The three soups include bean soup, water shield soup and clam soup, which are a combination of meat and vegetables, each with its own flavor.
Among the nine dishes, Xu Jiang liked the Xiao He Chu Li dish the most and ate several of them in a row. Seeing this, Madam Lou and Lou Yunchun both reached out their chopsticks to pick up some food for her.
Seeing that her son had already put the dish into Xu Jiang's bowl, Mrs. Lou turned around and put the dish into Lou Jing's bowl.
Lou Jing picked up a small lotus root, dipped it in vinegar, and bit off half of it. Seeing this, Mrs. Lou scooped another spoonful of shrimp into his bowl with a spoon. It was delicious.
The family ate without talking, quietly but affectionately.
After the meal was over, the maids cleared away the leftovers and served tea. Lou Jingcai then said to Lou Yunchun, "It's a long journey, so please take care of yourself. Be thoughtful and cautious in your actions, and don't rush into anything. Remember that there are people waiting for you at home."
Lou Yunchun replied solemnly, "I will remember my father's teachings and will be careful."
Mrs. Lou simply said four words: "Come back soon."
Lou Yunchun nodded, "Okay."
Xu Jiang suppressed her homesickness and said with a smile, "When you come back, it should be the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll be waiting for you."
Mid-Autumn Festival is when they first met, and it is time for them to reunite.
Lou Yunchun's eyes were blazing, "I will definitely live up to this good opportunity."
After the banquet, Lou Jing and his wife went to pack Lou Yunchun's bag. They needed two horses, one for riding and one for following, as well as two sets of clothes, one thick and one thin, a thin blanket, and enough money. Xu Jiang had already prepared everything else.
When Lou Jing saw the travel notes and maps Xu Jiang had prepared for Lou Yunchun, he couldn't help but sigh at her thoughtfulness. He then hugged his wife and said, "This kid is as lucky as his father."
Mrs. Lou was amused by him and patted the back of his hand gently.
"So don't worry, our son is a lucky man. He will have a smooth journey and return safely."
Ever since she knew that Lou Yunchun was going to Liangzhou, Mrs. Lou has never relaxed. Liangzhou is so far away, and the mission is so dangerous. Even if she is more open-minded, she can't help but feel uneasy.
"May the Three Pure Ones protect my son and may he have a smooth journey and turn misfortune into good fortune."
Lou Yunchun held a lantern, illuminating the path Xu Jiang was following. The two of them walked lightly around the pond, their voices ringing with the sounds of frogs and insects, expressing their sorrow for parting.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew, shaking off the night dew and startling the fireflies.
The two stopped to watch. Lou Yunchun held Xu Jiang's hand so tightly and so hot that Xu Jiang's eyes became hot.
Until the servant called out from afar: "Master, the luggage is packed, it's time to set off."
Xu Jiang held Lou Yunchun's hand, took a deep breath and said, "Have a safe trip."
When Lou Yunchun saw the servant walking away, he blew out the lantern and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips.
"Wait until I come back."
Late at night, when everyone was asleep, a man and two horses crept out from the back alley of Lou's house and disappeared into the night. When Lou Yunchun arrived in front of Yanxing Gate, his eight subordinates also came galloping over one after another.
Everyone is here.
Lou Yunchun rode his horse to the front and waved his hand, "Let's go."
The city gate was wide open. Lou Yunchun whipped his horse and it rushed out as fast as a crossbow arrow. The other eight people were not far behind and quickly followed, disappearing into the unpredictable darkness.
In Qingque Garden, Zhao Xiu arrived outside the courtyard of Prince Ying's concubine and said to the guard, "Please inform the prince that Zhao Xiu has something important to discuss with you."
The guard waved his hand, shooing away mosquitoes, and said, "If you have anything to say, please report it tomorrow. It's the middle of the night, disturbing the prince's sweet sleep. Neither you nor I can bear it."
Zhao Xiu did not leave, but continued: "This matter is urgent. If you delay, you will not be able to bear the responsibility."
The guard didn't take Zhao Xiu seriously at all. "What urgent matter could you, a wanted criminal, have? Even if you have something urgent, it's so late at night, how can you get it done? I advise you to leave quickly. Madam Zi has worked so hard to make the prince happy tonight, don't come here to cause bad luck."
Zhao Xiu listened to the teasing sounds coming from the courtyard and did not insist any more. "Okay, I'll come back tomorrow morning."
After saying that, he turned and left.
The guard hummed, "That's quite tactful."
After Zhao Xiu left, another person came to the guard, and the guard looked down on this person even more.
"What are you doing here? Do you also want to see the prince?"
Feng Miao laughed and said, "How can I be worthy to see His Majesty? I just happened to see Zhao Xiu coming this way, so I came over to ask, do you know who I work for?"
After saying that, he stuffed a piece of silver into the guard's pocket.
The guard was usually close to Zhou Huai. He took the silver, weighed it, and said, "He said he wanted to see the prince for something important, but he didn't specify what it was. If you want to know, go ask him yourself."
Feng Miao understood, then bowed to the guard and said, "Thank you." After thanking him, he followed in the direction Zhao Xiu left.
He chased into a small alley, but couldn't find Zhao Xiu. He was about to head to the servants' room where Zhao Xiu was resting when a voice suddenly came from behind him, "Why are you following me?"
Feng Miao was startled, then turned around and said with a smile, "Master Zhao, you must be joking. I just happened to be passing by here, but Master Zhao's sudden voice scared me."
"Feng Miao." Zhao Xiu rubbed the two words lightly and asked, "I heard that your parents are just ordinary farmers."
"Why are you asking this, Mr. Zhao?" Feng Miao's smile faded, revealing a sinister look.
Zhao Xiu stepped forward and, in the dim light from the roadside corner lamp, scanned Feng Miao's face inch by inch with a cold and sarcastic gaze.
"Do your parents know that you, a talent who was raised with the blood and flesh of the Feng family, are now being used as a dog by these dandies in the capital?"
Feng Miao's expression changed, and then he sneered, "If Tanhualang can become one, why can't I? Is there any difference?"
"I'm not like you." A glint of snow flashed in Zhao Xiu's eyes. "Feng Miao, you've been away from home for so many years. Do you miss your parents?"
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