ask
“…”
In his sight, the water in the teacup swayed slightly. Jiang Nian's mind went blank for a moment, then he reacted.
"He is confirming your position. If there is any possibility of going against Emperor Changde, he will take action."
Xiao Yingzhu glanced at her with interest, then retracted it and chuckled, "If you meet him in the future, you should know how to deal with him."
The scenery outside the window changed, and soon we were out of the woods and our view came into the vast ocean.
The scent of scented tea in the carriage gradually faded. Jiang Nian subconsciously tightened the teacup and smiled softly, "That's right."
"If there are no external conflicts between you, then I will be able to handle the cooperation with him more easily."
After Xiao Yingzhu explained the external concerns about cooperating with Meng Zheng at the beginning, they were able to put aside their guard and talk.
However, I didn't expect that there wasn't much conflict between them.
It's due to Meng Zheng's personality.
Recalling his usual conversations with Meng Zheng, Jiang Nian suddenly realized that he had restrained his words when discussing with him.
Is it because she is not from this era?
A person who is inherently unpredictable.
Jiang Nian tapped the wall of the teacup thoughtfully, then turned to look at Xiao Yingzhu.
"If his illness can't be cured, even if he gets the position he wants, I'm afraid it won't be easy for him."
Xiao Yingzhu turned her head, her fingertips resting on the document she had taken out at some point. "If you're curious, you can ask him personally."
The other person smiled faintly, and no emotion could be heard in his words, but an inexplicable chill filled my heart.
Jiang Nian immediately changed the subject: "...No, I'm not that familiar with him."
—
After the topic about Meng Zheng was revealed, the carriage returned to silence, but the uncomfortable feeling caused by the other person's presence had dissipated.
Today is a day off, so Yu He is not at his residence, but has returned to the temporary resting station.
The carriage passed through a wide alley with few pedestrians and arrived in front of the courtyard where Yu He lived.
The coachman was assigned by the Youguan Mansion, so after they got off the car, he left the place.
Jiang Nian stood under the wall of the courtyard outside the house and looked around.
Not far away is the people's village. The cornfield is golden in the sunlight, and the reflected light is dazzling.
The post station of Cang County is on the outskirts of the city.
Xiao Yingzhu seemed to have never been to this post station before. She stood there for a moment, identifying the direction before turning around and saying to Jiang Nian, "Let's go. The gatehouse is not far away."
Being unfamiliar with the place, Jiang Nian withdrew his gaze, walked quickly to Xiao Yingzhu's side, met his gaze, smiled faintly, and then walked with him to the gate of the courtyard.
Because the time of the visit was agreed with Yu He in advance, as soon as they arrived at the gate of the courtyard, they were seen by the soldiers on guard.
Perhaps Xiao Yingzhu's appearance was widely circulated in the capital, so at this moment he didn't even need to take out the token. The soldiers who saw Xiao Yingzhu were startled and immediately went into the courtyard to find Yu He to report.
Jiang Nian narrowed his eyes upon seeing this, and whispered to Xiao Yingzhu, "They seem very afraid of you. What heinous things did you do in the capital?"
Xiao Yingzhu moved his gaze and lowered it to Jiang Nian's soft face.
The sunlight filtered through the tree trunks, mottled and fragmented, making her smile bright.
Seeing the cunning in her eyes, Xiao Yingzhu then calmly withdrew his gaze: "People with hidden motives are naturally afraid of everyone they meet. It's just that the rumors spread over time."
“But the effect is surprisingly good.”
Recalling the spies who had gone to the State Guest House before, it seemed that Xiao Yingzhu standing next to them had played a role. Yan and Yan didn't interrogate them for long before they told the whole story like spilling beans.
Xiao Yingzhu obviously thought of the same thing as her, and curled her lips slightly: "A nobody, nothing more than a nobody."
"Really? The interrogation of that spy earlier didn't seem that quick." Jiang Nian tilted his head and smiled, "If I hadn't accidentally guessed your identity afterwards, I wouldn't have volunteered to help you investigate the 'fourth party' now."
The hurried footsteps of the messenger soldiers could be heard from the courtyard. The smile on Xiao Yingzhu's lips faded, and her voice also grew colder. "It's driven by the desire to survive, not by me."
Jiang Nian looked at him questioningly for several times. He didn't expect Xiao Yingzhu to have such a pure and kind opinion of him.
Unfortunately, this person has returned to his usual elusive state, and his inner thoughts can no longer be explored simply from his appearance.
She paused for a moment at Xiao Yingzhu's pretty profile, then turned her gaze away and smiled faintly, "Then it's 'not your fault'."
According to Xiao Yingzhu's appearance and the age classification of this era, he is only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, a little younger than her, so just treat it as a child being serious.
You are really not frank, Xiao Yingzhu.
—
The person who came to welcome the main gate of the courtyard was Xi Zhen, not the soldiers.
After they entered the main hall, the soldier who delivered the message came out, nodded to them in agreement, and left the corridor.
Because this mission is volatile and needs to change at any time according to Donglan's current situation and Huandu's internal affairs, Cangjun is Yu He's main office, and he is ready to live here permanently.
Jiang Nian followed behind Xiao Yingzhu, turning his head to admire the lush flowers and trees outside the railings of the corridor in the courtyard.
Copper bells are hung on the eaves. When the wind blows, the bells ring, bringing with them a fragrance.
Looking up at the green tiles exposed on the roof, Jiang Nian's gaze fell for a moment, then she turned her head to look at Xi Zhen who was walking to her side.
Xizhen also tied her hair up today. She picked up a simple wooden hairpin and passed it through her black hair. She also applied light eyeshadow under the corners of her eyes.
