"Lord Jian!"
"Master is in Huating!"
The residence bestowed upon Wen Xunpeng was not especially large. Servants bowed along the way, and after turning through several corridors, the faint sounds of reed pipes, flutes, zithers, and lutes drifted over.
From afar, a waterside pavilion could be seen in the garden, furnished with a stone table and bamboo chairs. Wen Xunpeng was drinking tea while several maidservants played music.
There were even singing girls crooning in soft, winding voices. Their song seemed both present and absent, lingering endlessly in the air. Jian Qu listened intently and was entranced.
"Oh, Brother Jian, you've come." Wen Xunpeng rose and turned with a smile. "What's this? You even brought the case files. Hand them over."
A maid came forward, took the files, and presented them to Wen Xunpeng with both hands. Wen Xunpeng merely glanced at them before setting them on the table.
As the saying went, one's surroundings shaped one's bearing, and one's upbringing shaped one's body. Jian Qu still remembered how solemn everything had been when they were first granted official positions and handled documents. Now, however, Wen Xunpeng treated it all lightly, carrying the air of someone long seasoned in officialdom.
Even in demeanor, Jian Qu had become refined and composed, while Wen Xunpeng always wore a smile. The occasional flicker of depth brought out by his contemplation was entirely unlike before.
"Please, sit!"
The two drank tea in silence. Only after a long while did Jian Qu say, "Brother Wen, it seems you have set aside many worries?"
"Because there truly is nothing left to worry about!" Wen Xunpeng took a sip of tea, leaned back, and said thoughtfully, "You and I are both old retainers from His Majesty's princely residence, so there is nothing to avoid... When His Majesty