After celebrating the emperor's birthday, everyone in Kaifeng packed their bags, followed the mighty patrol team, and headed south along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, starting this trip to the south of the Yangtze River.

Since there were many places to go this time, everyone made a preliminary plan for the route.

The purpose of Zhao Zhen's trip south this time was mainly for private visits, so the government offices in Jiangsu and Zhejiang did not receive any news about his trip south.

However, in order to ensure safety when the emperor goes on patrol, he must not take less people with him. A rough estimate is that Guangda inner guards followed more than 200 people, and the Imperial City Army followed 500. Zhao Pu also asked Zou Liang and Long Qiaoguang to take 3,000 each.

Soldiers and horses.

In addition to the troops from Kaifeng Mansion and Taishi Mansion, there were about 10,000 people and nearly 200 large and small ships. It was difficult not to attract people's attention on such a huge scale.

Therefore, the troops must be divided into several groups.

Long Qiao and Tang Xiaomei first took 3,000 troops to the garrison on Liangzhe Road to arrange the troops. When the water village was built before Liangzhe Road, the military camp was expanded, and the newly trained navy troops were trained by Long Qiaoguang

came out, and the military camp is located very close to Shaoxing Prefecture.

Zou Liang and Lin Yehuo took another 3,000 troops and sent everyone from the Imperial Academy, including Princess Zhao Lan, to Hangzhou Mansion first. When they arrived at Hangzhou Mansion, in order to keep it secret, they did not alert the local government. Everything was left to Xie Yan, and dozens of ships were arranged.

A boat and thousands of people are nothing to worry about for the Xie family, which has a large business.

Hangzhou Prefecture is very close to Shaoxing Prefecture. After Zou Liang and Lin Yehuo settled in, they would go to Shaoxing Prefecture to meet everyone, or they could simply stay in Hangzhou Prefecture and make their own arrangements.

The only other things left are the Kaifeng Mansion’s traveling team and the palace’s boat.

There is an old house of the Bai family in Shaoxing Prefecture. It is the ancestral property of the Bai family. It is said that the scale is comparable to a royal palace. The fifth master told his parents before that Lu Xueer brought many disciples from Yingxue Palace to prepare early.

Just in time to give Concubine Pang a baby.

…

The journey was orderly amid chaos, and everyone successfully arrived at Shaoxing Prefecture after leaving Kaifeng Prefecture and taking a boat for more than ten days.

…

The waterway can reach the back entrance of Bai's manor. Everyone was once again shocked by the scale of the Fifth Master's courtyard. Bai Yuelin was indeed the richest man in the world at that time, and the ancestral property left behind was huge.

Lu Xueer and Bai Xia were both there. The couple were very familiar with Zhao Zhen. Lu Xueer took the female disciples from Yingxue Palace to settle Concubine Pang and the female relatives of Kaifeng Mansion and Taishi Mansion.

Bai Xia took Ouyang Shaozheng to settle the Imperial City Army and the Yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture.

The Ouchi guards and Yingxue Palace disciples jointly took charge of guarding the other courtyard, and within half a day, everything was arranged.

After a night's rest, everyone got up early the next morning, changed into casual clothes, and prepared to accompany Zhao Zhen for a "private visit."

Originally, there were many places to visit on this trip to the south of the Yangtze River. The first stop was chosen to be Shaoxing Prefecture because official matters came first and Zhao Zhen came here to inspect local officials, especially Lu Yuelan.

The emperor has always been very fond of this talented man. After training in the local area in the past few years, Lu Yuelan has become more and more stable. Zhao Zhen felt that the time was almost here, so he decided to take a look in person.

It happened that Gongsun was about to take his fourth son home. He originally wanted to go separately. Zhao Pu accompanied him home. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang went to the streets with Zhao Zhen, but Zhao Zhen heard that Gongsun's family was in Jinghu.

In the nearby village, they said that they would first go to Xiaosizi's house to visit before going to the city.

Lord Bao and the Grand Master came with their families this time. The emperor ordered the two veterans to rest for three days. During these three days, he also planned to pay a private visit and would not go to the Yamen.

