Chapter 77: Ministry of Industry, you took things from the Ministry of Industry to please her? ...

Night fell as expected, and spring was gradually coming to an end amid the popularity of hairpin flowers in Kyoto, and summer was approaching.

As agreed, Lu Tingwan gained Rongpin's trust and entered the palace more often.

After Xie Zhao joined the Ministry of Works, Lu Tingwan no longer went to the military camp often. Occasionally, when Xie Zhao was on leave, Lu Tingwan went to the Ministry of Works to look for someone and met Cheng Xianzhi who was on duty.

She originally had no intention of confronting him, but as soon as she turned back from the Ministry of Industry gate, she was stopped by someone coming towards her from a distance.

"Lu Tingwan!"

Lu Tingwan had no choice but to stop when he heard the sound, so he had to take back the step he had taken.

He drooped his head and leaned against the wall, while Cheng Xianzhi and Han Zhou walked forward.

"What?" She raised her eyes with a hint of fatigue.

"What are you doing in the Ministry of Industry?" he asked knowingly.

Lu Tingwan stood up straight, and realized that someone was looking down at him. He was unconsciously forced to retreat back to the wall.

"Looking for someone." Lu Tingwan spat out the two words coldly.

A pair of pointed boots approached from the corner of my eye, and their bodies were about to crush me.

Han Zhou behind him took a few steps back as if nothing had happened and turned his head away.

"Xie Zhao?" Cheng Xianzhi said this with a hint of joking, which was very different from his usual self-possessed and upright personality.

Lu Tingwan nodded without saying anything.

"Xie Zhao has important business in the Ministry of Works. If you have nothing to do, please don't come over." Cheng Xianzhi stepped back a few steps, and Lu Tingwan had a chance to catch his breath.

"I came today because he's on leave," Lu Tingwan explained. "And Xie Zhao told me I could come when he's on leave."

Cheng Xianzhi was speechless and didn't know what to say for a moment, so he picked up his steps and was about to leave.

She was seen holding a new object in her hand, a wild goose carved from wood. Xie Zhao was very skilled and had even learned some wood carving. Her hands holding the wood carving gradually clenched. Cheng Xianzhi saw it all and felt an inexplicable bitterness in his heart.

Looking at the crossbow exposed from her right sleeve, he reached out and grabbed Lu Tingwan's wrist, "What is this?"

The force of the grip made her uncomfortable, and she tried to pull away. "Bowling, you're asking even though you know the answer."

Cheng Xianzhi didn't do what she wanted. He interrogated her, "What kind of place is this? Who gave you the authority to enter and exit the Ministry of Works at will, carrying weapons?"

"I'm the Marquis of Guardian, so I can carry it." Lu Tingwan leaned forward as her wrist was grabbed, "Let go!"

Cheng Xianzhi refused to give in. Han Zhou listened to the competition behind him, raised his head and faced the wind leisurely, with a smile on his face.

The situation was at a stalemate, but a sudden shout broke the deadlock.

"Jiang Yanli." Xie Zhao walked towards the two of them with a new crossbow in his hand.

Lu Tingwan couldn't break free, her wrist was already warm from her grip, and from a distance she could faintly smell the incense on Cheng Xianzhi's body.

After approaching, Xie Zhao saluted Cheng Xianzhi and said, "Minister Cheng is here too."

"Is there something?" Cheng Xianzhi saw Lu Tingwan's expression change. He looked completely different when facing Xie Zhao and himself.

"Oh, I have something to deliver to Yan Li." Xie Zhao raised the crossbow. Lu Tingwan's eyes lit up and he finally broke free from the restraints.

"For me?" She spoke with undisguised joy as she quietly approached Xie Zhao. "This new crossbow is lighter than mine. What's its range?"

"The range is longer, the arrow shooting speed has been improved, and the number of arrows stored has also increased. I'll give it to you to try." Xie Zhao's eyes were full of tenderness, and he didn't care at all about Cheng Xianzhi's presence.

"You took things from the Ministry of Works to please her?" Cheng Xianzhi said with a sour tone, "Do you know what kind of punishment you will receive in the Ministry of Works for abusing your power for personal gain?"

Lu Tingwan was nervous when she heard this. "I didn't say I wanted to take it back, so how can that be considered abuse of power for personal gain? Xie Zhao, I know you're trying to make me happy. I've seen it, so take it back now."

"You should be punished for leaking the Ministry of Industry's secrets," Cheng Xianzhi insisted.

"You..." Lu Tingwan puffed out her cheeks, looking very cute.

