e lantern market on the commercial street, with every store setting up stalls, hanging lanterns, and guessing riddles. This happened year after year, with no exception.But the palace was not in order...."You'll know when you go there." Liu Zhiheng smiled, keeping it a secret.

The carriage clicked and clopped its way forward, arriving at the bustling commercial street in just a cup of tea's time.

This shopping street used to be the heart of the city, with shops lining both sides.

There are pawn shops, taverns, teahouses, jewelry stores, art and calligraphy shops, rouge shops, and everything else you could possibly need.

Since the capital was moved here, the city's population suddenly increased, and the commercial streets are bustling with activity every day, as if they were about to explode.

Li Lao Er had never been here before, so he was a little curious and lifted the car curtain to take a look.

"This place is really lively! I thought our Onsen Valley was pretty good, but compared to this, it's just a drop in the bucket."

“Haha, of course! The whole city is coming here,” Liu Zhiheng laughed. “Your family’s hot spring valley is indeed a good place, but your family just refuses to let more people in. You only welcome a hundred or so guests a day.”

Li Lao Er shook his head, "The people in our village aren't greedy. We just want to live a peaceful life. If we have some income, that's enough. Besides, the valley was originally a bathing place. If too many guests come, it could easily cause trouble."

"I have to say, your family is truly remarkable for their intelligence and integrity. After all, who wouldn't want to earn more silver"

As the two of them chatted, the carriage stopped in front of a teahouse. They got out and went straight upstairs, entering a private room.

Mr. Wen and Mrs. Cui were both in the room, and upon seeing Old Li Er, they were also surprised.

"Well, well, here comes Mr. Er! What a coincidence!"

Li Lao'er quickly bowed, his face slightly flushed, and replied: "Mr. Wen, Mrs. Cui, while I respect others, you are family friends. Naturally, you know that I have no official titles or achievements to warrant being called 'Mr.' Please just call me Yusheng."

Mr. Wen and Mrs. Cui were not being polite either, they naturally invited him to sit down and have tea together.

Li Lao'er was even more confused in his heart, wondering what could bring these three together.

But he didn't ask, instead he talked about something else, "Mr. Wen, my mother sewed two pairs of shoes for you, and put them in Brother Liu's car. When you go back later, don't forget to take them."

Mr. Wen smiled in his eyes and quickly replied, "Good, it's another trouble for my aunt to be tired."

Mrs. Cui also asked, “The other day I asked Qiong to go back and give Funiu some snacks. I heard… that she’s still feverish. How is she now”

After all, this is a teahouse. One has to be careful about eavesdroppers, so Madam Cui didn't mention the Marquis and his wife, being very discreet.

Li Lao'er understood and replied, “I’m feeling much better today. The fever has subsided, I just need to recuperate slowly. Lao Si and the others went into the mountains and caught a lot of wild pigeons. They stew them every day in soup, apparently it’s good for healing wounds.”

Everyone nodded, unable to help but feel emotional.

These people on Suijin Beach are truly something special. Though they are just ordinary folk, there's a certain mystique about them that makes it incredibly easy to feel a sense of belonging.

The esteemed Marquis Xin Ting, the Emperor's cousin, wielding great power and commanding troops, was a figure of envy and admiration even in this new capital.

As a result, the marquis did not reside in his mansion nor attend banquets to socialize with dignitaries. He preferred to dwell at Suijin Beach.

Even when gravely wounded and on the brink of death, he did not return to Xin'du.

And the villagers were indeed people who cherished kindness. Even though their strength was limited, they did their utmost to reciprocate.

Not to mention the Marquis, even these three individuals—the daughter of a high-ranking official, the former wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei, a scholar from a prominent family, and the eldest son of an established clan—are all here for Li's sake at this moment

In this world, silver is easy to obtain, but a true heart is hard to find.

What they seek, the sincerity of the Li family, is for the truthfulness of Suijin Beach.

At that moment, there was a sudden commotion downstairs. Everyone turned their heads to look out the window.

Not far from the commercial street, a procession of people in mourning clothes and with white cloth headbands was coming.

In the middle of the procession, a hearse pulled by horses, carried a pitch-black coffin. Spirit banners fluttered around the hearse, making it look utterly chilling and ominous.

The man ahead looked to be in his thirties. He walked while scattering paper money, and two women behind him cried mournfully.

"Father, oh father, how could you just leave like this, leaving us behind What are we going to do!"

"Father, you died so unjustly! You suffered such a terrible death!"

"Oh, dear! What a bad luck!"

The street was already crowded, and the sudden arrival of this group of people caused a stir. Everyone was surprised and stepped aside to make way for them, whispering amongst themselves.

"What's going on"

“I don’t know, hearing this, this person died with a story!”

At this time, the convoy stopped in front of a tavern. The man at the front threw handfuls of paper money on the ground and pointed at the entrance of the tavern, roaring, "Everyone, look! It's this "Sihai Ju" that poisoned the food and killed my father!"

Everyone watching the commotion was taken aback.

If someone poisoned the food at a restaurant, wouldn't everyone who ate there be in danger!

The two women were also crying pitifully.

“Oh, my father ate here the day before yesterday. After returning home, he kept running to the toilet. The doctor's medicine couldn't stop it. Last night, he couldn't hold on any longer and passed away.”

"Oh, woe is me! Si Hai Ju killed someone! Is there anyone who will protect us ordinary people!"

In the Si Hai Ju, there were still quite a few people eating. Seeing this, they all dropped their chopsticks and rushed out, looking panicked.

They just ate a lot, wouldn't they have been poisoned

Some people were clearing their throats, others had faces ashen with rage.

The shopkeeper and the young lads of Si Hai Ju also ran out, bustling about to calm everyone down.

"Dear guests, please don't panic. Si Hai Ju has always had a good reputation, how could we do such a thing It must be a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

Also, neighbors from the shops on either side stepped forward to lend their support.

"Indeed, Sihai Ju has been open for over ten years, and nothing like this has ever happened!"

"Yesterday, I was still here having dinner with friends, there were no problems at all. It must be a misunderstanding!"

The innkeeper, his hands clasped in a gesture of gratitude, bowed repeatedly. "Thank you all for speaking your minds so frankly. Things came about so suddenly, I'm as baffled as anyone!"

That middle-aged man in mourning didn't care about any of that. He opened his mouth and shouted, "You are all neighbors, birds of a feather, of course you should help speak up for the people from Sihai Ju! But my father died because of Sihai Ju! I went to your houses yesterday, and your houses said they would give me an explanation, but until now there is no movement.

"This is what it means to be a helpless family! My father died tragically. He was a good man, he died from diarrhea! As his son, I haven't even had the chance to properly filial piety to him, and he's gone! Father, I am sorry! Father, you died so miserably!"

The middle-aged man grew increasingly heartbroken, tears streaming down his face as he cried, pounding his chest with his fists, a heavy thud echoing through the air.

Such deep remorse and sorrow, it pains everyone who witnesses it.

A son wishes to raise his parents, but they are no longer alive.

The tavern owner was in a panic, sweating profusely. He understood that the person meant the master should have known about this and tried to suppress it, but failed to reach an agreement, so now the other party came to make trouble.

"Go find the master quickly!" He urged the young servant to hurry to the south of the city to look for someone. The young servant squeezed through the crowd and soon disappeared.

This family seemed determined to make a scene, their cries growing louder and louder, effectively blocking half the street.ver Sixth Brother for you! I promise to have a good time and write you all a letter when I get back."His arrogant manner annoyed his brothers, and one of them slapped him, scattering his hair. He look...