Chapter 020 Being a Gardener in the Wolf’s Den
γββ Yun Niang and her husband are former frontline veterans.γ
Wei Wanlan hummed a little tune as he watered the scattered small flower beds in the Regent King’s manor. Hearing the system call him, he lifted the watering can and made a sound: “Is that so?”
The system said firmly: γSu Jingzhi is their junior, the two of them must know his birthday. You need to find out.γ
In order to use a voodoo doll to assassinate the Regent King, Wei Wanlan had been investigating his birthday and time of birth, and now he only lacked the date and time.
The water droplets from the watering can dripped into the soil.
The wintersweet in the flower bed released its clean fragrance.
Wei Wanlan was silent for a moment, and the system prompted him to say:
γWhat you are doing will not affect these two people at all. In fact, because of the downfall of the Regent King, you will have a better chance of promoting them.γ
“What should I do?”
γChat with them, I’ll help you analyze the intelligence.γ
This was the only effective method the system could think of, the host was both clumsy and poor, if he was given a weapon to interrogate the two, the result would certainly be him messing things up again.
“Okay.” Wei Wanlan lifted the watering can, the dripping gradually stopping.
His gaze fixed on the distant A’Zhong, pruning the flower branches, A’Zhong’s back was straight, with a few strands of white hair at the back of his head, looking weathered but not dispirited.
A’Zhong suddenly turned around: “?”
!! !
Wei Wanlan was startled, instantly perking up his ears, trembling with agitation:
“How, how, how did he know I was looking at him?”
γI told you, he’s an old soldier.γ The system paused and added, γHe’s a scout.γ
A scout is a reconnaissance soldier.
If the current background was a military novel, the one standing in front of Wei Wanlan would be a former military hero.
Learning this information directly gave Wei Wanlan a tongue twister: “You want me to gather intelligence on the scout?!”
γYes.γ
The old soldier continued to prune the flowers.
Wei Wanlan peeked at him out of the corner of his eye, seeing A’Zhong’s big hand gripping the shears, the blade resting on the wintersweet branch, he exerted force, the branch breaking with a crisp sound.
Wei Wanlan trembled even more: “If he knows I want to kill the Regent King, will he cut my neck?”
γHe will.γ The system replied.
It was not just trying to scare the host.
Since the incident of escaping from Xun Ye with the shot from the watchtower, the system felt that Wei Wanlan seemed to have a bit of serendipitous talent, pushing him a little, perhaps unexpected effects could be obtained.
It zapped him with a jolt of electricity: γGo on!γ
“Ouch.”
Wei Wanlan was suddenly electrocuted, shivering, and accidentally dropped the watering can on the ground.
The iron kettle fell to the ground with a resounding noise.
Wei Wanlan quickly squatted down to pick up the kettle, the wide skirt of his dress blooming like a yellow flower on the ground of the Wang Manor.
The old soldier suddenly stood in front of him, Wei Wanlan caught a glimpse of the gleaming sharp tip of A’Zhong’s shears, glinting with a cold light.
“Be careful.” The old A’Zhong’s voice was dull.
Wei Wanlan’s scalp tingled: “Okay, okay.” He hugged the kettle and stood up.
Wei Wanlan: “Uncle A’Zhong’s martial arts are really good, and the pruning of flowers and plants is also great, you’ve practiced before, right?”
“I served on the border for twenty years. I’ve been the gardener of the Wang Manorfor ten years.”
“Then Uncle A’Zhong must have seen the Wang Ye’s elders,” Wei Wanlan awkwardly steered the topic towards Su Jingzhi’s birth, smiling as if casually, “Twenty-seven years ago in the winter, when the Wang Ye was born, everyone must have been very happy, right?”
“How did you know the Wang Ye is twenty-seven years old this year?”
!! !
How could he have revealed himself like that?
Wei Wanlan suddenly broke out in cold sweat, A’Zhong was too difficult to deal with. He felt like a transparent person in front of the old scout, not daring to avoid the sharp gaze:
“I… it’s just that, it’s just…”
Nothing came out, he felt like he was about to cry.
But A’Zhong looked at him suspiciously for a while, and finally, seeing Wei Wanlan’s distress, took the initiative to say:
“Yun Niang told you, didn’t she?”
The excuse offered by the other party, Wei Wanlan quickly nodded: “Yes, yes!”
“Yes, she likes to chat with people.” A’Zhong said.
Wei Wanlan wiped his slightly damp eyes, sincerely grateful that Aunt Yun was a kindhearted person, without her the lie wouldn’t have been convincing.
“Aunt Yun likes to chat with me a lot.”
“There are no other women in the manor. She also really wants to chat with another woman.”
