Peeling a pomegranate, he said, "I'm sorry to trouble you later." His words...
On the way, Qin Weixi noticed that there were more patrols of soldiers in the city than usual, and glanced at them discreetly. Chu Yening, however, had his gaze fixed on one spot ever since he boarded the carriage. He sensed something, and his eyes, filled with a smile and an undisguised piercing gaze, said, "Ever since that painting of the Four Swordsmen, Liang and his son have had more guards when they go out. It's very likely that Mu Tong has not shown up because he is cautious due to the increased number of soldiers in the city."
Qin Weixi blinked: "Fourth Brother, that painting..."
Chu Yening smiled again, and before she could finish speaking, said, "I know."
Upon hearing this, Qin Weixi said, "Does Fourth Brother know everything? But there are some things that are uncertain."
Chu Yening raised his eyes and saw that her eyes were curved and she was in a good mood. Her peach blossom eyes were even more obvious at this moment: "I know as well."
After finishing her cup of cold tea, she was about to pour herself another when Chu Yening suddenly pressed down on the teapot, saying, "It's too cold to drink more than necessary." He then opened the food box on the small table beside him.
Qin Weixi looked over and saw that in addition to many cherries, there was also a plate of peeled pomegranates in the box.
"You peeled it?"
A fleeting memory flashed through my mind: a midsummer when I was eight years old, when many juicy and delicious pomegranates were on the market in the city. Pomegranates symbolize happiness and good fortune, and were loved by people of all ages and even noble families in the city.
Qin Weixi found pomegranates quite troublesome to eat. She had to peel off the thick, hard outer skin and spit out the seeds. She wouldn't eat them unless someone peeled them for her. Once, during a small gathering of friends in Penglai, she saw Xiaoxing happily eating pomegranates.
Xiao Xing's eyes crinkled into bright crescent moons as she smiled: "Sister, sister, do you want some?"
Qin Weixi shook her head repeatedly: "Troublesome, troublesome, still troublesome." Despite saying that, she immediately rolled up her sleeves: "Here, Xiaoxing, let your older sister peel it for you."
That was the first and last time she peeled a pomegranate for someone. Because she would always be captivated by Luo Jia Xiaoxing's innocent charm and the shallow dimples that appeared on her cheeks when she smiled. Qin Weixi looked at Chu Yening in front of her. He knew she liked tangerines, and he also knew she didn't like peeling pomegranates. But how many of his things did she truly know, and how many she didn't?
Chu Yening suddenly leaned closer, just like that day in the study of the Marquis's mansion, when the two were so close that she could feel each other's breaths and feel an inexplicable tremor in her heart. She could even clearly see his high nose bridge, his slightly trembling eyelashes, and his bright and spirited eyes.
Chu Yening curled her lips and said, "Eat it while it's fresh."
The opera performances at Woxue Pavilion never stopped, and the place was always packed with spectators, day or night. Every night, the servants in charge of lighting the lanterns would hang lanterns on the eaves and sprinkle coins and candies from a tray to attract merchants who were drawn by the opera performances, or people who came out to stroll around the market after dinner.
Recalling what Luo Yuan had found out, Qin Weixi couldn't help but say, "This Third Master Fang really knows how to do business."
She had just changed into men's clothing brought by Songyang at the Qin family's old residence—a plum-colored brocade robe with subtle bamboo patterns. Her long, black hair was tied up with a cloud-patterned jade crown by Zijin. Since returning to the capital, she had always appeared as Luo Zhaoxing, but had never worn men's clothing. Little Xing had been beautiful since childhood, with bright, expressive eyes and a sweet smile. Now, many years later, if the six-year-old girl were still alive, she would have grown into a beautiful young woman. As Pu Niang grew older, her appearance naturally changed, gradually leaving the image of Little Xing in her memory. Today, seeing her dressed as a man, Zijin couldn't help but repeatedly exclaim, "What a handsome young man!"
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Qin Weixi thought of Luo Xiaoxing, who was innocent and carefree in her childhood, and also of her elder brother Luo Ling, who was mature beyond his years.
The two alighted from the carriage side by side. Their every move exuded the air of princes, and a nimble servant quickly greeted them with a smile: "Please come in, gentlemen. Would you like something to eat? Or perhaps some music?" As he spoke, he winked at his companion beside him: "Tea and refreshments are ready. Would you like to sit in the main hall or on the upstairs viewing platform?"
