As they approached, the lights grew brighter, illuminating the three of them. Duan Xiaoyan was holding a large bunch of colorful silk ribbons, and Pei Yunshu couldn’t help teasing, "Xiaoyan, you’ve got so many silk ribbons."
On the Festival, it is common for girls to send the n they admire colorful silk ribbons they wove themselves as a declaration of their feelings.
"It turns out Xiaoyan is quite popular," Pei Yunshu called for everyone to take a seat.
"Sister Pei, you think too highly of ," Duan Xiaoyan smiled broadly, "They’re all for Yun Ying. I’m just holding them for him. There is still a mountain of them at the door of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion."
Pei Yunshu was at a loss for words.
She had forgotten that her younger brother was always so popular in the Imperial City.
Pei Yunng glanced at Lu Tong who was standing next to Pei Yunshu. Hearing this, Lu Tong showed little expression on her face, her gaze resting on the two baskets of purple grapes by Xiao Zhufeng’s feet.
The grapes seed freshly picked, each one plump and crystal-clear like strings of violet jewels. Pei Yunng moved the baskets inside, then turned around and said, "These grapes are for Treasure Bead."
Pei Yunshu was puzzled, "Aren’t grapes out of season in the capital? The ones bought recently haven’t been fresh."
"Indeed," Pei Yunng smiled looking at Xiao Zhufeng by his side, "Hearing that Treasure Bead likes them, Deputy Envoy Xiao stopped by a farm outside the city and waited two days to buy them."
Pei Yunshu was surprised and looked at Xiao Zhufeng with astonishnt.
She was not very familiar with her brother’s colleague; she had seen him once or twice during her occasional visits to the Palace Marshal’s Mansion and thought of him as a man of few words and silent deanor.
Xiao Zhufeng cleared his throat, "I happened to buy them and was passing by today..."
Pei Yunshu then curved her eyes, "Then let thank Deputy Envoy Xiao on behalf of Treasure Bead. Please sit down and join us for the al."
Xiao Zhufeng hesitated, "I still have business to attend to."
"What business?" Pei Yunng laid a hand on his shoulder, saying lazily, "There’s no work left at the Palace Front Office today. Since you ’just happened’ to be passing by and ’happened’ to bring a gift, why not ’conveniently’ stay for the al?"
Xiao Zhufeng: "I..."
"Right, Deputy Envoy Xiao," Duan Xiaoyan ca to pull him, "You left right before the al last ti. Now that you’re here again, it would be rude of our Palace Marshal’s Mansion if you didn’t stay."
Xiao Zhufeng raised his eyes to see Pei Yunshu standing under the colorful tower, smiling at him. He paused for a mont, then said in a low voice, "Alright."
And with that, the matter was settled.
Everyone gathered around the table in the colorful tower, and just as Lu Tong took her seat, she felt a shadow fall beside her. Looking up, she saw Pei Yunng sitting next to her.
She slled the cool and detached scent on Pei Yunng, like mist on an early autumn night, with a light layer of chill.
Yet the candlelight was warm.
The sun had completely set, and the crescent moon hung above the small tower. Several osmanthus trees in the courtyard had blossod, filling the air with fragrance.
Pei Yunshu had the osmanthus wine brought forth.
"With aromatic dishes steaming and orchids laid, we pour osmanthus wine beside sweet syrup," Pei Yunshu smiled as brightly as a flower, pulling out the cork, "In the past, Ah Ying used to buy osmanthus wine for every birthday. Since we had Treasure Bead, it’s been a long ti since we last drank it."
"The innkeeper said that osmanthus wine does not intoxicate, so Xiaoyan and Miss Lu can also have a taste. Ah Ying," she called Pei Yunng, "please pour the wine."
Pei Yunng stood up and poured wine for everyone. When it was Lu Tong’s turn, his movents paused, and he looked at her inquiringly.
Lu Tong pushed her cup forward.
He then smiled, filling up her cup too.
After distributing the wine, he sat back down, and only then did Lu Tong pick up her cup. She heard Pei Yunng speak, "Are you sure you can drink?"
He looked at Lu Tong and asked, "You won’t hit soone when you’re drunk, will you?"
"I won’t." Lu Tong very seriously replied, "I’ll kill soone instead."
Pei Yunng: "..."
She took a sip from her cup.
The osmanthus wine was not bitter, but excessively sweet, resembling more a syrup than wine, leaving a whiff of osmanthus fragrance sweet on the lips and teeth.
After she drank most of the cup, Pei Yunng gave her a glance, "You drink so much, you have a good tolerance?"
Lu Tong set down her cup, "It should be a bit better than yours."
Last ti, during Benevolent Heart dical Hall’s anniversary, Pei Yunng had just a bit of peach wine and then seed not very clearheaded, acting quite odd.
This person’s alcohol tolerance was quite average.
Under the faint moon and starry sky, Pei Yunshu, after tasting the osmanthus wine and looking at the lively table in the courtyard, felt increasingly joyful.
She said, "Ah Ying is busy with official duties every day, and with just a few people in the mansion, it’s a bit too quiet. It’s rare to see such liveliness."
Duan Xiaoyan imdiately took the opportunity to climb up on the bandwagon sternly, "Is that so? Yun Ying is wrong to neglect his family because of official duties. Sister, if you don’t mind, I will often co over to eat. Your cook makes really delicious food, even better than what they have at Yuxian Tower... Ouch," he jumped up, "Why did you kick , Brother Zhufeng?"
Xiao Zhufeng looked expressionless, "It was unintentional, I apologize."
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