Chapter 95: So shy when delivering wine?
Feng Xin was packaging wine in the house and packing the things that had been prepared for her to bring into the palace. She didn't know what was happening outside and thought for a moment that Lu Tingwan was outside drinking and admiring the moon.
Until Cheng Xianzhi carried her into the bedroom, Feng Xin didn't know that Lu Tingwan had gone to the study.
Naturally, no one knew what ridiculous things Lu Tingwan did in his study when no one was watching.
Cheng Xianzhi was in and out of Yansheng Hall more often than before, but Feng Xin was used to it. She didn't mention it to Lu Tingwan when she woke up the next day. Lu Tingwan woke up and felt like she had slept deeply for a long time, without any dreams.
She'd drunk too much, and her head felt heavy when she woke up. After washing up, she sobered up a bit. She had no recollection of yesterday's events, evidently not paying much attention. She only remembered feeling sleepy in the courtyard and then going to the main house to rest. Feng Xin had to help her back.
Not long after breakfast, she went out again.
I went to the west of the city first. I had seen some craftsmen when I was looking for a shop in Fenglin Lane, but I didn't know if they could forge it. If I wanted to find out more about the hidden talents among the people, I would probably need guidance from an expert.
She had no connections in this area, so she could only ask from house to house. After all, there were always people with great reputations among the craftsmen in these trades.
Entering Fenglin Lane, she felt like she was revisiting an old place. The maple trees in Fenglin Lane were green again. Walking a little further, she arrived at Zhichunli. When she was hesitating, she heard a familiar voice in the crowd.
"Hurry, hurry, everyone, come and have a look. The newly opened cloth shop has a buy one get one free offer. The goods are of good quality and low price. Come and have a look." Aunt Miao's voice was as loud as ever.
Lu Tingwan chuckled. She was still the same, working in the restaurant and taking on some other jobs in her spare time.
The newly opened cloth shop was the shop previously located in Zhichunli.
She remembered that before entering the palace, Cheng Xianzhi had told her that he was willing to reopen Zhichunli for her to run her business.
I think the seal was lifted at that time.
There were other sounds in my ears.
"This shop was originally run by a young woman who used to be a flower shop. Later, they developed a cream that became famous all over the capital. The Chamber of Commerce spared no effort and called on the people of the city to elect a shop to represent this product."
"It's Jade Dew Cream. My wife and I all said it was good. It's a pity that I don't know what happened. Later, the government raided the shop and sealed it. It just opened a few days ago. There were many people who wanted to own this shop. It was very popular right after it opened. I heard that an official originally booked the shop, but for some reason he didn't want it anymore, so someone else opened this cloth shop."
Lu Tingwan understood that the official this person was talking about must be Cheng Xianzhi.
I never thought that I would be able to come back here one day, but everything has changed.
After half a day, I asked four companies in total, and the craftsmen who looked at the drawings could only shake their heads regretfully.
Lu Tingwan did not give up, but went to Changqing Street, spending almost the rest of the day there. He asked several more houses, but the result was generally no progress.
She bought the materials in the past two days with a dejected look on her face, but she would have to think about the craftsmen for a long time.
As he was meditating with his head bowed, a carriage passed by on the street. When the curtain rolled up, the people inside the carriage recognized a figure with a unique temperament in the crowd.
"Stop." The horse neighed and the axle stopped, and the carriage stopped beside her.
Lu Tingwan subconsciously dodged into the street, and Luo Yunchu had already dismounted.
Rushing towards her, Lu Tingwan was thinking about important matters and no longer paid attention to other things.
Until Luo Yunchu shouted at the back: "Jiang Yanli."
He still preferred to call her that.
Lu Tingwan suddenly looked up, turned towards the direction of the voice, and saw Luo Yunchu clearly.
The two had met in Weiyang Tower not long ago. Lu Tingwan looked calm and called out, "President Luo, how are you?"
This name made people feel bitter, but Luo Yunchu no longer expected to receive extraordinary feelings from her.
"Why are you here in Changqing Street?" Luo Yunchu asked with a smile.
Lu Tingwan was also very calm and said, "I have nothing to do, so I'll go for a walk."
When I said this, I felt that it was not appropriate. Am I reminiscing about the past by walking around Fenglin Lane and Changqing Street for no reason?
Luo Yunchu was very shrewd. He obviously didn't believe it, but he didn't expose it openly. He just said, "If you need anything, just ask me. I know a thing or two about everything related to business in Kyoto, and maybe I can help you."
Lu Tingwan thought for a moment. Luo Yunchu had a wide network of contacts and had been working in Kyoto for several years. He must know many more tricks than her. Even Cheng Xianzhi might not be as good as him.
