Chapter 38: Discussing important matters will inevitably lead to trouble with Miss Xue sooner or later!
The Jade Dew Dumplings and Seven-Return Paste from the Hudong Tea House are famous throughout Chang'an. They are the most exquisite and delicious, and even princes and nobles love them.
Ji Dian had a sweet tooth, and every time he returned to Chang'an, he would make sure to have a good meal at the Hudong Tea House, while the tea itself became secondary.
Qin Jin sat down, and the sunlight streaming in through the bright window made his already fair skin appear even more flawless. His unruly eyebrows and eyes became relaxed and casual with a touch of nonchalance, yet he did not show any trace of frivolousness or debauchery.
Seeing that Ji Dian had a cup of Shi Dong Chun wine in front of him, Qin Jin raised an eyebrow and asked instead of answering, "You've only been gone for a month, and you've already learned to drink?"
Ji Dian's grandfather was beheaded by the late emperor for making a mistake due to drinking. From then on, the younger generation of the Ji family took this as a warning and never touched a drop of alcohol, for fear of following in their ancestors' footsteps.
"If you can't drink, how can you blend in and become brothers with the bandits in their lair?" Ji Dian sighed calmly after taking a bite of the Jade Dew Ball. "It was originally a last resort, but after drinking a few pots, I found it quite enjoyable and gradually became addicted."
Before the Lunar New Year, a band of mountain bandits swarmed into Lin County, Cenzhou, robbing and plundering, disturbing the peace of the people. Ji Dian was ordered to go and suppress the bandits. Except for returning for a few days last month for his mother's birthday, he had been staying in Lin County.
Qin Jin warned slowly and deliberately, "Be careful that your aunt finds out, or you won't even be able to get into the mansion."
Ji Dian said helplessly, "I couldn't get into the mansion in the first place. I have important matters to report to His Majesty in Chang'an. Although this matter is over, the bandits are not yet finished, and the personal guards are still waiting outside the city. I can only sit for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before I have to leave the city."
The shopkeeper served Yangxian tea, the fragrant aroma of which masked the bloody, dusty smell of Jidian.
With his fingers slowly glancing at the table, Qin Jin took a sip of hot tea and didn't respond to the question.
“You’re still so cautious.” Ji Dian smiled. “Although it’s an important matter, I think you’ll know about it in a couple of days. Judging from His Majesty’s intentions, he should send you to investigate this matter.”
Qin Jin raised his hand to interrupt: "No matter what His Majesty's intentions are, this matter should not have come from your mouth to tell me."
Ji Dian shrugged regretfully: "You really don't want to know? This matter may be related to the Xue family."
Qin Jin paused as he put down his teacup, then looked up at Ji Dian. A hint of something unfathomable flickered in his usually carefree eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, leaning back lazily in his chair, indicating to Ji Dian that he didn't need to continue.
"Since it concerns the Xue family, I thought you'd at least show some interest." Ji Dian finally gave up, but then suddenly sat up straight. "I almost fell for your trick. Tell me! The person sitting in that carriage was clearly Miss Xue, so why were you traveling with her?"
As one of Qin Jin's few childhood friends, he knew all too well the grudges between Qin Jin and Xue Rongyue.
He would never have believed it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes: the two were like oil and water, walking together on the street.
Qin Jin and Ji Dian are close friends who have shared life and death. The Wang Jinhu case is now making a big fuss, and if Ji Dian is determined to investigate, it is impossible to keep it a secret.
Qin Jin didn't try to hide anything from him. He casually played with the jade pendant at his waist and talked about Wang Jinhu's case, Liu Ruyu's imprisonment, and briefly mentioned his alliance with Xue Rongyue.
"So you and Lady Xue are allies now? Who proposed the alliance?" Ji Dian was dumbfounded. Before Qin Jin could answer, he glanced at Qin Jin, knowing their personalities well. "It must have been Lady Xue who brought it up first, wasn't it?"
He was heartbroken and lamented, "How could you fall for Xue's tricks again?! From childhood to adulthood, whenever Xue feigns weakness, you always fall for it, time and time again. You believe everything she says? Haven't you suffered enough losses already?!"
Qin Jin almost lost his nonchalant expression and awkwardly touched the tip of his nose.
Ji Dian was furious at his appearance: "You believe her when she says she wants an alliance? Can't you see that she just wants to drag you down with her? This is her trick!"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Qin Jin didn't retort, but lowered his eyelids and focused intently on skimming the tea foam from his cup.
Ji Dian saw right through Qin Jin's guilty conscience and sneered twice, glaring at him: "You saw through it, but you still fell for it, didn't you? Qin Jin, don't forget that when we met at Puming Temple last time, she tried to kill you!"
With his last sentence, Ji Dian's voice suddenly rose, startling the tea servers who were delivering tea outside, who nearly spilled the tea on their trays.
Qin Jin hissed inwardly, rubbed his aching ears, and cleared his throat in response to Ji Dian's angry, disappointed glare.
Although he acknowledged that Ji Dian's statement was indeed reasonable and well-founded, he felt it necessary to clearly explain one point to his friend: "I am currently living with her in the Princess's residence, and we have had contact several times due to the investigation. She... she really has stopped trying to kill me."
Ji Dian: "......"
Ji Dian sneered: "So what? Is it something to be proud of? Do you want me to congratulate you?"
Qin Jin: "......"
He didn't mean it that way.
