The man was so nervous, but he was really more interesting to watch than the race. Although he looked keyed up, his eyes always hovered around the people downstairs and the dragon boats. He was truly captivating.
It was not until the race was over and the crowd on the terrace had returned to the banquet hall that Jiang Suizhou was finally relieved.
Taking advantage of the cheers of the people around the lake, he leaned into Huo Wujiu’s ear and asked in a low voice, “Which boat did you just bet on?”
Huo Wujiu didn’t even make a sound.
Jiang Suizhou noticed that he was looking down, and assumed that he was wholeheartedly watching the movement of Pang Shao’s people below them, and did not spare time to watch the dragon boat race.
Jiang Suizhou then described to Huo Wujiu: “The fourth one had good momentum at first, but I didn’t expect them to lose strength in the second half of the race and let the third one on the side overtake them. In the end, they only won second place. The third one has always been steady. I think they must have been well trained, and everyone on board has a tacit understanding… ”
Just then, Huo Wujiu raised his hand: “Shhh.”
Jiang Suizhou immediately stopped talking and followed Huo Wujiu’s gaze downward.
Then he saw that the people in Pang’s party who had returned to the banquet hall walked back to the terrace again.
This time, Pang Shao’s figure was actually among the crowd.
Jiang Suizhou was terrified. He promptly sat up and even breathed lightly, as he watched the people downstairs.
It escaped his notice how Huo Wujiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief next to him.
He raised his hand and scratched his ear next to Jiang Suizhou’s side with his index finger.
… This Jingwang is really…When he spoke so close to him, only a few words registered in his ears, but his speaking rendered half of Huo Wujiu’s body numb. It struck straight along his spine to his lumbar spine, making something somewhere under him ready to start wriggling.
Fortunately, Pang Shao appeared, momentarily scaring away the little fox who was oblivious to everything.
Pang Shao was pushed by the officials from their party to come out and release the lanterns.
Pang Shao believed nothing of these, but this bunch took the opportunity to curry favor with him. He didn’t refuse either and even walked out of the hall with everyone smilingly.
The dragon boat race had ended now, so the people around the lake then released the lanterns one after another. The light yellow glow reflected in the white lanterns, slowly lifted off and floated all over the sky. It was really breathtaking.
Pang Shao stood atop the spacious terrace and also received a sky lantern handed over by a servant.
“I don’t have any wishes.” He smiled lightly. “My only wish is the prosperity of the country and for the people to be at peace, as well as the health of His Majesty.”
The officials nearby clasped their hands and followed suit.
Pang Shao wrote down the wish with his own hands, lit the lantern and released it in the sky.
Immediately after, another official came forward with the printed lamp.
“Chief Minister is concerned about the country and the people. This humble official really admires you!” The official said, releasing his own lantern up. “This humble official then wishes that all of Chief Minister’s wishes come true, good fortune and longevity!”
Hearing this, Pang Shao smiled with satisfaction and watched as the official released the lantern full of flattering prints into the sky.
The two lanterns floated and swayed, rose into the air, and merged into the sky of lights.
After watching for a while, everyone hugged Pang Shao and went back inside, drinking amidst roars of laughter.
Jiang Suizhou on the roof was relieved, feeling cold sweats dripping down his back.
He looked sideways at Huo Wujiu, but found him with his head up, looking at the sky full of lights. Jiang Suizhou also followed his gaze, and realized that thousands of sky lanterns were swaying in the night sky, which was really beautiful.
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help but let go of his nervousness and watch the sky.
“It’s really pretty,” he commented.
But then Huo Wujiu spoke beside him.
“It’s a pity. I was careless just now and forgot to bring you a lantern,” he said.
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help laughing, and rejoined, “Fortunately, you didn’t bring it. How could there be a lantern floating from the roof? Had you kept a lantern here, someone would have discovered us, don’t you think?”
Still, Huo Wujiu shook his head.
“Then I have to make a wish for you,” he said
Before Jiang Suizhou could speak, he changed his tone and said, “One is not enough. Let’s make two.”
Jiang Suizhou was amused and laughed.
He was about to ask Huo Wujiu where he got the two wishes from when he heard a crunch that petrified him.
He hurriedly followed the sound and saw that Huo Wujiu broke off half of the glazed tile from the roof of Mingfeng Tower with his bare hands.
He then held the half piece of glazed tile in his hand, and with the force of both hands, he broke it into two pieces again.
“Look up,” Huo Wujiu prompted.
Jiang Suizhou didn’t understand. He raised his head and heard a subtle but sharp whizz in the air, heading straight into the sky.
A sky lantern that was slowly floating fell in response. The light inside instantly burned the lantern, and then it was extinguished into a handful of ashes that fluttered down.
“This is Jiang Shunheng’s may the country be prosperous and the people at peace!”
Jiang Suizhou heard Huo Wujiu’s voice.
The next moment came another sharp whizz.
Another sky lantern went out and fell down.
“This is Pang Shao’s longevity wish.”
Two bright sky lanterns that instantly blended into the night crashed down soundlessly amidst the rising lanterns in the sky.
It was the same two lanterns that Pang Shao and his lackey released on the terrace.
Jiang Suizhou turned his head sideways in a daze. Huo Wujiu was resting both his hands on his knees, tilting his head and giving him a reckless smile.
