Chapter 35 It's Raining

In the height of spring, everything in the world was warm and cozy. Qian Yingyi couldn't close his eyes at all; any drowsiness had already melted away in his burning body heat.

His breathing was even, blowing on her head like a gentle breeze. She didn't know how much time had passed, but Qian Yingyi blinked, her body completely relaxing. Taking advantage of the fact that he was asleep with his eyes closed, she began to boldly look at him.

When she picked him up, she noticed his sturdy build; she had never looked at him closely before.

That very night in his bedroom, he was shirtless, and she merely dodged away. She only remembered the hot, hard skin on his abdomen, which throbbed beneath her palm...

Qian Yingyi quietly glanced at his chest. The knot on his cross-collar nightgown was tied quite neatly. What was inside?

Qian Yingyi pursed her lower lip, feeling a little dry-mouthed. After listening for a moment and realizing he was still asleep, she awkwardly moved her hand, which was already pressed against his chest, and the nightgown in front of her immediately shifted with her palm.

She lowered her eyelids slightly, like a child worried about doing something wrong, and tilted her head to peek through the open slit.

By taking advantage of the bright daylight, I was able to clearly see a small patch.

His chest moved with his breath, and although his skin wasn't as delicate as hers, it wasn't rough either. Qian Yingyi stared at him for a long time, a voice in her head scolding her for her indecent and unrestrained behavior. This time she was truly embarrassed, and she suddenly lowered her head, her forehead touching his.

...Good powder.

Startled to realize that she had been spying on him, Qian Yingyi silently berated herself for the burgeoning thought that had just arisen. She took a deep breath and prepared to retreat from his presence.

Before she could even lift her head, she was suddenly embraced by the arms around her waist, and with a little force, she was straddling them.

The gauze curtains hung low, and Qian Yingyi lowered her head slightly, her loose hair falling across Qin Lizheng's face. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with unfathomable emotions, as if they wanted to leap out and hold her tightly. "What are you looking at?"

As he spoke, he remained languid, his expression relaxed, even the usual indifference in his eyes was gone. Qian Yingyi, stunned, blurted out, "You're handsome..."

Realizing she was rambling, Qian Yingyi's eyes widened immediately, and she hurriedly covered her mouth, "That's not what I meant!"

Whether it was the gauze curtains or something else, Qin Lizheng's earlobes gradually turned a light red. After a moment, he shifted his gaze away from her and silently turned his face to the side.

Qian Yingyi's cheeks were burning hot. When she saw him open his eyes, she disregarded her shame and grabbed his hand. "Let go of me. You're not allowed to get into my bed again. Now that you're awake, get out!"

Qin Lizheng suddenly closed his eyes, without letting go, "Who said I was awake? I'm going to sleep some more."

These words left Qian Yingyi speechless, unable to believe that he was lying through his teeth.

Seeing that she was still sitting on him, she gritted her teeth and used all her strength to press his hands to the sides of the four-cornered pillow. She leaned down and bit his neck, her words muffled, "If you don't get off, I'll bite you to death right here. Tomorrow I'll change the bed and have the servants drag you and the bed out and throw you far away!"

Qin Lizheng was used to being bitten by her. He only hissed softly as she held his hands captive. However, his Adam's apple inevitably bobbed, and his tongue moistened his lips, frantically suppressing that secret thought.

He remained silent, unconditionally indulging her. Qian Yingyi bit her lip for a moment, then suddenly froze, burying her face in his shoulder and neck, too afraid to look up again.

Good heavens, what is she doing? She looks like a womanizer!

"Not biting anymore?" Qian Yingyi thought more than half an hour had passed when he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, like a ghost whispering as it climbed up from the abyss, trying to pull her down.

Qian Yingyi awkwardly raised her face, about to speak, when the locked door was pushed inward. Immediately, Xia Ling muttered from outside, "Huh? Why is Miss locking the door for no reason? Miss? Miss?"

Qin Lizheng's breath hitched as he watched her suddenly move closer. In an instant, only her hand separated them. He saw her nervous and uneasy expression and heard her cautious voice, "Shh, don't speak."

After a while, she cleared her throat, climbed off him, her soft palm still covering his lips, but tilted her head to let her delicate voice drift through the gauze curtains, "Xia...Xia Ling! I want to sleep, don't worry about me!"

Xia Ling's deep voice came in, and then the footsteps gradually faded away. She reappeared by the window and started talking to several diligent young maids.

Outside, there were serious voices talking, while inside the tent, two bodies were pressed tightly together. Qian Yingyi's heart was already trembling and floating in these two completely different worlds.

She felt a little weak, but still resisted stubbornly. Her gaze swept over him, and she noticed the asymmetrical rings on his hands. A surge of anger welled up inside her again. She used her nervousness as an excuse to try and pry his knuckles open. "Can't you wear these rings properly, symmetrically? You know my habits!"

If Qin Lizheng had genuinely wanted to rest earlier, this time her "fuss" was like a magic potion, and he would never close his eyes again. Especially since he had already raised his head at her touch.