Wei Wanlan nodded, after observing for this period of time, he felt that in Su Jingzhi’s Wang Manor, even the flies passing by were male.
A’Zhong’s tone became slightly more gentle: “I heard from Yun Niang that the young lady has been expelled from her home, if you encounter any injustice, my wife and I have some influence in Chang’an.”
Uncle A’Zhong is really good, wuwu.
γHe’s testing you.γ The system suddenly said, γIn Chang’an, where can’t he gather intelligence? If you answer wrong, you’re done for.γ
Wei Wanlan glanced at the shears, A’Zhong gripping the sharp blade, the tip pointing up.
“My home is in Jinling.”
Jinling is far enough, he won’t be able to investigate there, right?
“Jinling? There are many plum blossoms there.”
As a soldier, A’Zhong had the heart of a fierce tiger, as a gardener, he was sensitive to roses.
A’Zhong revealed a bit of delight: “I like plum blossoms. The people in the Wang Manor are all like plum blossoms.”
Wei Wanlan thought, yes yes yes, with the Regent King’s icy air, saying he’s the incarnation of a plum blossom tree in the snow is quite possible.
Wei Wanlan quickly and carefully followed his topic, his smile exuding a hint of clear flattery, making it clear he wanted to get closer, but not disliking it:
“Yes, Uncle A’Zhong, Jinling is planted with plum trees everywhere, our Jinling’s plum blossoms are so beautiful, red flowers and green leaves, covering the mountains and valleys, too many to look at.”
γββ Wei Wanlan!!! Plum blossoms bloom before the leaves grow!!! Do you have no common sense at all!!!γ
Ah, this, this just…
How could he have revealed his hand so carelessly while chatting?
Wei Wanlan’s throat tightened, realizing his idiotic behavior at the same time, and saw the sharp blade of A’Zhong’s shears pointing at him.
The fear made his throat roll, almost feeling the trachea being pierced in advance!
“Flowers and leaves grow together?” A’Zhong looked at him solemnly.
Wei Wanlan’s speech became more and more stuttered: “It’s, it’s a new variety…”
Save me system!!!
Quickly find the plum blossom that blooms with leaves together!!!
What else could the system do?
It could already feel the waves of emotion from Wei Wanlan, knowing that Wei Wanlan was terrified at this point.
The system quickly retrieved a description of the beautiful plum blossom from the internet, the subtitles appearing in front of Wei Wanlan’s eyes: γRead.γ
Wei Wanlan read it.
This passage not only described the appearance characteristics of the beautiful plum blossom that could bloom with leaves together, but more importantly, it told A’Zhong about the cultivation method of the beautiful plum blossom.
Cutting and grafting, improving the variety.
Some unimaginable ideas in ancient times made A’Zhong nod continuously:
“So it can be done this way. It’s my lack of knowledge. I imagine a plum blossom that blooms with leaves together can make the plum tree look less lonely. Thank you for teaching me, young lady.”
After that, A’Zhong put down his shears.
Wei Wanlan’s heart also settled, bringing up the old topic:
“Was the Regent King also born during the blooming of the plum blossoms? In Minor Cold or Greater Cold? On New Year’s Eve or Laba?”
Narrowing down the range.
“It was on the New Year.” A’Zhong said.
“The red plum blossoms against the heavy snow, the good news was spread from the Wang Manor to the military camp, the firecrackers and fireworks in the city never stopped, so the brothers all said, the young general must be a lively character, and indeed, he was passionate and expansive in his youth, loved to make friends with the heroes of the jianghu as a knight-errant, never idle.”
Wait, is that still Su Jingzhi?
Wei Wanlan listened with uncertainty in his heart, could he have asked about the wrong person? He was not sure if Uncle A’Zhong was lying to him.
With the Regent King’s hundreds of schemes, suppressed and gloomy, how could he be a bright and sunny young man? That description is more fitting for Tang Tuan.
“After his parents passed away, when he took on the affairs of the court, the young general changed.” A’Zhong suddenly said, the end of his sentence turning into a long sigh.
It was like a fallen plum blossom touching the water, rippling Wei Wanlan’s heart lake.
A slight wave rippled on the surface.
Wei Wanlan lowered his head, hugging the kettle tightly.
“I see.”
γI’ve figured it out, the Regent King was born twenty-seven years ago, on the twenty-third of the twelfth month.γ
Ten days later.
***
“Aunt, do you need help with the cooking?”
In the kitchen of the Wang Manor, Wei Wanlan poked his head in.