Jiang Suizhou’s heartbeat seemingly stopped.
How could this be making a wish for him?
This was clearly God looking down from a commanding height. He had found something from thousands of wishes of all sentient beings and told him in front of his eyes, I will give you everything you want.
Jiang Suizhou did not sleep well again tonight.
He was sleepy from reading, not knowing when he fell asleep, and Meng Qianshan also gave him a blanket to prevent him from catching a fever.
But when he opened his eyes, he still felt dizzy and lightheaded, especially because the couch was extremely hard. It was very uncomfortable after sitting for a long period of time. He sat there all night, making his body sore all over.
Jiang Suizhou felt somewhat infuriated.
How did the original owner arrange such a room for Huo Wujiu? With such simple furniture, did he not consider that Huo Wujiu would sleep on the sofa here one day?
He sat up and found that the sky was getting brighter. The aroma of food drifted in. It should be Meng Qianshan directing the people to prepare breakfast.
Jiang Suizhou stood up and glanced at the bed.
It was empty. Where was Huo Wujiu?
Jiang Suizhou had just woken up and was still a bit confused, so he froze and looked around.
He was caught off guard when his gaze collided with a pair of cool, dark eyes.
Jiang Suizhou was startled to see Huo Wujiu sitting by the window in the faint daylight. He was holding the book Jiang Suizhou had read halfway last night, flipping through it at random.
Just by looking at his movements with the book, it was evident that Huo Wujiu wasn’t a man who could read at all.
He raised his eyes to look at Jiang Suizhou, his gaze cold and his face expressionless.
His eyes looked like they could see right through people.
Jiang Suizhou suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. He didn’t do anything, but for some reason, he felt a little guilty.
…Perhaps because of his choice to keep watch all night, his persona was more or less in ruins.
Jiang Suizhou withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened and coldly called out, “Meng Qianshan?”
When Meng Qianshan who was outside heard his call, he trotted inside to wait upon Jiang Suizhou.
Meng Qianshan had always been garrulous. As long as Jiang Suizhou didn’t interrupt him, he could talk like nobody’s business for hours on end. Jiang Suizhou happened to be embarrassed, so he let him nag. Afterward, as if Huo Wujiu was nonexistent, Jiang Suizhou finished breakfast, then fled.
Today, there was no grand court assembly, so he could go to the office.
Before leaving, he remembered to remind Meng Qianshan, “Don’t forget to move Madam Huo into my courtyard.”
Meng Qianshan repeatedly assured him.
After Jiang Suizhou left, Meng Qianshan returned to Huo Wujiu’s courtyard, bringing some people with him.
The courtyard was remote and dilapidated, and Huo Wujiu didn’t bring anything with him. Furthermore, he only stayed there for one night, so there was really nothing to move.
However, Madam Huo’s status obviously wasn’t the same as when he first entered the mansion. It would be negligent to just bring him to the King’s courtyard, right?
So, Meng Qianshan served Huo Wujiu breakfast with great care. After Huo Wujiu had eaten his fill, he smiled so much that he couldn’t see his lips and asked, “Madam Huo, is there anything else you want to buy? I’ll have someone fetch it.”
Huo Wujiu didn’t speak.
This servant was noisy and always currying favor, a bit of an eyesore.
Even more so because Meng Qianshan already regarded Huo Wujiu as a favored concubine, making him sick.
Meng Qianshan was completely oblivious. Hearing no response from Huo Wujiu, he made arrangements by himself. “Robes for all seasons must be made. I’ll go and invite the tailors in a little while. And Madam’s wheelchair, I’ll also find a carpenter to build a new one, all right? As for the servants who’ll attend to you…”
He met a pair of dark eyes.
Seeing that Huo Wujiu was looking at him, Meng Qianshan hurriedly bowed and stepped forward, only assuming he had something to order: “Madam?”
However, Huo Wujiu only gave him a faint glance with eyes as cold as a bottomless pool, a glance that chilled his heart and lungs.
“I don’t need anything,” he said coldly. “You, just get away.”
Meng Qianshan choked, and his enthusiasm was doused with cold water.
He fled in embarrassment.
…I never thought that Master would like someone as fierce and unreasonable as him.
He was too difficult to serve.
Although there was no grand court session, Jiang Suizhou had to go to the government office every day, but the Ministry of rites was more leisurely than other places. In addition, his job was sinecure, so he had nothing to do all day long.
On top of that, his boss, Ji You, was a good old chap.
From the records about this man in history books alone, it was clear that he was an idle official averse to trickery and was only fond of the four forms of poetry. Although the late emperor appointed him Number One Scholar, he was always a lukewarm official and spent his time writing beautiful poetry.
Ji You wasn’t at all close to Jui Suizhou, and at first glance, wasn’t in their camp, but nor was he hard on him. Even seeing that he looked unwell, Ji You said with a smile that there was nothing important for the day, and that Jiang Suizhou could go home earlier to rest.
Jiang Suizhou breathed a sigh of relief.
For him, whether it was the imperial court, or his own harem, the water was a little too deep, so he had to always be alert and vigilant.
On the contrary, working his shift at the government office was a rare breather.
For the first time, he took a good rest in the government office with the mentality of a middle-aged man who didn’t want to face the family pressure after work and hid in the car to smoke for a long time before going upstairs.
