Chapter 76 The Night Is Not Quiet
After the three-day banquet, Yueyinglou, which advertised itself as the banquet organizer personally selected by Miss Shang, became the second beneficiary of this wedding banquet.
It's only a matter of time before Yueyinglou firmly establishes itself as the number one restaurant in Yangzhou!
The manager of Yueyinglou Restaurant has been all smiles lately; Miss Shang is truly his great benefactor!
The carriage wheels rolled on, and the wealthy young lady lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage window. Because the mansion could not be left without Old Chen for the time being, only Jiangxi accompanied her on this trip.
At this moment, the novice coachman Jiang was fully focused, avoiding the bumpy road conditions. Occasionally, the carriage would suddenly sway from side to side, the bamboo curtains would clatter against the windows, and the people inside would barely manage to keep their balance.
A voice outside asked, "Yunxiao! Are you alright?"
Shang Yuji gripped the window sill: "It's alright, you can continue driving—"
Finally, it was lunchtime for a break. She clutched her weak legs with one hand and carried a bag of dry food with the other, shakily leaning against the side of the car as she walked out.
Fortunately, she doesn't get carsick, otherwise it would have been a disaster.
From this perspective, the driver's skill level is very important. Old Chen drove fast and steadily, while Jiang Xi worried too much and ended up driving a bumpy ride.
Jiang Xi was already standing on the ground, arms outstretched, and lifted the person down around the waist.
Seeing that her lips were pale, Jiang Xi said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Yun Xiao, it's my fault for not driving well and making you feel uncomfortable."
Shang Yuji, half-embracing him, wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and patted him weakly: "You've done very well. You're a beginner, after all; there always needs to be an adjustment period..."
"Pick me up first."
Not wanting to tire Ah Ji out any further, Jiang Xi put the person down and then busied herself spreading out a cushion and setting up a clay stove. There was a stream near where the carriage was parked, and she sent away the people who were anxiously circling around her: "Go and see if there are any fish in the stream, and catch one."
Jiang Xi picked up the Moon Chasing Blade, turning back every few steps. Shang Yuji waved his hand: "Go quickly and come back quickly."
He finally turned around and walked silently towards the stream.
Shang Yuji calmed her breathing and saw him raise his long knife in the distance. When he lowered it, two fish were hanging from the knife.
With a fish ready to be cut, he didn't want to linger. He immediately turned and ran back, his eyes sparkling, and shouted with a loud laugh, "Yunxiao! There's fish!"
She took a deep breath and shouted just as loudly, "Cook the fish properly before you come over—"
After shouting, he collapsed in despair.
I made her tired from talking.
Jiang Xi stopped and returned to the stream with his head down. He had learned how to process fish when he came to Yangzhou. He took out a small knife, turned it over and cut open the fish's belly, threw away the internal organs, skillfully scraped off the scales, washed the fish clean, and after confirming that it was done, he ran back.
Shang Yuji took the fish, which was about the size of two palms, made incisions to marinate it, added perilla leaves to remove the fishy smell, skewered it with a wooden stick, and roasted it on the earthen stove. After a while, oil was released and flames suddenly rose. She turned it over to the other side with a normal expression until it was roasted until it was charred. She sprinkled salt on it, and two simple roasted fish were ready.
Turning his head to call for someone, he saw Jiang Xi squatting to the side, resting her chin on her hands, praising, "What fragrant fish! Yunxiao's grilled fish is truly excellent."
She raised her chin and smiled, saying, "Let's eat fish."
A water bag and a half-open food bag were placed on the cushion. Jiang Xi boasted that the fish must have come from heaven, and then they finished their lunch.
After tidying up, we started driving again.
Jiang Xi hesitated on the ground, so Shang Yuji simply gave him a push: "Like practicing martial arts, you'll get better with practice."
