ji Qingyue or even Li Sanlang.

Hearing that Ji Qingyue was willing to speak to him in a teaching tone, Yang Jinyu's tense heart finally relaxed. He pinched his thigh hard, trying not to cry, and grinned happily: "Brother Ji, I remember everything you said."

The three of them walked into the Ziyu Pavilion. The waterwheel brought water from the pool to the roof, wet the eaves, and then let it fall down. This up and down movement took away the heat in the pavilion.

Ever since the weather got hot, Yang Jinyu liked to stay in the pavilion, sometimes reading, sometimes practicing boxing.

"Are you happy back in Chang'an?"

Yang Jinyu thought about it seriously, nodded, and then shook his head. "I'm very happy to be back in Chang'an and living in the courtyard where my father lived when he was a child. My second uncle specifically ordered that no major changes be made, so this courtyard has largely retained its original appearance. Brother Ji, you know, no matter what I do in this courtyard, I can imagine my father doing it. This courtyard makes me feel that my father is no longer an illusory shadow."

Ji Qingyue silently stroked the child's back, using gentle strength to comfort the lonely person. "What makes you unhappy?"

"I'm not unhappy, actually. I'm just a little lonely." Yang Jinyu couldn't help pouting. "My aunt and grandma treat me very well. Not long ago, my aunt sent me to the Imperial Academy according to my second uncle's arrangement. I found that the students in Chang'an learn a lot of profound knowledge, but I... was beaten with a stick and made to copy books because I couldn't keep up with the teacher's lectures..."

Poor kid, Ji Qingyue said he couldn't help at all, so he could only ask silently, to see if he could give him some chicken soup: "What courses are taught at the Imperial Academy?"

Yang Jinyu counted on her fingers, "In addition to the Thousand Character Classic, Laozi, the Analects, and the Book of Filial Piety that Silang and I finished reciting in Shandan, there are also the nine gates of the three classics, the major, medium, and minor, and the five basic gates."

Finally, Yang Jinyu held up a handboard to show Ji Qingyue how many courses they had to learn.

Ji Qingyue expressed his understanding. When he was studying in the countryside, he learned little and made slow progress. After transferring to the city, he suddenly discovered that everyone not only learned faster but also learned more, and the gap between them widened immediately.

"Do you really want to study?"

"Of course I really want to study!"

"Then can you talk to your elders and ask a teacher to give you extra lessons?" It is easy to persuade the child as long as he is not tired of studying.

Yang Jinyu lowered her head shyly. "I wanted to ask Mr. Shen to give me tutoring, but my second uncle transferred him back to Ganzhou not long ago. As for my aunt... I'm always worried that she won't like it..."

As an outsider, Ji Qingyue could not comment on the affairs of his elders, so he could only suggest again that the child hire a tutor so that he could catch up with the overall level of students in the school and the teaching progress of the teacher as soon as possible.

The three of them talked about some other things. Under the guidance of Yang Jinyu, Ji Qingyue and Li Erlang walked around the garden. Finally, Ji Qingyue designated an open space for planting cherries.

It was almost evening when Ji Qingyue came out of the Marquis' Mansion. In addition to the pain in his feet, he was also mentally exhausted. The life of a noble was really not that easy. When he was busy, it was not impossible for him to walk 20,000 steps a day at home. There were also many rules and regulations. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

Ji Qingyue and Li Sanlang were driving a donkey cart towards home, but unexpectedly, a familiar small carriage suddenly appeared in front of them.

Isn’t that Miss Lu?

Isn't her home in Yongxingfang in the northeast of the city? Why would she be heading southwest at this time?

Li Sanlang knew why Miss Lu was heading to the southwest of the city. The last time they met to discuss important matters, they were at Miss Lu's villa in Yong'anfang.

Yong'anfang is next to Yongpingfang.

Li Sanlang had a premonition that Miss Lu would definitely invite him again, and the topic of conversation would of course be about the scroll.

Ji Qingyue also recognized the carriage of Miss Lu. When he was still wondering, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Li Sanlang's drooping eyebrows. His dark eyes under his serious expression were staring straight ahead.

The next moment, he suddenly realized.

There must be some progress at the Duke's Mansion. Miss Lu is going to meet with Sanlang again to discuss the next steps.

There are only twenty days left until the Duke's Mansion's century-long Buddhist ceremony. Traditionally, the Duke's Mansion worships the intact stone pagoda, so the underground palace must be resealed before July 15th. Therefore...

They have to get the scroll before the underground palace is sealed again.

The unexpected discovery on the way home made the two of them tense up instantly. Even when they returned to the store, they remained silent and didn't say a word.

Just before closing time, an ordinary horse-drawn carriage arrived in front of Ji Qingyue's shop. The driver knocked on the door gently. Li Sanlang, who had been standing by the window, stood up, nodded to Ji Qingyue who was also observing, and then walked downstairs in silence.

Ji Qingyue just stood behind the window, watching Li Sanlang talk to the coachman, and then get on the ordinary carriage.

After the driver whipped the horse carriage several times, the speed of the carriage gradually increased, and after a while it disappeared at the end of the road, leaving only the sound of horse hooves fading away.

I hope Miss Lu can find a way to retrieve the scroll!