The same teahouse, the same private room, yet a different feeling.
As Ji Zizhao entered, she saw Xie Jinglan speaking with Huo Nian Gong beside him.
Winter sunlight streamed through the window lattice, warming his tall figure.
Upon seeing Ji Zizhao enter, Huo Nian Gong tactfully took his leave.
Xie Jinglan rose and looked at Ji Zizhao, "You're here?"
Ji Zizhao nodded, turning to hang the shawl in her hands on the nearby rack.
She was not native to this era, and still preferred to handle many things herself.
A familiar aura enveloped her from behind, and the shawl was taken from her hands.
Ji Zizhao watched Xie Jinglan meticulously hang her shawl on the rack, and after a moment's thought, said, "You didn't have to."
Xie Jinglan hung up the shawl and turned back with a faint smile, "It's only right to take care of my wife."
This sentence was so familiar in the era Ji Zizhao remembered.
But for everything now, it was so foreign.
The superiority of men, was etched into the bones of everyone in this world.
Even the men of the Ji family could not do this.
Yet, someone who should not have, perhaps even someone who least should have.
He actually did it.
And he did it naturally, without any hesitation or reluctance.
Xie Jinglan saw Ji Zizhao in a daze and smiled again, then took her hand and led her towards the round table. "Come sit."
Ji Zizhao instinctively wanted to pull away, but looking at their clasped hands, she suddenly felt at ease.
If not for the Seventh Prince still being in Tong Lin, she would likely already be his wife by now.
Since they had decided to be together, what else were there to worry about?
Xie Jinglan sensed the coldness in his palm shift from resistance to compliance, and the smile at the corner of his lips deepened slightly. He walked to the round table, released her hand, and then gently placed his hand on her shoulder, guiding her to sit steadily on the flower stool.
Only then did he walk to the opposite side and sit down, lifting his robe.
It was only then that Ji Zizhao noticed the round table was laden with dishes.
The delicious delicacies, rich in color and aroma, had faint wisps of steam rising in the sunlight.
They clearly had not been out of the pot for long.
"Surprised again?" Xie Jinglan looked at the renewed astonishment in Ji Zizhao's eyes and found it amusing. This girl was always so unfazed, as if she wouldn't even frown if the sky fell. It was rare to see her so repeatedly surprised, and it made his spending money on this worthwhile.
Ji Zizhao came back to her senses and met Xie Jinglan's teasing gaze, "I just didn't know this teahouse could cook."
Xie Jinglan proactively picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed them to her, "With money, you can fill your belly anywhere."
Ji Zizhao did not take them. She had not come today solely to eat.
But before she could refuse, Xie Jinglan spoke, "It's not too late to talk after we've eaten."
Saying this, he placed the chopsticks into her hand.
"Try this Eight Treasure Duck, I hear it's a specialty of the Imperial City for its braised flavor."
A piece of tender, succulent duck meat was placed in Ji Zizhao's small dish.
"Xiao Qi said this Embroidered Ball Scallop tastes quite good, you should try it."
Another tender, juicy scallop ball appeared in Ji Zizhao's dish.
"This Almond Buddha's Hand is also Xiao Qi's favorite, you try it too."
Ji Zizhao, "..."
She really hadn't come to eat.
Seeing her dish piled high, Ji Zizhao felt it was necessary to change the subject, otherwise, she might be stuffed to death here today. "Why are there no dishes that the Fourth Prince likes?"
Xie Jinglan's hand holding the chopsticks paused, but he quickly continued serving Ji Zizhao, "I don't pay much attention to food, and I don't have any dietary restrictions."
Ji Zizhao looked at Xie Jinglan with a layer of scrutiny.
Princes, when young, all lived in the Imperial Palace.
Though they were brought up together, they were all the Emperor's sons, and the servants attending them dared not be negligent.
Coupled with the imperial consorts of each palace visiting their sons at the Imperial Prince's residence periodically, the princes had developed very discerning palates from a young age.
Apart from dishes they truly disliked or resisted, they were very strict about other dishes.
Just like the dishes on the table now, which were all top-class dishes in the Imperial City.
Involuntarily, a bold guess surfaced in Ji Zizhao's heart.
Could it be...
"Not to your liking?" Xie Jinglan saw Ji Zizhao staring blankly and raised his eyebrows in confusion.
As Ji Zizhao regained her senses, she looked again at the jade-like man opposite her, his posture elegant, his demeanor refined, not a drop of sauce splashing when he picked up food, and the dishes he placed in her dish were organized by meat and vegetables.
Such ingrained upbringing was difficult to imitate if not cultivated from birth.
"No, I just remembered some things." Ji Zizhao suppressed the guess in her heart and lowered her head to eat, avoiding Xie Jinglan's gaze.
Seeing this, Xie Jinglan said nothing more and quietly continued serving Ji Zizhao.
Occasionally, he would take a bite himself, but as he had said, he treated all food equally, showing no preference.
The meal was quiet, but not stiff.
Ji Zizhao finally put down her chopsticks when she truly could not eat any more.
Xie Jinglan did not urge her. He had someone come in to clear the dishes, then placed a stove and a teapot on the table. When the teapot began to bubble on the stove, he poured tea for Ji Zizhao and handed it to her.
Ji Zizhao, "..."
She knew he didn't care about worldly views, but she hadn't expected him to go this far.
Such thoughtfulness was almost too much for even Ji Zizhao to bear.
Xie Jinglan poured himself a cup of tea and placed it before him. Then, he looked up at Ji Zizhao, "Have you heard about Xiao Qi being impeached by General Zhong in court?"
As soon as Ji Zizhao heard about official matters, her expression also turned serious. "By rights, the affairs of the court should not spread beyond the palace walls. But this matter concerning the Seventh Prince became known throughout the city in just one day. If I don't believe someone was fanning the flames, I simply won't believe it."
Xie Jinglan was not surprised, "Tong Lin is a tough nut to crack, but the prize above is considerable. Those people were already eyeing Xiao Qi covetously. Once there's any slightest disturbance, how could they let Xiao Qi off?"
"So, what does the Fourth Prince mean?"
"Perhaps you should speak your mind first."
Xie Jinglan knew very well that Ji Zizhao was not one to wait for fate.
Since she had agreed to the meeting so readily, she likely already had a plan.
Ji Zizhao did have a plan, but she looked at Xie Jinglan and said, "Does the Fourth Prince wish for Tong Lin to lose or win?"