"I've long heard that the mountains and rivers of Dali are good for nurturing people, and that noble ladies are skilled in raising Gu poison and making incense. When they go out, they wear a string of identification tags on their waists so that the common people won't not recognize them and punish them for not kneeling."
As soon as she finished speaking, the color drained from Meng Jiuning's face, and her fingers tightened around the knot of the sachet.
"You jest, young lady. Although Dali has a royal family, they don't have such a rule."
"Yeah?"
Gu Moli smiled, her skirt sleeves swaying gently with her wrists.
"It seems I was wrong. I thought that when the Dali royal family traveled, the common people had to clear the streets and burn incense, and even the chickens and ducks on the roadside had to retreat into their coops so as not to block the nobles' path."
Meng Jiuning held the sachet tightly, and didn't say anything more.
People were coming and going at the entrance of the Water Banquet Restaurant. A waiter carrying a stack of bowls squeezed past a few people. The bowls clinked together, making a series of crisp sounds that made the quietness here particularly unpleasant.
Gu Moran pulled Gu Moli aside to prevent her from getting any closer to Meng Jiuning.
"Let's go get something to eat first, and talk less."
"Brother, I was merely asking the guest about the customs of our hometown."
Gu Moli let him hold her wrist, then turned her face to look at Meng Jiuning.
"It's alright if Miss Meng doesn't want to talk about it. After all, if Dali really falls, its local customs won't be worth much anyway."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jiuning's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She wanted to retort, but this was Gu Moran's sister.
He swallowed hard, but ultimately just turned his face toward the street.
Gu Moran tightened his grip on Gu Moli's wrist.
" Li'er."
"Brother? Why won't you even let people speak?"
Gu Moli looked up at him, her voice still soft, but her wrist did not break free from his grasp.
I didn't say anything wrong.
Meng Jiuning bit her lower lip, and tears finally fell.
She raised her hand to wipe the moisture from the corner of her eye, hiding it in her sleeve.
Gu Moran released Gu Moli and stepped between the two of them.
That's enough.
Gu Moli looked down at her wrist, where he had held it, and saw a faint red mark still on her skin.
"Your Majesty is quick to protect people."
She didn't provoke you.
"I didn't touch her either."
"You've already gone too far."
Gu Moran around and glanced at Meng Jiuning.
" Jiuning, go in first."
Meng Jiuning nodded, wiped away her tears, and followed Shen Ling'er into the building.
As Shen Ling'er brushed past Gu Moli's ear.
"You've chosen the wrong person. She's already been taken in by her husband; she'll be your sister-in-law sooner or later."
Gu Moli stood at the bottom of the steps, her fingers gripping her sleeve again.
She had prepared many things to say.
Why is my elder brother taking so many women out in public?
Six wives aren't enough?
Why did they take in the Dali princess again?
Gu Moli felt increasingly wronged the more she thought about it.
Seeing that things were not going well, Gu Moran quickly turned around.
"Okay, come inside."
Gu Moli didn't move.
"I said, let's eat first."
"I'm not hungry."
"You only ate half a pancake for breakfast, how can you not be hungry?"
Gu Moli pursed her lips and looked away from his face.
"Your Majesty even remembers what I ate; you've become very attentive. It seems your sisters-in-law have taught you a lot."
Gu Moran looked at her and raised his hand to rub his temples.
"Alright, if you want to argue, go inside. There are too many people on the street."
I'm not afraid of crowds.
"I'm afraid of losing face, okay?"
Gu Moli stared at him for a couple of seconds, then finally snorted and turned to go upstairs.
Zhen Meili walked by carrying a wrench and patted Gu Moli on the shoulder.
"What's wrong? Are you upset?"
Gu Moli turned her head to the side.
"I can tell. Your brother used to only hang out with you, but now there are so many women around him. Do you feel neglected?"
Zhen Meili finished speaking, she glanced in the direction Meng Jiuning had left.
