Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Four Years (Completed)

Chapter 16

The teahouse is on the side of the official road. Don't look down on it, but it has everything.

The waiter served tea, and Jiang Yu poured a cup for Du Haoyu, saying, "Cousin, drink a sip to warm your stomach." Then he looked at him with some worry, waiting for Du Haoyu to drink a sip of tea and his expression eased. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Why are you wearing so thin? It will be bad if you catch a cold."

Du Haoyu held the warm blue and white porcelain teacup, drinking tea while listening quietly. If someone else said this, he would inevitably feel nagging, but listening to Jiang Yu's words, there was a kind of gentleness that calmed people down. Her voice was neither high nor low, but just right, like the warm spring breeze blowing past your ears, making people feel comfortable.

He still remembered that when he was a child, he was always unconvinced, especially liked to refute others. No matter what it was, he would only believe it after trying it himself.

At that time, Jiang Yu was still young, but she would follow him quietly, with clear and focused eyes, so obedient that it was heartbreaking.

Du Haoyu liked Jiang Yu very much, because no matter what he said, Jiang Yu would ask seriously, instead of scolding him directly like his father.

"Where are you going?"

Jiang Yu tightened her hands on the table, wanting to say something to cover it up, but thinking about the bag in her car, anyone with a discerning eye would know what was going on, and she didn't want to lie to Du Haoyu.

"But is it boring living at home?" Du Haoyu put down the teacup, then looked at Jiang Yu intently and said, "Are you going to the capital? Why are you going on the road alone? It's really worrying. How about this, I'll go pack up and accompany you to the capital to relax. I have a few good friends there."

Jiang Yu fell silent. At this time, her cousin still cared about her like this.

Du Haoyu said softly, "Ayu, or do you want to go somewhere else? We can go all the way north. Now is the time to see the snow, especially the Buxian Mountain, which is majestic and magnificent, and hides natural secrets. The first time I went to see it, I thought, there is such a magnificent scenery in the world."

"No matter where you go, your cousin will accompany you."

Jiang Yu felt her eyes red for a moment, and she almost cried, but she shook her head firmly and said, "Cousin, I want to go by myself."

Du Haoyu said softly, "Ayu, since I can chase you here, how can I let you go alone? Tell your cousin, what happened?"

Jiang Yu subconsciously put his hand on her belly. Du Haoyu had been carefully observing Jiang Yu's reaction. Seeing her suddenly remembering the dry heaves in front of the mutton soup stall a few days ago...

Jiang Yu saw Du Haoyu's expression and knew that he had guessed it. She didn't want to lie to him, and said, "I'm pregnant, and my mother will definitely let me abort the child... But I can't bear to leave."

After waiting to finish, Jiang Yu didn't even dare to look at Du Haoyu's expression. If there was anyone she felt guilty about, it was Du Haoyu.

But Jiang Yu didn't wait to blame him. Du Haoyu took a deep breath and then said, "Ayu, you know I had actually seen you before I came back."

Jiang Yu was a little strange and couldn't help looking up at Du Haoyu.

"At that time, you accompanied him to hunt. He walked in front and you hurriedly followed, as if you wanted to give him the ear warmer. As a result, you accidentally fell, but he didn't care and let you slowly get up by yourself, as indifferent as a stranger. "

Of course Jiang Yu remembered this incident. Because of this incident, she sprained her foot and lay down for half a month before getting up.

The weather was very cold at that time, but not as cold as her heart.

"I blame myself very much. If I hadn't left home, you wouldn't have married into the palace."

"Cousin?"

"At that time, mother always said that she wanted to find a wife to control me, and I was very annoyed. I always thought that there were so many interesting things in this world, why should I be bound by such constraints? One day I heard mother say that she wanted to go to your house to propose marriage. I don't know what I was thinking, so I just left."

Jiang Yu didn't expect such a thing to happen. "But cousin, it's not your fault. You were still young at that time, and marriage is a union of two families. It should be discussed and negotiated. The engagement had not been given at that time. It's normal for cousin to have concerns." "

If it were someone else, I would be at ease, but you are Ayu."

Du Haoyu's tone was so intimate and doting that it made Jiang Yu cry. Yes, Du Haoyu was her favorite cousin. They had been childhood sweethearts. Although he was always unruly, he would still carry her across the river because he felt sorry for her who could not walk.

"So when I knew you had left the palace, I hurried back."

Jiang Yu finally understood why Du Haoyu came back just after she returned home. It turned out that everything was not a coincidence.

"Ayu, let's raise the child together, okay?"

Jiang Yu looked at Du Haoyu with emotion, tears streaming down her face.

***

Four years later, the spring rain continued to fall. The dragon head of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was spitting rainwater. For a while, there was no clean place on the ground. It was all wet. Several young ministers gathered together and walked out of the palace. Everyone tiptoed for fear of getting their boots wet. Although they held oil umbrellas, they were also extremely wet and cold.

