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

Li Ju hasn't been home for five days in a row.

In the duty room of the Water Conservancy Bureau, there was a camp couch with a thin layer of bedding, which was bone-chillingly cold at night.

He couldn't care less about any of that; the documents on his desk were never finished, the fleets at the dock were always urging him on, and the grain registers in the various warehouses were never aligned.

Du Chen also stayed up late, his eyes were covered in dark circles, but the accounts were crystal clear.

Wang Yu and Zhang Yi took turns running fieldwork, one at the dock and the other on the river embankment. When they came back, they would lie down in the duty room and snore loudly.

That afternoon, Li Ju had just taken a nap when Zhou Xiaoli gently knocked on the door.

"Special Envoy, Lady Wei has arrived and is waiting at the side gate."

Li Ju opened his eyes, got up, straightened his clothes, went out through the back door of the duty room, went around a narrow alley, and arrived at the side gate of the Water Conservancy Bureau.

Wei Nizi stood at the door, wrapped in a scarlet cloak, her little face flushed red from the wind.

A maid followed behind him, carrying a food box.

"Li Huairun!" Wei Nizi's eyes lit up when he saw him come out. "You've finally come out! I've been waiting for you for ages!"

Li Ju walked over and lowered her voice: "Why did you come here again? What if someone sees us—"

"So what if they saw it?" Wei Nizi pouted. "I'm just bringing food to my brother-in-law, who dares to gossip?"

Li Ju's ears burned, but he didn't reply.

Wei Nizi took the food box from the maid and stuffed it into his hand: "My sister made this. Longan and red date soup, wolfberry and yam cake, and a calming soup. She said you must not have been sleeping well these days, so this is to help you recover."

Li Ju took the food box; it was heavy and still warm.

"Please thank your elder sister for me."

"It's good that you know." Wei Nizi took out another letter from his sleeve and handed it to him. "And this too."

Li Ju took the letter and put it in his pocket.

Wei Nizi leaned closer and lowered her voice, "My sister said you shouldn't overwork yourself. Your health is important." She then took two steps back, waved to him, and said, "I'm leaving! Don't forget to eat!"

She turned to leave, then turned back: "Give me back the food box next time! That's my sister's favorite!"

Then he ran away in a flash, with the maid chasing after him.

Li Ju stood at the side door, watching her figure disappear into the alleyway. He looked down at the food box in his hand and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Just as he was about to turn back, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

It wasn't one person, it was a group of people.

He turned around.

At the alley entrance, Yang Xuangan, along with a group of civil and military officials, was coming around from the direction of the main hall.

One of them, dressed in a purple official robe, had a gloomy expression—Li Zixiong.

Yang Xuangan paused when he saw the food box in Li Ju's hand. His gaze swept over the direction where Wei Nizi had disappeared at the alley entrance, and a smile appeared on his face.

Li Ju's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting: "Duke of Chu, I was unaware of your arrival today. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly."

Yang Xuangan waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright. I just came to see you. The Water Conservancy Bureau is so busy, you can't even go home, can you?"

Li Zixiong spoke coldly from the side: "Consultant Li is quite fortunate. He is busy with official duties, yet he still has a beautiful woman to bring him food."

He glanced at the food box in Li Ju's hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "The Wei family's daughter isn't even married yet, not even engaged, and she's already exchanging letters and sending food boxes in private. If word gets out, where will the Wei family's reputation be? What about the rules of aristocratic families?"

These words are harsh, but every sentence touches on etiquette and propriety.

Li Ju remained expressionless and was about to speak when Yang Xuangan raised his hand to stop Li Zixiong.

"Brother Zixiong, you flatter me," Yang Xuangan said calmly, his gaze fixed on Li Ju, his smile undiminished. "I think Li Ju is quite the romantic. It's a good thing that someone still cares about you even when you're busy with official duties."

Li Zixiong's face darkened, and he was about to say something when Yang Xuangan turned around and said to the people behind him, "No one should spread today's events. It's only natural for Li Yezhe to have worked so hard for the country and for his family to send him some food. If word gets out, it will only cause gossip and make things worse."

Everyone readily agreed.

Li Zixiong gritted his teeth and dared not utter another word.

Yang Xuangan patted Li Ju on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Let's go inside and talk."

Li Ju cupped his hands in greeting: "Duke of Chu, please."

The group returned to the main hall.

Yang Xuangan didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly in the main seat. Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, with Li Ju standing at the lower end, still carrying the food box in his hand.

Yang Xuangan glanced at the food box and smiled, "Li Yezhe, what are you carrying?"

Li Ju placed the food box on the table beside him, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "These are some foods sent by my family. They were worried that I might be overworking and harming my health."

He was telling the truth. It's just that he used the phrase "family members" cleverly—even those who haven't married into the family are considered family.

Li Zixiong stood to the side, his lips twitching slightly.

He cursed inwardly: What a pretentious act. What family? She's clearly that girl from the Wei family.

A son born out of wedlock has managed to marry the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, and he's still putting on airs here.

But he dared not say it. Yang Xuangan had already spoken; if he continued to pester him, it would be disrespectful.

Yang Xuangan nodded, not pressing further, and changed the subject: "Li, you've had a hard time these past few days. I've come today to see you. The Grand Canal is the lifeline of the campaign against Liaodong; if things are stable here, the front lines will be stable."

"You flatter me, Duke of Chu," Li Ju replied. "I will certainly do my utmost."

"Looks like the momentum is quite good." Yang Xuangan paused, looked around, and said to his attendants behind him, "Pass down the order: from today onwards, raise the food standards in the kitchen of the Water Conservancy Bureau. Li Yezhe's three meals a day will be provided by the Duke of Chu's mansion."

The attendant agreed.

Li Ju quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency, Duke of Chu, is too kind to you; I am deeply humbled."

"No need for such formalities," Yang Xuangan said with a smile. "You have worked tirelessly for the country, so it is only right that I reward you."

He stood up, walked over to Li Ju, and spoke in a warmer tone: "Li Ju, although the canal transport is busy, you should also relax a bit. I've prepared a small banquet at my residence tonight to reward you. Your father, General Li, is also here."

Li Ju felt a chill run down his spine.

Another test.

Li Mi, you really have no end to this.

He bowed respectfully and said, "I dare not refuse the Duke of Chu's kind invitation. I will definitely pay him a visit tonight."

Yang Xuangan nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the crowd and said, "Alright, everyone disperse. Let Attendant Li get back to work."

The crowd filed out. As Li Zixiong passed Li Ju, he paused, gave him a cold look, said nothing, and strode away.

Yang Xuangan walked to the door, then turned back: "Li Yezhe, don't forget to bring that food box tonight. I'd also like to try the Wei family's cooking."

His smile was meaningful as he said this.

Li Ju cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes."

Yang Xuangan is gone.

The main hall fell silent.

Li Ju picked up the food box and opened a corner of it.

The sweet aroma of longan and red dates wafts out, warm and comforting.

He closed the food box and took a deep breath.

Tonight's banquet is yet another battle.