Chapter Nine, Glance.

She nodded slightly: "A gentleman carries the weight of the world with profound virtue; he is upright in his conduct and acts without needing to command. I know that both my lord and my uncle have been well-versed in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius since childhood, and moreover, they hold important positions, often frequenting places where decorum may be compromised."

Lan Sheng slightly nodded, getting into the car first before reaching out to pull her in. Bu Nuan hesitated to take his hand; his palm was calloused yet warm and strong. His fingers curled, tightly grasping her in his palm. It was the first time Bu Nuan was so close to a man, her face flushed with embarrassment, but fortunately, Lan Sheng could not see her, allowing her to maintain a facade of composure.

The warm cloth draped over the gauze as one gazes left and right, with rows of wine houses and tea shops lining both sides of the official road. Colorful lanterns, shimmering with brilliance, hang in front of the shops, while elegantly dressed women greet and send off guests beneath the porches. Inside the vermilion gates, dancers adorned with jewel-encrusted hats leap and twirl on the high platform, their silver bells jingling with every movement. The incense rising from the cauldron fills the room with a hazy allure, and the city of Chang'an is alive with opulence and extravagance.

Lan Sheng wore the customary smile of the officialdom, warmly clasping his hands in greeting: "Lord Donglin, Brother Peiru, it has been quite a while since we last met; if I calculate carefully, it has been more than half a year. I hope both of you have been well."

"I will listen to you," he said, smiling with a certain depth of meaning. "I was just looking for some amusement out of boredom. In the future, there will be serious matters to attend to, and I cannot neglect that over there."

"Why has Wu Ge only just arrived!" The person sitting in the pavilion to the south, with keen eyes, was the first to stand up and clasp his fists, saying, "General Lan is indeed a busy person! The General just mentioned you, saying that we should wait patiently!"

Warm regards: "Uncle, I hope you are well, and that my parents are doing fine."

For a moment, there was silence as the carriage traveled along the official road. After turning a few corners, Lan Sheng gently tapped the whip against the yoke, causing the horse to slow down, and they soon arrived at the Tao Ran Tavern, where a banquet had been arranged.

The girl felt shy, but Lan Sheng was not concerned. Her calmness, like a still pond, was rather unfavorable, making it easy to overlook him. At necessary times, it was essential to create some ripples to sense his presence. It is only natural for a man to throw out a brick to attract jade; after all, he had thick skin and was not afraid of being ridiculed by her

Bu Nuan's gaze rested on her uncle at wwwhetushucomcom. He set down his wine glass and stood up to look back, his features handsome and striking, a rare and impressive appearance. There seemed to be a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth, and when he gazed, he was focused, yet in his eyes floated a vague and distant emptiness

Lansheng said to Bunu: "Let us first go to your uncle's place, pay our respects, and then we can leave. This way, we will have a proper explanation for our departure."

The young attendant responded loudly with "Understood" and, with a beaming smile, led the two individuals up the wide steps

He lowered his eyes and said, indeed he is strict with himself, offering her earnest teachings, appearing as a virtuous gentleman. But how does he treat himself? In the blink of an eye, it turns into "inevitable." In fact, she grew up in the capital, and the brothels in Luoyang are flourishing, with the courtesans singing and dancing every night, their voices drifting along the Luo River, reaching beyond the Anhua Gate.

As they spoke, they arrived at a pavilion, where three sides were draped with curtains, and two rows of large red lanterns hung vertically in front of the main entrance. Bu Nuan looked up; the wind gently swayed the bamboo curtains, and she could vaguely see a few people sitting inside the pavilion, laughing uproariously, though she could not discern what they were saying.

Ye Zhixian, with a resentful glance at Lan Sheng, squeezed out a phrase from between her teeth: "Cunning words and flattering expressions, harboring ill intentions!"

He slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Don't be so reserved in front of your own uncle." After saying this, he changed to a smiling face and introduced her to the two governors, saying, "This is the niece of Rongyu, who just arrived at the residence yesterday." He then said to Bunuan, "Come and greet the two gentlemen!"

Lan Shengxiao said: "You little rascal, you really know how to handle business! Don't rush to assign a place; instead, send another group to Tingjian Yaxu to wait for a while. I'll be there shortly."

Bu Nuan felt somewhat guilty and said in a daze, "I went to bed early, and the watch at the hour of Xu had already stopped."

Do not be afraid, just ask for peace, it won't take long. Seeing her hesitate, Lan Sheng gently bent his body and spoke soothingly.

He coughed once and said slowly, "I am close with your uncle, and we will be in frequent contact in the future. You always make it seem like my husband is distant."

Peiru scoffed, "What is there to be good about? The yellow sand is everywhere! If you sneeze without covering your hand, you will end up with a mouthful of dust!"