This time the car didn't shake, but it was much slower. Inside the car, Shang Yuji, resting her chin on her hand, looked out at the spring scenery. It was probably a speed at which pedestrians could easily overtake her.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Jiang Xi, noticing the movement, asked softly, "Did Yunxiao come out for something?"
She sat cross-legged on the other side of the carriage, feeling the breeze on her face, and replied, "I'll accompany Jiang, the driver, who isn't very skilled at driving."
His long eyelashes fluttered, and the corners of his lips turned up: "Mm."
Ah Ji was inside the carriage, unable to see her condition, and he kept wondering if she was suffering and forcing herself to endure it.
But with Aji right beside him, he could check on her condition immediately, which actually made him feel more at ease.
Once he realized that she was indeed unaffected by his driving, his initial apprehension subsided, and gradually, his driving skills steadily improved.
For Shang Yuji, sitting in the front of the car wasn't exactly comfortable, but the gentle breeze blowing in her face and the expansive scenery in her view offset the physical discomfort.
As they approached the corner, she unfolded the map to give directions, not forgetting to praise Jiangxi's excellent driving skills along the way.
When they came across the Fulai Inn by the roadside at night, Shang Yuji acted as if she were seeing an old acquaintance. She asked Jiang Xi to stop the carriage and then went into the inn to book a room.
Perhaps because it was in the middle of nowhere, the inn had little business.
There weren't many tables and chairs in the lobby, and the few that were there showed signs of patching, suggesting that they had a troubled history.
The shopkeeper was rather lazy when customers came in, but fortunately, although his attitude was negligent, he did not skimp on the treatment they deserved.
After giving them the room number, before the two went upstairs, the innkeeper glanced at the long sword tightly wrapped behind Jiang Xi's back, lifted his half-closed eyelids, and gave them a word of advice:
"If you hear noises at night, don't worry too much. It's just that the wind is strong at night and tree branches are hitting the doors and windows."
The waiter poured them hot water for bathing and went downstairs, one tall and one short.
Jiang Xi reached out and touched Shang Yuji's body, rubbing the areas where her skin was taut.
She watched as the waiter went downstairs.
"What do you think of this inn? Is it good or bad?"
"Hmm?" The person who had been searching for the discomfort on Aji's body looked up in confusion, blinked, and slowly said, "Is it alright?"
Shang Yuji pondered. At a glance, there was only one waiter in the inn. Of course, it was also possible that it was late and there were not many customers, so only one person was left on duty.
The waiter had a limp and looked rather thin.
In addition, what the shopkeeper said...
Shang Yuji ruffled Jiang Xi's hair: "I hope nothing happens tonight."
After bathing, I extinguished the candles and went to bed. Unfortunately, sometimes the more we hope, the more things don't go as planned.
At 1:15 AM, a rustling sound came from downstairs. In no time, the sound grew louder and louder, making it impossible to ignore.
Shang Yuji woke up drowsily, trying to ignore the sounds that had escalated into fists and feet clashing.
Is this the sound of tree branches hitting the window that the shopkeeper was talking about?
Did the tree branches know that the shopkeeper was so wronging them?
After a long and tiring day of travel, all she wanted to do was close her eyes and go back to sleep.
Let whoever wants to get involved in the chaos below, get involved; anyway, she—
Clang—
The sound of metal objects clashing.
"Bang!"
The sound of a human body hitting a wall or the ground.
"Sizzle—!"
The sound of tables and chairs scraping against the floor.
She couldn't take it anymore!
It's so noisy, I can't sleep at all!
If you are heartless, don't blame her for being unjust.
Close the gate and let the river flow!
"snort……?"
The person who was forcibly woken up was still sleepy. Jiang Xi whimpered and clung to her, nuzzling her cheek and murmuring, "Aji? Aji..."
"Let go of me right now and get up."
His hands, which had been tightly wrapped around her, were released, and her calves, which had been trapped between them, were finally freed.
He propped himself up with one hand, his silky long hair falling down his shoulder, a few strands cunningly covering her body.
