70
Through the Peking Duck and, ultimately, even over red bean paste sesame balls with honeyed Tieguanyin tea, Zuocheng remained cagey over Huan’s replacement. Instead he spoke mostly to Mei-Li about his own granddaughters, who would soon be going to university—unless they could be married off advantageously of course.
Then, just at the end of the meal, Zuocheng lounged back in his chair and turned back to Ru.
“This hasn’t been mentioned outside of the CMC, so you didn’t hear it from me, Ru. It’s most worrying, but Peng Yan has gone missing.”
Even with all of his years of political maneuvering, Ru was unable to repress his astonishment.
