Chapter 20 (Revised)

Chapter 20 (Revised)

In the pouring rain, several large canopies, each about three meters wide and two meters long, formed a long line, shielding the downpour from above. Servants laid carpets on the ground, layer upon layer, until dry. A luxurious carriage, drawn by four tall horses, approached slowly. Golden wind bells hung at each corner of the carriage roof, their ribbons fluttering in the breeze. The carriage, made of black phoebe wood, was ornately carved, with railings around the wheels and armored soldiers standing at each corner. A prominent '幽' character flag stood high on the rear of the carriage, blazing like fire.

Zhou Xu closed his umbrella, “Lady Xiao, please.”

Xiao Luolan lifted her skirt to step down, then turned to wait for her daughter. Fang Yun, following the young mistress, felt nervous, having never witnessed such a scene and worried about embarrassing her masters in the new carriage.

Yang Dong saw the Military Governor walking side by side with Lady Xiao, followed by an exceptionally graceful young lady. He remembered that there were no such nobles in Youzhou, so where could they be from? Perhaps from Heshuo County City?

The Military Governor's trip out of the state to consult with Master Kongming of Heshuo on Buddhist scriptures was known to be a pretext. Yang Dong, puzzled about the Governor's ultimate purpose and eager to know the identity of the lady, approached Mr. Qingshan, who was nonchalantly fanning himself.

Reaching the black carriage, Xiao Luolan noticed the Yang character on the wind chimes and the '幽' character flag at the rear, deducing that Commandant Yang of Taiyang must be an ally of Master Zhou.

The previous assassination attempt had left Xiao Luolan with a psychological shadow, making her a bit more sensitive. Once she sorted her thoughts, the tension in her mind eased considerably.

The ornately carved wooden door opened to reveal golden curtain hooks, and a warm, spring-like fragrance wafted out. Several maids knelt at the door, heads bowed, hands raised holding various items for hand washing and changing clothes, clearly arranged in sequence: warm water, cleansing beans, garments, and wooden clogs.

Upon entering, Xiao Luolan immediately felt the chill of the rainy day dissipate.

“Are there clogs for women?” Zhou Xu asked after washing his hands.

“Yes, my lord,” replied the head maid, hands crossed on the floor, before bowing her head in response.

“Then bring three pairs,” Zhou Xu ordered casually, and the maid withdrew to comply.

Zhou Xu removed his wet outer robe, donning a loose long robe, and after changing into wooden clogs, saw Lady Xiao had also put on her clogs, revealing her snow-white silk socks. The clogs seemed a bit large, making her feet appear dainty.

Zhou Xu smiled.

Xiao Qingxue, wearing the clogs, walked a few steps, finding them not much different from modern slippers, just with harder soles. Such clogs were suitable only for wearing at home or in the rain. Fang Yun followed behind her masters, keeping her eyes down, adhering to her duty as a personal maid.

The precious silk curtain was drawn aside, revealing a tiger skin rug on the floor. Near the window, a small, rectangular low wooden table was placed, with two round cushions at each end. On the table sat a red clay stove, burning brightly, heating a pot of wine.

“Is this for discussing matters?” Xiao Luolan thought, leading her daughter and Fang Yun into the inner room. Behind a beaded curtain, a half-human-tall red glaze vase held a large bunch of weeping crabapple flowers, their delicate peach-red blossoms hanging in layers, reaching the floor. On the pine-scented desk lay books, and if tired, one could rest on the soft couch nearby.

The deepest bamboo curtain was lowered, partially revealing the bed.

Xiao Qingxue sat properly on the soft couch, her eyes lively with curiosity, wondering what matters Master Zhou and Commandant Yang would discuss.

Xiao Luolan noticed Fang Yun, since entering the carriage, had been nervously maintaining her posture. Not understanding her unease and seeing only Master Zhou outside, she asked the young girl to sit and rest.

Fang Yun slightly shook her head in refusal.

Zhou Xu sat on the round cushion and lightly clapped his hands. Shortly, a maid approached, bowing: "Does my lord have any instructions?"

"Bring some sweets to the inner chamber," instructed Zhou Xu.

