commune
Lin Xu was still thinking about the three people he had just seen: the Crown Prince, Jiang Heng, and the Imperial Son-in-Law. This combination was really too unusual... When did Jiang Heng get involved with the Imperial Son-in-Law and the Crown Prince?
Now that Dou Yanxun has entered the Censorate, although he is not under the jurisdiction of Jiang Heng, who is the Grand Censor, they still have some contact due to their shared official duties. When they returned to Mujing, Jiang Heng even sent someone to deliver gifts to their residence. However, Lin Xu has not spent much time with Dou Yanxun recently, so he knows very little about his current political affairs and social interactions.
Seeing that she remained silent, the servant in front of her urged her again in a low voice.
"Madam Dou?"
She knew she probably couldn't refuse, so she could only nod in agreement.
Zhu Ling followed the servant leading the way, and the group walked out of Baozhen Pavilion. They saw hot candied chestnuts being sold by the roadside, the aroma of osmanthus cakes carried on the wind, and children laughing and running around. Everything was as lively as ever, as if this street scene had never been desolate.
The servant led her around two alleys and stopped in front of the busiest teahouse in the center of the street.
A large plaque above the entrance read "Tingxuelou," the name of a teahouse that had opened in Mujing a few months prior. It had quickly gained fame among the elite for its exquisite tea-making and refined conversation among scholars, yet she had never been there before. Downstairs, a bustling crowd filled the place, a cacophony of voices and laughter filling the air.
The servant led her straight to the side door at the back of the building. A little later, the old shopkeeper, who always greeted them with a smile, came up to them personally, looking very respectful: "This way, madam." Zhu Ling was politely stopped behind the shopkeeper and could only watch Lin Xu go up the steps alone.
The narrow, dimly lit corridor twisted and turned, until she finally stopped in front of a side room on the top floor. The lacquered door of the side room was ajar, and cold-faced guards with swords stood on either side of the door, undoubtedly members of the cavalry from earlier. Inside, the faint scent of sandalwood wafted out, and the crimson curtains hung high, swaying gently in the breeze.
She looked up and met a pair of deep, dark eyes behind the curtain.
The person inside the curtain had also risen, still wearing the same dark purple robe and white jade belt. The man's expression was calm, as if he had been waiting for her for a long time. The room was quite spacious, with only a small table in front of him, on which sat a Ding kiln white-glazed teapot, and beside it two cups, one full and one empty.
Upon seeing her arrive, the Crown Prince smiled. "Please take a seat."
Lin Xu calmly lifted her skirt and sat down opposite him. Although they had been classmates, they had never sat facing each other before. For a moment, they sat quietly facing each other, and the room was silent.
The Crown Prince casually picked up his full teacup. Seeing this, Lin Xu rolled up her sleeves and poured herself a cup of hot tea. The tea was clear and refreshing, reminiscent of the scent of rain-soaked stones from Jianxi. She recalled the time when the Zhiqiong Hall members gathered on the lake, and the Crown Prince had also been drinking Dragon Ball tea. She couldn't help but smile.
"Such a precious dragon tea, Your Highness is actually willing to use it to wait for people."
The prince's fingers, holding the white jade cup, twitched slightly, and he half-raised his eyes:
"Madam Dou didn't seem surprised."
What was unexpected? Was it that he turned back specifically to invite her for tea? If they hadn't met today, she wouldn't know how much effort she would have had to expend to even meet the Crown Prince, so naturally she couldn't be happier.
Lin Xu slowly sipped the tea, finding it slightly bitter at first, but with a lingering sweetness. The tea from the Eastern Palace was naturally incomparable to any other tea. She frowned slightly.
"Your Highness is a man of great loyalty and affection, and also very busy with state affairs. It is a pity if you were to return so easily."
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. He had never found her words so sharp before. She was clearly a gentle and mild-mannered person, but the way she stood there made her seem aloof and unapproachable. Come to think of it, Lin Xu's appearance now was quite different from her innocent and gentle appearance before.
It seems to exude a subtle sense of resilience.
