My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Li Ju was looking at river maps in the duty room of the Water Conservancy Bureau when he heard footsteps outside the door.

The butler, Li Fu, stood at the door with a smile on his face. The smile seemed to have been measured with a ruler—the curve of his lips was just right, neither too deep nor too shallow, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

"Sixth Brother, your father sent this old servant to deliver a message: in three days, during the autumn ancestral worship ceremony, please ask for leave to return home and join the clan in the ceremony."

Li Ju put down the map in his hand and glanced at him.

Li Fu's smile remained unchanged.

Assistant Director of Water Conservancy, a seventh-rank official.

In ordinary families, this would be a remarkable official position, but in a top-tier clan like the Li family of Longxi, a seventh-rank official was nothing special.

In Luoyang, which of the Li family's eldest sons didn't get an eighth or seventh rank just by virtue of their family connections?

The position that this illegitimate son had fought so hard for was, in the steward's eyes, merely "barely acceptable."

"Understood," Li Ju said. "Report to my father for me; I will arrive within three days."

"Then this old servant is relieved." Li Fu cupped his hands in greeting, turned and left.

Wang Yu peeked out from next door, looked at Li Fu's back, and said with a sneer, "Li Cheng, that old man's smile is so fake."

"You figured it out?" Li Ju picked up the map again.

"Like one of those gigolos in a teahouse." Wang Yu walked in, plopped down, and said, "Li Cheng, you just let him go like that?"

"Otherwise what?" Li Ju asked without looking up. "Would you argue with him, then go back and get scolded by your father?"

Wang Yu thought about it and agreed, chuckling, "That's true. But Li Cheng, you're too good-natured."

"It's not because I have a good temper," Li Ju turned the page, "it's because I'm not worth it."

The leave request went smoothly.

The Water Conservancy Commissioner (the highest-ranking official in charge of water conservancy) was reviewing the case closing documents for Liyang Granary when he heard Li Ju say he needed to take three days off to go home and pay respects to his ancestors. He waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. You've worked hard on the Liyang matter; you should take a few days off."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Li Ju left the main hall and turned to walk towards his duty room. The courtyard of the Water Conservancy Bureau was not large; one had to pass through a long corridor to get from the main hall to the duty room. Several osmanthus trees were planted under the corridor, and they were in full bloom, filling the air with a rich fragrance.

He took a few steps and heard voices coming from the duty room.

"Du Shoucheng, don't you get tired of always having a long face?" It was Wang Yu's voice.

"Not tired." Du Chen's voice was as flat as plain water.

"Look at you, your brows are furrowed like that when you're doing the accounts, anyone who didn't know better would think you're fighting with the ledger."

"The ledger doesn't lie, but people do."

Are you insulting me?

"You noticed it?"

Wang Yu choked for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Alright, alright, you're amazing. Shoucheng, what else can you do besides accounting?"

"Can eat."

"..."

"Can sleep."

"..."

"It can breathe."

"Du Shoucheng!" Wang Yu laughed and cursed, "Can't you talk properly, you son of a bitch?"

"Yes," Du Chen said. "Ask carefully first."

Li Ju pushed open the door and went in.

Wang Yu was leaning over Du Chen's desk. Du Chen sat upright, his expression as usual, holding a pen and still writing.

"Alright, stop fooling around." Li Ju walked behind his desk and sat down. "I have something to tell you."

Wang Yu stopped laughing, and Du Chen put down his pen. The two of them looked over.

"I request three days' leave for the autumn sacrifice," Li Ju said. "Keep an eye on the affairs of the yamen during these days."

"The matter of the Water Conservancy Bureau is easy to handle," Du Chen said. "But the grain transport ledgers for Hedong Circuit need to be delivered to the Department of Revenue the day after tomorrow. I've already checked half of them, and the rest—"

"You continue with the testing, and once you're done, have Wang Yu deliver it."

Wang Yu said, "I'll send it there? I don't know anyone in the Ministry of Revenue."

"You just need to know the gate," Li Ju said. "Just hand it in and say it's a document from the Water Conservancy Bureau, and someone will take it."

Wang Yu nodded.

Du Chen added, "There's one more thing. Another grain transport order has arrived from Zhuojun, this time requesting grain for December. Given the current transport capacity, it can't be delivered before November."

