After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 20

From afar, one could see several painted boats drifting on the Bright Moon Lake. As they approached the lakeside, they noticed a crowd gathered around the dock. Aside from the dignitaries waiting to board the boats, there were also numerous vendors setting up stalls nearby, mostly selling snacks like dumplings, pancakes, and sugar figurines. Steam rose from the stalls serving noodles, adding to the lively atmosphere by the lake.

Luo Chuchen asked curiously, “I thought you needed an invitation to get in? Why are there so many food vendors?”

Liang Jue explained, “The current prime minister advocates sharing joy with the people. If only scholars and artists attended such gatherings, it would be too refined and lack warmth. So, commoners who wish to set up stalls are allowed to register at the prime minister’s residence a few days in advance. Once they receive a permit, they can come here as well.”

“Oh I see,” Luo Chuchen replied, hearing this for the first time.

Luo Chuchen was eager to ride one of the painted pleasure boats and tugged Liang Jue along, inevitably passing by the stalls. In the chilly December air, the warm, enticing aromas wafted to his nose, making him hesitate repeatedly, his steps faltering.

Liang Jue noticed this and, suppressing a laugh, gently pulled him and asked, “Would you like to buy something to try?”

At the question, Luo Chuchen’s hesitation vanished. He cast a lingering glance at the stalls but then resolutely turned back, saying, “No, no. Look, the boat is here.”

With that, he grabbed Liang Jue’s wrist and headed toward the dock.

The painted boats on Bright Moon Lake were not particularly large but were exquisitely ornate, adorned with colorful paintings and carvings everywhere. Resembling a four-cornered pavilion, the boat had two levels: the lower one with partially latticed windows and the upper one open on all sides for enjoying the scenery.

Luo Chuchen looked up and noticed a few elegantly dressed young men seated on the decorative railings on the second level. He shivered and huddled closer to Liang Jue, whispering, “It’s so cold, yet there are people sitting up there in the wind. I really admire their courage.”

Liang Jue also glanced up and, after a pause, said to Luo Chuchen, “They are some of my former comrades-in-arms. They now work in the Ministry of War.”

Luo Chuchen was taken aback and quickly looked up again, studying the figures more carefully.

There were three young men, all around twenty years old, dressed in fine silk robes and adorned with jade belts. They were huddled together, laughing and chatting about something.

Liang Jue asked him, “Would you like to go up and meet them? They’re all good-natured, though they can be a bit playful and noisy.”

Naturally, Luo Chuchen nodded, suppressing his nervousness as he followed Liang Jue up to the second level of the boat. Shechuan and Heqi trailed behind them.

As Liang Jue stepped forward, the group was startled. The one at the front exclaimed, “General, what brings you here? This is a surprise.”

“Hey, there’s a young gentleman with you too,” another added, leaning against the railing and waving. “Hello there, young sir!”

As they approached and realized how friendly the group was, Luo Chuchen’s tension eased considerably. Liang Jue stepped in protectively, saying, “This is the young marquis of the Zhenyuan household.” Behave yourselves no mischief.”

“So this is the young marquis we’ve heard about,” the leader said leisurely, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. The other two followed suit, and Luo Chuchen quickly returned the gesture, saying, “There’s no need for such formality.”

Liang Jue introduced them one by one:

“This is Nie You, my former military advisor.”

Nie You, who had been leading the group, nodded at him with a leisurely pace and a constant smile, appearing quite amiable.

Upon hearing that he was a strategist, Luo Chuchen instantly sensed a cunning, “scheming” fox-like aura about him.

“These two behind me are my deputy generals Fang Hongyun and Fang Xuanming. They’re cousins.”

Both Fang Hongyun and Fang Xuanming had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and though their features weren’t particularly similar, their smiles revealed their familial connection.

Luo Chuchen greeted each of them in turn.

Nie You smiled and said, “Seeing is believing. The young marquis looks much better than I imagined.”

Luo Chuchen asked curiously, “How do you know about me?”

Nie You replied, “In recent days, our commander sometimes wouldn’t come to the Ministry of War or the military camp for an entire day, and even when he did, his mind seemed to be elsewhere. How could we not notice?”

Luo Chuchen was taken aback, unable to ponder deeply, only feeling his face grow warm.

Liang Jue cleared his throat. “Did you come here just to bring up old grievances?”

Nie You remained silent, and Fang Xuanming chimed in to help: “Today, Strategist Nie happened to have business with the chancellor. The two of us heard there was a grand event today, and since there wasn’t much to do at the camp, we tagged along. We didn’t expect to run into the general.”

Fang Hongyun asked curiously, “So, General, are you accompanying the young marquis for some leisure?”

Luo Chuchen had never felt awkward around Liang Jue before, but now, faced with his colleagues, he found himself hesitating, unsure whether to respond. He felt as if he were some kind of seductive consort leading the nation astray.

Noticing this, Nie You laughed and said, “You two, stop asking random questions. If you keep it up, the young marquis might just jump into the lake.”

Before Luo Chuchen could feel irritated, Liang Jue said sternly, “Nie You, do you want me to throw you in?”

The words seemed to carry weight, and in the blink of an eye, Nie You swiftly hid behind Fang Hongyun and Fang Xuanming, apologizing with a smile, “General, this humble official admits his mistake.”

Fang Hongyun glanced at Liang Jue, then back at Nie You, unsure whether to shield him, looking quite flustered.

Fang Xuanming stepped in to mediate, “Let’s sit and talk.”

Once seated, Liang Jue explained, “He’s learning painting, so I brought him here to enjoy the scenery.”

“I see,” Nie You nodded, cupping his hands toward Luo Chuchen. “My earlier words were just in jest. I hope the young marquis won’t take them to heart.”

Luo Chuchen pretended to be magnanimous. “Of course not.”

“Excellent,” Nie You smiled, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons. “Since it’s for painting, after you disembark from the pleasure boat, young marquis, you can follow the lake to the right over there.”

Nie You gestured lightly toward an octagonal pavilion not far away.

“The Lin Yun Pavilion. From there, you can take in the entire view of Moonlit Lake. Unfortunately, after noon, it will be reserved as the venue for the painting competition. It’s still early now, so if you go ahead and take a look, you won’t have to squeeze in with the crowd later.”

Luo Chuchen, unaware of such details, politely expressed his thanks.

“Ah, no need for such formalities,” Nie You glanced at Liang Jue. “I only hope that in the future, the young marquis will put in a good word for this humble official in front of the general, so he won’t threaten to throw me into the lake at every turn. That would be more than enough.”

Liang Jue sighed helplessly, “When have I ever said such things frequently?”

Nie You noticed that Luo Chuchen didn’t seem keen on continuing the topic, so he shifted to recounting various legends associated with Yan Ying Mountain and Mingyue Lake, where famous poets of past dynasties had inscribed verses, which emperors had visited which spots,

As he pointed out the scenic views and narrated, Luo Chuchen became utterly captivated, even hugging her small hand warmer as she moved to sit beside Nie You.

She seemed to have completely set aside the earlier unpleasantness.

The painted boat glided through the center of Mingyue Lake and gradually docked at the opposite pier.

Here, too, numerous vendors lined both sides of the pier. Nie You and the two members of the Fang family excused themselves, claiming they had matters to attend to, and parted ways with the others.

Luo Chuchen, still somewhat reluctant to end the outing, waved to Nie You and said they should hang out again if they had the chance.

Turning back, she noticed Liang Jue’s darkened expression.

Luo Chuchen chuckled softly, aware that she had neglected him on the boat. She moved closer, grabbing his wrist, and asked, “Hey, you’re not sulking, are you?”