The heavens set sail from the courtyard

Wang Gang asked Chunluo to change into a new set of clothes, then took out a small box from his original bag, walked out of the palace, and got into the carriage that came to pick him up.

The driver was a young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, but he was a good driver and Wang Gang didn't feel any bumps in the seat.

Candied dates and dried fruits were also prepared in the carriage, and the service was indeed attentive.

Wang Gang picked up a candied date and threw it into his mouth, then leaned on the thick quilt, feeling very comfortable.

The carriage traveled for about an incense stick of time and stopped in front of a restaurant.

Wang Gang got out of the car and looked up at the restaurant sign.

"Panlou?" Wang Gang looked at the street again and said with a smile: "So I'm at Panlou Street, the most prosperous street in Bianliang."

The next moment, a servant came over with a smile on his face.

"Sir Wang, my master wants to see you upstairs."

Wang Gang said: "Lead the way."

The waiter made a gesture to invite him in and slowly led the way. Wang Gang followed him into Panlou and found that the restaurant was doing very good business, with a constant stream of customers. It was very lively and the restaurant was making a fortune every day.

Wang Gang went upstairs and the servant took him to a more secluded box.

"Please come in, Lord Wang. My master is inside the house." The servant said respectfully.

Wang Gang curled his lips and said, "You are still putting on airs in front of me."

The servant bent down and opened the door of the box. Wang Gang walked in calmly, and then he saw a tall figure standing by the window. The white moonlight fell on him, adding a touch of mystery.

"Mr. Chai, I'm here, why are you still pretending?" Wang Gang shouted disdainfully at the back.

The figure turned around after hearing the words, his wide robe fluttering, revealing a fair and handsome face.

"I hope you are alright, Yuankang."

Wang Gang's name is Yuankang!
"Mr. Chai has made a fortune! How much money can he make every day by opening such a big restaurant?" Wang Gang said casually.

This Mr. Chai was named Chai An, and he was a close friend of Wang Gang's previous life. Three years ago, when Wang Gang left Beijing for his new post, apart from the Wang family, only Chai An saw him off. The two had a very good personal relationship.

"I just returned to Beijing today, and I haven't even had time to sit down, but you sent someone to deliver an invitation. Master Chai, you have spies all over Bian Jing!" Wang Gang sat down without any hesitation and poured himself a glass of water.

"Yuan Kang returned to Beijing without telling me. He is not a good friend." Chai An said with a stern face as he sat opposite Wang Gang.

"I just came back today. I have to report to the Ministry of Personnel and go back home to see my mother. How can I have time to notify you? I was planning to visit the Chai family tomorrow, but I didn't expect you couldn't wait today." Wang Gang took a piece of cloud cake on the table and tasted it lightly.

"You have such a big restaurant, the cooking skills should be quite good! Bring us the good wine and food."

Chai An was surprised and asked, "When you go home, doesn't Old Madam Wang provide meals?"

Wang Gang was speechless and said, "It's really not pleasant to eat with my elder brother and his wife."

Chai An suddenly realized, and apparently he also knew about the Wang family's affairs. He clapped his hands and called the servant over.

"Go prepare some wine and food. Brother Yuankang and I are going to have a good drink tonight."

"Prepare more meat. I've been eating a lot recently," Wang Gang reminded.

"You want to eat me out of money?" Chai An joked.

Wang Gang said with a smile: "Your Chai family is very wealthy, so it's okay for us to eat half a meal with you."

Chai An was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and said, "Your Wang family is not poor, are you really planning to eat without paying?"

Wang Gang curled his lips and said, "You can't buy something for free if you spend money on it."

After saying that, both of them burst into laughter.

"Yuan Kang hasn't changed. He still loves to take advantage." Chai An sighed.

"Your Chai family is rich and powerful, with thousands of acres of fertile land outside the city of Bianjing. If I don't take advantage of you, who else would I take advantage of?" Wang Gang said casually. Chai An smiled and said, "You can come to my Panlou whenever you want. I won't charge you any money."

