Chapter 165: Taigong Fishing
Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Taigong Fishing
After lunch, Liang Wan was in no hurry to return to the South Garden. Instead, she stayed to drink tea and play chess with the Grandmaster, and Cao Luyun, having nothing else to do, also remained.
Since Lu Xiu’s departure, only the three of them remained in the vast Master’s Mansion. To avoid the hassle and prevent the estate from feeling too desolate, they simply took to having their lunches and dinners together.
The Grandmaster gently placed a piece on the board and smiled at the person opposite him. "It’s a good thing you two are here. Otherwise, I’d truly be all alone."
Liang Wan frowned, picking up a piece. She was still contemplating her move and didn’t reply.
It was Cao Luyun, at the side, who smiled and said, "The Grandmaster must be worried about the Grand Commandant."
Having been cooped up in the mansion these past days with nothing to do but wait for war reports and news of the plague, Cao Luyun had reverted to her old ways, following Liang Wan around to learn about blending incense and brewing aromatic teas...
Liang Wan didn’t push her away. It wasn’t that she enjoyed teaching, but rather that it was convenient for keeping an eye on her.
’She hadn’t forgotten that both Lu Huai and Lu Xiu had warned her to be wary of Cao Luyun.’
The Grandmaster smiled and picked up the teacup beside him.
Liang Wan placed a piece, her eyes still lowered. "When a child travels a thousand miles, a parent worries. All one can ask for is their safe return."
’Perhaps she hadn’t understood the Grandmaster before, but now—’
Liang Wan stared at the piece she had placed and smiled to herself.
’The worry was real, and so was the affection. It’s just that some things were destined never to change.’
When Liang Wan looked up again, her gaze met the Grandmaster’s smiling eyes, which seemed to see right through her in an instant.
She lowered her eyes, her heart in slight turmoil.
The Grandmaster’s gaze rested on her. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke. "This Late Fragrance Jade hairpin... I gave it to my wife during our wedding ceremony."
Liang Wan froze, then looked up again.
The Grandmaster’s brows were furrowed, as if he were lost in memories of the past.
Liang Wan couldn’t help but feel surprised.
’This was the hairpin Lu Xiu had personally placed in her hair on her second day in the Master’s Mansion.’
’At the time, she’d assumed he was replacing the weapon-like pin she always wore in her hair because he found it both unlucky and unsightly.’
’Later, on the night of the fire at the mountain stronghold, he had asked her, "With what shall we bind our love?"’
’It was his way of letting her know the jade hairpin was his love token.’
’But she’d never considered why he had given her the jade hairpin *before* taking her to see the Grandmaster...’
Liang Wan lowered her head and closed her eyes. The chess piece in her hand felt impossibly heavy, and her heart felt as if a great mountain were pressing down on it.
’But this mountain wasn’t made of earth and stone.’
A tacit silence fell over the three of them.
After a moment, the Grandmaster spoke again. "You are the one he chose for himself. Like drinking water, only the one who drinks knows if it is cold or warm."
He paused briefly, set down his teacup, and then looked at Cao Luyun. "Lady Cao, you were chosen jointly by myself and Chancellor Cao, simply because both our families had something to gain. We thought we had considered every angle, that our plan was flawless, but we failed to account for the human heart. I also underestimated his determination."
"In this matter, you are truly innocent. If you are willing, when he returns, I will adopt you as my daughter. How does that sound? It’s the best solution I can think of—one that benefits the Cao Family and also compensates you. A way to satisfy both sides."
His kind and aged voice was tinged with exhaustion and apology.
Liang Wan just stared silently at the chessboard. ’Given the Grandmaster’s prestige and position, there was no need for him to take such a humble stance. After all, the Cao Family hadn’t entered the arrangement with nothing to gain; it was always a relationship of mutual benefit.’
’But for him to say such a thing now... wasn’t it a sign of a parent’s deep love, which always leads them to plan for their child’s distant future?’
Cao Luyun was stunned for a long moment. When she finally came to her senses, she quickly stood up, raised her hands to her brow in a formal salute, and bowed, her voice trembling slightly. "Ayun is truly overwhelmed."
The Grandmaster said, "I will discuss this matter in detail with your father."
