The little maid Duan Chu's older brother served in the front courtyard. On Little Lady Wei Rui's instructions, whenever Master Chen Caozhi arrived, he would hurry to the Cherished Garden to report the news. This was why Lu Weiwei always appeared soon after Chen Caozhi came to Lu Na's study.
This time, Lu Weiwei had come from the Cherished Garden to the front hall before Chen Caozhi even arrived. She knew her father had already sent someone to invite him, saying that an honored guest wished to see him. Asking the steward attending beneath the veranda, she learned that the visitor was a scion of the Gaoping Xi Clan and a military adviser at Grand Marshal Huan Wen's Military Headquarters. What urgent business could he have with Chen Caozhi?
Lu Weiwei knelt behind a screen in a room adjoining the main hall, with the little maids Duan Chu and Zanhua standing behind her. A warm early-summer breeze swept through, making the snow-white curtains ripple like water. A sweet floral fragrance filled the room, for Lu Weiwei had just come from beneath the white magnolias in the Cherished Garden. More than a hundred white magnolias there were in bloom, and passing beneath their branches left both hair and clothes fragrant.
Lu Weiwei heard Master Chen's voice. Her back straightened involuntarily, and her eyes grew especially bright as she listened intently to him speak. His voice seemed a little hoarse. Only after listening a while longer did she understand that he had debated with this Xi Jiabin for six hours yesterday. No wonder he had talked himself hoarse.
After sitting a little longer, she heard Staff Officer Xi say that he still wished to debate with Master Chen. Her delicate brows drew together slightly, and she shook her head with a smile