Peerless Heiress - Chapter 84
The waiter immediately came forward, looking at the elegantly dressed Cheng Jue with a smile, "Sir, what would you like to order?"
"Give me a private room, by the window. Just some food and drinks will do," Cheng Jue said lazily, not even bothering to lift his eyes.
The waiter hurriedly responded and led Cheng Jue upstairs. Just as they reached the stairs, they saw a man blocking the entrance, who clasped his hands in a fist salute to Cheng Jue, saying, "General Cheng, it's a rare sight to meet you here. My master said that if you have nothing to do, General, you might as well sit down with us."
This man was tall and burly, with a square face. He wasn't exactly handsome, but he was certainly not ugly either. However, the few faint scars that had suddenly appeared on his face did not make him look ferocious. Instead, they added a touch of inexplicable masculinity to his otherwise ordinary face. At this moment, he stood with his hands clasped in front of him, his expressionless face giving him quite an imposing presence.
It turned out to be Lin Ye, Mo Yu's bodyguard.
Cheng Jue raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled lazily, "Alright, it's rare to run into the Minister while just strolling around. How can we not have a few drinks? General Lin, please lead the way."
After passing through a corridor, you will find the private rooms. One of them is located at the very back, with a side turn and a window facing the street. When the door is opened, you can see Mo Yu sitting leisurely at the table by the window, enjoying tea. His elegant profile, wide sleeves, and light-colored long robe with ink-wash patterns make you feel as if you are in a painting when you first see him.
Cheng Jue praised, "Lord Mo has quite the leisurely spirit."
Mo Yu's gaze was originally fixed on the window, but upon hearing the voice, he turned around and smiled calmly, "General Cheng, please sit down. It's a rare opportunity to meet you, so I specially invited you. I hope I haven't disturbed your enjoyment."
"How could that be?" Cheng Jue strode over, sat down casually at the table, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and brought it to his lips. "Lord Mo has chosen a good spot. This window faces the street, perfect for enjoying the view."
No wonder he knew I was here immediately; I just happened to fall into his sight as I walked along. Cheng Jue thought to himself.
"The scenery is alright, it's just lively." Mo Yu chuckled.
“Liveliness is also a kind of scenery.” Cheng Jue sighed softly. “‘She is looking at the scenery on the bridge, while others are looking at her from the building.’” He thought of Qing Yan. Time and time again, hadn’t he also treated Qing Yan as scenery, observing and admiring her time and time again? He wondered when he could also become a part of the scenery beside her, and be admired by others along with her?
Mo Yu was silent for a moment, staring at Cheng Jue with a deep, thoughtful gaze.
The girl said Cheng Jue was a member of her sect, practically her senior brother, which he initially didn't believe. But now, he was starting to have some doubts. Why did those words coming from Cheng Jue's mouth sound so much like hers? Could this be a characteristic of how people from their sect spoke?
So, what kind of sect is it?
"General Cheng's strategic insights have always been something I admire. May I ask which school of thought General Cheng belongs to?" Mo Yu picked up the teapot and poured Cheng Jue a cup. "Please."
Chapter 179: The Billing Dispute
"Please excuse my ignorance. Cheng Jue's learning is merely from family tradition; he has no other teachers. On the other hand, Lord Mo learned military strategy at the age of three and soon could recite it fluently. At ten, he went on a diplomatic mission in place of his father, and his sharp wit and eloquence were so formidable that none of the many famous officials could refute him. At sixteen, he single-handedly turned the tide, saving an army of two hundred thousand from drowning a thousand miles away. At nineteen, he first displayed his literary talent, which shocked the court and the public, earning him the title of the greatest talent in the land. He is truly admirable," Cheng Jue said.
He actually learned a lot of things in Qingyan's timeline, which is very different from this timeline, and it is common for people to be surprised. He never likes to talk about this, and always just mentions it briefly. However, his praise and respect for Moyu are genuine. If he had not learned so much military knowledge in Qingyan's timeline, he doesn't know if he would be no match for Moyu on the battlefield.
He didn't know what kind of immense and terrifying power lay hidden within this seemingly gentle, refined, and composed man with the leisurely smile before him. Yet, he now possessed enough confidence and courage to meet and challenge him. Because he—was equally outstanding.
"Lord Mo, I, Cheng Jue, offer you a toast with tea instead of wine." Cheng Jue raised an eyebrow with a flourish. "If we meet on the battlefield one day, I will surely challenge you to a duel."
