Showing off
Having just witnessed his decisive and ruthless demeanor during the day, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel somewhat stunned upon seeing his relaxed smile.
Dou Yanxun gently stroked Xue Tuan's head. Xue Tuan was curled up in Dou Yanxun's arms, seemingly very comfortable. It squinted its eyes, stuck out its tongue slightly, and smiled, looking even more adorable.
"The food in Laining is not as good as in Mujing; it's spicier. You've been working hard all day, so I don't know if this dinner will suit your taste."
Dou Yanxun, now a sixth-rank official, usually had the women in his household handle the preparations for meals, or at the very least, the stewards of the manor. She had been preoccupied with various anxieties during the day and busy arranging the backyard, so she hadn't had a chance to instruct the kitchen. Unexpectedly, he had noticed everything, ordered preparations early in the morning, and was now concerned about her exhaustion.
"My husband is so thoughtful. How could I not be used to the food?"
Since he was so considerate, she naturally had to adopt a virtuous and gentle demeanor in return.
The two then moved to the Hundred Flowers Hall, which was separated from the clear blue lake in the back garden by only a flower fence. The Hundred Flowers Hall was built in a lakeside pavilion, surrounded by reeds that swayed gently in the wind, creating a very quiet and elegant scene.
The old steward, with his back bent, saw the two of them arrive, and in an instant, maids bowed and presented the prepared dishes one after another.
Dou Yanxun washed his hands and casually placed the handkerchief aside. A maidservant immediately tidied it up and left. They had just moved here, and he was worried that Lin Xu hadn't adjusted yet, so he explained everything to her:
"This Steward Qi used to work for the Dou family. Later, he returned to Laining and managed the estate for a few years, so you've never met him before. Old Qi is reliable. He's been saying he wanted to come and pay his respects to us for the past few days, so I asked Steward Qi to stay and work for us."
Lin Xu glanced at Manager Qi again. Although he was a bit old, he had a dignified and honest appearance. He seemed a little awkward standing in the hall, which told him that he was a reliable person.
Dou Yanxun has just arrived in Laining and is currently recruiting soldiers. His two advisors and several clerks all seem intelligent, but unreliable. In particular, the advisor surnamed Ma's shrewdness is impossible to hide. Now that he has Steward Qi, a native of the area, at home, he can be of great help.
Lin Xu nodded. She couldn't help but think back to when they were at the Dou family's villa. Dou Yanxun always seemed indifferent to these things, and on the surface, he didn't even have a confidant by his side. In the end, he was also bound by Bai's strictness.
Now that he has his own territory, he is much freer to do whatever he wants.
Zhu Ling and Nong Yu stood beside the sandalwood round table, setting out the dishes. Lin Xu looked at the table full of food and found it difficult to start eating.
Shepherd's purse seasoned with red dogwood oil and Sichuan peppercorn oil, wild deer meat stewed with mountain pepper and wild ginger... just by looking at the colors, you can tell that everything has a bit of spiciness. Even some cold dishes, such as shredded tripe and dried bamboo shoots, are mixed with Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers.
Having grown accustomed to the light flavors of the Jiangnan water towns, she found it difficult to adapt to the local tastes. Lin Xu hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of roasted duck breast and ate it. The meat was tender and delicious, but the seasoning still contained a considerable amount of pepper and chili powder.
She choked on the tea after just one sip and quickly picked up her teacup to drink it.
Steward Qi was very uneasy and hurriedly said, "Is this food not to your liking, Madam? I have already instructed the kitchen to make it only 30% spicy as usual..."
Lin Xu finished the tea in her cup, remembering that she had just told Dou Yanxun that she would definitely be able to eat it, but she didn't expect that the first bite would almost bring tears to her eyes from the spiciness.
She picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth and said, "It's alright. Since we're in Laining, we should at least try the local dishes."
After speaking, she looked up and saw Dou Yanxun holding a wine glass, looking at her with his head tilted to the side, seemingly relaxed and in a great mood.
