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

Chapter 34 Is Liu Jianjun having romantic feelings?
Li Xian instantly realized that Liu Jianjun was referring to Shangguan Wan'er.

After all, Liu Jianjun had been behaving very strangely ever since Shangguan Wan'er appeared.

Li Xian asked in confusion, "How come Miss Wan'er is not simple?"

Liu Jianjun sat back down, rubbing his temples with both hands, his brows furrowed as if he were pondering something complicated: "Tell me about Shangguan Wan'er first. Has she entered the palace yet? What is her status?"

Li Xian found Liu Jianjun's question very strange.

What do you mean she's now in the palace?
Could it be that he was absolutely certain that Shangguan Wan'er would enter the palace?

But Li Xian was already used to Liu Jianjun's neurotic behavior, and said, "Didn't I say before that the Shangguan family had already fallen into decline in the first year of Linde? All the male members of the family were executed, and only Shangguan Mazi, the illegitimate son in the rumors, and some female relatives were spared from the calamity."

“Shangguan Wan’er is one of them.”

Liu Jianjun nodded and asked, "Why did the Shangguan family fall into decline? All the male members were executed; they must have committed some serious crime, right?"

Li Xian found it difficult to speak, but he still said, "Shangguan Yi once drafted an edict for my father to depose my mother."

Liu Jianjun was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Holy crap! This old man is so audacious, he even dares to provoke Wu... even your mother?"

Li Xian smiled awkwardly and continued, "That's why the newborn Shangguan Wan'er and her mother, Zheng, were sent to the inner palace to serve as slaves."

Liu Jianjun seemed uninterested in this matter and asked, "And then?"

"Then, in the second year of the Yifeng era, the Empress Dowager summoned Shangguan Wan'er. At that time, Shangguan Wan'er was only fourteen years old, yet she was able to compose an essay in court. Moreover, the essay was fluent and the language was beautiful, as if it had been prepared in advance. It was at that time that I met her once. The Empress Dowager admired her literary talent and bestowed upon her the title of 'Talented Lady'..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jianjun interrupted, "So, Shangguan Wan'er entered the palace five years ago?"

Li Xian nodded.

But Liu Jianjun frowned even more deeply, muttering, "So according to you, Shangguan Wan'er should have a grudge against your mother, how come these two are involved together?"

This time, Li Xian understood the implication in Liu Jianjun's words and asked in surprise, "You mean... Shangguan Wan'er was sent by the Empress Dowager?"

Liu Jianjun shook his head: "If I had to wait three to five years, I could be sure, but now, after hearing your story, I'm not so sure anymore."

Li Xian thought to himself, what truth can't be revealed in three to five years? Do we still need Liu Jianjun to confirm it then?
Why would you suspect her?

"The timing is too coincidental. We had just arrived in Chang'an and presented the auspicious omens. We were just waiting for news from your father when this woman suddenly appeared. I have to be on guard."

Liu Jianjun rubbed his temples again. "But your story just now has made me hesitate. If... I mean, if this woman really has something on her mind, she might actually be a help to us!"
"The most crucial question is, why did this woman approach you just now?"
"But I was right next to her just now, and she was wary of me, so she didn't say anything, which made it hard for me to be sure."

Li Xian listened to Liu Jianjun's analysis, but the more he listened, the less he understood.

So he suggested, "How about... I arrange to meet her for you, and we can ask her again?"

Liu Jianjun slapped his thigh: "No, let's go back to the post station! Let's wait for her to come to us!"

Then, he grabbed Li Xian and rushed outside.

As soon as the two stepped out, the madam approached them with a smile, greeting, "Young Master Liu~"

Liu Jianjun waved his hand and said quickly, "Grandma, you can't stay today. Remember that!"

The madam was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded.

Liu Jianjun then recited: "The Yellow River flows far up to the white clouds, a lone city stands amidst ten thousand mountains. Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows, for the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass. Your building is called Yuchun Tower, and this poem contains both jade and spring, so I'll give it to you!" After saying that, he grabbed Li Xian and ran outside.

But after taking two steps, he abandoned Li Xian and turned back, eyeing a golden roast chicken on the nearby table, and took it away along with the plate.

Then, without turning around, he shouted, "Mom, I'm taking this roast chicken with me!"

Before the madam could react, she subconsciously nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, okay!"

Li Xian was dragged back to the inn by Liu Jianjun, still completely bewildered. He subconsciously asked, "You're not going to visit prostitutes anymore?"

"Why would I go to a brothel? I'm only sixteen! It's the time when my body is still growing! I need to conserve my vital energy!"

Li Xian rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking to himself that he wondered who was holding those two girls so affectionately yesterday.

But at this moment, Liu Jianjun had already broken the roast chicken in half, torn off a leg and stuffed it into his mouth, saying as he ate, "Xianzi, you should eat too, their roast chicken is really authentic!"

Li Xian chuckled and tore off a piece of chicken breast, putting it in his mouth.

The roast chicken was still warm, and it definitely tasted much better than when it had cooled down.

Li Xian thought for a moment and said, "Your poem just now had nothing to do with brothels. It seemed to be about the frontier? Have you been to Yumen Pass?"

Liu Jianjun was busy dealing with chicken legs and said in a muffled voice, "I've never been there, I'm just guessing. Do you really think poets have been everywhere? They just cut a couple of lines from here and sew a couple of lines from there and they've pieced it together."

"If you ask me, the most inhuman people in this world are poets. They all seem to be suffering from a kind of angry youth syndrome, and they have to groan about everything they see."

"They were having a good time, expressing their true feelings, but it's a pity that later generations have to recite their poems until their brains are fried!"

Li Xian chuckled and said, "When you were studying with that official from Chang'an, was this how he made you memorize it?"

Liu Jianjun shook his head. "Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about Shangguan Wan'er."

Li Xian hummed in agreement, and Liu Jianjun continued, "Next time that woman comes, could you arrange a meeting for me and see if I can meet her alone?"

"Meet alone?"

"Yeah, there are some things I need to confirm with her." Liu Jianjun nodded. In the short time he had finished half a roast chicken, he called out to Li Xian, "You eat, or I'll finish it all!"

But Li Xian's suspicion deepened, and he asked, "You and she are complete strangers, is there anything you need to do that you need to avoid me about?"

Liu Jianjun put down the chicken in his hand, looked up, and stared intently at Li Xian.

"I need to determine whether this woman is hiding something. This is difficult, but it will affect how we treat her in the future. So, if necessary, I will use my femininity. If you are there, I cannot use it."

Li Xian paused for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on.

The beauty Liu Jianjun was referring to was himself.

So, Li Xian stared at Liu Jianjun for a long time, until Liu Jianjun felt his scalp tingling, before saying, "Just tell me you like Miss Wan'er!"

……

(End of this chapter)