The first time in history

Three days later, they arrived in the capital, and Qian Mingduo found an inn on the busiest street, named Juxianlou.

This is a time-honored restaurant with a restaurant in the front and an inn in the back. After the carriages and horses were properly arranged, Qian Mingduo and his two companions asked for an elegant room. They ordered a few of the restaurant's signature dishes, and Li Shishi also specially asked for a jar of Beizong yellow wine. She also asked the waiter to find a tin kettle for heating the wine.

"Sir, you need to drink more wine." Li Shishi filled Qian Mingduo's glass with wine. "It's been freezing these days, and I'm worried that you'll catch a cold. Drink more hot wine and sweat!"

Qian Mingduo has been driving in the snow these days. When he got up this morning, he felt a little tight.

When everything was settled, he felt not only cold but also shivering.

"I have to drink a few glasses of hot wine." Qian Mingduo drank two glasses of rice wine without waiting for the dishes to be served. After drinking the hot wine, a wave of heat soon rose from his stomach.

"I've actually been feeling cold since this morning, and I feel uncomfortable all over." Qian Mingduo drank another glass and pointed at the glass, "Fill it up for me. Only now do I feel a little warmer."

Xiao Cui was standing by and serving. When she heard Qian Mingduo say this, she bit her lower lip and said, "I said I would drive the carriage for you for a while, but you just didn't agree. It's all my fault!"

"None of this has anything to do with you," Qian Mingduo smiled. "You're a girl, and I'm already frozen into an idiot. If you were driving this car, you'd be frozen into an ice sculpture."

Li Shishi patted Xiao Cui's arm and said, "That's because your master is kind and gentle to women, and he doesn't want to let you suffer."

"I know your kindness, and I know you care about me!" Xiao Cui nodded. "I will work like a slave to repay you for your kindness!"

Qian Mingduo was enjoying the meal, finishing half of the crystal pork elbow in a few bites. "Later generations called this dish Dongpo pork elbow. It is said that Su Dongpo invented this method."

"You're talking about the future again!" Li Shishi filled Qian Mingduo's glass with wine. "The results will be announced tomorrow, and you don't seem to care at all?"

Qian Mingduo smiled crookedly, "It doesn't matter whether I pass or not, I'm already the top scorer anyway. It doesn't matter whether I pass or not, if I'm not on the list when the results are announced tomorrow, we can stay here and have a good look around the capital, and then go back to Lin'an after the New Year."

"What if the young master graduates from high school?" Xiao Cui asked.

"If we pass the high school, we will have to spend the New Year here." Li Shishi looked out the window at the heavy snow, "We can't go back to Lin'an Prefecture. It's snowing so hard that we can't walk on the road."

Qian Mingduo put down his chopsticks and held Li Shishi's hand. "You seem to be like me, not caring about whether you pass the exam or not?"

"I don't want you to win." Li Shishi squeezed Qian Mingduo's hand, "You know this, right?"

"I know." Qian Mingduo smiled, "If I wasn't worried that one day I would suddenly... I wouldn't have taken the damn imperial examination."

Li Shishi covered Qian Mingduo's mouth and said, "Don't talk nonsense. What will happen suddenly one day? It's nonsense. The exam has already been taken. You will know when you go and take a look tomorrow."

"It's quite interesting to think about celebrating the New Year in the capital." Qian Mingduo also looked out the window. "Especially celebrating the New Year in an inn, it feels good."

Li Shishi stood up and said, "I've finished my meal and I'm tired. I'll go back to my room first. Xiao Cui, ask the waiter to add two braziers to our room. It's really cold!"