Qian Yingyi naturally sensed it too. Her face flushed, and she helped him put the rings on their respective index fingers, whispering, "Can we go downstairs?"

She said "we," implying that their relationship had changed from a simple "you and me" to something more.

Qin Lizheng looked up at her, realizing that the surging thoughts in his heart were almost uncontrollable. He quickly turned his head to look at her hand, "Let go of me first."

Qian Yingyi let out a soft "Ah," then half-fleeed and half-dodged, letting go of his hand before flipping off him.

What should have been a cozy nap turned into a playful commotion, and for the first time, the two of them remained silent in perfect unison.

This tacit understanding kept Qian Yingyi from looking at Qin Lizheng for most of the day. Before she knew it, evening was approaching, and Yu Cheng, who had been left at the Yingtian Prefecture Office, returned home looking somewhat tired.

After having dinner with a few people in the small flower hall, Yu Cheng headed to his own courtyard to rest. He had worked up a sweat from dealing with the Lin family and the officials of all ranks at the government office, so he prepared to wash up.

As they walked past the corner of the corridor and reached the base of a wall, they bumped into Qin Lizheng.

Yu Cheng glanced around and nodded slightly to him, "Commander Qin."

The place was deserted; the maids and servants had all gone to have their dinner. Qin Lizheng glanced at him, crossed her arms, and leaned against the artificial rock. "How did things go?"

Yu Cheng sighed and said, "It's already a huge uproar outside. I walked all the way back. The two banks of the Huai River are in an uproar because of this. Countless mouths are talking, and it's impossible to stop them."

"During the day, Yan Yu fainted twice in court. The officials in the government office who were a few ranks below him were like mad dogs smelling a bone. They seized on Yan Wenying's mistakes and sided with the Lin family in their words and actions. They wished they could expose the matter and bring Yan Yu down."

Catching his breath, he continued, "Fortunately, Yan Ruheng was also there. His words were sharp and witty, silencing all the officials. Lin Bianhong seemed relatively calm, but his wife, Xun Yun, was the most agitated. Xun Yun only has one son, Lin Yuhu, and now Yan Wenying..."

Yu Cheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "How is she any different from the eunuchs in the palace? Xun Yun keeps saying she wants Yan Wenying dead. Even if the law can't sentence her to death, she should still be imprisoned and exiled three thousand miles away."

"As the governor, I had no choice but to order the search and arrest of Yan Wenying. Only then did the Lin family quiet down a bit, and now they have all gone back."

At this point, a look of doubt appeared on Yu Cheng's handsome and gentle face as he looked up at Qin Lizheng, "Was this... your doing?"

Qin Lizheng gave a faint smile. "The Embroidered Uniform Guards can't even reach into someone's bed, can they?"

"What about Yan Wenying?" Yu Cheng stared at him. "Before she got married, she was a pampered young lady. After marrying Lin Yuhu, she lived a life of luxury. How did she manage to evade the Lin family's search and remain completely undisturbed until now?"

When he spoke again, Yu Cheng's tone was very certain, "You hid her."

“Commander Qin, this case cannot be closed unless you hand her over.”

"Don't forget what the Emperor wants to investigate," Qin Lizheng's voice was extremely cold. "The more chaotic things get, the more they will be exposed. I have already sent a letter to the Emperor, asking you to slow down the search. If the Lin family asks, just say that they can't find her for the time being."

Yu Cheng choked, unable to find a reason to refute, and finding the conversation unproductive, he simply bowed and took his leave. As he left, he gave Qin Lizheng a meaningful glance at his neck, "Jinling is about to descend into chaos. I hope you can truly protect Yingyi as you said you would."

He had tried to persuade and dissuade him with earnest words. But how could he possibly stop one person from doing something so complicated? His brother-in-law's advice... seemed impossible to heed.

Let's leave aside the conversation for now.

Meanwhile, the Yan family was in complete chaos. Several maids and wet nurses who had previously served Yan Wenying had been brought back from the Lin family. Yan Yu slumped on the couch, her gaze towards them filled with murderous intent. "Tell me the truth, where exactly did Miss go?"

"What exactly was the matter that caused the young lady and her husband to quarrel last night?"

Everyone was terrified by what had happened. Several maids knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Finally, the wet nurse crawled forward, shaking, and replied, "My child! It's because of my child!"

Yan Wenying had been raised on her mother's milk, and in her heart, she was no different from half a daughter. She knelt on the ground, wiping away her tears, heartbroken. "Master, after Miss returned home yesterday, she and the young master became like strangers again. After the young master took Green Jade into the room, he came to provoke Miss. Miss endured it. Not long after, the young master also came. We saw from afar that the young master was trying to make Miss happy, so we maids and I could no longer stay in the room."

She cried and gasped for breath, pleading, "Master, you watched Miss grow up, how could she do such a cruel thing? There must be a hidden story. I really don't know where Miss went, but she absolutely cannot come out now! If she goes to court, her life will be ruined!"