He said, "I will listen to you," and those words made her back straighten with embarrassment. In a daze and not daring to look at him, she hurriedly put down the black gauze and turned her face away.

Bu Nuan is reluctant to meet strangers, yet there is nothing to be done; having arrived here, one must follow his arrangements. Fortunately, there is an uncle here, which provides some support.

She leaned against the armrest and pointed to that joyful ocean: "What place is that?"

He nodded in agreement and said softly, "You must be tired from your journey. I returned home late yesterday and intended to see you, but I was afraid you had already gone to rest." As he spoke, he recalled the shadow cast on the paper window by the light of the lamp, and couldn't help but smile, "When did you settle in?"

The conversation was lively over there, and Rong Yu took a leave of absence. She reached out to remove the veil hat from her head and said: "I have a long-reserved private room with Lan Sheng, which is quiet. I will take you there first, just follow me."

Bu Nuan shook her head and said it was unnecessary. She had only changed her clothes to meet the old man, and her face was not adorned with any makeup, so there was no need to worry about having spent time on cosmetics. This is the advantage of being plain-faced; at most, she could wash her face, and it wouldn't take up any time wherever she went

The atmosphere was awkward, and there was a hint of trepidation in the colors: "I cannot possibly accept such praise from you, Lord Cao. How could my family possibly be compared to the likes of a thousand-year-old figure? That would be an offense, and it would be a disgrace to my family."

The warm cloth is gently laid down: "Gentlemen, I greet you."

The attendant in the shop was dressed in a loose robe, with one corner of his shirt tucked into his belt. He hurried forward, crossing his arms and bowing, saying: "General Lan, why have you only just arrived? The Grand Commander has been waiting in the elegant room for quite a while. Allow me to lead you both upstairs." As he walked, he continued to chat, "I see that the Grand Commander is hosting high-ranking officials today, each one robust and plump. Coincidentally, a troupe from Youzhou has come to perform, and the young ladies in it are beautiful, skilled in various performances such as Bianwen, Lianhua Luzi, Huagu Opera, and Gaotai Qu. I will select two to serve the gentlemen later."

The tavern is filled with a fragrant aroma, devoid of the greasy smell of food. The decor is simple yet elegant, with clean lines of the doors and windows and sheer white curtains, and faintly, the sound of a lute can be heard.

He murmured, "Are your father and mother well?"

He turned around and invited two people to take their seats, smiling as he said: "I, Lan, borrow your kind words, hoping that this year will bring a good marriage, so that I can marry a beautiful and lovely partner soon! Come, let us drink a toast. You two must have seen and heard a lot on your journey, please share with me the customs and culture of the Western Regions. I have long yearned for Dunhuang, but unfortunately, the court's envoy fell short this time, what a pity."

Lan Sheng is not as cautious and meticulous as the General, in his view, Cao Pei is indeed the most discerning person in the world... Little Lady Lan...! Such a title is truly delightful to the utmost!

Lan Sheng surveyed with her beautiful brows and eyes, gently saying: "Warm'er does not like it either, does she?"

General Lan knows himself very well. He comes from a distinguished background; his mother is a princess of Yangcheng, and his father holds the title of Grand Minister and is also the Commander of the Imperial Guard. He is the youngest among four older sisters, and his family treats him as their precious darling. He arrived in this world with a golden key, destined to be a troublemaker from the moment he was born. For over twenty years, he has shown little interest in anything, except for fighting and risking his life, while accumulating a host of bad habits. Whether it is the teachers at school or his parents at home, anyone who nags him in front of him will provoke his ire. He thought he would live his life in such a carefree manner, but unexpectedly, the situation took a sudden turn.

Zhi Xian spat, "You think too highly of yourself! Not only do I disdain to accompany you, but even if I were to go, without you, do you think I couldn't reach the Taoran Tavern?" She held her head high and walked out of the Baosong Pavilion, saying, "I am broad-minded and do not have the leisure to bicker with you. The mountains and rivers will meet again; do not be too complacent, lest your joy turns to sorrow!" With that, she led her maidservants away.

The regional governors clasped their hands in salute, and the one named Peiru, with his plump and greasy belly, laughed and said: "With such beauty, Madam Biao, I fear even the one from Taiping Temple would be overshadowed! Earlier, seeing you arrive with Wu Ge, I thought you were Madam Lan, and was quite vexed for missing out on Wu Ge's good fortune, but it turns out it was just a false alarm"

Donglin sighed: "Serving in hardship, only upon returning to Chang'an does one realize what is heaven and earth! The two generals are currently stationed in the capital, which is a coveted opportunity that many desire; why then do they envy us instead?"

