Chapter 144 Childhood Playmates
In the corridor, people watching the excitement whispered and pointed. The shopkeeper was beside him, carefully accompanying him, wanting to cry but unable to.
I'm afraid that the wonderful show at Taibai Tower will spread throughout the entire Chang'an City tomorrow.
Downstairs, Pei Ji rushed out of the Taibai Tower gate, and the cool night air hit his face.
He stood at the brightly lit doorway, looking around anxiously. The street was bustling with people and cars and horses were everywhere. Where was Luo Zhaohan?
His brows were tightly furrowed, and a trace of unprecedented panic flashed across his face.
…
The next day.
The weather today is really nice.
The sun hung warmly in the sky, like a runny egg yolk just out of the pan, and its golden light poured down, illuminating the bluestone pavements of Jiangzhou City.
The river was shimmering, and several small boats were swaying slowly. The boat captain was shouting his horn from time to time, exuding a sense of leisure.
But this good weather did not seem to reach the heart of the gentleman sitting by the window on the second floor of Taibai Tower.
As Pei Ji sat there, the air around him cooled down by several degrees. He was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, the material of which was obviously of excellent quality.
The dark lines were faintly visible in the light, low-key, but they could not hide from the eyes of those who knew the goods, knowing that it was definitely not something that an ordinary wealthy family could afford. His face was handsome, with clear lines that seemed to have been carefully carved with a knife, but his eyes were dark and calm.
He just looked at the people and cars coming and going on the street below, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth mahogany table top.
On the table stood a pot of freshly brewed top-quality cloud tea. The tea soup in the white porcelain cup was clear, and steam curled up, bringing with it bursts of refreshing tea fragrance.
But Pei Ji didn't seem to have any interest in tasting the tea. The tea was still in almost the same state as when it was served, and it was almost cold.
The waiter tiptoed over for a third time, wanting to refill his hot water, but the aura emanating from him forced him to retreat. He could only watch from afar, muttering to himself, "This gentleman has been sitting here for almost half an hour, staring out the window, not drinking his tea or ordering any snacks. What kind of person is he waiting for? Is he here to cause trouble?"
He doesn't look like it, but his whole demeanor shows that he is either rich or noble. You can't afford to offend him.
Who is Pei Ji waiting for? Not some immortal.
He was waiting for Xie Wuqi.
Luo Zhaohan's childhood sweetheart.
When he thought of the words "childhood sweethearts", Pei Ji's fingers tapping on the table paused, and his eyes seemed to become even gloomier.
His marriage to Luo Zhaohan was a long-awaited arrangement between the two families. The Luo family was a noble and scholarly family, while the Pei family was a powerful and noble family. To outsiders, this marriage was a perfect match, a perfect match.
Pei Ji became famous at a young age and had a position in the court at a young age. He had a bright future and was the dream husband of many noble ladies in the capital.
But it just so happened that his wife, who had not yet married him, seemed to have someone else living in her heart.
It’s this Xie Wuqi.
A guy who is said to be talented in literature, but he chose not to take the right path of imperial examinations, but instead traveled around the country like a wandering wanderer.
Pei Ji sent people to investigate. Xie Wuqi was a man of both civil and military talents, and had a certain reputation in Jiangzhou. However, there were more anecdotes about him that were a bit "legendary", such as his love of poetry and wine, and his use of a sword to help others. In Pei Ji's opinion, these were somewhat out of tune and not what an orthodox scholar should do.
But when Zhao Han mentioned him, there would always be a gleam in her cold eyes that Pei Ji had never seen when she looked at him.
Although she strictly observed etiquette and never overstepped the line, the familiarity buried deep in her heart and the concern that she herself might not have noticed made Pei Ji feel like a thorn was stuck in his heart. It didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortable.
It was Pei Ji's idea to meet with Xie Wuqi today.
The name he used was quite high-sounding - he had just come to Jiangzhou to supervise official business, and had long heard of Mr. Xie's talent, so he specially introduced himself to him.
But he knew in his heart that he just wanted to see with his own eyes what this man, who had made Luo Zhaohan miss him for so many years, really looked like. Was he round or flat, a hero or a coward?
As time passed, the noise downstairs seemed to grow louder, and Pei Ji's patience gradually waned along with the gradually cooling tea.
Just when the pot of tea had completely cooled down and Pei Ji pursed his lips slightly, almost losing all his patience, a sound of slow footsteps finally came from the stairs.
Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da.
The footsteps landed clearly with a unique rhythm, not as light as those of scholars, nor as heavy as those of warriors, but rather as free and easy as strolling in the garden.
It was as if he was not here for an appointment that might have hidden meaning, but just strolling around casually.