Thinking of this, she no longer concealed it: "Do you know who are the famous craftsmen?"
Luo Yunchu said, "There are many craftsmen in Kyoto, and quite a few are famous. I just don't know how to judge the level you are referring to."
"It can create things that ordinary people cannot create."
"What are you going to build?"
Lu Tingwan was on guard, but his expression was calm: "If President Luo doesn't know, then there's no need to bother. It's fine."
Luo Yunchu noticed her vigilance and stopped insisting. He maintained his composure and said, "If it's this person, I'll keep an eye on him for you."
"Thank you." Lu Tingwan didn't stay long after thanking him. Luo Yunchu looked at his back as he disappeared into the crowd. He got on a carriage in the opposite direction of him and drove away from Changqing Street.
Seeing that the grapes in Yansheng Hall would produce a lot of grapes this year, Lu Tingwan came back and walked around the grape racks, full of joy of the harvest.
Feng Xin packed her luggage. Lu Tingwan sat at the dressing table and took off her makeup. She reminded Feng Xin, "Remember to bring those two jars of wine."
"I'll remember that," Feng Xin said patiently, packing his bag carefully. "The master has been quite nice to Madam these days. Would you like to leave a jar for him?"
Lu Tingwan pondered and thought Feng Xin was referring to saving her life. She casually pointed at the altar and said, "The rest will stay in Yansheng Hall."
Didn't say who it was for.
The next day, she got up before the hour of dawn because she was going to take Cheng Xianzhi's carriage back to the palace. She got up early and was still groggy, dozing off in the carriage.
I can't open my eyelids.
Cheng Xianzhi glanced at the dozing person, sighing helplessly and extending his elbow for someone to rest their head on.
When Lu Tingwan touched this power, he became more awake and opened his eyes to look.
Cheng Xianzhi was looking at her with a squinting smile, and she suddenly straightened her back.
"What, what happened?"
Cheng Xianzhi suddenly recalled her ridiculous behavior the night before. A blush appeared on his cheeks and his expression was filled with heat.
Lu Tingwan noticed that he looked at her with a strange expression, and in an instant, his expression changed. She couldn't figure it out, so she glanced at him cautiously and muttered to herself, "Did you go ghost hunting last night?"
Cheng Xianzhi didn't respond, but continued to stare at her, examining her.
Lu Tingwan shrank back. "Did someone flirt with you? Why are you acting so coy?"
Cheng Xianzhi looked away indifferently, and was actually speechless.
This woman is heartless. After teasing someone, she pretended nothing happened and then spoke rudely and provocatively to him. It was so unreasonable.
He said coldly, "Me? But you, you took two days off and were not in the mansion for both days. What were you doing?"
"Sir, do you have to care about this?" Lu Tingwan didn't like him asking about her whereabouts.
It's just an excuse to change the subject.
Her bag was even bulgier than before she left the palace. She treasured the two jars of wine so much that she was afraid they would be broken by the carriage, and she wanted to hold them tightly in her hands.
"Who is this wine for?" Cheng Xianzhi supported his chin with his hand, pretending to be ignorant and asked provocatively.
"Xie Zhao..." The rest of the words were interrupted.
Cheng Xianzhi practically snorted in disdain, "It's just a jar of wine, is it really necessary to bring it in from outside the palace?"
"What do you mean by 'just'?" Lu Tingwan curled his lips in displeasure. "I brewed this myself. Feng Xin said it was delicious."
"Yeah," Cheng Xianzhi lifted the curtain and cast a disappointed gaze out the car window. "We're both lifesavers, so why is there such a huge gap between us?"
Lu Tingwan pondered what he said. Was he blaming himself for being so heartless?
"It's not just for..."
"I'll come pick you up next time I have a day off." Before she could continue, the carriage stopped at the palace gate. Cheng Xianzhi straightened his official hat and got off first.
Lu Tingwan was also going to leave the palace again, so she took this matter to heart.
There were two rows of court teams standing on both sides of the palace gate, one civil and one military.
As the hour of Mao rang out, the heavy palace gates were pushed open and all the officials entered. Lu Tingwan paused and caught up with them, walking side by side with the court officials. Cheng Xianzhi was at the head of the civil officials, standing side by side with the Minister of the Central Secretariat.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Cheng Xianzhi glanced at her.
Lu Tingwan was carrying a bag and two jars of wine in his arms. He couldn't see the road ahead clearly, so he could only walk sideways. He tilted his head slightly and leaned over to say, "I left a jar of wine for you."
Cheng Xianzhi's eyes flashed, but Lu Tingwan had already stopped and didn't walk towards Jinhua Palace until Chao Lie was far away.
