Speaking of marriage, Gu Yan Chen was not ashamed. "Yangzhou is thousands of miles away from the capital. If I notify you, do you expect me to ask you to drop your duties and come to my wedding?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"You're both in charge of duties. Can you be more mature? You might not care, but Ji Jin has just joined the Imperial Medical Academy. If he asks for leave before he's even familiar with his superiors, how will they see him?"
"Then at least let us send our wedding gift. Otherwise, how will your sister-in-law view Ji Jin and me?" A brother getting married since childhood, without even a wedding gift, how stingy would that be.
Gu Yan Chen glanced at him. "Are you sure it will only be the gift that arrives?"
That was impossible.
Young Yan Yan's wedding, even from a thousand miles away, they had to come and join the fun. Not just him, Ji Jin must have been thinking the same. He glared at Gu Yan Chen. "Forget it, it's too late to say anything now. Take me to see sister-in-law first? I wonder which girl was foolish enough to jump into such a fire pit as you."
"Actually, you've met her before."
Ouyang Wen immediately guessed. "You really married Miss Lu?"
Gu Yan Chen nodded proudly.
Another punch landed, but it was just for show, he didn't even feel the pain. Ouyang Wen laughed heartily. "Good job, brother. I told you back then that you treated her differently, but you refused to admit it."
"Mainly, I was afraid you'd blabber and ruin her reputation." The two brothers, arm in arm, entered Jiyue Xuan. Lu Nian Fu, having heard the news, personally brewed tea and served it just as they walked in.
Ouyang Wen put away his unseemly demeanor and bowed to her. "Greetings, sister-in-law."
Lu Nian Fu quickly returned the bow. "I heard from a servant just now that a high official from the capital was looking for Yan Chen, so I guessed it was you. Please, have a seat."
Then she served the fragrant tea.
"It's different when you have sister-in-law. Back then, when we came to visit, a cup of boiled water was considered good." He opened the lid of the tea and took a sniff, his eyes lighting up. "Lu'an Gua Pian."
Lu Nian Fu gave him a thumbs-up.
Ouyang Wen took a sip. "Such authentic tea is hard to come by. Sister-in-law is truly amazing."
Lu'an Gua Pian is the only tea without buds or stems, made from single leaves. It is picked within ten days before and after Guyu (Grain Rain) season, and only two or three leaves are selected. As a tribute, authentic Lu'an Gua Pian that circulates among the people is very rare, and it is not easy even for him to obtain it.
Is this woman before him truly an ordinary merchant's daughter?
Lu Nian Fu smiled. "I have a friend who is a镖师 (bodyguard/escort). He brought this tea back when he was escorting a镖 (escorted goods) to Lu'an Mountain. It didn't cost much."
"I see." Ouyang Wen sincerely praised, "Your friend treats you very well."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
A friend who escorted goods, wasn't that Cheng Bei Zheng? He cast a cold glance at Ouyang Wen, suddenly wishing he could kick the guy out. He talked too much. Why hadn't he recognized the quality of this tea?
Sister-in-law is an acquaintance, so Ouyang Wen immediately became more relaxed and chatted enthusiastically with her.
Lu Nian Fu ordered someone to prepare a guest room for him and said, "My lord and Yan Chen haven't seen each other in a long time, so you must have a lot to talk about. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare a few small dishes, and you brothers can have a few drinks. Does my lord have any dietary restrictions?"
"Why call me 'my lord'? Just like Xiao Yan Yan, call me Ouyang. Yangzhou cuisine is good, I like it all."
"Alright."
"However, forget it tonight. Prefect Feng is hosting a welcome banquet at Wanhua Tower. Although I don't like it, there's no help for it. In official circles, one's actions are not entirely one's own. It's really not good to refuse a colleague's kind intentions."
Lu Nian Fu was stunned, and her eyes drifted towards Gu Yan Chen. "Then tonight, you..."
Gu Yan Chen said, "My wife, rest assured, I have not yet received an invitation from the prefect. I suppose he knows I am married and it would be inconvenient for me to attend a banquet in such a place."
Ouyang Wen was so disgusted by his pedantic tone that his teeth ached. Wasn't he fighting at sea? How did he end up acting like a pedantic scholar? He scoffed, "As if you're the only official in Da Yin who's married."
What a joke, which official hasn't visited a pleasure house?
Just then, Shuan Zi walked in. "Master, Prefect Feng's steward just came to deliver a message, inviting you to entertain the imperial envoy tonight at Wanhua Tower."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
The slap in the face came so quickly. Gu Yan Chen's face turned shades of purple and green, and for a moment, he didn't know what expression to wear when facing Lu Nian Fu.
Ouyang Wen, without any hesitation, clapped his leg and burst into laughter, slumping onto the armchair.
Lu Nian Fu was more considerate and didn't mock him. Instead, she said kindly, "Go. The imperial envoy has traveled thousands of miles, so we should fulfill our duty as hosts."
Gu Yan Chen rubbed his nose. "Mainly, I don't like the scent of perfume in that place."
Ouyang Wen: ...
He's afraid of his wife, but he's saying it so nicely. However, it's not good to cause trouble in his brother's backyard. He loyally clarified to Gu Yan Chen, "Sister-in-law, this is true. Back in the capital, when I invited him to Yicui Pavilion, he never went."
Lu Nian Fu snorted in her heart, talking nonsense. In her previous life, she was ordered to negotiate with him twice in pleasure houses, though no courtesans were present.
She touched her head. "Men playing along is just a formality. Why do you think I'm so unreasonable? Yan Chen, you can go, just don't bring anyone home. I'll have Shuan Zi leave the door open for you tonight."
Gu Yan Chen: ...