The tea-making girl!
The young people in the room were all stunned, and then their expressions turned excited.
This was truly sensational news.
"What's going on here? Is it a rekindled old flame, or love at first sight?"
"I think it's an old flame. Didn't Thousand-Man Commander Lu come from a humble background? Perhaps he and the tea-making girl were childhood sweethearts."
"Yes, yes, that's possible. Commander Lu had to marry Princess Jiuli for his career advancement, and now that Princess Jiuli is no more, there's no one left to stop them."
"Isn't there still Princess Jiuli?"
"Well, though she's a princess, she hardly counts as one anymore."
"Regardless, causing such a scandal right before his grand wedding is just too audacious."
"He was always audacious."
The room was abuzz with conversation. Regardless of the topic, they were all eighteen or nineteen-year-old young people, crazily devoted to their studies for next year's examination, rarely getting a day off and naturally very interested in court politics and romantic affairs.
"Be careful with your words." In the midst of the noise, Ning Yunzhao's voice rang out.
Everyone turned to look at him, seeing him still brewing tea, now sifting the tea powder into the water, looking relaxed.
"I think we should speak less of Commander Lu to avoid trouble," he said, "Don't end up unlucky like Slave Guo."
Ning Yunzhao's uncle was Ning Yan, a man of not ordinary status, and his words often carried deep meanings.
His companions exchanged glances.
"Ning Yunzhao, are you suggesting that this incident truly involves Commander Lu?" a companion asked.
Ning Yunzhao poured the tea.
"I'm just saying," he replied smiling, "even a mad dog doesn't bite someone without reason. Either the person provoked it, or there was an order from above. At the very least, the person must have crossed its path. Meaning, in this world, there's no love or hate without reason—there's always a cause."
His companions nodded.
"Then according to you, what would be the reason for Commander Lu to keep a concubine at this time?" someone asked with a laugh.
"No matter the reason, these matters are irrelevant to us and not worth considering," Ning Yunzhao said.
His words wiped the smiles off his companions' faces.
"So according to Brother Ning's view," he said, putting down his teacup, "if we come across trouble, we should turn a blind eye and deaf ear to avoid drawing disaster upon ourselves? Then what's the point of our studies and trying to pass the civil service examination?"
Though they were companions, it was common for young people to engage in serious discussions.
Everyone eagerly awaited Ning Yunzhao's response.
Though the atmosphere was not tense, Ning Yunzhao's response could influence their perception and feelings towards him, thus affecting their relationship.
"Differences in opinions lead to different paths," which is why breaking off relationships is a common occurrence among the youth.
Ning Yunzhao smiled and set down his tea-making utensils as a gesture of full attentiveness.
"Of course not," he said. "What I mean is, when we encounter trouble, we should think of ways to resolve it while also protecting ourselves. We shouldn't die before achieving our goals, as that would solve nothing."
"I understand your viewpoint, and I know that many people and officials uphold this approach, but I also admire those who knowingly embark on impossible endeavors, willing to sacrifice themselves to warn others," said his companion solemnly.
Ning Yunzhao nodded.
"I admire them too," he said. "My approach is just my approach. I do not claim it to be right nor do I consider others' approaches wrong. Only a saint can judge right from wrong, and I am no saint."
He smiled again.
"My point is, whether Commander Lu is honoring past love or merely indulging in debauchery for beauty, it ultimately concerns his private life and has nothing to do with state affairs."
He continued.
"If he dares to do such things, he clearly isn't afraid of others knowing. The emperor clearly doesn't mind either. Attacking him over his personal morals won't cause him any harm but will instead endanger us. I find this rather regrettable and unworthy."
"Not only do I think this way, but Thousand-Man Commander Lu clearly understands this as well," he said. "So think about it, the way he has always dealt with people is not by exploiting their personal morality."
"For example, take Guo Nu'er. Guo Nu'er was punished by the emperor for actions that exceeded his duties, regardless of whether those actions were true or falsely accused by Thousand-Man Commander Lu. In any case, these matters have nothing to do with personal ethics but are related to rules and responsibilities."
Ning Yunzhao laughed at this point.
"It's still the same old saying, these are just my thoughts, and they may not necessarily be correct." He paused again, and although he was smiling, his eyes were solemn. "It's not that I'm scared."
His voice stopped, and his companions laughed.
"That's exactly why a gentleman can be deceived openly," he said, stroking his folded fan. "With such transparency, even with such insidious ministers, we would not resort to underhanded methods."
Ning Yunzhao smiled and shook his head.
"No," he said, half-serious and half-joking. "It's not that we don't use such methods, but that these methods are useless when they are effective."
He raised his eyebrows.
"I would go out to the streets and preach myself."
Saying so, he even lifted his robe and struck a storyteller's pose.
"I would say that Thousand-Man Commander Lu abducts civilian women, indulges in debauchery, and commits atrocities that disgrace the princess, an unforgivable evil."
His companions burst into laughter, and the questioning companion also laughed as he waved his hand, the irritation in his eyes dissipating.
"I must say, Yunzhao," he switched back to the familiar title, "you've really mastered the look of a storyteller, it came so naturally to you."
The other companions laughed as well.
"Right, we've never even seen you listen to storytellers."
They were seeking quiet as they drank tea and wine in their private room and had never gone to the hall to join the crowds, so they rarely saw those who tell stories or perform plays.
A look of unexpected embarrassment crossed Ning Yunzhao's eyes, mixed with a bit of amusement.
It must be due to recently reading too much about storytellers in the letters.
With this thought, his gaze inadvertently drifted outside the window, and his eyes sparkled.
"I need to leave for a bit," he said.
As he spoke, he was already moving towards the door, disappearing quickly as he pulled it open.
His companions in the room hadn't even reacted yet.
"What's he doing?"
A companion near the window looked out and saw Ning Yunzhao already standing in the street outside the tea house.
"He's not really going to start preaching about Thousand-Man Commander Lu abducting civilian women, is he?" he laughed.
Everyone laughed.
"Of course not, it's another silk letter from Yunzhong," one pointed out, spotting a servant boy walking through the crowd not far down the street.
Everyone recognized him; it was Ning Yunzhao's personal servant boy.
These days, he'd been continuously delivering the letters from Yangcheng sent by Ning Yunzhao's family.
Standing at the doorway, Ning Yunzhao waved to the servant boy, who was scanning the crowd for which tea house's servant boy had finally seen him and happily quickened his pace.
Meanwhile, Miss Jun, who was nearing the capital's gates, stopped.
"Miss, aren't we going in?" Liu'er asked.
Miss Jun looked around.
"Let's not enter the city just yet. The map says there's a clean and quiet inn outside the city, right next to Money Business Street," she said, turning her horse's head. "We'll stay there."
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Still updating extra, today is the last day for double updates.