Chapter 45: Visiting and Seeking Advice (1)

Bored to death! Back when she was working, waiting for a three-day holiday was harder than ascending to heaven. There were always endless cases on her desk; she would have truly loved to sleep at home for three days and three nights, regardless of how thorny the cases were! Now that it was fine, she could sleep until she died, yet she felt uncomfortable all over, as if thousands of tiny insects were gnawing at her. She began to miss her life where she slept less than six hours a day.

Seven days. Since the day she returned to the palace, seven days had passed.

Nothing had happened, or perhaps she didn't know what had happened.

Yan Hongtian hadn't come to cause her trouble, and Lou Xiyan left early and returned late every day. She could do anything within the Prime Minister's Mansion, except go out.

But what could she do? The books here regarding autopsy were almost zero, and she had no interest in poetry, songs, history, or unofficial biographies. Therefore, her way of killing time every day was—staring at the vast lake before her, dazed.

"Hey, do you usually spend your days at home just staring blankly like this?" The clear, vast expanse of water could indeed make one feel good, but please forgive her worldliness; even the most beautiful scenery would cause aesthetic fatigue after a long time.

Lou Xiwu, who had been supporting her chin in a daze for a long time, finally came to her senses and called out softly, "You're the one staring blankly!"

OK, not staring blankly, then it must be lovesickness. Zhuo Qing chuckled softly. It wasn't easy to find someone to talk to, and she didn't want to scare her off. Zhuo Qing humbly asked for advice: "Then what do you usually do?" She was truly curious; staying at home every day, what did they all do?

Lou Xiwu continued to support her chin and replied lazily, "Practicing calligraphy and the zither, playing Go and painting; there are plenty of things to do."

Oh, wow~

Zhuo Qing couldn't help but praise, "I couldn't tell, you're quite the talented woman!" As expected, being a young lady of a wealthy family wasn't easy either!

Her well-intentioned praise was met with Lou Xiwu's low-voiced protest: "Don't go too far. I know I'm not as talented as you, proficient in everything from zither and chess to calligraphy and painting, but there's no need to mock others like this!"

Zhuo Qing was stunned and couldn't help but smile bitterly. She really didn't have that thought! Because she couldn't do any of those things!

Shrugging her shoulders, Zhuo Qing replied innocently, "I've lost my memory and don't remember anything. Those talents you mentioned, I've forgotten them all. I'm far worse than you; how would I have the qualifications to mock you?"

"I..." Seeing her self-deprecating so frankly, Lou Xiwu felt a bit embarrassed: "I didn't mean it." She understood how much hardship and effort it took to master those talents. Now that she had forgotten them just like that, it was already pitiful enough, and she had even poked at someone's sore spot; it really wasn't right!

To be honest, she preferred Lou Xiwu's claw-waving appearance. Zhuo Qing quickly changed the subject: "It's fine, it's fine. Let's talk about something else."

Looking at her, Lou Xiwu asked cooperatively, "Talk about what?"

"I heard you are very close with the Emperor?" Since she was bored anyway, it was good to take the opportunity to inquire.

Lou Xiwu smiled embarrassedly and replied, "It's not that close. When I was young, I would enter the palace with my brother to keep our aunt company, so I just saw Emperor Brother often."

"I felt he was very fierce when I entered the palace last time." Zhuo Qing complained tentatively.

Nodding repeatedly, Lou Xiwu replied with a sense of shared feeling, "I think so too. His temper is terrible; it's terrifying when he gets angry. However, he rarely gets angry at my brother."

"Why is that? Because your brother and he are cousins?" She also felt that Yan Hongtian seemed exceptionally tolerant toward Lou Xiyan.

Pouting, Lou Xiwu replied triumphantly, "That's not it. He is fierce as can be to his other brothers. Of course, it's because my brother is smart and capable."

Sweat!

She thought she might learn some inside information. It seemed that asking this girl, she would only sing praises for Lou Xiyan. After thinking for a moment, Zhuo Qing continued to gossip about another person: "Do you know General Su Ling?"

"Him?" Lou Xiwu frowned, her face full of disgust: "I don't know him, I've only heard that he is a cold, arrogant, and self-righteous guy."

"How so?" She had seen that he was cold and arrogant that day, but self-righteous didn't seem to be the case!

Lou Xiwu put on a mysterious look and whispered, "In his eyes, women represent trouble and redundancy. Even more perversely, there isn't a single woman in his house."

"What? That's impossible!" A General's Mansion that big without women? Zhuo Qing asked in disbelief: "There must be maidservants, right? Doesn't he have a mother, sister, wife, or concubines?!"

Lou Xiwu replied firmly, "None!"

As expected, gossiping was the social activity that could bring people closest together, no matter what era it was! Lou Xiwu, who had just been shouting at Zhuo Qing, had already leaned in and whispered, "His father died in battle early on, and his mother later died of illness. He only has three brothers, none of whom are married. There are no maidservants or nannies in the house, only men. He is almost thirty this year, which is why Emperor Brother bestowed your sister upon him!"

"No way." Zhuo Qing's head was covered in black lines. There was such a person?! It was truly a bit perverse. What about Qing Mo, who was in the midst of a pile of men?

Zhuo Qing had inquired about two men in a row. Lou Xiwu finally reacted, looking enlightened, and smiled self-righteously: "How is it? In the end, don't you feel very lucky? Of your three sisters, you are the luckiest, being with my brother."

Here we go again. Blind worship wasn't a good thing, but this time she didn't deny her point of view. By comparison, Lou Xiyan was the most normal one!

As the two were chatting, a tall figure appeared by the lake, walking steadily toward them.

Lou Xiwu pouted, turned away in annoyance. He finally deigned to come find her! Hmph!