Pei Ji didn't turn his head, still looking out the window, and the aura of "keep away from strangers" around him disappeared completely in an instant.
Just like a hunter who has finally waited for his prey to come into sight, all the restlessness subsides, leaving only the preparation for a sure-hit strike.
The footsteps stopped behind him.
A clear, smiling voice rang out, its tone rising slightly, revealing a sense of laziness: "Sorry, sorry, I kept Brother Pei waiting. I met an old man selling candy figurines on the road. His craftsmanship was so exquisite that I couldn't help but stand and watch for a while, which delayed me."
Pei Ji then slowly turned his head.
The first thing that caught my eye was a slightly casual blue cloth shirt, which was a little pale from washing, but was extremely clean and tidy.
The man was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His long, jet-black hair was loosely tied with a simple wooden hairpin. A few unruly strands of hair hung down in front of his forehead. Instead of looking sloppy, he added a bit of unruly flavor.
He has a very good face, with clear eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and the corners of his mouth are naturally slightly upturned. Even when he is not smiling, he seems to be smiling.
Especially those eyes, which were surprisingly bright, like amber filled with sunlight, clear and translucent, yet seemed particularly smart and even a little cunning.
In this person's hand, he actually held a freshly made little rabbit candy figure, which was crystal clear and lifelike.
Pei Ji's gaze lingered on the sugar man for a moment, then he looked up at Xie Wuqi.
Their eyes met.
There seemed to be invisible flashes of lightning in the air, and there was a crackling sound.
Pei Ji stood up, with an impeccable polite smile on his face, distant and cold: "No problem, thank you for your interest, young master. Please take a seat."
Xie Wuqi seemed completely oblivious to the other party's deliberate distance. He smiled and lifted his skirt before sitting down opposite Pei Ji. He even naturally placed the sugar figurine on an empty pen holder beside the table. "The old man has excellent craftsmanship. It's a pleasure to watch. Brother Pei, why don't you try the tea from Taibai Tower? I heard it's a must-try."
As he spoke, he picked up the pot of cold tea, poured himself a cup, and then very naturally handed the teapot to the waiter waiting beside him, "Excuse me, young man, change it to a hot pot."
The young man responded quickly as if he had been pardoned.
Pei Ji watched his movements, which were smooth and natural, as if he was the host.
This person... is just as the investigation said. He seems easygoing, but in fact he is very dominant and probably has a thick skin.
"Mr. Xie is quite casual." Pei Ji said lightly.
"Life is all about being free." Xie Wuqi picked up the cup of cold tea, took a sip nonchalantly, and nodded. "Well, even though it's cold tea, the aftertaste is still there. Good tea."
New tea was served quickly and the steam began to rise again.
The two sat opposite each other, and no one spoke for a while.
The atmosphere was a bit subtly tense.
Finally, it was Xie Wuqi who broke the silence. He twirled the white porcelain teacup on his fingertips, his amber eyes smiling as he looked straight at Pei Ji: "Brother Pei, you came all the way here, so it shouldn't just be to treat me to a cup of tea, right? Let's not mince words. If you have any advice, please speak directly."
He was too direct. It made Pei Ji, who was used to the roundabout and tentative ways of speaking in official circles, feel a little uncomfortable.
Pei Ji picked up the freshly poured hot tea, the steamy heat blurring the emotion in his eyes. "It's not really about guidance. I'm here in Jiangzhou this time, and while on duty, I remembered Zhao Han often mentioning Master Xie as an old friend of hers, one who possessed extraordinary literary talent and martial arts skills. So, I became curious and wanted to meet him."
Xie Wuqi's eyebrows twitched, and the smile on his face seemed to deepen and become more elusive: "Oh? Sister Zhaohan still remembers this little skill of mine? It's really rare."
There was just the right amount of emotion in his tone, as if it was truly a pleasant surprise.
Pei Ji's fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly. The cup was warm, but his fingertips felt a little cold.
"Of course I remember." Pei Ji's voice remained steady. "Zhao Han has a quiet personality and doesn't have many friends. There are even fewer people she misses constantly. Master Xie is one of them."
"Missing you?" Xie Wuqi chuckled softly, as if he had heard something amusing. The sound of his laughter was like a feather, gently tickling one's eardrums, yet it carried a certain inexplicable meaning. "Brother Pei, I'm flattered by what you said. Sister Zhaohan and I have known each other since childhood, just as playmates. Later, I left home to study and wandered around, and I haven't seen her for many years. Brother Pei, you and Sister Zhaohan are a perfect match, truly enviable."
He said this beautifully, clearing himself while praising Pei Ji and Luo Zhaohan's marriage. It sounded flawless and full of blessings.
