Chapter 155 A rage for a beauty?

"Shall we remove our weapons?" He asked verbally, but in reality, Qin Shaozong had already removed the sword sheath and taken the ring-pommel sword from his waist.

Xie Yuanyue felt slighted and was about to say no, but Dong Zhou, who was at the head of the table, spoke first, "Let's eliminate them. After all, today is a wine tasting banquet, not a life-or-death battle on the battlefield. The two of you don't need to fight with weapons; you can do it bare-handed."

Nangong Xiong picked up the white jade goblet and drank from it, hiding the mocking smile on his face.

He was the one who hosted the banquet, and he was also the one with a burly man standing on each side of him. How could Dong Zhou be so cowardly...?

The two men stood face to face in the hall, swords aside. Xie Yuanyue moved his neck from side to side, the bones cracking with each twist. He was indeed strong, and with his dark skin, he looked like a black bear standing upright at first glance.

"Marquis Wu'an, I apologize for the offense." Xie Yuanyue's smile didn't reach his eyes.

After that sound, it was as if the other party had already been informed, so there was no need to wait any longer. Xie Yuanyue suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

A huge fist came swinging towards them; if it had hit a wooden board, no one present doubted that the poor board would have been sent flying into the air in splinters.

His punch was as fast as lightning, but Qin Shaozong was prepared. He dodged to the side and grabbed Xie Yuanyue's wrist at the same time. If it were an ordinary person, let alone grabbing and twisting, they probably wouldn't be able to stop the force of the punch even if they managed to hold on.

But Qin Shaozong was also a military man. He was a veteran of many battles and in his prime, possessing experience and strength that no young man could match. His thick, bony fingers, when spread out and bent, resembled the claws of a tiger with sharp claws extended.

With a solid, muffled thud, the force was blocked and then dissipated. At the same time, Qin Shaozong raised his leg and kicked Xie Yuanyue's shin.

Xie Yuanyue braced himself on the ground and took the kick head-on, buying himself time to attack Qin Shaozong's vitals.

The two exchanged blows in the spacious hall. It was a bare-handed, hand-to-hand combat; the blocks and attacks struck flesh with dull thuds.

Those who accompanied the governors were all capable military generals. As the saying goes, the layman sees the spectacle, the expert sees the details; many could see that in this clash of titans, Qin Shaozong had a slight advantage.

They didn't win many games, and a draw would be a fair assessment.

Nangong Xiong sipped his wine and sighed, "This Qin Changgeng has more cunning schemes than rabbit burrows on the Qinghe Plain."

He had barely finished sighing, and hadn't even had a chance to take a sip of wine, when he saw a small creature fly out of Qin Shaozong's arms.

Nangong Xiong had excellent eyesight and saw that it was a very small purse with what appeared to be embroidered patterns on it.

As soon as the small purse flew out, the man in black robes in the hall noticed it and immediately reached out to catch it. The burly man opposite him, however, mistook it for a punch aimed at a vital spot and hurriedly used his hand as a knife to slash at Qin Shaozong's forearm, which was covered by a wrist guard.

Qin Shaozong's outstretched hand was forced to deflect, missing the small purse that flew towards Xie Yuanyue.

The two exchanged several blows in the blink of an eye, and in that brief moment, the small purse landed on the ground.

Before Qin Shaozong could make any other move, Xie Yuanyue, who had just been attacked, wanted to readjust his state and took a step to the side.

And this step just happened to land on that little purse.

His brown eyes suddenly narrowed.

Bai Jianping, Kuang Ye, and the others were sitting in the back, and their viewing position was far inferior to that of Nangong Xiong in the front row. Therefore, they only saw the tie break in an instant.

Qin Shaozong changed his approach, using both hands and feet to attack Xie Yuanyue's throat and lower body simultaneously. This offensive was not only as fast as lightning but also carried the force of a thunderbolt, as heavy as a mountain pressing down, making it unstoppable.

Caught off guard, Xie Yuanyue was forced to retreat repeatedly. Finally, he saw his opponent suddenly launch a powerful kick, but he was powerless to stop it. He took the kick to the chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and was sent flying.

Master Jiang was still watching the play when he suddenly saw the situation on the field reversed, and he was greatly alarmed. Before he could figure out what was going on, Xie Yuanyue flew straight towards him.

Jiang Shi's expression changed drastically as he tried to dodge, but since he was sitting, he didn't have time to retreat.

Xie Yuanyue slammed directly onto his desk, and the residual force continued to pull him backward, knocking Jiang Shi senseless.

Amidst cries of "Ouch!", the table overturned, the jade plate shattered into pieces, and even the young woman carrying the wine jar behind her was affected, spilling wine all over the floor.

Qin Shaozong didn't look over there. He bent down, picked up the small purse from the ground, carefully patted off the dust, then opened the purse to peek at the tiger-shaped pen pillow inside before putting it back into his pocket.

Both Dong Zhou and Liu Xuzhou, who were seated at the head of the table, were dumbfounded.

The only sounds in the vast hall were Xie Yuanyue and Master Jiang's cries of pain.

