Afterward, Wang Shouzhe and the other two got out of the carriage together. After exchanging cupped-fist salutes, Lei Yangyu immediately found an excuse to leave. Even Xu Anbang casually found an excuse to get away from the carriage.
Lei Yangyu shot him a sidelong glance. "Brother Anbang, isn't this your carriage?"
Xu Anbang helplessly tucked his hands into his sleeves.
What else could he do?
Sigh~ Being the head of an aristocratic clan wasn't easy these days either~
Leaving aside the unspoken exchanges on their side, Wang Shouzhe invited Xiahou Hongde into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the two sat facing each other.
Faced with Xiahou Hongde's somewhat sharp gaze, Wang Shouzhe remained composed and at ease, as leisurely as though the city governor across from him had not come looking for trouble.
With smooth, flowing movements, he brewed a pot of spirit tea, then drew back his sleeve and presented Xiahou Hongde with a cup. "This is the 'Jade Hook Green Tea' treasured by the head of the Changning Xu Clan. Clear, sweet, and faintly bitter, with a lingering flavor—it is most suitable for tea in this crisp autumn season."
The tea leaves resembled little hooks of green jade, and paired perfectly with the mutton-fat jade porcelain teacup.
Xiahou Hongde said nothing. Maintaining his imposing bearing, he lifted the cup and took a sip, his brows faintly furrowing. "Too bland."
"It was Shouzhe who failed to think it through." Wang Shouzhe gave a gentle, jade-like laugh. "City Governor Xiahou comes from a military aristocratic clan and values the grand spirit of strength enough to uproot mountains, with qi that overshadows the world. Naturally, you would not be accustomed to such light-flavored spirit tea."
"Strength enough to uproot mountains, with qi that overshadows the world?! What spirit!" Xiahou Hongde's eyes