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

Li Ju held a small banquet at his new residence.

Only three people were invited: Wang Yu, Du Chen, and Zhang Yi.

The dishes were prepared by the maids: four cold dishes and four hot dishes, along with a pot of warm wine. Once everything was set out, Li Ju told the two maids to retreat to the backyard and not to come out.

"A courtier, are you afraid they'll hear?" Wang Yu picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.

"It's not that I'm afraid," Li Ju poured him some wine, "it's just that there's no need."

Zhang Yi sat opposite Wang Yu. He was a burly man with a full beard. He picked up a bowl of wine and gulped it down. He wiped his mouth and said, "This wine is good. It's much better than the horse urine in the army."

Wang Yu glanced at him: "Zhang Yi, can you speak more politely? This is a banquet for the guests, not your barracks."

"Refined?" Zhang Yi glared. "All I know is how to fight, not how to be refined. If the envoy doesn't mind, I only have this one life. If the envoy wants it, take it."

Du Chen sat at the very end, picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks, chewed it slowly, and didn't say anything.

Wang Yu poured him another drink: "Shoucheng, say something."

Du Chen put down his chopsticks: "You guys talk, I'm listening."

"You're a boring person," Wang Yu shook his head.

Zhang Yi glanced at Wang Yu, then at Du Chen, and grinned, "Old Wang, you've been arguing with Du the Registrar for so long, haven't you had enough yet?"

"Who argued with him?" Wang Yu snorted. "He's the one who always has a long face, like we owe him eight hundred strings of cash."

Du Chen said calmly, "You haven't paid back the two hundred coins you owe me."

Wang Yu choked, his face turning bright red: "It was a loan! It's not like I'm not going to pay it back!"

"It's been three months."

"I'm busy!"

"So busy that you go to the teahouse every day to listen to storytelling?"

Wang Yu slammed his fist on the table: "Du Shoucheng!"

"Alright," Li Ju said, picking up his wine glass. "Let's drink."

The three of them raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Ju put down his cup and looked at Wang Yu.

"How's the fleet situation going?"

Wang Yu wiped his mouth and said seriously, "More than a dozen boat owners have already agreed to work with us. They are all experienced boatmen with good boats and honest people. They said that as long as there is work and grain transport, they will follow you. They trust you."

Du Chen added from the side, "They're not wealthy boatmen, are they?"

Wang Yu rolled his eyes at him: "Am I stupid? If I find wealthy people, wouldn't that give Li Zixiong leverage? I only find those small boat owners who are oppressed by powerful families and embezzled by canal officials. They usually don't know where their next meal is coming from. As long as you pay them for the transport, they will fight to the death for the envoy."

Li Ju nodded: "Don't worry about the freight costs. I've already suggested to my superiors that all private merchant ships along the canal be centrally managed and regulated, with the government providing the freight costs. They won't be treated unfairly, as long as they obey orders."

Wang Yu's eyes lit up: "Your Excellency, is this an official approving move for our fleet?"

"Whether it's officialdom or not is unimportant," Li Ju said, raising his wine cup. "What matters is that the ship is in our hands, and the people are in our hands."

Wang Yu chuckled, understanding.

Zhang Yi, listening from the side, only half understood and scratched his head: "Your Excellency, I don't quite understand what you're saying. I just want to ask, are you aware of the matter at the river embankment camp?"

Li Ju looked at him: "What's wrong?"

"Someone is trying to plant people in the riverbank camp," Zhang Yi said in a low voice. "They're not our people, they're from outside. I checked, and the person behind them is someone powerful."

Li Ju pondered for a moment: "How much was stuffed in?"

"Seven or eight of them, all assigned to the smaller teams below."

"Take them," Li Ju said, "but you must keep an eye on them. Let them do the heavy, tiring, and dirty work. If they do well, keep them; if they don't, find an excuse to get rid of them. Don't let them touch the accounts, and don't let them touch the weapons."

Zhang Yi nodded: "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I have everything under control."

Li Ju then looked at Wang Yu: "The same goes for the canal escort team. They must be our own people. Anyone who doesn't obey will be replaced."

"We're already replacing them," Wang Yu said. "The defeated soldiers Zhang Yi brought back are all capable and trustworthy. I've screened the original ones, keeping 70% and replacing 30%."

