Moonlit Reunion

"Physician Cui has taken several days off, claiming to be afflicted with a severe illness. Yet I saw him in Pingkang Ward just last night. How could something have happened overnight, and now he's refusing visitors? Could it be..." The minor official trailed off, but everyone understood his implication. For a moment, expressions of subtle pity mixed with disdain appeared on their faces.

Mei Zhuyu remained as indifferent as ever to such daily gossip, paying no attention as he calmly gathered his belongings to leave the government office and return home.

However, his aloof demeanor transformed into unconcealed delight upon seeing the person waiting at the office entrance. Though his expression remained unchanged, the sudden brightness in his steady gaze unmistakably revealed his shift in mood.

Wu Zhen was unusually not dressed in male attire today. Instead, she wore a snow-blue ruqun with wide embroidered borders of Calamus Flowers, a yellow palace sash tied at her waist securing a round white jade pendant. Standing simply as she was, her graceful demeanor and natural charm shone like the radiance of a pearl, with the fragrance of orchids.

Amidst curious gazes, she approached Mei Zhuyu and extended her hand. He stepped forward to take it.

Wu Zhen: "Husband, come with me to a place."

Mei Zhuyu: "Alright."

Sensing the shifting looks from the surrounding officials, Wu Zhen's lips curved slightly as she leaned closer to whisper, "To a brothel."

Mei Zhuyu: "...Alright."

Wu Zhen laughed and pulled him along. Walking side by side, their robes occasionally brushing against each other, she spoke softly while he kept one hand behind his back, the other held by her. He lowered his head to respond, his voice noticeably gentler than when speaking to others. Their quiet exchange exuded an intimate closeness.

Ministry of Justice officials who had never seen the couple together before began doubting the rumors of their strained relationship. Observing them now, where was the discord? They appeared nothing short of affectionate.

Once outside the government office, Wu Zhen squeezed the broad hand in hers and tugged at his fingertips. "Lately, I've heard some unpleasant rumors. Has anyone been troubling you? Has anyone come to cause you problems?"

Mei Zhuyu didn't understand why she would ask—no one had ever managed to bully him since childhood. When he shook his head and denied it, Wu Zhen lovingly stroked his hand again. "So mild-tempered, enduring mistreatment without a word."

Mei Zhuyu: "...?" But truly, there was none.

Unaware of her assumptions, Wu Zhen glanced at him again, her tone soothing. "It's alright. Such things won't happen again."

Changing the subject, she continued, "After placing well in the Dragon Boat Festival races, you were credited as the main contributor. Cui Jiu and the others wanted to celebrate with you. I've been busy these past few days and haven't been home, but today I'm free, so we arranged it for tonight. You don't have duty tomorrow, so we can stay out late."

Mei Zhuyu gave an affirmative hum, his gaze fixed on her. Wu Zhen tilted her head, amused by his unwavering attention. "Not even blinking—have you missed me so much in just a few days?"Mei Zhuyu felt slightly embarrassed and had to avert his gaze. But after glancing around—from the birds in the sky to the trees on the ground—his eyes eventually returned to Wu Zhen. Accustomed to being stared at, Wu Zhen didn’t say much and simply let him look, occasionally returning a smiling glance, indulgent as ever.

This was Mei Zhuyu’s first time ever stepping into a brothel, and it was his own wife who had brought him here. As expected, she was quite familiar with the place. Upon arriving at Pingkang Lane, two servants waiting at the entrance respectfully approached and eagerly led them to a residence. The courtyard was lush with flowers and trees, crisscrossed by water channels, and featured a floating platform over the water. On the platform stood a large hexagonal pavilion that could seat dozens of people. Six red-lacquered stone pillars supported an ornate roof, with large two-foot-long lanterns hanging from the upturned eaves. Between the red pillars, bamboo blinds and sheer curtains swayed gently. In the dimming twilight, several lamps cast a hazy glow through the gauze, their reflections shimmering on the rippling water.

Inside the pavilion were small tables, soft cushions, screens, and other furnishings. Several familiar faces were already seated there—Cui Jiu, Mei Si, Zhao Langjun, and a certain Sun Niangzi. Seeing Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu arrive, they waved and called out, “Finally, you’re here! Come, take a seat.”

Mei Zhuyu was about to greet them one by one, but Wu Zhen stopped him, pulling him down onto a seat. “No need for formalities. Just relax.”

After speaking to Mei Zhuyu, she picked up a small mallet and tapped a golden bell placed on the table. The clear chime summoned a servant, who quickly entered the pavilion. Wu Zhen instructed, “Bring a bowl of Silver Dragon Soup for the gentleman, paired with Fine Silk Snow Noodles. Remember—it must be made by Mistress Ma herself. Also, bring Honey Immortal and Jade Dew Cakes. I recall you brew Ten-Flower Soup on the fifteenth? Perfect, bring a serving of that as well.”

The servant noted the order and hurried off. Wu Zhen turned to Mei Zhuyu and said, “Let’s start with something simple. Mistress Ma here has a few signature dishes I quite enjoy. I don’t know if you’ll like them, but if you do, we can come back another time and order a full spread.”

Though it was a brothel, it was nothing like what Mei Zhuyu had imagined. The scenery was pleasant and soothing, and there were no powdered beauties in attendance—just their small group, each comfortably occupied with their own activities.

After greeting Mei Zhuyu, Mei Si had been hunched over a table behind a screen, engrossed in drawing something. Cui Jiu was tuning a zither, plucking the strings intermittently. Zhao Langjun fiddled with a box of drinking game sticks, muttering to himself. Sun Niangzi sat before an incense burner, surrounded by various small boxes and bottles, occasionally sprinkling powders into the burner. Someone leaned against a pillar, drinking, while two others played chess by lamplight. In short, everyone was happily amusing themselves.

