Chapter 131: His Delight

Acquiring the restaurant was only the beginning; there was still much to be done.

She needed to hire a head chef, procure the necessary low tables and furnishings, and recruit staff. Yet, Lu Ying was not in a rush. She closed the restaurant for the time being, had Aunt Yang move in to oversee the premises, and sent Luo Zi back to Hanyang to bring over more hands. She also needed to discuss partnership matters with Shang Ti, Xiao Yan, and others, as well as visit other establishments to learn the ropes. Between these countless tasks and her ongoing studies in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Lu Ying was so busy she barely had time to breathe.

One afternoon, just as Lu Ying returned home, she caught sight of a carriage and a man in green robes standing at her doorstep.

Could the noble have returned?

Without realizing it, Lu Ying quickened her pace. She hurried over, offered a bow to the man in green, and said clearly, "Are you looking for me, sir?"

The man in green turned around. Upon seeing Lu Ying, he flashed a mischievous smile.

Unlike the stern Zhi Wu, this man had a round face; though it wasn't obvious at first glance, when he relaxed, he exuded a naturally cheerful air. In fact, he was a humorous and jovial person. When Lu Ying had crossed paths with the noble back in Hanyang, this man had always been by his side, but he had vanished after they reached Chengdu.

Seeing Lu Ying, the man in green nodded with a smile and said, "Lady Lu, I am Zhi Liu." He paused before adding, "The Master has returned; he wishes to see you."

"I understand," Lu Ying replied. "I must bathe and change; please wait a moment."

Zhi Liu nodded. "Be quick."

"I shall."

Lu Ying was indeed fast. She didn't have time to heat water, but since the weather was sweltering, she simply used well water to wash her hair and body before changing into a silver-white robe.

Seeing the freshly groomed Lu Ying approaching with a graceful gait, Zhi Liu remarked, "You’ve grown quite tan, young lady."

She had been running around outside every day lately; how could she not be?

Once Lu Ying boarded the carriage and it pulled out of the alley, she suddenly asked, "What is your real surname, sir?"

Zhi Liu said gravely, "While in the Shu region, we all use the surname Zhi." But in the blink of an eye, he was grinning again. "A-Ying, there is no need to trouble yourself with such trifles. You will know once we reach Luoyang."

Lu Ying fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "Is the Master... taking me to Luoyang?"

Zhi Liu looked surprised. "That goes without saying. With your intelligence, could you not have guessed?"

Lu Ying did not answer.

Before long, the carriage entered Mirror Garden. Gazing at the lush, verdant grounds, Lu Ying said softly, "The Master does not seem to care for overly grand estates, does he?" Whether it was the Yi Garden in Hanyang or this Mirror Garden, they were both quite exquisite and compact compared to the typical residences of noble families, which prompted her remark.

Outside, Zhi Liu did not respond to her question.

A moment later, Zhi Liu’s voice called out, "We have arrived, young lady."

Lu Ying acknowledged him and stepped out of the carriage.

She followed Zhi Liu toward the small lake connected to the Yangtze River. Along the way, fallen blossoms scattered like confetti, and the vibrant flowers were like tapestry; Lu Ying looked up, overwhelmed by the beauty.

When she reached the lakeshore, the man was standing under a banyan tree, playing a flute.

A gentle breeze stirred, and the man under the tree was as handsome as the sun. It seemed as if such a person was born to preside over grand halls, deciding the fates of others with a mere wave of his hand. It was the first time she had seen him like this: his ink-black hair and the blue silk ribbon binding it fluttering in the wind, his silver-white Confucian robe lending him an air of elegance and ease.

The flute notes curled in the air like a rising tide; he looked like a figure stepped out of a painting.

Lu Ying unconsciously softened her footsteps.

After a while, the man slowly lowered the flute and turned around.

Under the banyan tree, his brilliant face was dappled by the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Perhaps it was because the breeze was so soft, but Lu Ying felt that at this moment, his handsomeness held a certain crystalline clarity, as if it could cleanse one's soul... What a ridiculous illusion!

As Lu Ying looked at him quietly, he was also observing her.

After staring for a few moments, he remarked with a pained expression, "How is it that in a month’s time, my tender, white, dumpling-like cat has turned into a piece of charcoal?"

The involuntary closeness and joyous smile that had surfaced on Lu Ying’s face since she first saw him suddenly stiffened.

He beckoned to her. "Come here."

Lu Ying walked over.

After looking her up and down, he rubbed his jaw and asked with the same pained expression, "Have you bathed?"

Lu Ying didn't understand his meaning at first, so she nodded and said, "I dared not face the Master while stained with sweat."

As soon as she finished, the man sighed, "You bathed, and yet you didn't manage to whiten even a little?"

Lu Ying’s face darkened.

"I heard you cheated a restaurant owner and have been busy with that?"

Lu Ying replied calmly, "Buying something worth four hundred taels of gold for three hundred is not cheating." In truth, if a shrewd and capable steward from a noble family had handled it, they might have pushed the price down even further. After all, the restaurant had a major flaw in its location, and the family’s management had reached a point where they were losing money for every day they stayed open.

However, she also knew that no matter what, if she and Luo Zi had gone to negotiate, they would never have achieved such results.

Seeing Lu Ying’s stubbornness, the man gave a low laugh and turned to call out, "Zhi Liu."

Zhi Liu walked over.

"Send someone to look after the affairs of the restaurant." Having said that, he turned to Lu Ying. "If you have nothing to do, don't rush outside. Looking so dark and dingy is truly an eyesore."

