Chapter 65
The next morning, not only did Wei Yan not wake up, but even Lu Ze slept until the sky was bright.
Fortunately, the Western Qin envoy had already arrived in the capital, so they didn’t have much to do. It wouldn’t be a big deal to go to the Honglu Temple a little later.
After breakfast, Lu Ze arrived at the Honglu Temple and asked his subordinate, “How is the Western Qin?”
The subordinate chuckled lightly and said, “Perhaps they’ve learned their lesson from yesterday. They’re quite well-behaved and haven’t caused any trouble. But… that fifth prince went to the largest brothel in the capital after coming out of the palace yesterday and stayed there overnight. He hasn’t returned yet.”
Lu Ze paused and said, “It’s fine. Let them go where they want. As long as they don’t cause trouble, can we still restrain them?”
“I didn’t want to restrain them,” the subordinate muttered. “But that fifth prince is a bit too exaggerated… I heard that he called all the girls with some looks in the building last night, which made the other customers unhappy…”
Lu Ze glanced at him. “You’re quite concerned about them.”
The subordinate chuckled and said, “I just feel that they are all rude and impolite. It’s a pity for the girls in the building to serve them.”
Lu Ze said, “Go and do your own thing.”
When the Western Qin envoy came, the court naturally had other reception activities. But since there had just been a banquet in the palace yesterday, and considering their long and arduous journey, they were given two days off to enjoy the customs and traditions of the Great Zhou.
In this way, the people of the Honglu Temple also became idle. It was also a holiday. Lu Ze’s behavior at the palace banquet a few days ago had finally spread, and many of the scholars who had looked down on him couldn’t help but change their attitude, and their hearts became more and more curious about him.
It was spring, and the peach blossoms on Fanglin Mountain in the suburbs of the capital were in full bloom. Many scholars held a banquet here, and they sent an invitation to Lu Ze, who had passed the imperial examination with them. At the same time, Yan Weijing and Jiang Pingqing also received invitations.
Lu Ze was not interested in this kind of scholar’s banquet, but he was quite interested in a spring outing. It just so happened that Wei Yan was also free, so he accepted the invitation.
Wei Yan said, “The Western Qin envoy is still in the capital. At that time, I will send a guard to you, just in case.”
Lu Ze looked at him and was very puzzled. “Aren’t you coming with me?”
Wei Yan was even more strange. “You’re having a gathering with your fellow graduates. What am I going for?”
Lu Ze said, “The scenery of Fanglin Mountain is beautiful. If you don’t go, what’s the point of me going alone?”
Wei Yan said, “Aren’t there still so many fellow graduates?”
Lu Ze sneered, “I have a fulang. Why should I enjoy the flowers with a group of men in this beautiful scenery?”
He held Wei Yan’s hand. “If you’re not willing to go, I’ll just refuse the invitation. It’s not interesting anyway.”
Wei Yan paused and poked his cheek. “Then among your fellow graduates, no one is bringing their wife or fulang, right?”
“I don’t know if they’re bringing them or not, but I’m definitely bringing mine.” Lu Ze looked at him with a smile. “Are you willing to accept my invitation, Marquis?”
Since Lu Ze had already said so, how could Wei Yan refuse? He immediately smiled helplessly and agreed, and his heart was also looking forward to this trip.
The next morning, after breakfast, they brought some things that the butler had prepared and sat in the carriage, and slowly drove out of the city gate.
Fanglin Mountain was not far from the capital. After more than half an hour’s journey, they had already reached the foot of the mountain.
The mountain was not high, less than a hundred meters, and its slope was gentle. It was covered with peach forests. Even standing at the foot of the mountain, you could see the graceful scene of peach blossoms falling.
The weather had been clear recently, and the road up the mountain had been trodden flat and wide for a long time. It was no problem for a carriage to pass. When they reached the top of the mountain, the terrain was flat, and in the distance, you could even see some pavilions and buildings, and even some people’s manors were built here.
The coachman stopped at a suitable place. Lu Ze got out of the carriage and looked around. Behind him was a peach forest, and in front of him, he could vaguely see a crowd of people in a pavilion not far away, which was extremely lively.
