The Ji family residence.
Ever since Meixiang learned that Xiuyu was a man, she has been somewhat afraid of him.
I used to just think he had a bad temper, but now I don't dare to get any closer to him.
But then Granny Wu sent another message, telling her to cultivate a good relationship with Xiuyu in private and find an opportunity to bring him to a teahouse.
Meixiang had no choice but to bite the bullet and pretend not to know Xiuyu's identity, and try to get close to him.
"Sister Xiuyu, I heard there's a teahouse in the south of the city where a new storyteller is really good at telling stories. Shall we go check it out together?"
"Not interested."
Ah Si sat on the steps with his legs apart, and with a sharp swing of his axe, a thick piece of firewood split in two with a crisp sound.
Flowing smoothly, like cutting melons and vegetables.
Mei Xiang couldn't help but shrink her neck.
"...I saved a few strings of cash last month, so you don't need to pay for it, sister. We can order some sweet soup, or maybe you'd like to drink some alcohol."
Ah Si didn't even look up.
Meixiang's smile froze on her face, but she still mustered up her courage and said.
"I heard that Madam also likes to go there to listen to storytelling. Let's go over and have a look. Maybe we'll run into her."
"Having been away from the General's Mansion for so long, I've long wanted to pay my respects to the Madam. Sister Xiuyu, you must feel the same way?"
Ah Si finally looked up and glanced at her.
"What teahouse?"
"Xiangmingju".
Ah Si frowned and recalled for a moment, confirming that it was the name Jiang Wan had mentioned.
"Okay, let's go then."
Mei Xiang's face lit up with joy.
Sure enough, Granny Wu was right. As soon as she mentioned Jiang Wan, Xiu Yu relented.
“That’s great. I’ve already spoken to the nanny. I’ll be waiting for you at the gate tonight at 7 PM.”
Having completed her task, she quickly left the courtyard, seemingly not wanting to linger for even a moment longer.
Ah Si stared at her retreating figure, his eyes filled with mockery.
Just as Jiang Wan had predicted, the little girl took the bait.
That night, Ah Si and Mei Xiang came to Xiangmingju together.
The teahouse was in a somewhat out-of-the-way location, but it was quite full of locals, mostly there for the opera performance "The Jade Rabbit Descends to Earth".
After entering, Meixiang looked around and sure enough, she spotted Jiang Wan in a corner on the second floor.
Her eyes lit up: "It's Madam Jiang, let's go over and pay our respects."
Granny Wu instructed her to bring Xiuyu and Jiang Wan to meet here.
She knew that Jiang Wan often watched operas here, but she never expected to run into her on her first visit.
In a private room on the second floor, Jiang Wan was drinking tea and listening to music.
Sitting next to her was a woman dressed in a dark blue jacket and skirt, with her hair neatly styled in a single bun, and her features exuding a heroic air.
It was the Vermilion Bird.
On the small table between the two people was a rectangular pear wood box with an antique pattern.
If Granny Wu were here, she would be astonished.
Because this wooden box is exactly the same as the one that the elder lady hid in the Buddhist hall.
"Just have someone from Shixu send it over, why do you have to come all the way yourself?"
Jiang Wan said.
"Thank you, this is crucial to what I need to do."
"It's good that I can help the Pavilion Master." Zhuque nodded slightly, glanced at Jiang Wan, and hesitated before speaking.
"You want to ask how Shuangbai is, right?" Jiang Wan saw through her thoughts at a glance. "I personally delivered the snow lotus to him. He looked quite well that day, so he should have recovered by now."
Zhuque thanked him, but seemed somewhat distracted.
"What, hasn't he come to see you recently?" Jiang Wan asked tentatively.
Zhuque shook her head: "I haven't seen him since he was injured and returned to the capital."
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes.
It seems that Shuangbai took her words to heart.
She said softly, "It's good for me to get some fresh air."
The same applies to love between men and women: when they first meet, they are as sweet as honey and have inexhaustible passion.
Only after things have calmed down for a while can one see their true nature.
"Nothing can be hidden from the Pavilion Master."
Zhuque smiled nonchalantly: "Without that guy bothering me, I'm very relaxed and carefree. Now that I know he's fully recovered, I don't owe him anything, so there's no need for me to see him again."
Jiang Wan saw through her bravado, sighed softly, and was about to offer some advice when two figures suddenly walked in through the door.
It was Ah Si and Mei Xiang.
The two greeted Jiang Wan, who rewarded them with a plate of dried fruit, asked a few questions about the recent situation of the Ji family, and then continued talking with Zhuque.
Meixiang was peeling peanuts, but her eyes were fixed on Zhuque.
She had met Zhuque once; she was the wife of a clothing shop owner and had once delivered clothes to Jiang Wan.
"The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is just around the corner, and I need to have a new outfit made. So I invited Lady Zhu to sit with me and watch the play, and we can chat about the latest styles and fabrics."
Jiang Wan took a sip of tea and said with a smile.
"What kind of fabric does Madam Zhu think suits me?"
Zhuque said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is a lucky day for the lady, a time of great fortune. Why not have a brocade dress with gold-embroidered peonies made, paired with a gold and red feather satin cloak? She will surely be dazzling and outshine all the beauties."
"Very good, we'll do as you say."
Jiang Wan smiled, looking quite satisfied, and then said to Biluo beside her.
"I need to acquire some decent jewelry so that I can attend in my finest attire and not fail to live up to the Empress's favor."
Meixiang's ears twitched.
She hadn't served Jiang Wan for long, but she knew that Jiang Wan wasn't an flamboyant person. She was usually quiet and unassuming and didn't like fancy clothes.
Such elaborate attire, coupled with the mention of grace, suggests that something is about to happen on Mid-Autumn Festival.
Meixiang secretly made a mental note of it, determined to tell Granny Wu next time.
Jiang Wan noticed her expression and said, "Meixiang."
Meixiang immediately stood up: "What are your orders, Madam?"
"The green tea Buddha's hand cakes at this teahouse are very good. They are soft, sweet, and nourishing. I have already paid for them. You can come and pick them up once a day for your uncle as a snack."
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