"My uncle is protecting her. If she hadn't come to our door this time, she wouldn't have stayed in the capital for three months."
Zhou Zhan's tone was full of disdain for Chang Jinchan, "But she is not heartless, and she is fooling around all day long."
"It's good that my cousin was brought up with this temper. At least she can be happy." Shen Moran knew that Zhou Zhan disliked Chang Jinchan, so he stood up to speak for her, "At least our house is not deserted now, which is good."
She would contradict him no matter what he said.
"If it were another woman, I'm afraid she wouldn't let my cousin live in the house for too long just because of jealousy, not to mention that the Duke Protector's house also has a house in the capital."
It implies that she is too generous.
But it’s not her fault for being too generous!
The couple looked at each other, saying nothing. Shen Moran looked away and found a spring shirt for him from the cabinet.
"The weather is getting warmer, so you don't need to cover it so thickly to get prickly heat!"
Being interrupted like this, Zhou Zhan lost all his thoughts and watched depressedly as his princess carried the quilt out and threw it to Jiu Er.
"The weather is nice today, let's dry the quilt well."
…
The warm breeze brought the fragrance of flowers, and a few pink petals fell on the table. It was already noon after finishing the arrangements for the palace examination.
Zhuo Wen stood up and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I'm going to visit Chunlou today at noon. I'm going to treat you. Mr. Xie and Mr. Li must appreciate it!"
Zhou Rong put away the memorial table arranged for the palace examination and said politely: "It's already noon. Mr. Xie and Mr. Li just go to eat and drink with Mr. Zhuo. I will go into the palace and submit the memorial table to my father for review. If there are no problems, I will go to the palace in the afternoon." Then we can publish the list and announce it.”
Yu Shibo also stood up and echoed: "It's best to get this matter done as soon as possible to avoid mistakes."
Zhou Rong cupped his hands and left with the watch. Xie Yun and Li Wei looked at each other. Xie Yun, the elder, said, "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey."
Zhuo Wen said with a smile: "Well, I will ask my subordinates to arrange the carriage, please two gentlemen."
Tan Chun Lou's restaurant is the most famous in the capital. Ever since the list was released, ten or twenty tables have been set up along the lake every day. You can't get in without a reservation.
The group of them obviously had an impromptu idea, but as soon as they entered the door, they were personally welcomed to the private room upstairs by the shopkeeper.
Seeing the confusion between the two of them, Zhuo Wen explained: "Your Highness has reserved the Lingyan Pavilion. Even if we don't come, the shopkeeper will keep this private room for us."
What Li Wei cares about is not the food at Tanchunlou, but the price.
“It’s not cheap to book a private room for a long time.”
The waiter first served a few dishes and a jug of wine. Zhuo Wen picked up the jug and poured wine for the two of them.
"The best osmanthus brew is mellow and not intoxicating. We have to work in the afternoon, so let's drink less."
The three of them raised their glasses in unison. The smell of sweet-scented osmanthus wine was indeed fragrant. Li Wei smacked it in his mouth. He heard that in Tanchun Tower, a small pot of sweet-scented osmanthus wine costs ten taels of silver. A pot can only serve a few cups. His mouthfuls are enough to cover the expenses of many people for half a year.
As soon as a man drinks alcohol, his state immediately changes.
Zhuo Wen smiled and replied: "It's not expensive. It only costs 200 taels to reserve a private room for a month. The drinks and dishes are paid separately. Tanchunlou's dishes are famous in Shengjing City, and they are the best-selling ones recently." It’s just a hotpot, I ordered a divine duck dish, and I’ll ask the two gentlemen to try it later.”
The steaming dishes were brought to the table, and Zhuo Wen introduced: "This one is first-grade tofu, this one is jade shrimp rings, and there are four pieces of bird's nest..."
Zhuo Wen has been in the officialdom for a long time, and his body is full of the smell of copper. There is inevitably a condescending smell in his words. Facing a table full of delicious food, Yu Shibo frowned.