Silver Demon King and Tianzun Yinhou have long since disappeared. It is said that there is an old friend in Shaoxing Mansion, and the three of them went to visit the old friend and buy some wine to drink.

So, Zhan Zhao, Bai Yutang, Gongsun, Zhao Pu, Xiao Sizi, Xiao Liangzi, Zhao Zhen and Nangong Ji, plus some shadow guards secretly, went out and visited Gongsun's house first.

The Gongsun family is not young yet. They have practiced medicine for generations and opened several medical clinics in Shaoxing Prefecture.

But Gongsun basically didn't inherit any family property. Originally, he was always thought to be ostracized by his family. But later, after experiencing the case of the Black Wind City ancestor, he learned that he had a special status and that his family members deliberately distanced themselves for the sake of his safety.

Originally, Gongsun was a little frustrated that his elder brothers at home were cold and distant from him, especially when his father passed away and he was not called to the funeral. But now he is relieved.

Gongsun and Xiaosizi brought a lot of gifts back from Kaifeng this time and planned to visit relatives in the next few days.

In particular, the fourth son is very ambitious. He even brought some "missions" when he went south this time. Before going out, Man Muhua met him. Manji's branches have long been opened all over the country. The fourth son came this time.

In the Jiangnan area, he plans to pick a good location and open a few more branches. The fourth son grew up in Jiangnan and knows the taste of the south well, so he is the perfect choice to expand his business.

Gongsun helplessly looked at the cart of gifts that the fourth son bought for his uncles and uncles at home, and sighed again - his son is so able to make money, but he doesn't know if this counts as starting from scratch...

Gongsun and Xiaosizi have been living in a small village by Jinghu Lake. The village is surrounded by mountains and water, and there is a large bamboo forest, which is very quiet.

When everyone arrived at the entrance of the village, they met several farmers carrying shovels who came out to do farm work.

Several farmers were stunned for a moment when they saw the people coming. They were overjoyed when they recognized Gongsun and Xiaosizi. Two uncles shouted "Sir" and greeted them. The other two ran back to the village, shouting all the way, "

The husband and the fourth son are back!"

There was an immediate sensation in the village. Neighbors and residents all came out to greet him. A group of aunts and grandmothers chased the little fourth son and hugged him. They said, "It's great, he hasn't grown taller! He's still so cute..."

The little fourth child’s little mouth is so pouted that it would make someone laugh at him - he has obviously grown taller! I hate it!

It was also the first time for Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang to see this attitude. It seemed that all the neighbors in the small village had good relations, and Gongsun was indeed loved by everyone!

Zhao Pu touched his chin and looked around, and found that the people surrounding Gongsun were all adults and aunts. The Ninth Prince relaxed a little.

Zhao Zhen held a fan in his hand and approached a group of neighbors, saying that they were friends Gongsun had met in Kaifeng and were here to visit.

Nangong watched helplessly as his "Huang Gongzi" flirted with various uncles and aunties. He always felt that the role assigned to him by the emperor during his "incognito private visit" was not that of a serious person.

After finally saying hello to the neighbors, everyone arrived at the home of Gongsun and Xiaosizi, a courtyard surrounded by green bamboos.

The yard is not small, with several rooms, front and back yards, and a pond. There is a large drying field in front of the door, which Gongsun used to dry medicinal materials.

Although I haven't been back for two years, the yard is very clean, the flowers and plants are well taken care of, and the yard door is not locked. It should be that the neighbors have been helping to clean it.

Zhao Zhen dragged two fellow villagers who came to deliver fruits to Gongsun and asked them how the prefect of Shaoxing was doing.

Everyone was worried about Lu Yuelan. The emperor was really conducting a "field inspection", catching passers-by and questioning them.

Fortunately, several farmers were full of praise for Lu Yuelan, and Zhao Zhen was pleased to hear all kinds of praises.

Everyone entered the courtyard and sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Gongsun opened the door and the fourth son ran in and took out the teapot and cups.

Xiao Liangzi helped to dig water from the well, wash cups and boil water, and the farmer next door sent new tea leaves and snacks, which was very considerate.

