Yan Qi bent into the carriage and saw Jiang Yun sitting by the carriage window at a glance.
The sunlight warmly shines into the Young Master’s jade belt and green robe. His eyes were as calm as ever, sitting behind the table, holding a book and reading, beautiful as if he were a painting.
Yan Qi was stunned.
He obviously did not expect that night’s flickering back to have such an elegant and unparalleled appearance.
One can’t help but think of a stream under the moon, a pine moon in the mountains. All the conceivable and visible goodness of the world seems to be no match for him.
Jiang Yun naturally heard the commotion long ago.
He just had no hope of escaping for the time being, and he was always too lazy to pay attention to these idle people and things, so he didn’t have any special reactions.
Seeing Yan Qi enter, he only glanced sideways and nodded lightly. As a gesture of courtesy, he then lowered his gaze and continued to read his own book.
“This… should be Young Master Chu Yan, right?”
Yan Qi smiled slightly and spoke first.
Jiang Yun nodded.
Yan Qi crossed his arms in salute and said, “I, Yan Qi, am glad to meet you.”
This is the most commonly used meeting among the officials and scholars of this era.
Jiang Yun also put down his book and crossed his hands to return the present.
“Glad to meet you.”
Northern Yan Qi, one of the two great literary masters in the world, and was that person’s… beloved?
Jiang Yun glanced at Yan Qi again.
His face is like a crown of jade, his posture is cultivated and beautiful, and he has the demeanor of a famous scholar in his gestures.
Indeed, a talented man, such as jade, deserves the name of the first beautiful and talented man in the Northern countries.
Yan Qi came straight to the tea table, bent his knee long enough to sit down, took out a fresh tea cake from his bosom, replacing the old one, and skillfully cut the tea cake into small pieces for easy cooking, which is exactly the same size as the original tea cake. Obviously, they are very familiar with each other’s habits.
Between his movements, the black cloak on the outer cover spread to both sides, revealing the crimson robe inside as well as a delicate bone flute the length of his index finger worn around his neck.
Jiang Yun couldn’t help but think of the short whistle that Sui Heng gave him when he was in the mountain.
Look at the style and material, it should be a pair with this bone flute.
Seeing Jiang Yun looking over, Yan Qi suddenly looked up and said with a warm smile, “His Highness looks domineering and strict, but he is actually a very nostalgic person. Once he developed a taste, it is difficult to change. For example, this tea, for so many years, he only drinks this kind of Yunwu from Qizhou.”
After changing the tea cake, Yan Qi went to the front of the tea stove, opened the lid of the teapot, replaced it with fresh water, tidied up the area around the tea table properly, stood up, and said goodbye before leaving.
Jiang Yun thought, It’s really interesting.
This Yan Qi intentionally showed him the short flute exposed under his cloak and talked about that person’s nostalgia and preferences in front of him. Is he trying to imply something to him?
Suggesting to him that they grew up together, were childhood sweethearts, and had a bond that no one else could intervene in. Or even have the same token of affection to make him “know to retreat”?
If that’s really the case, it would be great.
Jiang Yun thought.
He was worried about that wild wolf biting him and refusing to let go.
“What are you thinking about?”
Not long after, Sui Heng walked in.
He propped up his long legs and sat casually behind the tea table, throwing the tea cakes into the teapot and starting to brew tea.
Jiang Yun looked at his seamless movements and thought, ‘That Yan Qi really knows this person very well.’
“Nothing.”
Jiang Yun lowered his head and continued reading.
The tea pot quickly boils.
Sui Heng smelled the smell of Yunwu in Qizhou and naturally believed that it was the old thing, Guozhu of the Chen Kingdom, who came over to flatter him. After brewing it, he first poured a cup for Jiang Yun.
“Try it, the taste of this tea is excellent. You may not have drunk it in the southern country.”
Jiang Yun glanced.
He thought to himself, It’s just Yunwu in Qizhou, and it received such a boast from him.
He picked it up and tasted it lightly, a slight bitterness rolled over the tip of his tongue.
This person’s tea skill is still as disappointing as ever, so he let out a perfunctory “En.”
Sui Heng couldn’t help but savor it slowly and said with a smile, “Look at you, you’re so delicate, and you don’t even appreciate the tea that Gu brewed. Others can’t even drink it, even if they want to.”
Jiang Yun was concerned about something else.
“You don’t need a horse?”
Sui Heng softly replied. “En.”
“With Xu Qiao leading the way, Gu can rest assured.”
“Besides, how could Gu leave you alone in the carriage?”
Jiang Yun was slightly disappointed.
Because this means that he won’t be able to read books peacefully along the way.
“Let’s first agree on one thing.”
For the sake of his future safety, Jiang Yun still spoke up: “During the day, you are not allowed to cross the long table.”
Sui Heng raised his eyebrows and intentionally leaned over, placing his arms on the table. “What would happen if Gu crossed it?”
Jiang Yun frowned and looked at his despicable hands. Before he could figure out how to strike back, his lips were suddenly blocked, and his body was pressed against the carriage window.
The sun shines brightly, and the beauty is like jade.
Sui Heng took advantage of the situation for a while and then stood up and laughed hoarsely. “Isn’t it a bit too much for you to tell Gu to have no desires and not to cross the line when facing a great beauty like a celestial being like you?”
Jiang Yun bit his lips, almost looking at him in anger.
This is still daytime, there are people outside the carriage!
Fortunately, Sui Heng did not fool around for too long, he took advantage of the opportunity to take a little advantage and then let go of his hand and said, “Alright, don’t be angry. Gu promises you.”
