Teahouse

The cold wind blew in my face, taking away the remaining warmth on my face.

Mingyu, who had just gotten out of the car, breathed a sigh of relief and took a deep breath of the cold air brought by the dusk.

"girl!"

A day's carriage ride did not dampen Xueliu's energy. She trotted towards Mingyu and hurriedly saluted Yu Tongan when she saw him.

Mu Man also walked over quickly, and after paying his respects, he glared at Xue Liu.

Yu Tongan didn't care.

Mingyu, who had been staying in the same carriage with Yu Tongan the whole day, was still very happy to see Xueliu. However, he felt uncomfortable when he thought about what Yu Tongan was secretly planning.

"Sir, everything is ready." Wu Pi reported respectfully to Yu Tongan who also got off the carriage.

Looking back past Wu Ren, the main door of a plain-looking mansion was open, and a manager was waiting for Yu Tongan's instructions.

"It's not suitable to travel at night on a snowy day. Let Miss Ming rest for one night." Yu Tongan turned his head and said to Mingyu, the only person present who knew nothing about this journey.

Following Yu Tongan into the mansion, it couldn’t be described as luxurious, but it was obviously carefully decorated.

Ice crystals condensed and covered the branches of pine and cypress trees with frost. The yard was filled with snow and illuminated by candlelight. Only a few paths were simply swept out for people to walk on.

"Master, the food is ready."

"Okay." Yu Tongan turned around and told the people accompanying him, "You guys should go eat first."

The people accompanying her retreated in response. Mingyu's steps paused, and she was a little unsure whether she should follow Mu Man and Xue Liu downstairs.

As if realizing that he hadn't caught up, Yu Tongan turned around and looked at Mingyu with a hint of surprise, "You've been traveling all day and only had some dry food for lunch. Aren't you hungry?"

Mingyu decided to answer frankly: "I'm wondering if I should follow Xueliu down."

"Why?" There was a hint of doubt in his tone, and it was unclear whether he really didn't know or was pretending to be ignorant.

"I don't know how Master Yu arranged me."

"Why are you so worried about this?" Yu Tongan chuckled and walked towards the hall nonchalantly.

Snowflakes fell, and Mingyu followed Yu Tongan into the house.

Mingyu's words were joking but also a bit serious: "I'm worried. I'm worried that Master Yu will sell me off to somewhere."

The stove in the house was burning red. Yu Tongan took off his coat but avoided talking about it.

"The preparations for the annex were hastily made, so the food is a bit simple. Please bear with me."

Mingyu was deflated and felt a little powerless about Yu Tongan's attitude of taking everything lightly. In the end, he followed Yu Tongan's words and sat down.

What can I do? Let's eat first.

…

Mingyu woke up before dawn. The unfamiliar environment made it difficult for her to fall asleep.

That was just right, after all they still had to hurry on their way, and it would save them the trouble of urging others to get her up.

What's strange is that I didn't hear any movement until I missed the trip.

Mingyu stood up and prepared to go out to ask about the situation, when Muman happened to come in.

"Girl, you woke up so early. I thought you were still asleep."

Noticing Mingyu's doubts, Muqian was a little surprised.

"The young master has something to do today, so he has to stay one more day and continue his journey tomorrow." Mu Mian paused and added, "I thought the young master would tell you directly."

So Muqian didn't specifically tell Mingyu.

Mingyu had a terrible meal yesterday. He talked around with Yu Tongan but got no useful information, and he didn't mention this matter to Mingyu.

Did he offend this Mr. Yu in some way? He couldn't figure it out.

Seeing Mingyu's indescribable expression, Mumian started looking for something to do: "We can go out for a walk today. If the girl needs anything, you can also stop by to make up for it."

What else can she say?

After breakfast, Mu Man put a veil on Ming Yu, took the silver given by Yu Tong'an, and the three of them set off.

Dai County is a small city. Although it is on the road to the capital, its economy is not as developed as other cities. In addition, since it started snowing, people are busy walking around in the city, and it is full of the atmosphere of life.

"Where are we going?" Xueliu's face was red from the cold, and her tone was full of suppressed excitement.

Mingyu had no idea, but was also somewhat encouraged by Xueliu's cheerfulness.

"I don't know, what do you have in mind?"

Mumian was careful not to disturb others by Xueliu's overexcitement, so she said with a touch of complaint in her relaxed tone, "I originally wanted to buy some things for you, but now you're the boss."

"It doesn't matter. I can't think of anything I'm missing right now."

"Then let's go to the teahouse? It's too cold. Let's go there to eat something and listen to storytelling." Mu Mian suggested, seeing Xue Liu looking uneasy.

"Well, let's go."

The teahouse was warm, the smell of tea and the aroma of food mixed together. The storyteller sat on the stage, his face beaming with joy, and no one knew what he was saying.

Mingyu seldom came to these places. Emperor Dewen didn't like her running around. In order not to offend Emperor Dewen, she stayed in her residence after leaving the palace, looking around with great curiosity.

They asked for a private room so they could clearly see the storyteller's expressions and movements downstairs, but no one else could see them.

