Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 69 Beautiful Cousin

Gu Qingyue clicked her tongue, stroked her chin, and sighed, "Is this world really that small? I can't believe I ran into this unlucky boy here."

Hey, do you remember the days when we were prisoners in the bandit stronghold a few days ago?

Gu Yuanen walked up to a private room on the fourth floor, feeling very unhappy. He pushed open the door and saw his third brother, Gu Yuanming, and his thirteenth uncle, Qin Muning, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Qin Muning was the owner of Liufang Pavilion, whom Manager Zhang had described as having plenty of money.

The two seemed quite content, probably because they were still enjoying tea and playing chess as if nothing had happened despite the commotion downstairs. It was infuriating to watch.

"You guys just watch, that woman has arrived," Gu Yuanen said, leaning back in the chair without any regard for appearances, and gulping down the teacup in front of Gu Yuanming.

"You have no manners!" Qin Muning threw down the chess piece. "You lost again. Do you even know what respect for elders is? Huh? I'm your own uncle, can't you let me win just once?"

Gu Yuanming pushed the chessboard aside: "Then Uncle, give me some spare change. There aren't enough cotton-padded coats for the soldiers lately, and many have suffered frostbite."

After saying that, he poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip.

Qin Muning choked, "You, you, you... can't you speak properly? If you don't have money, shouldn't you ask the court for it? Why me?" Qin Muning pointed at her two nephews in front of her with exasperation, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Haha, that's right, Third Brother, why is it Thirteenth Uncle? Why not ask the court for him?" Gu Yuanen also came over to join in the fun.

Gu Yuanming gave him a knowing look and then said nothing more.

"Pretending, you're only three years younger than me, what are you pretending to be so mature for?" Qin Muning sat down at the tea table, picked up a teacup, then put it down again as if thinking of something.

"Didn't the person you were looking for say they had a lead? Why is there no news again?" Qin Muning asked, looking at the handsome and dashing man in front of her, somewhat puzzled.

“When I sent someone back a few days ago, that person was nowhere to be found. People have all run away or fled in Liquan County, so it’s hard to find them,” Gu Yuanming said, lowering his eyes.

Gu Yuanen, who had been watching the spectacle, slumped his shoulders: "I thought there was good news, but it turns out it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Qin Muning picked up her teacup: "Don't be so discouraged, okay? There's already news, isn't there? It's better than having no news at all for so many years."

Gu Yuanming picked up the boiling tea on the stove, filled the cups for the two people opposite him, and poured one for himself as well: "It's my fault. The war was intense at the time, and I missed such an important clue."

After saying that, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Has the shopkeeper not been found yet?" Gu Yuanming asked, remembering something.

Qin Muning raised his hand and took a sip. The tea was fragrant and delicious. It was indeed the Qingwu tea from Wuyue Tea House. It was well preserved even in the dead of winter and had a lingering flavor.

"We're still looking. Back then, the Nanzhao soldiers killed a lot of people near Liquan. It's hard to say whether he's still alive."

Upon hearing this, a hint of sadness flashed in Gu Yuanming's eyes.

Qin Muning looked up and saw her nephew looking thoughtful. "Don't keep that long face. Right now, the most important thing is, what are you going to do with your aunt's beautiful cousin?"

Qin Muning revealed a slightly mocking expression.

"Hey, she has nothing to do with my third brother. It's all wishful thinking on her part, right, third brother?" Gu Yuanen held a teacup in his right hand and a delicate pastry in his left, looking at the man opposite him and speaking casually.

"Let's get down to business. I'll be staying in Lizhou for the next few days dealing with the Tiger Peak Iron Mine. I won't be returning to the main camp. What are your plans?" Gu Yuanming asked, placing the teapot back on the red clay stove.

Clearly, they had no interest in discussing that beautiful cousin.

The two people opposite them weren't surprised. Their cousin from the Liu family had been chasing after Gu Yuanming since she was thirteen. In recent years, she would come to Lizhou at least twice a year, sometimes three times. Because her maternal grandparents' family was in Lizhou Prefecture, she would always create various unexpected encounters with Gu Yuanming, who was in Lizhou Prefecture on business. They were already used to it.

