My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 68

Chapter 68: Eating Together

After Song Changxu had presented his plan, Emperor Pingjing, instead of keeping him close, sent him back to the Hanlin Academy to compile the national history.

“Keeping Minister Song by my side would be a waste of talent. It’s better for him to gain experience in the Hanlin Academy,” Emperor Pingjing said with a very gentle tone.

Song Changxu accepted the order and returned to the Hanlin Academy. Working by His Majesty’s side, he had heard some conversations between the monarch and his ministers and had learned about the major affairs of the court.

He thought that His Majesty’s sending him back to the Hanlin Academy this time might have been to protect him.

Xie Anping was a little surprised to see him return. “Sir Song, why are you back?”

“His Majesty has ordered me to go to the National History Academy to compile history.”

This was unheard of. Could it be that His Majesty had grown tired of him? Xie Anping looked at Song Changxu’s appearance and felt a sense of pity.

“Since it is His Majesty’s order, then you should go.”

“Yes, Sir Xie,” Song Changxu said, and moved his things back. He looked around and did not see Shen Liang.

“Are you looking for Sir Shen, Sir Song? He went to the National History Academy long ago.”

Song Changxu went to the National History Academy to tidy up the books. He looked up and met Shen Liang’s gaze. Shen Liang was a little surprised, and Song Changxu explained again.

“Brother Song, then you can compile history with me. This National History Academy is quiet, unlike outside. I was a bit restless at first, but I’m much better now that I’ve accepted it,” Shen Liang said sincerely.

He was already Liu Wangsheng’s son-in-law. He had soared to the sky in one step, but he still had such a state of mind. Song Changxu was filled with admiration.

“You’re right, Brother Shen.”

Song Changxu found a ladder and climbed up to tidy up the books. The National History Academy was very large. He looked out and saw nothing but books.

Some of them were already yellowed, and some were carved on bamboo, the characters already blurry.

Ever since paper had appeared, books were now stored on paper. The National History Academy had many original ancient books. Song Changxu quite liked these books with an ancient flavor.

He and Shen Liang were tidying up the books. The only sounds in the academy were the turning of pages and the moving of ladders.

At noon, they went to the dining hall together. Pei Shengrong came over, looking dusty. He saw Song Changxu and Shen Liang together and asked with hesitation, “How did you two run into each other so coincidentally today?”

Song Changxu explained again.

“I see. It’s an opportunity to be by His Majesty’s side, but you also have to live with your head on the line. I used to think the Hanlin Academy was too quiet, but now I want to go back. The work in the Ministry of Works is simply not for humans,” Pei Shengrong said with a sigh after he had gotten his food.

“Why are you so disheveled?” Song Changxu asked, seeing the muddy water on his official robe.

Pei Shengrong’s face was bitter. “This time, a mine was discovered in the outskirts. I went with them and ended up like this.”

Song Changxu’s heart stirred. He asked, “Does the Ministry of Works have a register of mines?”

Pei Shengrong: “What’s the point of registering them? The mines are all private property. The Ministry of Works has no right to do so. Even the Ministry of Revenue avoids this area.”

Shen Liang said thoughtfully, “The mines are all privately owned. After all, some of the mountains and land are private, so the mines that are opened are also private. But the land in the outskirts is ownerless and belongs to His Majesty, so the mines there belong to the national treasury.”

Pei Shengrong had originally disliked the food in the dining hall, but now he was hungry and could eat anything. He wolfed it down.

He said vaguely, “Otherwise, why would the Ministry of Works bother?”

Song Changxu nodded.

The three of them had lunch and then went back to their respective places. There was a half-shichen break at noon. Song Changxu went back to his seat and took a short nap.

In the afternoon, he and Shen Liang went to the National History Academy together. Shen Liang’s expression was relaxed. He was young and had a distant relationship with the other Hanlin academicians, but it was different with the Jinshi of the same year.

Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue were in the Shuchang Hall. They saw a familiar back. Cheng Maoxue called out, “Brother Song!”

Song Changxu turned his head and saw the three of them. He was quite happy. “Brother Cheng, Brother Xie, Brother Luo.”

Cheng Maoxue had thought he had mistaken him for someone else. This time, it was really Song Changxu.

“Brother Song, weren’t you working in front of His Majesty?”

It was rare for someone to be so promising. Song Changxu’s matter was known in the Shuchang Hall.

Song Changxu informed them again.

Xie Feng: “I see. It’s also good to be in the National History Academy. After all, we’re all newcomers and need to be tempered.”

Luo Shuang revealed a faint smile.

The three of them were still inseparable. Cheng Maoxue patted Song Changxu’s shoulder. “Come to my house tonight. The four of us will have a good drink.”

“By the way, this is…” Cheng Maoxue looked at Shen Liang with hesitation.

Shen Liang did not mind. He cupped his hands gently. “My name is Shen Liang.”

“So it’s Sir Shen.”

They exchanged names. Shen Liang was also happy to befriend them. In the officialdom, one more friend was one more path.

They had met Song Changxu on this trip and had also gotten on good terms with Shen Liang. They were also satisfied.

Did Cheng Maoxue really not know Shen Liang? Not necessarily. It was just needed as a way to start a conversation.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang walked together. Shen Liang said, “Those who can stay in the Shuchang Hall are not ordinary people.”

Song Changxu: “They are very outstanding. I have received a lot of care from them in the past.”