Seeing the smile on Mingyu's face, Mumian felt a little relieved and started talking to Mingyu: "Young lady, do you seldom come here?"

"Well, it's strange to sit here and listen to a book by yourself, so I seldom come here."

"The girl should try the dim sum in this teahouse," Xueliu said seriously. "The dim sum in most teahouses is delicious, but the tea is pretty average. It's a good thing this place has the name 'teahouse'."

Mingyu took over Xueliu's words and said, "Then what would be a suitable name?"

"Dim Sum Tower? Or Story Tower?"

Mingyu was amused.

She seemed like she hadn't been in such a good mood for a long time. When did it start?

Mingyu didn't think about it, but looked at the storyteller with a little curiosity, paying attention to what he was saying.

"...It is said that this traitor was completely devoid of conscience, committing every one of the ten evils of humanity. He was disloyal, unrighteous, and unfilial, plotting treason and rebellion, and even poisoning Emperor Dewen. The Emperor, with his wisdom and might, slew the traitor with a single blow, thus restoring peace."

The corners of Mingyu's mouth slowly drooped, and his relaxed mood completely disappeared.

"Miss, let's go." Mumian also heard what the storyteller was saying. His face darkened and he cautiously suggested to Mingyu.

"Our emperor is the true dragon emperor. The Wuzhu Hall has spoken again after many years. It is a divine oracle from heaven. With this, are you still afraid of not being able to live a good life?"

The other spectators nodded in agreement.

Mingyu was silent for a moment, then smiled again and nodded, "Let's go."

Xue Liu didn't dare to delay. She brushed off the crumbs on her clothes and followed the two downstairs.

"I heard that on the day he ascended the throne, auspicious light descended from the sky. Isn't this a sign from heaven?"

"If you ask me, it's because the rebels went too far, and even Heaven couldn't stand it anymore. He's happy to see the legitimate ruler take the throne."

"Those traitors who are on the run will eventually be eliminated by the emperor. This is God's blessing!"

The noisy discussions uncontrollably penetrated into my ears and deep into my brain.

I left the teahouse and was away from the noise, but it seemed to be all around me.

"Miss, are you okay?" Mumian looked at Mingyu with a worried look in her eyes. "Do you want to keep walking?"

Mingyu stared at Kapok, his mind drifting away.

Mumian was a little uneasy and reminded softly: "Girl?"

Mingyu came back to his senses and smiled: "It's okay, keep walking. This is a rare opportunity to move around during the journey."

Seeing that the two were still a little uneasy, Mingyu thought for a moment and decided on a destination.

"Let's go to the market. I want to buy some pen and paper. I'm not used to not having anything to write with."

"The food at the market is better than that in the teahouse." Xue Liu quickly added.

"Yeah?"

“The market has much more variety…”

Following Xueliu's chatter, Mingyu left the teahouse and headed towards the market.

The market was not crowded. After staying in the teahouse for a while, the market slowly began to disperse, leaving only a few scattered stalls and fixed merchants selling their wares.

It’s okay. Mingyu mainly wanted to buy some paper and pen. He had been a historian for many years and was not used to being away from paper and pen for a while.

The paper was certainly not as exquisite and sturdy as the ones used in the palace, but it was completely sufficient. I thought of getting some charcoal pencils that would be convenient for use on the road. While I was choosing, I heard the shop assistants discussing the notices posted that morning.

"Did you see the notice? The palace is recruiting."

Mingyu sighed silently in her heart. Is there no way to escape? Is it not possible for her not to know?

The servant couldn't hear what she was thinking and continued discussing with his companions.

"I see, the salary is quite generous."

"Of course, that's the imperial palace." The servant winked, "If that nobleman takes a fancy to me and brings me back to work, the salary will be higher than this."

"girl?"

Xueliu went to buy food, and Muqian never thought that she would hear these things.

Mingyu shook his head and continued to choose charcoal.

The palace coup happened not long ago, and although the actual impact was not significant, people's attention to the palace was not easily reduced.

"You wish! Be careful not to be dragged into this." The servant's companion glanced at his legs suggestively. "Be careful not to have any descendants. Your mother will not forgive you."

"What are you thinking? We're hiring people to repair the imperial palace. If I give you a knife, how are you going to work while you're lying down for a few months?"

After choosing the fish, he asked Mu Mian to pay the bill and stood there listening to the conversation between the two.

Renovating the imperial palace? That's new.

There was a special workshop in the palace to repair it, and eunuchs also helped. It was rare for them to suddenly recruit people into the palace and allow migrant workers to enter the palace and endanger the emperor's safety.

Moreover, as a historian, Mingyu knew that there was no place in the palace that was so dilapidated that it needed to recruit outside help.

"Where should I repair that?"

The servant spoke in a mysterious tone, and Mingyu could only hear a few vague syllables, as if he was talking about the Witch Hall.

The servant's companion was a little excited, but was soon interrupted by the shopkeeper.

"You two, you're not working, you're just mumbling about something. I don't pay you to talk. If you don't want to work, get out!"

The two of them agreed and dispersed, and Muqian recovered.

"Let's go."

The moment he turned around, Mingyu was confused. What was there to repair in that shabby place?