秦礼 had known 赵奉 for so many years, but this was the first time he felt his partner had no sense of the room. He always knew exactly which sore spot to poke.
He took a deep breath. "大义."
赵奉's face was wrapped in several layers of bandages, making his eyes look even clearer, more guileless, and more foolish. "公肃, speak!"
秦礼 said, "That was very rude."
They had known each other for years. Even though 秦礼's tone hadn't been stern, it still sent a chill down 赵奉's back. He promptly shut his mouth, sat up straight, and looked away from 秦礼 to silently count the kernels of jade corn in his soup bowl.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...
赵奉 muttered to himself. Across from him, 顾池 propped his chin on one hand, grinning so widely his back teeth nearly showed. Every so often his shoulders shook with laughter, making him stand out among the elegant scholars around him. Just then, someone used [Secret Sound Transmission].
The voice was utterly flat: [What are you laughing at, strategist?]
Recognizing the speaker, 顾池 turned and glanced at 林风.
林风 raised her hand and pointed in another direction.
顾池 looked where she pointed. His smile faded. He covered his mouth with his fist and gave a light cough, then replied with [Secret Sound Transmission]: [I just thought of something funny, that's why I laughed. I wasn't sneering for no reason. Ahem—don't get the wrong idea.]
林风 gave an [oh] from over there.
She leaned toward 杨英, who she usually got along well with, and whispered something. 杨英 listened carefully, then smiled and whispered in 白素's ear. Before long, that whole section was whispering among themselves too. To avoid being rude in public, 林风 even cast a Word Spirit to block