As soon as he finished speaking, there was a faint sound of uneven breathing and snoring in the bedroom.
The two servants lowered their hands and returned to the building.
In the room, King Yan opened his eyes on the bed. His eyes were clear and there was no hint of drunkenness.
The boy took out a dark blue robe and silently held it in front of King Yan.
King Yan stood up and dressed, and whispered to the boy: "Every half an hour, let someone change the tea."
The boy responded seriously.
The early summer night was still cool, and as soon as the window was opened, a cool breeze dissipated the alcohol smell in the house.
Seeing the figure outside the window quickly disappearing into the night, the servant gently closed the two carved windows again.
…
After Xu Mingyi left the palace, he changed into men's clothes in the carriage that were easier to move around. He asked Akui to help him untie his bun and tie it with a dark blue ribbon on his head.
Out of self-consciousness, Akui wanted to change into the clothes of a servant, but her girl stopped her: "You don't have to follow--"
Although there is no clear prediction of what will happen next, King Yan is a martial arts practitioner. If he needs to follow the opponent, it will undoubtedly be extremely inconvenient to take Akui with him.
Akui didn't ask any more questions, nodded obediently and said, "The maid will wait for the girl to come back."
After driving forward for a while, the driver stopped the carriage when passing through an alley.
Xu Mingyi opened the car curtain and looked forward, only to see that the car driven by Xiao Qi had stopped first. When she saw it, Xiao Qi jumped down from the seat and raised his hand to salute her.
Xu Mingyi got off the carriage knowingly and walked over.
The car curtain was opened from the inside, and immediately a big hand stretched out - under the dark blue narrow sleeves, the young man's palm had clear joints, was slender and fair, and was really good-looking.
Xu Mingyi did not hesitate, holding the hand and getting into the carriage.
The car curtain fell behind her.
Wu Cha was the only one in the car, and Xu Mingyi sat down opposite him. On the small table in the middle, in addition to fruits, there were also several plates of shortbread snacks.
Xu Mingyi recognized He Ji's shortbread cookies at a glance, and couldn't help but ask: "You parked on the street just now and asked Xiao Qi to buy these?"
Wu Chao said "hmm" and said, "I bought it for you. It's said to be the last batch tonight. It's just come out of the oven and it's not cold yet. Please try it quickly."
As he spoke, he handed over a squarely folded white cotton handkerchief.
Xu Mingyi subconsciously took it. The cotton handkerchief was wet, so she wiped her hands carefully.
After I wiped my left and right hands clean, I ate a piece.
"Is it tasty?"
Wu Chao asked with a smile.
Xu Mingyi nodded. Since there was something in her mouth and it was inconvenient to speak, she pointed at the remaining items on the plate, intending for him to taste them too.
Wu Chao glanced at the piece in her hand and felt that the situation was different from what was said in the book - shouldn't he hand over his piece and let him have a taste?
"I ate it before."
Wu Chao did not taste the snacks on the plate. He only raised his hand to pour a cup of hot tea and brought it to her: "Drink some water."
His movements were faster than his consciousness. Xu Mingyi, who was holding the snack in his right hand, leaned forward slightly and took a sip from the tea cup in his hand.
Wu Chao couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared in his eyes, and he handed the teacup closer to him——
"The temperature is suitable, let's take another sip."
Xu Mingyi drank some more and ate the last bite of shortbread.
After a while, the carriage slowly stopped.
Xiao Qi's voice then sounded: "Master, Miss Xu, we are here."
arrive?
Xu Mingyi acted quickly and got off the carriage first.
The jade-like young man in the car still sat upright, looking down at the tea cup he was always holding in his right hand. As if by mistake, he brought the tea cup in front of him and took a sip.
It’s really good tea…
The young man raised the corners of his mouth slowly.
"Wu Chao?"
Seeing that no one had followed him, Xu Mingyi shouted into the car in confusion.
In the car, the smile on the corner of the young man's mouth immediately disappeared, and he quickly put down the tea cup as if he was a guilty thief. He coughed lightly, straightened his clothes and robes, and got out of the carriage.
"Where is this?"
Xu Mingyi looked around and asked him.
Having grown up in Beijing and having a monkey-like temperament that likes to run around, she naturally recognized this place as Guangning Street, but what she actually wanted to ask was why she came here.
"Go to Pingqing Hall." Wu Chao turned around and walked forward, saying to her, "It's more convenient to walk."
If the carriage stops near Pingqing Hall, its whereabouts will undoubtedly be exposed.
"Pingqing Pavilion?" Xu Mingyi followed him in two steps and asked in a low voice: "... Could it be that Uncle Wu and His Highness Prince Yan will meet here?"