Xie Zhao, however, spoke calmly and steadily, "This crossbow is not owned by the Ministry of Works. I drew the blueprint for it when I was in Qingyao Mountain. I modified it using my old crossbow. It doesn't count as abuse of power for personal gain."

"However, I do need you to test the feasibility of the arm crossbow for me," Xie Zhao said, regaining his composure. "Minister Cheng, I think the Ministry of Works could forge a batch of these arm crossbows and have them equipped by the Imperial Guards and the patrolmen of Jingzhao Prefecture. If there's an emergency during patrol, the arm crossbows are fast, sharp, and accurate, allowing them to catch anyone off guard and capture any suspicious individuals."

"Han Zhou, after Xie Zhao finishes improving it, go to the armory and get a weapon to try."

Seeing that he agreed, Lu Tingwan smiled and raised her arm into the air. Xie Zhao naturally took off her old crossbow and put the new one back on.

The joy lasted for a long time, and Cheng Xianzhi swallowed again and again. The closeness between the two of them was extraordinary. He walked a distance, then stopped, looking back at the people in the corridor.

"Why are you standing here if you're not going back home? Are you going to stay at the Ministry of Industry?"

Lu Tingwan put away his crossbow and followed, "Xie Zhao, I'm leaving first. I'll come find you another day."

"Um."

To return to Chengfu from the Ministry of Works, one needs to cross several streets and pass through the downtown area. It is still early, and Lu Tingwan wants to go down for a walk.

Cheng Xianzhi ordered the carriage to stop. At 11:00 PM, the streets were crowded with people, the vendors had not yet closed their stalls, and the teahouses and restaurants in the distance were bustling with activity.

There are so many small items, Kyoto is worthy of being Kyoto. No matter when, no matter what kind of storm it has gone through, as long as the sun rises again the next morning, Kyoto will usher in a new scene again, regardless of wind and rain.

The aroma of wine filled the air, and Lu Tingwan felt craving for wine. She was not a person who loved drinking, but she would only think of having a few drinks when she had some free time.

Suddenly, she remembered how many jars of wine she had brewed at Yansheng Hall last year. Seeing her stop and not move forward, Cheng Xianzhi looked at her for a moment and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Tingwan just remembered that she was with Cheng Xianzhi. Now that he said he was going to the tavern to drink, wouldn't he be able to enjoy the wine if he followed her? Besides, she probably wouldn't be in the mood to drink in his presence anymore, and she had to be constantly on guard against his schemes.

Han Zhou crossed his arms and said, "Second Madam, do you want to drink?"

Cheng Xianzhi looked up at the plaque on the tavern and said knowingly, "Han Zhou, go ask the owner for a private room."

Han Zhou followed the order and went inside. After Cheng Xianzhi went in, Lu Tingwan hesitated for a moment, but had no choice but to go in.

She and Cheng Xianzhi had no personal interactions; their previous interactions were always about business. Although Cheng Xianzhi's attitude towards her had softened somewhat since returning to Beijing, Lu Tingwan still felt that he was watching her, intentionally or unintentionally, and was wary of her.

She didn't like this feeling and didn't feel comfortable.

Especially when it comes to matters related to Xie Zhao, Cheng Xianzhi always gets involved.

She couldn't explain it either.

The tavern was packed with people. Merchants, officials, clerks, children of wealthy families, and porters all stopped here. The tavern had few private rooms, and most customers liked to order a few pots of sake in the front hall and sit there until midnight.

Not long after, the waiter brought in two jugs of wine. The round wooden table was set with wine utensils, as well as a flower tube with a human head Buddha statue carved from peach wood and a lotus branch inserted in it.

Lu Tingwan fixed her eyes on the lotus branch. In early summer, the lotus flowers had just sprouted new buds, and not many were in bloom.

Han Zhou poured wine for each of them. Cheng Xianzhi asked him to sit down, and Han Zhou didn't refuse.

However, Lu Tingwan felt that Han Zhou was not like his ordinary subordinates. At least he was not as afraid of Cheng Xianzhi as his subordinates.

"Qingfeng Tavern, the best wines in Kyoto are all here. Second Madam is really good at choosing." Han Zhou raised his glass to toast Lu Tingwan.

Lu Tingwan had never been here, so naturally he didn't know.

"Are you used to being in the palace these days?" Cheng Xianzhi changed the subject.

Lu Tingwan knew that it couldn't be just a simple case of drinking.

"Rongpin intends to let me stay in the palace for a long time." Lu Tingwan did not hide it anymore. She would tell him this sooner or later.

