This trip had been highly productive and fruitful for them.
With the New Year approaching, First Madame insisted they didn't stay for too long. She even invited them to join them after the New Year, so they could travel with the business troops to the capital.
Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the invitation.
Traveling from the province to the capital couldn't be done by boat; it had to be done over land. The journey was long and required careful planning. They couldn't simply hire a single wagon and set off. It wasn't convenient or safe.
There were unknown dangers that could be encountered along such a lengthy journey. What if they encountered robbers on the outskirts? It would spell doom for them.
Typically, a group of friends would gather together and travel to the capital collectively for the examination. It provided a sense of security and reliability.
