After revealing his identity, he asked, "I'm Wan Qingmiao, the young master of the Wan family. Who are you? Why are you here at the Wan family?"
Lou Yunchun bowed and said, "I am Lou Yunchun, and I am here to take Xu Jiang back to the capital, and to visit Madam Wan."
Wan Qingmiao raised his voice, took a step back, crossed his arms, and asked in surprise, "Who do you say you are?"
"I'm Lou Yunchun, Xu Jiang's fiancé..."
"Stop!"
Lou Yunchun shut up regretfully, then let him look at him.
Wan Qingmiao scanned Lou Yunchun from head to toe, muttering to himself for a long time before saying, "You're late. She's already left for Beijing."
"How many days have you been walking?"
"In seven or eight days, we should have reached Fuzhou by now."
"Thank you for letting me know." Lou Yunchun was disappointed to learn that Xu Jiang had left, but he wasn't anxious. Instead, he said to Wan Qingmiao, "Could you please pass on a message? I'd like to see Madam Wan."
This was exactly what Wan Qingmiao meant. Even if Lou Yunchun was not there, he had to be brought to see his mother.
"No need to pass on the message, just follow me." Then he ordered the servant to lead Lou Yunchun's horse to the stable, pretending to keep him.
Lou Yunchun didn't refuse. He took his bag and went in with Wan Qingmiao.
The garden was exquisitely built, but Lou Yunchun did not look away. His eyes would only linger on the plaque for a moment or two when he passed through the hall.
Upon learning that Lou Yunchun had come to visit, Wan Sheng led his men out to greet him. "I didn't know you had come so far, and I apologize for not welcoming you. How rude!"
Lou Yunchun glanced at his empty sleeve, then bowed to him, "Junior Lou Yunchun, greetings to Master Wan."
Hearing him refer to himself as a junior, Wan Sheng felt a surge of favor and personally led him to the Painted Maple Hall. "Sir, please come this way." He then instructed Wan Qingmiao, "A Miao, go get your mother."
Wan Qingmiao responded and went to the inner courtyard.
When they reached the Painted Maple Hall, Lou Yunchun saw the inscription on the plaque and asked, "Was this inscribed by the Madam?"
Wan Sheng was surprised and asked, "How did you know that, sir?"
"I saw it in a portrait in A Jiang's collection." Lou Yunchun retracted his gaze and said to Wan Sheng, "This trip is not for official business. Master Wan, you can call me Yunchun or Zhaoyue."
Wan Sheng smiled and said, "Then there's no need to be so polite, Yunchun. Just follow Xu Jiang and call me Uncle Wan."
Lou Yunchun cupped his hands, "Uncle Wan."
"Come in and sit down." Wan Sheng invited the person into the hall, led him to sit down, and told the maid to serve tea.
The two of them sat down and chatted back and forth. Wan Sheng asked, "Are you here to pick up Xu Jiang?"
"Yes, but I just heard from Master Wan that A Jiang has already returned to the capital."
"His name is Zhenji. We'll all be one family from now on, so just call him by his name."
"good."
Wan Sheng suggested, "Xu Jiang went to Fuzhou, saying she was visiting an elder. I think she'll be staying there for a few days. If you don't rest overnight, you can catch up with her tomorrow."
Lou Yunchun did not refuse, "Then I'm sorry to bother you."
Wan Sheng nodded and was very satisfied with his generous and upright behavior.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com