Wang Cailing also sat on the couch, sobbing that she soaked several handkerchiefs.

How could Yan Yu not understand the "hidden story" behind this? He secretly guessed that it was probably about the divorce, but he never expected that his daughter would almost cut the rope that tied the two families together with a pair of scissors!

The inability to find Yan Wenying means that the rope will eventually break completely. The officials of Yingtian Prefecture have long been looking for his mistakes, and today they have surrounded and attacked him alone.

Fortunately, my son is still quite useful.

Yan Yu waved his hand impatiently, telling the weeping servants to leave. Then he turned to Yan Ruheng, who was sitting alone to the side, and said, "Your father did not spoil you for nothing. You did well today."

Yan Ruheng was utterly exhausted. In just one day, he had gone from initial shock to being forced to accept it, to going to court on behalf of the entire Yan family to fight against external forces, and now to the calm he was in.

He seemed to have lost his upright and honest demeanor; his straight back bent slightly in an instant. He took a deep breath, turned to look at Yan Yu, and said nothing.

It seemed he had already said everything in court, and now he couldn't squeeze out another word.

He had thought that once he was out of control, he could return to his former upright self, but his elder sister's case shattered all his naive fantasies. He couldn't escape it at all.

During the day, in the courtroom, he watched as Yan Yu was ostracized by officials of all ranks. He stood there quietly and suddenly remembered that long ago when he went to Fengyang to take up an official post, his elder sister saw him off at the ferry, her eyes filled with expectation and affirmation for him.

At that time, she said with satisfaction, "My younger brother Sanlang is very intelligent. He passed the exam on his first try, which is the envy of everyone. He should serve as an official in Fengyang. When he has the opportunity to be transferred back, he can gradually move towards the capital. Our Yan family will be even more distinguished because of you."

An official immediately brought Yan Yu back to the present moment with sarcastic remarks.

He then snapped back to reality, realizing that all talk of integrity and goodness, of resistance and defiance, was futile.

It doesn't matter whether his surname is Yan, the Yan of Yan Yu or the Yan of his biological father Yan Cheng.

Even if he could obtain evidence of Yan Yu's embezzlement, what good would it do? Everything he possessed, wasn't it all given to him by Yan Yu? In the end, he could never sever himself from the Yan family.

Therefore, even though his family was a cannibalistic den of monsters, he could only watch helplessly as he stepped into it, desperately sinking deeper and deeper with the freedom he had once craved but which was now worthless.

He was already inextricably linked to his family, hand in hand, foot in foot. When Yan Yu fell from grace, the entire family fell with him; when Yan Yu prospered, the entire family prospered. He was no exception.

Despite the overwhelming external forces, he remained an integral part of the Yan family.

After a long pause, Yan Ruheng forced a smile, his voice surprisingly calm, "Father, what are you going to do if we can't find my sister?"

Yan Yu slumped on the couch, feeling slightly tired from fainting twice earlier. A helpless sigh escaped her lips. "What can I do? If I can't find her, am I really going to dig three feet into the ground to find her? Right now, the most important thing is the Lin family. I'll have to humbly go and apologize. This marriage relationship can't be severed."

Knowing that he was clinging to the interests and unwilling to let go, Yan Ruheng didn't have the energy to feel disgusted. He glanced at the adoptive parents standing nearby, then got up and left, saying, "Alright, I'll go prepare the gifts."

As they walked into the garden, a gentle breeze began to stir, carrying the fragrance of blooming flowers. Yan Ruheng stopped, looked up to scan the moonlight, and suddenly asked his servant Ruoshan, "Don't you feel cold?"

This hellhole was so cold that it froze him completely, as if if he were to let his good intentions surface again, his internal organs would shatter with a "crack".

It's summer now, why are you feeling cold all of a sudden? Ruoshan shook his head, puzzled, knowing he was in a bad mood, and could only comfort him, "Young Master, you should go to sleep early, you'll probably be busy tomorrow."

The word "Young Master" stunned Yan Ruheng. Yes, when he was in Fengyang, he would happily go to his father's house, where his parents would affectionately call him "Brother Heng." But here, he would only be Young Master, Lord Yan.

The moonlight shone brightly in Yan Ruheng's eyes, and he thought of Qian Yingyi's always pure and innocent smile.

He finally couldn't help but think that just yesterday he was jealous of her being close to someone else, but in just one day, his world had been turned upside down.

Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, he and she will no longer be friends; he will become a complete stranger to her in the truest sense. Then he won't even have the right to be jealous.

In the desolate garden, Yan Ruheng stood alone for a long time before finally turning around, leaving only a very low sigh in place, "Let's go."

.

Five-inch lotus leaves and delicate lotus blossoms cling to the water, yet do not hinder the swaying of the painted boat. The banks of the Huai River remain bustling, the actors' laughter still crisp and clear, and the drinkers still hum and laugh. The case, which is no longer important to them, has lost its novelty and has long been buried in the drunken revelry.

