DJZC Chapter60

Some people claim to have regressed, yet they still stand head and shoulders above the average person.

Compared to his youth, Fang Zesheng’s kettle-handling techniques had indeed declined slightly. However, his so-called “regression” only meant a fewer specks of froth on the tea’s surface during the pour; it did not alter the color, the flavor, or the mountain-like patterns left along the inner walls of the cup as the foam settled.

Xiao Heng stared blankly at the fresh, white tea froth Fang Zesheng had produced; a tea whose quality could be judged with the naked eye, without even consulting the “Tea Records”, and admitted his defeat wholeheartedly.

Once the tea competition concluded, it was time to return home.

Had it not been for Tao Xianzhi needing to discuss business with Xiao Heng, the group would have loved to leave the capital of Linhuang Prefecture that very afternoon and gallop back at full speed. If the journey went smoothly, they might even catch the tail end of summer and eat the last harvest of watermelons.

San Bao had long since packed his young master’s luggage and placed it alongside Fang Zesheng’s on the low table in the flower hall. Lord Xu had also changed into his official robes and was bent over the desk while hurriedly writing a joyful report, preparing to dispatch a messenger ahead of them to deliver the news to the emperor. Although Pu Ling had not taken the stage, he was even happier than if he had; having packed his bags with Hu Yunshan, he was currently gesturing with his hands, mimicking the kettle-handling techniques Fang Zesheng had used.

Midway through Shenshi¹Around 4:00 PM., Tao Xianzhi returned with a face full of smiles, clearly having fared well in his business dealings. He looked at the group gathered in the flower hall and asked excitedly, “Where are Fang Zesheng and Second Master Fu?”

San Bao shook his head. “I haven’t seen them. After we finished lunch at noon, both of them vanished together.”

Outside the city gates of Linhuang Prefecture at that moment, two people were sitting atop a large stone.

Wrapped in thick cloaks, the two of them watched the sunset in the distance.

“Do you think a man like Li Da holds a grudge?” Fu Jingxuan asked, habitually biting on a piece of withered grass as he leaned lazily against Fang Zesheng’s shoulder. He hadn’t thought the scenery here was especially beautiful before, but now, as he looked over the endless wilderness bathed in the evening glow, it appeared as stunning as a scroll painting.

Fang Zesheng said, “Those who practice tea have pure hearts and likely do not hold grudges. If he was truly displeased with you, it would have shown on stage today, in the form of harsh words and open cursing.”

Fu Jingxuan chuckled. “I didn’t originally intend to do anything to him, but his act of feigning a fierce and evil look was just too much like Fu Jingye. It just so happened that he also kept running his mouth about how our state’s tea affairs were nothing special, so I took the opportunity to tease him.”

Fang Zesheng’s eyes softened. “It has indeed been a long time since I last saw the Eldest Young Master of the Fu family.”

“He’s still his same old self. Since your legs are almost healed, once you have fully recovered, why don’t you come back to Jiangling Prefecture with me to visit my First Madam?”

“Alright. I truly should pay a proper visit to Madam Cheng.”

The two chatted idly about this and that, moving from Madam Cheng to Second Madam Liu, and then from Second Madam Liu back to their childhood; talking about how they used to get into mischief together, and how they had discovered Second Madam Liu’s past occupation as a songstress before she married into the Fu family. This matter was a sore spot for Second Madam Liu, and it was precisely because of this that she had always wanted to drive Fu Jingxuan away for fear that the family would find out about her undignified past.

“However, I already promised her that I wouldn’t tell anyone about it.”

“You never intended to say anything in the first place; otherwise, you wouldn’t have helped her hide it until now.”

“En. I never felt there was anything wrong with being a songstress; it’s just that she herself has always remained brooding over it.” Fu Jingxuan reached up to touch the jade pendant hanging from his waist, his dark, bright eyes darting around as he asked, “Do you still remember how we discovered Second Madam Liu had been a songstress?”