"Thirty percent is enough," Li Ju said. "Take your time, there's no rush."

The three then discussed matters concerning the docks, granaries, and ferry crossings. Li Ju explained everything in detail, Wang Yu took notes, Du Chen nodded in agreement, and Zhang Yi simply responded with "Yes."

As darkness fell, the three of them got up to say goodbye.

Wang Yu walked to the door, turned back and said, "Your Excellency, don't worry about the fleet. Those boatmen all regard you as their benefactor. You give them a way to survive, and they'll risk their lives for you."

Li Ju nodded: "Be careful on the road."

The three disappeared into the night.

Li Ju closed the door and returned to the courtyard.

The moon had risen, hanging above the old locust tree, its soft light spilling across the ground. He took his sword from the wall and began practicing in the courtyard.

The swordplay was light and agile, unlike the fierce and forceful sword techniques used in the military. Each move was as fluid as flowing water. Under the moonlight, the sword light and the figure intertwined, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes left, sometimes right.

Two maids stood at a distance on the veranda, not daring to approach or utter a sound. One whispered to the other, "Does our lord also know swordsmanship?"

Another shook his head: "I don't know. But judging from his appearance, he's even more formidable than those military officers."

Li Ju sheathed his sword, his breathing steady. He returned the sword to its scabbard and was about to go back inside when a soft knock came from outside the courtyard gate.

He frowned, walked over and opened the door.

Wei Nizi stood outside the door, wrapped in a dark cloak, her small face mostly covered by the hood, only revealing a pair of bright eyes.

"Li Huairun!" she whispered, slipping inside. "I've been waiting for you."

"Why are you here at this hour?" Li Ju closed the door.

"Deliver a letter." Wei Nizi pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him. "Three days from now, at the White Horse Temple. Your elder sister is going to offer incense; you should go too."

Li Ju took the letter but did not open it.

"understood."

Wei Nizi turned to leave, then turned back: "Don't forget! You still haven't given me the milk biscuits you promised me last time!"

Li Ju chuckled: "I'll make it up next time."

"You keep your word." Wei Nizi pulled up his hood and ran off in a flash.

Three days later, at White Horse Temple.

Autumn is in full swing, and the osmanthus flowers in the temple are in full bloom, their fragrance filling the courtyard.

The ginkgo leaves are golden and have fallen to the ground, making a rustling sound when you step on them.

Li Ju wore a moon-white straight robe with a black half-sleeved outer garment, and her hair was neatly tied up.

He entered the main hall first, lit incense, kowtowed, and then stood up. After donating a few coins for incense, he withdrew and walked slowly along the corridor.

He went twice, and on the third trip, he saw the women of the Wei family entering the mountain gate from afar.

A small sedan chair with a blue curtain was surrounded by several maids. Wei Gui walked in front, wearing a lotus-root-colored dress with a plain white half-sleeved outer garment. His black hair was tied up in a high bun and adorned with a white jade hairpin—not the one he had given him, but an old one.

She went into the hall to offer incense, and Li Ju stood under the eaves, with his hands behind his back, looking at the osmanthus flowers in the courtyard.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

He turned around.

Wei Gui emerged from the palace and walked along the corridor toward this place. Upon approaching and seeing him, he paused slightly, then regained his composure.

She curtsied and said, "Young Master Li."

Li Ju returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Madam Ze".

The two stood on the veranda, two steps apart. A breeze blew, and osmanthus petals fluttered down, landing on her shoulder.

"The weather is fine today, has Madam come to worship Buddha?" Li Ju asked in a calm tone.

Wei Gui lowered his eyes slightly: "A small wish from home, I've come here to burn incense. Young Master Li, are you also here to offer incense?"

"For the sake of the river embankment and the grain transport, for the sake of the local people, we seek peace and stability," Li Ju said.

Wei Gui raised his eyes and glanced at him: "Young Master Li has the people in his heart; he will surely be blessed by Heaven."

Li Ju's gaze fell on the osmanthus petals on her shoulder, and his voice softened: "I dare not presume to offer my protection. I only wish for smooth canal transport, safe riverbanks, and also for the safety of all the worshippers in the temple."