"I guess it's probably here."
guess?
I thought he had inquired or overheard something in advance, but the co-author actually guessed it?
Xu Mingyi couldn't help but look at him curiously: "How did you guess it?"
This Pingqingguan is not an ordinary teahouse.
As far as she knew, this place was one of the most famous teahouses in Beijing. Its interior was exquisitely and elegantly decorated, and it was a favorite place for literati. Confucian scholars in the literary world often set up poetry gatherings here to meet friends through literature.
Although it was evening at this time, there must be few customers, but the shopkeeper in this teahouse must have developed a pair of eyes that are very good at recognizing people. Isn't Uncle Wu afraid of being recognized when he comes here?
"Pingqing Pavilion, like Xuesheng Tea House, is owned by the Wu family -" Wu Chao told him bluntly.
It's just that the two places have different functions.
Hearing this simple and straightforward answer, which also revealed a wealth of wealth, Xu Mingyi couldn't help but be silent for a moment.
It turns out that the Pingqing Hall, where scholars gathered, was also owned by the Wu family——
In the past few years, her second uncle would often come over.
I don’t know if the second uncle said anything unfriendly to the Wu family when he was drunk. If he said it, he could still be sent out intact, which is a reflection of the store’s cherishment of its reputation...
While the two were talking, they had already arrived outside the Pingqing Hall.
After taking a look at the sign above his head, Xu Mingyi asked in a low voice with some hesitation: "Shall we go in directly?"
What if the waiter turned around and told Uncle Wu that Wu Chao was there, would he still be able to hear what he wanted to hear?
"It doesn't matter."
Wu Chao seemed to have a plan.
Xu Mingyi didn't ask any more questions and just followed him in.
There were very few guests at this time in the evening. There were only two men in long robes sitting there drinking tea. They sighed and shook their heads from time to time. I don’t know whether it was because they were not recognized for their talents or because they were disappointed with the current political situation. There was clearly a pot of tea in front of them.
He drank like he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Such two people had no intention of paying attention to Wu Chao and Wu Chao who walked in.
When the waiter who came forward saw Wu Chao, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes. He immediately returned to normal and greeted with a smile: "How come Mr. Wu is here free?"
It's more like how it looks when receiving regular customers.
"When you pass by here, come in and sit down." Wu Chao glanced around inadvertently, and said to the waiter: "Don't mention my coming here tonight to my father."
The guy was startled when he heard this.
Not allowed to tell the prince?
Why is this...
In doubt, the waiter keenly caught the sight of his grandson glancing to his side as though he was not there.
The "young master" next to him hid behind Shisun somewhat uncomfortably, his bright black eyes darting away, and he felt a bit nervous with nowhere to go.
The boy's eyes flashed, and his mind suddenly felt like a bright mirror.
Got it, got it!
Who hasn’t been young yet?
"Yes, the villain understands that the villain must keep his mouth shut."
The waiter immediately led the person to the backyard, "It is clean and elegant, just suitable for the two young masters to talk about poetry..."
Different from ordinary teahouses, the backyard here is the most elegant place. It is planted with green bamboos and flowers and has three or five elegant rooms, each with its own exquisiteness. On weekdays, only distinguished guests are not allowed to enter.
But Xu Mingyi knew very well that there must be other reasons why the guy took her and Wu Chao to the private room in the backyard.
The waiter led the two of them into a private room and quickly arranged tea and snacks.
Finally, he picked up a thin-necked white jade vase from somewhere. There were several seasonal flowers inserted in the vase. Wu Chao took a look at it and couldn't help but feel that nine out of ten of them were picked and inserted right now...
The clerk put down the vase, glanced at Xu Mingyi who was standing in front of the bookcase, looking through the books, then lowered his voice and said with a smile to his young master: "Our place is elegant and clean, the scenery is good, we have good tea and snacks, and it is convenient for us to talk. Mr.
You can bring your friends here often..."
All in all, it is much better than the Xuesheng Tea House!
But that boy Shouming showed off to them all day long, intentionally or unintentionally, saying that the young master would go to Xuesheng Tea House to sit around every now and then, which made the people in Pingqing Restaurant jealous, and they all made up their minds at that time - it was best not to let them
An opportunity to show off in front of the young master, otherwise the young master will understand what it means to be truly considerate and considerate.
Listening to these words full of overt and covert intrigues, Wu Chao could only say "hmm" and said: "No need to talk about anything else, just go out first, don't come in if you have nothing to do."
The waiter responded "yes" knowingly and walked out with a smile.