Li Ju thought for a moment and said, "Write a report, explain the situation clearly, and attach the data. I will personally deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue when I return."

"it is good."

Wang Yu looked at Du Chen, then at Li Ju, and said, "Li Cheng, can you two stop talking so seriously? It's making me sleepy."

Du Chen glanced at him: "You can leave now."

"I'm not going out."

"Then you'll stay trapped."

Wang Yu was about to retort when Li Ju raised his hand to stop him: "Alright, let's get down to business. While I'm gone for three days, you two shouldn't just bicker; you need to finish your work."

"I can finish it," Du Chen said.

"If you can't finish, will you help me finish it?" Wang Yu said.

"Do it yourself."

"So you think you can finish it?"

"I'm saying I can finish it. Whether you can finish it or not, I don't know."

Wang Yu was furious and turned to look at Li Ju: "Li Cheng, you have to do something about him."

Li Ju was already looking down at the documents when he casually said, "You two should resolve your own issues."

Helpless, Wang Yu stood up and walked out, but turned back at the door and said, "Du Shoucheng, you wait, one day I'll sew your mouth shut."

"We'll talk about it after you learn how to hold a needle."

Wang Yu slammed the door and left.

Du Chen remained expressionless and continued writing.

Li Ju's lips curved slightly, but he didn't look up.

This pair of Zhuge Liang and Feng Xiao are truly a perfect match.

The day before the autumn sacrifice, Li Ju finished his work and rode home on horseback.

As dusk approached, fewer pedestrians remained on the street. He turned into an alley, and just as he rounded the corner, a figure darted out from behind the wall, blocking his horse's path.

"Li Huairun!"

Li Ju reined in his horse and looked down—it was Wei Nizi.

She was wearing a light yellow jacket, holding a blue cloth bundle in her arms, looking up at him with her eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Lady Wei," Li Ju dismounted, "what are you doing here?"

"I've been waiting for you." Wei Nizi shoved the package into his arms. "My sister asked me to give this to you."

Li Ju took the package; it was heavy and felt soft and thick to the touch.

"What is this?"

"Go back and see for yourself." Wei Nizi took two steps back, then remembered something, took out a letter from his sleeve, and stuffed it into his hand. "And this too."

Li Ju took the letter. The envelope was addressed to Li Huairun in elegant handwriting.

"Please thank your elder sister for me."

"Thank him yourself." After saying this, Wei Nizi turned and ran, but after a few steps he turned back, "Don't forget!"

Then it disappeared into the alleyway in a flash.

Li Ju stood there, watching her retreating figure, and shook his head.

He tucked the letter into his pocket, hung the package on his saddle, and was about to mount his horse when a voice came from behind him.

"Li Cheng?"

Li Ju turned around.

Wei Feng stood at the alley entrance, dressed in casual clothes, holding a jar of wine in his hand, looking at him.

"Commander Wei—no, General Wei," Li Ju corrected himself, "What a coincidence."

Wei Feng walked over, his gaze sweeping over the bundle on the saddle, then looking in the direction where Wei Nizi had disappeared. He smiled and didn't ask any further questions.

"Unfortunately," Wei Feng said, "I just came out of the yamen and saw you from afar. I was going to say hello, but I didn't expect—"

He paused, then pointed to a small tavern next to the alley: "Li Cheng, are you free? I'd like to invite you for a drink."

Li Ju glanced at the sky, then at Wei Feng.

"it is good."

The tavern was small, with only three or four tables. The two found a seat by the window, and Wei Feng ordered a pot of warm wine and a few small dishes.

Wei Feng poured a glass for Li Ju, and then poured one for himself.

"Li Cheng, I haven't properly thanked you for what happened in Liyang." Wei Feng raised his glass. "This glass is for you."

"You're too kind, General Wei." Li Ju picked up his cup, clinked it against Wei's, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wei Feng put down his cup, looked at Li Ju, and smiled faintly.

"Has Li Cheng's family arranged a marriage for you?"

Li Ju paused slightly in the hand holding the cup.

"No," he said. "I'm too busy with the grain transport to think about this."

Wei Feng nodded, paused for a moment, and then said, "If Li Cheng doesn't mind, I have a younger sister. Although she is born out of wedlock, she is pretty and has a good temperament. If you are interested, I would like to play matchmaker for you."