"Pei Tan is just a young whippersnapper, nothing more." The speaker's face was tinged with a hint of ridicule.

  Zong Chuke's expression was cold and gloomy: "Do you think that is Pei Tan's true appearance?"

  The person who spoke earlier immediately reined in their expression, "This subordinate merely thinks that, milord has been worrying about the young master's affairs for a while now and still needs to divide his attention to care for that upright son. Is that upright son worthy of milord's efforts?"

  It turned out that this person was the one who had planned to let Zong Huo escape earlier, but he was determined to use this matter to gain merit in front of Zong Chuke and plot his own official position in the court.

  Zong Chuke was silent for a long time: "Where is Huo'er now?"

  The teacher's face was clear and he stepped forward, saying: "Master Huo has certainly retreated completely, as long as he arrives at the place, he will surely send a message to Your Excellency to report his safety."

  Actually, according to their previous plan with those martyrs who protected Zong Ho, they should have arrived at the scheduled town earlier.

  But he also thought that Zong Huo was greedy for flowers and colors, liked to be idle and hated labor, and might not necessarily leave Chang'an. Once he left, it would be like a fish swimming into the sea, and even if he were a brave warrior, he wouldn't be able to force him to rush forward day and night.

  Zong Chuke's eyes sank again, his gaze still piercing: "If that boy's mind is not upright, why would he deliberately make such a show of himself? What does he want to achieve?"

  Bae Dae-hyun will always be the man who almost drove his son to death, and at any time, no matter how much everyone else relaxes their guard around Bae Dae-hyun, he can never let his own guard down.

  "Actually, regarding this matter..." The staff's eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery, "Wei Xiang has already spoken personally, and he believes that Pei Tan is the most talented among the Pei family's younger generation, to the point where even now, as the official in charge of the Supreme Court, his ability to solve cases is almost on par with Di Gong."

  Duke Di

  This is an existence that can move the hearts of all people in the Great Tang with just these two words.

  Di Renjie has already become the soul of the great Tang Dynasty.

  As the normally aloof and distant Wei Xiang, head of all officials, actually put the young and junior Pei Tan on an equal footing with Di Gong, Zong Chuke's arms trembled and his face turned as dark as ink.

  The staff lowered his head and said after a long while: "But Wei Xiang also said that for the past two days, Pei Tan's whereabouts have been staying at Zui Qing Lou. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, even if he has the ability of Di Gong, it is impossible for him to split himself again to find He Gongzi."

  That is to say, Pei Tan really did not know that Zong Huo was still alive.

  Zong Chuke's hands were still pinching a string of Buddhist beads. In front of outsiders, he was still the Minister of War who had suffered the pain of losing his son. He couldn't show any weakness in front of others, and the beads in his hand were slowly falling down one by one.

  Zong Chuke is still attached to the Wei family, and last time the Wei family didn't help him keep his son. This time, Wei Xuanzhen will do so, which also has a soothing meaning.

  However, Zong Chuke is not a good person.

  A dark look flashed in his eyes, and the beads in his hand were clenched tightly: "Get ready, I'm going to enter the palace again... After so many years of dedicating myself to the Wei family, at least they should meet some of my demands."

  ——

  Jing Wan'er raised her head and looked at the sign of Zui Qing Lou, a faint smile in her eyes.

  She took off her veil and revealed a carefully combed face, lightly sweeping past the faces of the two men at the entrance of the Drunken Love Building: "Two brothers, please report for me."

  The people at the door had long been suspicious of Jing Yuanyu, and women passing by the door of the brothel would always take a detour. But this girl's appearance didn't seem to be afraid of being tainted by the brothel's filthy reputation.

  Jing Wan'er said, lifting the cloth cover of the basket in her right hand, revealing a sealed jar of wine. "Mr. Pei Tan Pei ordered a pot of wine at our Moon Watching Pavilion, and I'm bringing it to him."

  The two attendants of the Drunken Love Pavilion exchanged a glance, but their expressions turned cautious: "There are countless wines in our pavilion, why does Lord Pei need to buy wine from outside? Moreover... these past two days, Lord Pei hasn't even touched a drop of alcohol."

  Looking at it this way, Jing Yuanyu is quite suspicious. Except for the time Wei Xuanzhen came yesterday, Pei Tan was in the Drunken Love Building, and he had been drinking tea all along.

  Jing Wan'er's eyes sparkled, but her expression remained still, and the corners of her mouth curled up: "Has Lord Pei bought our wine? The two brothers only need to go in and inform him, and ask Lord Pei himself, won't it be clear?"

  Pai Tan's identity was there, and the people of Zui Qing Lou still didn't dare offend Pai Tan.

  One of the attendants frowned and said sternly, "How dare you! Lord Pei is inside drinking with the courtesan, how can you just barge in and disturb them with a single sentence?"

  After all, she didn't dare, Jing Wanyu's eyes looked at the two of them, and after a long time, she smiled slightly: "Then there's no way. If the two big brothers really can't compromise, then I'll have to tell the boss later that this wine is indeed not going to be sent. Let the boss apologize to Lord Pei."

  Jing Wan'er said as she made a gesture to leave, stretching out her hand to cover up the wine in the basket.

  "'Later,' another fellow hesitated before speaking up, 'it really is Lord Pei who wants you to deliver the wine?'"

