Chapter 56: Heavenly Dog Eats the Sun part 1
Early summer. The warm breeze poured in through the open window. The unlatched window swayed gently with the wind, making a creaking sound.
The wind passed through the hall, but Gu Zhen felt as if sharp blades were scraping his cheeks. His expression remained unchanged, only gripping the plum-green cup tightly, staring blankly at that zither string shop.
After a long while, he repeated Prince of Yan’s words: “Cousin?”
Blown by that wind, Prince of Yan shivered all over, stiffening his face as he nodded. “Mm, it is Royal Sister-in-law’s cousin, currently serving as Registrar in Wannian County. Presumably, Royal Sister-in-law happened to run into him in the East Market.”
Gu Zhen looked calm, raised his hand slightly, and said indifferently, “Which cousin?”
The private room was surprisingly quiet, and the Emperor’s voice was as warm and moist as ever, yet cold sweat oozed from Prince of Yan’s back. Having followed the Emperor for so many years, he clearly felt a posture of impending storm.
After glancing outside, he lowered his eyelids and replied, “It is the nephew of Royal Sister-in-law’s aunt, the eldest son of the Lu clan.”
“The eldest son of the Lu clan?” Gu Zhen couldn’t help but sneer. He rubbed the cup gently, only to realize his knuckles had become stiff from too much force. “Lu Zhengyan’s son?”
Prince of Yan responded, “Yes.”
People came and went on the market street. The door of the zither string shop was wide open, but no one else entered or exited.
Gu Zhen closed his eyes and leaned back slightly, resting against the armrest for a long time before asking indifferently, “Where were you just now?”
Prince of Yan was stunned for a moment, not understanding how the topic circled back. After reacting, he said respectfully, “Visiting the East and West Markets these past two days, I found that rice prices in Chang’an differ from Luoyang. The same variety of rice is forty to fifty percent more expensive.”
Gu Zhen frowned slightly, tapping his knuckles lightly on the armrest, his voice languid. “Transporting grain to Chang’an is not easy; rice prices being twenty percent higher than Luoyang should be normal. Forty to fifty percent is too expensive.”
“This subject-brother thought so too.” Prince of Yan nodded, pointing to a rice shop below. “The merchant told this subject-brother that last year was better, but two grain transport ships capsized in the Yellow River this year, so prices were raised last month.”
“Even if ten ships capsized, the price should be what it should be.” Gu Zhen suddenly opened his eyes, followed Prince of Yan’s finger to look down, his gaze glinting with coldness. “What about the Governor of Jingzhao? Did he open the Ever-Normal Granary to suppress rice prices?”
Prince of Yan replied, “This subject-brother asked indirectly two days ago. The Wannian Magistrate said the Governor of Jingzhao opened the Ever-Normal Granary, but the rice sold was only slightly cheaper than the merchants’, and the sales were extremely small, unable to drive down the price.”
Gu Zhen pressed the center of his brow, a trace of irritability crossing his eyes. After calming his breathing for a moment, he suddenly stood up and walked out.
“Where is Royal Brother going?” Prince of Yan was startled and hurriedly tried to follow.
Gu Zhen’s voice was low and deep. “We suddenly remembered We are missing a few rolls of zither strings.”
Wu Mao stood at the door and naturally heard this. Watching the Emperor striding away, he thought to himself, Bixia doesn’t look like he’s going to buy zither strings.
Clearly, he’s going to pick a quarrel.
When Zhao Yiyi was in Chang’an in the past, she would occasionally follow her grandfather to the East Market to buy zither strings.
The zither strings of this shop were extremely famous. Even the family of zither makers who had lived next door to the ancestral residence for generations mostly bought “Zhongqing” strings from this shop.
Compared to the crowded shopfront of the past, business in this shop was much sparser, and the shop had moved to a slightly smaller location.
