Chapter 31 Mid-Autumn Festival I know you are not an ordinary woman. ...
Lu Tingwan learned from the servant that Luo Yunchu had not been to Zhichunli for several days. She didn't know what he was busy with. After inspecting for a week, she went to Changqing Street again.
The person from the Ministry of Personnel who had just delivered the appointment documents passed by Lu Tingwan who had just entered the mansion, and Tianshu led him into Luo Yunchu's yard.
"Why haven't you come to see me for several days?" Lu Tingwan narrowed her beautiful eyes, with a hint of complaint in her words.
Luo Yunchu's bright eyes were filled with affection. He gently touched her shoulders with his long arm, asked her to sit on the chair, and said gently, "I'm busy with official business and can't get away for the moment. Are you missing me?"
He came so close that Lu Tingwan could clearly feel his heat. Uncomfortably, she pushed him away. Once they were comfortable, she took out the osmanthus cake from the food box. "This is the osmanthus cake I asked Feng Xin to make. Try it."
Luo Yunchu didn't take it. He opened his mouth and took a bite. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus lingered between his teeth. "It's sweet, soft and melts in your mouth..."
The fiery gaze was cast upon Lu Tingwan who was feeding the cake. Lu Tingwan suddenly realized that the words were not a compliment to the sweet-scented osmanthus cake, but had a hidden meaning.
Her ears flushed, and her fair face was stained with rouge, revealing her girlish shyness. Luo Yunchu couldn't bear to tease her any further and took the remaining piece of osmanthus cake and put it in his mouth.
Lu Tingwan asked, "When I entered the mansion just now, I met officials. Is there something difficult going on?"
Luo Yunchu sat down beside her and said slowly, "Chamber of Commerce President Sun Gui has been executed, leaving the position of president vacant. Those officials are here to deliver the appointment documents."
"Appointment clerk?" Lu Tingwan raised her starry eyes and stood up to support herself on the table. "Sun Gui wants you to take the chairman's position?"
"Yeah, but what's wrong with that?"
Lu Tingwan was in deep thought. Luo Yunchu was well-known in Changqing Street and Fenglin Lane, but there were many people in Kyoto who were no less experienced than Luo Yunchu. In any aspect, Luo Yunchu was not the first choice, but why was he the only one given the position of clerk?
Lu Tingwan knew about the relationship between Kong Fan, the Minister of Revenue, and Luo Yunchu. Kong Fan's downfall not only had no impact on Luo Yunchu, but was actually beneficial. This alone was something she couldn't understand.
Seeing that she was lost in thought, Luo Yunchu said, "In fact, I never thought about taking the position of president. I don't know why the appointment document from the Ministry of Personnel came to me, but since they dared to give it to me, I dared to take it.
"Yan Li, after I become the president, there will no longer be merchants bullying the market in Kyoto Flower Market. Flower farmers can enter the Kyoto Flower Market just like they did a few years ago. Not only the flower market, but all merchants who come to Kyoto to do business will have an equal opportunity to operate in the market."
Lu Tingwan was moved by these words. Luo Yunchu knew what Lu Tingwan expected and what she wanted in her heart.
"Do you remember what you promised me before?" Lu Tingwan's eyes flashed with a glimmer of fire.
"I promised you a lot, I wonder which one Yanli is referring to?"
"I'm leaving Kyoto, and you will come with me."
"Where are you going?"
"Jiang Ling."
"When?" Luo Yunchu lowered his eyelids, a hint of deepness flashed across his face, but only for a moment.
"I have agreed with the man at home that he will allow me to divorce and give me freedom in no more than half a year." Lu Tingwan wanted to tell Luo Yunchu the truth.
Luo Yunchu looked calm and gave a full promise: "Okay."
"But you have to give up everything in Kyoto," Lu Tingwan tilted his head and said, "Are you willing?"
"You are also going to give up everything in Kyoto," Luo Yunchu asked, "Are you really willing to do so?"
"Except for Zhichunli, which is mine, nothing here belongs to me, Jiang Yanli. If something is mine, then it will also be mine wherever I move it."
"So, there's no such thing as being willing or unwilling to give up, or being worth it or not. I will be responsible for the decisions I make, and I won't let down any of the choices I make." Lu Tingwan was unwavering. "So, Luo Yunchu, you don't have to say those words to make me happy. Even if you won't go with me, even without you, I will still divorce you and leave Kyoto."