  Jing Wan'er turned around and smiled silently: "I said, please ask Big Brother to go up and announce it, that's enough."

  No need to take responsibility, just say one sentence and the situation in front of you will be resolved.

  That fellow gazed deeply at Jing Yuanner for a moment, then turned to another fellow and said: "I'll go up and inform the messenger, you... keep an eye on this girl. If after asking Lord Pei it's found that nothing happened..."

  The warning and threat were very clear.

  Those who can open a high-end brothel in Chang'an, and also have a top-notch one like Zuiqing Tower, must have had private means beforehand. And behind everyone's back, there are always one or two high-ranking officials serving as their patrons.

  Jing Wan'er stopped in her tracks, "Please be sure to tell Lord Pei that it's Wangyuelou who has brought the wine as promised..." She smiled as she watched the shop assistant enter the building.

  The remaining fellow glared at her gloomily, while Jing Wanyu calmly waited in place with the wine basket on her arm. There was no need to worry that she would run away; she had come today specifically to see Pei Tan, and if she didn't get to meet him, it would be a waste.

  For Jing Wanyu, Pei Tan being in Zui Qing Lou was the best thing that could have happened. If he were still at Dali Temple, what method would she use to see him?

  Just as she was feeling a bit flustered, she noticed that the fellow in front of the door had an unpleasant expression and was staring at her.

  Also, that guy who spread the rumor seems to have left for quite a while.

  She seemed somewhat unclear, had something unexpected happened?

  But Pei Tan heard about Wang Yue Lou and should understand what it means.

  Half a moment passed again, and there was still no response. Jing Wanyu's expression became serious.

  The fellow at the entrance, after a cold and indifferent surveillance, also put his hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

  Jing Wan'er grasped the basket's handle tightly, it seemed that she would have to run at any moment.

  Bang! Someone rushed over from inside. It was that fellow who went to find Pei Tan, pushing through the first floor's revelers and arriving at the entrance.

  Jing Wan'er looked at him, his expression cold: "Lord Pei said that if you are willing, just put down the wine and leave on your own."

  Jing Wan'er's eyes flickered slightly - what did it mean if she was willing, just put down the wine and leave?

  She hesitated for a long time and slowly said: "This wine is sealed in a special way, I need to tell Lord Pei in person."

  The fellow stared for a moment, and indeed, Jing Yuanner had won this time. The fellow didn't stop him again, turned sideways and said coldly: "Go in. Lord Pei is in the first private room on the left of the third floor."

  Jing Wan'er secretly let out a breath of relief, carrying the wine basket up, but although she had deliberately lowered her head, there were still not a few people who saw her at first glance.

  The brothel has always had only men coming in from outside, and that vulgar customer made a joke: "Hey, this little beauty, is she the new girl in your building?"

  It was a fellow at the entrance who said coldly: "This is the housemaid of the noble guest on the third floor."

  As soon as this was said, no one in the first floor dared to make a sound anymore. The third floor is a place where only high-ranking officials above the third rank can enter, and having a relationship with them means that even if you're just a maid, no one would dare to flirt with you.

  Jing Wan'er went up the stairs smoothly, and after going upstairs, she felt that the hustle and bustle of the first floor became the sound of another world. From the second floor onwards, the Drunken Love Building became quiet and serene.

  Jing Wantong glanced at the third floor and saw that one of the doors was ajar.

  The brothel is not all a place of debauchery, those are just low-class dens. The high-ranking officials who come to the brothel are not here to leer at women like those lustful ghosts on the first floor.

  Jing Wan'er made some mental preparations and pushed open the door to walk in.

  Unexpectedly, there was only Pei Tan alone in it.

  There were no songs and dances, nor beautiful women surrounding him. Pei Tan sat quietly alone at the table, and as soon as the door opened, he looked towards Jing Wanyan.

  "What brings you here?" he asked indifferently.

  Jing Wan'er still held the wine basket in her hand and looked at Pei Tan saying: "Sir."

  "Come in and close the door." Pei Tan said.

  Jing Wan'er walked in as she was told, put the basket down on the ground by her feet, and then freed up her hands to slowly close the door in front of her.

  A moment later, she turned around, "Sir, Wan'er has something to see you about."

  Pei Tan looked at her, his expression unchanged.

  Jing Wan'er walked over, earlier Pei Tan had let her put down the wine and leave, worried that her identity would be exposed, or didn't think she had anything urgent to say.

  "Many of the people in the Drunken Love Pavilion are former courtiers and nobles from Chang'an, do you know that your appearance here is completely different from when you were at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion?"

  This is the reason why Pei Tan hasn't let his partners call Jing Yuanyuan for a long time. Just like what Jing Yuanyuan said, in a place like Wang Yue Lou, it's destined that no one can recognize the face of a palace maid, but in the eyes of Zui Qing Lou, Jing Yuanyuan won't be so safe.

  Jing Wan'er bowed her head for a long time before saying, "Wan'er knows that she didn't intentionally want to add trouble for you, sir. She came here today after careful consideration."

  Pei Tan looked at her slowly: "Speak, your consideration."

  Jing Wan'er slowly raised her head, with a gentle and elegant demeanor. After many years in the palace, she still hadn't lost any of the charm that was characteristic of the Jing family's daughters. Pei Tan's concerns were not unfounded - it wasn't just the guests on the first floor who would notice her at a glance; anyone would have the same reaction.