Fang Zesheng naturally remembered. That year, Fu Shangyi had brought his family to Chuzhou as invited guests. Second Madam Liu went out for a walk and happened upon a former colleague; their casual conversation was overheard by the two of them.

Fu Jingxuan smiled and said, “Then do you remember what we did after we slipped away from Second Madam Liu?”

“We went to Zhengyang Street, encountered an old man selling jade, and bought a jade pendant from him…” Fang Zesheng hadn’t finished speaking when he suddenly realized that Fu Jingxuan seemed to be steering the conversation in this direction on purpose.

“So, where is your jade pendant?”

Fang Zesheng froze again, unnaturally rubbing his nose. “I left it at home.”

Fu Jingxuan still didn’t believe him. With a beaming smile, he reached out a hand and felt inside Fang Zesheng’s clothes.

Although the two had been separated for a year, they hadn’t engaged in much intimacy during the few days since their reunion. First, it was because Fang Zesheng had traveled thousands of miles in a carriage for months without proper rest; second, his leg ailment hadn’t fully recovered. Even though he could take a few steps, his gait was not steady. Fu Jingxuan doted on him and was unwilling to let him overexert himself; when they were truly moved by passion, they helped each other out but had not gone to the final step.

Even so, the two of them embraced each other to sleep every night. Had the jade pendant not been mentioned today, Fu Jingxuan might have continued to overlook a very strange issue he had noticed over the past few days.

The problem lay with Fang Zesheng’s inner garment.

The once-perfect silk inner garment had suddenly acquired an extra pocket on the inside of the chest. If it had been sewn neatly, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but instead it was stitched all crooked with chaotic, uneven seams.

Clearly, whoever could produce such handiwork wasn’t the tailor shop’s owner. For the past two days, Fu Jingxuan had been guessing; it was either the mute uncle or Zhou Qi. Most likely, it was the mute uncle who helped with sewing. After all, in his youth, the mute uncle had traveled far and wide under Fang Changru, so he knew that Fang Zesheng’s journey would be long and that he had no official guards for protection. If he ran into highway bandits along the way, it would be wise to keep some funds close at hand.

Although the world was at peace now and few bandits dared to rob on the official roads, it was only reasonable for an elderly person to have such concerns.

That was exactly what Fu Jingxuan thought until this morning.

Now, however, he began to suspect that the crudely stitched pocket might not have been intended for holding funds at all.

Sure enough, he felt a semicircular jade pendant carved with a white-headed bird inside the pocket. “Didn’t you say you left it at home?”

Fang Zesheng stared at the jade pendant as the tips of his ears turning bright red. Instinctively, he covered the area over his heart, where the pocket he had personally sewn with rough stitching before leaving home was hidden. He had placed it in the safest spot, closest to his heartbeat, to hold the gift Fu Jingxuan had given him many years ago.

Yet personally picking up a needle and thread was far too humiliating; unwilling to say more, Fang Zesheng just averted his gaze and stayed silent, moodily.

Fu Jingxuan, certain he wouldn’t speak, smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth. Then he took out his own jade pendant and placed it alongside Fang Zesheng’s, finally forming a pair that together depicted the “May you enjoy wealth and high position to a ripe old age picture,” symbolizing a perfect, harmonious union.

Two carriages and a line of accompanying guards were parked by the city gate.

Tao Xianzhi sat on the front bench of a carriage, originally intending to wait for the two on the rock to finish kissing and notice them on their own. Seeing that they showed no signs of stopping, he shouted sourly, “Why not wait until you two get home to kiss? At home, you can kiss for a lifetime—kiss for all eternity—kiss so you’ll never be apart—!”

The two turned their heads at the sound and then shared a smile.

They had thought Young Master Tao was merely joking; little did they know that in all the days to come, the two of them truly were never separated, walking hand in hand through all eternity.

—Finished—

T/N: The end, thank you all for reading~

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  Around 4:00 PM.