In the years that followed, whenever Chu Huaixu thought of that night, he would always feel regret, regretting his weakness and reluctance at the time.
"...I am truly sorry that I left in a hurry without having a chance to say goodbye to my two benefactors." Chu Huaixu bowed again.
Although a note was left, it was still considered leaving without saying goodbye.
"Young master, you are too kind. I do not deserve to be called your benefactor."
During his time in Chang'an, Yan Qingshan had actually borrowed Song Ting's people to investigate what happened back then, and so far he had not come up empty-handed. In his heart, he had come to believe that what happened back then had nothing to do with Song and Chu, but he still felt uneasy.
In particular, Chu Huaixu insisted on reopening his wounds: "I wonder how the great hero is doing?"
Yan Qingshan glared at him fiercely, then turned and left.
The fact that Chu Huaixu remained in the same place was somewhat inexplicable.
"Young Master, the people from Qingfeng Residence have arrived." Just as Chu Huaixu was pondering which of his words had offended Yan Qingshan, A Bao came over again and reported.
Because Chu Huaixu wanted to eat at Qingfengju, Song Ting sent someone to invite the head chef of Qingfengju before entering the palace. The waiter who had served them when they dine in before came to assist him.
"...Thank goodness you still remember my family's osmanthus wine." The waiter knelt opposite Chu Huaixu and took out a large portion of wine and a serving of ice cream from his basket.
The fermented rice wine was actually prepared in the shop and placed in a slightly larger container surrounded by ice.
He ladled a small bowl of fermented rice wine and handed it to Chu Huaixu: "The Commander specifically instructed that since you are sensitive to cold, young master, we did not add ice directly to the fermented rice wine. Please have a taste."
Chu Huaixu took it, ate only one bite, and then put it back on the table.
The waiter glanced meaningfully at the fermented rice wine, then looked at Chu Huaixu: "It seems that the Commander is truly kind to the young master, wouldn't you agree—Young Master Chu?"
Chu Huaixu subconsciously glanced in the direction of the kitchen. They were currently sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard, so they couldn't actually see the kitchen, but he knew that the chef Song Ting had invited was busy inside.
The shadow guards that Song Ting had arranged to be by his side were nowhere to be found.
He didn't answer the waiter's question, but instead stirred the porcelain bowl with his spoon, saying casually, "The military camp's defense map, was it you who leaked it?"
"So what if it is?" the waiter retorted.
"You are treasonous and colluding with the enemy." Chu Huaixu's expression was extremely cold.
The waiter paused in his pouring of plum juice, but said nothing. He simply pushed the bowl of plum juice in front of Chu Huaixu.
The plum juice was freshly taken from a pile of ice; it was sweet and sour with a slight chill, making it even better than fermented rice.
“My father and brothers defended the land and the country. I cannot let the Turkic cavalry trample on the heads of the people of Dayan.”
Upon hearing this, the waiter finally stopped what he was doing, knelt down properly, and stared intently at Chu Huaixu.
Chu Huaixu's gaze met his. Neither of them was willing to back down.
After a long pause, the waiter smiled and said, "Young master, you are joking. That mother and son in the palace caused your family to be ruined and you are now in this state. You still remember these things?"
“Of course I hate them, but the common people are innocent.” Chu Huaixu held the bowl of plum juice in his palm, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the bowl. “If you continue to collude with the Turks, I will tell Song Ting about this.”
A murderous glint suddenly appeared in the waiter's eyes: "This is different from what we agreed on. Please be careful with your words, young master."
"Agreement?" Chu Huaixu uttered the two words softly, then picked up the plum juice and drank it with an air of nonchalance.
After finally finishing the plum juice, he continued, "You can ask your master about the specifics of the agreement. On the day we decided to cooperate, I said that everything must be based on the safety of the people of Dayan."
“My elder brother died defending the border, and the souls of the 100,000 Xuanjia soldiers are still restless. I would never do anything to betray the country and collude with the enemy.”
The sweet fermented rice balls were almost untouched, and the outside of the porcelain bowl was covered with water droplets. I clearly wanted this bowl of rice balls, but in the end, I was more pleased with the sour plum soup.
“If your master insists on going his own way, then our cooperation ends here.” Chu Huaixu stroked the jade ring on his finger. “Even if it costs me my life, even if I cannot get revenge, I will stop him.”
"Aren't you afraid the master will kill you?" The waiter's voice was no longer as enthusiastic as it had been at the beginning, and his face had become more ruthless.
Such an expression is not appropriate for an ordinary waiter.
"You flatter me." Chu Huaixu turned his head to look at the pond outside the pavilion, where koi carp were splashing and leaping out of the water before falling back in.
He chuckled lightly and said casually, "Have you forgotten that I'm poisoned by a Gu curse and was destined to die? Why would a dying man be afraid of being threatened with his life?"
“However, if I die, Song Ting will search every inch of Dayan and uproot the Red Lotus Sect.”
"How dare you threaten the master?" The waiter exuded murderous intent.
Chu Huaixu turned his head and looked directly into the other person's eyes. He knew that the other person was not an ordinary waiter, but that person's assassin, just like the black-clad woman named Yuange before, who was specifically responsible for contacting him.
Killing him would be an easy task for this person.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Chu Huaixu smiled self-deprecatingly. "Although I am now as lowly as mud, I am not your master's slave. Strictly speaking, the relationship between you and your master is just a transaction."
"Since it's a transaction, both parties should keep their promises. To show my sincerity, I have already taken the poison as you wished. But if your master still wants to break the contract, I will not be polite."
"The people of Dayan are my bottom line. If your master tries anything in that regard, I will never let him succeed. I suppose the Red Lotus Sect doesn't want to be targeted by that mad dog Song Ting either?"
Of course, no one wants that. The man surnamed Song is now second only to the emperor and is a ruthless madman. If he really targets the emperor, the emperor's grand plan will be greatly affected.
The waiter lowered his head and pondered for a while before saying, "I will relay your words to my master verbatim. However, there is one more thing I need to tell you."
Chu Huaixu nodded slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Please speak."
"Zhou Tong has gone missing."
Chu Huaixu's pupils suddenly contracted.
He had contacted Zhou Tong when he was at Baima Temple, so how could he suddenly disappear?
He stared intently into the waiter's eyes. The waiter shook his head: "This matter has nothing to do with us, but the last person he saw was most likely Song Ting."
Chu Huaixu opened his mouth, but his hands, which were hanging on his lap, suddenly tightened.
The waiter noticed the change in his expression and said calmly, "Zhou Tong disappeared after the emperor arrived at Baima Temple and ordered a thorough investigation of Sishui Town."
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