Although Zhou Xuan knew that Lin Heishan's guarantee was not reliable, he thought it was okay. With Lin Heishan stepping in, his father-in-law should be able to get out of prison without any issues. If his father-in-law got out and then they lost everything, the "Super Autumn War Hall" would be gone, which would be depressing. He said, "Let's wait until tomorrow to see how things go, anyway it's not far, we can rush over at any time."

  Zhou Xuan reminded Lin Hanyun that if Lin Heishan came back, he would send someone to inform him. Lin Hanyun said: "I know, you're really making a big deal out of nothing."

  "Making a big deal out of nothing!" Zhou Xuan glared and said: "You speak so lightly, as soon as my father-in-law was imprisoned, all the servants in the mansion ran away. Now it's cold and desolate, miserable and sorrowful!"

  "Alright, alright, I remember, now get lost."

  Zhou Xuan mounted the old horse, just about to leave, when a small maid from the Du Hu Fu hastily came out and said: "Second Miss, Jing Yi Xiangu has invited Second Miss to ask Zhou Xuan, young master Zhou, to come in for tea."

  Lin Han murmured, "That's strange, how did sister know Zhou Xuan came? Is sister really good at fortune-telling? Hmm, the other day I saw sister reading Yuan Tiangang's 'Six Ren Lessons', studying divination——" Raised her voice: "Hey, Zhou Xuan, follow me to pay respects to Eldest Aunt."

  Zhou Xuan was interested in that mysterious Lin Xiaojie who called herself Poor Dao, but he didn't have the heart for it now and declined, saying: "No, another day."

  "Ah!" Lin Hanyu's two slender eyebrows shot up: "Zhou Xuan, you really don't know your place! My sister's tea ceremony is the best in Jiangzhou, not just anyone can taste it. Even my father has to be careful when he wants a sip. My sister only invited you because she appreciates your poetry and music skills. Who do you think you are? Are you some kind of flower that smells so good? Hmph, I'll go tell my sister right now that someone dared to decline her invitation!"

  Zhou Xuan didn't expect that his casual refusal would cause Lin Hanyin to react so extremely, could it be that her sister was some kind of immortal goddess, and drinking her tea would grant immortality? However, this Miss Lin couldn't be offended, judging from Lin Hanyin's attitude, it was clear that her Daoist nun sister held a lot of weight in her heart, and probably also held a high position within the Du Hu Fu.

  Zhou Xuan hastily said: "I didn't refuse, I just think it's not early now. I want to come back another day after fasting and bathing to savor Miss Lin's tea carefully. This is called respecting the way of tea, do you understand?"

  "Never mind," Lin Hanyun said with a pout, "you're still fasting and bathing, just be honest with me later, my sister is not as kind as I am, if you dare to speak nonsense, you'll be beaten out."

  Zhou Xuan stood still: "Then I won't go. Having tea isn't a trial, what's the point of being so cautious?"

  Lin Han Yun saw Zhou Xuan was a bit angry, she softened and said: "Little ghost, I'm just joking with you, let's go." She told the soldier to take care of the old horse, then pulled Zhou Xuan's hand and walked inside.

  The little maid saw the second young lady casually holding hands with this young man, slightly surprised, and quickly turned her head to lead the way in front.

  This is Zhou Xuan's second visit to the Du Hu Fu, and he still enters through the same door as last time. Zhou Xuan has an excellent memory, able to recall hundreds of chess moves and never forget a path he has walked before. However, the Du Hu Fu is vast, with winding courtyards, corridors, and pavilions, and at night, the interplay of light and shadow makes it seem completely different from what he saw last time. If not for following Lin Huan Yun, Zhou Xuan would get lost.

  All along the way, he heard the sound of music and singing everywhere, the sound of wine orders, guessing games and chess pieces clinking, making Zhou Xuan wonder if this was not the imperial palace but an amusement park.

  Lin Han said, "These are all my father's idle guests. In ancient times, didn't Meng Changjun have 3,000 food guests? We don't have 3,000 in the mansion, but we do have several hundred. Each of them has some skills, such as fighting insects, fighting chickens, drinking and tea ceremonies, playing music, singing, chess, books, and painting. Anyway, there's something for everyone to play with. Hehe, Zhou Xuan, why don't you come to the mansion to be an idle guest? You can keep me company and also keep my sister company."