"I have important business to attend to and don't plan to leave for the time being," Qin Muning said, standing up and leaning against the windowsill with a teacup in her hand.

Just then, Qin Muning saw the young lady Liu looking back over the stairs several times as the group rode away in a carriage. He turned around and said, "Tsk tsk tsk, how heartless! Such a beauty can't even catch your eye. What a pity!"

He dramatically flicked his sleeves, expressing his contempt for Gu Yuanming's lack of chivalry.

"How about I give it to you? I don't think Uncle really cares about that fiancée. Why don't we find someone else?" Gu Yuanming said sarcastically, toying with the teacup in his hand.

"You have no manners, Xiao Si. Don't follow his example. Acting like an adult at such a young age. Does being a guerrilla general make you so great?" Qin Muning leaned back in his chair.

Fifteen minutes ago, outside the teahouse.

Gu Qingyue glanced at the obviously high-end and elegant teahouse in front of her and decided to go in and explore it. She had a plan that she was waiting to put into practice.

The waiter very politely welcomed the young man in blue brocade robes inside.

After Gu Qingyue settled down in the lobby on the second floor, the waiter professionally recommended the various teas and specialty snacks of their teahouse to her.

Gu Qingyue carefully examined the antique-style teahouse. The ancients' creation of such a poetic and Zen-like space was indeed unparalleled by later generations.

Whether it's dignified and solemn, Zen-like flowing water, or gentle and tranquil, there's always a corner or a private room suitable for guests with different moods.

Gu Qingyue's mind raced.

She also wanted to create a space for nobles to socialize, selling only tea and snacks. Of course, besides making money, the main purpose was to gather intelligence. She wanted to make the most of her talents to train the young men under her command, so that they could have their own power and protect themselves in this chaotic world.

The sense of security she needs is not something she wants to be given by others.

Just then, three men at the next table started talking about the situation at the border.

"Have you heard? Those southern barbarians have bypassed Liquan Pass and entered the east. I heard that the damned third prince of Nanzhao was seriously injured and returned to Nanzhao. Haha, karma is swift."

"I heard that it was someone else who was injured, and that the Third Prince led his men toward Nanchong Pass."

"Who told you that? You can't just say things like that. There's already a war going on here at Nanchong Pass. The arrival of Yue Zhiqi is nothing. He's still being chased and beaten by our Lizhou army."

These few words instantly ignited the atmosphere in the hall.

A buzzing sound filled the lobby.

A middle-aged man stood up and approached the three men who were speaking. He cupped his hands and asked, "Gentlemen, do you know how the battle is going at Nanchong Pass? My cousin is currently at Nanchong Pass."

Upon hearing this, the men became even more interested and began to recount what they had seen and heard in Nanchong Pass, such as the general's might, the soldiers' fearlessness, and how they had repelled several sneak attacks by the Nanzhao people. The middle-aged man smiled broadly as he spoke, and only then did he stop.

It seems that Nanchong Pass is relatively safe. The key is that it is 500 to 600 miles away from Lizhou Prefecture, which is quite far. Therefore, everyone sat in Lizhou City and talked freely about the battle situation at the border. No one was panicked.

Gu Qingyue sipped the green mist tea she had just ordered and ate the snacks that accompanied the tea, quite content.

What are you doing here, kid?

Suddenly, a questioning voice came from beside me.

Gu Qingyue didn't need to turn around to know that it was the boy named Yuan En.

"Mind your own business," Gu Qingyue replied, recalling his arrogant demeanor at Tiger Peak Village.

"You, hmph," he said, flicking his wide sleeves as he prepared to leave.

He had just seen off his third brother and uncle and was looking forward to sitting alone in the main hall, as it was too boring to be alone in a private room.

Unexpectedly, upon arrival, I saw that arrogant young man from that night.

After thinking for a moment, he turned around and sat down at Gu Qingyue's table.