Meeting at the teahouse
Moonlight spilled across the courtyard. Wei Shu sat alone under the moonlight, recalling the events of Bianzhou. A voice in his heart kept telling him that he should send someone to monitor Jiang Jin at all times, and one day he would be able to find something to use against her.
"Jiang Jin..." Wei Shu finally suppressed his thoughts, for the first time not following his heart. No one understood his helplessness when he heard the guards say that Jiang Jin was at the Moon Viewing Pavilion.
On the way to the Moon Viewing Pavilion, countless bad thoughts swirled in his mind, but his only thought was that Jiang Jin should stay alive. However, when he actually saw her bathing leisurely, he felt a pang of indescribable bitterness. It turned out that she could have her own world even without him.
“General,” Zhou Cong said, walking up behind Wei Shu, “a letter has arrived from the capital.”
Wei Shu opened the note; though it contained only a few words, it was enough to disrupt the court's order: "Zhaoyang will marry Chang Yi."
"This shouldn't be what the Dou family is after, right?" Wei Shu took a tinderbox and burned the note to ashes.
"Chang Yi, the Commandant of the Vanguard, was both brave and resourceful. He once killed an Eastern Turkic general single-handedly. He rose from a lowly captain in the Vanguard to a sixth-rank Imperial Guard Captain, and later became a fourth-rank Vanguard Commandant."
"Does His Majesty intend to promote him? Could it be to balance the general's power in the court?" Zhou Cong knew that this man was also promoted by His Majesty, but he didn't know who was behind him.
"No, His Majesty just doesn't want the Crown Prince to fall behind the Third Prince, but he also doesn't want the Crown Prince to go too far. So he might as well give the Crown Prince what he wants, but the control will still remain in His Majesty's hands."
Wei Shu twirled the dagger at Zhou Cong, "There will definitely be disputes in the court tomorrow. Chang Yi may not be a fourth-rank military officer tomorrow, but this is also within His Majesty's plan."
"Would the Dou family really let go of such a lucrative opportunity as Princess Zhaoyang's marriage? They've been scheming for this for a long time." Zhou Cong frowned deeply. "They'll probably try to sabotage it, won't they?"
"The Dou family will only try to manipulate Princess Zhaoyang. They wouldn't dare to openly oppose His Majesty's decree. But Princess Zhaoyang is no fool. She can protect His Highness the Crown Prince in the palace and prevent her marriage from becoming a bargaining chip for the Dou family. Such a person cannot be easily fooled."
Wei Shu recalled the woman who had always stood beside the Crown Prince. He had personally witnessed her smiling as she executed a eunuch who had tried to instigate the Crown Prince to become close to the Imperial Concubine. Her methods were ruthless and showed no mercy.
"With these two together, how can the court possibly remain peaceful?" Zhou muttered to himself.
“Princess Zhaoyang has never been a docile person, but His Majesty’s decision to bestow a marriage upon Chang Yi shows that His Majesty tacitly approves of her restlessness.” Wei Shu looked at Zhou Cong with a dark gaze. “Otherwise, why would he bestow a marriage upon Chang Yi, whom he personally promoted?”
"Isn't it to check and balance the court?" Zhou Cong asked, somewhat confused.
“But why bestow a marriage upon Chang Yi? His Majesty has plenty of capable men, but Chang Yi has other uses.” Wei Shu silently withdrew his gaze.
"Should we send someone to keep an eye on Princess Zhaoyang, so that we can inform the general immediately if anything happens?" Zhou Cong suggested to Wei Shu with concern.
"No need. Since His Majesty has not suspected Princess Zhaoyang, we shouldn't monitor her first." Wei Shu felt that all these events were happening too coincidentally.
"General, this is a crystal-inlaid gold lantern that Wang Qiniang sent for the Madam, saying it's to apologize." Zhou Liao held an exceptionally exquisite lantern in his hand.
"Go back." Wei Shu glanced at the lantern with disgust. "Don't touch anything belonging to the Wang family, and don't let anyone into the courtyard."
"Yes." Wei Shu got up and returned to his bedroom. Completely wide awake, he sat on a wooden stool reading history books. The moon gradually sank, replaced by the scorching sun, its light too intense to look directly at.
Wei Shu went out alone, and as soon as he arrived at the front garden, a woman wearing a light pink waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) came to greet him.
"Seventh Sister greets Lord Wei." The young woman gave a graceful bow; her pink dress and lightly made-up face made her even more beautiful.
"If you have nothing to do, don't block my way." Wei Shu, already agitated from a sleepless night, became even more impatient upon seeing the Wang family blocking his path.
"I..." Wang Qiniang seemed confused as to why Wei Shu disliked her so much, and her eyes slowly welled up with tears. Wei Shu ignored her and left the garden.
Wei Shu didn't ride a horse; he walked alone on the road. Although Bianzhou was prosperous, its people didn't live as peacefully as those in Yuezhou.
"A bowl of soup noodles, please." Wei Shu picked out a shop that looked decent and went in, ordering only a bowl of soup noodles.
"Young master, would you like some jade-tipped noodles?" the middle-aged man suggested.
"No need, just a bowl of soup noodles will do." Wei Shu sat on the stool and looked at the busy middle-aged man in front of him, asking, "Where do I go to Fulong Teahouse?"
"Just turn right ahead and you'll see it. Their tea and pastries are really good, though a bit pricey, but worth it." The man said, placing a steaming bowl of soup noodles in front of Wei Shu. "My lord, please enjoy, be careful, it's hot."
"Thank you." Wei Shu took a small bite of the soup dumpling and suddenly remembered something, so he asked, "Where can I buy Jade Dew Dumplings here? A friend of mine likes to eat them."
