Chapter 59 p2
After a full quarter of an hour, Wei Yan repeatedly lifted the curtain to look, but he did not see Lu Ze. He asked the coachman who was waiting outside, “Did the master go to the pastry shop next door?”
The coachman had been instructed just now, and at this moment, he just said, “Yes.”
Wei Yan frowned. “Why hasn’t he come back after so long?”
The coachman wiped the sweat from his face. “Maybe the shop is crowded. Please wait a little longer, Marquis.”
Wei Yan waited patiently for a while, but he still didn’t see him. He was about to get out of the carriage to go and find him, but at this moment, he heard a knock on the carriage. He opened the curtain and saw that it was Lu Ze.
Wei Yan’s eyes softened slightly, but he said, “It’s just that far? Why did it take you so long to come back?”
Lu Ze got on the carriage and sat down beside Wei Yan. “When I got there, the lotus seed paste cakes were just sold out, so I waited there for a while for a new batch to come out of the oven before I came back.” He smiled and opened the package, and pinched a piece and handed it to Wei Yan. “Have a taste?”
Wei Yan raised his hand and took it, but he couldn’t help but say, “If the lotus seed paste cakes are gone, you can just buy something else. Why did you have to wait there for so long?”
Lu Ze paused, then said, “Last night, I saw you eating a lot of lotus seed paste cakes. I thought you liked them.”
With Lu Ze’s reminder, Wei Yan couldn’t help but think of what had happened last night, and his face turned red. He said in a muffled voice, “I do like them.”
He lowered his head and took a bite. “No matter what you buy, I like it.”
Lu Ze’s expression paused, and then his eyes were smiling. “Then I’ll remember it.”
He moved closer to Wei Yan and tilted his head to ask, “I’ve often heard that the pastries in this shop are not bad. What do you think, Marquis?”
Wei Yan said, “It’s soft and delicate in the mouth. It’s very good.”
He looked at Lu Ze, and a thought moved in his mind. He held out the pastry in his hand and asked, “Do you want to try it?”
Lu Ze lowered his head and took a bite. After a moment, he said, “It’s fragrant, soft, and sweet. It’s indeed not bad.” He looked down at Wei Yan, his smile warm. “Thank you, Marquis.”
Wei Yan knew he was being teased and couldn’t help but pout, but his ears still couldn’t help but turn a little red. He thought to himself that his skin was still not thick enough.
After they went back, it was still early. Wei Yan went to the study to look through the official documents, which recorded all the things related to the Western Qin.
Although the Western Qin was defeated this time, Wei Yan was not afraid, but the necessary preparations still had to be made in advance.
Wei Yan never fought an unprepared battle.
And at this time, Lu Ze was sitting on the other side of the study, reading a book. The two did not disturb each other, and there was only the sound of pages turning in the study.
It wasn’t until the butler knocked on the door and informed the two masters that it was time for dinner that the two of them came back to their senses and were shocked to find that the sky had already gotten dark, and the moon was hanging high in the sky, bright and clear.
It was obviously already night.
Wei Yan rubbed his temples, his expression a little tired. Lu Ze held his hand and walked out, and asked in a gentle voice, “Is the Marquis worried about the matter of the Western Qin?”
Wei Yan said, “The Western Qin has great ambitions. In the early years, they had been eyeing the Great Zhou. Although they suffered a defeat this time, they will definitely not give up so easily. This time they are coming to pay tribute, I’m afraid they have other intentions and will definitely not be as honest as they appear on the surface.”
Lu Ze said, “The northwest is bitter and cold. Not only are the lives of the people on the border difficult, but the Western Qin is probably not much better. The Great Zhou has a vast territory and abundant resources, and the living environment is much better than that of the Western Qin. How can they not be coveted?”
“If this situation is not changed, then the ambitions of the Western Qin will always be there. Unless they are completely wiped out, but how difficult is that?”
Wei Yan said, “Let’s not talk about the military strength for now. Just talking about logistics, how much military funds and supplies will be consumed if this war is fought? Not to mention that His Majesty has just ascended to the throne and has not yet fully controlled the court. Even if the court is united and faces the outside world together, even if the Western Qin is destroyed, the Great Zhou will also have to suffer great losses, and the price paid will definitely not be small.”
Lu Ze was silent for a moment, then said, “This time, the fifth prince of the Western Qin will also come to pay tribute?”
Wei Yan looked back at him and nodded in agreement. “Although Xiao Lingrui is unreliable, he has never made any mistakes when it comes to this kind of news. Since he said he’s coming, then the news should be confirmed.”
Lu Ze held his hand and was silent for a moment before he suddenly said, “I heard that the fifth prince is not the legitimate son of the King of the Western Qin?”
Wei Yan said, “Yes, he is the son of the favored concubine of the Western Qin. Although he is not the legitimate son or the eldest son, because of his mother, he is extremely favored by the King of the Western Qin, and he even intends to make him the crown prince.”
The reason why this fifth prince had gone to the battlefield was also for the purpose of picking up military merits. But he didn’t expect to not pick up any military merits, but instead was almost captured by Wei Yan. This battle was a complete defeat.
