Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter 35

At noon, after everyone had finished their meal, Chen Bingquan hurried over.

Fang Zhihe exchanged a glance with Yunzheng, and Yunzheng spoke, "Minister Chen, you've worked hard. Have the people all gone home?"

Chen Bingquan, dripping with sweat, bowed anxiously and reported, "The accounts have been settled and the people appeased. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty and esteemed officials."

Fang Zhihe picked up the teacup beside him, lifted the lid, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, and smiled, "Don't worry. Have you had your lunch?"

Chen Bingquan bowed and replied, "Not yet, Your Majesty."

Fang Zhihe took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Then go and eat. Afterward, come to the study with Chief Minister Gu. I have some matters to discuss with you all."

"Yes, I thank Your Majesty for your consideration." Chen Bingquan bowed low, glanced at Gu Zhining, and respectfully withdrew.

Gu Zhining soon also pleaded urgent affairs at his residence and took his leave.

Fang Zhihe politely saw him out, then shifted his gaze to Lu Wuyou.

That man was gazing at a pot of night-blooming cereus by the window. The blooming season was near, and the core was lush like green onions, with a single tall green sprout standing erect.

Fang Zhihe cleared his throat lightly and said with a wink and a smile, "Do you like night-blooming cereus? When I return, shall I make a spot in the imperial garden just for it?"

Lu Wuyou turned his head to look at him at this remark. Yunzheng coughed so hard he choked, but Fang Zhihe paid him no mind, smiling at Lu Wuyou.

Then Lu Wuyou spoke, "It's not that I like night-blooming cereus. I was thinking of that scallion you planted when you were a child."

The small seedling bought at the flower and bird market, supposedly a precursor to a fairy lily, after two months of planting, grew into a whole pot of scallions. Even then, he refused to believe it, insisted on calling Lu Wuyou to see, and when told they were scallions, he became angry and had someone pick them all, remaining upset for an entire day.

It kind of soothed him with a bowl of savory clear-soup scallion noodles from Lu Wuyou.

Fang Zhihe, reminded of this by him, was dazed for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

Actually, Lu Wuyou had been good to him when they were children.

That bowl of scallion noodles seemed simple to make but was actually quite troublesome. Each strand of noodle had to be stuffed into the scallion tube, one strand matching one tube. It took two hours to make one bowl, ensuring the color, aroma, and flavor were all perfect.

"What a memory," Fang Zhihe laughed. "Back then, I was so easy to fool. When someone said it was a flower, I believed it was a flower. When they said one tael of silver, I just gave that much. When I got home, my mom gave me an earful, saying that one tael was hard-earned by my father, and how could I buy a pot of scallions that cost only two coppers."

Lu Wuyou hadn't known that Fang Zhihe had been reprimanded by Lady Fang back then. He was slightly surprised and recalled that day he was supposed to have gone to the market with Fang Zhihe, but Fang Zhiyuan had suddenly wanted to go to the ceramic shop outside the city to pick up new cups, so he left Fang Zhihe and went with Fang Zhiyuan instead.

As a result, this person ended up buying a pot of scallions.

"Fairy lily and scallions are somewhat similar, each has its uses," he said casually, trying to cheer him up.

Fang Zhihe smiled and said, "Is this your way of comforting me from over a decade ago?"

Lu Wuyou was silent for two seconds, then "Mm-hmm"ed.

Back then, he hadn't comforted him at all. If he hadn't been afraid of making him mad at Changlin, he wouldn't have even made him noodles.

Yunzheng pursed his lips and cut in, "Your Majesty, I have many fairy lilies at home. Shall I send some to the palace?"

Lu Wuyou immediately responded, "Minister Yun, no need to be polite. I will find some for His Majesty myself."

Fang Zhihe's hand holding the tea trembled slightly. He looked up and saw Yunzheng winking at him. He stayed quiet and listened as Yunzheng continued, "I have some ready here. Why are you being so polite, Minister Lu?"

Lu Wuyou frowned slightly, was silent for a moment, then replied, "It's not about being polite. If His Majesty wants something, I will provide it myself."

Yunzheng just smiled at that and said no more.

Fang Zhihe felt that even his injuries didn't hurt as much anymore. He gulped down the tea, set down the cup, and said warmly, "Both of you esteemed ministers mean well for me. I'm really happy. Tonight, how about I treat you both to some drinks at the largest tavern in the city?"

Yunzheng said dryly, "Lord Qi sent me a letter yesterday, telling me not to let the emperor drink alcohol or indulge in cold things, saying that every pound you lose, my neck gets that much closer to being chopped off."

Fang Zhihe's eyelids twitched.

Then he heard the official, an imperial academy chancellor of the fourth grade, say coldly, "Yesterday, the Crown Prince sent me a letter, telling me to look after you well. If I fail, I am not to go see him again."

Fang Zhihe slumped, pulled a long face, and thought: That little punk doesn't write to his biological father, only to his stepfather?! What does that mean?!

Ingrate!

Fang Zhihe's heart was bitter, but he spoke politely, "Xiaoyuan sent a letter? Let me take a look!"

As he said this, he reached out for it.

Lu Wuyou glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Come to my room tonight to read it. I'll read it to you."

"..." Fang Zhihe was silent.

Lu Wuyou: "I'll serve you in bed tonight."

Yunzheng: "Cough cough cough cough cough!!!!!"

"Author's Note"

Mini-theater—

Upon hearing that Fang Zhihe had bought a fairy lily: Lu Wuyou: ?

Upon seeing the scallions Fang Zhihe had bought: Lu Wuyou: ??

Fang Zhihe angrily ordered someone to pick all the scallions, and Lu Wuyou forced to pick the scallions: ......

Cheering him up: Lu Wuyou: Help, these scallion noodles are so hard to make QAQ

Seeing Fang Zhihe finish the noodles: Lu Wuyou: (Expressionless, but with a little comfort in his heart)

When he learned Fang Zhihe had bought another pot of scallions, Lu Wuyou: (Stole the scallions, rode all night and tossed them off a cliff)

The next day: Fang Zhihe: ? Where are my scallions? Huh? Where are they??