“Xuancheng, the drums have stopped and people have dispersed. The streets are empty except for the moon. It will soon be Chenshi (7-9 AM). With the streets closed, how could any restaurants still be open?”
Cheng Chumo was dressed in a green Hu robe today, with a short blade at his waist, which made him appear even more cold and hard.
Wei Ying wore a turban, a green round-necked robe, a leather belt, and tall boots. His peach-blossom eyes were charming and amorous.
"Xuanbo, it's your day off, why be so formal all the time? Don't you want to see the legendary Madam Xu? I can't stop thinking about her cooking. These past two days I've been dreaming about that radish stewed mutton from that day, and when I wake up, all I can do is drool—"
He snapped his fan shut and tucked it into his sleeve.
"Besides, even if the Imperial Guards patrol, the area around Huasheng Temple is not under their jurisdiction. If the two of us get drunk, we can stay at Huasheng Temple for the night and return home before the city gates open tomorrow."
The Tang Dynasty had a curfew. At dawn, the city gates were locked and the ward gates were closed. The only places that were brightly lit all night were brothels and gambling dens. Wei Ying was a romantic figure and a regular at brothels, so he naturally knew the ins and outs.
Cheng Chumo glanced at his friend and shook his head:
"Sometimes I even doubt that you are a member of the Wei family. Prime Minister Wei was upright and incorruptible throughout his life, and dared to remonstrate with His Majesty to the death. He was full of integrity. But in your case, all that is left is a sharp tongue."
“My grandfather was upright and honest his whole life, sharing the burdens of His Majesty, but he was still implicated in Hou Junji’s rebellion and even his tombstone was knocked down. If I were like my grandfather, the Wei family would have been ruined by me sooner or later.”
Wei Ying's expression revealed a hint of cold indifference:
"Because of suspicion, my father's engagement with Princess Xincheng was broken off. His Majesty can tolerate a philandering minister, but he will never tolerate a second grandfather like mine. Now that I'm acting recklessly, it might just be what His Majesty wants to see."
Be careful what you say.
Cheng Chumo said in a low voice, his expression somewhat serious: "Xuancheng, you're drunk tonight. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said. If you consider me a brother, don't say it a second time."
Not long after Wei Zheng's death, Hou Junji rebelled. Because Hou Junji was a talent recommended by Wei Zheng, Li Shimin suspected that Wei Zheng had colluded with Hou Junji. He not only canceled the marriage between Wei Ying's father, Wei Shuyu, and Princess Xincheng, but also demolished Wei Zheng's tomb in a fit of rage.
Therefore, Wei Ying's position in the imperial court has been somewhat awkward for the past ten years or so.
Firstly, he was the grandson of Wei Zheng, so he couldn't be left unused. Secondly, the current emperor still harbored suspicions about the Wei family, so he couldn't be given important positions. In the end, Wei Ying was given the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
This position was considered a deputy position, and Wei Ying was happy to have a leisurely life. Cheng Chumo thought it was just his nature, but he didn't expect that he had accumulated so much resentment in his heart.
...
"Thunder and rain, all are the emperor's grace. I am only saying a few sarcastic words, so I would not be foolish enough to say them in front of others."
Wei Ying's smiling face returned to normal:
"My little sister heard that I went to see the fox bride, and she's been nagging me to tell her stories every day. Today, I finally managed to steal a moment from my busy schedule to find you and go look for that old lady—"
Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Chumo's expression gradually became strange.
He smelled an unbearable stench, which smelled somewhat like rotten fish and shrimp, and also somewhat like the smell of a latrine; it was truly unpleasant.
The source of the stench was a restaurant with its lights on.
"This is... a restaurant?"
When Wei Ying looked up, he saw the four large characters "Shan Hai Shi Si" (山海食肆) and a small flag that was raised, but he couldn't make out what was written on it.
The shop was brightly lit, with many people around. The tables and chairs were simple and rustic. On the table was a porcelain bowl with half a bowl of water containing a few bunches of wildflowers in full bloom, their bright colors adding a touch of wild charm.
There was only one customer in the restaurant at the moment, a dark-skinned, burly monk with his chest exposed, who was eating a bowl of dark tofu. It was obvious at a glance that he was not a proper monk.
The kitchen window was wide open, and a young woman could be seen busy at work. She was slender and dressed in plain clothes, but her face was not clearly visible.
A handsome man in black with an ugly expression came out to greet them, speaking to the two in a harsh tone:
"At the Mountain and Sea Restaurant, we only have stinky tofu today. If you have any rare seeds, cultivation techniques, or rare treasures, you can exchange them for a meal."
The stench lingered, causing both Wei Ying and Cheng Chumo to hesitate.
What a weird store.
Strange guests, strange rules, strange waiter, strange boss, strange food.
Should I eat this meal or not?
...
...
Mo Xuan paused, his expression growing increasingly grim, and said in a measured tone:
"However, my wife says that she and Lord Wei are old acquaintances, and that Lord Wei once gave her directions. Please come in."
He clearly never expected to run into the Wei family here again.
"Are Madam Xu and my father-in-law old acquaintances?"
Wei Ying couldn't help but click his tongue, his eyes showing some hesitation.
Wei Zheng passed away more than a decade ago. Even if Xu Niangzi was very young at that time, she would have been seventeen or eighteen years old if they could be considered "acquaintances". Now she would be at least a middle-aged woman. But looking at that figure from behind, he was a little unsure.
Mo Xuan snorted: "If my wife weren't in a good mood today, I would have kicked you out long ago."
"My friend, have I offended you?"
Wei Ying was completely baffled, not understanding where Mo Xuan's hostility came from.
Cheng Chumo, standing to the side, carefully observed Mo Xuan, glancing over him and nodding in approval. He could tell that the other man was also a martial arts expert.
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