Chapter 97: Iron Tree Blossoms
In the dim light, an extremely expensive blank visiting card lay quietly on the desk.
Covered in silk, it feels soft and smooth to the touch, and even in the dim light it exudes a subtle, restrained luster.
The edges of the scroll are embroidered with elegant and graceful patterns of orchids and bamboos using extremely fine gold and silver threads - they are the orchids and bamboos, two of the four gentlemen of flowers.
The fourth piece of plain paper was finally filled. Pei Ji put down his pen, let out a long sigh, and a feeling of fatigue with a strong smell of alcohol instantly surged over him.
He leaned back in the cold chair and closed his eyes.
His eyes accidentally swept across the tall black lacquer wardrobe in the corner.
He stood up with the help of the desk, walked over somewhat unsteadily, and opened the cabinet door.
The clothes in the closet were neatly arranged. At the deepest part, the dark blue brocade robe with dark cloud patterns was folded meticulously.
It was the piece that was contaminated with Luo Zhaohan's scent that day, and Lai Fu earnestly advised him to throw it away.
He stretched out his hand, his fingertips touched the cool and smooth fabric, paused for a moment, and finally took it out.
The strong smell of alcohol instantly enveloped him.
He hugged the cold robe tightly to his chest, as if hugging a piece of ice. However, beneath the crisp scent of pine and cypress, a faint, yet seemingly imprinted, fragrance of a young girl, deep within the fabric, quietly reached his nose.
This faint scent intertwined with the strong smell of alcohol, forming a heart-pounding vortex.
He held the cold robe in his arms and staggered towards the bed, not even having time to take off his coat, shoes and socks.
Heavy fatigue and drunkenness were like a tide, engulfing him in an instant.
With a strong drunkenness, the vague but extremely persistent murmur finally blurted out uncontrollably:
"Dad and Mom are well... Zhao Zhao is also well..."
…
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the dawn was just breaking, and the Fuyuan General's Mansion was filled with the lazy atmosphere of the festival.
Luo Zhaohan had just gotten up and finished washing up when her personal maid came in carrying a small, inconspicuous blue cloth bundle and whispered, "Miss, Aunt Zhang sent someone to deliver it this morning, saying it's a letter from last night."
Luo Zhaohan's eyes narrowed, he took the bundle, and waved his hand to dismiss his attendants.
She walked to the light by the window, untied the bundle, and found only a neatly folded piece of plain paper inside.
Unfolding it, Aunt Zhang's handwriting was clear, just a few lines:
"Last night at the New Year's Eve banquet, Madam Xie publicly called Liu Yueli a seductress. She was so angry that she threw scalding hot soup in her face! Xie Wuqi's face turned pale, and he wanted to argue with Madam Xie. But what about Liu Yueli? She endured the excruciating pain on her face, her face pale, and she still managed to finish the New Year's Eve ceremony. She spoke and acted in a proper and polite manner, and finally calmed Madam Xie's anger.
After that was done, I acted as planned. I found an opportunity and accidentally revealed to Liu Yueli that Xie Wuqi wanted to marry the Princess of Liuyang. When she heard this, she dropped the cup in her hand and it shattered! But strangely, her expression was unusually calm, and she only said, "It's worth it."
I couldn't help but ask her: Is it worth it to give up your reputation and future for such a heartless man?
She was silent for a while, then reached out and gently touched her belly, saying, "Of course it's worth it." I watched coldly from the side, and felt that her feelings for Xie Wuqi were much weaker than when Xie Wuqi broke off the engagement and took her back home!
However, later in a casual chat, I mentioned the name 'Luo Zhaohan', and Liu Yueli's eyes suddenly became extremely scary! That strong reaction was definitely abnormal! I hereby report this."
Luo Zhaohan's fingertips slowly and forcefully traced the last few lines of the letter. Her eyes became increasingly sharp.
Aunt Zhang.
She repeated the name silently in her mind.
This woman, immersed in the harem struggles for decades, has long developed a pair of sharp eyes.
She said that Liu Yueli's feelings for Xie Wuqi had faded, and that was really the case, not just speculation.
And the last sentence, Liu Yueli's strong and unconcealable strange reaction when her name was mentioned, instantly confirmed her vague but strong guess last night.
"I see..." She whispered to herself, her voice as soft as a sigh, but the corners of her lips curled up very slowly.
Perhaps my previous gaze was too focused on that idiot Xie Wuqi.
I thought he was the chess player, the culprit. Now it seems that he is just a chess piece being manipulated on the chessboard.
The truly deadly venomous snakes were lurking in the deeper shadows, spitting out their tongues.
Liu Yueli...
Luo Zhaohan let go of his hand and let the crumpled paper ball fall at his feet.
