Chapter 72: The love that cannot be hidden after being drunk in Jiangnan

Raocheng, Wenxin Inn.

Although the summer solstice has passed, cicadas are still chirping at night. There is a two-story tree in the front yard of the inn, and its branches and leaves sway in the breeze, making rustling sounds.

On the west side of the second floor, a pot of green plants was placed next to the half-open flower window. Through the gauze curtain, one could vaguely see someone sitting in the room. She was a graceful figure with a golden hairpin swaying on her head.

"Scout Gao's real name was Gao Jun. Back then, General Luo trusted the enemy's words and publicly denounced Scout Gao for harboring rebellious intentions, causing him to die of depression..."

A lamp was lit on the table. Luo Qingling was half lying on the couch with a book in his hand. He carefully read the words recorded in the book and muttered to himself.

She was the only one in the room. Qin Yanheng had gone somewhere unknown. Before nightfall, he said, "Please wait a moment, my dear. I will be back soon." Then he turned around and disappeared into the lobby of the inn.

It's been half an hour and there's still no sign of anyone.

At this moment, at the Sun and Moon Restaurant.

"Brother Heng, why don't you bring your new wife here to get some fresh air?"

A thin man who looked like noodles stood up from his chair with a pale face, holding a wine jug, staggered across the table and leaned over to fill Qin Yanheng's glass with wine.

The aroma of liquor flows in the glass.

"Brother Yuan, you're too polite." Qin Yanheng silently placed his palm over the rim of the cup, barely stopping the man from filling it with wine.

The man called Brother Yuan let out a "tsk tsk" sound, pulled Qin Yanheng's fingers apart, grabbed the cup and instantly filled it with wine, then handed it to Qin Yanheng and raised his chin.

"It's been a while since we last met. How come your alcohol tolerance has decreased? I remember a few years ago, you drank with me all night long, holding a jar of wine." Yuan Feng leaned closer to Qin Yanheng, looked him around, and continued in confusion, "I've seen you become even more handsome in the past few years."

“…”

"The word 'out and out' is not used to describe a man." Qin Yanheng silently took the wine glass and then pushed Yuan Feng back to his seat.

After Yuan Feng sat down, Qin Yanheng glanced to the side and asked in a low voice, "Did you receive the letter I asked someone to send you a few days ago?"

He did not suddenly decide to use Heng Yang's identity to look for people. Before his family fell into poverty, Heng Yang loved to travel around and made countless friends. If he asked someone to look for the descendants of Gao Scout in the name of Heng Yang, it would surely be much easier.

Coincidentally, before setting off, he found out that Heng Yang had once had a drink with the owner of the Raocheng Sun and Moon Restaurant a few years ago - the man in front of him named Yuan Feng, and they were old friends.

This Yuan Feng is extremely well-informed.

"I got it, I got it. This is the first time Brother Heng has sent me a letter in several years. Even if I'm buried, I'd like someone to dig it up and read it carefully."

Qin Yanheng felt relieved: "Brother Yuan, have you found anything?"

"ah?"

Yuan Feng was dumbfounded. He stared at Qin Yanheng with wide eyes and said blankly, "What are you checking? Didn't you just ask me to leave you a few more jars of wine?"

Oh no, this is a drunkard with a dim brain. Qin Yanheng took a deep breath and forced himself to suppress the annoyance in his heart while drinking. He glanced at Yuan Feng.

"That's the first page. There's something else written on the second page." Qin Yanheng held his forehead with his hand, his tone weak.

"Look at my memory," Yuan Feng slapped his forehead. "I checked and heard that the Gao family was also present at County Magistrate Guo's birthday this year. But why did Brother Heng suddenly ask about the Gao family's whereabouts?"

"The Gao family owes me four hundred taels of silver."

After receiving the news, Qin Yanheng lost his mood to drink and simply made up a random excuse to get by. But Yuan Feng got angry when he heard it, slamming the table and standing up.

"There's also this matter! Brother Heng, don't worry, I will definitely find that guy for you!"

Qin Yanheng nodded casually, stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Yuan Feng was babbling behind him, calling him to continue drinking. Qin Yanheng waved his hand and left without looking back.

Right now, his wife is still waiting for him at the inn. How can he drink with Yuan Feng, a man without a family, for so long?

"Cough..." Qin Yanheng clenched his fist and coughed lightly, his ears turning a little red.

When Qin Yanheng thought about Luo Qingling pretending to be his wife these days and the two of them having to sleep in the same room to avoid arousing suspicion, he felt hot all over and his heart was pounding, but his steps were a little hesitant.

Isn’t it a bit reckless for him to do this? What if Luo Qingling doesn’t like him... then he is such a bad person!

Although he had promised Luo Qingling long ago that he would sleep on the low couch in the outer room these days and would never step behind the screen, if Luo Qingling blamed him later, he would not be able to explain himself.

After all, he did have evil intentions towards her.

Qin Yanheng admitted that he was an adult man after all, and it was natural for him to have other thoughts when he was in contact with his sweetheart, not to mention that the two of them were now sleeping in the same room.

I can't think about it anymore, he's really drunk! Qin Yanheng tiptoed up and stood on the top of the wall.

The moonlight was bright on a summer night. A young man in a brocade robe moved as light as a swallow between the tall buildings.

On the second floor of the inn, there was a candle left in the room, glowing in the dark night. The candlelight flickered slightly, reflecting on the window paper.

Qin Yanheng sat on the wall with one leg bent, the other foot hanging in the air. He raised his eyes slightly and looked at the closed stained glass window of the wing room. His mood at this moment was like the flickering candlelight, and the heat was surging in his chest.