The maid bowed and responded, "Yes."

Yang Dong, who had failed to gather useful information, changed out of his heavy armor and entered the carriage. Mr. Qingshan remained his carefree self. Remembering the carriage housed both the Military Governor and Lady Xiao, Yang Dong asked, "Should I wear a mask?"

"Did you wear one when you met the Military Governor before?" countered Zhao Qingshan.

"No," Yang Dong shook his head.

"Then that settles it," replied Zhao Qingshan, wearing wooden clogs and fanning himself, as he opened the curtain to enter.

After pondering for a while, Yang Dong entered without a mask. He wore Xie Gong clogs, a style invented by the renowned scholar Xie Gong from the south and now popular in Youzhou. People of status in Youzhou, regardless of age or gender, favored Xie Gong clogs, including Yang Dong.

Inside, he noticed Lady Xiao and Miss Xiao were not in sight; a beaded curtain subtly concealed their figures.

After much questioning, all Yang Dong learned was that the two noble ladies were mother and daughter, leaving him feeling somewhat defeated.

Maids carrying fruit plates passed by, bowing slightly to their master. Yang Dong waved them off, indicating they could serve without further instruction.

"Commandant Yang, come and sit," invited Zhou Xu.

Yang Dong was pleased by the Military Governor's informal treatment, but still bowed deeply before sitting opposite him. On the long wooden table, the pot of wine boiled, bubbling and steaming. With the window wide open, the air wasn't too hot. The wine's fragrance filled the air, and through the mist, the Governor's features were obscured, revealing only the sharp lines of his jaw, a freshly shaven beard, and his narrow, hawk-like eyes, even more dangerous in the haze.

Zhou Xu poured two cups of wine, pushing one towards Yang Dong.

Yang Dong immediately straightened up: "There's no need for the Military Governor to trouble himself, I can serve myself."

Zhou Xu took a sip of his wine, and after Yang Dong finished his, he picked up the wine pot to refill the Military Governor's cup and poured himself another.

"I wonder why Governor Li didn't come along with Commandant Yang?" Zhou Xu asked casually, holding his wine cup.

Yang Dong, who had prepared his response, gripped his cup, the long scar on his left cheek flushed red from the alcohol. He said, "The Governor had to stay behind due to an elder's serious illness in his family, requiring his presence. Therefore, I am the only one to pay respects to the Military Governor."

"So, it's a family illness," Zhou Xu set down his cup, empathetically saying, "I've been through such experiences too. When I get to Taiyang, I'll personally visit Governor Li. One must not dwell in sorrow; we always need to look forward."

Yang Dong's face twitched involuntarily, not daring to respond.

As a regional official, the Governor, both morally and duty-wise, should have met the Military Governor. However, it was well-known that Li Bozhi, appointed by the court, was at odds with their Military Governor.

In the partitioned area, Xiao Luolan wasn't intentionally eavesdropping; the space was small, only separated by a bead curtain, and neither Master Zhou nor Commandant Yang were lowering their voices, so she ended up hearing most of it.

Once all the maids left, Fang Yun took the initiative to check the table.

Xiao Qingxue whispered to her mother, "Now that Master Zhou has been assassinated, it's one thing for the Governor not to come personally, but it's strange that he didn't even send a trusted servant."

Xiao Luolan speculated, "Are you saying Master Zhou and the Governor have a bad relationship?"

"I guess it's very likely," Xiao Qingxue said, pulling her mother's hand to eat, noting several plates of pastries and freshly brewed tea on the desk.

Xiao Luolan knelt on the cushion, lost in thought, unable to resist pondering further.

"Mother, have some pastries," Xiao Qingxue offered a piece of glutinous rice cake to her mother.

Xiao Luolan ate two pieces and took a sip of tea.

Xiao Qingxue, along with Fang Yun, ate together; it's more lively with more people, and she perked up her ears to listen to the sounds from the outer chamber.

“Commandant Yang, my wound hasn't fully healed yet, so I'll refrain from drinking too much.”

Remembering what the Lei family cavalry had said about the Military Governor being injured in an attack, Yang Dong said, “Then I will put the wine away.”

