“Ancestor reporting.”
If it weren’t for this incompetent troublemaker, the Xu family boy would probably already have some connection with the Liu family by now.
At the very least, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.
Shaking his head with a sigh, Liu Zongting made his way to the Old Ancestor’s secluded retreat outside the city. No matter what, today’s events had to be reported up the line.
No matter how Liu Zongting explained the matter to the Liu family’s Old Ancestor,
just speaking for Xu Ping’an himself, his mood was far from good after leaving the Liu family.
The anger had subsided, but the thought of Yingying being hurt over this dampened his spirits even more.
No matter what, his relationship with Liu Yingying still existed, and though he had always refused her, there was a time he had thought about marrying Yingying.
After all, he was still a normal man.
But now, at this point, trying to have any contact with her was probably impossible.
“Let’s just treat it as a dream of fate without destiny.” He took a deep breath, reminding himself not to bring this mood home.
Xu Ping’an valued his family deeply and didn’t want to let his bad mood affect his wife.
He went straight to Fenglaiyi Restaurant, where the waiter immediately came to serve him.
Xu Ping’an ordered a pot of wine and several small dishes, then sat in a scattered seat on the first floor, pouring himself drinks and eating alone.
Normally, he hardly drank alcohol, and even when he did, it was usually just tea.
But today, his mood was low, so drinking a bit more didn’t hurt.
[Places like taverns have always been hubs of gossip; whether something is happening or not, people gather to drink, eat, and chat about everything and anything.
And recently, although there hadn’t been major events in Liuyun County, affairs in Great Qi were anything but calm.]
“Have you heard? His Majesty still hasn’t woken up, and the Zhennan King has already set out for Chao Ge.”
“Of course I’ve heard! Didn’t expect Great Qi to come to this…”
“Hey, I heard recently the Liu family’s legitimate eldest daughter has been staying at a young man’s place — what was his name… Xu something?”
“Xu Ping’an, Doctor Xu?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. I heard the Liu Family Patriarch personally intervened over this.”
“Tsk~ Isn’t Doctor Xu always on good terms with Liu Dongjia? Even if it’s just a short stay, it shouldn’t cause any trouble, right?”
“That’s not so certain. A single man and a single woman together… who knows what could happen?”
“Yeah, that’s true. I heard Doctor Xu is already sixteen this year but still unmarried — maybe there’s something wrong in that department?”
“Come on, who says Doctor Xu isn’t married? My wife actually saw his wife with her own eyes. She’s a heavenly beauty! No wonder Doctor Xu keeps her hidden like a treasure, rarely letting anyone see her. Truly a ‘Golden House Hiding a Beauty’!”
Listening to others gossip about himself, Xu Ping’an remained unbothered.
After all, arguing with such rumors is pointless; whatever will be said will be said.
Since it was just chatter from others, he took it as mere entertainment and listened carefully.
“Really? Doctor Xu is married? Huh, didn’t expect that…”
“Don’t be surprised. A few days ago, I went to Fangjia Village. Many there saw Doctor Xu’s wife and said calling her a heavenly beauty is no exaggeration!”
After hearing the tavern’s idle talk for a while, Xu Ping’an’s bad mood lightened somewhat.
He didn’t dislike lively places; he just avoided getting involved in troublesome matters.
So occasionally sitting in a tavern like this, soaking in some earthly pleasures, was good for his mood.
Standing up, he shook his long robe.
“Settle the bill.”
Yingying was gone, but the rules of Fenglaiyi Restaurant hadn’t changed — they still refused to accept his money.
Having no choice, he left down two qian of silver on the table and turned to leave.
Returning home, when Pei Qingxuan and Li Yuer saw him waiting in the courtyard, they couldn’t help but smile.
Pei Qingxuan even ran up and hugged him.
“Xiang Gong, why did you take so long? Yingying… didn’t come back with you?”
