As soon as Li Yan saw Yang Fan, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Dianshi Yang, you've just washed yourself and I've come to disturb you. What a coincidence, haha …"
Yang Fan saw that this person was followed by a beautiful woman and two green-clothed manservants holding gift boxes. He hesitantly said, "You are … I seem to have seen you at the governor's mansion just now."
Li Yan was all smiles. "Dianshi Yang has good eyesight. I am the steward of the governor's manor. I've come on the governor's orders."
Yang Fan let out an "oh" and hurriedly invited him into the guest hall. Although Yang Fan had just taken a bath, the bathtub was in the bedroom. There were walls and screens outside, so it didn't affect the reception. Yang Fan invited Steward Li to the guest hall. After exchanging names, they sat down according to the host and guest. He smiled and asked, "What instructions does Governor Xie have?"
Li Yan bowed. "Dianshi Yang is too polite. How could I dare to give instructions in front of the imperial envoy? Haha, it's like this. It's been a long time since an envoy from the capital has come to Yanzhou. And Dianshi Yang is someone close to the Son of Heaven. How could Yanzhou not be respectful? The governor is afraid that Dianshi Yang will receive him poorly.
Yanzhou has poor mountains and rivers and barren land. The envoy came from a rich and prosperous place. It's really unfair to Dianshi Yang. Although Yanzhou is poor, it still has some rare items from the mountains. The governor has ordered me to deliver a small gift to the envoy. "
As Li Yan spoke, he waved his hand, and two green-clothed manservants came forward. The two trays were covered with red silk. Li Yan lifted the red silk and introduced the items one by one. Impressively, there was a piece of deer, a flying dragon, a tiger penis, and a pair of bear paws.
Deer was the capital's highest grade of meat. Yang Fan recognized it. He had only drunk flying dragon soup before. This was his first time seeing a live one. As for the tiger penis and bear paws, this was his first time seeing them and he couldn't help but take a second look.
Li Yan said with a smile, "Yanzhou is barren. Only these mountain items can be considered presentable. This is just a small gift, please accept it, Dianshi Yang. "
Xie Taishou's Er Niang was in charge of internal affairs at the back of the mansion, she was very scheming. As soon as Manager Li explained the situation to her, she immediately considered these gifts. Gold, silver and jewels, ivory and jade wares, of course she could take them out, but those things were too valuable. It was alright to give them to Zhang Changzong, but to give them to a lowly Fengchen Jian Dianshi, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill.
Moreover, they kept on saying that Yanzhou was barren and needed the imperial court's relief every year. Although it was not strange for them to be overly polite, if they really sent some gold, silver, and jewels, it would give other people something to use against them. No matter how rare it was, it was still a wild animal. It had nothing to do with whether Yanzhou was rich or poor. How could it be liked by a high-ranking official in the capital?
Yang Fan promptly got up and declined, saying, "Aiya, this gift is really too valuable. I am only a lowly Fengchen Jian Dianshi, how could I deserve such a generous gift from the Prefecture Chief? I appreciate the Prefecture Chief's great kindness and righteousness, but I will have to ask Manager Li to take these things back."
Li Yan laughed heartily and said, "Dianshi Yang, you are too polite. The Prefecture Chief is only doing his duty as a host. These are all mountain items, what's so valuable about them? If Dianshi Yang does not accept them, then I will be put in a difficult position. If the Li brings these things back untouched, won't the Prefecture Chief reprimand me?"