He did not ignore the disapproval between Xie Yun and Li Wei's eyebrows and warned them.
"Master Zhuo, there are only four of us. Isn't it a waste to order so many dishes?"
Zhuo Wen filled it for everyone again.
"I'm treating you, so Master Yu doesn't have to save money for me. Just have fun and enjoy yourself!"
The wine was mellow and the food was delicious. Xie Yun and Zhuo Wen were chatting and laughing at the dinner table. Yu Shibo occasionally chimed in, but Li Wei kept frowning. After the wine and food were full, Zhou Rong sent someone to inform a few people that things had already happened.
Done, there's no need to go to Dianmao again in the afternoon.
Zhuo Wen said: "In that case, I will arrange a carriage to take the two gentlemen back home to rest."
Xie Yun waved his hand and said: "Don't bother me. The weather is nice today. I want to take a walk along the Sacred Heart Lake to relax. Lord Zhuo just goes and is busy."
Li Wei also refused: "I am with Mr. Xie."
Zhuo Wen's eyes signaled Yu Shibo to accompany him.
"We two have nothing to worry about. It's rare for us to have free time. It doesn't hurt to hang out together. Mr. Yu hasn't been home for a few days, so he should go home and have a look. There is no need to accompany me specially."
Xie Yun smiled and blocked Yu Shibo's unspoken words, and opened the folding fan with a loud sound, "No matter what, I was considered a figure in Shengjing City more than ten years ago, and I will not get lost."
Yu Shibo had no choice but to stand and bow his hands to the two of them.
Xie Yun and Li Wei disappeared into the crowd one after another and walked to the lake. There were many painted boats and small awning boats floating on the lake. Sacred Heart Lake is connected to the moat outside the city. There is still plenty of rain this spring, and the water level in the lake has increased compared to last year.
Quite a few.
He pointed to the small island in the lake and sighed: "I haven't been up there in many years. Dear brother, would you like to go up there and have a look?"
Li Wei obviously had no intention of playing. Xie Yun noticed his absence, took out a piece of silver from his wallet and handed it to the boatman, and rented a small awning boat.
"We are short of money and we are getting older, so we won't go to the island for fun. Let's go boating on the lake and enjoy the wind."
Zhuo Wen saw the two renting a boat and asked, "Master Yu, do you think His Highness can win over Xie Yun and Li Wei?"
Although both of them are members of the King of Honor Party, it does not mean that they have a close relationship. Yu Shibo has real talent and knowledge, but he is also aloof. Although his official position is low, he is always pretentious.
They were all scholars, and Zhuo Wen had been in the officialdom for twenty years. He believed that the aloofness of a scholar was the most useless thing. He was smooth and clever, and with Wei Heyan's power behind him, he was still useful in front of Emperor Yao.
On the other hand, Zhuo Wen still has no real power after all these years.
Yu Shibo also had a bad impression of him. He felt that he was flattering to others and arrogant to others. He had lasagna by himself, played both sides, flattered others, and was extravagant and wasteful...
What His Highness did today might have been his idea!
"Your Highness's kindness, if nothing else happens, should attract more knowledgeable people to be loyal to you."
He made up his mind to find an opportunity to persuade His Highness to stop listening to Zhuo Wenjinxian's slander. His Highness has always been strict with himself, how could he make a mistake at this time?
In response to his strange taunt, Zhuo Wen sneered lightly, stepped on the horse stool and got into the carriage. After getting into the carriage, he deliberately opened the curtain provocatively and said: "Master Yu, you must have a good rest when you return home. I have to meet Your Highness in the afternoon."
Let’s discuss the details and then take our leave.”
The carriage disappeared in front of his eyes, Yu Shibo tossed his sleeves and strode away.
In the lobby of Tanchun Building, some people immediately stood up to pay and leave, while others continued to sit with a small notebook and a small brush in their hands to record things.