"That's a bit difficult, but you can try asking at the pastry shop up ahead; maybe the chef there can make it." Wei Shu nodded upon hearing this and said no more.
The summer sun comes and goes quickly. By the time Wei Shu received the specially made jade dew cake, the sky was already dark and gloomy.
Wei Shu had no choice but to hurry to the Fulong Teahouse. "What kind of tea would this young master like?" Fen Yue asked, putting down her abacus.
"Just bring a pot of ordinary Lu'an tea." Wei Shu placed the food box on the table. "This contains Jade Dew Dumplings. Have someone deliver them to your wives."
"My lord, I don't quite understand what you mean." Fen Yue carefully examined Wei Shu.
"I am Wei Shu. You may not know me, but you should have heard my name."
Fen Yue stood still, but the smile on her face faded slightly. "Of course, Lord Wei's name is well-known. Since it is Lord Wei's intention, I will arrange for someone to deliver the Jade Dew Dumplings to you later."
"Your Lu'an tea will be served shortly." Seeing Wei Shu visibly flinch, Sanfeng hurriedly ran to the back.
"Moon Maiden, bring me a cup of Sparrow Tongue tea." Jiang Jin had just closed her umbrella when she saw a familiar person sitting in the hall.
"General, you're really impatient, coming to investigate my teahouse so early in the morning." Sanfeng poured a bowl of hot tea and handed it to Jiang Jin, then took out a handkerchief to wipe the raindrops splashed on Jiang Jin's light blue skirt.
"I'm here to bring you Jade Dew Dumplings." Wei Shu opened the food box; a plate of Jade Dew Dumplings was neatly arranged inside.
"Thank you, but I don't like jade dew dumplings." As she spoke, the Liuan tea and sparrow tongue tea were served together.
Jiang Jin slowly sipped her tea, gazing at the rainy scene outside. "Moon Lady, bring a plate of crispy cherries."
"Yes, madam!" Fen Yue hurriedly arranged for the people behind her to make pastries for Jiang Jin.
"Are you still blaming me?" Wei Shu took a sip of tea, picked up a jade dew dumpling and took a bite. "You don't dislike jade dew dumplings, you just don't like the ones I brought."
“This is Lord Wei’s own idea, not mine.” Jiang Jin sighed as she looked at Wei Shu’s bruised face. “Yue Niang, bring me a bowl of goat’s milk. Don’t let Lord Wei die in our building.”
"Jiang Jin, let's have a good talk. Once we return to the capital, we won't have a chance to properly process this." Wei Shu put down his teacup. The rain outside grew heavier, each drop hitting Jiang Jin's heart.
"Don't worry, sir, I won't give myself away." Jiang Jin laughed as she looked at the freshly served cherries. "Why are there so many?"
“Since my wife wants to eat it, we naturally made more. If not, we can take some back with us; it won't go to waste.” Jiang Jin carefully picked up a piece with her chopsticks. The delicate fragrance of cherries wafted up, and the first bite was a rich, milky flavor.
"Delicious! This is a reward from the person who made the pastries today." Jiang Jin chewed and looked at Fen Yue. "I feel at ease with you all here in Bianzhou."
"My lady, Young Master Liu is coming this way." Nian Pi walked in carrying fresh fruit.
"My lady, a veil." Sanfeng placed a veil from the shop on Jiang Jin's head.
"Miss Fen, bring me a cup of Zisun tea." A man wearing a light blue, round-necked robe walked in.
"Young Master Liu, would you like a plate of jujube cake today?" The umbrella-wielding man welcomed him in and seated him at a table some distance from Jiang Jin.
"No need, I just had some almond porridge and it was a bit too rich. I just happened to be passing by the Fulong Teahouse and came in to cleanse my palate." Liu Langjun, sitting some distance away, spotted Wei Shu immediately.
"That man seems to have an impressive presence. Do you know him?" Upon hearing this, Sanfeng lowered his head and said, "You flatter me, sir. How could I possibly know him?"
Liu Langjun didn't press the matter and withdrew his gaze. Wei Shu looked at Jiang Jin, who was calmly drinking tea across from him, and asked in a low voice, "Do you know him?"
"I don't recognize it." Jiang Jin lifted the curtain and took a bite of a crisp cherry. "The goat's milk is getting cold. Aren't the adults drinking it?"
“The Prefect of Bianzhou is surnamed Liu. I suppose this Young Master Liu is his son?” Wei Shu pondered for a moment and then realized the key point. “Could it be that the one you were discussing marriage with before was him?”
“I met him when Liu Weirui and Uncle Liu came to the capital.” Jiang Jin raised her eyes to look at Wei Shu. “Do you have any other questions?”
"General Wei?" Liu Weirui's voice came from behind Jiang Jin.
"May I ask if you are General Wei Shu?" Liu Weirui clasped his hands in a curtsy.
"It's me." Wei Shu lowered his eyes and nodded. "Is there anything I can help you with, young master?"
"It's nothing, I just greatly admire General Wei. My father is the Prefect of Bianzhou, and I was fortunate enough to see the General from afar when I accompanied him to the capital." Liu Weirui spoke sincerely, and Wei Shu couldn't refuse him.
"I've heard that Young Master Liu and Ah Jin were once engaged, so they must be old friends. It's a pity Ah Jin returned to the capital first, otherwise we could have had a proper get-together." Wei Shu's words made the atmosphere in the building freeze, and even the sound of the rain outside seemed to slow down.
"General Wei is joking. It's just a joke between parents; please don't take it seriously. Don't let it damage your relationship," Liu Weirui said with a smile, changing the subject.
"Of course not. Ah Jin and I have a very good relationship. After all, it was a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. How could such a match be bad?"
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