As Li Yan said this, he pointed to the beautiful, white-skinned woman and said, "This woman is a dancer from the Prefecture Chief's residence. She is from Yinzhou (Mizhi), where Diao Chan came from. This Yanzhou is desolate and there are no good places to go. The Prefecture Chief sent this beautiful woman to accompany Dianshi Yang in bed and travel to relieve his loneliness. "
Yang Fan was startled. This time, his refusal was even more resolute. Yang Fan repeatedly waved his hands and said, "That won't do, that won't do. This is even more unacceptable. Manager Li, please don't … "
Before Yang Fan could finish speaking, Li Yan had already stood up and cupped his hands toward him with a smile. He said, "Dianshi Yang has had a hard journey. Now that you have just arrived in Yanzhou, your body must be tired. I won't disturb you any longer. Pinglan, for the next few days, Dianshi Yang will be in Yanzhou. You must take good care of his daily meals. Hahaha, Dianshi Yang, I will take my leave. "
"Manager Li, you mustn't …"
Li Yan broke into a run and left. Yang Fan quickly chased after him. He rushed to the door and pulled Li Yan back. Just as he was about to decline again, a middle-aged man wearing a courier's uniform suddenly appeared at the door. He nodded and bowed and said, "Dianshi Yang, today there is someone who claims to be your companion. He has specially come to look for you …"
Before he finished speaking, he saw a handsome young master wearing a green robe, a leather belt around his waist, and a scarf hat on his head. He had red lips and white teeth, and he walked in with quick steps. As soon as he saw Yang Fan, he smiled like a flower. Just as he was about to open his mouth, he suddenly saw that there was a guest in the hall. He couldn't help but be startled, and the smile on his face slightly disappeared.
As soon as Yang Fan saw the person who had come, it was Gu Zhuting, dressed in men's clothing. Because her current appearance had only slightly trimmed away the gentleness of a woman's aura and revealed a bit of valiance, other than that, there weren't any major changes. As a result, Yang Fan recognized her at a glance.
Speaking of which, it was strange. In the past, regardless of whether there was a mission or not, Gu Zhuting would most of the time appear in front of others with a mask. The number of people who had seen her true appearance were few and far between. However, in the past year, she often appeared in front of others with her true appearance. Even if she had to carry out a secret mission, if it wasn't necessary, she wasn't willing to change her appearance beyond recognition. The subtlety of her thoughts was really difficult for others to see through.
As soon as Yang Fan saw Gu Zhuting, his heart was slightly moved. It was necessary to accept Governor Xie's generous gift and temporarily put on a perfunctory act to lower his guard. However, Yang Fan didn't want to play a game with a woman he had never met before because of this. However, if he were to reject her tightly, it would be hard to avoid causing her to become suspicious. Now he had a sufficient reason.
Without waiting for Gu Zhuting to speak, Yang Fan immediately went forward and grabbed her arm. He excitedly introduced her to Li Yan, "This little brother's surname is Gu. He works in the same Feng Chen Guards as Yang. He is also a Dianshi Shi and has always been on good terms with Yang. Now he is following Zhang Fengchen around."
Li Yan hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting towards Gu Zhuting. He took a look at this Gu Dian Shi. Her eyebrows and eyes were handsome and her mouth was small like a cherry. She was even more charming than Yang Fan. He couldn't help but mumble to himself, "Feng Chen Guard's network is indeed full of handsome youths. Now there's another Gu Dian Shi. Don't tell me I have to give another gift? Fortunately Second Mother has calculated clearly. If the first person's gift was too valuable, I don't know how many good things would be plundered from my family. "
Gu Zhuting was very alert; as soon as Yang Fan mentioned it, she knew there must be something fishy. Therefore, she only nodded her head toward Li Yan in a very reserved manner and did not say anything more.
The courier was standing at the door. As soon as he saw that the visitor was indeed a member of an official's family, he asked politely, "Yang Dianshi, do you need me to arrange a residence for this colleague of yours?"
"No need," Yang Fan replied, "Gu Xiongdi and I have always been on good terms. Usually we are busy with official business. Although we are both in the Palace, it is rare for us to meet alone. Tonight the two of us will be talking by candlelight, we will have a long and heart-to-heart talk. Just send an extra set of bedding to my room."
The courier complied and withdrew. Yang Fan turned to Steward Li and said, "Gu Xidi must have some instructions from Minister Chen's side for you to come here. I won't keep Steward Li any longer." As he said that, he wrapped his arm around Gu Zhuting's slender waist.
Gu Zhuting's youngest aunt has always been alone. She has never been this intimate with a man before. Although when they followed the Turkic army to attack the Khitans' camp, the two of them ate at the same table, slept in the same tent, and even hugged each other tightly in order to keep out the cold, but at that time they were wearing thick clothes, two layers of leather robes wrapped around their bodies. The real intense feeling came from the heart, not the physical stimulation.
