follow up
After Jiang Nian explained his purpose to the driver, he got on the carriage.
The young man who had picked her up before was transferred to another place by Jiang's mother and others to work, and would return to his post tomorrow, so today's driver was a driver Jiang Nian had never seen before.
But after all, she was an elderly person in the family, so no accidents would happen. After Jiang Nian said something to Guizhi, he asked the coachman to take her to the teahouse in Pingzhou.
The rain was lingering at night, and the cold raindrops fell on Jiang Nian's black hair, but it was only touched a little at the moment when the curtain was lifted. After the curtain was lowered, the wind was isolated outside the car, and the damp air in the car instantly dissipated.
Thinking about the minerals far away in Cang County, Jiang Nian nodded unconsciously on the chair, thinking about how to arrange the minerals reasonably after they arrive to prevent the over-sale of insect repellent and the premature depletion of limited minerals.
Pingzhou is different from Cang County. After all, it has not been affected by the epidemic. Therefore, at night, there are still people holding umbrellas, passing by the road with carriages and horses in the hazy rain.
The wind outside the window was mixed with raindrops, falling densely on the cobblestone road of the long street. In the distance, a teahouse with bright lanterns lit cast a layer of light and shadow from outside the curtain. Jiang Nian felt that the carriage had stopped and subconsciously looked to the left.
The door of the teahouse was still open, and someone was standing outside announcing the schedule for the last storytelling show of the day.
Listening to the storyteller's words, it seemed that she had arrived at the perfect time, as it was already the last show.
Jiang Nian picked up the oil-paper umbrella leaning against the wall in the corner of the carriage, lifted the curtain and opened the umbrella, then got off the carriage. When she turned around and went to the teahouse, she did not forget to thank the coachman who brought her there. After agreeing on the time to return home, she walked into the teahouse.
—
The slightly cool night rain could not dampen the still bustling enthusiasm of the teahouse.
The bright lights inside the teahouse and the dark streets outside with only a few lanterns lit seemed like two different worlds.
Seeing a new guest coming, the servant guarding the door immediately came over to ask her what she needed. Jiang Nian ordered a few tea and snacks based on her memory, and then turned and walked to the corner of the first floor.
The closer you are to the storyteller, the more crowded the seats will be.
Jiang Nian bent down slightly and walked through the crowded area. He stood in the aisle and looked around, and suddenly saw an empty seat.
Although the empty seat was not in a very remote corner where one could not see the storyteller but only hear the storyteller, the people around spontaneously did not sit in that seat.
"?"
Jiang Nian couldn't help feeling a little strange, but seeing that there were no empty seats around, she had no choice but to walk forward with her umbrella. Only after she stopped in front of a row of seats did she move her eyes away from the seat that attracted her and look to the side.
“…”
Seeing the person sitting next to him, Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, "Is it possible that the Duke, who is so busy with state affairs, would wear plain clothes and listen to a story in a crowded teahouse?" But the surprise on his face was only a moment away.
She wanted to open her mouth, but thinking that there were people all around her, she had to lower her head to straighten her skirt which was a little messy due to the wind, and sat down next to Xiao Yingzhu.
The man seemed to know that she would come to the teahouse tonight to listen to a story. His face did not show any surprise. He paused for a moment at her stunned expression and said, "Why, are you surprised to see me in the teahouse?"
Of course, seeing how busy you are every day, if we can meet in this teahouse tonight, it should be in a private room on the second or third floor. I didn't expect to see you on the first floor. This is too...
Jiang Nian thought about it, and finally suppressed those inappropriate words in his heart, and replied with a smile: "How could it be? There must be a meaning for your appearance here."
"I just listen to some books in my spare time."
Xiao Yingzhu replied lazily, his head propped up. He had just slightly changed his posture and sat more relaxed. Jiang Nian looked back and suddenly saw the figures behind him.
Although the clothes are ordinary, this expression...
Recalling the previous conversation with Xiao Yingzhu, some secret guards would come to visit in the dark night with a cold air, and they had solemn expressions when reporting their duties.
Just like the person sitting near Xiao Yingzhu now.
“…”
Did something go wrong in this teahouse, or did someone who needed to be tracked down appear in this teahouse?
Jiang Nian was inevitably shocked by this lineup, but it was only for a brief moment, even though his attention was attracted by the voice of the storyteller in front of him.
The storyteller spoke with cadence, first recounting the emperor's experiences with his close friends and confidants, and then saying, "From now on, whenever I feel longing for him, I go to the lotus pond to see the things that remind me of him." Then, opening his fan, he shifted the subject and began the following narrative:
"The royal family's affairs are more than just a little bit. Recently, a major case broke out in the capital. I wonder if anyone here has heard about it?"
The audience paused, lowered their heads, and whispered to each other. The storyteller before them waved his fan back and forth, took a sip of tea from the teacup beside him, and after a moment's pause, he sighed:
"The Fifth Prince of the capital, who is quite favored by His Majesty, recently committed some crime. He was brought to the palace from elsewhere by the commander of the imperial guards. He is about to be punished. Meanwhile, the favored Concubine Shu has been crying and wailing before His Majesty, but has received no remedy. This time, His Majesty is determined."
"There are many different stories about this incident in the capital. Our Pingzhou Teahouse is known as the omnipotent teahouse. News arrives quickly, so everyone here will be able to hear the latest news tonight. How lucky!"
