Chapter 50: Going Out

"So you say you're here for some business, but is it to come to Cuiyang Tower?" Yan Jiuye looked at the three-storey restaurant in front of him, feeling somewhat excited. "Have you been challenged again?"
In the past, Ye Quan became famous after a verbal battle with numerous talents here.
Ye Quan raised his eyebrows and said, "How do you know that it's not someone inviting me for a drink?"
Yan Jiuye said, "Enough with that. Do you have friends in Mingdu who can invite you to Cuiyang Building for a drink?"
After entering Cuiyang Tower, Yan Jiuye realized that there really are people who show such genuine feelings.
The person treating them was none other than Zhan Runqi, who used to live next door to the Ye family. His father was transferred to be the governor of Lingzhou, and he has been away from the capital for three or four years. He used to be slightly chubby, but now he has become slim. It's not appropriate to tease him as "Little Fatty" anymore, but it's good to see that he looks much better in spirits. It's also a good thing.
Just as he saw a delicate young servant following behind Ye Qian, he wanted to make a joke or two. But when he saw the appearance of the servant, he couldn't help but think that it was Ye Jiuye, the second Miss of the Ye family. Ye Jiuye was never a well-behaved child, and chapter Zhu QI, who was familiar with the two siblings, knew this best. Even now, he still felt a bit apprehensive.
Zhang Runqi hesitated and asked, "Ye Quan, you little servant..."
He didn't dare to believe that this could be the infamous demon king Ye Jiuyue, but the resemblance was too uncanny. Could it be that he himself had not returned for many years and was mistaken?
Yeh Qianchong nodded at him and said, "My little sister is mischievous, so please bear with her, Brother Zhang."
Indeed.
But Yan Jiuye was dissatisfied. She said, "If it weren't for those people with ill intentions spying on us these days, would I have to dress like this and follow you?"
Li Xiang sent a message yesterday saying that a "gift" has arrived and asked her to go out and take a look today. However, there was an unexpected incident at the Mu State Duke's residence, and Cheng Guang is well-known for causing trouble. Yan Jiu Ye also couldn't avoid it, but most people are just curious for now, and there hasn't been any news of plotting yet. However, it's only a matter of time.
Ye Qian smiled and said, "If you don't go out, where would such troubles arise?"
Mingdu has been hearing rumors these days, and Zhang Runqi naturally knows about it. After hearing Ye Qian's words, he disagreed somewhat, saying, "It's not Second Sister's fault, so how can we keep her locked up at home? The Ye Qian I knew before was someone who fought on the streets and alleys. Why have you learned to avoid conflict after all these years?"
Ye Kun said: "It's not about avoiding, but about matters unrelated to the Ye family. Why interfere and make people think there's some inhumane hidden situation?"
Zhang Runqi said: "Do you think there won't be rumors if we stay indoors all the time? Since society is harsh on women, we should just go along with Second Sister and not be like you. If someone talks about it, just don't listen and ignore it. That's what it means to be unaffected and fearless in our actions."
Yan Jiuye applauded and exclaimed, "It's still Brother Zhang who understands!"
"But Aru is also concerned and confused." Zhang Runqi smiled slightly and took out a small delicate box from his sleeve, saying, "I was planning to bring you some unique silver jewelry from Liangzhou. However, since you are a young lady, it's not appropriate for me, a man, to give you jewelry. So I found some small sculptures instead, which are meant for blessings and warding off evil in Liangzhou. I hope Second Sister won't despise them."
Yan Jiuye took the small box and put it away, saying, "Praying for blessings and warding off evil, all I seek is peace of mind. Brother Zhangsi is thoughtful, and I won't let the words of petty people affect my emotions. But does my brother have a gift?"
Her unfinished words concealed a cunning smile, and Zhang Runqi stole a glance at Ye Qi, only to meet his helpless gaze. He immediately understood and said, "I have prepared many earth rituals for the Ye family, and they will be delivered to your home later. However, in my haste, I forgot to label the boxes with names, so I don't quite remember which one is meant for your brother."
Ye Quan may give this gift to his parents, wife, and sister, but luckily he doesn't mind, and the Ye family has always been harmonious, so the item will eventually be returned to him. But Yuan Jiuye's happiness is more important than those material things.
Zhang Runqi was able to book a private room at Cuiyang Tower, which could be considered lucky. The dishes on the table were just ordinary, but they looked much more comforting than extravagant dishes. Yan Jiuye drank a small glass of sweet wine with them and then said he had something else to do and left, leaving Ye Quan and Zhang Runqi, old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years, to enjoy the meal and have a chat.
After leaving Cuiyang Tower, Yan Jiuye noticed that there were some people following him in the shadows. Presumably, they found it peculiar for Ye Qian to go out and wanted to see his reaction to Cheng Guang's matter. Yan Jiuye, disguised as a servant, entered another shop pretending to buy things, and the people following him quickly lost interest and turned back to Cuiyang Tower.
Among them, Yan Jiuye unexpectedly saw several scions of influential families. It seems that the shadow left by Ye Qian all these years is still immense for them. Therefore, when encountering an opportunity that could potentially strike him, they are all eager to try.
Yan Jiuye shook her head in disappointment: "They are all a bunch of idle people."
She walked through the shop she had just been in and opened another door in the courtyard used for living. She entered an alley. After crossing the alley, she arrived at a house deep inside. When Yan Jiuye came out, she changed her clothes, wearing a thick and luxurious cloak and letting her hair down, with indigo ribbons in it.
The houseboy transformed himself into a handsome young gentleman, and the girl blushed at the sight of his beauty.
Shu Nv silently appeared by her side, holding an exquisite Tan Chuan paper umbrella. The plain umbrella surface was unlike others, without any embroidery or paintings. From a distance, it only displayed subtle variations of light indigo blue, resembling mountains, forests, and lakes.
Yan Junye stuck his head out from under the umbrella and looked at the sky, thinking to himself, "It looks like it's going to snow soon. I'll come to pick Aru home earlier."
Shuo Nu nodded and led her familiarly to a dimsum shop. It wasn't even noon yet, but the shop already had a windproof curtain outside and a small wooden sign thanking customers hung on it. In this quiet alley, one might think that this was a store that no one visited. But that was not the case, this store was an old establishment that closed its doors after selling out of dimsum.
Yan Jiuye seemed to ignore the sign of the Thankful Guest Inn. He lifted the heavy curtain and was about to enter. Once inside, he arched his hand and smiled, saying, "May the innkeeper have a prosperous and abundant source of wealth, attracting fortune and treasures."
While hitting the abacus on the counter, Lian Xi raised an eyelid upon hearing these words.
Yan Jiuye dissatisfiedly said, "With your indifference like this, how can the business thrive?"
Lian Xi asked in return, "Which year have I not carried several boxes of gold into the warehouse?"
Although it is not the revenue of this shop, but all of them are managed by Lianzhang. Who can say she is not doing well in business?
"Alright, you've worked hard, Lianzhang. How about taking a break in a few days?" Yan Jiuye smiled and walked inside, opening the door to the inner room.
Behind the door is a quiet courtyard, with the snow on the ground melted away. Beside the stone table under the tree, a person wearing a cloak and a hood. As she turned around, Yanjiu Ye felt as if she had seen a glimpse of beauty in the misty rain of the Jiangnan region.