But he startled Yun Niang, the stirring spoon almost flying out of her hand, shooing him out of the kitchen:
“You little scamp, don’t you dare cause any trouble! Yesterday when you helped me peel potatoes, the potato peels were thicker than cowhide! I told you to sprinkle some salt, you turned around and grabbed a handful of sugarβdon’t you ever cook at home?”
Wei Wanlan nodded innocently, it’s true that he was pampered at home, as an emperor he didn’t need to do any work:
“But I really want to help.”
Yun Niang: “…”
Yun Niang sighed, not knowing where this little fool came from: “Then sit on a stool behind me and watch me work.”
Just watching is not very interesting.
Wei Wanlan, knowing he couldn’t be of much help, could only put on a good show, and genuinely praised Yun Niang.
The specific performance was as follows: “Aunt, the way you sprinkle the salt is so goodβit’s like the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers!”
“Aunt, the way you wield the stirring spoon has more momentum than a long spear!”
“The roaring firewood burning, the oil smoke from the dishes is more delightful than anywhere else.”
“The fish is so good, so smooth, but even that crafty fish can’t escape Aunt’s claws, no, Aunt’s magic!”
“β Haha.”
Yun Niang couldn’t help but laugh.
At first, she just wanted to stabilize Wei Wanlan so he wouldn’t cause trouble, but later, she was increasingly pleased by the praise, the corners of her mouth rising high, unable to suppress it anymore.
This little guy may be clumsy, but his mouth is quite sweet, being with him, she just felt a special peace and joy in her heart.
Yun Niang couldn’t help but think of her old A’Zhong, and the other gruff soldiers in their camp, which of them could be like little Xiao’wan, good-looking and also able to coax people?
Gradually, Yun Niang grew more and more fond of him.
As she thought about it, a different kind of consideration arose in her heart, her gaze sweeping through the empty back courtyard of the Wang Manor.
She turned her head, picking up the stirring spoon to tease: “A little girl like you should be told by your in-law family not to do any work, just let you show off your sweet talk.”
γQuick, be shy!γ
Wei Wanlan: ???
γAncient women talking about marriage matters should be coy, otherwise you’ll reveal a flaw, you better start acting!γ
Okay. Wei Wanlan could only quickly lower his head, putting down the eyebrows and corners of his mouth that he had raised while praising Yun Niang, twisting his own hands, his voice tender enough to wring out water: “Aunt, don’t say that.”
But Yun Niang had indeed developed some thoughts, and she persisted in asking:
“Xiao’wan, you have nowhere to return to now, you can’t always stay in the Regent King’s manor, you should start making plans for the futureβdo you have any arrangements?”
“No, I guess…” Completely not understanding the implication in Yun Niang’s words, Wei Wanlan tilted his head, even moving the little stool closer, “It’s great as it is now. Having food and drink, I’ll work hard.”
“But the Wang Manor is not your home after all. You need your own home.”
But my home is in the imperial palace.
If it weren’t for you Regent King being so fierce, able to take my life at any time, scaring me so I dare not return, I would have gone back to be the emperor long ago.
Wei Wanlan thought about this, suddenly feeling a sense of grievance, tears welling up in his eyes, looking pitiful and dewy-eyed.
“Xiao’wan, why don’t I ask the Wang Ye to keep you in the manor as a maid when he returns?” Yun Niang said comfortingly.
“As a maid?”
“Yes,” Yun Niang added, “You said the Wang Manor is great, doesn’t our Xiao’wan want to be in the garden in the future, trimming the grass, watering the flowers?”
ββ Being a gardener in my wolf’s den, Wei Wanlan was alarmed.
γQuick, take the opportunity to ask him about Su Jingzhi’s birthday and time.γ
ββ Is this a topic that can be connected?
No matter how he looked at it, the logic didn’t seem right, Wei Wanlan’s eyes darted around, absolutely unable to say it out loud.
But his hand was suddenly warmed, Yun Niang had actually gripped his hand tightly. Wei Wanlan widened his eyes.
Yun Niang brought up the topic herself, her eyes and smile mysterious and secretive:
“Xiao’wan, Auntie will calculate a birthday for you, you tell me your birthday, and Auntie will tell you a suitable one?”
Is she trying to introduce me to a matchup??? ???
Sensing something was off, according to his current female disguise, should she introduce a man to him???
This doesn’t seem quite right.
His head was filled with a jumble of thoughts.
Wei Wanlan was about to politely refuse.
Actually, I haven’t fallen in love yet, I still have a bit of expectation to freely develop a mutual affection.
Don’t want an arranged marriage, wuwu.
However, the system was extremely perceptive, detecting a hint of unusual developments, quickly interrupting the host:
γJust listen to her, tell her your birthday.γ
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