Zhuo Qing coughed lightly and smiled, "I'm thirsty, I'm going to get some water." She had no interest in being a third wheel.

Just as Zhuo Qing stood up, Jing Sa walked straight toward her and said coldly, "Lady Qing, there is a guest visiting the front hall."

"Looking for me? Who?" Zhuo Qing was slightly stunned, looking at the woman beside her whose face was even smellier and whose eyes were spitting fire. Zhuo Qing couldn't help but laugh.

"Criminal Justice Official Dan Yulan."

Him? What was he looking for her for? Because of the autopsy? Since she was bored anyway, it would be good to meet him. Zhuo Qing lifted her feet and walked toward the courtyard, with Jing Sa following behind her.

After taking only two steps, Zhuo Qing stopped and smiled, "I can go over by myself. Xiwu has a stomachache, you should take a look at her."

Jing Sa's eyes flashed, and Lou Xiwu couldn't help but turn around and roar, "Since when do I have a stomachache?!"

"You drink so much vinegar all day, it would be strange if it didn't hurt!" Zhuo Qing walked leisurely toward the outside, her teasing laughter fading into the distance, leaving only Lou Xiwu twisting her clothes in embarrassment.

Zhuo Qing guessed the reason for Dan Yulan's visit; nine times out of ten, it had to do with the autopsy. Seeing the enthusiasm and persistence he showed toward dissection that day, she knew he would definitely come to find her again, she just didn't expect it to be so soon.

Walking slowly toward the front hall along the way, not far away, a light blue figure walked over elegantly. The shadows of flowers and rockeries blocked the person's face from time to time, but from that tall figure and leisurely temperament, Zhuo Qing had already guessed who it was, and called out softly: "Lou Xiyan."

Before long, Lou Xiyan walked toward her with a faint, shallow smile.

"Why are you at home?" Hadn't he been leaving early and returning late these past few days?

Lou Xiyan didn't intend to answer this question, but coughed lightly and said seriously, "Ling'er, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to call me by my full name all day?"

What was inappropriate about it? Zhuo Qing thought it was quite normal! However, seeing his feigned serious posture, and that "Ling'er" that made her skin crawl, Zhuo Qing decided—tit for tat!

Pretending to think for a moment, Zhuo Qing: "Then I should address you... Prime Minister Lou?"

"Too formal."

"Young Master Lou?"

"Too distant."

"Xi Xi?" She actually preferred this name personally!

"..."

Lou Xiyan still maintained an elegant smile, but the corners of his mouth were already twitching significantly. Zhuo Qing was overjoyed and continued her efforts!

"Yan'er?" Didn't he like adding the character "er" to others' names?

"..."

Lou Xiyan sighed inwardly. This ungrateful and petty woman, besides calling her, when had he ever addressed anyone else so intimately? And yet he was still being disliked?!

Seeing his face covered in black lines, Zhuo Qing couldn't help but burst into laughter. She laughed unscrupulously, and Lou Xiyan wasn't annoyed, only shaking his head lightly with a bit of helplessness, letting her make fun of his name. That faint indulgence was like the breeze of early summer, warm, and also blowing ripples on the lake of her heart.

Retracting the smile from the corners of her lips, Zhuo Qing asked generously, "Xiyan, are you going out?" Of course, she knew how he hoped she would address him. Actually, it wasn't hard to say it out loud, and she didn't deny that she was quite satisfied with this address herself.

Lou Xiyan had guessed from the beginning that Zhuo Qing would call his name, but hearing her clear voice call it out so generously, his heart actually surged with an indescribable joy, just because of one "Xiyan"? It seemed he couldn't control his heart anymore. Since that was the case, he couldn't be the only one whose heart was moved.

"I just returned from the morning court to get something and will be going out in a moment." After speaking, Lou Xiyan suddenly reached out, his fingertips inadvertently brushing her neck, cool and a bit numb. He clearly hadn't touched her, yet Zhuo Qing stiffened for no reason. He leaned forward slightly, and Zhuo Qing felt every cell in her body become exceptionally sensitive at this moment. Her hair moved slightly, and his gentle eyes gazed at the back of her neck. Zhuo Qing knew he must be tidying her clothes, but that handsome face that made her heart tremble was right before her eyes, along with the faint sandalwood scent on him, all making Zhuo Qing's heart beat wildly out of control.

A moment later, he took a fallen leaf from her hair. Zhuo Qing was on the verge of tears; what a cliché scene. If someone had told her before that she would have a racing heart because of this, she would definitely have called that person a lunatic, but what was she doing now?!

Heavens, she was a person approaching thirty! Under his gentle gaze, her face was actually inexplicably burning hot! God knew she had forgotten what it meant to blush and have a racing heart for eight or ten years!

Let her die!

While Zhuo Qing was self-flagellating, a trace of amused laughter flashed in Lou Xiyan's eyes. What kind of expression was this? Even if she wasn't shy, she shouldn't be in such pain, right?

Coughing lightly in embarrassment, Zhuo Qing laughed dryly: "Then I won't delay you. I don't know what Dan Yulan is looking for me for, I'll go take a look."

He naturally knew that Criminal Justice Official Dan had come to find her; without his permission, Dan Yulan wouldn't have been able to see her. However, Lou Xiyan still feigned surprise and said, "Criminal Justice Official Dan is here? Then you go ahead."

Zhuo Qing nodded and quickly turned to leave. Lou Xiyan's low, murmuring voice sounded again: "By the way, I had someone from the bookstore send over some medical books, they are in the study. If you are interested, you can take a look."

Did he buy them for her? Lou Xiyan's gentleness was always so just right. Zhuo Qing hurriedly threw back a "Thank you," and her pace became even faster.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 46 =====