Chapter 2675 - 2608: Blocking the Way

The coachman, squeezed by the crowd and Goguryeo guards, managed to push through, his eyes fixed on them, "Young Master Lou, there are no silks here that you’re looking for, these are all small vendors. The shops are over there."

The guard blocked him and said, "Our young master wants to eat buns. You’re the coachman, just take care of the carriage."

With that, they escorted Lou Mian towards the bun shop.

The guards from the Princess’s residence were no fools. They wouldn’t stop the princess from interacting with commoners, but these people clearly weren’t commoners.

Not to mention that Lou Mian’s face was vaguely familiar, and the guards on either side of him were armed. Someone immediately stepped forward to block them, frowning as they asked, "Who goes there?"

The guard nudged Lou Mian, giving him a warning look.

Wei Yu and Princess Changyu turned their heads to look. Princess Changyu, still nibbling on persimmon flesh, almost spat it out when she saw Lou Mian.

But she held it in, though she couldn’t help but cough.

Wei Yu quickly took out a handkerchief for her. Changyu covered her mouth, managing not to lose composure in public.

The maidservant behind Changyu was also startled at the sight of Lou Mian, glancing guiltily at Wei Yu.

After wiping her mouth, Changyu looked over.

Lou Mian, waiting quietly all along, bowed as soon as Changyu looked over and said, "Student Lou Mian pays respects to the princess. Princess... have you been well?"

Wei Yu studied Lou Mian’s face. He’d heard rumors that Princess Changyu liked handsome people. This one... did seem familiar.

With a decent memory, and given that they had both been students at the Imperial Academy, albeit in different departments, Wei Yu remembered and was suddenly enlightened, saying with a smile, "Are you the envoy from Goguryeo?"

Lou Mian nodded, his gaze softly fixed on Princess Changyu.

Princess Changyu: ...

Wei Yu also turned to look at Princess Changyu, asking her softly, "Princess, do you know him?"

Princess Changyu replied, "We’ve met a few times."

She reservedly nodded to Lou Mian, took the tray still in the groom’s hands and handed it to her maidservant to return to the vendor, then lifted her skirt. "Let’s go, my parents-in-law are still waiting at home."

Standing before a stool, she gently raised her hand, signaling Wei Yu to assist her.

Wei Yu couldn’t help but lower his head with a smile, stepping forward to hold the princess’s hand and help her onto the carriage. He then turned around, bowing to Lou Mian, and stepped onto the carriage himself.

Lou Mian opened his mouth but couldn’t speak for a moment, then, after some thought, stepped aside to clear the path for them.

The guard, seeing this, was indignant, hinting for him to go up and say something more.

Lou Mian frowned slightly, remaining silent.

It was only after the princess’s carriage had moved away and before the guard could lose his temper that he said, "You’ve seen the princess’s attitude. Continuing to pester her would only breed disgust and be detrimental to the prince’s plans, offering no benefit."

He continued, "Besides, observing the interaction between the princess and the groom, it’s clear that I, having only met her a few times, cannot compare."

If Princess Changyu were truly interested in him, he had plenty of opportunities while studying in the Four Gates School, but she never behaved inappropriately. At most, she invited him out for tea or meals, never even showing patience when he spoke about Goguryeo customs.

Sitting in the carriage, Changyu straightened her back, saying nothing. Wei Yu poured a cup of tea, placing one in front of Changyu before pouring his own, and looked up at her. "What’s wrong, Princess? You seem quite tense?"

Princess Changyu snorted, proudly lifting her chin, "Why would I be tense? If the groom has any questions, please ask."

Wei Yu shook his head, smiling, "No questions."

Princess Changyu frowned, "None?"

Wei Yu laughed, "Yes, none at all."

He teased, "You only paused when you saw Young Master Lou, and still remembered me, your groom. I remember once you saw Lord Yang, and you barely blinked, even leaving me aside once."

He smiled, "I should be grateful it was Lou Mian today and not Lord Yang."

Princess Changyu’s cheeks flushed red, and she couldn’t help but raise her voice, "When did I forget you for Lord Yang?"

More times than one could count. Not to mention before their engagement, it happened twice afterward, the most memorable being when Yang Heshu returned disheveled from Xiazhou during smallpox.

At that time, while visiting the palace to pay New Year’s respects to the emperor and empress, he saw Yang Heshu entering Taiji Hall to receive reprimands. Princess Changyu, who rarely went to Taiji Hall, stood under the corridor with Princess Mingda, eyes red. She didn’t notice him until he stood beside her.

Changyu also recalled the incident, shifted her gaze out of guilt, then returned it challengingly to him. "Lord Yang is good-looking. Can’t I enjoy looking at him?"

Wei Yu smiled and nodded, "Of course you can!"

It was only after marrying that he began to understand Changyu’s character. The maids and attendants in their courtyard and chambers were all noticeably prettier than in other places.

So why should he mind?

Meanwhile, Princess Mingda and Bai Er, just arriving at the Zhou Residence gate, encountered a roadblock—or rather, a gateblock.

A carriage and several horses were parked directly in front of the Zhou Residence, with a servant-like person speaking with the gatekeeper.

Their group was stopped, blocking their carriage.

Bai Erlang lifted the curtain to look ahead, and the gatekeeper, having noticed their carriage, despite his usual good nature, adopted a stern demeanor. He said to the persistently pestering servant, "We will deliver the card inside, but today is the fourteenth. Our master truly doesn’t have the time to entertain guests. It would be better for your master to return first. Once our master reads the card, he will send someone to invite him over."

After speaking, the gatekeeper turned around and called inside, "Quickly, come out to greet them. Master Tang and the princess have returned."

Saying that, he pushed past the servant and jogged to greet them with a bow and smile in front of the carriage. "Second Young Master, you’ve returned? Our master just mentioned that you’d definitely be back today."

"Really? Did he prepare something tasty?" Bai Erlang raised his chin slightly, looking ahead, and asked, "Who is that in front?"

Just as he was asking, the servant ran back to the carriage to report, and the curtain lifted as someone disembarked.

Bai Erlang had only seen Gao You two or three times and had completely forgotten him, so after a glance, he turned his gaze away and asked the gatekeeper, "Who is this person?"

The gatekeeper replied with frustration, "He claims to be a friend of our master, with an old gate card, saying they were classmates. But we sent someone in to ask, and inside they said we have no time for guests today. Second Young Master, you don’t recognize him?"

That’s impossible; our master’s friends and classmates are also the Second Young Master’s friends and classmates, aren’t they?