Wu Zhen, meanwhile, used a small dagger to slice a melon. Her knife skills were excellent—she deftly peeled the pristine white jade melon, cut it into pieces, arranged them on a plate, and pushed it toward Mei Zhuyu.

“Do you want to eat it like this, or would you prefer it mixed with cheese and honey later?”

“This is fine.”

Wu Zhen propped an elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him. “Don’t be reserved. I just wanted to show you what I usually do here. That way, you’ll know I’m not fooling around like those gossips say. When I come to brothels, it’s usually just to listen to music and watch dances.”She spoke frankly, and Mei Zhuyu nodded without hesitation, "I know." He was skilled in reading faces and auras. Wu Zhen's energy was pure, her gaze clear and upright, without a trace of turbidity—she was an open and honorable person.

"Don't pay attention to the rumors; none of them are credible," Mei Zhuyu said.

Wu Zhen replied, "That's what I wanted to say to you." Well, she had overthought it. Her husband truly didn’t care about the nonsense spread outside. She had even thought he might sulk or feel a little jealous, but who knew he trusted her so much and was so broad-minded? Among the friends Wu Zhen knew, many were married. After asking around, she found that almost everyone had minor conflicts with their spouses due to small misunderstandings or frictions—a few quarrels were normal.

But with Mei Zhuyu, Wu Zhen realized they had never experienced any displeasure or arguments. Not even a single disagreement—her husband had never uttered a single word of disapproval toward her. No matter how she treated him, whether distant or affectionate, he remained unperturbed. He would be happy to see her, but if they didn’t meet, he wouldn’t seek her out, making her feel as free as before marriage.

Wu Zhen suddenly thought that with such a mindset, her husband could even take up Taoist cultivation. With such discipline and restraint, he would surely achieve great things.

Indeed, Mei Zhuyu, who was already a skilled Taoist, finished the meal brought by the servants—the dishes Wu Zhen had previously ordered for him. The flavors were exquisite, and even though Mei Zhuyu wasn’t one to indulge in culinary pleasures, he acknowledged that such craftsmanship was rare in Chang’an.

After the meal, Wu Zhen chatted with him for a while, snacking on some fruits, until night fully descended.

Servants came to light the lamps. The area was already well-lit, but a dozen more attendants arrived to ignite countless small lamps in the corners and a large rotating lantern in the center. Additionally, lanterns were set afloat on the water. The shallow stream, only calf-deep, carried the lanterns from the banks to gather around the pavilion, illuminating both the inside and outside as bright as day.

From afar came the delicate chime of jade ornaments as a group of dancers in sheer gauze robes entered, jostling playfully, accompanied by several women holding musical instruments.

The leading woman had an exceptional presence, dressed in deep purple silk. After sitting down, she smiled and nodded at Wu Zhen. The dancers took their positions in the center of the pavilion, and at the first pluck of the pipa by the woman, they began swaying their slender waists.

A gentle breeze wafted through the pavilion as the dancers’ flowing sleeves fluttered gracefully, their shadows cast upon the large central lantern, accentuating their delicate figures like tender water plants unfurling in a stream. The faint tinkling of tiny bells on their garments mingled with the fluttering of their skirts, creating a dreamy, flower-like beauty.

The pipa player’s melody was extraordinarily pleasing, almost blending seamlessly into the night and the wind. Wu Zhen rested her chin on her hand, listening with half-lidded eyes, her fingers occasionally tapping lightly against the white jade plate on the table, as if savoring the music. Everyone present, no matter what they had been doing earlier, was now engrossed in the performance—except for Mei Zhuyu, whose gaze remained fixed solely on Wu Zhen, not sparing a glance for anyone else.

Such soft and enchanting music and dance could not stir the steadfast heart of this composed Taoist priest. He remained focused on alleviating his own longing.

When the song ended, the pipa player sighed and asked the audience, "How does Wan Niang’s new composition sound?"Cui Jiu praised, "Truly excellent! Lady Wan's skills have grown even more refined."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Wan Niang's face showed no joy—instead, it was clouded with worry. Finally, she turned to Wu Zhen. "Second Lady, what do you think?"

Wu Zhen shook her head. "Not quite. There are a few places that feel stiff. The intent of this piece differs from your previous ones, but you haven’t fully broken free from the old style, leaving it in an awkward middle ground. It sounds decent at a glance, but upon closer listening, it still needs refinement."

Rather than being disheartened, Wan Niang’s eyes brightened at these words. She leaned forward eagerly. "Might I trouble Second Lady for some guidance?"

In this era, music and dance were highly revered—even the emperor was deeply engrossed in them, and the common folk followed suit. Wu Zhen’s discerning ear had earned the emperor’s approval, so she naturally had some expertise. While she was willing to offer critiques, she rarely performed herself. However, glancing at her husband beside her—today was meant for his enjoyment—she thought playing a couple of tunes to liven things up wouldn’t hurt.

Wu Zhen rose and took a seat beneath the lantern. Unlike other musicians who sat on cushions, she cradled the pipa handed to her by Wan Niang and perched on a foreign-style stool. Her posture was far from proper, utterly casual, yet the way she bent her head over the pipa, plucking its strings, was mesmerizing.

The previous melody had failed to stir Mei Zhuyu’s heart, but this one made a cluster of flowers bloom beneath the stone of the young lord’s steadfast soul.