She walked to the window, her eyes penetrating the festive red decorations in the courtyard and looking into the unknown distance outside the high walls, her eyes as deep as an ancient well.
In my previous life, what role did you play in the tragedy where the entire Luo family was executed and the blood was stained on the execution ground?
How much of my Luo family’s blood is stained on your seemingly weak hands?
…
It was already bright outside, and the bright light shone through the carved window lattice, making Luo Zhaohan's eyelids jump and wake him up suddenly.
My heart was beating so wildly that it almost jumped out.
She sat up, hugging the quilt, her head as dizzy as if filled with sticky paste. The bizarre dreams of last night and Pei Ji's eyes like deep pools lingered in her mind.
She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again, saw the light in the room, and her heart sank suddenly.
It's broken! I overslept!
"Chunxi!" The voice came out with hoarseness and obvious panic.
The door opened, and Chunxi hurried in with a copper basin of hot water, her usual gentle smile on her face: "Miss, are you awake? Did you sleep well? Madam specifically instructed that since it's the first month of the year and there are no outside visitors, you can sleep a little longer."
She put down the copper basin, wrung out a hot towel and handed it over.
Luo Zhaohan took the warm, wet handkerchief and rubbed it across his face twice, not caring about the cold water droplets sliding down his temples. "What time is it?"
She asked anxiously, her voice tense, "Why didn't you call me earlier?"
Chunxi was a little surprised by her unusual eagerness, but he explained in a gentle voice, "It's already past midnight, Miss. Madam said you didn't sleep well last night, so she specifically asked not to disturb you. Besides, there's nothing important going on in the mansion today, so you don't have to..."
"Master Pei!" Luo Zhaohan blurted out, his voice trembling slightly. The wet handkerchief was still clutched in his hand, and the water stains had stained a small dark spot on his sleeve. "Is he... already here?"
The last few words were so soft that they were almost inaudible.
Chunxi suddenly realized what was going on. Seeing her young lady in such a state of panic, she suppressed her laughter and said in a relaxed and soothing tone, "Don't worry, young lady. Master Pei sent a visiting card saying he would visit her today, but it's still early. Besides,"
She picked up the comb, walked behind Luo Zhaohan, and gently pressed her thin shoulders. "Even if the master arrived now, the young master would be in front to greet him. You should at least be dressed and dressed before meeting the guests, right?"
Luo Zhaohan was pushed by Chunxi to sit in front of the dressing table. The diamond-shaped mirror reflected a pale and flushed face, with a faint blue shadow under the eyes. His hair was messy and scattered, and a few strands of wet hair stuck to the side of his neck.
This description...
A strong wave of regret surged in her heart, like countless tiny needles pricking her.
How could I have overslept? I clearly told myself to get up early last night!
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the throbbing and embarrassment.
Is Pei Ji in the front hall now? Or is he on his way?
Did she miss the moment he arrived?
"Hurry up!" Luo Zhaohan watched Chunxi in the mirror slowly combing her long hair and couldn't help but urge her. His fingers unconsciously twisted the fabric on his knees. "Just tie it into a bun! The faster the better!"
Her mind was no longer on this long black hair, and she wished she could fly to the front hall immediately.
Chunxi thought she was afraid of neglecting her distinguished guest and being impolite, so she began to work briskly. As she combed her hair, she smiled and assured him, "Don't worry, young lady. I'll be careful about the weight and make sure it's done quickly and perfectly! Just sit still and don't move, I guarantee you won't make any mistakes."
She skillfully separated the hair strands, and the comb scraped across her scalp with warmth, bringing a slightly comfortable numbing sensation.
Luo Zhaohan felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles, his eyes fixed on the silver hairpin on the dressing table.
"Oh, Miss," Chunxi suddenly remembered something, and without stopping her hands, she said casually, "Young Master came here when you were still asleep."
Luo Zhaohan's heart suddenly jumped, as if being gripped by an invisible hand: "Jin Ce? What did he say?"
"The young master asked if you were awake," Chunxi recalled, "and asked if you wanted to go to the front to meet Master Pei if you were awake."
His brother's words were like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil, instantly exploding in Luo Zhaohan's heart.
Jin Ce came here specifically to ask!
It was obvious that Pei Ji had arrived! Or, he was already very close!
The huge impact almost made her jump up from the stool, but Chunxi quickly grabbed her shoulders.
"Miss! Your hair isn't tied up yet!" Chunxi was both angry and amused, pressing her harder. "No matter how serious the matter is, wait until your hair is done! How can you rush out with wet hair and a loose bun like this? Master Pei would be shocked if he saw you."
She picked up the silver hairpin and inserted it firmly into the newly formed bun, securing it in place. "Don't worry, the young master is in the lead, so nothing will go wrong. I'm very quick."
Luo Zhaohan was pushed back onto the stool, his body stiff and his chest heaving violently.
