In robes as white as snow and with picturesque features, who could it be if not Gu Huaiqing?
"Wang Ye, Marquis!" The plump lady saw the two come in and busily welcomed them with a salute; this etiquette was something she had obviously just learned, and when she did it, it was incomparably awkward.
"Elder sister Hao, I trust you have been well since we last met?" Mu Hanzhang said hello with a smile.
Jing Shao, however, was having a stare-off with Gu Huaiqing. He confirmed that this truly was the Huainan King himself, and asked him with his eyes why he was here.
But Gu Huaiqing seemed to not understand. He got up and greeted them. "Greetings, Wang Ye and Marquis."
"I met Brother Gu on the way," the plump madam explained eagerly. "My pack mule became lame halfway on the journey. Fortunately, I ran into Brother Gu, who kindly let me hitch a ride. Brother Gu is just an official. He came to the capital to do business, but he has no place to stay, so I decided to let him stay here."
"This subordinate is Gu Qing, magistrate of Huaiyang County in Jiangnan. I came to the capital to report on my work. I am fortunate and thank General Hao for not abandoning me and for allowing me to stay for a couple days." Gu Huaiqing looked at the plump lady gratefully. His words were modest, polite and clear-cut. If it wasn't for that rare handsome face, Jing Shao really would have thought that he had recognized the wrong person.
Mu Hanzhang pressed his lips together to hide his smile. The so-called Huaiyang County was from the previous dynasty. It had been renamed Danyang City, and Danyang City was the capital city of the Huainan fiefdom; could he be considered its county magistrate?
Seeing that the Wang Ye didn't disdain the presence of the stranger, the plump lady warmly had them take a seat. She turned to go back to the kitchen, and planned to cook a couple more dishes.
There were only a few servants in Hao Dadao's residence to begin with. Those who had come to set the table were sent off to do other work. As soon as the plump lady left, only the three of them were left to stare blankly at each other.
"Why are you here?" Jing Shao lowered his voice and asked.
"It was just a coincidence that we met on the way," Gu Huaiqing said innocently.
Jing Shao felt the veins in his forehead throb; vassal kings couldn't enter the capital without being summoned. Once he was seen, it would be no small matter. Look at how the situation had already developed, yet he was still in the mood to joke!
Mu Hanzhang placed his hand over Jing Shao's fist, patted it placatingly, and said in a soft voice, "Is there some important matter that elder brother came to the capital for?"
This question was unavoidable. Gu Huaiqing smiled and put down his tea cup. He feigned melancholy and said, "There was a beautiful person I saw once whom I was never able to forget; not seeing them for one day makes me go crazy."
"What do you mean?" Jing Shao frowned. This person was problematic: The more anxious you were, the more he wouldn't get to the point, speaking so cryptically and simply driving a person mad.
Mu Hanzhang just looked at Gu Huaiqing in astonishment. "Elder brother must be joking."
Gu Huaiqing immediately put away his melancholy and smiled. "Is Jun Qing doubting my sincerity?" Saying that, he was about to grab the hand that Mu Hanzhang had put over Jing Shao's hand, but unexpectedly, Jing Shao's fist welcomed him instead.
"Elder brother, you must not take advantage of your friends' wives." Before Jing Shao finished his words, his fist had already reached the corner of Gu Huaiqing's slightly upturned eye.