At this moment, as soon as Yang Fan touched her, Gu Zhuting's waist muscles involuntarily tightened and her body shuddered. Her pair of beautiful eyes widened as she glanced at Yang Fan in astonishment, but her body did not move an inch.
While saying that, Yang Fan signaled Steward Li with his eyes, and also cast a glance at Miss Pinglan whom Steward Li had brought in. Steward Li saw Yang Fan's big hand, which was wrapped around the handsome young man's waist, slid down and moved slightly on the ground. Immediately he was enlightened and hastily said, "Alright, alright, alright, the two of you chat, the two of you chat."
Steward Li hurriedly waved his hand toward Miss Pinglan and said, "Let's go, let's not disturb the two Shangye's discussion of official business."
Steward Li led Miss Pinglan out. Only after they were out of the courtyard did he stop and cast a glance behind him. Pinching his chin in puzzlement, he said, "Turns out this Yang Dianshi is the same as our Ah Lang, he likes this kind of thing. It's really strange. What's so good about the dry road? Could it be that there's a saying that three flat is not as good as one round?"
Miss Gu stood there with her back straight. Yang Fan's hand only moved up and down slightly, but her whole body turned weak and her legs trembled. By the time Steward Li had led Miss Pinglan and the two servants out, Yang Fan withdrew his hand as fast as lightning. Only then did Gu Zhuting's face turn red.
Gu Zhuting's face was completely red. Biting her thin lip, she stared fixedly at Yang Fan without saying a word, waiting for him to explain. Yang Fan embarrassedly said, "That man just now is the steward of the Provincial Governor's Mansion. He gave me several gifts, and even sent a woman to serve me. I was not sure how to refuse, luckily you arrived, so … if I have been rude, please don't blame me. "
Miss Gu cast a glance at him and suddenly 'puff!' she burst out laughing. Yang Fan was taken aback. "What are you laughing at?" he asked in surprise.
Blushing, Miss Gu said, "Ah Lang is indeed quick-witted, but this reason of yours is too … too …"
Yang Fan was suddenly enlightened. He laughed aloud and said, "What's wrong with this reason? Our imperial court is flourishing with men, the Capital is full of 'incense brothers'; this reason is completely reasonable. Besides, you … "
Yang Fan looked at Gu Zhuting, who was dressed as a man, and said with a smile, "Poor Zhou Xiaotong, smiling while picking orchid bushes. Her skin is fairer than pink, her chin like a peach … "
He was reciting a famous poem from the Wei and Jin period called 'Catamite Poem'. Hearing it, Miss Gu's face turned even redder. Although she did not say anything, she could not help giving him a dirty look. Her eyes were charming, and Miss Gu's occasional flirtatious pout was unexpectedly charming.
Seeing this, Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat. He did not dare to talk nonsense anymore. Immediately he put on a serious expression and said, "How come you are the only one here? Where are your three elder brothers?"
Miss Gu said, "This time in Paozhou, we were repeatedly teased by the corrupt officials, and failed Ah Lang's trust. My brothers are not satisfied. When I received Ah Lang's letter, my two elder brothers were visiting the countryside, only your servant and San Ge were in the city. Your servant was worried that Ah Lang was in urgent need of help, so I asked San Ge to stay and wait for my two elder brothers. Your servant left first, presumably they will not be too late. "
Yang Fan noticed that her hair and robe were stained with dust; he knew that she must have eaten and slept in the open, rushing through the night. Actually, in Yang Fan's letter, he had made it very clear that because it was still early to make their move, they did not need to travel in such a hurry. But he only wrote a letter, yet she spared no effort to travel.
Miss Gu's tender heart was filled with deep affection; he was neither blind nor deaf, naturally he was aware of it, but he could not tell what kind of feeling he was feeling. After a moment of silence, he said in a soft voice, "I have ordered the kitchen to prepare food and wine. You must be tired from the journey. Why don't you take a bath first? After you have rested, we can have dinner together, is that all right?"
…
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