Chunxi didn't know that she was not afraid of being rude at all, she was afraid of missing out.
Afraid of missing the glance when he walked in, afraid of missing the moment when his voice sounded, afraid of missing any trace of him.
She could only bite her lower lip tightly and force herself to stay still, but her eyes were anxiously glued to the direction of the door reflected in the mirror, as if the man's figure would appear there in the next moment.
At this moment, outside the gate of Fuyuan General's Mansion, the atmosphere was strangely tense.
A black flat-top carriage was parked steadily in front of the steps. The strong horse pulling the carriage had shiny fur and snorted loudly, spewing out clouds of white mist.
The coachman Lai Fu was also in particularly good spirits today, wearing a brand new indigo cotton jacket, a new felt hat on his head, and his back was straight.
The gate was already open. Luo Jince, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe and an ermine fur waistcoat, stood on the stone steps in front of the gate, a warm smile on his face, ready to greet the powerful yet usually unpopular Dali Temple Shaoqing.
However, the moment Pei Ji bent down and stepped out of the carriage, the well-trained smile on Luo Jince's face froze instantly, and his eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had suddenly seen a ghost in broad daylight.
Is this Pei Ji? The "cold-faced Yama" who always cloaks himself in dark official robes, radiating a chilling aura that keeps no one near him?
The person in front of me stands tall and straight like a pine tree after snow.
She was wearing a brand new robe made of sky-blue brocade that looked like it had been rained on. The fabric had a warm and restrained luster under the winter sun. Upon closer inspection, the dark pattern was an extremely elegant cloud and water pattern in the same color.
The collar and cuffs were rolled with a finger-wide silver-gray sable fur, which was soft and fluffy, and softened his slightly thin jawline.
Around his waist was a black jade belt, from which hung a superb white jade pendant. What struck Luo Jince most was the crown on his head—the old-fashioned ebony crown was gone, replaced by a simple yet exquisite white jade crown.
This outfit, from head to toe, is exquisite and sophisticated even down to the hair.
It's not a festival, and you're not attending a royal banquet. You're just coming to the general's mansion to pay New Year's greetings?
The doubt in Luo Jince's heart was like the ripples on the lake surface when a stone was thrown into it.
He racked his brains and went over all of Pei Ji's limited public appearances in his mind.
At the flower-viewing banquet in the palace, this man, dressed in a dark purple official robe, sat in a corner and watched coldly; at the last welcoming banquet, he was still dressed in his signature black-blue robe, and after offering a glass of wine, he said nothing more, like a moving iceberg.
Has it ever been as grand as today, like a peacock spreading its feathers?
Pei Ji has stepped steadily onto the stone steps.
The dark, thick-soled official boots made a steady, gentle sound as they stepped on the cleanly swept bluestone slabs. He walked to Luo Jince and stopped a step away, his eyes fixed on his face.
Then, the Dali Temple Shaoqing, who was known for his coldness and hardness, actually curved his lips into a gentle arc.
Luo Jince felt a chill rushing from his tailbone to the top of his head, making his scalp numb.
He had lived for more than ten years, and this was the first time he saw Pei Ji smile!
This feeling is a hundred times more terrifying than seeing a thousand-year-old iron tree bloom overnight!
He subconsciously took half a step back.
"Mr. Luo." Pei Ji spoke, his voice still low, but without the coldness of the past. He even nodded slightly, "Happy New Year. I'm sorry for disturbing you by coming here."
Luo Jince was so stunned by the call of "Master Luo" and the smile that flashed across his face that his tongue was a little tied. He quickly bowed and forced a smile that was uglier than crying: "Master Pei... Master Pei, you are so kind! Happy New Year! Your presence is such a great honor to my humble abode! Please come in!"
He stepped aside to make way and led Pei Ji into the mansion, feeling a bit unsure of where to put his hands and feet. Watching Pei Ji walking ahead, Luo Jince's heart sank completely, as if a huge stone weighing a thousand pounds had fallen.
Abnormal! Very abnormal! If someone shows kindness for no reason, he is either a traitor or a thief!
This Pei Yanwang usually doesn't even bother to look at anyone, but today he is dressed so well and looks so friendly, he must have a big ambition!
Luo Jince's mind was racing.
Asking my father to do something for me? What kind of a big deal is it that would be worth this gentleman lowering himself to such a level?
Could it be a top-secret case involving a political infighting? Or perhaps the Dali Temple is facing a groundbreaking case that requires my father to mobilize his military power to help? Either way, it's extremely dangerous!
As a military general with a large army under his command, my father was most afraid of being involved in the messy affairs of these civil officials, especially the Dali Temple, which was in charge of criminal justice!
If you are not careful, it will lead to disasters such as property being confiscated and the whole family being exterminated!
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