Luo Yunchu was just a small episode on her journey. His appearance added some color. If this person was not there, she would still be herself, still Jiang Yanli, and it would have nothing to do with anyone else's intrusion or departure.
"I know you are not an ordinary woman." Luo Yunchu avoided her gaze a little, as if hiding something, but he could see Lu Tingwan very clearly at this moment.
"You can do whatever you want."
She could do whatever she wanted. This was the first time someone had said this to her in Kyoto. She felt that Luo Yunchu was very similar to her. Perhaps not similar, but the first person who understood her. With him, she didn't need to worry about those rules.
As autumn arrived in Kyoto, the weather gradually became cooler in the mornings and evenings. The grapes in Yanshengtang were ripe, and Lu Tingwan picked them before they fell during the Mid-Autumn Festival to make wine.
It was divided into three parts in total, one was sent to Zhichunli for the waiter to try, one was sent back to Lu Mansion for Lu Tingwu, and the other one was for Luo Yunchu.
After Sun Gui was executed, Sun's house was confiscated and the Chamber of Commerce office was moved to the Chamber of Commerce building on Weiyang Street.
Luo Yunchu had just taken office, and it took him a lot of time to find out the original business of the Chamber of Commerce and the information about its dealings with various people. He spent all day and all night in Weiyang Street, and went to Zhichunli even less. Sometimes, when Lu Tingwan was looking for someone, he would go to Luo Mansion if he couldn't wait.
Over time, I got used to going to Weiyang Street. The flow of people on Weiyang Street was several times more than that on Fenglin Lane, but there were also many merchants running rouge shops here.
Most of the businesses that can operate in Weiyang Street for a long time are century-old brands with rich heritage. They have already formed their own regular customers and are among these high-class customers.
For them, small shops like Zhichunli are just for the sake of novelty. After all, when they are tired of eating big fish and meat, they always have to find something light and unique in taste to temporarily satisfy their unchanging habits.
If she wanted to open a shop on Weiyang Street, she would have to work in Fenglin Lane for several years to save enough money, but it didn't matter anymore, she would eventually leave Kyoto.
Once the wine is sealed in a can, it takes half a year to open. The longer it is opened, the stronger the aroma of the wine will become, and it can be drunk by the Lantern Festival next year.
The grape branches in the courtyard gradually turned yellow, and when the wind blew, they scattered to the corners of the wall. The people in Yingyue Pavilion stepped on the fallen leaves and looked into the house. They called out a few more times, but no one answered.
After a while, a sound came from the back of the yard. Lu Tingwan rolled up her sleeves, her hands were covered in mud, and her cheekbones were also stained. She did not recognize the person standing in front of the main courtyard.
It was Feng Xin who recognized her first. She approached Lu Tingwan and whispered, "Second Madam, this is Luzhu, the maid in charge of the First Madam's courtyard."
Lu Tingwan brushed off the mud on her hands and waited for someone to greet her. She bowed and said, "Hello, Second Madam. I am here to deliver a message to you on the orders of the First Madam."
No one had come to Yingyue Pavilion for several months, so she became alert. "What's going on?"
"Mid-Autumn Festival is in two days. The palace is hosting a banquet to invite officials from Kyoto to come to the palace to enjoy the moon and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival together."
Lu Tingwan was puzzled. She was just a concubine. Even though Cheng Xianzhi had a noble status and attended important occasions such as the palace banquet, concubines were not allowed to attend.
Luzhu continued, "The Jinhua Palace sent a special message, specifically inviting you, the Second Madam, to come along. The First Madam said that since it was the Empress Dowager's wish, there was absolutely no reason to neglect her. She also understood that since the Second Madam had just arrived in Kyoto, she might not know which shop had the right fabrics, and it wouldn't be worth it if she got cheated. So, the First Madam specially selected two bolts of Shu brocade for the Second Madam to make new clothes for the banquet."
Lu Tingwan hadn't washed her hands yet, and didn't dare touch the precious Shu brocade. "Madam, you're too polite. Shu brocade is expensive and hard to come by. Before I got married, my family elders prepared some fine brocade. I'll use it to make some clothes, so as not to bring shame to the Cheng family."
Lu Tingwan could hear that this was a mockery of her for not being born in Kyoto, having a humble status, and being short-sighted.
"This Shu brocade was given to the Lord by His Majesty. The Lord loves the First Madam, so he gave it to her as a reward." Luzhu put the tray into Feng Xin's hands. "Second Madam, please don't refuse. We are all family, and this is also a token of the First Madam's love."