After searching for more than ten days, Yan Wenying was nowhere to be found. The Lin family, having to take care of Lin Yuhu who was going crazy and howling every day, gradually calmed down, only sending people to the government office to make a fuss every three to five days.

The case ultimately did not implicate the Qian family. Qian Yingyi, unable to bear being cooped up at home any longer, finally went out after lunch that day.

This time she's dressed differently again.

Wearing the new clothes Xu Jun had made for her, a thin, jet-black long vest, underneath which was a white marble-colored stand-up collar long gown with a diagonal front, and below that a pleated satin skirt with intertwined floral patterns.

A silver chain cinched her slender waist, and her overall cleverness was undeniable.

Having stayed at home for too long, and given that Qian Yingyi is naturally inclined to be out and about, and fearing that the carriage would be too confined, she abandoned it and happily headed out into the marketplace.

Walking along Shiba Street, the riverbanks were lined with blooming lotus flowers. Qian Yingyi stood on a stone step, took a deep sniff of the lotus fragrance, and sighed, "It's still better outside."

After saying that, he glanced at Qin Lizheng, who was also dressed in black, and feeling quite pleased, he turned to ask him, "Where is that dessert shop you mentioned earlier in Confucius Temple? Take me there, I'm thirsty."

In fact, she hadn't been out for even half an hour. During lunch at home, she had drunk a lot of flower tea with her sister and brother-in-law. To say she was thirsty would be an understatement; rather, she was looking for an excuse to talk to him.

Suddenly, a pleasure boat approached from afar, and a voice called out to her from a distance, "Yingyi! Yingyi! Over here!"

Qian Yingyi turned around and saw that Yan Qiuyan and Wen Ninglan were playing on the painted boat. There were also a group of young masters and ladies whose names she could name but were not very familiar with. Qian Yingyi suddenly remembered that she had mentioned to her on her birthday that she had started a poetry club. She guessed that the members of the club were this group of people on the boat.

The pleasure boat was neither too close nor too far away. Yan Qiuyan spoke to her across half of the Huai River, "Yingyi! Lanlan and I are having a great time. Would you like to come aboard? I'll send a boatman to fetch you in a small boat!"

Qian Yingyi wasn't very interested in the poetry club, but she hadn't seen the two of them for over ten days and missed them terribly. So she looked over there hesitantly.

Then he couldn't help but think, what if she went off to enjoy herself on a pleasure boat, leaving him all alone? It wouldn't be good, would it? Looking at him, tall and strong, though agile, he didn't seem like the type to compose poetry...

After thinking it over, she still brought her hand to her lips and called out, "I have something to do, I can't go! You guys have fun!"

Yan Qiuyan seemed to make a face at her on the other end, but she didn't insist. She smiled and took Wen Ninglan's arm as they went into the painted boat.

Qian Yingyi turned her face and looked at Qin Lizheng with a smug expression, as if to say—See, haven't I been good to you? You even abandoned your friends.

Qin Lizheng smiled, nudged her arm with his sword sheath, and led her to the other side, "Didn't you want some sweet soup? I'll take you there."

After a short while, we bypassed the examination hall, passed in front of the main gate of the Confucius Temple, went into Xufu Street, and then turned into Sifu Lane.

Qian Yingyi followed behind Qin Lizheng, and many passersby glanced at her sideways, but she didn't care much. After walking halfway, Qin Lizheng stopped and looked at her, "You've been walking for half a day, are you tired? Why don't you sit down in the shop?"

She looked up and exclaimed, "Chunsheng Dessert Shop? That's quite an elegant name."

Just then, a middle-aged man walked out of the dessert shop, carrying a dough ball in one hand and holding the hand of a four- or five-year-old toddler in the other.

Although his face was somewhat frightening, his tone was gentle, "How many times have I told you? You are not allowed to go to the river with the neighbor's kids without my permission. What if you accidentally fall into the river and no one helps you? What if you die?"

The toddler didn't take it seriously, acting like a little adult. Her soft, black hair was gathered into a bun on top of her head, and she pouted, "Then what does Xixi want to play with? Xixi doesn't like playing with pebbles."

As they were talking, the little baby spotted Qian Yingyi with sharp eyes. He seemed to think that the silver chain around her waist was shiny and very pretty, so he pointed at the two of them and grinned, saying, "Daddy, we have guests."

The middle-aged man turned his head and looked over. The young lady was a stranger, but he had seen the young man twice before. He smiled and said, "Young master, you're here again. It's sunny outside. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

She immediately took the baby to sit aside, put down the dough in the bowl, and reached into her bosom to cover her face with a long towel, afraid of startling the guests.

Curious, Qian Yingyi went into the shop and found it spotless; every long bench was polished to a shine. Besides the utensils for making sweet soup, the narrow shop had many paintings hanging on the walls. The paintings, with their interplay of color and black ink, seemed to be the work of a child, exuding a childlike charm.

She involuntarily sat down, pointed to the rooster in one of the paintings, and smiled at the baby, "Did you paint this?"