“I wandered around the East Market for a long time and asked many people, but the directions they pointed were unclear. If I hadn’t bumped into Cousin, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have found this shop even if I searched until the East Market closed.” Zhao Yiyi sat on a reed mat, looking at several rolls of zither strings presented by the shopkeeper, then turned her head with a smile and spoke warmly.
Lu Xianshan said gently, “I come to this shop often too. I watched him move several times, finally settling into this small one. Last year, it almost closed down. Old customers heard about it and ran over to buy a lot to stock up, which allowed it to survive.”
Zhao Yiyi held the roll of zither strings in her hand, examining it for a long while, and couldn’t help sighing, “This shop’s Zhongqing strings are still better. I can never find ones like this in Luoyang.”
Lu Xianshan smiled slightly and picked up another roll. “This roll of mulberry silk Taigu strings—I bought a few sets before, and they work quite well.”
Seven zither strings were coiled together into a circle and secured with silk thread. Holding it in hand, the weight was substantial.
Taking it from his hand, Zhao Yiyi looked down for a moment and said warmly, “Since Cousin says it’s good, I’ll buy a set to try.”
She picked out a bunch of accessories. Just as she was about to call the shopkeeper to pay, she suddenly heard someone else enter the shop. Across the screen, she heard the person ask, “Are there any good zither strings?”
Zhao Yiyi froze abruptly, turning her head hesitantly, her heart pounding as she stared blankly.
This voice—she was too familiar with it.
Familiar enough that just hearing a single word, even a light cough, she could recognize it immediately.
Having held him in her heart for years, how could she not be familiar?
But across a green silk screen, she could see nothing clearly.
The shopkeeper went up to greet him, saying diligently, “This gentleman, our shop’s Zhongqing strings sell best. Spring has just passed, and this year’s new mulberry silk Taigu strings are also excellent. Is the gentleman buying for personal use or as a gift?”
The person laughed lightly and said, “Buying for my wife. Bring out the ones you just mentioned for a look.”
This laugh gave Zhao Yiyi an even more overwhelmingly familiar feeling.
Holding the mulberry silk Taigu strings in her hand, she was slightly dazed, and indescribable emotions surged in her heart.
It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be him.
That person was far away in Luoyang; how could he suddenly appear in this zither string shop?
Beside her, Lu Xianshan laughed in a low voice, “This gentleman is quite thoughtful toward his wife.”
Zhao Yiyi’s heart was in turmoil. Actually, she didn’t hear too clearly, just forced a smile at the corner of her lips. “Mm, his wife must be very happy.”
A breath was stuck in her chest, hovering there, causing her breathing to stagnate for a moment.
The shopkeeper came around the screen and said respectfully, “Little lady, there is a gentleman outside who wants to see the mulberry silk Taigu strings and these rolls of Zhongqing strings. Only these are on display in the shop; the rest are in the warehouse. I wonder if the little lady has finished looking?”
Zhao Yiyi nodded with a stiff face. “Mm, pack a set of each for me. I want two sets of Zhongqing strings.”
Not long after, the shop assistant had sorted and packed them, taking out several brocade boxes specially to place them in one by one. He also considerately explained some maintenance items. Seeing she bought a lot, he went back to fetch two jars of peach gum for her to wipe the strings.
Everything was packed, and the money was paid. Lu Xianshan asked from the side, “Is there anything else to buy? If not, we should go. If it gets later, the East Market might close.”
The person outside was still talking to the shopkeeper. His voice was warm as the spring breeze, yet only Zhao Yiyi could hear the trace of dominance mixed in that tone.
“Didn’t you say the market closes an hour later in summer?” Zhao Yiyi dawdled, not wanting to leave. “My legs are a bit sore; I want to sit for a while longer.”
Lu Xianshan frowned slightly and asked softly, “Is it because you walked too long today? Let’s go to a medical clinic later and apply some ointment.”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head. “No… no need.”
Her hesitant manner clearly showed she had something on her mind.
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