The Lucky Farmgirl

Manbao and Bai Shan kept persuading him, "Since the lord thought you were to be appointed elsewhere, you’re definitely on the list."

Liu Huan was still stressed out. How could he forget to check for his own name?

The three rushed back to the Ministry of Personnel.

Everyone had already dispersed from in front of the list. Anyone smart enough to pass the Ministry of Personnel exam knew to take this chance to wander around, meet a few people, and expand their connections.

Isn’t that useful for choosing officials later on?

And so, everyone left.

Bai Shan and the others could walk straight to the list. Liu Huan sniffed and searched from the back to the front.

Bai Shan looked from the front to the back, while Manbao checked from the middle to the back. Before long, Manbao found it and happily pointed to the spot, saying, "Look, here it is."

Bai Shan and Liu Huan quickly leaned over to look and saw the big characters "Liu Huan." The two of them let out a big sigh of relief, and Bai Shan said, "See, we didn’t lie to you, right?"

Li Maoyue stood under the corridor watching the three of them, finally coughed somewhat speechlessly, and asked, "Lord Zhou, Deputy Magistrate Bai, isn’t your family hosting a banquet today? Why aren’t you heading back yet?"

Manbao looked up at the sun in the sky, confidently said to Minister Li, "It’s fine, everyone is still at court right now, they definitely haven’t gone yet."

Li Maoyue looked at her for a while, then said "Oh" and continued, "I just came out of the palace, even Lord Wei told the emperor that he’d finish up early to come have a drink at your place. So, the little court meeting in the palace has already ended."

Manbao then remembered, yes, today is the release day, and as Minister of Personnel, Li Maoyue would definitely attend the little court meeting. Since he’s here now...

Manbao widened her eyes, grabbed Bai Shan and turned to leave.

Bai Shan hastily bowed to Minister Li and quickly followed them out.

Liu Huan was somewhat intimidated by these old lords who were about the same age as his grandfather, so he smiled ingratiatingly at Minister Li and then dashed off to catch up to the pair.

Manbao stood on the avenue, looking conflicted, "Do you think we should immediately return to entertain guests, or hurry to the palace to pick up Bai Er?"

Bai Shan was already pulling her toward the palace, "Let’s go, today’s celebration is for all three families, not just one. Early today, Uncle and Aunt came over from Changqing Alley."

Old Master Bai and Mrs. Bai had arrived in the capital a few days ago. Their luggage was placed at Zhou Residence, but they were temporarily staying in Changqing Alley.

Because their eldest son’s family lived there, they stayed there to see their grandchildren.

On the Zhou Family’s side, aside from Zhou ErLang’s couple who stayed at home and Zhou SiLang who was purchasing tea, everyone else was also in the capital.

Most of Zhou Man’s guests were colleagues and friendly ladies she had gotten to know in the capital, whereas the Bai Family’s guests were numerous.

Therefore, the banquet was actually divided into two parts: one for the Zhou Family’s relatives and one for the Bai Family’s relatives.

Ever since Bai Shan passed the imperial exam two years ago, Longzhou had been in contact with their family. Not only Bai Shan, but even the separated Bai Erlang’s branch had a rank in the family.

Not to mention, this time Bai Shan and the others had returned from the Western Regions, directly ennobled as baron and viscount, with their lands in Longzhou. Although not large, just a few villages, it was enough to shock the Bai Family.

So, they had arrived in the capital two months early, just waiting to attend the Bai Family’s celebratory banquet.

With their arrival, some Bai Family in-laws showed up too, causing the Bai Family’s guest list to grow.

Originally, if they didn’t have invitations, it wouldn’t matter even if they came. But the home extended a prior greeting.

Old Madam Liu thought about the industry still in Longzhou and accepted. Returning in glory, why walk like you’re clad in fine clothes at night? Since they’ve reached out, let’s show them our finest clothes and best food.

She planned to retrieve everything that was once taken from her.

So, she made many invitations specifically for them.

She took on arranging the banquet herself. Initially, Old Zhou and Ms. Qian wanted to help out, but after seeing what Old Madam Liu allocated, they kept quiet and simply handed over full responsibility to her.

For their type of family, even the cups used at each table mattered, while Old Zhou and Ms. Qian couldn’t even distinguish who’s who precisely.

The couple discussed and felt they truly couldn’t help Manbao in this matter. As long as they didn’t cause her trouble, they’d be fine. So they called upon the children, letting Old Madam Liu use them as needed, making decisions where needed and handling chores themselves.

Old Madam Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, accepted their offer, and immediately put Zhou Wulang and others to use.

Old Zhou was delighted, believing Old Madam Liu indeed saw them as family, treating them without reservation.

Old Madam Liu also said to Ms. Zheng, "Our in-laws are generous. This is the Zhou Residence, and Manbao is one of the main characters, but they can hand the arrangements over to us without bickering about details. When you manage for Manbao someday, keep fostering good relations with in-laws, they are easy-going folks."

Ms. Zheng obediently agreed.

In any case, today many people attended, mostly Bai Family relatives, so as one of the main characters, Bai Erlang had to appear with them.

Thus, Manbao and the others stood at the palace gate, found an attendant, and asked him to relay a message to Chongwen Pavilion, telling Bai Erlang to dress quickly and come out. He had taken leave yesterday, should be out by morning, must be sleeping in.

The three leaned lazily against the palace wall waiting, Bai Shan teasing her, "You’re too lazy, you have access to the palace."

Manbao huffed, turned her head away, feeling too tired to walk all the way to Chongwen Pavilion.

After waiting a long while, almost half an hour, Bai Erlang finally came out, but not alone. He was followed by many people, including classmates who took leave with him to drink, along with Princess Changyu and Princess Mingda.

Princess Mingda said earnestly, "We’re going to Guardian of the Nation Temple to offer incense."

Manbao nodded blankly.

Once everyone mounted their horses or boarded their carriages, Manbao rode her horse to catch up, quietly slipping into the carriage with the two princesses.

The princesses’ guards and maidens turned their heads away pretending not to see.

Manbao squeezed in with Mingda and asked, "Why did you come out early?"

Changyu pointed to Mingda and said, "Ask her."

Mingda said awkwardly, "I wanted to give the gifts I prepared for you to Bai Er to take back. But while talking, our cousins arrived, and upon hearing we were going out, they joined us."

Manbao comforted her, "No problem, I’ll send them away later, and you can come home with me directly."

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