The Double
Chapter 163 - 163 87 Mid-Autumn_5

163: Chapter 87 Mid-Autumn_5 163: Chapter 87 Mid-Autumn_5 “Everything will be clear once we meet,” he said.

…

Duke Su’s Residence.

Despite the somber autumn day, the garden of the Duke Residence was still blossoming with clusters of beautiful flowers.

It seemed that the Duke Residence knew nothing of the desolation of autumn or winter, as Duke Su tended to a residence full of flowers that could bloom in all seasons.

While peach blossoms would not bloom in autumn, chrysanthemums would, and although lotuses would not last into winter, red plum blossoms would.

Of course, ordinary peach, plum, chrysanthemum, and apricot blossoms were not to Duke Su’s liking.

The flowers he nurtured were more delicate than those of most people in Yanjing City.

They couldn’t withstand freezing or excessive heat.

Too much water was detrimental, and too shallow a layer of soil was also a problem; they needed constant pruning and pest control, as well as the perfect comfortable spot, neither too cramped nor too open.

They must be protected from cats and birds alike.

Everyone in the Duke Residence, from the stewards and guards to those who burnt the nighttime incense, was a master of horticulture.

If there were flowers an average person couldn’t tend to, one just needed to loiter by Duke Su’s gate and ask any of the servants leaving in the morning; they would surely have the right advice to share.

When people asked where the most beautiful place in Yanjing City was, it wasn’t White Cloud Mountain, Qingdao Temple, the palace, or the painted boats, but the Duke Residence.

It was a place that seemed to gather the finest colors of the world, a beauty out of step with everything around it.

Some said that if it weren’t for Duke Su’s unpredictable temper that no one dared provoke, the daily onlookers alone could be enough to collapse the Residence’s outer wall.

It was truly too beautiful.

And perhaps there was something about beautiful places raising beautiful people.

The servants, young men, guards, and enforcers in the entire Duke Residence were all marvelously attractive; although they couldn’t rival Duke Su’s devastating beauty, they could probably enchant quite a few if brought outside.

It was puzzling indeed.

At the moment, someone was speaking inside the study of Duke Su’s Residence.

Kong Liu slammed his fist on the table, his voice coarse as he said, “The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern celebration is tomorrow, are you going or not?”

“No,” Jih Heng replied briskly.

“Why not?” Kong Liu asked, “Don’t you want to see what Prince Cheng is up to?”

“It’s not time for him to act yet, so going serves no purpose,” Jih Heng replied indifferently, “It’s the same every year, not interesting.”

“This year there is Golden Mansion,” Lu Jiu, sitting on the other side and gracefully stroking his sharp goatee, piped in, “Doesn’t the Lord enjoy watching plays?”

“Right, right, right,” Kong Liu chimed in, “Golden Mansion, I’ve heard it’s much better than that worn-out Lovesick Class that was all the rage before.”

Jih Heng gave him a look, knowing all too well that the previously famous Lovesick Class of Yanjing City fell from grace because one of its actors, Liu Sheng, who always played the young female lead, had taken the wrong fancy.

He’d audaciously attempted to climb into Jih Heng’s bed while performing at the Residence for the old general’s birthday celebration.

Jih Heng, utterly disgusted, had broken his legs and thrown him out, leading the Lovesick Class to flee Yanjing City overnight.

To anger Duke Su could easily cost one their life.

Thus, the Lovesick Class vanished from Yanjing City, with no other opera troupe taking its place.

Not long ago, Golden Mansion arrived, boasting a fine reputation.

Seeing Jih Heng still silent, Kong Liu cried out, “If you don’t go out, both Lu Xiaohuzi and I will have to sit in the Residence all night dealing with public affairs.

Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival!

Jih Heng, Duke, my Lord!

Can’t you show some humanity?

Even beggars get to celebrate the festival!”

Lu Jiu remained silent but his smile seemed to agree wholeheartedly with Kong Liu’s words.

Jih Heng glanced at both of them, and after a long pause, said, “No.”

Kong Liu deflated instantly, about to retort, when the door suddenly opened, and Jih Heng’s grandfather, the old general, walked in.

Despite the late September weather, the old general was bare-chested, likely having just come back from practicing his sword in the courtyard, his forehead still glistening with sweat.

However, his Sword Qi must have once again ravaged many of Jih Heng’s cherished flowers.

Seeing petals fluttering above the old general’s head, Lu Jiu couldn’t help but twitch; he recognized them from the “Fragrant Snow Sea” that Jih Heng purchased for one thousand taels of silver from foreign merchants.

A few of those petals were probably worth one hundred taels of silver by themselves.

No wonder the servants often said that it wasn’t Jih Heng who was the most extravagant, but the old general.

With such a grandfather who cared so little for beauties, it was a mystery how he and Jih Heng managed to live together.

“Are you planning to go to the Mid-Autumn lantern festival tomorrow?” The old general’s voice was strong and booming as he looked at Jih Heng with a hint of regret, “I was actually hoping you would stay and practice sword with me at home.

It’s a pity to hear you talking about the festival in the room.”

Kong Liu was about to say “It’s not a pity, Jih Heng isn’t going” when he heard Jih Heng’s regretful voice, “Indeed, it’s a real pity.”

Kong Liu looked at Jih Heng in shock.

Jih Heng was smiling, nonchalantly saying, “Grandfather, you can practice by yourself in the Residence, preferably in an open space.

We will be going out and will return very late.”