“Which Chun?” An Jiu remembered her crying heartbrokenly last time.
“It’s Chun Meng!” Hua Rongjian glanced back into the room. “There aren’t many of you Mei clan left, are there? Who’s inside?”
An Jiu seemed not to hear him. “Would your eldest brother harm your sister-in-law?”
She recalled that Hua Rongtian’s first wife was a spy sent by the emperor, who ultimately fell deeply in love with him and refused to do anything against him, even at the cost of her life. If a specially trained shadow agent could be so loyal, An Jiu had reason to worry that Mei Jiu might become the second such case.
“My brother isn’t that kind of person,” Hua Rongjian said confidently. “After his first wife passed away, he was depressed for a long time. People say the Hua family only produces passionate lovers. Just like my father, who has only loved my mother all these years, and my younger brother, who still pines for his childhood sweetheart.”
Hua Rongjun had been betrothed since childhood, back when the Hua family wasn’t as powerful as today. Thus, an alliance with the family of the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor wasn’t an issue then. The Grand Tutor had risen from Jiangning Prefecture and was quite renowned, with students from all over the world. Although he never held real power, his connections were not to be underestimated. Now that Hua Rongjun was of marriageable age, Minister Hua still didn’t dare to let him marry.
Hua Rongjian continued, “My brother’s childhood sweetheart is the granddaughter of the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. Moreover, the Grand Tutor was also my father’s teacher…”
Given their already close relationship, how could the emperor allow the two families to be united through marriage? As long as the Hua family didn’t fall, Hua Rongjun’s marriage would eventually have to be called off.
An Jiu wasn’t interested in this. She thought, if the Chief Minister Hua was truly so devoted, you wouldn’t exist!
An Jiu felt unexpectedly uncomfortable and fell silent.
After half an hour, Mei Yanran finally emerged.
Seeing her red eyes, An Jiu asked nothing and simply said, “Let’s go.”
“Hey, weren’t we supposed to go drinking?” Hua Rongjian complained.
An Jiu hesitated.
Mei Yanran said, “If you have plans, go ahead. Don’t worry about me.”
“Alright then,” An Jiu sighed.
The three left the mansion together. Hua Rongjian and An Jiu boarded a carriage, while Mei Yanran returned to the palace alone.
The carriage carried the two to the poor district. Hua Rongjian leaned against the window, no longer his usual lively self.
After a while, the carriage stopped in front of a residence. Hua Rongjian didn’t get out, peering through the bamboo curtain at the tightly closed gate, his brows gradually furrowing.
This was Lu Danzhi’s home. An Jiu had visited once with him before.
Lu Danzhi’s death changed Hua Rongjian’s life. He probably didn’t like coming here. An Jiu said, “I know a quiet place.”
Hua Rongjian raised an eyebrow. “Let’s go then.”
An Jiu knocked on the carriage wall and told the driver where to go.
“Once when I was wandering around, I found a nice wonton place here,” An Jiu explained.
“There’s a decent wonton stall in this area?” Hua Rongjian was skeptical. In such a poor place, having meat broth would be considered good, let alone wontons!
Hua Rongjian usually loved to wander around. The driver was familiar with all the streets and alleys in the city, and they arrived at the intersection by the river in about the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
The carriage couldn’t go further, so An Jiu dragged Hua Rongjian out and they walked towards Wu Lingyuan’s wonton stall.
Before they arrived, a rich aroma wafted towards them.
Hua Rongjian looked incredulous.
An Jiu was also surprised by the smell. Last time, Wu Lingyuan had used lard to imitate pork, with a few stale wontons floating in bland soup. How could there be such a big change in such a short time?
Turning a corner, An Jiu saw a man in a long gray-white robe lying by the riverbank under a willow tree. His face was covered with a book of “Great Compassion Mantra,” and he held a fishing rod, looking completely at ease.
The stall still had the same old tables and stools, with a pot of steaming soup on the charcoal stove beside it.
Hearing footsteps, Wu Lingyuan’s ears twitched. His slender hand removed the scripture from his face as he asked with a smile, “Is that my benefactor?”
An Jiu sat on a stool behind him and grunted in affirmation.
Wu Lingyuan got up and secured his fishing rod. “I’ve prepared everything for you, benefactor.”
Seeing his handsome appearance marred only by lifeless eyes, Hua Rongjian guessed at his circumstances and asked, “Do you have any wine?”
Wu Lingyuan shook his head. “I can send someone to fetch a jug. Please wait a moment.”
An Jiu held out her hand to Hua Rongjian. “Give me some money.”
Hua Rongjian took out his purse and placed the few silver pieces he had left in her hand.
An Jiu passed them to Wu Lingyuan.
“How could I take money from my benefactor?” Wu Lingyuan hurriedly refused.
“It’s not my money anyway. The person next to me is so rich he only has money left. No need to save on his behalf,” An Jiu said.
Wu Lingyuan smiled. “Then I’ll humbly accept.”
As Wu Lingyuan left, Hua Rongjian relaxed unconsciously at his faint smile and remarked, “This man is no ordinary person.”
An Jiu went to the stove and lifted the pot lid. A mist of chicken-scented steam rose to her face. “Compared to you, who isn’t ordinary?”
“I came to you for conversation and comfort, not for you to annoy me,” Hua Rongjian said, displeased.
“If you want to hear nice things, you can pay someone to flatter you. I only have truth here,” An Jiu said as she ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Hua Rongjian.
Seeing her scold him while still serving him soup, Hua Rongjian felt a warmth in his heart. He took the bowl and drank a couple of sips, praising, “Not bad, quite delicious. This is pheasant.”
After he had drunk most of the bowl, he noticed An Jiu wasn’t drinking. “Why aren’t you having any?”
An Jiu was silent for a moment. Seeing he was fine, she finally ladled a bowl for herself. “One must be careful when out and about.”