The peerless and dark princess

Chu Wange wandered through the bustling streets of Guizhou, her gaze drawn to the exquisite Zhuang brocade and silver jewelry. She casually picked up a Zhuang brocade handkerchief and gently stroked its delicate texture, bringing to mind images of traditional brocade she had seen in her past life.

"This handkerchief made of Zhuang brocade is truly exquisite," Chu Wange exclaimed. Zuo Ci nodded and smiled, saying, "This is a specialty of Guizhou. Many families make a living by weaving brocade." Chu Haolin came closer curiously, staring at the colorful patterns, muttering, "Sister, I want to buy some Zhuang brocade for my family." Chu Wange patted his head and smiled, "Okay, buy it before we leave, and then you can take it home."

Continuing on, they arrived at a tavern. The aroma of wine filled Chu Wan's nostrils. The familiar yet unfamiliar scent made her realize it was the legendary osmanthus wine. Zuo Ci ordered a pot of wine and poured a glass for Chu Wange and Chu Haolin. Chu Wange took a sip, the rich flavor spreading across her tongue. She felt as if she had returned to the Gui City of her past life.

"This wine is so delicious!" Chu Wange exclaimed. Zuo Ci smiled and said, "This wine is a specialty of Guizhou. It's brewed with osmanthus flowers and has a unique flavor." Chu Haolin also took a sip, imitating the adults, revealing a satisfied expression.

After resting for a while at the tavern, they arrived at a market. The stalls were filled with a variety of local snacks and handicrafts. Chu Wange spotted a stall selling sweet osmanthus cakes and immediately went over. The stall owner greeted them warmly and handed Chu Wan a piece. Chu Wan took a bite, and the sweet, sticky flavor spread throughout her mouth, transporting her back to her childhood.

"Sister, this osmanthus cake is so delicious," Chu Haolin said as he ate. Chu Wan smiled and nodded, buying a few more pieces to pack up. They continued to stroll around the market, taking in the lively atmosphere of Guizhou.

Before she knew it, the sky gradually darkened. Chu Wange looked at the sunset glow in the sky, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart. She recalled some memories of her past life, those beautiful rumors about Gui City. Now, in this strange world, she seemed to have found them again.

"Wange, we should find a place to rest." Zuo Ci said from the side. Chu Wan nodded, and left the market with Zuo Ci and Chu Haolin, finding an inn to stay.

At night, Chu Wan lay in bed, gazing out the moonlight, her mind racing. Only she knew this trip to Guizhou wasn't just a simple journey, but a search for memories of her past life. She hoped to find more traces of her past life in this other world, to enrich her life.

The next day, they continued their tour of Guizhou. Chu Wange and Zuo Ci took Chu Haolin to some local attractions, admiring the beautiful scenery. Chu Wange looked at the scenery and couldn't help but sigh at the wonders of this world.

During her time in Guizhou, Chu Wange felt the unique cultural charm of this place. She not only tasted the local cuisine but also learned about the traditional local crafts. She felt as if she had found a sense of belonging in this otherworldly world.

Soon, a month passed. Chu Wange knew that it was time for them to return to the capital. Although she felt a little reluctant, she knew that this was just a stage in life's journey.

Now, Chu Moxuan's wedding date is approaching, and Chu Wan knows that she can no longer travel outside, as her mind is focused on her sister's marriage. In addition, her younger brother Chu Haolin has been traveling outside for a month, and it is time for him to return to Shangshuyuan to study.

Chu Wan looked at Chu Hao, her eyes full of reluctance, but she still said gently: "Haolin, we should go back. Sister knows you have a lot of fun, but you can't forget your studies." Although Chu Haolin was a little reluctant, he nodded obediently and said, "Good sister, I understand."

After returning to the capital, Chu Wan took Chu Haolin directly to the Shangshu Garden. As soon as Chu Haolin entered the study, he saw the familiar books and writing brushes. He called Qingshu over and asked him to help grind the ink, preparing to write an article about what he had seen and heard during his trip with his sister and the others.

As Chu Hao wrote, he paused from time to time, repeatedly pondering in his mind how to make these experiences more vivid and interesting. Qingshu silently ground ink beside him, occasionally looking up at Chu Haolin, his eyes full of admiration.

As the saying goes, "Reading ten thousand books leads to traveling ten thousand miles." Only in this way can policies benefit the people and their communities. This time, he went beyond simply strolling around the city and admiring the scenery. Instead, he ventured into several county towns, visiting local residents and experiencing farming life. He couldn't help but wonder: what could he do to alleviate the hardships faced by the people? After all, many impoverished families struggled to make ends meet. Even if they cultivated their land and the imperial court ordered a reduction in taxes, the gentry and county magistrates would arbitrarily increase levies...

Chu Hao looked out the window at the treetops in the distance. Suddenly, he thought of the people walking back and forth between the ridges of the fields, their clothes soaked with sweat, but they were still working hard for their lives.

Qingshu looked at Chu Hao, who was lost in thought, and asked softly, "Young Master, are you trying to find a way to help the people?" Chu Hao nodded slightly, his eyes determined as he said, "Yes, I've seen so much suffering on this trip. Take taxation, for example. Although the court has good policies, the officials below are secretly disobeying them. We must find a way to truly benefit the people."

"Master, you can ask the Grand Tutor to propose this to His Majesty."

"Qingshu, I'm writing an article for the old tutor. If you have nothing to do on weekdays, you should read more." Chu Haolin didn't think of Qingshu as a servant. He vaguely recalled the time when Qingyu was by his side. Qingshu was older now, only eight years younger than himself. This was the servant that Nanny Chen had found for him. Qingyu lived with the married Qingzhu in the next courtyard. Nanny Chen thought she needed a servant, so she took Qingshu with her.

"Master, you are so kind." Qingshu thought to himself, it is true, which master would ask a servant to read more books.

"Qingshu, please deliver the gifts I brought back from my trip to Prince Yan's Mansion later." Chu Haolin remembered that he had traveled with his elder sister and others and bought a lot of gifts. These gifts were still in the house and had not been given to his grandfather, uncle, and aunt.

"Okay, young master." Qingshu replied.

Qingshu knew all about it. He had bought all these gifts with the young master, the prince, and the princess, and he knew exactly which gifts should be sent to which places. However, there were so many gifts that he probably couldn't deliver them all by himself. He would have to ask the princess's sisters, Amei, for help.