The two of them chatted and reached the National History Academy.

Song Changxu had already settled down in the National History Academy these past few days and had read many books. He and Shen Liang had discussed compiling a national history. Now the two of them were busy finding and integrating materials.

Their relationship also grew better in their work.

While Song Changxu was busy, Xu Zhizhou was not idle either. He went to look for a shop. The Bobo Chicken shop didn’t have to be too big. Seven or eight tables would be enough, and there also had to be a back kitchen.

With this condition, he could only find some corner places. Xu Zhizhou had some free time and first went to look at them one by one. He knew that the brokers had information about the shops, but he didn’t trust them very much.

Now that he was familiar with the capital, he wanted to look for one himself first. After visiting for two or three days, Xu Zhizhou had chosen two and planned to discuss it with Song Changxu when he came back.

“It’s too tiring to look for a shop. I’ll go and see my elder brother first.”

Xu Zhici was selling herbal tea. He usually only sold it until the afternoon and then closed his stall. When there were no customers, he would take out a book to read and learn.

Seeing his elder brother reading and learning, Xu Zhizhou suddenly felt a little guilty. After he had learned to read, he had only been reading storybooks and hadn’t studied in a long time.

His elder brother was too diligent.

Xu Zhizhou ran over and called out to his elder brother.

Xu Zhici looked up and smiled. “Come slowly.”

“Elder Brother, my husband and I are looking at shops. We’ve put aside the matter of buying a house for now,” Xu Zhizhou said. He could talk about anything with his elder brother. The two of them had a very good relationship.

“It’s also good to buy a shop. You should have some money on hand for emergencies,” Xu Zhici reminded him.

“I know, Elder Brother.”

Xu Zhici thought of something and said, “I’ve mentioned opening a teahouse to my husband, but he doesn’t really agree. I think so too. After all, there are too many teahouses in the capital. I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it. My husband said that I should start with the herbal tea stall first. If it’s effective, he’ll find a way to open a small teahouse.”

That was not wrong.

“Then…” Xu Zhizhou winked.

“My husband has already made it clear to the others,” Xu Zhici said with a happy smile.

Xu Zhizhou propped his head in his hands. “That’s good.”

“Tonight, you can ask Changxu to come over for dinner. I’ll make a few of my specialty dishes today.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded.

When Song Changxu was off duty, he received an invitation. All the Hanlin academicians had one.

“It’s General Xiao’s sixtieth birthday. He’s invited us. All the officials in the capital have been sent an invitation,” Shen Liang also had one.

Song Changxu thought that he could take Zhizhou to have a look this time.

The two of them parted ways at the imperial palace. When Song Changxu returned home, Xu Zhizhou was carrying a fish.

He said happily, “My elder brother said to go to his house for dinner today. I’ve bought a fish that’s enough for the four of us.”

Song Changxu also knew of his elder brother’s cooking. His eyes lit up. “I think we should buy another one.”

Xu Zhizhou: “Eh, this one is already five or six catties.”

Song Changxu changed his official robe and pulled Xu Zhizhou to the market. “Listen to me. Let’s buy another one.”

In the end, Song Changxu was carrying two fish, and Xu Zhizhou was holding a jar of wine.

When Xie Huaichuan opened the door, he was met with two people peeking in.

Xie Huaichuan: “…”

Song Changxu called out, “Brother-in-law.”

Xu Zhizhou followed Song Changxu and called out “brother-in-law” in a muffled voice.

Xie Huaichuan’s eyes were filled with a smile. “Come in.”

Song Changxu went to the kitchen to kill the fish first. Xu Zhizhou put down the wine jar and went to help. Seeing the two of them being so proactive, Xie Huaichuan, who had originally wanted to have them sit and play, had an even wider smile in his eyes.

Xie Huaichuan rolled up his robe and went to the side to chop firewood.

The four of them each had their own things to do, and it was harmonious and happy. If they were in the village, the four of them could live a good life. They could also live well in the capital.

Song Changxu was quick at killing the fish. After Xie Huaichuan had chopped the firewood, he carried it to the kitchen. He saw the remaining fish entrails.

He brought over a small black cat from somewhere. The kitten meowed and cautiously approached Song Changxu to eat the fish entrails.

Song Changxu’s hands were full. He thought the black cat was cute.

Xie Huaichuan: “This is a cat from a family in the lane. It gave birth to five kittens. I thought it was cute, so I brought one back to raise. It’s a bit bolder now. When it first came back, it was very timid. It would crawl into any crack it saw and wouldn’t come out, no matter how you called it.”

Xu Zhici brought out the dishes. “When Zongzi came, my husband and I could only put out the food, and it would go and eat by itself. After a few days, when it got used to the environment, it became much more at ease and bolder.”

Xu Zhizhou also brought out the dishes. The four of them took their seats. Here, Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou were the juniors. Song Changxu poured some wine for Xie Huaichuan.

The two of them had a little drink.

Song Changxu: “In three days, we’re going to the Xiao residence to celebrate General Xiao’s birthday. We can go together then.”

Xie Huaichuan glanced at Xu Zhici, who was eating fish. He raised his cup and clinked it with Song Changxu’s.

“I was just about to tell you about this. It’s just right that we go together.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: I love to eat good and expensive food at banquets. [Sunglasses]

Little Xu: Seeing the world, so many people. [Laughs]