The civil servant smiled at the person at the head of the line, as if welcoming the first ray of sunrise rising over the imperial city.
As for the two jars of wine, one was for Xie Zhao, and the other was for the Queen Mother.
Although she had other intentions in entering Jinhua Palace, Queen Mother Jiang was cautious and it might not be easy to find any clues in a short time. In addition, if her purpose was too strong, it might arouse suspicion. She was patient.
Now there has been some progress. At least most of the affairs of Jinhua Palace are managed by myself, and everything is in progress.
Xie Zhao praised the wine highly after drinking it. Lu Tingwan patted her chest and promised to make him a few more jars when the next batch of grapes were ripe. As for the fact that the Sunset Bow had not been forged yet, she did not mention it.
The fetus in Rongpin's belly was already three months old. Only after this three-month period did the imperial physician dare to say that the fetus was stable.
Rongpin's status was raised and she was promoted to Rongfei. It was not a problem to favor the first empress in the harem who was pregnant with the emperor's heir. Empress Dowager Jiang and the court officials had no objection.
The summer lotus in the Imperial Garden was in full bloom, with clusters of lotus flowers floating on the water, creating a fairyland-like scene. Concubine Rong took advantage of the scenery to invite young ladies and gentlemen from aristocratic families to the palace for a poetry gathering in the garden.
Even the scholars of the Hanlin Academy were not left out.
It seems that Queen Mother Jiang's move was intended to win over the hearts of the people. She was eager to win over the hearts of the people as soon as she was named a concubine. These methods were of course not worth mentioning to Queen Mother Jiang.
Without the emperor's personal permission, Concubine Rong would never dare to act so high-profile.
Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue were definitely on the banquet guest list, and even military commanders like Jiang Qingsheng were in attendance.
Queen Mother Jiang said frankly that it was a poetry gathering for young people and she would not join in the fun at her age. Lu Tingwan served on behalf of Palace Master Hong, but Palace Master Hong's condition did not improve but became more serious.
Lu Tingwan barely rested, as she also had to coordinate with the various palaces to organize a garden poetry festival. She was so busy that she hadn't left the palace for a month.
Jinhua Palace selected a group of new palace maids. Lu Tingwan chose a suitable one among them. If we talk about someone who is suitable and has a tacit understanding with her, Feng Xin is the best. It's a pity that Feng Xin can't come in. Even if she can, she will not bring Feng Xin.
She is good at training people, and after a few days of guidance, Lu Tingwan can relax a little.
Queen Mother Jiang saw her painstaking efforts and could not help but ask, "You put a lot of thought into the poetry party in the Imperial Garden. Why don't you go and see it?"
Lu Tingwan smiled slightly: "If I go, who will serve the Queen Mother? Besides, I am not good at pretending to be elegant, so it would be boring if I go."
"You are not a reserved person, so why should you let me do this to you? The Garden Poetry Gathering is elegant, but it's more than just elegant. It wouldn't hurt for you to go and take a look."
Lu Tingwan thought, since Queen Mother Jiang meant well, then she would go. Cheng Xianzhi was also coming, and she had already reviewed the list of names on the invitation card.
If she wasn't so busy these days, she could go there to dispel the boredom and fatigue. She is not good at appreciating poetry, nor does she like the pretentiousness.
But when she thought about the day of rest that would come in a few days, she had to leave the palace no matter what.
She still remembered Cheng Xianzhi's promise to pick her up, so she took this opportunity to schedule a date with him, say hello, and avoid the hassle next time.
The garden poetry party started at 3:15 pm, and when Lu Tingwan rushed there it was already 1:00 pm.
Night fell over the imperial palace, and the lanterns on the palace walls illuminated the entire imperial city, as if to leave the brightness taken away by the sunlight on this imperial city.
Most of the children from wealthy families who came to the garden poetry party were of similar age, but some were a little older.
As soon as you step into the Imperial Garden, you will see green lotus leaves peeking out from the waterside pavilion on the lake. Blown by the evening breeze, they look like a woman in a pink dance dress swaying gracefully. As the wind blows past your face, bursts of fragrance fill your nose.
Among the stars, there was a bright moon, with an outstanding figure, sword-like eyebrows and cold eyes. As always, it was shrouded in coldness, even the moonlight was eclipsed.
Cheng Xianzhi had been exchanging poems with others for several rounds. The person opposite him kept changing, but he remained firmly in his seat.
From a distance, Lu Tingwan saw the man sitting high on the waterside pavilion. The man who was usually the most cold-hearted was participating in a poetry competition with people of the same age. It was a rare sight to see that he had another side to him.
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