GBP Chapter 223 Meeting an old friend in a foreign land
Chapter 223 Meeting an old friend in a foreign land
While the First Prince and Wang Jihuai were fighting in the street, Li Xiaonuan was also strolling around with Zhou Liufeng. However, they didn't have the time or inclination to join in the commotion. Because, on the bustling street, they bumped into Chief Zhou and Fangfang.
"Grandpa Chief, Fangfang." Li Xiaonuan happily stepped forward to greet them, "I'm so glad to meet you. Would you call this meeting old friends in a foreign land?"
Zhou Liufei smiled warmly and walked towards the clan chief and his grandson with slightly stiff legs.
Fangfang, with her sharp eyes, noticed Zhou Liufeng's difficulty in walking and looked up at him, asking, "Brother Liufeng, did you fall? You look so uncomfortable walking, where did you bump into?"
Zhou Liufeng smiled shyly and replied somewhat vaguely, "Oops, I bumped into something. Fangfang, when are you guys going back?"
"My brother said we should go back after the Double Ninth Festival," Fangfang replied crisply.
Li Xiaonuan said happily, "The Double Ninth Festival is the day after tomorrow. I wonder where you live now, would it be convenient for us to go and celebrate the festival with Grandpa Clan Chief?"
Chief Zhou stroked his gray beard and said, “It’s convenient, of course it’s convenient. We’re currently living in a rented courtyard. Why don’t you come back with us now and familiarize yourselves with the place, so you don’t have to ask around?”
Fangfang asked Li Xiaonuan curiously, "Sister Xiaonuan, why did you come to Beijing? When did you arrive? What are you doing here?"
Looking into Fangfang's mischievous eyes, Li Xiaonuan smiled and replied, "We arrived in Beijing half a month ago. We came here because of the chili peppers."
"Oh, for the chili peppers." Fangfang nodded, then vaguely felt something flash through her mind. She asked in a high-pitched voice, "Sister Xiaonuan, you mean, you grew those chili peppers?"
Li Xiaonuan nodded, giving a helpless bitter smile: "That's right, I grew them, and I grew quite a lot of them. That's why I came to the capital to solve the problem of private planting."
After hearing Li Xiaonuan's words, Chief Zhou asked, "I heard Fangfang's brother mention that matter. He said that with Prince Jing as a guarantor, that matter has been put behind us."
Li Xiaonuan nodded: "There's no major problem. The main thing is that I have several new seeds, so I just wanted to let you know."
As they spoke, the group had already made their way through several turns to a small courtyard. Li Xiaonuan observed the surroundings and found it to be quite quiet and tidy.
"This place was specially chosen for my brother. It's close to the academy and very quiet, making it suitable for people who study." Fangfang explained before Li Xiaonuan could even ask.
Li Xiaonuan and Zhou Liufeng also praised the place for its tranquility and pleasantness. Seeing that they both liked it, Clan Chief Zhou smiled. He had another consideration in choosing this place: the surrounding area was inhabited by many distinguished scholars and officials.
After spending the morning at Chief Zhou's residence and preparing a rather sumptuous lunch with Fangfang, Li Xiaonuan and Zhou Liufei, clutching their slightly protruding bellies, returned to Prince Jing's villa.
“Brother Liu Fei, the clan chief’s idea is quite good. In the future, if Brother Zhou passes the imperial examination, he can also become a junior scholar and a junior Hanlin scholar, which will help him get along well with the neighbors.” Li Xiaonuan said, rubbing her belly as she slowly walked with Zhou Liu Fei.
Zhou Liufeng looked at Li Xiaonuan's actions, which only a pregnant woman would make, and smiled indulgently. If the two of them walked like this on the street, people would definitely misunderstand their relationship. Especially Li Xiaonuan's actions and her cheerful expression.
Of course, besides Zhou Liufeng, Wei Yu, who had seen the two of them from afar, also thought the same thing. He was currently in a high-rise teahouse, watching the farce between the First Prince and Wang Jihuai.
So far, everything has unfolded as Wei Yu predicted. However, he underestimated the First Prince's style. He had thought the First Prince would simply bury the two men in the back garden of his villa, but unexpectedly, he made a scene in the street.
This is perhaps for the best; with more people watching the spectacle, the rift between the First Prince and the Wang clan will only widen. As for the Empress, without the First Prince's support, her actions will be somewhat hampered.
Once they harbor resentment towards each other, it will be much easier to sow discord among them later. Dismantling the enemy's alliance and then defeating them one by one is a very good strategy.
However, breaking up an enemy alliance is not an easy task. Currently, it seems that although the First Prince has clashed with Wang Jihuai, he may not necessarily harbor any ill will towards the Wang clan.
Now, Wei Yu is waiting for his subordinates to return and report on the First Prince's handling of Wang Jihuai and his next move. Only by understanding the First Prince's intentions can he devise a countermeasure.
But why do those two people on the street, gazing at each other warmly and laughing so irritate me?
"Wei Yu, what's wrong with you? You almost crushed this teacup." The playboy teased.
"You only see his white knuckles? Why don't you listen to his grinding teeth? I see the veins on his forehead are all bulging," said the playboy, chuckling.
"Hey Wei Yu, what's wrong with you? What did you see? Your expression looks almost like you're catching someone cheating," the playboy asked with ill intent.
"You know what, I think Wei Yu caught them cheating. Look at that couple over there. The woman was touching her stomach as she walked, and she looks like she's pregnant. I bet the child is our Second Young Master Wei's." The playboy Ding boldly guessed.
"Impossible!" the纨绔 (playboys) A, B, and C all objected in unison.
“That woman isn’t good-looking; she’s not Wei Yu’s type,” said the first playboy. “That woman is too old; Wei Yu wouldn’t be interested,” said the third playboy. “That woman is too rustic; how could she possibly catch Wei Yu’s eye?” said the fourth playboy.
The playboy Ding glanced at them with an expression that said, "You're all behind on your feet," before slowly saying, "Look at you all, all you do is eat, drink, and sleep. That woman you all look down on is someone our Second Young Master Wei brought back personally. Speaking of which, she's not bad-looking at all, and she bears a resemblance to the eldest daughter of the Chu family."
"Oh?", "Is there more to this story?", "Tell us quickly!" A, B, and C all looked like they were gossiping, urging the playboy Ding to tell them more about Wei Yu.
Wei Yu kept a close eye on Li Xiaonuan on the street while pondering his own affairs, completely ignoring the teasing and joking of the others. Suddenly, a carriage sped towards them from the east end of the street.
"Damn it, what is that woman doing? Why doesn't she get out of the way?" With this shout, Wei Yu leaped out of the third-floor window, startling the people still engaged in their heated discussion.