But even so, the King of the Western Qin’s favor for him did not change. In fact, because he had suffered such a hardship and almost lost his life, his favor for him was even greater than before.
Lu Ze said, “Although the favored concubine of the Western Qin is favored, it is said that she does not have a prominent maternal family behind her. But the queen of the Western Qin is from a proper large family, and she has a son under her name, who is both the legitimate son and the eldest son.”
“And the King of the Western Qin has already passed the age of knowing his destiny, and all the princes under his name have grown up.”
Wei Yan was not stupid. Hearing him say this, he understood. “You mean, to stir up the disputes between the princes of the Western Qin?”
Lu Ze looked at him. “The northwest is bitter and cold, and the current situation of the Great Zhou cannot support a long-term war. In that case, why not defeat them from within? Without losing a single soldier, we can get peace on the border.”
Lu Ze said, “Since we don’t know why the fifth prince is coming, why don’t we just wait and see, and strike first?”
Wei Yan’s brows furrowed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “You’re right.”
Lu Ze smiled. “I don’t know the details either. I’m just talking on paper. I hope you won’t laugh at me, Marquis.”
Wei Yan glanced at him. “If everyone could talk on paper like you, then why would the Great Zhou be short of generals?”
“Then I’ll have to thank you for your praise, Marquis. I really don’t deserve it.” Lu Ze said with a smile, squeezed his hand, and said, “Alright, it’s almost time for dinner. Let’s not think about these things for now. Let’s eat in peace.”
Wei Yan listened to his words and put this topic to the back of his mind. When he sat down at the table, he seemed to have remembered something and couldn’t help but ask, “In two more days, the new jinshi will be entering the Hanlin Academy. What do you think?”
Lu Ze turned his head to look at him. “What do you mean, Marquis?”
Wei Yan said, “The Hanlin Academy is noble. Although it’s a bit hard to endure, it’s also an indispensable step if you want to enter the cabinet in the future.”
He looked at him and said seriously, “But you are different from them. If you are not interested in this and want to start from other aspects, it’s also not impossible.”
Lu Ze joked, “Is the Marquis helping me pull some strings?”
“I’m just telling the truth.” Wei Yan lowered his eyes and picked up a dish. “You don’t need to show your face in front of His Majesty like the other Hanlin scholars. His Majesty already has an impression of you. Besides, from what I’ve seen of your personality, you’re not the type to sit down and read and compile history. Instead of wasting your time in the Hanlin Academy, it’s better to start from somewhere else.”
“For example?” Lu Ze asked.
Wei Yan said, “The Honglu Temple.”
Lu Ze paused.
Wei Yan picked up a piece of shredded chicken and said slowly, “I will go to the palace tomorrow and report what you said to His Majesty. At that time, the important ministers of the court will discuss it. If it is feasible, His Majesty will most likely appoint you to assist the Honglu Temple in receiving the envoys from the Western Qin.”
The Honglu Temple was in charge of foreign guests and court ceremonies [1]. For receiving work like the tribute from the Western Qin, it was all the responsibility of the Honglu Temple. This matter did not seem to be a big deal, but if what Lu Ze said could really be done, it would also be a great merit in the emperor’s heart, and in the future, it would not be worse than going up step by step from the Hanlin Academy.
Wei Yan’s expression was serious. “If you are willing, I will mention it to His Majesty. If you are not willing, when His Majesty mentions this matter tomorrow, I will reply for you. It all depends on what you think.”
Lu Ze’s expression also slowly became serious. He was silent for a moment, then let out a light laugh. “The Marquis has already considered it to this extent for me. What else is there for me to hesitate about?”
Wei Yan pursed his lips to hide his smile, lowered his head, and drank a mouthful of soup. “I didn’t do much. I just told His Majesty the truth. As for the final result of this matter, it still depends on you.”
“I know.” Lu Ze’s eyes were smiling. “Since the Marquis has high hopes for me, I will definitely not disappoint you.”
The two had a warm dinner, then they walked around in the courtyard together to digest.
Wei Yan had already gotten used to his action of holding his hand from time to time. He walked side by side with him and said, “Normally, tomorrow should be the third day of returning to the bride’s home. But my parents passed away early, so it doesn’t matter whether I go back to the marquis’s mansion or not. But your parents are still alive, and our marriage was indeed a bit rushed…”
Lu Ze shook his hand and said in a gentle voice, “It’s fine. As soon as the results of the palace examination came out, I wrote a letter and had someone take it back home to inform my parents of this matter.”
Lu Ze looked at him and said, “Our marriage was bestowed by His Majesty, and the date was also set by the Imperial Astronomer as an auspicious day. Although it was indeed a bit rushed, my parents will definitely be very happy to know the news.”
“I’m the only son in my family, and my parents are also old. Now that I’m staying in the capital, I’m not at ease with them staying at home alone, so I’ve taken the liberty of asking them to come to the capital. In the future, with them by my side, I, as a son, can also fulfill my filial duties.”
