Rong Heng's smile was very faint, but his eyes were slightly curved, giving people the illusion that he was very easy to get along with.
Zhu Jiayu lowered her eyes, her mind racing, trying to figure out Rong Heng's intentions.
—It couldn't have been just a coincidence that you were passing by, could it?
After thinking for a while and coming up empty-handed, she decided not to waste any more time with Rong Heng. She made up an excuse and left the hall, leaving Wei Qinglou and Rong Heng speechless in the hall.
As soon as she left, Wei Qinglou's face fell. He looked at Rong Heng, his eyelids slightly lifted, and said in his usual dismissive tone:
“If this were in Yujing, and Young Master Rong had come from so far away, I would certainly have done my duty as a host. However, we are in a remote area now, and we are facing a great calamity. I am willing but unable to do so. I hope Young Master Rong will understand.”
Rong Heng nodded slightly, his jade-like face cool yet gentle: "That's natural."
Seeing that he was pretending not to understand the implied message of turning away guests, Wei Qinglou wasn't annoyed. Instead, he asked him in a more direct way:
"Young Master Rong has seen the situation in Songjiang. It is really not advisable to stay any longer. I wonder when Young Master Rong plans to depart, so that I can give orders to my men to escort you on your way."
Rong Heng raised his eyes, pondered his past with Wei Qinglou and those around him, and suddenly a smile appeared on his lips:
Everyone in Yujing said that the young minister, who came from the Duke's mansion, acted arbitrarily and never gave anyone face. Only after meeting him today did he realize how much of this was true.
He's not a very bright person, he thought.
Thinking of this, Rong Heng said, "Lord Wei, Miss Zhu and I are merely friends, why are you going to such lengths? If Miss Zhu knew that you treated her friend this way, she probably wouldn't be happy, would she?"
Wei Qinglou lowered his head, stroking the delicate patterns on the teacup, and followed up on his words, "Is it truly just a friendship between gentlemen?"
Rong Heng scoffed inwardly, but showed no sign on his face, and said seriously, "Is it true?"
"In that case, I was being presumptuous. Shujian, please take Young Master Rong to a room to settle in. Young Master Rong has come from afar and certainly deserves a good rest."
After Wei Qinglou finished speaking, Shujian bowed his head and said yes, then left the hall with Rong Heng.
After about half an incense stick's time, Shujian returned alone and said to Wei Qinglou, "Young Master, everything is arranged."
Wei Qinglou nodded, recalling the servants around Rong Heng. Although they looked simply dressed and were just ordinary servants, they were too tense.
Ordinary servants wouldn't tense their bodies so much, looking as if they were ready to serve at any moment. Their lower body is also clearly trained; they walk with a firm and stable stance, unlike ordinary people who are unsteady.
If it were only the people around him who were like this, it would be understandable. People value their lives, and it's not surprising that they would hire a few skilled servants to protect them when they are out and about. But it's a bit strange that even the coachman and the horse driver are like this.
These are turbulent times, and Wei Qinglou did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble, especially since this person had some connection with Zhu Jiayu. That's why he urged Rong Heng to leave quickly, but he didn't expect Rong Heng to think that it was because of Zhu Jiayu.
Very well, since Rong Heng doesn't appreciate his good intentions, he'll have no choice but to resort to some means.
But that's fine, he's also very curious about what Rong Heng is up to.
"Go and find someone to follow Rong Heng. Be discreet. This man is not simple. Don't let him find out." He put down his teacup and said calmly to Shu Jian.
Shujian agreed and went down again.
Wei Qinglou then got up and went to his study to examine the records of Songjiang City over the years. It wasn't until the sun was setting and the birds were returning to their nests that he finally came out and sent someone to invite Zhu Jiayu over.
A faint, cool fragrance wafted from the Boshan incense burner in the corner. Wei Qinglou rubbed his temples, starting to worry about how to tell Zhu Jiayu about Rong Heng.
He couldn't just say it directly; the young girl was shy, and if he spoke bluntly, she might get angry. But how could he subtly hint at it? He didn't know when Rong Heng had appeared in her life, just as he didn't know the extent of her relationship with him, or what their relationship was.
Will she believe him? Or will she resent him in her heart, thus distancing herself from and ignoring him?
Rong Heng couldn't help but sigh. He usually prided himself on his silver tongue and always acted impeccably in front of the civil and military officials. But now, in front of Zhu Jiayu, he seemed unable to utter a single word.
When he recalled the slight smile on Rong Heng's face when he mentioned "Miss Zhu," he felt even more choked up.
While we were stuck in traffic, Zhu Jiayu arrived.
"Zhu...Ayu, I have something to say to you." Wei Qinglou was about to call her Miss Zhu, but at the last minute, he suddenly changed his mind and called her Ayu.
Zhu Jiayu gave a faint "hmm," seemingly not taking the matter to heart, or perhaps tacitly agreeing.
Wei Qinglou lowered his eyes, unable to describe his feelings. In a moment of distraction, he forgot all the prepared remarks and blurted out his suspicions about Rong Heng.
Zhu Jiayu was initially indifferent, but after listening for a while, her expression gradually became serious.
Oh right, how could she forget what the situation is like in Songjiang now?
She looked at Wei Qinglou and said, "If that's the case, I'm reminded of something from the past. Do you remember the drought in Panzhou during the previous dynasty, Lord Wei?"
You mean?
The two exchanged a glance, and Zhu Jiayu nodded slightly.
Wei Qinglou then understood what she meant:
In the previous dynasty, a severe drought struck Panzhou, leaving the entire area within a hundred li radius barren of grain. As the people suffered unbearable hunger and their complaints grew, someone seized upon this situation, claiming that the emperor was unworthy of his position and thus divine punishment had been sent. Sure enough, a righteous army was assembled, and under the banner of "purging the court of corrupt officials," they rose in rebellion in Panzhou, marching north to Chaoping, nearly reaching the capital and threatening the very foundation of the nation!
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com