As soon as the door was closed by the waiter from the outside, Xu Mingyi put the book in his hand back, turned around, lowered his voice and asked Wu Chao: "When you were in the front hall just now, did you see a room on the second floor?
Are the lights on in the private room?"
"I saw it. The door is open, which means no one has arrived yet. They should have reserved it in advance——"
That's why the waiter didn't take them to the second floor.
Xu Mingyi said: "It seems that you are probably right."
King Yan was drunk in the palace today. She and Wu Chao guessed that this was to cover up others' eyes and took this opportunity to meet Prince Wu.
It was the Queen Mother's birthday, and the Emperor also drank wine, and most of his thoughts were on the dragon heir in Concubine Jing's belly. Tonight was undoubtedly a good opportunity for King Yan.
But all this is just her and Wu Chao's imagination. It is still unknown whether King Yan will leave the palace and whether he will come here after leaving the palace.
However, it seems now that we are 70% sure.
"You have to go to that elegant room first and take a look -" Wu Chao got up from his chair.
Xu Mingyi nodded, left the elegant room with him, and gently closed the door.
"You should be able to sneak in quietly from here."
The two came to the uniquely decorated backyard. Xu Mingyi pointed to a rockery not far in front and said.
Wu Chao raised his eyes and looked over.
It seems that it is inevitable to break into the house through the window on your own property.
"Are you afraid of heights?" he asked.
"I'm not afraid—"
You have already climbed the city wall, so how can you be afraid of this mere two-story building?
Just when Xu Mingyi was about to give it a try, he felt someone gently hugged his waist——
The young man stepped lightly, his body was as light as a swallow, stepped on the rockery, and led her to jump up to the eaves of the corridor under the window of the lighted elegant room.
Sensing that the hand holding her had loosened, Xu Mingyi suppressed her pounding heart and took the lead in turning into the house.
The young man put one hand on the window frame and quickly rolled in easily.
This elegant room is very spacious, with a curtain separating the inner and outer rooms. The outer room is a place for drinking tea and meeting friends, and the inner room has a low couch for people to rest, with everything needed.
"It seems that my father is indeed coming over -"
Looking at the incense burner on the side table with a few wisps of light green smoke coming out, Wu Chao said firmly: "The incense in this furnace is the incense my father likes."
Although his father loves incense, he doesn't like it to be too strong when incense is smoked. He always opens the window to diffuse the fragrance, euphemistically calling it "fresh breeze washes away the fragrance" - leaving only a wisp of light fragrance is what suits his best.
"Then let's go to the next room—"
At this point, Xu Mingyi has completely determined what he is going to do tonight, nothing more than eavesdropping.
Wu Chao nodded.
However, when the two were about to leave, they suddenly heard footsteps coming upstairs.
The two looked at each other and saw four words in each other's eyes - it's too late!
Even if you go out through the window, the window of the elegant room next door is closed, so you can't hide in immediately. And if you can't find a hiding place now, and you want to get close to this place without being noticed by King Yan and the others, it will be difficult.
Extremely difficult.
It is not difficult to leave directly through the window, but what they want is not to escape——
In desperation, Xu Mingyi suddenly took Wu Chao's hand and ran quickly to the inner room behind the curtain.
Just now she took a glance and remembered that there was a cabinet inside!
In a hurry, Xu Mingyi's eyes caught the cabinet. Without saying a word, Xu Mingyi quickly opened the cabinet door and pushed Wu Chao in first.
In such a situation, there is no time for discussion. If we want to cooperate tacitly without making mistakes, one party can only let the other party make arrangements, and Wu Chao is also very willing to be arranged by her, so that he can be stuffed into the cabinet like this.
After stuffing Wu Chao in, Xu Mingyi immediately bent over and got in.
The visitor was brought in by the waiter, and when the door of the elegant room was closed, the two cabinet doors had just been completely closed by Xu Mingyi.
This vermillion-lacquered wardrobe is not too small and can accommodate two people at the same time, but it still seems much smaller.
Xu Mingyi, who came in later, almost shrank into Wu Chao's arms.
Wu Chao's heart was beating like a drum. He felt that this was too rude and offensive, and it really made him unable to calm down, so he quietly moved and adjusted a few times.
No matter how he adjusted it, the space was really limited. In the end, although the two of them faced each other and occupied one side of the cabinet, due to the tall and tall young man, Xu Mingyi could only hide in front of him. In order to maintain the balance of the cabinet, Wu Chao
She also needs to place one hand on the cabinet wall behind her.
At this moment, Xu Mingyi couldn't care less about this, and just listened to the movement outside without moving.
