Chapter 281 – I’m Paralyzed
With Lan’er’s moving pipa melody and Xiang’er’s graceful dancing, Yan Xiaosi, while appreciating their performance, carelessly drank two more cups of wine.
By the time she noticed, she felt dizzy, her cheeks burning hot, and saw triple images of Murong Qinjian, Xiang’er, and Lan’er.
Intoxicated, she pointed at Xiang’er, Lan’er, and Murong Qinjian, giving a silly giggle before slurring: “Why… why are there two Little Scoundrel Murongs, two Xiang’ers, and two Lan’ers?”
Murong Qinjian hadn’t expected her alcohol tolerance to be so low.
Earlier, seeing that she seemed to have adapted to the taste of wine and appeared to enjoy the local drink very much, he had poured her two more cups.
Now seeing that ‘he’ was about to get drunk, his heart skipped a beat.
With Long Yu’s protective nature, after getting ‘him’ this drunk, would he return only to be struck dead by Long Yu’s palm?
Thinking of this possibility, he felt a chill down his neck and became somewhat afraid to return.
But if he didn’t bring ‘him’ back tonight, the consequences would be even more severe.
While he was in this dilemma, Yan Xiaosi let out a loud alcoholic burp and complained: “Little Scoundrel Murong, sit still, don’t shake around. You’re making me dizzy.”
Murong Qinjian: “…”
This was clearly her own drunkenness causing her to see multiple images.
But looking carefully, he found that the intoxicated Yan Xiaosi was quite adorable— eyes as clear as autumn water, face rosy like springtime peach blossoms, lips bright and tempting like cherries.
Perhaps by luring this kid to the brothel and getting ‘him’ drunk, allowing Long Yu to see a side of this kid that no one knew, Long Yu should actually thank him.
Thinking this way, Murong Qinjian felt less afraid. Seeing that Yan Xiaosi was about to slump on the table and fall into a deep sleep, he quickly got up, went over, and supported her body.
Unable to slump down, Yan Xiaosi complained unhappily: “Little Scoundrel Murong, what are you doing? I want to sleep.”
Although she was very drunk, her mind still retained a bit of clarity, knowing that the person beside her was Murong Qinjian.
Murong Qinjian sighed helplessly.
“You still know I’m Little Scoundrel Murong, so you’re not that drunk. Let’s go back. Can you walk by yourself?”
“I can, I can.”
Yan Xiaosi held onto one of Murong Qinjian’s arms, got up shakily, and tried to take a step, but found that her legs were as soft as well-baked sweet potatoes.
She lowered her eyes, looked at her two legs with a mournful face, and suddenly exclaimed: “It’s over, I’m paralyzed!”
Murong Qinjian burst into laughter at her words.
“Yan Xiaosi, could you be any cuter?”
Such a cute and interesting fellow—Long Yu really found a treasure this time.
What to do? He suddenly found himself a bit jealous.
Yan Xiaosi raised her head and said to him with a distressed expression: “Little Scoundrel Murong, I’m paralyzed. I can’t walk.”
Murong Qinjian’s mouth twitched slightly, and he said gently: “You’re not paralyzed. You’re drunk. Everyone’s like this when drunk.”
As he spoke, he lifted Yan Xiaosi horizontally into his arms.
Seeing him carrying Yan Xiaosi about to leave, both Xiang’er and Lan’er felt disappointed.
Xiang’er said: “Young Master Murong, aren’t you staying overnight?”
Lan’er said: “The Little Young Master is so drunk. It’s better to stay overnight and leave after the Little Young Master wakes up.”
Murong Qinjian thought: If they stayed overnight, Young Brother Yan’s innocence wouldn’t be preserved, and the protective Long Yu would surely tear him to pieces.
“No need.”
He replied with just two words, carried Yan Xiaosi out the door, went downstairs, and instructed the attendant to bring their two horses.
When the attendant brought the two horses over, he stood there with Yan Xiaosi in his arms, looking at the horses in a dilemma.
Yan Xiaosi was drunk as a dog and definitely couldn’t ride her own horse.
After some thought, he placed the ten-jin weight of rice seeds on the saddle of the chestnut-red horse, then carried Yan Xiaosi onto his own horse’s back. He rode away from Lanxiang Pavilion toward Shaoyao Village.
Fortunately, Yan Xiaosi’s chestnut-red horse was very intelligent and followed behind, carrying the various seeds.
Because Yan Xiaosi was heavily intoxicated, he carefully controlled his horse along the way, moving very slowly and steadily.
The scene shifts to the Tongluo Plain military camp.
After crossing mountains and rivers, the 150,000 jin of military rations had been delivered to the Tongluo Plain military camp without incident.
Long Yi and Long Er breathed sighs of relief. Long Er stayed behind to direct the soldiers in storing the grain, while Long Yi, carrying a pile of sweet pastries, headed to the commander’s tent.
Long Yu had waited a whole day and finally saw someone return, but it was only Long Yi without Yan Xiaosi. He frowned with some displeasure.
“You’re back. How much grain did you collect? Were there any incidents on the road?”
Long Yi, holding those sweet pastries, respectfully reported: “We bought corn, rice, wheat, and sorghum from Wan Family Grain Merchants in Daxing Town. In total, there are 150,000 jin, enough to make up for the lost half of the military rations. Young Master Yan did an excellent job maintaining secrecy, and the transport back was very smooth.”
“Hmm.”
Long Yu nodded affirmatively.
In his heart, he had newfound respect for Yan Xiaosi.
He hadn’t expected that kid to actually get him so much grain—truly a small person with great strength.
“Where is that kid? Why don’t I see him?”
Long Yi dared not conceal anything: “Little Young Master Yan said he had urgent matters to attend to and let us escort the military rations back first. He’ll return after finishing his business. Master Murong is accompanying him.”
Although Murong Qinjian wasn’t very reliable, his combat prowess was high. With Murong Qinjian accompanying ‘him’, nothing untoward would happen.
Long Yu felt somewhat reassured and glimpsed the kraft paper packages in Long Yi’s hands.
“What are those things in your hand?”
Only then did Long Yi step forward and place several packages of sweet pastries on Long Yu’s desk.
“Master, these were all bought by Young Master Yan for you. He instructed me to bring them back.”
Long Yu looked inside the kraft paper packages—all were sweet pastries.
Actually, he didn’t particularly like these sweet pastries, but perhaps that kid did.
Children all like sweets.
“Just leave them here. Go out and help Zhao Ben and the others keep an eye on the movements of the Rongdi.”
“Yes, Master.”
Long Yi saw the master carefully putting those sweet pastries into a drawer under his desk, and the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.
Could it be that the master really liked eating these sweet things!
After Long Yi withdrew, Long Yu stared at the several packages of sweet pastries lying in the drawer, his mouth smiling as sweetly as if he had eaten sugar.
When that kid returned and learned these sugar cakes were for him, would he be so excited he’d jump three feet high, from then on respectfully serve as his servant, and obey his every command?
And so, His Highness the War King continued to wait with full anticipation until it was almost dark.
The sky had grown dim, chickens and ducks had returned to their pens, and still that kid hadn’t returned. He was getting anxious!
