Chapter 26

Chapter 26

"It's not ready to drink yet." Xiao Luo Lan, worried about Master Zhou consuming the failed product, hurriedly placed the bowl on the table.

Xiao Qingxue, watching Master Zhou ready to drink the garlic water, admired his courage. How could he even consider drinking that? So brave!

Zhao Qing Shan, noticing the small kitchen was somewhat chaotic, wasn't concerned about any accidental poisoning.

The food in the small kitchen was procured daily by the Lei family riders, with one person shopping and another keeping records. The cooks inspected everything daily, ensuring the kitchen's safety. Madam Xiao and Miss Xiao had been with them constantly, sharing their living conditions. Since entering the Dou residence, aside from a morning outing, Madam Xiao hadn't interacted with outsiders. So, Zhao Qing Shan figured she must have whimsically decided to cook.

Yet, this attempt at cooking... Well, it seemed like a lady of leisure had indeed tried cooking with wine, prompting mixed feelings of amusement and sympathy.

Seeing Madam Xiao becoming increasingly embarrassed, Zhao Qing Shan coughed and asked, "Madam Xiao, Miss Xiao, were you attempting to make garlic mutton?"

Xiao Qingxue could only nod, feeling a bit awkward.

Zhou Xu, realizing belatedly that Madam Xiao seemed dissatisfied with her culinary creation, thought it was fine. To him, her intentions mattered most. He had received her goodwill, regardless of the dish's taste. Taking up Zhao Qing Shan's suggestion, he said, "Then let's have that dish for dinner tonight."

Xiao Luo Lan hid her slight disappointment but wasn't too disheartened, knowing she was just an ordinary person.

"With the long summer days, Madam Xiao, why not take Miss Xiao to the study's side room to read and pass the time?" Zhao Qing Shan suggested with a smile, fanning himself. "The side room, built entirely of bamboo, is a cool retreat. Miss Xiao, if you play the qin, there's a seven-stringed zither you can use."

"Thank you, Mr. Qing Shan." Xiao Luo Lan expressed her gratitude with a deep bow, followed by Xiao Qingxue.

Holding her daughter's hand, Xiao Luo Lan walked past the study towards the side room, which she hadn't noticed before. Following the corridor around the study, they finally saw the small bamboo building behind it. Surrounded by lush bamboo, it provided both privacy and a touch of elegance.

"It..."

Zhou Xu inhaled deeply, deciding to eat more nèi fruit later. He tilted his head back, ready to down the concoction in one go.

Xiao Luo Lan, startled, quickly reached out to stop him. She hadn't finished speaking, yet Master Zhou was about to drink it.

Zhou Xu felt Madam Xiao's hand on his, cool and soft like fine jade. It was the first time she had initiated physical contact, and he found her captivating even in the kitchen.

Madam Xiao was making something specially for him.

Chapter 26

"It's not ready to drink yet." Xiao Luo Lan, worried Master Zhou might ingest the failed experiment, hurriedly placed the bowl on the table.

Xiao Qingxue, stunned, watched Master Zhou ready to drink the garlic mixture, admiring his courage. Could he really stomach it? Such bravery!

Zhao Qing Shan, seeing the small kitchen in disarray, wasn't worried about any accidental poisoning.

The food in the small kitchen was daily procured and checked by the Lei family riders, ensuring its safety. Since Madam Xiao and Miss Xiao had been with them all along, sharing their living conditions, Zhao Qing Shan believed Madam Xiao's sudden visit to the kitchen was just a whim to try her hand at cooking.

This cooking attempt... Well, it's typical for a lady of leisure to use wine even for boiling garlic, he thought, amused yet sympathetic.

Seeing Madam Xiao become increasingly embarrassed, Zhao Qing Shan coughed and asked, "Madam Xiao, Miss Xiao, were you trying to make garlic mutton?"

Xiao Qingxue could only nod, feeling somewhat awkward.

Zhou Xu, realizing belatedly that Madam Xiao seemed unsatisfied with her culinary creation, thought it was okay. The sentiment was what mattered most to him. He had received her goodwill, regardless of the dish's taste. "Then let's have that dish for dinner tonight," he suggested.

Xiao Luo Lan, hiding her slight disappointment, wasn't too disheartened. She was just an ordinary person after all.

"With the long summer days, Madam Xiao, why not take Miss Xiao to the study's side room to read and pass the time?" Zhao Qing Shan suggested with a smile, fanning himself. "The side room, built entirely of bamboo, is a cool retreat. If Miss Xiao likes playing the qin, there's a seven-stringed zither available."

"Thank you, Mr. Qing Shan." Xiao Luo Lan thanked him with a deep bow, and Xiao Qingxue did the same.