Chu Yening said casually, "Just listen to whatever you like." As he spoke, he glanced at the young man beside him.
The young man immediately understood and smiled: "The stands."
The price varies depending on the location. Upon hearing this, the servant grinned from ear to ear, as if he were looking at two money bags: "Alright!"
It was afternoon, and the theater was brightly lit. The lobby was full of spectators, and many distinguished guests were seated in the second-floor stands. Unlike the lobby, the second floor was divided by floral screens, and each partition had a low table and cushions, allowing spectators to sit on the floor.
After they were seated, a servant brought the menu. The servant hesitated, his eyes darting back and forth between the two men, unsure of who to give the menu to. In the end, he handed it to the man in black robes who was leaning lazily against the back of his chair, exuding a sense of oppression.
But the man didn't even glance at him, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. Instead, he reached out and pushed the menu towards the handsome young man opposite him.
Chu Yening then smiled and said, "Order whatever you like. Anything you like is fine."
The servant was taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly realized that the person who made the decision was right there. He had misjudged the young man and hurriedly bowed to apologize.
Qin Weixi smiled and naturally flipped through the menu: "Is Fourth Brother going to treat us? I didn't bring any money."
Chu Yening chuckled softly upon hearing this, then lowered his eyes and placed the money pouch hanging from his waist on the dining table: "What do you want to eat? Fourth Brother will buy it for you. Here, it's all for you."
He didn't used to carry a money bag when he went out.
Qin Weixi casually flipped through the menu, closed it, and handed it to the servant, asking softly, "There's too much to eat, so just bring two or three of the pavilion's signature dishes. Also... do you have any sugar-coated ears?"
The servant was taken aback: "This...this dish is not available."
Qin Weixi nodded: "Do you have Gu Zhu Zisun?" At this moment, Chu Yening across from her also raised his eyes and looked at her.
The servant hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes."
She turned to look at that undisguised, burning gaze. These sugar ears were intricately made, crafted from dough, brown sugar, and other ingredients, involving numerous steps. Finally, they were shaped into small ears, deep-fried, and then soaked in pre-prepared maltose syrup and cooled. She had only ever seen her mother make this dish at the Qin family's old residence. When Chu Yening was young, his uncle was busy fighting wars to protect the country and its people. During the time he lived with his brother at the Qin family's old residence, his mother often served this dessert, ordering servants to bring it to his brother's courtyard. His brother didn't like it, so only he enjoyed it.
Just then, a servant brought in dishes and tea. Chu Yening first picked up the pot and poured her a cup, then asked somewhat casually, "How are things with Jiang Yuanfu after you returned to the capital?"
She was about to take the teacup when she heard this and paused, looking up at him. Before, everyone called her A-Fu, but he always called her Zhen-Hui. Now he was addressing her by her given name…
"Be careful, it'll burn you," he warned.
Nine years ago, in the dead of winter, Jiang Yuanfu wrote a letter to the Northwest. In it, she wrote: "Fourth Brother, may you have a peaceful winter. As I write this letter to you at the New Year, after eating dumplings and glutinous rice balls, I sit in my empty palace, watching the fireworks outside Kunning Palace. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my fourth brother, who is working hard on the distant frontier. Clothing and money are enclosed with this letter. I earnestly hope that my fourth brother is well. On behalf of my elder brother, eldest brother, cousin, and Xiaoxing, I send my blessings. I long for your return."
On white paper, in black ink, line after line of brief words, he picked up several letters sent from the distant capital, most of them from the Luo family. Until he reached the last letter, at the very end of the star-shaped characters, he saw a patch of black ink. And that letter—based on his years of experience accompanying his father on campaigns in various places, and his grandfather's teachings, he discovered that it had been opened before.
Holding the letter, he gazed at the pale moon over the northwestern frontier, sat on a mound of earth beside the beacon tower, and smiled indifferently.
When he was young, his grandfather told him that some people are dead and that's it. People may feel sad and weep for a while, lose their appetite, and be in a daze all day, but as time goes by, they will soon forget those who have turned to dust. But some people will cherish those they hold dear in their hearts year after year, every moment, every instant.
