Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 152 Guan Wuyouji
Li Xian realized what the so-called "security guards" Wu Youji was talking about actually did.

There were roughly two teams, each with ten people, patrolling back and forth along the road from Qinglongfang to the back gate of the Prince's Mansion to maintain order.

If they encountered someone who would cause trouble... of course, not many people would dare to cause trouble in front of the Imperial Guards.

Wu Youji and Liu Jianjun both revealed the same shifty-eyed expression and chuckled, "Our original duty is to protect the safety of the capital. Qinglongfang is also part of the capital! It's only reasonable for us to send two squads of soldiers here to patrol!"

As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with Liu Jianjun, and then revealed that sly, colluding laugh.

Li Xian was speechless for a moment.

However, it must be said that with Wu Youji's soldiers patrolling here, if the people of the Fourteenth and Eleventh Princes really wanted to come looking for them, they would have to think twice.

After Wu Youji arranged for the imperial guards to begin their patrol, Liu Jianjun put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Brother Wu, since you're here, let's have a simple meal together!"

After saying that, he winked at Li Xian.

Li Xian instantly understood and looked at Wu Youji.

Wu Youji smiled sheepishly and cupped his hands in greeting to Li Xian: "Then... I shall respectfully accept your offer!"

The three of them did not return to the Prince's Mansion, but instead went out through the back gate of the South City Gate and found a private room on the second floor of a tavern facing the street in Qinglongfang.

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun were dressed in ordinary clothes, while Wu Youji was wearing a full set of bright armor. However, this was, after all, Chang'an City. The shopkeeper was not afraid of Wu Youji when he saw him, but his smile became even warmer. He looked at Wu Youji and asked, "This military officer, we just got some fresh river delicacies. Shall we cook a pot of them for you?"

Wu Youji glared angrily: "You blind fool, can't you tell who's the host and who's the guest here!"

Li Xian chuckled and gestured for Wu Youji to sit down: "Alright, we didn't sit down ourselves, so how can we blame the restaurant?"

The shopkeeper then realized that Li Xian was the customer and walked apologetically to Li Xian's side. Just as he was about to ask a question, Li Xian pointed to Liu Jianjun and said, "Let him order."

The shopkeeper looked embarrassed for a moment before finally walking up to Liu Jianjun and asking for instructions.

Liu Jianjun chuckled and began ordering food without any hesitation.

"Hey, bring me some! The fattest bream from the Wei River, stewed together, and a pot of lamb, with spare ribs, stewed until very tender! Three bowls of cold noodles, with plenty of mustard and vinegar celery... Oh, and don't put anything in his bowl, he can't handle spicy food." Liu Jianjun said, pointing at Li Xian.

Then he continued, "If there are any freshly picked lotus root slices or sunflower vegetables, bring out a plate of sesame cakes first. This brother of mine is wearing iron armor and gets hungry quickly."

Wu Youji grinned in agreement.

"Oh, and wine too. Bring out three jugs of your best wine first."

The shopkeeper beamed with delight and exclaimed, "Alright! Sir, please have a seat, the food and wine will be served shortly!"

While he was at it, Li Xian peered through the gap in the bamboo curtain at the second floor of the tavern.

The place was small, with five or six folding chairs and low tables. Besides them, there were two or three other tables of customers, so business was pretty bad.

Wu Youji removed his breastplate, let out a long sigh, and revealed his sweat-soaked undergarment: "This damn weather is so hot. Wearing this iron suit is practically torture!"

The speaker meant no harm, but Li Xian felt particularly uncomfortable hearing these words.

Wu Youji was right. Even though there was a drought last year, and the winter before that, it should have snowed in Chang'an by this time of year, but this year not a drop of water has fallen.

It's easy to imagine how severe the drought will be next year.

It seems that the government has also introduced drought prevention policies. The projects of digging irrigation canals and building dikes are in full swing. Even the irrigation canal that Liu Jianjun dug in the Prince's Mansion seems to be in cahoots with Liu Rengui. The government is now expanding the entire Yellow Canal, seemingly to cooperate with Liu Jianjun's work.

Before long, the food and drinks were served in a continuous stream.

The milky-white fish soup in the large, rough earthenware bowl smelled delicious, indicating that the restaurant owner's skills were quite good. Li Xian tasted the soup and felt that it was not as good as Liu Jianjun's, not only in terms of seasoning but also in terms of cooking time. But it was still edible.

Liu Jianjun didn't eat any; he's always been a picky eater. He just grabbed a piece of braised meat with his chopsticks, then took a sip from the warmed long-necked ceramic pot, smacked his lips, and exclaimed, "Xinfeng wine, a fine brew, really good!"

Li Xian jokingly teased him, "Why aren't you obsessed with Sanlejiang anymore?"

"Before, I was stuck in that small place of Bazhou and had no experience. I had only heard of the name Sanlejiang. It was only after coming to Chang'an that I discovered that Xinfeng wine is not bad, Jiannan Shaochun is equally authentic, and Qianhe wine from Hedong is also delicious."

Then he patted Wu Youji on the shoulder and said, "It's all thanks to my brother Wu that I've seen the world!"

Wu Youji chuckled, then lowered his voice: "Brother Liu, it's been quite a while since you've been back to Chang'an. Pingkang Ward has recently seen many things you like..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when he realized Li Xian was there too. He immediately turned to look at Li Xian and gave an awkward smile: "Roast chicken!"

Li Xian gave him a disapproving look and said, "I know what kind of people you two are. Just say it out loud. Am I going to complain to the Empress Dowager?"

As soon as he said that, a thought flashed through Li Xian's mind, and he suddenly realized something.

Although Wu Youji was ordered by his mother to guard Chang'an, he was clearly a marginal figure, and even the orders he received were ambiguous.

While I am wary of Wu Youji, Wu Youji is certainly also wary of me!

Because in Wu Youji's view, he was the mother's son, and his relationship with her was obviously closer!

Li Xian suddenly understood how Liu Jianjun had gotten Wu Youji under his control.

But at this moment, Liu Jianjun had already started playing a drinking game with Wu Youji, holding a wine jug. Li Xian had never heard of the drinking game the two were playing, but it seemed very simple. The two shouted the slogan "Fifteen, fifteen" and then decided the winner by opening and closing with one or both hands.

Because the drinking game was simple, the two drank very quickly, and in almost no time, the three jugs of wine in front of them were empty.

Li Xian stared at the three wine jugs lying on the ground, his expression pausing. He wondered if he was missing his share of the wine.

But Liu Jianjun had already called the shopkeeper to bring more wine.

Li Xian understood: Liu Jianjun wanted to get Wu Youji drunk.

So he waved his hand and said, "Shopkeeper, forget the pot, bring the wine jar!"

Then, he joined the two in a finger-guessing game.

He wanted to help Liu Jianjun.

……

As evening fell, Li Xian and Liu Jianjun, arm in arm, staggered towards the Prince's Mansion. Liu Jianjun, his face flushed, mumbled a complaint: "Xianzi... why did you get involved in this mess..."

"Originally, all I wanted was to win against Wu Youji, but after you came, I ended up drinking most of the jar of wine..."

"vomit!"

Li Xian was also delirious; he only remembered that Liu Jianjun had asked Wu Youji about some "factory".

He slurred, "Yes...you, you can't hold your liquor..."

……

(End of this chapter)