The noise downstairs didn't attract his attention. He pressed his body against her, arching his back, and his loose hair uncontrollably covered her face and shoulders.
His free hand slowly covered her ears, and Jiang Xi leaned his upper body over her, casting a shadow over her. In the dim moonlight, his high nose and tightly pursed lips were barely illuminated, while the rest remained in darkness, making them difficult to see clearly.
He coaxed softly, "Ah Ji, cover your ears, then you won't hear anything..."
As for the noise downstairs, he'll deal with it after Ah Ji falls asleep.
We can't let them disturb Ah Ji's rest.
After sleeping for an hour and a half, his body temperature, which had been gradually cooling down, had already warmed up. The hands covering his ears reduced the noise from downstairs. Suddenly, Shang Yuji grabbed his collar and quickly tilted her head up to kiss the corner of his lips illuminated by the moonlight.
The person on top of her froze, not having time to react. His eyes, which had been somewhat weary, widened as he stared blankly at her.
Ah Ji narrowed his eyes and smiled brightly: "Go and teach all the people downstairs a lesson. Make sure they can't speak. Teach them what it means to not play around or make noise when people are resting at night."
After saying that, she leaned close to his cheek and kissed him lightly again: "Go ahead, this is your advance payment. If you succeed, come back for the rest of the payment."
Jiang Xi blinked rapidly, and after a moment he staggered to his feet and got out of bed. He hurriedly put on his outer robe and casually tied the belt: "Aji, you, you wait for me, I'll be back soon."
Before pushing open the door, Jiang Xi turned around and looked at her deeply. His eyes were moist, as if they were filled with water, and they shone brightly in the night.
He unwrapped the cloth covering his long sword, picked it up, and was about to open the door when he heard footsteps behind him as someone got off the bed.
Shang Yuji casually draped a long robe over his shoulders and walked behind him, saying, "I'll keep watch from up here. Be careful."
Worried that the night was deep and the dew was heavy, he hurriedly went back, unpacked his bundle, and draped a cloak over her shoulders, carefully fastening it for her: "Aji, don't catch a cold."
The two finished tidying up and pushed open the door. The fighting outside was still going on, and the creaking of the door was drowned out. No one noticed that someone had opened the door upstairs.
Shang Yuji released their clasped hands, propped herself up on the railing, and watched the fight below.
As expected, the already dilapidated lobby was even worse, with few intact tables and chairs remaining. Broken table legs and wooden stools were scattered everywhere, wood chips littered the floor, and dust swirled in the candlelight.
The scene was divided into two groups: one group consisted of the innkeeper and waiter they knew, and the other group consisted of a fierce-looking, knife-wielding man.
The Han people were numerous and powerful, and most of them were young and strong.
The shopkeeper, clutching the abacus with only a few beads remaining, stood before the waiter, two thin girls carrying wooden sticks, and three younger girls carrying pestles.
The battle was fierce, and everyone was injured. No one was in good shape, but upon closer inspection, the situation on the shopkeeper's side was more urgent.
The leading man spat out a mouthful of blood, along with a tooth, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and shouted at the innkeeper, "Hand them over! You're just a run-down innkeeper, they're no relation to you, why are you keeping them here!"
He was still shouting when his men seized the opportunity to slash at the shopkeeper with knives. The shopkeeper, who had been watching their movements closely, reacted quickly, wielding his abacus to catch the blow.
I don't know what material the abacus was made of, but it didn't break after I made a cut.
Taking advantage of the shopkeeper's distraction, someone else brandished a knife and rushed towards the girl behind the waiter.
Xiao Er hurriedly limped back to defend, but a sharp long knife slashed past his eyes, knocking the attacker's broadsword away with a clang.
Upon impact, the broadsword shattered, its fragments scattering across the ground, while the longsword, as easily as piercing a soft block of tofu, sank into the floor of the hall.
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