Curious, Pei Qingxuan glanced behind Xu Ping’an, but seeing no one following him, her eyes flashed a complicated emotion that she kept hidden.
“Yingying has already gone to the Liuyun Sect. I don’t think we’ll see her again.”
Xu Ping’an smiled gently, stroking Pei Qingxuan’s long hair, and she lowered her head, making his touch more comfortable.
Yet Xu Ping’an didn’t notice the slight struggle in Pei Qingxuan’s eyes when she heard the words “Liuyun Sect.”
“That’s enough. Those who have to leave will leave eventually. Stop thinking about it.
Today, I’ll cook something good for you all to comfort your hearts.”
“When the Master cooks, it’s always extraordinary. Yuer really loves the dishes you make.”
Li Yuer stepped forward with a bright smile, and Xu Ping’an nodded.
“Then look forward to it. I’ll start cooking right away. What does my wife want to eat?”
“As long as it’s made by Xiang Gong, I like it~”
“Oh? I didn’t expect it — you two have only just met, and already you flatter Xiang Gong so much?”
“I’m not flattering Xiang Gong! I just like the dishes he makes~”
“Alright, alright.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded.
“I’ll get to it. Wait here.”
Li Yuer was clever; she didn’t pry into whether Xu Ping’an had vented his frustration today.
As long as he didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t dig for trouble.
Dinner turned out quite sumptuous.
To soothe Pei Qingxuan’s mood, Xu Ping’an once again prepared a grand feast, and the three women ate their fill and left satisfied.
Zhao Pingzhi, sitting at the doorway with a bowl in hand, also felt content.
As night deepened, the sun setting in the west and the moon rising in the east, the house was lit with smokeless candles.
These specially made candles repelled insects and beasts while calming the mind for restful sleep.
While smoothing his wife’s long hair, Xu Ping’an wondered if Pei Qingxuan’s mood was particularly off tonight, perhaps because Yingying hadn’t returned.
She was especially restless.
Spring breeze and rain meet at last, dark clouds veil the moon yet fail to hide the feelings, willow branches sway as the wind sings, together in clouds and rain, only then is rest.
“Huff! Huff… wife… what’s wrong tonight? Are you feeling down?”
Usually, a couple of hours or three wouldn’t be a problem.
Tonight, however, she had nearly drained him for four hours straight.
Even the strongest back couldn’t handle this.
“No, it’s just… I really want to be close to Xiang Gong.”
Pei Qingxuan lay sideways in Xu Ping’an’s arms, inhaling the faint scent of medicine mixed with sweat from his body, her cheeks involuntarily flushing.
Since returning home, she seemed changed.
But Xu Ping’an was patient; he’d wait for her to speak when she was ready.
Though if this continued every day, he’d have to personally ask.
After all, if this went on, even the Nine-turn Divine Pill wouldn’t hold out — he’d have to move to the Nine-turn Golden Pill.
“Really? You don’t want to say anything else to Xiang Gong?”
“Why would Xiang Gong ask that?”
“Nothing, just felt like you were a bit different today.”
Scratching his nose, Xu Ping’an thought her physical condition was fine, but her mood seemed far from cheerful.
“Maybe… you just missed Xiang Gong too much?”
Pei Qingxuan lowered her head so he couldn’t see her expression, and upon hearing this, he could only nod.
“That’s understandable… but from now on, you still have to take care of Xiang Gong. Can we maybe… take it a bit easier on nights like this?”
Hearing this, Pei Qingxuan’s ears flushed bright red, and watching this, Xu Ping’an was quite amused.
She hadn’t been this shy before.
“What’s wrong? You’re especially bashful today. Could it be…”
“N-nothing.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve got something on your mind. Wait! If it’s nothing, then why are you digging in? Hey… tsk~ easy!”
Silver-tongued and fragrant as orchids, tasting spiritual roots yet unwilling to let go, neck raised like a goose, eyes shifting—sleepless through the night until dawn.