Mo Yu remained noncommittal, raising his glass with a half-smile.
The two chatted casually while drinking tea, and before they knew it, it was getting late. Cheng Jue's men were worried because he hadn't returned for a long time and news had come from back home. They searched for him all over the streets.
Cheng Jue happened to see this and stood up. "Lord Mo, I have other matters to attend to, please excuse me."
"General Cheng, please go ahead." Mo Yu smiled casually. "I will definitely visit you when I have time."
Cheng Jue nodded. Lin Ye saw him out.
As Cheng Jue approached the counter, he suddenly remembered something, reached into his pocket to take out some silver, and casually said, "Waiter, check please." But as soon as he said it, his hand froze, and his expression changed.
He clearly had a large roll of silver notes and several ingots of loose gold and silver on him, but they were completely gone. And with his skill, he hadn't even noticed when they had disappeared!
The waiter cheerfully replied, "Alright!" and hurriedly ran over, bowing and scraping as he stood beside Cheng Jue, his eyes full of anticipation. This customer seemed generous; perhaps he would even reward him with something. For a waiter, occasionally encountering a generous customer could yield a benefit equivalent to several months' wages.
Seeing the waiter's expectant eyes, Cheng Jue's face paled and then flushed. Suddenly, she remembered the languid, alluring man beside Qing Yan, who bore a striking resemblance to Yuwen Ke but was a hundred times more alluring and beautiful. She recalled the light pat that man had given her, and suddenly it dawned on her. Yes, it was him! He must have done something! The sudden realization filled Cheng Jue with rage, almost making her scream. Damn it!
"Sir?" The waiter asked cautiously with a smile.
What's wrong with this customer? He's been hiding his hand inside his robes for ages, could it be...? The waiter's expression grew increasingly suspicious, his demeanor becoming wary as he watched Cheng Jue.
Cheng Jue snapped out of his daze, giving the waiter a cold glance before reaching for his waist. He was an extremely clever man, and he could tell what the waiter was thinking just by looking at his eyes. He couldn't help but sneer, but he certainly didn't want people to think he was freeloading, especially since Mo Yu was upstairs; he couldn't let Mo Yu laugh at him, could he? Fine, he'd use the jade pendant he had on him, though it was a bit of a shame, he never wore ordinary jade... Uh... empty... empty?
Cheng Jue's hands froze completely. The expression on her face began to contort.
He had only patted her for a moment, and now all his belongings were gone? Cheng Jue was extremely bitter. If he had known, he should have just patted his hands and left. Why did he have to pay the bill?
Chapter 180: Giving Her a Golden Rabbit
"Sir..." The waiter's voice was dry and his tone was a bit strange. His eyes started to dart around, wondering if everyone in the shop was there.
"Young Master!" A voice called out from outside the door, hurried footsteps echoing as someone rushed in with large strides. "Young Master, so you're here! I've finally found you! This old servant was so worried!"
The old butler who had served him since childhood entered.
Finally, someone came to the rescue. Cheng Jue was overjoyed. He grunted in response, glared coldly at the terrified waiter, and walked out, saying, "Settle the bill."
The steward, ignoring the waiter, pulled a five-tael gold ingot from his pocket, threw it onto the counter with a "thud," and hurriedly chased after him. "Young master, a letter has arrived from the master..."
The waiter stared in disbelief at the gold ingot, rubbed his eyes, and shrank back. He then hurriedly grabbed it and took it to the shopkeeper.
In the shadows above the stairs, Lin Ye turned around calmly, expressionless, and entered the private room.
After hearing Lin Ye's explanation, Mo Yu almost spat out his tea. This usually calm, leisurely, and aloof person was laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up.
The private room he was sitting in not only offered a view of the main street but also of Huai Lake. He had seen Cheng Jue dragging Qing Yan to the lakeside from the start, and it was obvious that the girl was behind everything. He was truly impressed by her audacity; she dared to play such a trick on the Grand Marshal, a man of immense power and influence.
Mo Yu finally managed to stop laughing, but when he thought of the man who was intimately familiar with Qing Yan, his gaze turned cold again. He poured himself another cup of tea, put it to his lips, took a small sip, and looked out the window at the darkening sky, his gaze distant, lost in thought.
Lin Ye stood to one side with his hand on his sword, without saying a word.
"My lord." A person suddenly emerged from the shadows outside the screen. He was dressed and looked ordinary. He knelt on one knee and bowed to Mo Yu.
"Speak," Mo Yu said calmly.