...Was he laughing at himself for boasting earlier and now trying to show off in front of him?
Lin Xu felt her cheeks, which had been burning from the spiciness of the Sichuan peppercorns and Sichuan peppercorns, were now burning even hotter.
Dou Yanxun smiled and shook his head, but put down his wine glass and picked up a steamed crab drizzled with ginger and vinegar sauce and placed it on her plate.
"Try this famous soy sauce crab from Laining. It's salty, fresh, and delicious, and not spicy at all."
He then instructed Nongyu to serve Lin Xu a full bowl of lotus root and pork rib soup, accompanied by slices of fresh, chilled fish. It wasn't spicy at all; the pork ribs were stewed until very tender, and the lotus root was sweet and moist. A bowl of this hot soup was naturally the perfect way to warm the stomach.
Seeing that she was eating with relish, Dou Yanxun picked up his wine glass again.
"Laining is located at a strategic pass between the north and south. Although it is adjacent to Mujing, its customs and traditions are quite different. Moreover, because it is separated by a mountain, Laining is rich in fruits and melons that are not commonly found in Mujing. You have always liked sweet things, so these will suit your taste..."
He went to Donglai Town on business the last time, and when he came back, he brought her a lot of sweet fruits and vegetables, which she ate for a long time.
As Dou Yanxun spoke, Steward Qi bowed respectfully beside him, listening intently. His face was filled with remorse, as if he had memorized all the preferences of this new magistrate's wife.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Although his tone was casual, he spoke with great seriousness about his preferences, even mentioning that she didn't eat peanuts. She had simply bitten her teeth on a few pieces of five-nut cake when she first married into the family, and had disliked peanuts ever since. It was unexpected that he remembered all of this. He even seemed to know her intimately.
As for what he likes and dislikes, I only have a general idea to this day.
Lin Xu ate the lotus root in silence, his feelings quite complicated. Now that a county magistrate had suddenly appeared in his family, he had to quickly and properly curry favor with him.
.
That night, all was quiet. The small window was tightly closed, shutting out the croaking of frogs from the pond outside and the oppressive summer heat.
Lin Xu, however, couldn't fall asleep.
She lay on her side in bed, inexplicably feeling a longing for the past. It wasn't that she missed the Dou family, but rather that she remembered the time she returned home before leaving, noticing that her father's temples were increasingly streaked with white, and at that moment, her throat tightened.
There's still a year and a half left... less than a year and a half until the Imperial Examination in Beijing, which caused my father's wrongful conviction in my previous life.
As a civil official supervising the imperial examinations, my father never imagined he would be involved in a cheating scandal. Even more unexpectedly, that incident led to the tragic massacre of the Lin family mansion, with corpses scattered everywhere.
After her rebirth, she thought she had plenty of time and could lie low in the Dou family and quietly plan everything. But time flies, and now, even just thinking about the bloody disaster that killed more than a hundred people in the entire family makes her feel terrified.
Before leaving for Laining, she made a promise to visit the Princess's residence.
The sun shone brightly that day. Lin Xu wore only a light purple, high-waisted dress and a peach-colored shawl. Liao Yan had informed the guards at the gate in advance. She walked smoothly to the screen wall in the backyard of the Princess's residence, where Princess Kunrou was waiting for her in a pavilion next to the rockery amidst dappled bamboo shadows.
Liao Yan hadn't had a proper conversation with Lin Xu in a long time, so they were naturally very affectionate. Before Lin Xu was about to bow, Liao Yan helped her up.
"I have made my decision."
As always, he was straightforward, concise, and didn't beat around the bush. Liao Yan pulled her to a seat, and before the tea was even served, he said:
"...During this rebellion in the Western Regions, I have already asked my father for leave and will soon join the army to fight, vowing to quell the unrest in Yunji."
