After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

Cang Yao returned to the Dragon Court and passed through the Coral Corridor. From afar, she saw a familiar figure squatting at the entrance of the sleeping quarters.

Little Xiaoxiao was wearing a new blue dress and was fiddling with a bag of pastries by the door.

Even though one corner of the osmanthus cake was flattened, she didn't mind and broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.

"Little one!"

Xiao Xiao raised her head, her cheeks puffed out, and there were still crumbs of cake stuck to the corners of her mouth.

"elder sister--"

She stood up, but before she could finish speaking, Cang Yao hugged her tightly.

"When did you come out of seclusion? How is it? Did you break through?" Cang Yao released her and looked her up and down.

Xiao Xiao was spun around by her, and finally managed to stand up.

"I just finished the hurdle yesterday. I've broken through, but I'm still a little unstable." She paused. "Sister, you seem... a little different."

Cang Yao took a step back and opened her arms for her to see.

His small eyes widened in surprise.

She remembered that her sister had only recently broken through to the next level, and it hadn't been that long since then.

"Is the essence of the true dragon really that powerful?" Xiao Xiao muttered, then looked at Cang Yao, "But sister, you've changed so much."

"What has changed?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it." Xiao Xiao tilted her head and thought for a moment, "It's just...it looks better."

Cang Yao reached out and rubbed her head.

"You've gotten sweeter with your words. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

The sleeping quarters remained the same as before.

Cang Yao sat down on the coral chair, and Xiao Xiao poured her a cup of tea.

The two sat facing each other, just like before.

"Sister, have you been on shore all this time?"

"Hmm." Cang Yao picked up her teacup and took a sip. "He passed the exam, ranking first in the provincial examination."

Xiao Xiao blinked.

"It means that out of many, many people taking the exam, he came in first place."

"Oh." She nodded slightly. "What does that have to do with you?"

Cang Yao put down her teacup and looked at Xiao Xiao intently.

"Of course it's related. I'm naturally happy that he got first place."

Xiao Xiao looked at the light in her older sister's eyes and sighed.

Forget it, I'm tired, I won't ask anymore.

Cangyao recounted everything that had happened during this period to Xiaoxiao.

It described how far the road to the capital was, how many people were on the streets, and mentioned brothels, teahouses, and candied hawthorns.

"There's a kind of pastry in the capital called Osmanthus Sugar Cake, which is sweeter and more glutinous than regular Osmanthus Cake. I wanted to bring you a piece back, but it took more than twenty days to travel there, and I'm afraid it will spoil."

As Xiao Xiao listened, she suddenly realized that she seemed to have missed a lot during her seclusion.

"I'll learn how to make it for you next time."

Cang Yao paused after saying this.

She put down her teacup and sat down next to Xiaoxiao.

"Little one."

"Um?"

"Do you want to go ashore?"

She paused for a moment, slightly taken aback.

"Come up with me," Cang Yao said. "He's now a tribute student, and he'll be going to the capital for the palace examination next year. After he finishes the exam, he'll probably become an official in the capital, and I'll go too."

She looked at Xiaoxiao, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm worried about you being alone in Dragon Court. Why don't you come up with me? We can live together on the shore, just like before."

She opened her mouth slightly.

She recalled the time when her sister returned from the shore for the first time in Longting, her face beaming with a smile she had never seen before.

At that time, she wondered what was so good about the shore.

Later, every time her sister came back, she had that smile on her face, and she thought, there must really be some good things on the shore.

"Besides, now that you've transcended the mortal realm, you can stay out of water for a long time." Cang Yao reached out and took her small hand. "Come on."

Xiao Xiao lowered her head and thought for a moment.

"it is good."

"However, my cultivation level is not stable yet, and I need to spend some more time consolidating it."

Cang Yao smiled happily and hugged her again.

"No rush. Take your time to stabilize your condition. I'll go back first, and come find me in Qinghe Village when you're better."

She nodded slightly and asked, "Sister, how long are you staying?"

"Stay for one night." Cang Yao leaned back in her chair. "We'll go back first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiao Xiao looked at her and shook her head.