Wang Gang raised his eyebrows and said, "Mr. Chai is so generous, you must be asking for something. If you don't make it clear, I won't dare to eat this meal today."

Chai An sighed: "You are still so smart."

Wang Gang put the whole piece of Yun Gao into his mouth and asked, "Tell me! What is the matter that asked me to come here today? Why can't you wait even for a day?"

Chai An's smile faded and he said bitterly, "Isn't it about your marriage to my cousin?"

Wang Gang was surprised and asked, "What's wrong with Ruyi? Are you worried that I will regret the engagement?"

Chai An shook his head and said, "I still trust the Wang family's reputation."

Wang Gang had an engagement, which was a childhood marriage arranged by his elders, and his partner was Chai Ruyi, Chai An's cousin.

It is also because of this relationship that Wang Gang and Chai An have a good personal relationship.

Chai An said with guilt: "It was my uncle's idea to invite Yuan Kang to the banquet today. I was just pushing him into it. I didn't want to get involved in this mess."

Wang Gang was puzzled and asked, "What's going on? Why are you so hesitant?"

Chai An said with shame: "My uncle wants to cancel the engagement with the Wang family."

"Ah? Broken engagement?" Wang Gang didn't expect that he would encounter a broken engagement as soon as he returned to Bian Jing!

In this era, breaking off an engagement is no small matter, especially for a family of officials like the Wang family.

Although the Wang family is not considered a big family among the gentry, it still has the foundation of three generations of officials.

Although the Chai family was a wealthy family with unclear relations with the powerful in the court, they were born into a merchant family after all. When the two families got engaged, the Chai family got the upper hand, and Chai Ruyi was considered to have married into a wealthy family.

The Chai family said they wanted to cancel the engagement, so they did. If they didn’t give a reason, they would be offending the Wang family to death.

"Don't blame me, Yuankang. It's my cousin's bad luck that she has no chance to marry into the Wang family." Chai An took a deep breath and said:
"Ruyi is seriously ill and doesn't want to drag you down, Lord Wang, so I want to cancel the engagement."

"Ruyi is sick." Wang Gang asked in surprise: "What's the disease? It's so serious?"

Chai An lowered his head in embarrassment and stammered, "It's just a common serious illness. I asked the doctor to take a look. He said that even if it is cured, there will be hidden diseases left."

Wang Gang saw that Chai An was hiding something and asked, "What is the hidden illness? I will ask my mother to ask the imperial physician to treat it."

Chai An blushed and said, "We have already asked for permission, and the imperial physician said it would affect future fertility."

Wang Gang said righteously: "My Wang family is not ungrateful. My grandfather was in trouble, and thanks to the help of the Chai family, we were able to arrange a marriage between the two families. Don't say that Ruyi has a hidden illness. Even if she is disabled, I will definitely marry her."

Chai An didn't expect Wang Gang to be so loyal, and he felt even worse.

"Yuankang, let's call off this marriage! My Chai family doesn't want to drag you down." Chai An said with a bitter face.

"Chai An, I, Wang Gang, can swear here that no matter whether Ruyi has children or not in the future, I will never let her down." Wang Gang vowed.

"Why are you doing this?" Chai An was very moved and felt that it was wrong to deceive his best friend again.

Wang Gang had long seen that Chai An was hiding something, so he said this.

"I will visit Ruyi in person tomorrow and set the wedding date." Wang Gang said seriously.

"No." Chai An was horrified and quickly stopped him, "Yuankang, you can't go over there."

Wang Gang deliberately asked in confusion: "Chai An, why did you stop me?"

Chai An's face turned red with anxiety, and finally he sighed helplessly: "Forget it, I'll tell you the truth! My cousin is not sick, she did that ugly thing and got pregnant."

Wang Gang looked at Chai An in surprise, his mouth hanging open. (End of this chapter)