Chapter 218: Chapter 214: The Second Miss Isn’t Discussing Marriage, Is She?

Tang Xiaobai was startled by his actions and stared at him blankly.

Wenren Jia sighed lightly, "If Second Miss Tang wishes to contribute to Yanmen Pass, she can do so with words; there’s no need to make a map."

Tang Xiaobai understood, smiled with curved eyes, and said, "Don’t worry, before my father left, he made sure I had a position at the Ministry of War’s Mapping Department. All the maps I draw now are submitted to them."

The Mapping Department of the Ministry of War is responsible for the collection and creation of maps.

She is now officially a government official and even receives a monthly salary!

Wenren Jia froze for a moment, then laughed. He grabbed another piece of paper and added water to the inkstone, apologizing as he ground the ink, "It’s my fault for being reckless and ruining your ink work, Second Miss Tang."

Tang Xiaobai watched him grind ink with a smiling face on the table.

Wenren Jia’s hands were elegantly refined, with long and straight fingers. The joints were not prominent, even while holding an ink stick, making gentle circular motions.

How could she blame him? He was just concerned for her...

"Wenren—" Tang Xiaobai suddenly called out to him, but stopped after two words.

She usually called him Mr. Wenren, but today she didn’t feel like it.

What should she call him if not "Mister"?

While she was still contemplating what to call him, Wenren Jia looked up inquiringly.

Instead of calling out, Tang Xiaobai pursed her lips and softly said, "My family... is planning to arrange a marriage for me..."

Actually, this matter hadn’t been made public, but she just suddenly felt like saying it.

Wenren Jia smiled, "The Second Miss is charming and talented. I wonder which young man is fortunate enough to have such luck."

Tang Xiaobai blushed a bit from the compliment, sneaking a glance at him.

Dressed in white, his lowered gaze exuded an elegant gentleness to the extreme.

"If I were a few years older, you—"

He suddenly raised his eyes, clear and bright.

Tang Xiaobai awkwardly chuckled and continued, "You would be even older..."

"Indeed," Wenren Jia smiled gently, "I am the same age as Writer Gu and quite a bit older than Second Miss."

Tang Xiaobai let out an embarrassed smile and leaned back on her hands, feeling a bit deflated.

I intended to flirt with you, but you want to act like my uncle?

Ah...

There is always a little something missing between her and her elder brother...

...

Under Wenren Jia’s guidance, Tang Xiaobai redrew the map of Yanmen Pass based on the existing one from the Mapping Department and delivered it to Li Mu.

"This map drawn by Second Miss Tang is truly exquisite!" Qin Rong exclaimed in admiration.

They already had a map of Yanmen Pass in their hands, but this one was clearly more detailed in comparison.

"It must have required the guidance of a master, right?" Qin Rong remarked.

She was quite gifted and learned faster than most people, but when it came to map-making, talent alone wasn’t enough.

"She is now a clerk at the Ministry of War’s Mapping Department," Li Mu said.

Speaking this, in his mind, he couldn’t help but recall the previous map of Longmen Mountain.

The current map was made by Miss Tang, as her handwriting was evident in the place names, but the last one was definitely not.

Is it the person who guided her?

Who could it be?

Li Mu pondered deeply, his gaze darkening as he rolled up the map and issued a dismissal, "We’ll discuss this tomorrow!"

Qin Rong glanced at the map in his hand and said, "I’ll take the first battle?"

Li Mu frowned at her.

She suddenly smiled charmingly, "I’m a woman; the enemy will underestimate me."

But Li Mu knew that wasn’t the sole reason.

Qin Rong asked to fight because she needed this achievement.

Even though Li Xingyuan delegated the Commander’s Seal to her, who among those Zhenzhou generals would take her seriously?

She urgently needed a battle to establish her authority.

"We’ll discuss it tomorrow." Li Mu said flatly.

Only then did Qin Rong leave.

As the door opened, the clear night and the warm essence of spring brought in the fragrance of flowers and trees.

Li Mu gave it merely a glance before withdrawing his gaze and turning away.

It’s meaningless.

Ever since leaving the Capital City and leaving her, nothing had seemed meaningful.

Li Shu was still incessantly probing his identity, Li Xingyuan had privately arranged military power with Qin Rong, and Qin Rong’s ambitions were increasingly visible.

Everyone harbored a range of thoughts, with implications far beyond their words.

He missed her dearly.

Unfolding the letter he had read before, the familiar handwriting made his gaze turn greedy, devouring her concern and encouragement hidden between the lines.

But when he reached the end, his brows furrowed.

The last part, he had skimmed over the first time because it had nothing to do with him and was focused on the map matter.

This time, he read it over carefully.

Indeed, it had nothing to do with him.

"...I’ve heard that Princess Zhen Ding is fourteen years old, beautiful and charming, particularly skilled at the pipa. I wonder if Ah Xiao has ever met her?"

Why would he meet Li Xingyuan’s sister?

Skilled at the pipa?

Li Xingyuan and his sister had just lost their parents, and during the mourning period, they couldn’t play music. Why was the Second Miss asking this?

Did she want to hear it?

"...This time, it was dangerous. I wonder if the Princess was frightened or injured. When you have the chance, please convey my regards to the Princess..."

Li Mu frowned.

Why show concern for a princess she had never met? Why no concern for whether he was frightened or injured?

He was the one at the front lines; what did that princess do to deserve her special concern and mention?

The more Li Mu thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He recalled the map she had sent, and a sudden irritation surged within him as he called Mo Huan, "What about the marriage arrangements at the Duke Yan Mansion?"

Mo Huan looked bewildered, "I don’t know."

With all the battles and excitement lately, who had time to pay attention to marriage proposals?

Li Mu contemplated with deep eyes for a while, then said, "You must make a trip to the Capital City."

Mo Huan was astonished, "For the marriage at Duke Yan Mansion?"

Li Mu neither confirmed nor denied, sat down, and began writing letters.

Miss Tang might be young, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Duke Yan couple started thinking about matchmaking for her.

He needed to quickly convey his intentions to the Duke Yan couple.

Two letters, one sent to Liangzhou for Tang Shigong, and the other to be personally delivered to the Capital City by Mo Huan, to Miss Tang.

Upon receiving the letters, Mo Huan was about to leave when Li Mu called him back.

"Is there an expert on the pipa in the Capital City?" Li Mu asked.

Mo Huan: ???

"If not in the Capital City, where else would there be?" Mo Huan couldn’t help but ask in return.

"Find one and send her to Duke Yan Mansion," Li Mu instructed.

Mo Huan was stunned for a while before saying, "Doesn’t Duke Yan Mansion have the means to hire a pipa player?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince’s cold gaze glanced over.

Mo Huan immediately changed his tone, "Alright! I’ll find one personally!"

...

Tang Xiaobai looked at the beauty in front of her, holding a pipa, and was somewhat at a loss.

"This... this is?"

"This is a renowned pipa player from the Capital City, called... called what?" Mo Huan turned to ask the pipa player.

"My name is Qu Nu," she said.

Tang Xiaobai nodded with a forced smile at her and turned back to Mo Huan, "I mean, what is this for...?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Mo Huan looked innocent, "I am simply following orders."

Fine then...

Tang Xiaobai asked someone to take the pipa player to be settled and lowered her head to open the letter.

The letter should contain an explanation.

As soon as she read the beginning, Mo Huan cleared his throat and asked, "Has the Second Miss been discussing marriage plans lately?"

Tang Xiaobai’s hand slipped, nearly dropping the letter to the floor.