Ning Chen and the others stayed in Lingzhou for about six or seven days.

They ate folded flatbread and drank mutton soup, climbed Lingzhou's famous Mount Meirong, went to the temple fair, and saw plenty of other fun places.

The Xuan Emperor had lived his whole life deep inside the palace. He had held supreme power, but he had never had experiences like these.

When they'd had their fill, Ning Chen and the others moved on to Xiuzhou.

Xiuzhou was most famous for its embroidery.

But it had plenty of good food too. Plum-blossom cakes, crabapple cakes, sweet congee and rice cakes were all famous.

For the safety of the Xuan Emperor and Old General Chen, Ning Chen booked a whole inn again when they reached Xiuzhou.

After a short rest, the Xuan Emperor couldn't sit still any longer and had Ning Chen take him out to look around.

The streets were bustling.

As he walked, the Xuan Emperor picked a rice cake out of an oiled-paper packet and took a bite. It was soft, chewy and sweet.

"That's the taste. Exactly the way I remember it!"

The Xuan Emperor was all smiles.

He had come to Xiuzhou once, decades ago, when he was still only a prince.

Ever since he had left the palace, the Xuan Emperor had been smiling more and more.

Maybe that dragon throne really had been a shackle to him, a set of chains.

"These wontons look good. We haven't had anything made with flour for days. A bowl for everyone."

"Shopkeeper, can I blow one of these sugar figures myself?"

"Good, good, good, this is great fun... Give them a reward!"

The Xuan Emperor was curious about everything and wanted to try it all with his own hands.

At the moment he was watching a monkey show. He found it amusing and told Ning Chen to give them something.

Ning Chen fished out two copper coins and tossed them into the monkey man's money box.

Under the monkey man's direction, the monkey cupped its hands and bowed to Ning Chen and the others in…