Chapter 88 The Difference: She had long since forgotten him.
The night was deep, and a light drizzle fell.
The stone-paved road was damp with moisture. Horses hooves splashed up tiny water droplets as they passed. Jiang Xu and his party arrived at Fuji Village at 3:45 AM the next day. The small village was still asleep, with only a few lights on in the windows of a few houses.
A light drizzle adds to the tranquility and beauty.
Shi Wan led the way. Ever since receiving the so-called imperial edict, the soup shop's business had been booming day by day. Many people from neighboring villages came specifically to have a drink. Therefore, the group found the place without much effort.
The shop's main door was tightly shut, and a dim yellow lamp was lit under the eaves, indicating that it was almost time to open. Shi Wan dismounted and knocked on the door. After a while, a low voice came from inside, "Honored guest outside, please wait a moment, our shop will be open shortly!"
Shi Wan composed himself and said, "Young man, we are passing through this place and are really thirsty." He had served Jiang Xu for two years, and now he spoke of these things without batting an eye. "We asked along the way and finally found your place."
He paused for a moment, feigning surprise, before saying, "They open at dawn, right? We are indeed early. We thought the roads would be difficult to travel on because of the rain, so we came early."
The roads are slippery in the rain, and winter is already cold. Not to mention, it rained on and off last night, and this morning, I was shivering with every step I took.
Guests have come from afar, and even if the store isn't open yet, it's basically all set up. When the time comes, what's more... if we can't even have a seat, that would be incredibly inhumane.
A moment later, the door creaked open a crack, and the young waiter poked his head out. He first glanced at Shi Wan, then saw the imposing figures behind him, whose noble air was still evident even in their straw raincoats. For a moment, he involuntarily stammered, "G-Gentlemen, this... our shop is about to open for business, please come in and have a seat!"
Jiang Xu nodded slightly, dismounted first, and followed behind the others, striding into the shop.
"Is your manager... not here right now?" Jiang Xu looked around and asked. Despite having rested briefly before arriving at his destination, his voice still betrayed his weariness from the night's journey and the chill of the rain. Even his simple question carried a sharp edge.
The waiter looked up and saw the speaker standing in the shadows. Although it was difficult to see his face clearly, he was tall and imposing. The waiter nervously replied, "Sir, yes, yes, our shop received an award and reward from Prefect Wang a few days ago. The manager and his wife discussed that they couldn't let him down. They heard that there was a master chef elsewhere who was very good at making medicinal soups, so he went out yesterday to hone his skills. He probably won't be back for a few days."
Going out to study? Jiang Xu frowned almost imperceptibly. He had traveled all day, but unexpectedly found nothing. For a moment, a few inexplicable feelings of irritation welled up in his heart.
He forcefully suppressed this thought, saying only, "In that case, then try your cooking." He nodded slightly and said, "Thank you." Although the words were polite, when Jiang Xu said them, they sounded somewhat like a command.
It was almost time to open the doors to customers, so the waiter dared not refuse. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he went straight to the kitchen to cook.
Jiang Xu sat on the bench and waited for everyone to leave before slowly observing the place. The shop was small, with two courtyards. The front was for welcoming customers and doing business, while the back was probably for storing medicinal herbs and food. Perhaps a few rooms were also set aside for the staff to live in.
A faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, along with a smell similar to bone broth. A quick glance at the walls revealed dried chili peppers, garlic, and several common herbs hanging there.
Jiang Xu stared at it for a while, then simply closed his eyes to rest. Fortunately, the soup was ready soon, and the waiter respectfully brought it over. The porcelain white bowl and the color of the soup looked exactly the same as what he had seen at the banquet that day.
He took a small sip, and the taste was still delicious, with a similar medicinal aroma, but for some reason, the strange, comforting sensation was almost nonexistent.
Or rather, it's just an ordinary soup with a few innovative touches.
Jiang Xu silently drank a few more sips without commenting. Before long, he finished most of the drink and waited until he felt a little warm before getting up. Shi Wan, understanding his intention, immediately took out a small piece of silver and placed it on the table.
Seeing that the group was generous and not as difficult to serve as other high-ranking officials and nobles, the waiter thanked them and then said several auspicious words.
Jiang Xu had just mounted his horse and was about to whip it when he suddenly paused for a few moments, turned around, and glanced at the soup shop again.
Despite receiving praise, he remained humble and focused on further learning and honing his skills. His decision to retire gracefully, demonstrating a keen understanding of the importance of keeping wealth private, reveals a shrewd and calculating nature.
Ordinary people have it tough, so having this kind of heart is truly commendable.
"Let's go." Coming to his senses, Jiang Xu didn't linger. He whipped his horse, and the sound of hooves echoed again. Soon, the horse was gone.
Silence returned.
The rain fell like a waterfall, growing heavier and heavier, and in an instant, it washed away all traces of the rain.
......
Before noon that day, Jiang Xu and his party returned to their original residence. Several trusted men were left to guard the courtyard, and scouts sped off, sending a flurry of reports from Luoyang to their desks.