Chu Yening continued, "Qin Luo, eleven years ago, Jiang Yuanfu punished a palace maid in the Imperial Garden, and the maid accidentally fell into the pond the next day."
Qin Weixi's heart skipped a beat.
"Qin Luo, your fourth brother didn't want to tell you these things. Back then, the Chu family army that went to Jiangnan to look for you failed to bring back news of your death. I had already thought of what to say. I thought that if we met again, I would say, 'Qin Luo, don't trust anyone in this world, including me.'"
"But then I heard that you had passed away by the river on your way back to the capital, and then I saw you and me meet again at the Qin family's old house, the Luo family, the Tao family..."
"Qin Luo, you are fortunate that you have not been displaced or had nowhere to settle down all these years."
He leaned back in his chair with an air of nonchalance, his face as composed as ever, but his words carried a hint of self-mockery: "If things hadn't turned out this way, then Fourth Brother would have one day followed in my father's footsteps and died on the battlefield."
Qin Weixi's eyelashes fluttered, and in a casual glance, she saw a middle-aged man in a royal blue robe staring intently at the two of them from below the stands. But when he saw her looking over, he quickly changed his expression to a friendly smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and left.
Chu Yening followed her gaze and said, "That's the leader of this theater."
"I'm afraid he'll have to rack his brains to guess again."
Suddenly, a commotion arose from below the stands, followed by the shouts and curses of the servants: "Hurry up! This is the busiest time of day. How can we tolerate an old man like you causing trouble?"
The two men stood up and looked down from the platform. They saw a ragged, white-haired old man, leaning on a cane with one hand and clutching a gourd of wine to his chest with the other. He wasn't bothered when someone tried to shoo him away; he just laughed drunkenly, "Third Master, please give me your wine... wine, come on..." The old man laughed loudly. The theater manager who had appeared earlier also came out, frowning, and said, "Why is he out here? What are you standing there for? A bunch of useless bastards, get him out of here!"
Four or five servants immediately rushed towards the door, lifted the unconscious old man from the ground, and carried him out of the Woxue Pavilion. Chu Yening immediately gave a glance to Songyang, who was hidden in the shadows and had not been present at this theater before the assassination attempt on Woxue Pavilion. Songyang nodded and quickly left.
On the brightly lit stage, the woman in the helmet and robes, seemingly unaffected by the commotion, was completely absorbed in the performance. The two sat for a long time to avoid alerting the other woman. Under the watchful eye of the theater's leader, Chu Yening suddenly rose and walked towards Qin Weixi. A sly smile played on his lips as he whispered in her ear, "Little Seventh Sister, do you still remember what Fourth Brother said at Xia Guang Lake that day?"
"What?"
Do you want to stand by my side?
Qin Weixi turned to look at him; she had just said that she wanted to walk alongside him.
A gentle voice rang in her ears again, its warm breath brushing against her ear, making her feel a strange itch in her heart.
"I'm sorry to trouble you later." As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Weixi felt a long arm reach out to her, and then she quickly fell into a cold embrace. It was Chu Yening who held her tightly in his arms, and then seemingly haphazardly removed the jade crown that bound her hair, before leaning down slightly and moving his head towards the crook of her neck.
Her thick, black hair fell loose as the jade crown fell. Qin Weixi gasped, but the scene she had imagined did not happen; the person in front of her with slightly parted lips did not touch her snow-white neck.
Chu Yening's lips curved into a smile, then he whispered in her ear, "That bastard is watching. If we don't do this, we won't be able to see that old man." He then stood up, grabbed the dark purple cloak he had been wearing with one hand, slipped one hand under her knees, and placed the other on her back, lifting her up. He then draped the cloak over her.
Qin Weixi watched his actions, so swift and decisive, as if done in one go. Her heart skipped a beat, and just as she was about to speak, the man in front of her gave her a soft smile, his eyes sparkling like stars: "Tomorrow, the news of your fourth brother's rendezvous with a beauty will probably spread throughout the streets and alleys again."
"Qin Luo, don't blame your fourth brother for being so indulgent; there's a reason for it."
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Author's note: Thank you all for your generous votes and quiet support! I'm so touched, I'll keep working hard!
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