AUBTN -Chapter 58 Trip to Jiangnan (Part 1)

【Moreover, Su City has always been a place of disputes, from ancient times to now. Shen Jue carries a blood-deep grudge; his emotions are most unstable right now. If someone were to take advantage…】

Su Hewan put down the Jiangnan Gazetteer in her hands and pushed up the nonexistent glasses on her nose.

“Qingqing, we’re going too.”

“Of course we are!”

Yu Qing jumped up from the bed. “I want to see it for myself—whose loyalty knot is stronger, hers or this auntie’s acting skills! Trying to steal my meal ticket… ah, I mean, trying to shake the foundation of Great Wei? Not a chance!”

The two of them rushed to the palace gate in a whirlwind.

By now, the convoy had fully assembled.

Lu Yan wore a Flying Fish suit, a Xiuchun dao (embroidered spring knife) at his waist, sitting proudly on horseback, radiating authority.

Shen Jue sat in a low-profile yet luxurious carriage, the curtain half-drawn, revealing the pale and handsome side of his face.

Jiang Ruyi and Song Zhaoyuan each occupied their own carriage, occasionally lifting the curtains to cast flirtatious glances toward the two male leads.

“Master Lu!”

“Commander!”

Two sweet shouts broke the delicate balance.

Su Hewan and Yu Qing, carrying their bags, arrived panting and out of breath.

Lu Yan frowned, pulling on his reins. “What are you doing here? Go back!”

Yu Qing took a deep breath, instantly slipping into full dramatic mode.

She threw her arms around Lu Yan’s thigh, tilting her head up with watery eyes—her expression even three points more professional than Jiang Ruyi’s.

“Master! You can’t leave me behind! Last night, I observed the stars and saw ominous energy from the south—there might be bloodshed! You’re worth a fortune, and there’s no one nimble enough by your side… ah, I mean, no one quick enough to block a knife!”

【What a joke! Leaving that Song Zhaoyuan alone with him? Later you’d be counting her money after being sold! For the sake of this long-term meal ticket, I must stay by his side and guard him!】

Lu Yan’s mouth twitched.

He heard it.

This woman… all she thinks about is meal tickets.

Yet when he looked into Yu Qing’s clear, sparkling eyes, the refusal on his lips morphed into: “You can ride a horse?”

“Yes! Of course! If not, I can learn!” Yu Qing pounded her chest in assurance.

Meanwhile, Su Hewan approached Shen Jue’s carriage.

Unlike Yu Qing’s flamboyance, she simply stood quietly outside the window.

“Commander, this trip to Jiangnan will be long and damp. Your old injury cannot withstand the cold.”

Su Hewan’s voice was soft and gentle, like a March breeze.

【Shen Jue’s leg injury stems from the cold palace back then; rainy, damp days make it hurt. That green tea Jiang Ruyi only knows how to cry—what does she know about care? If he loses his mind from pain and goes on a killing spree, the plot collapses.】

【Besides, as a professional historian, witnessing the investigation of the Jiangnan salt tax case firsthand is precious primary material! And… I can keep an eye on this lunatic, make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.】

Inside the carriage, Shen Jue listened to the endless inner monologue and found his previously gloomy mood inexplicably lifted.

Through the curtain, he looked at the girl’s calm features.

Though she claimed it was for historical research, her concern was genuine.

“Get in.”

Shen Jue said lightly.

“Ah?” Su Hewan froze.

“We’re short someone to grind the ink,” Shen Jue’s mouth curved into a teasing smile. “What, you don’t want to?”

“Of course I do! I do!”

And just like that, this unusual group officially assembled.

Two men, four women.

Two fake couples, and two true green teas.

Adding to the mix was a crowd of onlooking Jinyiwei and Eastern Depot attendants.

Along the official road, the sound of hooves clattered.

In the first carriage, Lu Yan rode with a dark expression, while Yu Qing shamelessly squeezed herself into Song Zhaoyuan’s carriage—claiming, of course, to be “protecting Miss Song.”

“Big sister Song, your makeup is all ruined!”

“Yu Qing! Don’t touch my rouge!”

“Oh, this road is so bumpy, big sister Song, be careful not to bite your tongue.”

From inside the carriage came Song Zhaoyuan’s exasperated shrieks and Yu Qing’s innocent apologies.

Lu Yan listened, and in his mind echoed: 【You wanted to act! You wanted to perform! Back when I was winning scholarships in the performing arts department, you were still playing in the mud!】 His lips curved in the slightest, almost imperceptible smile.

In the second carriage, the atmosphere was far quieter—and far stranger.

Su Hewan knelt opposite Shen Jue, focused entirely on… brewing milk tea.

Jiang Ruyi sat in the corner, clutching the half jade pendant tightly, her gaze darting back and forth between Shen Jue and Su Hewan, her nails almost digging into her palms.

“Commander, here’s some tea.”

Su Hewan handed over a steaming cup of red date ginger tea.

Shen Jue accepted it, sipping lightly, but his gaze fell on Jiang Ruyi.

“Miss Jiang, if you’re tired, take a nap. I’ll wake you when we reach Su City.”

Jiang Ruyi stiffened but forced a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Commander.”

Su Hewan lowered her head to arrange the books, all the while thinking sarcastically:

【Concern? This is clearly a warning! What Shen Jue means is: you better keep your eyes wide open and don’t try anything funny. Tsk, tsk, this battlefield of emotions is far more entertaining than any TV drama.】

【But… the fragrance on Jiang Ruyi… why does it smell a bit like… Su City’s signature intoxicating scent? Definitely not something a proper young lady would use.】

Shen Jue’s fingers paused slightly on the teacup.

Intoxicating scent?

He cast a subtle glance at Jiang Ruyi, and the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

It seemed this journey would be anything but peaceful.

The official ship cut through the waves, leaving the bustling capital far behind.

Mist-shrouded Jiangnan stretched out before them, water wide, clouds low.

The imperial inspection ship, specially crafted by the Ministry of Works, was lavish beyond measure.

Carved beams and painted rafters, brocade curtains hanging low—ostensibly for official investigations and travel, but in reality more like a spring outing for the wealthy and powerful.

Yet the atmosphere inside the cabin was thicker and stickier than the endless mist outside.

“Commander, this pre-rain Dragon Well tea must be brewed with snowwater from the plum blossom just brought to a boil, to fully release its pure orchid fragrance.”

Inside the warm cabin, sandalwood smoke curled gently.

Jiang Ruyi wore a plain, moon-white gauze dress, her waist cinched with a flowing cloud-patterned sash, the curve of her waist delicate and inviting.

Kneeling beside the small red clay stove, her slender hands moved gracefully, dividing and preparing the tea with fluid, effortless motions.

Her posture, her aura—she looked as if she had stepped straight out of a classical painting of court ladies.

“I heard, Commander, that you enjoy quiet moments. I specially chose this piece, Yangguan Melody, to accompany the tea. I wonder if it pleases your ear?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the zither. Her fingers plucked, producing music as if echoing through the mountains—clear, gentle, with a subtle touch of sorrow, precisely the style Shen Jue favored.

“Good tea, good music.”

Shen Jue leaned against the soft couch, fingers tracing his ring, a smile playing on his lips as he observed the scene before him—the beauty preparing tea.

Su Hewan stood in the corner, holding a palm leaf fan, idly fanning the stove, like an unnoticed maid.

Yet the barrage of thoughts in her head was almost overwhelming:

【Tsk, tsk, tsk… Jiang Ruyi truly is a high-level player. This isn’t tea preparation—it’s heart preparation.】