"In this weather, we should go for a hotpot."

"Brother Donglai, why don't you be the host and treat us to a meal?"

Wu Donglai pretended to be angry and glared at the person who made the suggestion, and said, "Why is it my turn again?"

The man smiled and said, "Among us, Brother Donglai is the only one who is from the capital. Shouldn't you do your best to be a good host?"

Several people agreed at once. Wu Donglai seemed to have no choice but to say, "Okay."

These people were all young Hanlin scholars with meager salaries. Although they asked Wu Donglai to be the host, they didn't really want him to be a sucker. Of course, those famous restaurants were not suitable. They were expensive and it was impossible to book a table.

During the discussion, Wu Donglai said, "Have you ever been to Jiang's Restaurant?"

"I have heard of it."

Seeing everyone agree, Wu Donglai couldn't help swallowing his saliva when he thought of the taste and said, "Come on, it tastes amazing. I'll take you to try it."

Several people gathered together and walked out. One of them who was walking in front suddenly stopped, pointed to the front and said in fear and trepidation, "It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Wu Donglai's eyes lit up and he looked up quickly. Sure enough, he saw Crown Prince Lin Bozhi walking out surrounded by the crowd. He was wearing a python robe with a four-clawed golden dragon and dark patterns embroidered with gold and silver threads. Even on this rainy and cloudy day, it looked luxurious and noble. Looking at Lin Bozhi again, he was majestic and made people look up to him.

Someone said in admiration, "Your Highness is truly majestic."

"Brother Donglai, didn't the prince ask you to serve in the Southern Study a few days ago?"

Wu Donglai naturally wanted to show off, and after a moment's hesitation, he walked over. Seeing the group of people saluting, Lin Bozhi said, "It's not necessary to do so outside the palace, no need to be polite."

Lin Bozhi was not a demanding person, and seeing that everyone was saluting in the rain, he hurriedly said.

After a few words, Wu Donglai and the prince were most familiar with each other, because Lin Bozhi liked Wu Donglai's calligraphy very much, and often asked him to go to the Southern Study to write for him.

Lin Bozhi asked, "Where are you going?"

Wu Donglai said, "Thinking about the cold weather, I'm going to eat a hotpot. I heard that there is a restaurant on the south side of West Street that makes very authentic mutton hotpot, so I'm going to try it."

The emperor's health was getting worse day by day. Lin Bozhi spent most of the day in the palace with him and had to watch the government from the side. Naturally, he was very busy.

The weather was really cold. Lin Bozhi glanced at the capital in the rain. The faces of the people could no longer be seen in the rain curtain. Although the attendants held umbrellas, they still couldn't block the chill of the spring rain. This made him unconsciously think of the rainy days in Lin'an.

It didn't seem so cold at that time.

Wu Donglai said boldly, "Your Highness, why don't

you give me a favor and try it?" For a moment, everyone looked at each other, and they didn't dare to speak. They just thought that Wu Donglai was too bold, right? But what was even more surprising was that Lin Bozhi actually nodded.

Wu Donglai was nervous and terrified. He didn't know how to respond. He just wanted to use all his strength to serve the prince. He had never been so proud before.

Eunuch Xu Bao was also surprised that the prince would agree. He quickly ordered the servants to prepare the carriage and sent someone back to the palace to inform Princess Zhou.

Lin Bozhi didn't want to make too much noise, so he just said that everything should be simple. He changed into ordinary clothes in the carriage, a stone blue floral quilted robe, and a Kunlun jade crown. He had a good appearance, just like an ordinary nobleman.

The group came to Jiang's, but unexpectedly found that the store was full.

Wu Donglai was very upset, wondering why he didn't reserve a seat in advance, so he had to ask the shopkeeper, "I brought a distinguished guest today, I don't care how much money I add, please help me." The

shopkeeper hesitated, glanced at the group of people behind him, who were officials, rich or noble, and he couldn't afford to offend them, and harmony brings wealth, since they were so humble, he had to give them some face.

"Then I'll ask our boss, please wait."

Several people stood at the door, and the smell of food came from the house, which made people hungry and even more uncomfortable, "This smell is so delicious."

"Their mutton is unique, tender and fragrant, and there is no smell of mutton."

"And the sauce, you will know after you have eaten it, oh, I can't help it!"

Wu Donglai coughed heavily, and everyone dared not speak immediately, after all, the prince was in front of them, and everyone looked at each other for a while, and then they became quiet again.

"I remember now, isn't this restaurant owned by Du Haoyu's wife?"

"Are you talking about the number one scholar?"

"That's right, Donglai, you are very familiar with Lord Du, why don't you ask him."

When Lin Bozhi heard the words Du Haoyu, his expression turned cold. He looked inside and saw the shopkeeper leading a beautiful woman.

Wu Donglai's voice was in his ears, "It's really Mrs. Du, I have never heard Brother Du mention her."