Lu Tingwan didn't want to waste any more words. There were many twists and turns in the harem, and she didn't bother to focus on such boring things. Since Gongsun Xue insisted that she accept it, she would just accept it.
"Thank you, Madam, for your kindness," Lu Tingwan instructed Feng Xin, "The grapes in the yard are ripe. Pick some and let Luzhu take them back for Madam to taste."
Dewdrop thanked him and returned to Yingyue Pavilion to report.
Gongsun Xue glanced at the grapes on the table and asked, "Did Lu Tingwan grow these himself?"
"Yes, Madam. I just entered the yard. The Second Madam is covered in dirt. She must have come from the countryside."
"Shu brocade is not easy to come by. My lord is already very busy with court affairs. As his mistress, I am responsible for the affairs of the palace. If he knew, he would feel sorry for me."
"The master is not talkative, but he treats the eldest lady sincerely. He sends endless gifts to Yingyue Pavilion. He loves you."
"Dew, gather these grapes."
Lu Tingwan did not use the Shu brocade to cut new clothes. Two days was not enough time. Gongsun Xue was obviously just pretending. The empress dowager invited Lu Tingwan to go, and as the mistress, she had to make proper arrangements and not let people gossip.
The total amount of Shu brocade tributed this year was no more than fifty pieces. Li Tingfeng gave ten pieces as a reward to Cheng Xianzhi for his wedding. All ten pieces were included in the betrothal gift list and sent to the Zhongshu Ling Mansion, which then sent them back to Gongsun Xue as a dowry.
Lu Tingwan has two pieces of silk, just enough to make a set of autumn clothes.
On the second day, the Cheng family prepared two carriages. Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue rode together, and Lu Tingwan's carriage followed behind.
This was her first time to attend a banquet in the palace. She had learned some palace etiquette and had been to the palace before, so she could still handle it.
She put a lot of thought into her outfit, which was not too eye-catching, but still captivating. Her headdress was a emerald green grape beaded hairpin, which suited the cuteness of her age. Her exquisite makeup seemed natural, and you couldn't tell it was carefully crafted. Her makeup technique was unique.
A pair of coral earrings hung on her shoulders, and with a slight movement, they looked like pearls dancing on a swan's neck.
Gongsun Xue attended the event in a gorgeous dress. She had always been the star of Kyoto's banquets. The girl that the noblemen had dreamed of day and night but could never reach, no one dared to covet her anymore after learning that she was the one Cheng Xianzhi was going to marry.
No matter their official positions, appearance, or bearing, the sons of aristocratic families were even half as good as this young Minister of the Court. Those who could rely on their family background had no important positions in Kyoto. Even if they were virtuous and capable people in the court, they would still be inferior to Cheng Xianzhi.
Gongsun Xue saw Lu Tingwan walking towards the mansion gate. It was the first time she saw her in person. Her skin was white and rosy, and her whole body seemed to be shining in the sunlight. She was completely different from the country girl that Luzhu had mentioned. Her appearance was too outstanding. For a moment, Gongsun Xue felt that she was outshined.
When she got closer, I realized that she was not wearing Shu brocade!
Gongsun Xue calmed down. Lu Tingwan had seen her at the Zhongshu Ling's flower viewing banquet before, so she took the initiative to go up and pay her respects. "Lu Tingwan greets the Madam."
Gongsun Xue's nose was filled with a fragrance, which was the scent of the person who passed by Cheng Xianzhi's study that day.
"Don't be so formal, we're sisters. Don't you wear the Shu brocade that was given to you?"
Lu Tingwan said frankly, "Time is too tight, and I don't have time to make the clothes, but I still thank you for your kindness, Madam."
The style of her clothes was not fashionable in Kyoto, but they looked particularly good on her and complemented her complexion.
Gongsun Xue, who has always been proud of herself, actually felt pale at this moment. Her appearance was stunning and her temperament was not inferior to others, but compared to Lu Tingwan, she lacked a sense of casualness and relaxation.
Seeing that Gongsun Xue had no intention of getting on the carriage, Lu Tingwan found an excuse to talk, "I wonder if Madam likes the grapes I sent you?"
"Did you plant them in your own yard?" Gongsun Xue replied, catching sight of Cheng Xianzhi emerging from the mansion. The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously. "The grapes are fresh and sweet. It turns out you're so ingenious! If I could plant one for you in Yingyue Pavilion, I'd pick some and make wine from them next year. He'd surely be delighted."
Lu Tingwan thought to himself that the relationship between these two people was extremely good.
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