Chapter 86 Boiling Tea: Love is about changing positions and standing on the same chessboard as you...
Love is changing your perspective and standing on the same side of the game as you.
This is a slogan on the wall of the bar where Ning Lu performed stand-up comedy before she transmigrated.
Before leaving the bar that night, she took a few more glances at those words.
At the time, she didn't understand how an independent person could abandon their firm principles and stance for the sake of a fleeting word like "love."
Only now does she realize that she made two mistakes back then.
First, love is by no means a trivial word.
Second, principles and positions are not always immutable.
Xie Qinghe was busy meeting with guests and discussing business today, so he didn't have time to see her.
After leaving the shop, Ning Lu didn't rush home but strolled along the streets and alleys.
Today she came to the pawnshop. The location was bustling, with many people coming and going, so she deliberately wore simple clothes, put her hands in her sleeves, and shrank her neck to blend into the crowd without looking out of place.
The teahouse at the intersection not far away was bustling with noise, and the guests inside were clapping and cheering.
It must be a storyteller telling a story again.
I've heard that the most popular person in Beijing right now is still my husband, Master Xie.
Attracted by the sound, Ning Lu stopped in her tracks.
Young Qingzhi loved excitement and, after following Ninglu around, she completely let her true nature show. Seeing Ninglu waver, she quickly seized the opportunity to come forward and ask, "Miss, would you like some tea?"
"drink!"
Their eyes met, and they hit it off immediately.
The group chose a corner on the outskirts to sit down.
The teahouse wasn't big, but because it was located at a crossroads, it did good business. In addition, the storyteller was very expressive, and when he got to the exciting parts of the story, passersby would always stop and listen for a while, even if they didn't go in to sit down.
Unsurprisingly, the focus of today's discussion is the unrest in Beijing a few days ago.
Overnight, the Qin family, which had served two dynasties, fell into decline just like the Xie family of yesteryear. This led to the imprisonment of several civil officials and the dismissal of military officers.
At this critical moment, the powerful minister Xie Qinghe claimed to be ill and refused to appear in public, and the virtuous and benevolent ruler delayed in punishing Prince Jing.
In the imperial court, people were filled with unease.
"To be honest, Qin You, the young master of the Qin family, betrayed his biological father and ancestors, and managed to escape alive. He can be described as disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust. The emperor is benevolent and therefore did not investigate, but promoted him to the position of vice minister. How is he any different from that man back then?"
That person...
Mentioning that person, without even naming him, would spontaneously spark a flurry of discussion among the crowd.
Just then, the storyteller struck the wooden clapper again, seizing the opportunity to launch into his folk tales.
"Please listen, esteemed guests. Our current emperor is truly a reincarnation of Yao and Shun, with unparalleled benevolence and virtue. Since ascending the throne, he has reduced taxes, repaired river works, and opened special imperial examinations. When reviewing memorials at night, he is so frugal that he doesn't even bother to light an extra oil lamp!"
"But unfortunately... there was a poisonous snake coiled up beside me."
Ning Lu grabbed a handful of melon seeds and listened from the side. Suddenly, she felt that Xie Qinghe's name sounded like a popular young celebrity with built-in hype.
A mere touch can spark a conversation.
In the era of social media, one would at least need to be an internet celebrity.
"This winter, Changzhou was in great turmoil. Prince Jing levied taxes and cut off food supplies, using the money to maintain his military power. Upon hearing the news, His Majesty immediately mobilized troops and provisions and ordered a thorough investigation. Guess what? That Xie fellow... with a single stroke of his vermilion pen, dismissed the matter."
"Not only did they refuse to provide the people with food and charcoal, they even condoned the actions of cruel officials, taking the opportunity to torture loyal ministers and generals. For example, the former Vice Minister of Revenue, Fang Hongfang, was a favorite student of Chief Minister Xie. He was tortured to the point of being neither human nor ghost."
"If it weren't for the Emperor's compassion, considering his talent and abilities, and allowing him to join forces with the new governor, Changzhou would be in great distress and danger."
The past cannot be retrieved, so it is naturally difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.