Cao Luyun straightened up, her eyes rimmed with red.
The Grandmaster’s gaze fell on Liang Wan again. "You two may go now. I’m a bit tired."
Liang Wan rose and bowed, then left Beixuan with Cao Luyun, one walking behind the other.
The days had been growing colder lately, a sign of winter’s approach. ’Ping City’s location must be even colder than Jinye...’
"Liang Ji, shall we go sit in the East Pavilion for a while?"
Liang Wan’s soaring thoughts were pulled back to earth by a soft voice.
Cao Luyun’s pitiful, innocent expression from moments before was gone. Her limpid eyes now held a probing gaze that made one feel extremely uncomfortable.
Liang Wan met her gaze. "Alright."
In the East Pavilion, it was the same study, with just the two of them.
Cao Luyun’s voice was soft, a smile playing on her lips. "I recently acquired a box of Mengding tea and have been saving it. I wanted you to see if my tea ceremony skills have improved."
Liang Wan watched with a faint smile as Cao Luyun roasted the tea. A sliver of a snow-white wrist peeked from beneath her wide, dark green sleeves as she carefully turned the tea cake. The sight was pleasing to the eye, a picturesque scene in its own right.
Cao Luyun had always carried herself with grace; she was a true high-born noble lady.
Liang Wan spoke seriously. "It’s certainly enough to please an audience, but I find that unnecessary. Lady Cao, if you truly love the art of tea, you needn’t focus so much on the performance. Tea can also be a way to cultivate one’s character."
’Liang Wan really didn’t understand why Cao Luyun was so insistent on learning these things from her. It was obvious she didn’t enjoy them at all.’
She frowned. ’If someone forces themselves to do something they dislike, it must be because...’
Liang Wan lowered her gaze and smiled to herself.
Losing the heart to watch any longer, she rose and walked over to the bookshelves, scanning them row by row.
In a pause from grinding the tea cake, Cao Luyun glanced at her. "I wonder what book the General of Cavalry is looking for?"
"The *Taigong Six Strategies*."
Liang Wan kept her eyes on the shelves and answered casually. She had searched before and knew the book wasn’t there.
Cao Luyun was surprised. "What book is that?"
Liang Wan’s gaze paused. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on a single spot. "It’s just about military strategy and political intrigue. Ladies generally don’t enjoy such reading."
Cao Luyun shook her head. "I’ve never even heard of it."
Liang Wan shifted her gaze away from the shelf to look at her. "Ancient texts are rare to begin with, and this one was written by Taigong Wang at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty, so it’s naturally even more precious. If my Awen hadn’t liked to collect books, I wouldn’t have known of it either."
Cao Luyun frowned in confusion. "...Jiang Taigong?"
Liang Wan nodded with a faint smile. "Yes, the very same from the saying, ’Jiang Taigong went fishing, and the willing took the bait.’"
Cao Luyun murmured an acknowledgment and said no more, lowering her head to focus on brewing the tea.
Liang Wan glanced at the bottom shelf of the bookcase, then returned to her seat.
Cao Luyun poured her a cup. "Still couldn’t find it?"
Liang Wan accepted it carefully. "It doesn’t seem to be here. I’ll ask around later and see if I can find another copy."
Cao Luyun suddenly remembered something and quickly set down her cup. "I almost forgot! Before lunch, I specially made some white cocoon sugar to have with the tea. I was afraid it would get cold, so I left it warming in the kitchen. Please wait a moment, I’ll be right back."
After she spoke, she got up and left the room.
Liang Wan was left alone in the room.
She sat quietly for a moment before getting up and walking back to the bookshelf.
Since her conversation with Lu Huai, she had searched these bookshelves several times without finding anything unusual. But today, in an inconspicuous corner of the bottommost shelf, there was a small box that hadn’t been there before.
If one didn’t look closely, it would be completely hidden by the thick books next to it.
’It was a good thing she was already extremely familiar with this bookshelf.’
Liang Wan slowly crouched down. ’Could it be possible that what Lu Huai was looking for wasn’t a book at all?’
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her mouth. With a trembling hand, she reached for the box.
The box was exquisite but old. Held in her hand, it had almost no weight.