It was the place where the banquet was held.
Lu Ze glanced over and asked Wei Yan, “Do you want to go with me?”
Wei Yan glanced at it, shook his head, and said with a lack of interest, “No. You can go and come back quickly. I’ll wait for you here.”
Wei Yan knew his reputation among those scholars and refined scholars. In the eyes of most people, he was synonymous with being rebellious. Wei Yan had always been too lazy to bother with them. If he went, and if there was any quarrel, he would be unhappy, and others would also be unhappy.
Besides, he was not interested in these poetry gatherings where they talked about poetry and songs.
Lu Ze did not force him. Hearing this, he said, “Then I’ll go over and say hello, and I’ll be back in a while.”
Wei Yan agreed and watched as Lu Ze’s figure slowly walked away. Only then did he turn around and, with the coachman, moved the things from the carriage down one by one, and also set up a bonfire.
The butler had prepared a lot of pastries and food, which was completely enough for their lunch.
***
On the other side, after Lu Ze got closer, he found that the pavilion was built by the water, and next to it was a small stream that flowed slowly down the mountain, clear and clean, and you could vaguely see the fish at the bottom of the stream.
Those people were all dressed as scholars. Some were sitting in the pavilion, and some were by the stream. The atmosphere was lively, and they seemed to be discussing something.
Lu Ze listened for a while and only heard something about mountains, water, and peaches. It seemed that they were playing a game of flying flower order.
The first to notice him was an acquaintance, Yan Weijing. He waved his hand, his eyes bright. “Brother Lu!”
As soon as he greeted, everyone looked over. Lu Ze met so many gazes, but he was not timid at all. He cupped his hands and said, “Everyone, my respects.”
Everyone stood up one after another and returned the greeting, their attitude slightly respectful.
After all, in terms of official position, Lu Ze was still a little higher than them.
The two sides greeted each other. One of the scholars smiled and said, “You’re late, Brother Lu. You’ve kept us waiting.”
Lu Ze stepped forward and, hearing this, smiled. “It’s my fault. I felt that this place was full of literary spirit from a long way off and rushed over. I must have missed the fun.”
One person smiled and said, “You didn’t miss it, you didn’t miss it. We are playing a game of flying flower order. The rule is to choose two words from mountain, water, and flower. Since you’re here, Brother Lu, why don’t you give it a try?”
Lu Ze sat down next to Yan Weijing. Hearing this, he glanced around and naturally recited, “From time to time, a fallen flower comes, and its fragrance follows the flowing water.”
Everyone clapped and cheered, and someone immediately followed with, “The peach blossoms follow the flowing water all day long. Where is the cave in the clear stream?”
The surrounding atmosphere became lively again.
Lu Ze found a gap and asked Yan Weijing, “Why didn’t I see Brother Jiang?”
Yan Weijing couldn’t help but laugh. “It is said that the Duchess is looking for a girl for Brother Jiang. He couldn’t get away for a while, so he couldn’t come.”
Lu Ze also couldn’t help but laugh. “Has Brother Jiang thought it through?”
Yan Weijing shook his head, a little schadenfreude. “He proposed it to the Duchess himself, but from the way he looks now, I’m afraid he regrets it a little.”
The two of them were whispering. The person next to them couldn’t stand it anymore. “Why are you only talking to Brother Yan, Brother Lu? Could it be that you’re looking down on us?”
Lu Ze’s face paused. He looked back and saw a scholar in a green long robe not far away, fanning himself, with a smile on his face, but it did not reach his eyes.
Lu Ze’s eyes darkened, and he cupped his hands and smiled. “What are you talking about, brother? It’s just that I was concerned about Brother Jiang’s future and asked Brother Yan about it.”
“So that’s how it is.” The scholar nodded in understanding and said as if he were joking, “I thought that such a high-level matter would be difficult for ordinary people to know, but you’re different, Brother Lu.”
Lu Ze’s expression did not change. “What do you mean by that, brother?”
“After all, with the Marquis of Weibei around…” Before the person could finish, he suddenly stopped, then waved his hand and smiled. “Forget it, forget it. It’s nothing. Just take it as a joke, Brother Lu.”