Lu Ying couldn't help but say, "I am only slightly tanned." It was hardly "dark and dingy."

The man ignored her and continued, "The woman you’ve been learning the zither from is not even considered first-rate in Chengdu. From tomorrow on, I will have specialists teach you zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting." He paused and suddenly smiled at Lu Ying.

His smile was quite radiant; he was already as dazzling as the sun, and this smile was enough to make one lower their head, too intimidated to look at him. Yet, while his smile was blinding, Lu Ying suddenly felt that he seemed a bit childlike—at his age, he was, after all, only eighteen or nineteen.

Looking at Lu Ying, the noble chuckled, "One's words do not match one's heart..."

What did he mean by that?

Lu Ying was startled at first, but looking at his smile, she realized.

He must think that she was studying these arts so that she could hold her head high after entering his household...

Suddenly, Lu Ying’s face darkened again.

She gritted her teeth and didn't retort. There was no point in arguing; no matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her.

"Come closer."

Lu Ying took two steps forward.

"Can't walk anymore?"

Lu Ying lowered her head, looking at the distance of two steps between them, and hesitated. She couldn't decide whether to step forward until she was pressed against him or... They had been so close on the boat; maintaining distance now seemed like mere affectation. Yet she had always harbored a sliver of hope, always thinking of finding a way to retreat. Even if her reputation was already gone, it was better to play dumb and keep her distance. Besides, his demand that she come to Mirror Garden for lessons from now on was something that must not happen.

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Ying lowered her head and said earnestly, "Reporting to the Princess..." She had only said five words when Zhi Liu suddenly coughed violently. Distracted by this interruption, the man didn't press Lu Ying’s hesitation further; he simply tossed his flute to a nearby maid and turned to walk along the lakeside.

Zhi Liu stepped lightly behind Lu Ying. "The Master hasn't shown that smile in many years," he whispered, his voice very soft.

Lu Ying looked up at him.

Zhi Liu was staring at Lu Ying. Seeing her look at him, he tightened his lips and warned her with the utmost gravity, "Lady Lu, a word of advice: this time, do not defy the Master’s wishes, and do not try to find excuses again. You cannot afford the consequences of disappointing him!"

His expression was heavy, his tone profound. Lu Ying glanced at him and lowered her head.

Then, she followed the noble’s footsteps.

The noble was clearly in a good mood, his stride light and springy. He gazed at the nearby lake and mountains, saying lightly, "A-Ying, do you like the lakeside corridor?"

Lu Ying was still pondering Zhi Liu’s words, so she replied instinctively, "I do."

"I shall have one built for you tomorrow." He looked toward the mountain peak and added, "I will have the corridor extend to the top of that mountain. If you wish, you can walk from here all the way to the summit to watch the Yangtze flowing—would that be nice?"

Lu Ying was stunned. She looked up at him, forgetting to answer for a moment.

Seeing her silence, the man turned back.

His eyes were still rippling with laughter.

This amusement was just like his radiant smile from before; the pleasure and joy seemed to emanate from the very depths of his heart.

Suddenly, Lu Ying thought: every time she had seen him in the past, he was always smiling, but his smile had never been like this—tinged with such purity... He was genuinely happy at this moment!

Seeing Lu Ying staring at him in a trance, he curled his lips and asked with a playful, ambiguous look, "Are you pleased, A-Ying?"

Lu Ying was startled and lowered her head. She was about to blurt out that she wasn't pleased, but for some reason, Zhi Liu’s warning flashed through her mind: "...You cannot afford the consequences of disappointing him."

With her head bowed, Lu Ying remained silent.

In this situation, her silence could be interpreted as shyness or an inability to answer.

The man curled his lips in satisfaction. He surveyed the lake and mountains again and added, "Do you like Hangzhou, A-Ying? One can travel straight to Hangzhou via the Long River. There is a West Lake there, with scenery unparalleled in the world. Next time, accompany me to see it."

After a long while, Lu Ying whispered, "Yes."

Not long after her voice faded, the sound of a flute drifted over again.

The man had started playing the flute once more.

From a musical perspective, his flute playing was not first-rate. Yet, for some reason, Lu Ying felt that when he played, he was in a state of absolute relaxation.

As he played, the man walked along the lake. By now, the scorching sun was blocked by drifting clouds, and the lake breeze brought a cool, refreshing sensation. Lu Ying couldn't help but look up at this figure, who seemed less haughty and less imposing than before, adding a touch of approachability and elegance.

She casually plucked a bamboo leaf, held it to her lips, and began to accompany his flute.

The sound of the bamboo was clear and sharp, the flute notes pure and soaring. Together, though not perfect, they were exceptionally soothing.

As Lu Ying followed him, playing, her arm was suddenly tugged, and she was pulled into the shade of the trees. Lu Ying looked up. After being under the sun for so long, beads of sweat had appeared on the man’s forehead. A maid nearby had just reached for a handkerchief to wipe his brow, but the man glanced at Lu Ying instead. The maid immediately lowered her head and stepped back, and the handkerchief in her hand was passed to Lu Ying.

Just then, hurried footsteps approached. In a flash, a guard ran up, knelt on one knee before him, and reported, "Reporting to the Master, General Geng Zuo has arrived in Chengdu."

Lowering the flute, Lu Ying heard him say lazily, "Arrived in Chengdu? I wonder who is receiving him?"

"He is currently staying at the Shang residence. The Shang family just sent a message saying they will host a banquet in the main hall tonight to welcome General Geng Zuo."