Although Zhao Zhen was an emperor who was close to the people, he had been living in the palace after all. He was a little puzzled and asked, "Are the people in the Song Dynasty so friendly? Or is the folk customs in this area particularly simple?"

"The simple folk customs are one thing." Zhao Pu looked at Gongsun who had just put down his things and went out to ask the villagers if anyone had been sick recently. "The nerds have probably seen them."

Gongsun chatted with some fellow villagers for a while, then came back and sat with everyone.

Xiaosizi and Xiaoliangzi helped make tea.

While drinking tea and chatting, I saw a child running in from outside, shouting, "Jin'er!"

Everyone was stunned.

Xiao Liangzi blinked and looked at the door in confusion - there were other people in the world who called his Jin'er "Jin'er"?

The person who rushed through the door was a boy about the same age as Xiao Liangzi. He was also about the same height. He was dressed like a warrior and looked good. He had some small freckles on the bridge of his nose and under his eyes. He squinted his eyes and looked very kind.

There were so many masters present, and when they saw the child, they all nodded—it looked like he had good kung fu, and he must be taught by a famous teacher.

The fourth son turned around and saw the person running in, and smiled and waved to him, "Brother Xiaochen."

Xiao Liangzi blinked again, and Zhao Zhen poked him, "Brother Xiaochen!"

"Jin'er! You're back!" That "Brother Xiaochen" ran in, held Xiaosi's hand, and told him that he had grown taller!

This time even Bai Yutang went to see Xiao Liangzi - this one can talk!

Xiao Liangzi narrowed his eyes - who is this?!

Gongsun also greeted the child and introduced him to everyone. The boy's name was Shen Yuanchen, and he was the childhood sweetheart of the fourth child.

Everyone was stunned for a moment and all went to see Xiao Liangzi - his childhood sweetheart!

Xiao Liangzi stared speechlessly at a group of adults eating melons - you are so annoying!

Zhao Pu took a look at the child. From his clothing and behavior, as well as his Kung Fu background, he didn't look like a child from an ordinary villager's family.

The fifth master also saw that this child was dressed very richly. Although he was just dressed as an ordinary warrior, the material of his clothes was very exquisite, and he was definitely not a child from an ordinary family.

Gongsun probably noticed everyone's doubts, so he went on to introduce, "Yuan Chen is the grandson of Princess Shuiyue Palace."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, surprised - isn't that the young palace master of Shuiyue Palace?!

Shen Yuanchen and the fourth son looked very close to each other. After chatting for a few words, they looked up at everyone.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he said that Mr. Gongsun was his benefactor in Shuiyue Palace. When he was born, his mother had a dystocia and almost died. His grandmother came to invite Mr. Gongsun in person, and she was saved.

The mother and son were safe. His parents often said that Mr. Gongsun was his reborn parent, so he would come here to see Gongsun every year and festival. Especially after the fourth son came, Shen Yuanchen became very attached to the fourth son and would come to see him every now and then.

When my son was studying, I would accompany him to play in the city. They were serious childhood sweethearts.

While everyone was listening, they glanced at Xiao Liangzi again.

Xiao Liangzi silently reached out and touched his chest - a sense of crisis...

Gongsun asked Shen Yuanchen, "Are you in the village by chance?"

Shen Yuanchen shook his head and said, "I heard from my father that people from Kaifeng Prefecture have arrived in Shaoxing Prefecture, so I guessed that you might have gone home, so I came to have a look."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other - their actions this time were low-key enough. Shuiyue Palace is indeed one of the best sects in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This spy is good, and the information is really well-informed.

Shen Yuanchen said that he ran out secretly. He had a ritual ceremony in Shuiyue Palace today and he had to go back quickly. He said goodbye to everyone, stuffed something for the fourth son, and said goodbye to leave.

Zhan Zhao felt that the opportunity was rare, so he stopped him and told him that the invitation to the celebration of Shuiyue Palace was accidentally forgotten by Tianzun.

When Shen Yuanchen heard this, he was relieved and very happy. He said that it was like this. His grandma had been angry for several days, so he would tell her when he got back.
To be continued...