While the storyteller was interjecting and recommending the teahouse, Jiang Nian averted his gaze and leaned slightly to whisper to Xiao Yingzhu, "Is this what you came here to listen to?"
His face was hidden in the shadows, and the lantern hanging not far away only cast a hazy light on his beautiful and clear outline.
Jiang Nian raised his eyes to his cold brows and met his gloomy gaze.
In the shadows, her figure was reflected in his dark pupils. His slightly dark gaze reached Jiang Nian, causing her breathing to suddenly hitch. After a moment of shock, she realized, "...Is what he's talking about the information provided to him by the Wu Mi people in the city?"
Xiao Yingzhu had previously said that some of the Wu Mi people in Cang County came to Pingzhou with the intention of letting the people in the city know some news they wanted to know, and then causing panic and unrest.
This also makes it easier for Meng Jian to take action.
"Um."
"But I didn't follow up on what happened in Cang County, so I came to the teahouse to take a look."
"?"
Jiang Nian was a little shocked. She thought that even if Xiao Yingzhu left Cang County, the secret guards who remained in Cang County would pass on the message to him, but now it seems that is not the case.
"...Why didn't you let them pass on the message?"
“Only important matters need to be conveyed.”
Whether Meng Yao is captured or not, and what to do with him after he is captured, are all matters that Yu He needs to be responsible for. As for matters concerning him, from the moment the Huachao Conference ends, he no longer needs to interfere.
So that's why I came to the teahouse to follow up on the news, because it's the most convenient and labor-saving way?
Subconsciously twirling his fingertips, Jiang Nian suddenly realized that he might have been overthinking it. Xiao Yingzhu had brought people with him, simply because he didn't want anyone to get close to him.
As for why he didn't go to the private room...is it because he came here incognito to carry out the task assigned by His Majesty, so he couldn't use the title of Duke Xiao openly?
This is a bit too damaging.
However, as long as Xiao Yingzhu wanted, she would probably go to the private room upstairs in the teahouse.
Jiang Nian paused for a moment and thought of something that seemed a little strange, but not impossible.
Could it be that Xiao Yingzhu had predicted that she would come to the teahouse? That was too incredible.
Jiang Nian blinked several times as his thoughts raced through his mind before speaking again: "Tomorrow I'll go check on the pharmacy's business. The next day Sun Dun will arrive in Pingzhou, and I'll lead him to the mountain. Then..."
Originally, she didn't want to trouble Xiao Yingzhu to help her, but when she saw him in person, the feeling that subtly attracted her to rely on him, to entrust him, and to seek shelter came back.
When Jiang Nian touched the fan in her sleeve that was handed to her by the person opposite her, she suddenly stopped talking.
During the Flower Festival, she had already learned the techniques to protect herself from Ai, so why did she become weak now and want to seek a safe place?
It's really addictive.
Xiao Yingzhu lowered her eyes slightly and looked at Jiang Nian's fingertips clutching her sleeves. Her fine eyelashes hid the gloom in her eyes. She said lightly, "I remember, but you didn't tell me directly at the time."
"Have you thought about it now?"
Jiang Nian fell silent and wanted to find the storyteller in front of him who was talking about the secrets of the capital again to divert his attention, but his thoughts were pulled away by Xiao Yingzhu's light voice.
"……Um."
"I've already thought of a plan. After all, it's my business, so I can handle it myself. I won't bother you."
Although they were in the front, they were behind the lantern. As time went by, the light gradually dimmed, and now the dim light outside the window could not penetrate here at all.
Xiao Yingzhu's gaze fell on her face again as she spoke. Jiang Nian's face, with slightly lowered eyebrows, looked even more innocent in the soft light, as if it had regained the protective layer that had previously protected it.
He suddenly found it interesting and spoke out to reveal the delicate thoughts that Jiang Nianyu had hidden deep in her heart.
"Jiang Nian, you don't seem to realize that every time you say the word 'after all', you're forcing yourself to do something you're not good at."
"This is quite different from what you said earlier about 'frankness' and 'equality'."
Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyelids and met Xiao Yingzhu's gaze.
"What I mean is that you don't appear to me as a coward, so occasionally wanting to ask for help is not a sign of weakness."
The sound of the storyteller's clapping board could still be heard in the hall not far away. People around were drinking tea and whispering to each other. In this teahouse, it seemed that only their place was quiet.
Out of place.
Jiang Nian's heart suddenly fluttered, and he looked away in a panic, then replied softly: "Thank you, but..."
Realizing that her voice was completely inaudible in the noisy teahouse, Jiang Nian raised her voice slightly and continued, "I think that if I can't solve it, Qing and Yu will be there. If something really goes wrong, they will protect me."
Xiao Yingzhu just looked at her without saying anything, feeling a little embarrassed by being stared at. Jiang Nian pursed her lips, only to feel that the disguise she had just put on had shattered again, turning into a puzzle, falling down and covering the ground.
She could never pretend in front of Xiao Yingzhu.
Is it because he already knows me too well, or is it because I have inadvertently given him too much space to understand me?
She no longer wanted to distinguish these things.
Jiang Nian sighed and smiled, "It's okay. Besides, you still have a lot of things to deal with in Pingzhou, right? You can go deal with those things first, and I'll let you know when there's good news."
Seeing that Jiang Nian insisted and that this was not a good place for a deep conversation, Xiao Yingzhu thought about it for a moment.
"good."
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