"Don't be upset. Although Miss Meng likes to stick close to the prince, she's a really nice person. You just cursed her to bring about the downfall of her kingdom, and she tolerated it."
Gu Moli looked at her.
Are you trying to persuade me, or are you telling me she has a good temper?
"Yes, they all are."
Zhen Meili stared at her for a long time, examining her closely, as if she were choosing a suitable part.
"I was afraid you'd really make her cry, but she doesn't look bad when she cries, her eyes are all wet, it's just that her bone structure isn't as sharp as yours."
Gu Moli's eyebrows twitched.
"What did you say?"
I said you have good bone structure.
Zhen Meili raised her hand and gestured towards her face.
"Your jawline is beautifully defined, your brow bones are neatly aligned, and the positions of your nose and cheekbones are just right. There's no wasted space on your face, including your physique. Practicing martial arts will definitely be less strenuous for you."
Gu Moli had prepared some vicious words, but she couldn't bring herself to say them.
"What... what are you talking about?"
"I told you you're beautiful."
Zhen Meili answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I've seen a lot of people over the years, and quite a few good-looking ones, but your face is so perfect, you couldn't find a single flaw even if you measured it with a ruler."
She then looked at Gu Moli's shoulders, back, waist, and legs, and added earnestly.
"I even want to make a mechanical wooden dummy just like you."
Gu Moli's ears slowly turned red.
What kind of wood?
I know it's impossible.
Zhen Meili nodded.
No matter how skilled I am, I could never make wood as beautiful as you.
"Wow, you look so authoritative! You're so handsome, just looking at you makes me feel good."
Gu Moli raised her hand and pinched her sleeve, feeling a little shy.
Then came the sound of someone running nearby.
Yun Shuyue, holding half a skewer of candied hawthorns with her mouth stuffed full and cheeks bulging, walked up to her and handed her the remaining half.
Here, have some.
Syrup clung to the edge of the bamboo skewer; half of the hawthorn had already been bitten off, leaving clear teeth marks on the remaining part.
Gu Moli frowned as she looked at the string of candied hawthorns, but didn't reach out her hand.
Yun Shuyue pushed it forward again.
"It's delicious, sweet."
You eat it yourself.
Gu Moli looked at Gu Moran and asked softly.
Are they always like this? So enthusiastic?
Gu Moran lightly.
They both seem to like you quite a bit.
"I can tell."
Gu Moli took out a packet of maltose she had brought from the capital and handed it to Yun Shuyue.
Yun Shuyue's eyes lit up when she saw the candy.
"Oh, you're so kind!"
You're beautiful and a good person!
From now on, you will be the best older sister in the world to me!
The private rooms on the second floor of the Shui Xi Lou restaurant, facing the street, are ready.
One dish after another was served.
Luoyang Water Banquet is all about soups and broths; as soon as one bowl is cleared away, another is served immediately, such as sour soup, meat soup, pepper soup...
Steam rose up from the rim of the bowl, quickly dispelling the chill from everyone's bodies.
Gu Moran asked Gu Moli to sit to her right.
Meng Jiuning originally wanted to sit closer, but Gu Moli's words were too sharp, so she kept her distance.
She sat down next to Shen Ling'er.
Murong Xue chose a seat by the window and untied the soft whip, placing it on her lap.
"Please sit wherever you like. This table is big enough to rotate, so no one should try to take it."
Gu Moli picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of crispy pork into her bowl.
"Did Your Majesty bring doctors, mechanics, and guards with you on this trip?"
Zhen Meili raised her hand slightly, as if to pick up some food.
"Hmm, this mechanic sounds like someone who repairs doors."
Can you fix it?
"Of course I can! I can not only repair doors, but also build ballistae."
After Zhen Meili finished speaking, she moved the wrench next to her to the corner of the table to avoid knocking over the soup bowl.
Gu Moli looked at the wrench, then at the wooden axle protruding from her waist, and smiled.
What a simpleton!