kvmb Chapter 131 Your parents love you very much
Chapter 131 Your parents love you very much
Shen Qingtan saw Gu Zongci staring intently at the bracelet, his usually calm eyes surging with emotion, only to return to calm in an instant, as if he were trying his best to restrain himself.
His unusual reaction made her think deeply.
"Mr. Gu, do you recognize this bracelet?" Shen Qingtan touched the bracelet on her wrist and said with a slight smile, "This was a gift from my parents. Such exquisite craftsmanship is rarely seen on other people, except for nobles in the palace and those bestowed by the emperor upon meritorious officials. It is clear that they loved me very much."
Gu Zongci composed himself and said in a low voice, "Yes, your parents love you very much."
Shen Qingtan's words were a test for Gu Zongci, and his somewhat dazed expression confirmed to her that he recognized the bracelet and, more importantly, his biological parents.
He didn't say it outright, but was there some concern he had?
Gu Zongci's eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of affection: "It's noon now, shall we have lunch together?"
As he spoke, he pushed a tube of vegetable skewers in front of her.
Gu Zongci said in a friendly tone, "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat. Don't be shy, just order whatever you like."
"Please order whatever you like," Shen Qingtan said, pushing the bamboo tube containing the food skewers back.
She keenly sensed the change in Gu Zongci's attitude; he treated her with more affection, as if she were a junior in his family.
After all, when she first met Gu Zongci, he only treated her with a somewhat distant and polite attitude.
Especially when Boss Qin praised her, Gu Zongci maintained his sister's position in his heart.
Thinking of this, Shen Qingtan tentatively asked, "Uncle Qin said you are a wealthy merchant in Nanling Prefecture, and the Gu family's reputation there is well-known. So why did you later go to Qingzhou to develop your business? Did your sister marry someone from Qingzhou?"
"No." Gu Zongci didn't hide anything from her: "My younger sister has been in poor health since she was a child and was raised by my maternal grandfather in Liangzhou. My grandfather knows some traditional Chinese medicine, which can help her improve her health."
Upon hearing the words "Liangzhou," Shen Qingtan instinctively asked, "Does she rarely return to Nanlingzhou?"
“She rarely comes back.” Gu Zongci sighed. “Before, she was in poor health, and the back and forth took a toll on her body. After she came of age and her health improved, she was engaged and stayed in Liangzhou to await marriage.”
Shen Qingtan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Gu Zongci ordered two cold dishes, four hot dishes, two sweet soups, and four desserts.
The table was filled with food.
Shen Qingtan said in surprise, "You ordered too much. We can't finish it, and it will all go to waste."
Gu Zongci smiled and said, "I didn't know your tastes, so I just ordered a few things randomly."
Shen Qingtan: "..." This is what you call casual? If it's not casual, wouldn't we have to put another table together?
She glanced at the dishes on the table, her gaze pausing slightly before settling on a Song-style steamed egg custard with filling, a dish she had loved since childhood and which was quite unique.
Next to it was a dish of chicken soup with bamboo shoots. This dish was nothing special, but what caught her attention was that all the chicken was skinless.
No matter what kind of meat she eats, she doesn't like to have the skin on and has to remove it before cooking.
This habit was something I had since childhood, and no one else would know about it except for my close family and friends.
Of the four snacks, chickpea cake and mixed fruit cake were her favorites when she was a child.
Just then, the waiter brought over a bowl of almond milk and placed it in front of her.
Shen Qingtan looked up at Gu Zongci.
Gu Zongci asked, "Is it not to your liking?"
Then he added, "Then let the waiter take it away and we'll order again."
"No need to trouble yourself." Shen Qingtan's feelings were complicated, and she didn't think it was a coincidence: "I like it very much."
Upon hearing this, Gu Zongci breathed a slight sigh of relief.
When ordering food, he ordered according to the tastes Shen Qingtan had when she was a child.
Seeing that her tastes hadn't changed much, Gu Zongci felt a pang of sadness, as if she had only gone out for a trip and had been on her way home for over a decade.
She's still the same soft little dumpling she was when she was little; apart from growing taller, she's no different.
Gu Zongci said, "Then you should eat more."
Shen Qingtan lowered her eyelashes and softly hummed in agreement. She only began eating after Gu Zongci picked up his chopsticks. She took a little bit of each dish.
As she put down her chopsticks, Gu Zongci brought over a bowl of sweet soup and placed it in front of her.
Then he brought out a honey pot.
When Shen Qingtan ate sweet soup, she didn't like the kitchen adding sugar to the soup; instead, she would add two spoonfuls of honey herself.
Her doubts deepened.
Since Gu Zongci didn't say anything, she didn't ask.
Because of her relationship with Gu Zongci, there was no need to think too deeply; the clues were already revealed by this table of delicious food.
After finishing the meal, Shen Qingtan took her leave and returned home.
Gu Zongci couldn't wait to return to the mansion, went straight to his study, and wrote two letters.
A letter was sent to the Northern Border to the King of Zhenbei.
A letter was sent to my younger sister in Liangzhou.
He also instructed his trusted confidants to send the message by express courier, as quickly as possible.
After that, he summoned his steward and ordered him to donate silver and grain to the northern border.
I want to accumulate as many merits as possible, hoping they will come in handy in the future.
-
In the Imperial Study of the Palace, Emperor Jing'an and Zhao Yi are playing chess.
The chessboard is fraught with traps and peril.
Emperor Jing'an frowned as Zhao Yi pressed him relentlessly.
"Ahem..." Zhao Yi coughed softly and casually placed a piece on the chessboard.
Emperor Jing'an's brows suddenly relaxed, and he laughed, "Yi'er, you've lost half a piece to me this time."
Zhao Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty's chess skills have improved more and more."
Emperor Jing'an snorted and tossed aside the chess piece in his hand: "I'm not playing anymore."
Anyway, he couldn't win anyway, and the situation he won was only because Zhao Yi let him win without any real effort.
At this moment, Eunuch Cao came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the Prince of Zhenbei has sent a secret letter by express courier, covering 800 li."
Emperor Jing'an said in a deep voice, "Bring it here."
Eunuch Cao respectfully presented the secret letter to Emperor Jing'an.
Emperor Jing'an did not try to hide anything from Zhao Yi, and opened the secret letter, reading it quickly.
In his secret letter, the Prince of Zhenbei explained that he had brought his three sons with him to support the northern border, and had also brought his own provisions to transport to the north.
"Yi'er, what's your opinion on this matter?"
The secret letter contained no information that could not be disclosed, and Emperor Jing'an handed it to Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi said gently, "The Zhenbei Prince's Mansion has been loyal and virtuous for generations and has received the Emperor's favor. This time, the Zhenbei Prince wants his descendants to make meritorious contributions and serve the court."
Suddenly, his gaze paused and fell on the seal of the Prince of Zhenbei.
The characters on the seal are peculiar; once you see them, you'll remember them vividly.
Coincidentally, Zhao Yi had met him once.
The last time he saw it was on Shen Qingtan's filigree inlaid bracelet.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing'an closed the secret letter.
He hoped that like father, like son, that the Prince of Zhenbei's sons would all be brave and skilled in battle, adding several fierce generals to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"I await the good news from the front."
-
After leaving the Imperial Study, Zhao Yi returned to the Duke of Zhao's mansion and happened to meet Shen Qingtan, who was returning from outside, at the side gate.
He thought of the seal of the Prince of Zhenbei and said gently, "Tan'er, I have something to say to you."