Zho LanLin was very accommodating as she understood immediately when Wang ZhiYi asked her to meet at the teahouse instead of a whorehouse for a drink. What she hadn't expected was that the monk and a baby was also tagging along.
As soon as they sat down on their seats on the second floor of the teahouse overlooking the rowdy main-street, Zho LanLin couldn't help but ask, "You have a child?"
"Yes, this is Wang AhXin." ZhiYi held the baby in his arms. The boy was tugging at ZhiYi's robes and blowing spit bubbles. The pinkish round cheeks looked very pinch-able. It had been a while since LanLin saw a child this adorable.
"Very good name." She nodded with approval.
MingYu raised his brow at ZhiYi, smiling smugly. He had named the baby very well, as Wang Xin meant joyful king.
"Although, I must say, I am surprised that you have a child, now of all times." Zho LanLin chastened the demon. She turned to stop a passing waiter and gave their order.
MingYu shot ZhiYi a curious stare, but the demon acted as if he didn't notice the prying glare. After the waiter disappeared from their side, Zho LanLin continued,
"I expected better from you. Especially after what had just happened to your hus-"
"I took the child into my care after his parents died. I'm just an adoptive father." ZhiYi hurried to cut in before LanLin uttered anything he might regret later.
"Oh, if that's the case..." LanLin felt embarrassed and tried to hide it with a drink that was just placed in front of them.
"ZhiYi isn't as shameless as PingZe." MingYu pointed out somewhat proudly.
LanLin sputtered the drink she was drinking and snorted, "Yeah, he isn't as bad. He is worse!"
MingYu nailed his glare on ZhiYi who now had stiffened to the point even the baby looked at him confused and had stopped tugging at his robe. The spit was making its way down his chin as AhXin stared up at ZhiYi with wide-eyes.
"Oh, how come?" MingYu's question sounded rather dangerous, and LanLin straightened her back unconsciously at the tone of his voice.
"I mean, he seems all nice and perfect, doesn't he? But that is only because he is in mourning now. PingZe often said this guy is a demon in disguise."
ZhiYi made a mental note to kill PingZe the next time they met. MingYu was smiling pleasantly and drinking his tea, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. In fact, his eyes looked like they could shoot daggers. Feeling the storm brewing, ZhiYi quickly asked,
"Since you know everyone in Tiang'an, do you happen to know the Wei family?"
LanLin became alert as she heard the name. She played with the empty cup in her hand, then she leaned back. The two men instinctively leaned over the table.
"Funny for you to mention them. I thought they were all executed years ago." LanLin's voice was laced with curiosity as she mulled over her thoughts. Turning her sharp eyes up to the two men, a devious smile made its way over her lips.
"Why are you asking about them now?"
"So you do know something?" MingYu sat up straight, his body tense with excitement. Zho LanLin raised her eyebrow at him briefly before turning back to ZhiYi.
"I can't talk about the Wei family. It was the orders." Zho LanLin shrugged apologetically.
Orders? Whose orders? MingYu frowned and was ready to argue when ZhiYi's hand reached over from under the table and placed it over MingYu's hand, giving it a little squeeze as a sign to leave the talking to ZhiYi. MingYu shot him a defiant glare but sat still and held his tongue. MingYu reached for his tea to make use of his free hand.
"We heard from a lead that the Wei's are still alive and living in Tiang'an." ZhiYi offered as he idly rocked little AhXin in his arm.
"Wang ZhiYi, I respect you, but orders are orders." A little twinkle shined through her almond eyes as she grinned. "I still remember the exact words too, 'never let Wang Fu know.' By the way, I love the endearment for you, ZhiYi."
There was a light flush that enveloped ZhiYi's neck and ears as the words hit the air. MingYu was frozen in place. Wang Fu? That was how an empress or a princess might refer to her husband unofficially. MingYu's hand trembled slightly as he chucked the tea down like it was liquor.
ZhiYi had married to the palace? Did Wu TianLan have a sister? What a silly question, of course, he had! Emperors had hundreds of concubines. Wu TianLan probably had hundreds of siblings! So now they were family, not just sworn-brothers. He was a blood-related uncle to the twins, MingYu thought and nearly choked on his tea.
But then it also meant one of the Wu's had gone behind Wu TianLan's back, saved the Wei's and brought them to Tiang'an?
Finding his mind jumbling up with too many distraught thoughts, MingYu pushed the tea aside and reached for the liquor to soothe his mind.
Zho LanLin quickly snatched the bottle out of his vicinity.
"I don't know what kind of a monk you are, but I won't allow you to drink in my presence and with my money. I don't want any bad karma, not from an alcoholic monk." LanLin said as she poured the last drops in her cup and chucked it down like a veteran.
MingYu's hand fisted in annoyance, but he calmed himself down and grudgingly went for the tea.
"I'll be nice since we are what they call 'friends'." Zho LanLin said to ZhiYi as she leaned over the table with her elbows. She had a wide grin on her face, which combined with an unruly head of hair, made her look almost predatory. "I won't talk to you about the Wei's, since it is against the orders and you know what they say, respect the dead's wishes."
ZhiYi gave her a timid nod. MingYu wanted to cry out in frustration. How nice could she be, if they didn't get to the information they wanted?
"You look like you want to pop, monk." LanLin teased before turning her attention back to ZhiYi. "Anyway, nobody said I can't talk about the Shou's."
"Why would we want to know about the Shou's?" MingYu grumbled. A headache was brewing, he could feel it knocking around his skull.
Zho LanLin let out a pleasant chuckle as she waved at the waiter for more alcohol.
"You really are impatient. How unusual for a monk." LanLin mused. "But you will find the Shou's to be very interesting, even more so than the Wei's."
MingYu was ready to open his mouth and argue when ZhiYi's fingers interlocked with his. The hold was firm but gentle. MingYu gaped like a fish out of water before he hurried to close his mouth. He could feel his ears burning, but he ignored them and concentrated all his attention on Zho LanLin.
Zho LanLin was studying him with curiosity before she continued, "Just sit tight, monk. I have come up with a loophole around the orders for you. You should be thankful."
"We appreciate it, LanLin," ZhiYi said and bowed his head slightly.
"I damn well hope so." LanLin sighed as she leaned her chin into her hand, tapping the table with her fingers, impatient as she waited for the alcohol to arrive. "You see, the day the Wei's were executed, a horse carriage carrying the Shou's arrived in Tiang'an. An old couple and two young girls. Ring any bells?"
ZhiYi's grip on MingYu's hand tightened suddenly and MingYu cried out in surprise, startling AhXin from his slumber. MingYu's eyes were brimming with tears as he shook ZhiYi's hold away. The demon nearly broke his fingers!