But when Pei Ji listened, the thorn in his heart seemed to dig a little deeper.
Childhood playmates? Long lost? If so, why did the information he sent to find out that Luo Zhaohan had met Xie Wuqi, who also happened to be in Jiangzhou, when he returned home with his father to pay homage to his ancestors last year? Although it was just a brief exchange of pleasantries in public, but...
Moreover, Xie Wuqi's words and deeds seemed to be distancing himself from the truth, but wasn't the natural calling of "Sister Zhaohan" a little too smooth?
"Mr. Xie, you are too modest." Pei Ji put down his teacup. "I heard that although Mr. Xie has not pursued fame and fortune, he has a wide circle of friends and extraordinary knowledge. Zhao Han has a simple personality. If there is anything he does not understand in the future, he may need the guidance of his old friend, Mr. Xie."
This was quite interesting. It sounded like a polite request, but in reality, it was drawing a line in the sand – whatever happened to Luo Zhaohan from now on was his, Pei Ji’s, business.
Xie Wuqi is such a smart person, how could he not hear the hidden meaning?
The smile on his face faded a little, and his amber eyes looked at Pei Ji, with the light in them flickering slightly, like honey flowing in the sun, warm, but also sticky and even hot.
"Brother Pei, you're joking." Xie Wuqi's voice became lighter, less lazy than before. "Sister Zhaohan is very smart and has her own ideas. Why does she need others to tell her what to do? As for me..."
He paused, then suddenly raised his hand, took the candy figurine off the pen holder, and played with it on his fingertips. "I'm just an idler, I like to walk around and see what's going on. Jiangzhou City is nice, the candy figurines are sweet, and the tea is good. But after all, it's not a place to stay for long."
He raised his eyes and looked at Pei Ji again. His smile reappeared, but it seemed to be covered by a thin layer of mist: "When you have seen enough, you will naturally leave. The world is so big, there are so many interesting places."
These words seemed to be talking about himself, but also seemed to be a response to Pei Ji's implicit criticism.
Don't worry, I have no thoughts about your fiancée, and I have no attachment to Jiangzhou. I will leave sooner or later.
Pei Ji looked at him, trying to find even the slightest hint of insincerity or pretense in that flawless smile on his face. But he failed.
Xie Wuqi's expression was so natural and honest, as if every word he said came from the heart.
But the more this happened, the stronger the inexplicable sense of disharmony Pei Ji felt in his heart.
This person is like a cloud of fog. It looks clear, but when you reach out to grab it, you may not catch anything.
The two of them chatted for a while, seemingly casually, mostly with Xie Wuqi recounting interesting experiences from his travels, his tone lively and his descriptions vivid. Pei Ji mostly just listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a comment or two.
The atmosphere seemed to be much more relaxed, even a bit like a casual chat between friends.
But only they themselves know how many undercurrents are silently surging beneath the seemingly calm surface of the water.
Every conversation, every look, is a silent confrontation and test.
We drank two rounds of tea.
Xie Wuqi suddenly put down his teacup and said with a smile, "Tea alone is a bit bland. Brother Pei, why don't we order some wine and food? The drunken fish and braised lion's head in Taibai Tower are truly amazing. If you don't try them, you've come for nothing."
Pei Ji was about to speak when there was suddenly an unusually noisy noise coming from the street downstairs, mixed with women's screams and men's harsh scolding, and there seemed to be the sharp sound of porcelain breaking.
The two of them turned their heads almost at the same time and looked out the window.
I saw a small circle of people gathered in front of a porcelain stall not far downstairs.
An old man dressed in coarse cloth, like a farmer, was standing there at a loss. The ground in front of him was covered with broken porcelain pieces that looked like some uniquely shaped porcelain vase.
A middle-aged fat man dressed in silk and with a face full of flesh was pointing at the old man's nose and cursing loudly, his saliva almost spraying on the old man's face.
"You old fool! Don't you have eyes when you walk? This jade vase with peony pattern is a genuine official kiln product! It's worth fifty taels of silver! You broke it! Pay for it! If you don't pay today, I'll break your legs!"
The old man was so frightened that his face turned pale and he was shaking all over. He could hardly speak clearly: "Master... I, I didn't mean to do that... I just didn't stand firmly with the load on my shoulder and it just rubbed against me... and it fell over by itself... Fifty taels... I've never seen so much money in my life..."
"Bullshit! Can he fall down with just a slight bump? It was clearly you who bumped into me! Stop talking nonsense! Give me your money!" The fat man refused to give in and even winked at the two burly men who looked like servants following behind him.
The two servants immediately surrounded him, rubbing their hands and ready to fight.
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