Gu Yan Chen was in a bad mood and tossed and turned all night. The next day, he went to court with a dark expression, so much so that Emperor Chang Wu glanced at him a few extra times. Ouyang Wen, worried that his frustration wouldn't dissipate, asked him for lunch as soon as court ended, generously offering to treat him at Zui Xiang Lou.
Lu Nian Fu, affected by his mood, woke up the next morning with faint bruises under her eyes, but she had to muster her energy to go to Zui Xiang Lou for the appointment.
It wasn't yet mealtime, so there weren't many diners at Zui Xiang Lou. The waiter led her to a private room on the second floor.
"Madam Gu, please come in. Miss Cheng is already waiting for you inside."
Lu Nian Fu pushed the door open, and her eyes lit up with surprise. "Third Young Master, when did you come to the capital?"
She saw a strikingly beautiful girl by the round rosewood table, eating melon seeds. The man beside her, who was shelling seeds, was none other than Cheng Bei Zheng.
The siblings looked up at the sound and smiled simultaneously. Cheng Jiao Jiao stood up, "Sister Lu, please come in and sit."
"How is life in the capital? I was worried you wouldn't adjust well." Cheng Bei Zheng smiled and poured her a cup of tea, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "I didn't expect you to have even gained weight."
Lu Nian Fu snorted and pulled over a chair to sit down. "Try spending two months hibernating indoors, and see if you don't gain weight."
"I wish I could, but I wouldn't have the time." Cheng Bei Zheng tutted twice. "Are you done with business? You seem to be so idle."
"It's almost ready. I'm just waiting for you to bring my goods over. Speaking of which, now that you're in the capital, will my goods be arriving soon?"
"More or less, just in the next day or two. I didn't arrive much earlier."
Cheng Jiao Jiao pouted. "Don't even mention it. As soon as brother arrived, he told me to send an invitation to Sister Lu. Sister Lu, you two really have a good relationship."
Cheng Bei Zheng frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? If these words get out, what will happen to your Sister Lu's reputation?"
Cheng Jiao Jiao stuck out her tongue. "Don't worry, brother, I'm not that indiscreet. But Sister Lu, there are many rules in the capital. You're married into a marquis's household, so you really need to be careful with your etiquette. When I first came to the capital, I was laughed at a lot. Aunt specifically found a former palace governess to teach me manners."
Thinking of those terrifying days under the governess's tutelage, she shivered. "You must be careful not to give your in-laws any leverage, otherwise, they'll just assign a governess to you."
Cheng Bei Zheng's eyes showed affection, and his fists, hidden under the table, clenched.
If he weren't so incapable, his sister, who should have been carefree, wouldn't have to suffer like this.
"Alright, Jiao Jiao, your Sister Lu and I have something to talk about. Go downstairs and keep an eye on the dishes."
Cheng Jiao Jiao replied with an "Okay" and walked out.
Lu Nian Fu picked up a peanut. "What's so serious that you have to send Jiao Jiao away?"
"It's nothing major, just that she's too young and shouldn't hear some things. The little girl looks naive, but she's quite thoughtful. I don't know how she's spent the last two years, but she's become so sensible all of a sudden."
"Reality forces growth." Away from her parents' protection, and on a mission to the capital, she would undoubtedly face many scornful looks.
Although the Emperor valued merchants in this era, the deeply ingrained notion that merchants were inferior still persisted among the pampered officials and nobles. For a merchant's daughter to seek a good marriage, if Cheng Da Bo had also kicked her while she was down, two years would have been enough for her to experience all the warmth and coldness of human relationships.
The smile on Cheng Bei Zheng's face gradually faded.
Lu Nian Fu knew that Cheng Jiao Jiao's trip to the capital was his pain, so she quickly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, why did you suddenly come to the capital? I asked you before the New Year, and you said you were going to guard Jiangnan."
Cheng Bei Zheng drank some tea. "My uncle wants three hundred thousand taels of silver. I was afraid of any mishaps, so I brought it here myself."
Lu Nian Fu gasped. "Three hundred thousand taels? What does he want it for?"
"Who knows?"
"You're not actually planning to give it to him, are you?" Being at someone's mercy wasn't Cheng Bei Zheng's style.
Cheng Bei Zheng spread his hands. "I'm having some cash flow issues at the moment, so I came to the capital specifically to discuss it with my uncle!"
Lu Nian Fu nodded, knowing this guy wouldn't be so easily subdued. "You should definitely have a good talk with your uncle. This is not how one makes an outrageous demand. Have you thought of how to handle it?"
"Mmm."
"What method?"
"The honey trap, perhaps." He leaned closer to Lu Nian Fu and said with mock seriousness, "Look at my looks, I should have no problem marrying into a noble family, right?"