  When Zhou Xuan heard Lin Hanyin's last sentence, his heart skipped a beat. Looking at the green-clothed and small-hatted Lin Er, he thought: "Accompanying you sisters to play, what are we going to play? It seems that the female Taoist priests of the Tang Dynasty were quite promiscuous, such as Xue Tao and Yu Xuanji, who used the name of cultivating Taoism to mess around with boyfriends. Could this Lin young lady also be a dissolute nun?"

  Zhou Xuan quickly used the thought of "his father-in-law was still suffering in prison" to drive away the evil thoughts and nostalgia in his mind, straightened his clothes and followed Lin Hanyin into the inner courtyard.

  The inner and outer courtyards were separated by a high wall over seven meters tall, with carved brick decorations. At each corner of the two courtyards stood a hexagonal moon gate. Last time, Zhou Xuan had entered through the left moon gate, but this time he came in from the right one.

  Walking through a long corridor surrounding the small pond and artificial hill, I came to a quiet little courtyard with a gate plaque inscribed with four seal characters "Nine Difficulties Mountain House".

  Two maids with elegant appearance and slender figure came forward to greet them, leading Lin Hanyin and Zhou Xuan to a refined room. The windows were bright and the furniture was simple yet elegant. On one side of the wooden cabinet against the west wall, there were exquisite vases, jars, bowls, and cups in various colors, crystal clear and translucent. Two black purple sandalwood long tables stood on either side.

  The maid said softly: "Please sit down, both of you."

  Lin Han Yun took off her shoes, put on wooden clogs and walked in to kneel down behind the black sandalwood low table on the left, removed the servant's hat, pulled out the jade hairpin, shook her head, and a head of beautiful hair scattered down, transforming from a lively little servant girl into a beautiful young woman.

  Zhou Xuan also took off the pair of leather shoes that had accompanied him for thousands of years and prepared to sit behind the tea table on the right.

  A maid's nose slightly wrinkled, and her eyebrows furrowed as she said in a low voice, "Young Master Zhou, let me take you to wash your feet first."

  Zhou Xuan's face wasn't thick-skinned, and it also turned red at this time. He said: "I walked a lot today, usually it's very fragrant."

  Lin Han Yun sneered and said: "Stinky feet, go wash quickly."

  The maid led Zhou Xuan to a side room and said, "Ah Fen, Xiao Rong, prepare water for Young Master Zhou to wash his feet."

  The basin is a gold-painted cypress wood basin, the water is splashed with five-colored flower petals of jade spring water, fragrant and refreshing.

  Zhou Xuan sat in a back chair, without having to lift a finger, two beautiful maids with braided hair washed and wiped his feet for him. Zhou Xuan couldn't refuse, so he personally experienced the corruption and luxury of high-ranking officials and nobles once.

  Zhou Xuan stepped onto the large wooden clog, and under the guidance of that elegant maid from before, returned to the tea room. He sat cross-legged on the right side of the black sandalwood tea table, facing Lin Huanyu three meters away.

  Zhou Xuan looked around the elegant tea room, with a crystal curtain separating the inner space, and a faint tea fragrance wafting out from inside, probably Lin Xiaojie brewing tea in there.

  The teahouse was quiet and serene, with two maids standing behind Zhou Xuan and Lin Hanyu, their heads bowed and not making a sound. The only sound came from outside the wooden lattice window, where the gentle gurgling of water could be heard from beneath the artificial hill.

  Lin Han usually chattered non-stop, but now she didn't make a sound, only blinking her eyes and making a silly face at Zhou Xuan.

  A beautiful female voice came from behind the crystal curtain: "Jianyue, Mingfeng, take the tea to invite Mr. Zhou to taste."

  Those two originally quiet and beautiful maidens suddenly came to life, lightly walking into the crystal curtain, and soon each carried out a purple sandalwood tea tray in the shape of a large inkstone, with Yixing purple sand pots, Fujian black porcelain rabbit hair cups on it. A wisp of tea fragrance rose from the spout of the purple sand pot.

  Qianyue and Mingfeng, these two maidservants' way of pouring tea into cups was very skillful, obviously well-trained.

  The enchanting voice behind the crystal curtain said: "Zhou Gongzi, please."