He had only come across Jiang Heng today because he was having a lively chat and happened to run into the imperial son-in-law who was entering the palace. The group talked about drinking mutton soup in the winter and decided to come to North Street on a whim. However, after only a quick glance at the street, he felt as if he had been stung by something sharp. So, after saying goodbye to Jiang Heng and the others, he turned back.
And she, surprisingly, hadn't left yet.
He quietly observed her, and Lin Xu remained silent, calmly sipping her tea.
A pot of the finest Dragon Ball tea is extremely rare, and besides, she knew that the Third Prince never wasted his efforts and that everything he did was for a purpose. He must have something to say to her today.
Sure enough, the Crown Prince twirled the now-empty cup in his fingertips and slowly said, "Dou Yanxun has achieved quite good political results in recent years, and Madam Dou is quite happy to be a noblewoman of this aristocratic family."
"It is my husband's and my wife's good fortune to be able to catch Your Highness's eye."
Seeing that her gaze did not waver at all and that she remained calm, the Crown Prince couldn't help but recall his own wedding day. Across the crowd, he had also spotted her at a glance. Lin Xu usually dressed very simply, but that day she was dressed unusually elegantly, which was not vulgar but rather added to her unapproachable arrogance.
As he was drinking and socializing with guests, he caught a glimpse of her sitting aloof among a group of noble ladies. Her elaborate, matronly hairstyle was quite an eyesore.
He got drunk that day, which was perfectly understandable.
After that, he didn't see that face for a long time. One day, she had already moved to Laining with Dou Yanxun. He was traveling incognito with Zhao Xiang. In a teahouse in Laining, after finishing his official business, the two sat idly for a while, feeling rather bored, when they saw her pass by the window.
He thought he was seeing things.
As slender as ever, she wore a long, soft, light green silk robe as she emerged from the courtyard through the blue brick steps. He looked at the face he hadn't seen in so long, a face that seemed vaguely unfamiliar, and for some inexplicable reason, a slight stirring stirred within him. She lowered her head, lost in thought, her slender, dark eyebrows slightly furrowed, which accentuated her graceful figure and added to her captivating charm.
He had been surrounded by countless beauties since childhood, but he had never seen anyone so handsome even when he was sad.
A petite maidservant followed closely beside her. After saying something, she smiled. That smile, which he had caught glimpsed through the window, was like the first willow branches of spring in Jiangnan, lingering in his heart ever since.
Lin Xu raised her head and saw that the Crown Prince looked somewhat dazed, as if he were lost in memories. She smiled and said, "...My husband was able to rise from a lowly and insignificant official to a position that must have been greatly supported by Your Highness. I would like to express my gratitude in advance."
The crown prince was taken aback:
"...You found out?" After saying that, he seemed incredulous, and then asked to confirm, "When did this happen?"
Lin Xu's smile deepened.
"It was just a moment ago."
She was just testing the waters.
Although Dou Yanxun was promoted and even skipped two ranks, surpassing Dou Yanzhou, this was not only due to his diligence and outstanding abilities, but also undoubtedly due to the support he received. However, the Dou family had already poured all their resources into Dou Yanzhou, so even if Dou Yanxun was smart enough, he was still no match for power.
My father, who was always honest and upright, would not have done any of this, nor did the Dou family. So it must have been someone who went along with it.
At first, Lin Xu secretly wondered if the princess had taken pity on her and used her connections with the eldest princess and the prince consort. But upon closer reflection, she realized that wasn't the case. Liao Yan was straightforward; even if she had helped her, she would never have kept it to herself. She could have simply told her directly.
And those who did all this must be quite concerned about Dou Yanxun's current political career.
Lin Xu only noticed that the Crown Prince was acting strangely today, and that he seemed very confident when talking about Dou Yanxun, so he asked him a few questions to test him. He never expected that it would turn out to be true.
Perhaps, in the case of Lai Ning, Dou Yanxun's appointment as an imperial inspector with an imperial edict was also due to the support of the Crown Prince's faction.