Qin Shaozong said coldly, "Thank you for your kind offer."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuanyue, whether from serious injury or anger, vomited another mouthful of blood.

Kuang Ye and Feng Feng exchanged a glance, both looking serious.

Dong Zhou barely regained his senses and hurriedly called the physician he had secretly prepared to treat Xie Yuanyue: "It was just a friendly spar. Tengyun has no grudge against you. Wu'an, why did you use such a heavy hand?"

These words carried a rebuke.

However, whether it was because Dong Zhou had drunk too much and therefore spoke in a strange tone, or for some other reason, Qin Shaozong inexplicably detected a hint of excitement in him.

"Even heroes have difficulty resisting the charms of a beautiful woman, and it's not uncommon for Wu An to be so enraged for a beauty. Since he likes her so much, Tengyun, you shouldn't try to take that dancer from him." Liu Xuzhou smiled and smoothed things over, calling out Xie Yuanyue's courtesy name.

Qin Shaozong turned and returned to his seat without saying a word.

Du Manxiang remained in her spot, watching the imposing man approaching her. Her heart pounded, causing her cheeks to flush and her gaze to become unfocused.

Nearly a year has passed since we parted, but he remains as strong and dignified as I remember him, like an ancient mountain that stands firm and is always reliable.

"Qin Lang, I knew you wouldn't lose." Du Manxiang leaned towards him instinctively as he sat down.

Qin Shaozong suddenly grabbed the wine pot from the table, and as he poured the wine, he bent his elbow outwards, blocking the woman who was trying to get close. He turned his head slightly, his narrow eyes like amber immersed in a cold spring, devoid of warmth. "Can't you straighten your bones?"

Du Manxiang knew he always meant what he said, and now he seemed somewhat displeased. She paused, then slowly straightened up.

The competition just now seemed to have given Dong Zhou some inspiration. He suddenly became very interested and said, "The most important matters of the state are sacrifice and war. Although the country is at peace now, military affairs cannot be neglected. It is rare to have so many heroes gathered here today, and with the competition between Wu'an and Tengyun as a starting point, why not just go all the way? Let each of you send your subordinates to fight and have a match. The winner will receive a prize. What do you all think?"

Li Lishen was the first to agree, "The Prime Minister's suggestion is excellent."

Once it happens, it will happen again. After thinking about it, Nangong Xiong agreed.

"Wu'an, how are you?" Dong Zhou specifically asked Qin Shaozong.

Qin Shaozong: "Since it is the Prime Minister's word, we should obey."

Dong Zhou clapped his hands and laughed, praising it as good. He then selected the subordinates of Jiang Shi and Li Lishen.

The two groups walked to the center, exchanged perfunctory greetings, and then began to fight.

Qin Shaozong's gaze fell on the center of the hall, and he asked, "Who arranged for you to come here?"

Only the two of them were seated at this table. Du Manxiang knew perfectly well that he was asking her, "Qin Lang..."

“Call me Lord,” he corrected.

Du Manxiang looked at his profile with a hint of resentment. "This matter is a long story, and it has many twists and turns. There are still maids behind us. May I tell you all about it later?"

Qin Shaozong took a sip of wine, remaining noncommittal.

Du Manxiang knew he had agreed.

Most of the people arrived at Chang Le Yuan around 1-3 PM, and by the time the wine tasting banquet actually began, it was already 3-5 PM. The banquet continued into the evening, with people drinking and eating, and before they knew it, the sky outside had gradually darkened.

Chang Le Yuan is still some distance from Chang'an, and it's too late to ride back to Chang'an now.

Moreover, the invitations sent to each household already specified that they would be staying overnight in Chang Le Yuan, so the sunset had no impact on the grand feast, only adding a brilliant afterglow.

The spacious hall was filled with the smell of wine, and wine jars were laid out one after another.

The attendants of the powerful rulers had all indulged in heavy drinking; some had been on the battlefield, while others had not. However, now, with one hand holding a wine jar and the other embracing a dancer, they were all behaving in a dissolute manner, and there was not much difference between them.

At least not like Xie Yuanyue, whose face was deathly pale, clearly suffering from internal injuries.

The banquet lasted until the end of the day before finally concluding.

The pavilions and courtyards of Chang Le Yuan are like crucian carp in a river, and people can live anywhere in them.

Dong Zhou arranged for Qin Shaozong and Xie Yuanyue to live in the same courtyard; Li Lishen and Jiang Shi lived together.

He claimed that he lived in the same hospital area as Nangong Xiong.

However, this was only on the surface. After entering the courtyard area called Jiangnan Garden with Nangong Xiong and others, Dong Zhou quickly slipped away through the back door.

He arrived at another pavilion.

Master Jiang had been waiting for him for a long time. When he saw Dong Zhou walking slowly towards him, he hurriedly went forward to greet him.

Dong Zhou let out a burp, not stopping the other man from helping him up. However, he was so fat and round that he looked like a mountain of flesh, while Master Jiang was thin and frail. Even if the latter gritted his teeth, he couldn't support him alone.

The two swayed precariously, but Dong Zhou managed to straighten up and sit down at a table not far away.