Rubbing his temples, Qin Jin said confidently, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
The incense stick burned out quickly. Ji Dian clearly didn't believe it. He picked up his riding whip and stood up abruptly. Before leaving, he angrily threw a sentence at Qin Jin: "Sooner or later, you'll suffer a great loss because of Xue!"
***
Having finally managed to leave the manor, Xue Rongyue originally planned to visit Zhiquan, who was being kept in her private residence, with Qin Jin after interrogating Liu Ruyu. She even planned to bring along the new cloth doll she had embroidered for Zhiquan.
Before she could even speak, Qin Jin was about to send someone to escort her back to her residence, clearly indicating that he had already made an appointment with her.
In the past, Xue Rongyue disliked Qin Jin and naturally disliked those who were friends with him. She didn't have a good impression of Ji Dian, so she naturally gave up the idea of waiting for Qin Jin to return.
Jingnu, unwilling to return to the manor, asked with great interest, "Madam, it's still early. Shall we go for a stroll in the East and West Markets?"
Xue Rongyue had little interest; she just wanted to hurry back to her residence to offer incense to Buddha and atone for her sin of speaking against her conscience today.
Upon hearing this, she was about to dismiss Jingnu when Jingnu suddenly tugged at her sleeve. Jingnu exclaimed, "Madam, look... isn't that Lord Cao from the Imperial Guard?"
Xue Rongyue frowned and lifted a corner of her dress to look outside.
The long street was bustling with people of all kinds, tourists and ordinary folks like the shimmering river. Cao Mingyu was not wearing an official robe, but a crescent-white round-necked narrow-sleeved brocade robe. He was walking with a woman wearing a veil. The two were chatting and laughing. Although their behavior was not very intimate, it was clear that they had a good relationship.
Jingnu curiously peeked out and asked, "I heard that Lord Cao is not engaged yet. I wonder who the woman beside him is? Is she Lord Cao's sister?"
Despite saying that, the two of them didn't seem to have the proper boundaries between siblings. Cao Mingyu's usually cold and serious face gradually softened into a helpless smile as the woman teased him.
He naturally took the unfinished cake the woman handed him and ate it all.
Jingnu stared in disbelief: "Could this woman be Lord Cao's beloved?"
Willows droop low, their verdant branches ripple on the lake's surface, the bustling streets are filled with the incessant cries of vendors, and the restless spring breeze stirs and lifts the black veil on a woman's hat in an instant.
Jingnu stared wide-eyed, about to see clearly, but Xue Rongyue suddenly pulled her into the carriage, and the curtain abruptly fell, blocking her from looking around.
"My wife?"
Jingnu did not understand.
Xue Rongyue calmly closed her eyes and said, "Don't look at things you shouldn't know, or you'll get yourself into trouble."
Jingnu reluctantly agreed.
A breath caught in her throat, her heart pounded, and Xue Rongyue's fingertips clenched almost imperceptibly as she suppressed the shock in her heart.
In that instant, she clearly saw the woman's face—
She is Princess Yu'an.
She never imagined that Princess Yu'an and Cao Mingyu had such a relationship. The clues from before gradually came to light. Xue Rongyue slowly exhaled and rubbed her temples.
It seems that we can no longer stay at the Princess's residence until the Wang Jinhu case is thoroughly investigated.
After returning to the Xue residence, Xue Rongyue waited for the carriage to stop at the side gate of Princess Yu'an's residence, but Princess Yu'an had not yet returned. Xue Rongyue walked along the corridor with a heavy heart. Before she even reached the courtyard, a dark figure suddenly rushed out amidst the excited barking of dogs.
"Zhiquan!"
Xue Rongyue looked closely and hugged the dog that was wagging its tail and jumping on her in surprise: "How did you get here?"
The dog licked Xue Rongyue enthusiastically, climbing all over her body. Xue Rongyue smiled and rubbed its fluffy head.
As Xue Rongyue stepped into the courtyard with Zhiquan, she immediately spotted Qin Jin.
His tall and upright figure was like a pine or cypress. He leaned against the vermilion railing under the corridor, his thin and indifferent eyelids drooping slightly.
"Did the young master bring Zhiquan with him?" Xue Rongyue asked knowingly.
Qin Jin opened his eyes, looking somewhat sleepy, and said in a low voice, "Princess, you are afraid of dogs. After you have played with Zhiquan, you can send someone to call Guangsheng. He will send Zhiquan back. If you want to see Zhiquan in the future, you can also send someone to call Guangsheng. He will make the arrangements."
Xue Rongyue was now truly puzzled: "How did the young master know that I wanted to see Zhiquan today?"
Qin Jin's gaze swept over the lifelike rag doll that Zhi Quan was tearing apart: "Isn't this obvious?"
Did she show this doll to Qin Jin today?
Xue Rongyue frowned and pondered for a moment, but quickly turned her attention to Qin Jin. She suddenly said, "I heard that the Honey Jelly Restaurant in Dongfang City not only serves newly brewed peach wine, but also mutton soup. Would the young master like to try it with me?"
Without giving Qin Jin a chance to refuse, Xue Rongyue took two steps forward, her almond-shaped eyes reflecting the cool spring pears in the courtyard: "I have important matters to discuss with the young master."
With his arms crossed, Qin Jin subtly raised an eyebrow, his captivating peach blossom eyes fixed on Xue Rongyue.
Xue Rongyue felt a chill run down her spine and took a step back: "What is the young master looking at?"
Qin Jin stared at her leisurely, then chuckled and said lightly, "Let's see why Madam Xue always has something important to discuss."
Xue Rongyue, enraged and embarrassed, demanded, "So, are you going or not?"
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