As I looked over, my uncle was not seated at the head of the table; half of his body was leaning at an angle against the table, revealing a side profile that was not clearly visible. I could only see his purple silk ceremonial robe, with a gold and jade ornament hanging from his waist, resembling a goldfish pouch. He was not wearing a military cap, and his hair was meticulously styled. Just his presence alone exuded an air of solemnity and clarity.

The Tao Ran Tavern is spacious, and the environment is serene. The buildings on both sides are independent, connected by a sky bridge to the main house. Wherever there is space for a flower pot, there is always lush greenery and blooming flowers. This place for dining and revelry is not as gaudy as others, exuding a certain ethereal charm.

She shuddered and hurriedly took two steps to adjust her clothing: "Uncle, I hope you are well. I have come to pay my respects."

Bu Nuan looked in the direction she had left, murmuring: "Let's wait a little longer! What if she arranged for a carriage to go with us? It would be nice to have her company when she arrives."

She took the veil and placed it on her head, reminding her not to let the black gauze hang down too low, saying, "Without the maidservants accompanying you, you must be extra careful." She then slightly bowed to Lan Sheng and said, "My lady has just arrived in Chang'an; I hope you will take good care of her."

Lan Sheng shook his head: "Do you really believe what Zhi Xian said? Men sometimes have to socialize, and it is inevitable to frequent such places. I cannot claim that we are as virtuous as Liu Xia Hui, but we are certainly not as disgraceful as Zhi Xian described. This banquet is also considered official business; it is generally inappropriate to go to such places during the day. Your uncle is a person who values his reputation and does not want to give others a chance to gossip, especially since he is also hosting a welcome for you." He turned his face, making it difficult to see the features behind the black gauze, but his gaze was particularly focused as he solemnly warned her, "Decent young ladies never go to such places; it is a den of vice that can corrupt people. In the future, even if you pass by here, you should take a detour."

Lan Sheng cast an impatient glance at Zhi Xian's back and said: "She is a proud person, utterly incapable of lowering her face. There is no need to wait for her; let us leave right away!"

Bu Nuan was indeed puzzled; Lan Sheng was overly enthusiastic, and this kind of familiarity was not appropriate. He wanted to argue but was afraid of inadvertently offending the other party, so he could only silently acquiesce.

Bu Nuan lowered his head and followed him to the entrance of the residence, where the carriage was already waiting. The oilcloth canopy, supported by intricately carved cranks, was high, and the carriage shafts were simple and compact

"Since you know that place can lead people astray, why do you still want to go?" She feigned ignorance, her little finger lifting the veil, appearing innocently as she blinked her big eyes. "Why don't you talk to your uncle about it? Sister Zhixian doesn't like him going to such places!"

Is that so?" Lan Sheng glanced indifferently, "The Zhuangchun Tower in Pingkangfang, a place where the nobility seek pleasure and entertainment.

Such words of admonition, if spoken by someone else, might evoke feelings of disgust or even anger in him; yet, when they come from her lips, he finds them to be as melodious and delightful as heavenly music

With a sharp crack of the whip in the air, the two top horses broke into a gallop, swiftly turning out of Chunhui Square

Lan Sheng lowered his head and asked, "Can you still recognize which one is your uncle?" He pointed to the person in front of the screen, "That one in the official robe is him."

A warmth surged in her heart, causing her to feel inexplicably timid. This was an elder, one who adhered to strict rules and rigid principles. She scrutinized carefully, her mind clouded with thoughts, realizing that the demeanor of this uncle before her was entirely different from the one she had seen last night. She must have been in a daze while sleeping; how could she have thought her uncle resembled that gentle and refined figure!

After some thought, Bu Nuan said: "It would be disrespectful not to address you as 'my lord'; you are a friend of my uncle."

Where are we going?" Bu Nuan smiled and said, "It looks really lively.

Lan Sheng swung the leather whip in his hand leisurely and said with a smile, "Where do all these rules come from! I am not like your uncle; everyone should be free to do as they please, and only then can life be comfortable. You can call me Lan Sheng or Wu Ge, just don't refer to me as 'Lang Jun' anymore." Seeing that Bu Nuan did not respond, he tilted his head to take a look and teased, "Could it be that you are afraid of Rong Yu's reprimand? This person is truly a hypocrite; you haven't even met him and you're already intimidated? Don't worry, if he says anything, I will handle it for you."

Lan Sheng coldly looked at her and said, "Whether it is sweet words and a smiling face or honeyed words with a dagger hidden behind, what does it have to do with you?" After a pause, she forced a smile and continued, "Are you perhaps feeling envious? If you truly wish to go, it is not impossible. Madam Ye, if you would just speak up, I, Lord Lan, will not hold grudges against you and can think of another way for you.