Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Plain Tea and Light Talk

Liang Wan glanced at her. "And then?"

Gu Yu said, "His Lordship has ordered Lou Shixun and Wang Tingyue to travel to Pingzhou in secret."

Liang Wan frowned. ’Wang Tingyue?’

Lou Shixun was Lou Xiao’s own nephew, so his involvement wasn’t a surprise.

Liang Wan looked at Gu Yu’s reflection in the mirror. "Why Wang Tingyue?"

Gu Yu replied, "That... I heard it was the Empress Dowager’s arrangement."

Liang Wan fell silent.

She had never imagined that Wang Su had been working for the Empress Dowager all along.

If she hadn’t stolen the secret seal and confirmed Wang Su’s crime of illegally minting coins, the Wang family wouldn’t have fallen, and Wang Su wouldn’t have died.

Having lost the Wang family, the Empress Dowager lost her power to check Lu Xu and was instead put in a tight spot by him.

’Thinking back, it seems impossible that the Empress Dowager knew nothing of Wang Su’s illegal minting. When Wang Yansheng colluded with the mountain bandits, he was very clear: a powerful benefactor was protecting him, which was how he’d escaped death. He was free to do as he pleased, even with Lu Xiu standing right in front of him.’

Back in the Dali Temple Prison, Wang Su’s audacious behavior clearly showed he believed Lu Xiu wouldn’t truly let him be killed.

All of that confidence came from the Empress Dowager.

But Lu Xiu had obviously defied the Empress Dowager’s wishes. The Empress Dowager would surely hold that against her, tallying up every transgression.

’She must hate me to the bone.’

’She doesn’t move against me openly, but she has the Wang family constantly nipping at my heels because she’s uncertain about the whereabouts of that letter.’

’That day in Renshou Palace, the intoxicating drug was certainly the Empress’s doing, but the Empress Dowager must have tacitly approved. It was a classic case of using someone else to do her dirty work.’

’Today, the Empress Dowager intended to kill me, but her true goal was to control me with poison.’

’But what is her plan in giving Wang Tingyue such an important position?’

’Is it because of the enmity between me and the Wang family?’

’Or is it...?’

’It’s not just the Empress Dowager who has her eyes on Wang Tingyue; even Gao Qian has been testing him in every way possible.’

Liang Wan sighed softly.

’Asking the Empress for that Pardon Order was a mistake.’

’And now, I have to go to Pingzhou with Wang Tingyue.’

Liang Wan took the comb from Bai Lu’s hand and stood up to face them. "I’m leaving for Pingzhou tomorrow. Just pack a few light clothes for me."

The color drained from both their faces.

"Madam, are you going to find His Lordship?"

Liang Wan didn’t answer, which was a silent admission.

Bai Lu collected herself and tried to reason with her. "Pingzhou is a thousand miles from Jinye. It’s such a long and arduous journey, how can you go? What if something happens to you on the road?"

"His Lordship... His Lordship would never agree! The battlefield is dangerous, and besides, right now His Lordship is—" Gu Yu trailed off.

"Unable to protect even himself?" Liang Wan asked, looking at them calmly.

She had held off on telling them because she’d guessed this would be their reaction.

Ignoring their expressions, Liang Wan went to pack her things herself. There weren’t many important items.

She rummaged through a small wooden box for a while. ’When traveling, one must always prepare some poisons and antidotes.’ Her gaze fell upon a small fragrance ointment made from that pot of ’Green Peony’.

’He should like it.’

Liang Wan closed the wooden box, thought for a moment, and added a packet of silver needles.

As she packed, the two maids stood there stiffly, frantically exchanging glances.

Liang Wan turned around, her expression serious as she looked at Gu Yu. "You are not to tell His Lordship that I am going to Pingzhou. That is an order."

Both maids froze.

Bai Lu sighed and stepped forward. "Madam, have you considered that while His Lordship is in Pingzhou now, he might be somewhere else tomorrow? Even if you go, you might not be able to see him."

"Besides, the situation is very unfavorable for His Lordship right now. Hasn’t the Emperor already sent people secretly to Pingzhou? Maybe he’s about to recall His Lordship."

Bai Lu tried to persuade her gently, but Gu Yu just stared at Liang Wan without a word.

Liang Wan sighed inwardly. ’How could she tell them that a Lu Xiu who returned to Jinye would be a dead man?’

She smiled slightly. "Then that’s perfect. I’ll go and welcome him."

With that, she glanced out the window. The sun was setting in the west; there was still time.