This person always manages to balance dominance and gentleness perfectly, making him a master of love.
He’s afraid that he has compelled a lot of people with this skill already.
Jiang Yun thought of something and took out the short whistle from his pocket, handing it back.
Sui Heng glanced at him and said, “Since Gu gave it to you, it’s yours. There’s no need to return it.”
Jiang Yun placed it directly on the tea table.
He is not interested in this kind of bulk gift.
Sui Heng frowned.
What does this mean?
Directly disdaining what he gave?
After picking it up and blowing twice, the sound was normal, and there was no problem. He said, “If you find it outdated, Gu will make another one for you another day.”
Jiang Yun said he doesn’t need it.
Angry again.
Sui Heng directly pinched the person onto his shoulder and asked, “But what did Gu do wrong to upset you?”
Jiang Yun frowned and tried to move, but without success.
This person seems to particularly enjoy holding him in such a controlling position.
He could only support himself on his shoulders and said “No.”
“Then why do you dislike Gu’s things?”
“……”
Jiang Yun could only say, “I didn’t dislike it, I just returned it to its rightful owner.”
“As Gu said, since Gu gave it to you, it is yours.”
“……”
It was useless to dwell on such a boring topic, and Jiang Yun eventually recollected the short whistle and placed it back in his arm. Sui Heng said happily, “That’s right. With it, you can contact Gu at any time, and Gu will also feel at ease.”
The carriage quickly and steadily started driving, leaving the capital city of Chen and heading north.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu tremblingly led a group of officials from the Chen Kingdom to personally see him off at the city gate. Sui Heng deliberately lifted the carriage curtain and nodded in his direction across the air. The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was once again frightened and almost fainted on the street.
Although the first surrendered kingdoms, the Jiang Kingdom and the Chen Kingdom allowed the Sui Empire to open up the southwest passage from the north bank of the Yellow River to Jiangnan, but there were still many checkpoints and many important details that he personally needed to solve along the way. Therefore, Sui Heng could not stay in the carriage all the time and often had to go out to discuss with Xu Qiao and others.
Dinner was also directly ordered by Sui Heng to be delivered to the carriage by Fan Qi.
Jiang Yun still only ate congee. After finishing eating, he had just read the book for half an hour and realized that the heat flow in his body was kicking right on time again.
These past two days, Jiang Yun has been trying hard to suppress the drug’s effects, so he put down his book and sat against the carriage’s wall, silently gritting his teeth and enduring it.
Sui Heng happened to come back, and upon seeing this situation, he understood what had happened. He immediately carried the person onto the bed and said, “How come you don’t call Gu?”
Jiang Yun tilted his head and said, “It’s nothing.”
“You sweat so much and still said it’s nothing.”
Sui Heng reached out to untie Jiang Yun’s robes.
Jiang Yun immediately blocked his hands and shook his head.
There was a coachman outside the carriage and accompanying soldiers, he couldn’t accept anything like that in such a situation.
Sui Heng knew he had thin skin and said, “Would it be possible if Gu had them pull over to the side of the road first and get everyone back in line?”
“……”
What a bad idea this is!
“There’s no need.”
Sui Heng frowned and said, “Gu can’t just watch you suffer like this.” He thought of something and hugged the person in his arms, and whispering a few words to his little lover’s ears.”
“Is this possible?”
There was no other way at the moment, Jiang Yun could only nod with a blush in his ears.
Then he opened his mouth and mercilessly bit his shoulder.
Yan Qi, dressed in a cloak, stood in the pale twilight, looking at the luxurious carriage with hexagonal palace lamps hanging not far away, slightly lost in thought.
Chen Qi, wielding a sword at his waist, walked over to greet him, “Young Master Yan Qi.”
“Military Advisor Chen”
Yan Qi crossed his arms and returned the salute.
Chen Qi actually wanted to find an opportunity to visit Yan Qi a long time ago. Yan Qi was not only the top writer in Jiangbei, but he is also the grandson of the prime minister Yan as well, the prime minister of the Sui Empire. In a sense, he was the leader of the literati group in the Sui capital. If he wanted to establish a firm foothold in the Sui capital court and literary circle in the future, he would inevitably have to establish a good relationship with Yan Qi.
According to Chen Qi’s understanding, although Sui Heng, as the Crown Prince, his words carried great weight in the court and no one dared to refute them, but his reputation among the literati in the Sui capital was not good due to his martial arts and fighting spirit, even to the point of being poor.
Chen Qi felt that this was his opportunity, as long as he could use his influence to enter the literary circle in the Sui Capital and help Sui Heng reverse his reputation, it would be a great achievement.
It’s just that, before he was busy with the matter of the recruitment platform, Yan Qi was also secluded due to illness, so he has not been able to find the opportunity. Only then did he see Yan Qi walking alone and immediately follow him.
Chen Qi said, “I have admired the Young Master’s literary works for a long time. When we arrive at the capital of Sui, I hope the Young Master can provide more guidance.”
Yan Qi said, “I’ve read Ji Cai’s literary works; they’re insightful, incisive, and very inspiring. Ji Cai must attend this year Spring Banquet.”
The Spring Banquet was a gathering of literati groups in the Sui capital, somewhat following the example of the Liushang Banquet.
The banquet is an annual competition of the six arts of the gentleman, and six top performers will be selected.
Yan Qi has won the position of literary champion in the literary competition for many consecutive years. Chen Qi was overjoyed, and upon learning about Yan Qi’s invitation, he politely offered him an opinion and immediately said, “Definitely.”