Noticing Jiang Nian's gaze, he turned his eyes away and said with a smile, "Miss Jiang, are you here today to look for me, or to look for that soldier?"
The rich aroma came with his relaxed expression. Jiang Nian paused on the railing and said with a smile, "The incense you make is becoming more and more exquisite. I will definitely ask for your advice on a certain day."
"I came here today because I have something I want to ask you, sir."
The servants came out of the main hall, opened the main door, and bowed to invite them into the room.
Jiang Nian paused and looked at Xiao Yingzhu who was standing not far away.
Xiao Yingzhu nodded casually, then entered the main hall with his attendants.
Xizhen leaned over and gestured behind him, saying, "The Commander and the Duke have something to discuss. Miss Jiang, let's go to the courtyard not far away to discuss it."
The place he was pointing to was a garden.
Thinking that the questions he asked would not touch on the core, Jiang Nian nodded, not wanting to cause more trouble for Xizhen: "Please lead the way over there, sir."
—
Main hall interior
Yu He sat in front of his seat. Even though it was his day off, the work at hand had piled up like a mountain, leaving him no time to rest.
When he heard Xiao Yingzhu come in and the servant gently close the door, he put down the brush in his hand and raised his head indifferently.
"Duke Xiao."
The layout of the main hall is based on Yu He's preferences, so it is decorated in an extremely simple way.
Apart from a few tables for stacking official documents, there are bookshelves for browsing books, a table for conversations, and a desk for correcting official documents.
After looking around, Yu He raised his hand and gestured to the cases under discussion opposite him.
"Please wait a moment, Duke. I have an unfinished document."
Xiao Yingzhu was easygoing. After responding casually, he sat down beside the desk, took out the documents he had not finished reading in the carriage, and continued to read them.
Silence returned to the main hall in an instant, and for a long time thereafter, only one or two sentences of conversation were heard.
The content of the conversation was nothing more than borrowing a pen and asking about the time.
Until both parties were temporarily satisfied with the progress of the matters at hand, Yu He finished sorting out the documents and took out the chessboard.
"The world is like a game of chess, each game a new one. Some things can be understood at a glance on the chessboard."
"In your spare time, would you please do me the honor of playing a game of chess with me?"
The purpose of coming here was to let Jiang Nian talk to Xi Zhen, and he was just bothering Yu He. Seeing that Yu He was willing to discuss, Xiao Yingzhu naturally would not refuse.
His eyes fell on the familiar chessboard. Although Xiao Yingzhu's eyebrows were calm, his gaze was sharper.
"Since Commander Yu has such leisure time, I, Xiao, will accompany him and would not want to spoil his fun."
The desk has been tidied up by the servants and looks as good as new.
Yu He held the chessboard and placed it opposite him, laying out the chess box.
The black and white pieces were lined up together, and he spread his hands towards Xiao Yingzhu.
"Duke Xiao, please."
Xiao Yingzhu reached out and took the chess box that belonged to the black piece. With a smile, he said, "Since Commander Yu is so humble, I will respectfully obey your command and make the first move."
Yu He's dark pupils reflected Xiao Yingzhu's ambiguous smile, his eyebrows remained calm and he spoke lightly.
"Please enlighten me, Duke Xiao."
—
Xizhen held a colorful porcelain pot in her hand, looked up and gently arched her eyebrows at Jiang Nian who was standing beside her.
"I've heard that Miss Jiang's flower tea is highly praised. I wonder if I might be lucky enough to try a cup?"
Due to the need to rush around for tasks, Jiang Nian made herbal tea into tea bags similar to modern ones, and placed them in a small and exquisite wooden box. When needed, he could just throw it into hot water.
A faint floral fragrance emanated from the porcelain cup. She smiled, reached out to take the cup from Xizhen, and took a sip.
"Sir, such praise is truly unacceptable to me. I am truly honored to be recognized by you."
"I happen to have a few tea bags here. How about you try some while you rest?"
Xizhen gestured towards the stone tables and chairs in the garden and continued, "Alright, then I'll take this opportunity to teach Miss Jiang about scented tea making later."
Refreshments are ready.
If Jiang Nian hadn't known that the topic they were about to discuss was related to the goddess, he would have almost felt like he was participating in Xi Zhen's private tea party.
The layout of this garden is truly exquisite.
After the pleasantries, both parties took their seats.
It was the first time that Jiang Nian talked about work with Xizhen alone, so he couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.
Sitting back across from the stream pillow, she pondered over the dessert, carefully choosing her words before speaking directly, "Now that things have come to this, I'll ask first."
"Because the goddess is closely related to the plague in Cang County, after several discussions, they decided to send me to Zuihua Tower to gather information about the goddess."
Xi Zhen had been with Yu He these days, so naturally she didn't know about the changes on Xiao Yingzhu's side. When she heard that she was the one going on the mission, even though she had expected it, she was still surprised for a moment.
"Miss Jiang, do you mean to ask about the relationship between me and the goddess? Or perhaps the goddess's personality and behavior?"
Gu Ji Jiang Nian is neither the player nor the executor in this kind of political chess game, but just a key figure who intervenes halfway.
Xizhen didn't speak in a roundabout way.
Jiang Nian could feel that Xizhen was trying not to embarrass her, so she nodded and frankly admitted:
"We know very little about the goddess, so before I set off for Zuihualou, I want you to inquire about her temperament so that we can judge the choice she might make in the current situation."
"If I have offended you, sir... I apologize first."
In the conversation that Xi Zhen participated in before, Jiang Nian noticed that Xi Zhen was somewhat reticent about the matter of the goddess, as if he was worried about something.
But in order to prevent the 'wound' that might have occurred in the past by stepping on the stream pillow unknowingly, she apologized first.
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