But why would he do such a thing? Lin Xu lowered her eyes and carefully examined the Crown Prince before her. This prodigy, who had been strategizing since childhood, exuded a murderous aura even while casually sitting opposite her. She couldn't help but recall the deal between Zhou Weikan and the Crown Prince.
A person capable of doing such a thing behind someone's back must be incredibly ruthless. She hadn't known him long, but now she held his secret in her hands…
The Crown Prince put down his teacup, but simply said, "No need to thank me. It's just a matter of recommending the virtuous and capable."
He added, "He has a strong and unyielding character; he is a good official."
That was the truth. Now that he was the Crown Prince, he was well-versed in the art of balancing power. Currently, the civil officials were fighting amongst themselves, and the military generals each held great power, creating a deadly situation where a single move could have far-reaching consequences. Neither side dared to act rashly.
He was merely using his limited influence to recommend someone obedient and capable. Even if they didn't bear the surname Dou, they would have been from another prominent family.
Moreover, the area around Laining was rife with powerful and influential figures, and a portion of Zhao Xiang's entrenched forces had risen to power because of Laining, making it a stagnant pool that was difficult to sustain. However, Dou Yanxun risked his life and handled the matter very cleanly afterward, demonstrating that his abilities were not limited to this.
Now that this person has caught the Emperor's eye, his future prospects will likely only rise higher and higher. And if he wants to be a good crown prince, he needs to start building his own power base.
...However, when he first learned of her marriage, he really looked down on this idle, notorious playboy.
For someone like that, she actually went so far as to beg her mother… Even after so long, he still remembered the shock and indescribable emotions he felt when he first heard the news. Later, he even went so far as to beg his mother…
The prince closed his eyes, trying to clear his jumbled thoughts.
In the ensuing silence, Lin Xu was heard speaking softly:
"To be honest, I was able to marry into the Dou family thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's grace. If I have the opportunity, I truly hope to personally go to the palace to thank Her Majesty."
He slowly opened his eyes, and a trace of fatigue was clearly visible on his handsome and angular face.
"This is not difficult. When I have some free time another day, I will have the Crown Princess draft the invitations."
Lin Xu quickly expressed his gratitude.
She never expected things to go so smoothly today.
If I could truly enter the palace successfully...
She quickly suppressed her nervousness and joy, and thanked him repeatedly. The Crown Prince seemed to be very tired, and just sipped his tea. Before long, he asked her to leave.
Lin Xu was overjoyed and stood up, lifting her skirt. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she heard the Crown Prince's calm, emotionless voice behind her.
"You look absolutely stunning in green."
She stood there, stunned, momentarily bewildered. She simply bowed her head, quickly said thank you, and left the room.
When she and Zhuling finally returned to Baozhen Pavilion, they found Dou Zhen and He Miaoyi looking anxious. Both of them thought she had gotten lost and were at a loss, feeling very guilty. Seeing her return, Dou Zhen rushed forward with red eyes, wiping away her tears while scolding her, "Good sister-in-law, you're finally back! I don't know how to explain this to my second brother!"
She had already prepared her explanation, saying only that she was tired and had rested for a while at a small restaurant nearby, but unexpectedly missed her appointment. Zhu Ling then took out the sesame flatbreads they had bought along the way back; the freshly baked flatbreads were full of the aroma of sesame, and were extremely tempting. He Miaoyi was immediately delighted to see them.
.
Two days later, after returning home, Dou Yanxun finally had a day off, and Lin Xu was finally able to sit and have a meal with him.
She was always perceptive, so how could she not notice that Dou Yanxun had been quite cold towards her lately? Even when he was at his busiest with government affairs, he was always the most concerned about her. How could this be?
Since she became pregnant, the kitchen staff has been cooking different dishes for her. Although the meals on the table are not particularly lavish, they are all exquisite.
A pot of stewed chicken with winter bamboo shoots, simmered over low heat since morning; a plate of steamed tofu with silver fish, white as jade; a small bowl of lotus root stuffed with osmanthus flowers sprinkled with honey; and a dish of preserved duck with bamboo shoots. The main course was two bowls of vegetarian noodles drizzled with scallion oil.
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