Lin Xu looked at Liao Yan's undeniable heroic spirit amidst the clear blue sky, and after a moment of stunned silence, he smiled.
She had long known of Liao Yan's ambition. Back when she entered Zhiqiong Hall, Liao Yan had already displayed many extraordinary strategies, which she had deliberately concealed despite her usual reclusive and aloof nature.
Everyone says that the Third Prince is both literate and martial, but only a very few people can see that Princess Kunrou's literary and martial talents are in no way inferior to any of the imperial heirs.
Lin Xu had long thought that if Liao Yan were a man, the position of Crown Prince would not have remained undecided until now.
Everyone was wary of her being a daughter, but from the very beginning, when Lin Xu approached Liao Yan, he saw through all the hidden ambitions in her heart and was willing to walk by her side, shielding her from all the storms.
Lin Xu's expression was knowing, and Liao Yan saw this, which made her feel much better. She had known all along that Lin Xu would agree to her! Even if everyone around her opposed it, Lin Xu would always stand by her side.
“My cousin is also heading south now. The princess has unparalleled strategic skills, and my cousin has always been brave and skilled in battle. He will surely be able to protect the princess’s health and establish great achievements.”
Liao Yan smiled calmly, "Even so, do you know how much my mother opposed me? She confined me at home for half a month, forbidding me to see anyone, for fear that I would sneak out of the mansion again like last time."
Just then, a respectful and obedient-looking young maid brought in tea and some snacks. Liao Yan watched coldly, and only after the maid had left and the surroundings returned to silence did he speak slowly:
"I can't find anyone useful around me right now. That's why I'm so eager to get out—"
Looking at the anger radiating from Liao Yan's eyes, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The Eldest Princess, who had always held a supreme position, had always doted on Liao Yan, her only daughter, and indulged her every whim. But for some reason, ever since Liang Si's imprisonment, the Eldest Princess had refused to let Liao Yan get involved in such matters.
Liao Yan was strong-willed, and the eldest princess was always one to keep her word, so the two naturally could not easily reach an agreement on this matter. The once supreme and inseparable royal mother and daughter had now almost reached the point of irreconcilable conflict.
Even he himself hadn't initially expected that the biggest obstacle on his path to helping Liao Yan seize power would come from the Eldest Princess.
"...The Princess is so resistant, perhaps she has already obtained some unknown information? If the Princess is worried, she might as well sit down and talk things out with the Princess openly."
Liao Yan remained noncommittal, looking at the shadows swaying in the wind on the hanging flower wall, the bamboo shadows rustling, and his expression gradually turned somewhat lonely.
“Since Mother has made up her mind, there is nothing I can do to change it.” She sighed softly. “Since I was little, Mother has always understood me the most and knows what I want the most. I used to think that Father was timid and had nothing to do with a man with lofty ambitions. I never expected that Father would support me as always now.”
Liao Yan fiddled with the ring on her index finger. The ruby was large and bright, set in an intricate gold-inlaid pattern, and shimmered in the sunlight.
"This trip to join the army will be my first time in battle. Although my father agreed, he was still worried and specially went to Guangfo Temple to ask Master Kongjue to offer incense for me. Actually, there is no need to worry so much. I am not the commander-in-chief. Although Zhao Qiang is reckless, he is quite good at leading troops into battle. I feel more at ease having him as my deputy."
Lin Xu couldn't help but frown. Liao Yan was serving as a deputy general on her first campaign, and being a woman, it was inevitable that those usually burly, rough men would harbor resentment. Even if Liao Yan was highly skilled in martial arts, how could she fight alone? And how could she win over the troops?
Upon reflection, this trip to quell the rebellion of the Nine Tribes of Yunji was of paramount importance to both Liao Yan and Liang Zhengyuan. In fact, when they finally reached that desolate land in the south, the only people they could truly rely on were each other.
Lin Xu still remembers that before she left, Liao Yan took off the ring and put it in her hand.
"While I'm gone, take this as a keepsake."
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