But with the events in Changzhou so close at hand, she knew that what was said was far from the truth.
A glance swept across the crowd, and everyone shook their heads and sighed, or muttered indignantly.
Ning Lu tossed the melon seeds in her hand and glared angrily at the crowd. Immediately afterward, she heard a murmur of discontent coming from a corner of the crowd.
"That's right. That Minister Qin of the Censorate has served two emperors, and the emperors have always treated him with utmost respect. His behavior is definitely because he holds a grudge against the previous impeachment."
"Furthermore, Young Master Qin is a refined and filial person. Why would he suddenly sue his own father? It must be that Yama used some tricks."
“Now he is feigning illness and not leaving his residence, and he controls all the memorials. If the emperor wants to pardon someone, he will approve an immediate execution. If the emperor wants to promote someone from a poor family, he insists on weighing the new and old prominent families.”
"And there's something even more absurd. Recently, a woman of unknown origin has appeared in the Xie family. She comes and goes in four carriages, very grand. Could she be a witch doctor who came here specifically to prolong his life?"
The more they talked, the more outrageous and ridiculous it became.
Ning Lu found it even more absurd that they dared not even mention Xie Qinghe's name, yet knew his 'crimes' like the back of their hand.
Hearing that she also had a cameo role, Qingzhi tugged at her, and she couldn't help but chuckle softly, her shoulders trembling.
If we have to put it that way, during that period, Xie Qinghe had no appetite and struggled to eat and drink medicine. He only felt better when Xie Qinghe was with her and watching over him.
Perhaps, this can be considered a way to prolong life.
While he was distracted, the gavel struck again.
"The Qinghe River is muddy and unclear, the night is long and uncertain. If the clear sky opens its eyes, we will surely see a true dragon slaying a poisonous snake!"
After reciting a limerick, the storyteller waved his folding fan again and again, then sighed loudly: "Gentlemen, Emperor Yongchang is clearly a benevolent and virtuous ruler, yet he repeatedly does things that are subject to criticism. The root of the problem lies with these treacherous and powerful ministers."
As soon as the words were spoken, whispers began again.
In the semi-open-air teahouse, Ning Lu sat facing the street and sweated even more than she did by the fire at Xie's residence.
Only then did she realize what Xie Qinghe meant when he told her he had a bad reputation the day she entered the city.
Public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones.
On the other hand, the one in the palace is truly a benevolent ruler.
The common people spoke ill of the court officials to this extent, yet no one paid any attention.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Ning Lu, who had only wanted to drink her tea in peace, couldn't help but click her tongue loudly.
It wasn't intentional; it was just a way to give the tea drinkers, who were gossiping around, something to hear.
Noticing the gazes around her, Ning Lu paused for only a moment before smiling and putting down her teacup.
He tucked his hands into his sleeves, tilted his body slightly, and sat down naturally and skillfully on the creaking wooden table.
“I understand. The chaos in Changzhou was caused by Vice Minister Xie. The remonstrating official died because he forced him to do it, and his son wrote a memorial accusing his father…”
Ning Lu paused, tilted her head and thought for a moment: "He taught me too."
"Based on this, it doesn't sound like a venomous snake; it must be a centipede. It can't manage so many things without a hundred hands."
Everyone was taken aback, then couldn't help but chuckle, quickly coughing to cover it up.
As if oblivious, she counted on the table with her fingertips: "This viper surnamed Xie wants to control the army, finances, prisons, and censors, and the conscience of his entire family for three generations. Why would he need to find a witch to prolong his life? He probably won't even be able to get back to sleep."
Her sweet, innocent tone, with its drawn-out ending, made her seem naive and clueless, yet it captivated the ears of the listeners around her.
A few light laughs.
Having not stood in front of people for a long time, I was a little nervous.
Since she rarely had a chance to speak and be heard, Ning Lu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "I have another interesting story to tell you all?"
The onlookers chimed in, and only after observing that the storyteller showed no displeasure did she dare to continue speaking.
All eyes gradually focused on her.