He sighed briefly and looked up at the sky. His fair neck was exposed from the dark gold collar of his clothes, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down. He kept taking deep breaths to try to suppress his inner panic.

The lights in the room were off, and Luo Qingling should have fallen asleep. If he went back to the room now, he would probably wake her up.

He didn't know if Luo Qingling would open the door for him in her pajamas... No, what he meant was that since their relationship was unclear now, it might not be a good idea for them to sleep in the same room.

Although he had seen Luo Qingling in small clothes before, the situation was different now. Back then, he didn't see anything because he was trying to save someone. Now he knew his feelings for her, so naturally... naturally he couldn't bear to see her in disheveled clothes.

Otherwise he would have been feverish all night.

"This is not jade, it's clearly a demon fairy." Qin Yanheng muttered to himself.

"What are you talking about?"

A pair of slender white hands pushed open the sash window from the inside, and Luo Qingling poked his head out, dressed neatly, with the golden hairpin on his head swaying slightly.

The moonlight was like water, making her look particularly bright.

Qin Yanheng's breath hitched as he stared at her, unable to move his eyes. He had always known that Luo Qingling was beautiful; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to lend her the Golden Dragon Sword that night at the Qujiang Banquet.

Such a beautiful young lady is exactly the jade stone that the master mentioned that can subdue him.

He was willing to be conquered by her.

The two of them looked at each other from afar through the stained glass window. Luo Qingling leaned on the windowsill with her upper body, lowered her eyes slightly and looked at the young man on the red wall with a smile. The latter raised his eyebrows and looked back at her without blinking.

It’s really beautiful…

This was the only thought in Qin Yanheng's mind.

He sighed, the alcohol taking over his head, and he fell backwards and fell asleep on the roof.

"Qin..." Luo Qingling opened her red lips slightly, but she kept silent before she could say anything.

It's strange. This person disappeared for a few hours and went out to drink, and he drank so much.

Luo Qingling suddenly felt a headache.

If he was dead asleep, how could she carry him back to his room by herself? But if she didn't bring him back to his room, he would probably have a high fever tomorrow morning!

The stained glass window was not far from the top of the wall, and green leaves fluttered down from the branches, landing on the open space outside the window.

Luo Qingling looked around for a moment, turned over and climbed out of the stained glass window, walked along the open space to the roof on the red wall, and then quietly squatted beside Qin Yanheng, looking at him with his head down.

In the silver light, the young man's eyebrows and eyes were picturesque. He leaned his head back on the glazed tiles, his tall nose bridge stained by the moonlight. His narrow eyes, which usually always squinted at people, now looked a little softer after falling asleep.

He was originally a willful and ostentatious young man.

Luo Qingling couldn't help but stretch out his fingers to trace his eyebrows. His eyelids trembled for a moment, and his phoenix eyes suddenly opened.

His fingers were grasped in his palm and slowly pulled down to his chest.

"Why are you taking advantage of someone's misfortune?" Qin Yanheng curled his thin lips and smiled arrogantly.

He knew that doing this would definitely attract her!

"I...I didn't," Luo Qingling struggled to stand up, but his hands were tightly grasped on her chest. She hurriedly explained, "Don't misunderstand, young prince. I was just worried that you would catch a cold after drinking."

"What did you call me?"

Qin Yanheng grasped the title in her words, smiled, and slowly sat up. Their hands intertwined on his chest, and as he moved, the two gradually closed the distance between them.

"Say it again, how should you address me as husband?" Qin Yanheng raised his eyebrows, deliberately moved closer to Luo Qingling, and smiled ostentatiously.

The breath hit her face, and there was only a third of the smell of alcohol.

He wasn't drunk at all!

"I don't want to play with you anymore. You obviously have a lot of important things to do, yet you go out to drink!" Luo Qingling stood up and turned to climb into the window, but he grabbed her wrist again.

"What?" Luo Qingling looked aside.

"Say it again."

"What's your name..."

The young man sat on the ground, holding her hand, looking up at her, and for some reason there was a hint of pleading in his eyes.

"Call me again." He had been repeating that name all night.

How childish.

Luo Qingling glanced at Qin Yanheng, who blinked. She sighed and said, "Henglang, it's late. It's time to go back to your room and rest."

"good."

Although he is just Heng Lang, sooner or later he will become Heng Lang.

Qin Yanheng smiled with satisfaction, got up quickly, and followed Luo Qingling along the open space back to the wing room.

From beginning to end, the two held hands and never separated.

The next morning.

A note with flowers printed on it was handed to Luo Qingling.

"Madam Heng, you may not know that my master holds a flower banquet on the eve of his birthday every year. This is to let the female relatives of distinguished guests get acquainted with each other in advance, so as to avoid a dull atmosphere at the birthday banquet."

The servant of County Magistrate Guo stood in front of the table with his hands behind his back, explaining his purpose in a gentle voice. He raised his hand and motioned Luo Qingling to take a closer look at the contents of the post.

Gorgeous clothes, heavy makeup, and beautiful women with fragrance. The former is easy to understand, but what does the latter part mean?

Before Luo Qingling could ask, the servant continued, "My mistress loves to use flowers to make incense. At the flower banquet, each lady will be given a personally blended fragrance. The ladies can take it back to the palace for use."

I think Mrs. Guo must be a very particular person. Luo Qingling nodded and put the invitation into his sleeve.

"I will be at the banquet tonight."

Being in the court is not just a matter between high-ranking officials, socializing with ladies is equally important.

Now that she plays the role of Qin Yanheng's wife, it is natural for her to get to know all the ladies.