"How is Xie Tengyun doing?" Dong Zhou asked.

Master Jiang said, "He is indeed a martial artist. Even after spitting out two mouthfuls of blood, he could still answer with a clear mind. I'm afraid... he is not easily confused."

The last two words were spoken vaguely.

Dong Zhou scoffed, "What's there to be afraid of? You have many people helping you tonight, and Yu Teng, Yang Tong, and Min Zhongtian are already nine-tenths drunk. They were all carried back by others. I don't think they'll wake up until the sun rises tomorrow."

The "Yu Teng and Yang Tong" he mentioned were both Xie Yuanyue's subordinates.

Jiang Shi had also drunk quite a bit tonight, and at this moment he felt as if a river was surging through his veins, making his heart rise and fall. He whispered one last time to confirm, "Prime Minister Dong, are you sure that apart from Yang Tong and his ilk, the rest are all Xie Er's men?"

A large, fan-like hand reached out and patted Jiang Shi's shoulder heavily. Dong Zhou smiled and said, "Don't worry. This matter also concerns my safety and the subsequent changes in the situation. I would not have asked you to take the risk if I wasn't absolutely certain."

Xie Yuanyue was the head of the family bank. He had two younger brothers: Xie Yuanqi, the second, and Xie Yuanxiu, the third.

Xie Yuanxiu was the first to rise to power.

Later, Xie Yuanxiu was defeated and captured, and then suffered another defeat at the hands of Qin Shaozong. His army collapsed like a house of cards, and his power was naturally devoured by his two elder brothers.

Next came the struggle between Xie Da and Xie Er, which ended in Xie Yuanqi's defeat. After his defeat, Xie Er fled Sizhou in a panic. It is said that he was later killed by bandits on the way, while there are also rumors that he was successfully assassinated by Xie Yuanyue's subordinates.

There are many different opinions, and no specific conclusion has been reached. To the outside world, it is only said that Xie Yuanqi fled.

But very few people know that those who were defeated and fled are still living peacefully, only in another place.

He went from being in the open to being hidden, becoming a pawn in the dark.

Master Jiang still hesitated. Tonight was no small matter. If he made the slightest mistake, the tiger on his plate would immediately become him instead of the tiger.

Dong Zhou's smile widened, his fat squeezing his eyes into tiny slits. "If this succeeds, half of Sizhou will belong to you."

Li Lishen and Jiang Shiming outwardly showed greater obedience to the court than those in other places. His relationship with these two was also acceptable, but the former was far less useful than the latter.

Xuzhou has a favorable terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is also farther from Chang'an than Yuzhou. Li Lishen has a wider escape route than Jiang Shi, so the latter is the most suitable for tonight's operation.

Jiang Shi's expression shifted unpredictably, but ambition ultimately prevailed. He rose from his seat, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Dong Zhou, and said, "Then I will follow your advice, Prime Minister Dong. However, I am not a man of strong will or who can keep his mouth shut. I hope this trip will go smoothly."

Finally, it seemed to carry a threatening connotation.

Dong Zhou's smile remained unchanged. After watching him leave, he slowly picked up his cup and poured himself a cup of tea.

To win at chess, how can you be unwilling to sacrifice even a single piece?

*

The door to the main house in the courtyard was pushed open, and the gradually brightening moonlight streamed into the room. A burly man entered first, followed by a graceful figure.

Qin Shaozong took out a tinderbox, intending to blow it to light the lamp, when suddenly he frowned and stepped aside.

It was precisely at this moment that the woman who came up from behind to hug his waist missed her target.

Du Manxiang didn't expect him to suddenly move, and she couldn't stop the momentum, so she stumbled and fell to the ground.

Qin Shaozong didn't look at her, continuing what he hadn't finished earlier.

Soon, light came into the dark room.

Kuang Ye and Feng Feng's group also drank quite a bit tonight. The northern military officers all have a good capacity for alcohol, but they are inferior to their superiors, so they are now walking a few steps slower.

Feng Feng was the first to step into the main house.

He was about to tell Qin Shaozong about tonight's watch, but as soon as he looked up, Feng Feng shuddered, his drunkenness dissipating somewhat, and he quickly stepped back.

Wearing a thin red gauze dress, Ms. Du fell to the ground. Whether she accidentally tore her clothes when she fell or for some other reason, a large expanse of her chest was now exposed, and her breasts were almost about to burst out.

She seemed oblivious, only looking at the man beside her with teary eyes.

She was, after all, the woman of her superior. Even though she was a concubine who had been dismissed, Feng Feng subconsciously closed the door and left.

Qin Shaozong walked to the chair and sat down with an air of authority. Tonight, Dong Zhou and the others had been trying to persuade him to drink, and he had drunk quite a lot. However, apart from a faint red tinge on his dark skin, he did not appear to be drunk.

Du Manxiang didn't get up; she crawled over on her knees, "Qin Lang..."

Qin Shaozong spoke, but his first words weren't directed at the people inside the room: "Why are you closing the door? Feng Feng, open the door and get in."

Author's note: Here it comes! [empty bowl]

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