The baby sat to the side, swinging its legs and patting its bulging belly, "It's me!"

“She was just sketching casually, and I didn’t want to waste the paper, so I just hung them all on the wall,” the middle-aged man said, handing over a slip of paper. “What would this young lady like to drink?”

Although he said that, Qian Yingyi could tell that what he truly cherished was his daughter's innocent and skillful drawing. Her fondness for the dessert shop grew even stronger. She casually ordered a bowl of chilled five-fruit soup and then asked Qin Lizheng, "What would you like to eat?"

Qin Lizheng waved his hand slightly, "I'll drink water."

Qian Yingyi pursed her lips and let him be.

Before long, the sweet soup was placed in front of Qian Yingyi. Seeing her smiling and burying her head in her drink, Qin Lizheng gradually turned his gaze to the middle-aged man. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "I've done business here a few times, but I still don't know the owner's name."

The middle-aged man paused, opened his mouth, and was about to speak when the little baby interrupted with a grin, "My father's name is Liang Tu, and my name is Liang Xizhao."

Qin Lizheng nodded slightly, glanced around the shop, and asked casually, "Is the rent expensive? I see that the vendors on both sides of the riverbank are doing very well. Why don't you set up a stall on the other side?"

Liang Xizhao then chimed in, quite honestly, "Because my dad doesn't want to scare anyone!"

Liang Tu frowned and sent her outside to play, fearing she might say something else.

After a moment, he turned back into the shop and replied with a smile, "Young sir, you don't know, appearance is one thing, but my skill in making sweet soup is far inferior to others, and my prices are also lower than others. If I were to go to the river to do business, I would have to come back in disgrace after only three or five days. It's better to keep a shop in this alley, where I can withstand wind and rain. As you can see, I also have a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and she is not very easy to take care of."

Qin Lizheng smiled, fearing that he might alert Liang Tu and allow him to escape, so he withdrew his intention to talk and remained silent.

Before long, Qian Yingyi finished half a bowl of sweet soup. It was still a bit hot in the shop, so she quickly took off her folding fan and fanned herself.

Qin Lizheng simply got up to pay the bill, saying, "Your sweet soup is quite good; I'll come again next time."

Then he led Qian Yingyi out of the shop.

Qian Yingyi had only walked halfway when she suddenly felt someone watching her. She quickly looked around suspiciously and saw Liang Xizhao secretly watching her from the entrance of the alley.

Thinking of her sister-in-law's impending birth of a soft and adorable little niece, her heart softened. She spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorns and bought a skewer, holding it in her hand and waving to Liang Xizhao with a smile.

Liang Xizhao came over happily, took the candied hawthorn from her, and without saying a word, just pulled her hand and ran off in one direction.

After about half an incense stick's time, Qian Yingyi stopped panting and looked up to find that it was the back gate of Yingtian Prefectural School, which was right next to the Confucius Temple.

She bent over slightly, took a couple of breaths, and looked at Liang Xizhao licking a candied hawthorn, asking with a smile, "Why did you bring me here?"

Liang Xizhao skipped and jumped around her skirt, saying, "I think you're very pretty. I want to be good friends with you. Since we're friends, it's no big deal for me to bring you here to take a look."

Qian Yingyi asked, "You want to go to the prefectural school? Did your father teach you to read?"

Liang Xizhao patted her chest proudly, the syrup rolling on her lips like a little girl applying lip rouge, "I can even recite three hundred poems!"

Qian Yingyi was surprised, "That amazing?"

“Of course,” Liang Xizhao said with a smile, chewing on a hawthorn and spitting the pit into her fair palm. She glanced sideways at the academy, which was much taller than her, and said, “I often come to this side. I heard that there is an older brother there who is of noble status but not well-liked. I’ve seen him from afar, and he is indeed not very good.”

These words, spoken by her, were filled with ambition, yet also made people laugh and cry at the same time: "I want to study here in the future, not only here, but also in the examination hall next door. I heard that people take the exam there, so I want to take the exam there too. I want to be a female top scholar in the future, punish evil and promote good, and become a high-ranking official!"

Qian Yingyi was surprised that her daughter knew so much at such a young age. She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Does your father know about this ambition?"

Liang Xizhao covered her lips and laughed, "He doesn't know that he often reads by lamplight at night. I've sneaked into his room to peek a few times. Don't go back and tell my father."

She was still just a baby, and soon changed the subject, pulling Qian Yingyi's sleeve and running aside, wanting to lead her to see the examination hall again.

Before long, Qian Yingyi and she had spent half a day playing in this area.

It wasn't until Liang Tu called out Liang Xizhao's name loudly in the alley that she cupped Qian Yingyi's face and kissed her. Then, as she ran into the alley, she waved to her, saying, "Come again next time! I love playing with you. I'll go back and tell my father not to charge you next time."

Qian Yingyi, smoothing her skirt, squatted down on the stone steps and chuckled. She smiled and spoke to Qin Lizheng, "She's so cute, don't you think?"