Among them, some people mentioned the matter of reopening the imperial examinations, which was exactly what he wanted to do. Recruiting talented people to fill the court was something that emperors of all dynasties would do.
While this might give certain people in the Luoyang court an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, he also needs fresh blood to cultivate.
but......
Jiang Xu quietly read the memorials for a while, his gaze lingering briefly on the subsequent few.
Beside him, Shi Wan held his breath, having served Jiang Xu for a long time, and naturally noticed immediately that His Majesty was in a bad mood. They had just gone to Fuji Village, and things had seemed to be turning from cloudy to partly cloudy later, so why was there such a heavy sense of oppression now?
Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard His Majesty ask him, "Shi Wan."
"Am I... now quite old?"
The question was ambiguous, but Shi Wan reacted almost immediately, "How could that be? Your Majesty, you are only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, in the prime of your life!"
"Compared to those greenhorns, this is the perfect age!"
I reckon it's those people from the court again. They're always well-behaved for half a year, then they always find something to cause trouble! Ever since Shi Wan started serving by His Majesty's side, His Majesty has granted him the unprecedented right to study. Although he only gets to listen in on a few words occasionally, it's an immense honor for him, who can only write his own name and some simple three-character phrases!
Shi Wan, an orphan, had long been determined to serve His Majesty until his death. He had been attentive to the emperor's needs, and it was not hard to guess that this was the old ministers clamoring to select concubines and fill the harem.
It's nothing more than "the succession of the emperor is a matter of national destiny," "the country and its people must be of utmost importance," or "select virtuous women to fill the harem." In short, it's all the same old stuff.
Sure enough, the man beside him spoke in a low voice, as if lamenting, "Now, all these things... are not as satisfying as when I was guarding this area."
Jiang Xu was unaware that his carefully chosen attendant had such a complex mind. At this moment, everything was in turmoil. Pei Sheng was hiding in the shadows like a turtle, and Jiang Xu had to consider the stability of Jiangnan and not act rashly without reason. Outside, those old scoundrels in the court were jumping around again, shouting all day long, openly and secretly saying that he was too old.
He's twenty-five or twenty-six now, in the prime of his life, what's so great about him?!
However, being constantly bothered by such noise sometimes made Jiang Xu wonder if Shi Wan would find him repulsive if they went underground, perhaps...
By then, she probably didn't recognize him anymore, right?
Thinking of this, Jiang Xu felt a surge of anger rising in his chest, raging wildly. Even a vague possibility made him suddenly feel restless.
As time passed, he seemed to remain the same as always when it came to Shi Wan.
A myriad of emotions revolve solely around her.
Unfortunately...
That person is gone, and I feel only emptiness and despair.
After a moment, he said, "Bring the painting here."
When the scroll arrived, he slowly unfurled it and gazed at the person he had been longing for day and night. Only then did he find a moment of peace. It wasn't until evening, after a simple meal, that he returned to his official duties.
*
In early December, the winter atmosphere became even stronger. Although the Jiangnan region was not as bitterly cold as the northern border areas, it was still damp and freezing.
Shi Wan and Cai Yue, having settled in yesterday and rested for a night, arrived at the back of Yu Yao Siming Mountain as usual today.
The mountain road was winding and the vegetation was withered. In the past two years, Shi Wan had worked hard every day, and her health was actually better than it had been in the past year. Before long, the two of them climbed to a gentle slope halfway up the mountain.
Caiyue stopped a few steps away from her and stood still. Shiwan went forward alone and headed straight for a small mound not far away. On the mound stood a simple wooden sign with no words on it.
The jewelry Jiang Xu had given her in the past, as well as a few pieces she had brought with her, were all sealed away here by Shi Wan.
When she and Caiyue fled to this place, they only said that it was because of the war, that many of their families had died or been injured, and that they wanted to beg for food. Fortunately, the villagers of Fuji were kind and honest, and the soup recipes that Shiwan brought were also novel. With the help of Caiyue and the others, they gradually gained a foothold.
As her thoughts returned, Shi Wan knelt down and carefully arranged the offerings in the basket, quietly paying her respects at the grave.
Another year has passed, and she is reborn.
No need to be subservient to others, no need to be anxious, everything is calm and peaceful, and it will pass in the blink of an eye.
Her mind went blank for a moment, and in a flash, Shi Wan even thought of the scene a few days ago when several diners were boldly discussing the situation in Luoyang during the business hours.
They said that the barbarians to the north seemed to be making strange moves again.
They also said...
His Majesty has been on the throne for two years, yet the harem remains empty.
The light blue hooded cloak on Shi Wan's body rustled in the cold wind. She kept her eyes closed, and for a moment, she couldn't explain why she would think of Jiang Xu again after so long.
Perhaps... it's because I've been hearing a lot of people talking about him lately?
after all.
Shi Wan subconsciously touched her chest, where her heartbeat was normal, vibrating slowly at a certain regular frequency.
after all......
She stopped hating him a long time ago.
She had long ago.
I need to forget about him.
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A note from the author: It's suddenly gotten really cold here lately, so please remember to keep warm, dear readers!
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