Gu Huaiqing was acting very mysteriously in the capital. According to Hao Dadao, Gu Huaiqing had been leaving early and returning late these days, but he didn't know where he went. Jing Shao urged Gu Huaiqing to hurry up and leave, but he always used all sorts of excuses to push it back to the next day.
"Are you sure that man is the Huainan King?" the fourth prince asked with a frown after hearing the words reported back to him.
"It's absolutely true." The speaker, still in his court uniform, whispered to the fourth prince from a palace corridor, "Yesterday, he came to visit us in person. We've been in contact for so many years, this subject is sure that he is Gu Huaiqing."
The fourth prince thought for a bit. "Where is he staying right now?"
"This subject doesn't know," said the man, a bit embarrassed. Gu Huaiqing was always cautious. Even a trusted aide might not know where he was for sure. "However, he told me that he will be in the capital for the next few days. If you want to look for him for something, you can leave a note at Intoxicated Immortal restaurant in the city."
When the fourth prince heard these words, he immediately made a mental note. The Huainan King came to the capital without being summoned; catching him would be a great achievement. Although it wasn't a serious crime, his imperial father had been worrying over not being able to find any information to use against the Huainan King. Now, he was bribing court officials and secretly entering the capital and conspiring errantly; this was irrefutable evidence and truly a good opportunity. Thus, he turned and headed for the imperial study.
* * * * *
"Really, why are you here in the capital?" Jing Shao looked at Gu Huaiqing who was sitting across from him and leisurely enjoying the wine, and felt the veins on his forehead throb non-stop.
Gu Huaiqing took a look at Jing Shao, who was about to brandish his fist, and slowly said, "Because of lovesickness."
"Don't talk nonsense," Jing Shao said with wide eyes. "Hurry up and tell me, what on earth are you trying to do?"
"For good or bad, I'm your elder brother. Can't you show me some respect?" Gu Huaiqing said angrily as he slammed his wine cup down on the table.
"You know you're my elder brother, but you're always thinking of ways to flirt with Jun Qing!" Jing Shao also slammed his wine cup down on the table and spoke more angrily.
Mu Hanzhang took the few stewed dishes he had ordered and wove his way through the peach orchard. He saw the two people in the pavilion glaring at each other again, as if they were about to get into a fight. "I just left for a little bit; why are you arguing again?"
When the two saw him, they switched to a pair of smiling faces and said in unison, "We were just kidding around!" Then, they glared at each other again.
Mu Hanzhang looked at their expressions and couldn't help chuckling. He opened the oil paper packages in his hands. Other people finding out about Gu Huaiqing's special identity would be troublesome, so even Yun Song was left outside the garden. To buy something, Mu Hanzhang needed to go out and get it himself.
"It's the spiced stewed dishes from the south of the city. Jing Shao likes them very much. He always says that if elder brother comes, he must invite you to taste them," Mu Hanzhang said, taking each dish out of the oil paper packaging and arranging them neatly on plates.
"Hanzhang is still so glib." Gu Huaiqing smiled widely and picked up a chicken wing.
"Elder brother, that's enough!" Jing Shao gripped the chicken wing in his hand so tightly that the bone snapped with a crunch.