Back when we were in Longting, my sister always stayed at home.

Now that we're living on land, returning to Longting feels like being a guest.

The next morning, Cang Yao bid farewell to Xiao Xiao and returned to Qinghe Village.

As soon as they entered the village, they were spotted by the sharp-eyed Aunt Qin.

"Yao'er is back!"

At that shout, several middle-aged women gathered around.

"Oh, Yao, you're finally back!"

"You must be overjoyed that Lin boy topped the list, right?"

"I knew you were lucky! I knew it when you moved into his house!"

"What do you mean, 'moved into his house'—Yao girl is originally a member of the Lin family!"

Cang Yao stood in the middle of the crowd, blushing as the older women chatted away.

She tried to explain, but her mouth opened several times only to be drowned out by an even louder voice.

"Stop crowding around that girl." Finally, Aunt Wang spoke up, pushing through the crowd and taking Cang Yao's hand. "Let's go, let's go home."

Cang Yao obediently followed her into the courtyard.

"Lin Chu—" She peeked into the courtyard from the gate. Lin Chu was sitting under the locust tree reading a book. When she saw her come back, she looked up and nodded.

Aunt Wang pushed Cang Yao inside, and said to Lin Chu, "Your wife is back." Then she walked away with a smile.

Lin Chu chuckled, put down her book, and glanced at Cang Yao.

"You're back?"

"Mm." Cang Yao walked into the courtyard and sat down next to him.

She looked at him with her cheeks down, and when she remembered that Lin Chu was now also "top of the list", the corners of her mouth turned up.

From that day on, Cang Yao resumed her life as before.

Cooking, washing clothes, sweeping, watering vegetables.

But she smiles more than before, she walks with a bouncy gait, and the corners of her mouth are always turned up.

Aunt Wang said she felt like she had struck gold.

Cang Yao nodded and said that she had found a treasure.

Two days later, Magistrate Liu, who had been stationed in the neighboring county during this period, arrived.

He was dressed casually, and brought a pot of wine, saying he had come to see Lin Chu.

Lin Chu invited him to sit under the locust tree. Cang Yao brought up two cups of tea and then went to the kitchen.

Magistrate Liu watched Cang Yao's retreating figure, nodded, and said nothing more. He then turned to chat with Lin Chu about scholarship.

From then on, Magistrate Liu came frequently.

Sometimes they bring a pot of wine, sometimes a book, and sometimes nothing at all; they just come to sit and relax.

His conversation gradually shifted from academic topics to other things.

For example, the structure of the imperial court, the functions of various departments and offices, and the differences between local officials and officials in the capital.

That evening, Magistrate Liu came again.

As usual, Cang Yao brought out the tea, but Magistrate Liu stopped her.

"Miss Cang, please have a seat."

Cang Yao looked at Lin Chu, who nodded, so she moved a stool over and sat down next to her.

Magistrate Liu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Scholar Lin, do you know how many factions exist in the imperial court?"

Lin Chu thought for a moment: "I'm not quite sure."

"There are many." Magistrate Liu put down his teacup. "There are the Empress's relatives, the Crown Prince's faction, the disciples and old friends of the senior cabinet ministers, and our faction from the Hanlin Academy, including Lord Zhou Tingfu."

He paused, looking at Lin Chu.

"Your examination papers were personally graded by Lord Zhou. He awarded your poems and essays the highest grade."

Lin Chu remained silent.

"Lord Zhou served as prime minister for a term and is now in charge of the Hanlin Academy, with his students all over the court and the country." Magistrate Liu spoke slowly, as if he was carefully choosing each word. "He has a deep impression of you. I also know that you have no one to rely on. If you don't have anyone to help you after entering the court, it will be difficult for you to even gain a foothold, let alone realize your ambitions."

He paused, looking at Lin Chu.

"Next time you go to the capital for the imperial examination, I will write you a visiting card. Go and meet Lord Zhou."

Lin Chu pondered for a while.

He nodded.

"Thank you, Lord Liu."

Magistrate Liu waved his hand, spoke with him for a while, and then got up to take his leave.