For as long as she played, Qin Lizheng waited silently to the side. He slowly walked up to her, and seeing that no one was around, he stretched out his hand to her.

Qian Yingyi waved her hand, "No need."

But after squatting for too long, her legs gradually went numb. She had no choice but to put her hand on his arm again, and immediately became nervous, looking around like a thief, afraid that someone would see her.

Qin Lizheng let out two laughs from his chest, and while waiting for her to recover, he asked, "The sun is about to set, shall we go back? Or go somewhere else for a stroll?"

Qian Yingyi pursed her lips, faintly hearing the sounds of flutes and sheng from the Huai River. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she said with a smile, "Let's go to the riverbank, it's lively there."

So after she regained the strength to walk, Qin Lizheng bought a rabbit lantern at the alley entrance. Seeing that it was getting dark, he lit the lantern to illuminate her skirt and led her side by side toward the riverbank.

Upon reaching the riverbank, I indeed saw a bustling area. The buildings on both sides were brand new and eye-catching, and the restaurants and taverns had already changed their signs, with countless new ones opening.

Qian Yingyi stood on Huaiqing Bridge, hesitating, unsure which house to go to.

Just then, a handsome young man with a slender waist walked towards them, wearing a light green gauze robe. His affectionate eyes swept over her, lingering only briefly before turning to the young man behind her.

Chu Zhiyan was also slightly surprised, and when he saw Qin Lizheng from afar, he almost shouted, "Commander!"

He managed to hold back, his tongue swirling in his mouth as he forced a smile and said, "Xiao Zheng, it's you!"

Qin Lizheng's eyes flashed a warning.

Qian Yingyi glanced at the two of them back and forth, then asked Qin Lizheng, "Are they your friends?"

Strange, I only heard him say he had enemies, but today I met his friend. Qian Yingyi thought to herself, her eyes also secretly glancing at the young man.

Seeing that she was looking him up and down, Chu Zhiyan quickly put on a serious posture, bowed to her, and said, "This must be Miss Qian, right? You're not mistaken. Xiao Zheng and I are good friends. My surname is Chu and my given name is Zhiyan. Miss Qian can just call me by my full name."

Qian Yingyi curtsied properly, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

Qin Lizheng didn't want to rush Chu Zhiyan any further, so he cleared his throat and asked, "The restaurants and eateries around here are all newly opened. You've been by the river for a while, do you know which one is better?"

Qian Yingyi looked at Chu Zhiyan with surprise, "Is Young Master Chu doing business by the river?"

“Opening a family-run restaurant isn’t exactly a proper business… ptooey, it’s not a profitable business,” Chu Zhiyan chuckled. “Restaurants and taverns? The chefs around here seem to have all been trained in the same place, so everything tastes the same. If you ask me, it would be better to charter a boat. Business on the river is always fiercely competitive, and the food is quite particular.”

Hearing that he ran a music hall, Qian Yingyi half-hid behind Qin Lizheng and whispered, "Is your friend a decent person?"

Qin Lizheng couldn't help but chuckle, but remained silent with a slight smile.

Chu Zhiyan's smile froze on his face. He pointed to the awning boat under the bridge and said, "Give it a try. I often lie on the boat when I have nothing to do. The food and drinks are quite good."

Having just met, Qian Yingyi was not familiar with him and wanted to get away as soon as possible. So she nodded slightly, twirled her skirt, and went down the bridge. She found a tout and paid for a small boat.

Seeing her board the ship, Qin Lizheng's smile faded, and he glanced at Chu Zhiyan with a warning look in his eyes.

He then beckoned the shop assistant over, took out half a silver ingot from his pocket and threw it at him, saying, "Give her the silver you just gave her, and make up an excuse yourself."

Seeing his generosity, the waiter beamed with joy. Before long, he led two assistants to present a variety of delicacies and drinks, and said to Qian Yingyi, "Oh my goodness, this young lady is truly lucky. Our master is currently celebrating the birthday of an elder in his family, and he has arranged a long list of numbers, saying that the twentieth passenger each day will be given a free ride. I wish you all the best!"

Qian Yingyi was slightly surprised, "Me?"

The waiter's smile widened. "Yes, it is you. I'll take my leave now. The boatman has also gone to the shore. The gentleman who was with you said he's here to row and is outside."

Qian Yingyi could only watch silently as he left the cabin.

She sat alone inside the boat, carefully surveying the furnishings around her.

Although this awning boat is not quite as elegant as a painted barge, it is still quite pretentious, with a long, low table placed in the center. A few dried rosebuds are placed in a narrow-mouthed vase with its glaze scraped off, and paper, brushes, colored ink, and poetry books are laid out in a corner, showing that it was made with care.

The boat rocked gently, and as she lifted the curtain to look out, she saw his back as he slowly rowed.

He seemed to sense something, turned around and smiled at her, "Wait a little longer, there are many boats here, I'll go around to a place with fewer boats."