Holding her daughter's hand, Xiao Luo Lan walked past the study towards the bamboo building. Although it was on the same route as Master Zhou's quarters, she had not noticed this side room before. Following the path, they discovered the small bamboo building behind the study, surrounded by lush bamboo, offering both privacy and elegance.

"Mom." Xiao Qingxue, after practicing calligraphy for a while and feeling her wrist ache, stopped to rest. "Mom, are you worried about our future?" She hugged her mother's arm, snuggling close. "Don't worry, I'm quite capable." She shared that in high school, she learned how to make soap in an ancient-style club. "Once we get to Langge, we can sell the soap formula to Master Zhou and make some money." "With that money, we can buy a house and live like we used to."

Xiao Luo Lan gazed at her daughter, realizing how much she had grown, feeling both a sense of loss and joy.

Xiao Qingxue shook her mother's hand gently, "Don't be so tense all the time, relax a bit. We can't repay Master Zhou's kindness right away anyway. It is what it is. We're not gods; the world just goes on like this."

Xiao Luo Lan was amused by her daughter's cheeky demeanor, smoothing her hair while her eyes moistened.

She remembered how her daughter was just a tiny bundle at birth, then began toddling and babbling, growing faster and faster until, in the blink of an eye, the little baby had become a graceful young lady.

Seeing her mother smile, Xiao Qingxue also grinned, "Let's continue practicing our calligraphy."

In the afternoon, cicadas buzzed incessantly, sunlight leaked through the bamboo building, casting crisscross shadows on the walls.

Xiao Luo Lan held the brush in her right hand, practicing calligraphy, while gently patting her daughter's back with her other hand.

Xiao Qingxue, tired from writing, rested her head on her mother's lap, feeling sleepy from the gentle patting.

Her mother's hand was gentle and smelled nice.

She loved her mother dearly.

When Zhou Xu climbed the bamboo building, he saw through the window that Madam Xiao's daughter was napping on her mother's lap.

He glanced at the sky, noting it was just past midday, the sun at its fiercest. He descended the building, and upon returning, brought a colorful, thin blanket.

When Xiao Luo Lan saw Master Zhou entering, she quickly covered her practiced calligraphy with a book.

Zhou Xu silently gestured with the blanket.

Xiao Luo Lan took the blanket, covering her daughter with it and gratefully thanked Master Zhou.

Seeing Madam Xiao's daughter present, Zhou Xu thought it inappropriate to linger and left after giving the blanket.

Back in the study, Zhou Xu sat in his high-backed chair, staring at a piece of paper for a long time before smiling and saying, "In May, the Jiedu envoy of Hexi, Gao Yuanheng, passed away. His son, Gao Zhi, declared himself as the acting envoy. Gao Zhi has submitted several petitions to the emperor, which are still pending approval."

Zhao Qing Shan, fanning himself, commented, "The Gao family has held the position of Jiedu envoy of Hexi for two generations. If Gao Zhi takes over, it would be the third. The emperor naturally wouldn't approve, fearing that Hexi would become the Gao family's hereditary land."

Zhou Xu blew gently on the thin sheet of paper, watching it flutter. "Yes, the emperor doesn’t want the Gao family to continue as envoys. He plans to appoint another envoy to regain military control without bloodshed."

"But where's such a good thing in this world? When they need you, they let you fight wars to the death. When they don't, you're discarded. Gao Yuanheng ruled Hexi, I rule Youzhou. Technically, we are neighbors."

"Gao Yuanheng was the emperor's chess piece in Hexi, positioned to monitor and control me. We fought together against the Turks and also clashed against each other."

"But upon Gao Yuanheng's death, the emperor stopped acknowledging his son's self-appointment."

Zhao Qing Shan, sitting opposite his lord, looking at the news from Chang'an, chuckled, "So the emperor has now agreed?"

Zhou Xu burned the paper over a candle, his eyes narrow and hawk-like, cold and fierce. "Soon. Now we just need a straightforward Imperial Censor to speak up in court about the rebellious impacts of changing the Jiedu envoy of Chongzhou and mention my recent visit to Hexi with the Lei family cavalry."

"Some conservative officials in the court are worried that the emperor's pending approval might displease Gao Zhi, pushing him to our side."

Zhou Xu's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile, "But they don’t realize Gao Zhi is different from his father. Before Gao Yuanheng fell ill, Gao Zhi was already desperate. He secretly sought my help to secure his position as Jiedu envoy of Hexi, offering to cede several counties of Hexi in return."

Zhao Qing Shan remained silent.

Governor Li's recent loss of control was also anticipated by Zhou Xu and his lord.

This was because Governor Li had repeatedly petitioned the emperor to appoint a new Jiedu envoy to take over Hexi, fearing that without a change in leadership, Hexi would become a major threat.