Ning Lu picked up the teacup with her other hand, took a small sip, changed her posture, and said leisurely, "I came all the way from Ying County. I used to have a neighbor named Liu, the third son in his family. Everyone called him Liu San'er. He made a living by selling steamed buns. His wife was very skilled and often stayed at home weaving cloth and baskets. The couple lived a harmonious and happy life."
"One day, an old man sitting at the entrance of the alley noticed that the county magistrate's bodyguard and Liu San's wife were getting closer. Everyone said they were having an affair, and the rumors were quite detailed. Liu San was furious when he heard this and started arguing with his wife every day."
"On one occasion, the county magistrate sent someone with Liu San'er to order one hundred steamed buns, and asked the guard to pick them up. The neighbors didn't know about the order; they just saw the steamed buns being delivered to the magistrate."
"Gentlemen, guess what happened after the [illegible] was passed down?"
"Liu San'er used his wife to seduce the guards, just to bribe the county magistrate with steamed buns."
The people in the hall were stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on and burst into laughter.
Someone raised their voice and asked, "So now Liu San'er knows his wife is innocent, right?"
"Did his wife really have an affair with that guard?"
"Who knows?" Ning Lu rested her chin on her hand, feigning innocence. "In this world, once things are passed around by word of mouth, even a story that tastes like mutton can taste like sesame."
She wanted to say something more, but her peripheral vision was drawn to the carriage parked not far away.
Overall, the vehicle is designed to be as understated as possible, yet it still exudes a luxurious aura.
The car curtains fluttered, completely obscuring the face of the person inside. The attendants on either side, though dressed in casual clothes, exuded an air of authority.
This was the first time she had seen a carriage in the capital that was more exquisite than the Xie family's.
She was so engrossed in her moment that she didn't notice when the carriage had stopped there.
His expression changed drastically, and alarm bells went off in his mind.
Frowning and falling silent, Ning Lu made a quick decision. She exchanged a glance with Qingzhi, who was walking beside her, and nimbly jumped off the wooden table and squeezed into the crowd.
Seeing that she was about to leave, the customers in the teahouse all tried to persuade her to stay.
Ning Lu could only cover her face and laugh awkwardly, saying that she would see him again if fate allowed.
Carrying green locust branches, they didn't take a carriage, but instead took a shortcut home, heading straight for Jingyuan.
Even while running, she had time to review her remarks in the teahouse in her mind.
Hopefully, there won't be anything too extreme.
It's not that I don't trust Xie Qinghe's ability to clean up messes, it's just that the weather is getting better these days and his health is about to improve. It would be hard for my conscience to drag him down again.
The spring branches have not yet stirred, and the sound of the water is soft.
The gardens within the mansion are more tranquil than ever before.
Her graceful figure, nestled among the flowers and trees, held Ning Lu back from her journey to the study.
Xie Qinghe?
Just before she opened her mouth, she pursed her lips and stopped speaking.
Although they are similar in height, she is much more robust than Xie Qinghe is today.
For some reason, she felt uneasy ever since she saw the carriage outside the teahouse.
After a moment's thought, Ning Lu decided to lower her eyes and hold her breath, pretending not to see him and walking straight past.
But the man turned around before her, his gaze fixed intently on her brow, not scrutinizing or examining her.
His face relaxed, displaying the standard smile of a gentleman.
Even though it was the first time she had met him, Ning Lu felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity.
But only for a short while.
The portrait painted by Xie Qinghe gradually overlapped with the image of this person.
Jiang Xu!
His Majesty is the benevolent ruler that is widely known among the people.
Ning Lu recognized the person's identity, and her eyes twitched.
With this judgment, she immediately realized that even without Xie Qinghe's portrait, she probably wouldn't have mistaken him.
Jiang Xu looks so much like 'Renjun'.
With delicate eyebrows and arched eyes, fair skin, and even the fingers that twirled the beads exuded a refined air of pampered elegance.
Just as Prince Jing said, she is clearly a dragon among men, showered with favor and affection.
They are two completely different kinds of people from Xie Qinghe.
Ning Lu swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to swallow, and took a step back, her eyes filled with wariness.
"Miss Ning, I've long admired your name."
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