"Rongpin is now the most favored by the emperor. If she gives birth to a dragon heir one day, she will be the biological mother of the prince. It is a good thing that you are favored by Rongpin." Cheng Xianzhi's face was cold as the sake went down his throat.

"The only people who can stay in the palace for a long time are concubines and female officials." Lu Tingwan said, "Rongpin wants me to enter the palace, it can't be to serve His Majesty in bed."

Han Zhou almost spit out his wine. She didn't think twice before saying this.

Her legitimate husband was sitting right in front of her. Even though Cheng Xianzhi and she were not actually husband and wife, they were still married in a formal ceremony. Rongpin might have felt that her life was too easy, so she asked a minister and concubine to sleep with her and share the honor and favor.

Lu Tingwan didn't mean that either.

She knew that Concubine Rong intended to let her enter the palace to be a female official. So even if she was a concubine of the Cheng family, she was already a guard supervisor, and with the additional identity of a female official, it would be no different.

"Once I enter the palace, I won't be able to go to the Ministry of Works often." Cheng Xianzhi gazed out the window indifferently. A cool breeze blew in through the open window.

This is also what Lu Tingwan was thinking about. She didn't want to enter the palace.

Once inside the palace, there were constraints everywhere. If she made a mistake, she would be doomed. She wanted to divorce, but her life was more important than hers. She wanted to save her life and make long-term plans.

There was no way Cheng Xianzhi would just let her befriend Concubine Rong. If it was just to consolidate this relationship, wouldn't it be better to let Gongsun Xue, the mistress of the house, negotiate?

Before Lu Tingwan could figure out how to avoid it, the door of the private room was suddenly knocked open by an uninvited guest. Han Zhou reacted extremely quickly, unsheathed his sword and pressed it against the guest's throat. Before Lu Tingwan could react, the wine glass in his hand accidentally fell to the ground.

After recovering from the shock, he saw Cheng Xianzhi sitting in his original position as if nothing had happened.

It seemed as if nothing had happened, and it was so calm that it was a little scary.

The intruder saw blood on his neck and begged for mercy.

"Please spare my life, sir, please spare my life." His legs were shaking, and he stared at the white blade, not daring to move. "I was drunk and accidentally interrupted your entertainment. I will pay for your wine."

Han Zhou didn't move, waiting for Cheng Xianzhi to speak.

Cheng Xianzhi was aloof and steady. He put down his wine cup and waved his hand twice. Han Zhou let go of his sword, and the drunkard crawled out the door.

Lu Tingwan couldn't help swallowing. Cheng Xianzhi raised his hand, and his slender and distinct knuckles touched the warm white jade wine jug, and moved it towards Lu Tingwan.

"Calm down."

Lu Tingwan took a sip and said unexpectedly, "That man doesn't look like an ordinary drinker."

Han Zhou sat back in his original position and exchanged glances with Cheng Xianzhi.

"Where do I start?" Cheng Xianzhi raised his eyebrows.

"Although that man was drunk, there would be nothing suspicious if he came here to drink. But I just saw calluses on the palms of his hands from years of drawing the bow." Lu Tingwan was not very close, but when the man raised his hands to beg for mercy, the calluses on the palms of his hands were extremely obvious.

Therefore, judging from this person's body shape, arms, and lower body, he must be someone who has practiced martial arts for many years.

Kyoto soldiers rarely used bows; most were equipped with swords and spears, and the majority of the imperial guards carried horizontal swords. Furthermore, judging by his complexion, this man had a coppery hue, and his facial skin showed signs of dryness, peeling, and redness, likely caused by years of sun exposure.

Therefore, she could infer that this drinker was not that simple.

"Xie Zhao once said that the northwest border is vast, and most people pull heavy bows and crossbows. Pulling a heavy bow requires immense arm strength, and the left hand's knuckles and right fingers will have thick calluses and indentations."

"So, this person might be a hunter who returned to Kyoto from the northwest border, or a retired soldier. What does this mean?" Cheng Xianzhi narrowed his eyes and became serious.

Lu Tingwan's beautiful eyes curved and looked at Han Zhou, "Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Han Zhou."

Cheng Xianzhi only gave Han Zhou a look, and he pushed the door open and quietly followed the drinker.

I saw the man wake up for a moment in the private room next door and then go in.

It turns out that I really walked into the wrong house.

Seeing Han Zhou coming back soon, Lu Tingwan couldn't help but ask, "How is it?"

Han Zhou raised his head and pointed to the other side of the private room.

I walked lightly along the wooden wall and could clearly hear the conversation in the next room.

Han Zhou made a hushing gesture.

Lu Tingwan also went over.