The hazy moonlight mingled with the shimmering waves on the riverbank, making his features appear even more gentle. Qian Yingyi smiled, her lips pursed, and sat back down without a word, whether out of shyness or something else.

After about half an incense stick's time, the boat gradually stabilized, and the only sound all around was the gentle swaying of the river.

Qin Lizheng bent down to lift the curtain and slipped into the boat. He sat down opposite her, his eyes fixed on her face. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "You told me to wait, so you just waited without eating or drinking?"

Qian Yingyi lowered her eyelids to hide her panic in the cramped space alone with him, and hurriedly handed him a blue and white porcelain bowl, saying, "Eat. We've been waiting for half a day, and I'm almost exhausted. Don't talk."

Then he held his own bowl, sometimes eating some light seasonal vegetables, and sometimes picking at some chicken and duck to nibble on.

The delicious food was accompanied by a cup of fine plum wine. Qian Yingyi was quite thirsty after eating, so she drank quite a few cups of it.

Qin Lizheng followed her, chewing slowly, and said half-jokingly, "This wine has a strong aftereffect. If you get drunk here, I won't take care of you."

Qian Yingyi breathed softly, and after eating for a while, she no longer felt hungry. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and said, "How could I get drunk so easily? You just eat yours, and I'll drink mine. We won't interfere with each other."

What a fine example of non-interference. Qin Lizheng lowered his head and smiled. His appetite was naturally bigger than hers, so he silently ate his meal to her.

Qian Yingyi held the wine glass tightly in her mouth, perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, because she felt he was unusually docile today. Or perhaps, he had become much more docile ever since that time he stumbled into her tent.

She had a premonition that he might kiss her again in this cabin.

She quietly poured herself another glass of plum wine, using the opportunity to steal glances at him. He ate quite politely, making little noise; as he bit, his hardened cheeks moved slowly, and she could almost hear the slight vibrations of his teeth...

“Ah Zheng”.

Qin Lizheng suddenly paused, lifting his eyes to stare at her. "What's wrong?"

Qian Yingyi put down her wine glass at some point, rested her chin on her hand, stared at him, and said softly, "Could you bite a little lighter?"

"..." Qin Lizheng swallowed the last bite of food, poured himself a cup of tea, and felt the coolness as it went down his throat, making his voice clearer. "What do you mean by 'bite lightly'?"

Qian Yingyi laughed, "The way you bite makes me want to bite you too."

Qin Lizheng was stunned.

Qian Yingyi seemed to be just saying it casually. She glanced at the paper and pen in the corner, picked them up in an instant, and then told Qin Lizheng to sit back. She said to herself, "If you sit up straight, I'll be more steady when I strike."

The next moment, he casually ground some colored ink, spread it on the low table, and started drawing. "I've wanted to do this for a long time. You draw my portrait, and I'll draw yours too, hehe, thick eyebrows, a high nose..."

"Those two annoying moles!" Her brush moved swiftly, sketching a few lines before glancing at Qin Lizheng. "And that slender waist..."

"A slender waist..."

Seeing that she had suddenly become drunk, Qin Lizheng pinched his brow, regretting that he shouldn't have indulged her like this. Just as he was about to look up and stop her, a beautiful face rushed towards him.

Qian Yingyi knelt down in front of him, holding a paintbrush in one hand, her somewhat hazy eyes falling on his waist, and suddenly she used her other hand to untie the silver chain around her waist.

Qin Lizheng frowned slightly and immediately gripped her wrist tightly. "What are you doing?"

Qian Yingyi clicked her tongue, impatiently broke free from him, took off the silver chain herself, and threw it to him, saying, "You, you tie this around your waist, let me see how good it looks."

She blocked his way, making it clear she wouldn't leave until he fastened the chain. Qin Lizheng closed his eyes and obediently picked up the silver chain and tied it around his waist.

But as soon as I walked around behind her, she suddenly shook her head, "It's not like that, you have to take off your clothes to tie them."

Qin Lizheng paused, his gaze lingering on her face. "If I refuse, are you planning to strip me naked right here?"

"Tch," Qian Yingyi put down her paintbrush, pouted, and snatched back the silver chain to fasten it when she saw him stop. "How annoying, always saying you'll listen to me."

"Hate? Hate who?" Seeing her trying to crawl back, Qin Lizheng wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her up, and their bodies pressed together passionately. "Hate A-Zheng?"

His presence always made Qian Yingyi weak. She clung to his neck, trying not to fall to the side, and shook her head. "I don't dislike A-Zheng."

"So... does Qian Yingyi like A-Zheng?"

Qian Yingyi lifted her face, blinking as if she understood but not quite, "What does it mean to like someone?"

Qin Lizheng's lips curled into a slight smile, his breath carrying a hint of desire. In the dimly lit cabin, he planned to coax her into saying it.

Just as he was about to speak, she spoke faster than he did.