In the following days, Xiao Luo Lan almost daily visited the bamboo building. Its serene environment allowed her to work on her weaknesses undisturbed. Once Xiao Qingxue's menstrual pain subsided, she longed to boat on the small lake and finally persuaded Fang Yun to join her.

Lei Shan rowed a small wooden boat, following them to ensure their safety.

Lady Dou, accompanied by her maid, came to chat with Madam Xiao.

"Madam Xiao, a friend of mine has a beautiful garden near Hongfa Temple. She invited me to visit, and I’d like to extend the invitation to you. Would you be available to join me?"

Xiao Luo Lan, appreciative of Lady Dou's politeness and remembering her help since their arrival at the Dou residence, replied, "Yes, I am available."

Lady Dou was immediately delighted.

"May I bring my daughter along?" Xiao Luo Lan asked, glancing at her daughter boating on the lake.

Lady Dou's smile broadened. "Of course," she said. Then, tentatively, she added, "My friend is a merchant's wife. Would that bother you?" If Madam Xiao minded, Lady Dou planned to decline Luo Jinhu's invitation.

Xiao Luo Lan was momentarily taken aback, then remembered that merchants in ancient times held a low status.

She shook her head, "I don't mind at all."

In her modern life, she ran a small cake shop and was essentially a merchant herself, selling products to others. How could she look down on others?

"Madam Xiao, you truly are…" Lady Dou was at a loss for words. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Ever since other noble families learned of her husband's friendship with Luo Jinhu, they had openly and covertly ridiculed them, infuriating Lady Dou on numerous occasions. But Madam Xiao from Chang'an, unlike others, never put on airs, never mistreated servants, and was always gentle and respectful towards everyone, earning the quiet admiration of the servants at the Dou residence.

"This must be the upbringing of a true noble family," Lady Dou thought.

Xiao Qingxue, learning they were going out, happily changed into a new outfit.

From the main gate, Xiao Luo Lan and Xiao Qingxue shared one carriage, with Fang Yun as their personal maid by their side, while Lady Dou and her maid Qiaoxin occupied another.

The news of Madam Xiao and Lady Dou going out together was naturally reported to the Jiedu envoy by Dou Haitao.

Zhou Xu, busy with affairs and having just received some clues from Judge Xu of Cang County via pigeon, heard Dou Haitao's report and instructed Lei Shan to take two Lei family riders to escort Madam Xiao.

Xiao Qingxue lifted the bamboo curtain to look at the streets. Perhaps due to the hot sun, there weren't many people outside, making it seem less lively.

The carriage wheels rumbled along the road.

Yang Dong, riding his horse, happened to encounter Lady Dou's group and immediately noticed Madam Xiao sitting beside Miss Xiao.

Madam Xiao sat inside the carriage, her face partially hidden behind the bamboo curtain, revealing only her snow-white chin and rosy, full lips.

"Brother Yang, is that Madam Xiao?" asked a young man riding alongside Yang Dong.

Yang Dong, pulled back to reality, preferred not to discuss further and simply hummed in response.

Unexpectedly, the young man in a blue round-necked robe impulsively pulled his horse's reins, rushing forward a few steps, aligning perfectly with Madam Xiao's carriage.

Xiao Qingxue, seeing Yang Duwei whom she hadn't seen in a long time, greeted, "Yang Duwei."

Yang Dong glared at the young man before courteously greeting Miss Xiao, "Miss Xiao, what a coincidence."

Xiao Luo Lan, hearing Yang Duwei's voice and not wanting to be impolite, also greeted, "Yang Duwei, good afternoon."

The young man, stunned for a moment at the sight of the beautiful woman behind the bamboo curtain, then flashed a smile, "Are you Madam Xiao?"

Xiao Luo Lan, looking at the 17 or 18-year-old young man on the horse, certain she had never met him, hesitated before replying, "Do you need something?"

The young man, smiling broadly, was about to lean in closer when suddenly an arrow whizzed from a distance, its sharp sound piercing the air, embedding its steel tip firmly into the cobblestone, shattering it into numerous pieces.

The young man's posture stiffened instantly, leaning backward just enough to narrowly avoid the arrow aimed at his heart.

Xiao Luo Lan, startled by the sudden turn of events, instinctively pulled her daughter close for protection.

On the quiet cobblestone path.

Zhou Xu rode his horse, returning the bow and arrow he had taken from Lei Shan back to his saddlebag.

The sound of horse hooves echoed as the young man's face turned pale, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, realizing that had he been a fraction slower, he would now be dead.

Zhou Xu rode closer and reassured, "Madam Xiao, it's alright now."

Xiao Luo Lan looked up at Master Zhou, her hairpin trembling beside her raven hair, eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.

"It was just a rascal who dared to offend you."

"You needn't worry."

Yang Dong noticed that despite his words, there was no hint of a smile in the Jiedu envoy's eyes.