She walked over to the desk, quickly wrote a letter, and handed it to Bai Lu, telling her to have it delivered to Wang Tingyue’s residence.

Bai Lu hesitated, but seeing she had no choice, she did as she was told.

As they passed each other, a maidservant hurried in.

"Madam, Grand Commandant Zhou is here to see you."

’Zhou Yun is here?’

Liang Wan truly hadn’t expected him.

’Could he be here to talk about Chancellor Cao?’

Liang Wan replied, "Ask him to wait for a moment."

The maidservant left the room.

Liang Wan walked to the mirror. Her hair was not yet completely dry, held up loosely by a jade hairpin, giving her a clean and simple look.

She turned and glanced at Gu Yu, who was still standing there dumbfounded. "Let’s go."

「Qingxiang Pavilion.」

Zhou Yun stood alone, the usual smile absent from his peach-blossom eyes.

Yesterday, the bustling Master’s Mansion. Today, the cold and deserted Great General Mansion.

It was inevitable that things would change, and people with them.

Liang Wan was heading toward the flower hall when she saw Zhou Yun by the waterside pavilion. He stood in the twilight glow, his wide-sleeved, iris-blue robe fluttering, cutting a tall and fair figure.

The look on his face was the same as that day in the drizzling rain when he had stared, lost in thought, at the crabapple blossoms.

Liang Wan walked toward him. The air indoors was stuffy; it was indeed much more pleasant in the small pavilion.

"Does the Grand Commandant have some news for me?"

Her words startled him from his reverie.

Zhou Yun came back to his senses and looked over, a smile returning to his eyes. "I was just passing by and thought I’d drop in."

"Oh."

Liang Wan knelt down opposite him without prompting. There was tea already brewed on the low table. She poured herself a cup, then glanced at the cup opposite hers—it seemed untouched.

She lowered her head to take a sip, then looked at him again. "How is the investigation going?"

Zhou Yun sat down, his gaze sweeping over the cup in her hand. "There has been some progress, but—"

He paused. "You went to the palace today?"

’I can’t let my trip to Pingzhou be known. If it were just Zhou Yun, it might not matter, but he has Lian Yang by his side and the Empress behind him. I have to keep it a secret.’

Liang Wan nodded, holding her teacup. "The Grandmaster had a letter he wanted me to deliver to the Empress Dowager before he passed away."

Zhou Yun frowned slightly. "Did the Empress Dowager say anything to you?"

Liang Wan instinctively shook her head, then paused before adding, "The Empress Dowager is troubled by her current predicament. I only stayed for a moment."

Zhou Yun nodded, glanced at her, and picked up his cup.

Liang Wan lowered her head and drank her tea, one sip after another. She was indeed thirsty after her bath.

She finished the cup.

Zhou Yun put his cup down and refilled hers.

Liang Wan found it a little amusing. "It seems I’m the guest here?"

Zhou Yun smiled, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "What, are you admitting you’re the mistress of the house now?"

Liang Wan couldn’t bring herself to smile. She lowered her eyes and sipped her tea to hide her awkwardness.

Zhou Yun chuckled. "He said you’re usually the one who serves tea to others."

Liang Wan was exasperated. "That’s only because he goes around telling people I’m good at it."

’Otherwise, who would enjoy serving others?’

Zhou Yun didn’t argue the point. He simply lifted his gaze to Gu Yu. "Is everything packed?"

Liang Wan was shocked. She looked first at Zhou Yun, then turned to Gu Yu with a frown. "What is the meaning of this?"

’How did he find out about my trip to Pingzhou so quickly?’

’Did Gu Yu tell him?’

’That’s impossible. I only just told them.’

With her bright eyes wide, Gu Yu knelt before Liang Wan’s questioning gaze.

Her voice was hoarse. "Madam, I’m sorry."

Liang Wan stared blankly at the cup in her hand. ’No wonder Zhou Yun hadn’t taken a single sip.’

"You drugged the tea?"

"Why?"

Zhou Yun sighed. "Don’t blame this servant. He told us to do this. You will be sent away from Jinye before the night is over, and you are never to return."

She tried to stand up in anger, but the cup slipped from her grasp. Tea spilled everywhere as she collapsed limply onto the table.

’Lu Xiu, you bastard!’

Before the curse could leave her lips, she opened her mouth but found she couldn’t make a sound. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Gu Yu scrambled to her feet and held her steady.

Zhou Yun sighed. "He told me to tell you that the three-year agreement is over."

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