Standing in the front part of the carriage, Yang Dong wiped his face and instructed the maids to take good care of the Military Governor. He then picked up the red clay stove and a pot of hot wine and stepped off the carriage, only realizing how sweaty his back was when the wind hit him.

After Commandant Yang left, Zhao Qingshan used his folding fan to lift the bead curtain, smiling, “Lady Xiao, Miss Xiao, come out. There are delicious treats outside.”

“What kind of treats?” Xiao Qingxue expressed skepticism about the ancient delicacies.

“You'll see when you go out.”

Xiao Luolan and her daughter walked into the outer chamber.

Zhou Xu smiled, “We have cherries and sugar-steamed cheese, Lady Xiao, Miss Xiao, come and try.”

Cherries? Xiao Qingxue's eyes lit up.

Xiao Luolan, seeing her daughter's eager expression, felt a surge of affection. She led her daughter over to the table, where two cushions were laid on the left side. As they sat down, they immediately noticed the cherries on the table.

The lustrous cherries, one by one, were placed in a crystal bowl, shining through with their translucent glow.

Beside them was a dish of sugar-steamed cheese, emitting a rich milky aroma.

Four people sat at the table, each with a small portion in front of them.

"Cherries are known as the first fruit of early spring, and now it's late season, so they're the sweetest," Zhao Qingshan said, sitting at the end of the long table, eating a cherry dipped in sugared steamed curd.

"Mother, you eat too," Xiao Qingxue said after eating one, then feeding a cherry to her mother.

Caught off guard, Xiao Luolan was fed a cherry. Its flesh was sweet and slightly tart, with the sweetness overpowering the sourness, rich in aroma.

"Lady Xiao, I wonder if you're free this evening."

Xiao Luolan swallowed the cherry flesh: "Yes, I am."

Zhou Xu's eyes twinkled with amusement: "Then, may I trouble you to help me practice the Chang'an language."

After hearing this, Xiao Luolan suddenly remembered this important task she had forgotten these past days, feeling immensely embarrassed: "Sect Leader Zhou, I'm so sorry, I forgot."

"It's no problem," Zhou Xu expressed his indifference.

However, Xiao Luolan had remembered this task early on.

After sitting for a while, Zhou Xu and Zhao Qingshan got up and went to another carriage. It wasn't proper for them to linger too long where there were many ladies.

Xiao Qingxue opened the window and realized there were several smaller carriages behind theirs. Naturally, the numerous servants and maids accompanying the army needed somewhere to stay.

By evening, Xiao Luolan easily found Sect Leader Zhou's carriage parked behind, with Lei Bao standing in front, reins in hand, acting as the coachman.

Due to the rainy weather, the evening darkness fell unusually fast.

When Xiao Luolan entered, Sect Leader Zhou's carriage was already lit.

With both carriages traveling side by side, Xiao Qingxue could easily see the brightly lit carriage of Sect Leader Zhou. She observed for a while; her mother and the sect leader were sitting across from each other, with cavalry guards around and the carriage windows wide open. After not noticing anything unusual, she turned her attention to the cavalrymen who arrived in the afternoon.

Xiao Luolan sat in front of the desk, somewhat surprised to see a small dish of cherries on it.

"Captain Yang brought these in the afternoon, saying these are the last few," Zhou Xu smiled, "Cherries quench thirst and produce saliva. I don’t like sweets, but Lady Xiao might need them for her poetry."

Zhou Xu had noticed that during the morning, Lady Xiao had shared several cherries with Little Mistress Xiao, so she hadn’t eaten many, but he presumed Lady Xiao liked them.

Holding a travel book, Xiao Luolan felt a bit greedy upon hearing Sect Leader Zhou, her face flushing slightly.

She read for a while, noticing how under the lamp light, the cherries shone red like jewels, tempting and glistening. She picked one and popped it into her mouth, her eyes involuntarily curving into a smile.

The cherries were indeed quite delicious.

Zhou Xu sipped his tea, hiding his deep, thoughtful gaze.

Lady Xiao held a cherry between her lips.

The juice of the cherry stained her lips, making her appear as radiant and luscious as a ripe cherry, breathtakingly beautiful and voluptuous.