Qian Yingyi lowered her eyes slightly, staring at his lips, and said softly, "Every time I'm kissed here, I feel my bones go weak, and even the hem of my skirt feels wet. Is this feeling something I like?"

The brief shock left Qin Lizheng speechless.

Qian Yingyi then asked, "Does A-Zheng like me?"

Qin Lizheng closed his eyes. "I like it."

Qian Yingyi closed her eyes and mumbled, "Then I'll try to find the feeling I like again."

She then cupped his face and pressed her lips against his.

She kissed him as she remembered, her tongue swirling between her lips. As their breaths mingled, she sensed he was thirsty, so she released him and drank half a cup of plum wine in one gulp. Then, out of kindness, she gave it to him for him to drink.

Qin Lizheng's breathing became heavy as she pushed him, and he grabbed the back of her neck, trying to pull her away.

Qian Yingyi, contrary to her usual behavior, hugged his neck tightly and buried her face in his neck.

A moment later, a sobbing voice reached his ears, "I'm not feeling well..."

Only now did Qin Lizheng truly regret listening to Chu Zhiyan's suggestion to take the boat. Unable to pull her away, he could only gently pat her back, his voice low and indistinct, "Where do you feel unwell?"

The moisture from Qian Yingyi's eyes dampened a small patch of his skin.

A cool breeze began to rise from the river, and her soft voice, carried on the wind, fiercely attacked Qin Lizheng's heart, "Azheng, save me."

In the dim light of the cabin, Qin Lizheng's sigh could be heard.

A dense rain started falling outside sometime earlier.

After a while, he put one arm around her and pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket with the other, handing it out of the cabin to catch the rain. He then carefully and slowly wiped every part of her hands clean.

The moonlight was hidden, and his gaze became hazy as he stared intently at her slightly parted red lips. He then leaned down and said, "Alright, I'll save you."

His hand also casually rolled up her skirt.

The waves were scorching, and seawater dripped into his palm.

He lowered his eyes and stared at her expression, which was so close to his, his gaze growing increasingly dark.

Qian Yingyi involuntarily mumbled, "Too slow..."

Her voice became slurred and musky. Gradually, she became more and more excited, until it was as if she had suddenly fallen into a raging storm, her body suddenly felt light and airy, and she lost all her strength as the waves crashed against her.

Her body swayed slightly, her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and her floating arms embraced everything in front of her. After a long while, she asked absentmindedly, "Is it raining?"

After a long silence, someone finally responded with a deep "Hmm".

The voice beside me wasn't exactly calm, but it was steady: "Go back to sleep early, okay?"

Qian Yingyi nodded with her eyes closed, "Okay, I want to fly in the sky. Can you fly? Take me back."

It had only been a brief shower, and now it had stopped. Qin Lizheng wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, but didn't answer. He simply went out of the cabin and started rowing.

Once the boat docked, he scooped her up from her deep sleep, secretly channeled his inner strength, and, avoiding the crowds, treaded on the green tiles back to the Qian residence.

Even when entering Yunteng Pavilion, he would take her through the west window, which he always liked to peek through.

Perhaps it was the familiar scent of tonka bean that made Qian Yingyi shift her position on the low couch. She vaguely saw a tall figure and smiled, "Thank you. Go outside and collect your reward money. Find the maid in the pink vest."

They actually mistook him for a worker from outside?

Qin Lizheng stared at her silently, grinding his teeth inwardly. He wanted to bite down hard on that half of her fair neck.

After a moment, he decided not to argue with her. He took out the fabric, cut off half of it, and hung it on his arm. Then he scooped her up and led her behind the landscape screen where warm water was stored.

The next moment, he covered her eyes with half a piece of fabric and stroked her limp body to untie her silver chain, vest, and skirt sash.

When Qin Lizheng finally emerged from her room under the cover of night, some time had already passed. He took a deep breath, clutched his handkerchief, and silently turned back into his bedroom.

He smelled strongly of alcohol from her; he should wash up.

Sitting in the cold water, he leaned back on the edge of the tub, the towel he had used to wipe her earlier still draped over the rim.

We shouldn't have let her drink, knowing it would make her more affectionate. Will she remember when she wakes up tomorrow? Or will she forget everything like last time? If she does remember, will she...?

Qin Lizheng exhaled heavily, and as he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but recall the silky smooth feel of his hand and the sensation of his palm suddenly soaking in a hot spring.

He suddenly grabbed the handkerchief.

The candlelight in the silver lamp gradually dimmed, and the moon, which had disappeared in the middle of the night, peeked out from behind the clouds again, casting Qin Lizheng's shadow obliquely on the bare wall.

The constantly undulating arms stretched out a shadow that trembled slightly, as if completing many beautiful dreams, each one slower than the last, but as the dreams piled up, the breathing became more rapid and explosive than ever before.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Sigh, my hands are screaming like crazy every time I write a depressing scene:

Stop it! Switch to romance mode now!

Dear reviewer, I'm really at my wit's end. I've deleted everything that needed to be deleted, and I absolutely didn't write anything else! [crying emoji]