Chapter 194 Jin丨Exclusive publication by Jiang Wenxue

Although the country has been plagued by domestic and foreign troubles and has long been riddled with problems, the town is still extremely prosperous. There is no curfew on weekdays, and the night is also very lively. The atmosphere is even more full during the New Year.

In the evening, firecrackers were heard outside. The palace also prepared fireworks and firecrackers, all piled up at the gate. The servants and boys were all gathered there, and the maids hid far behind, watching them light them with fire, crackling and exploding, leaving a pile of red paper.

Xue Chen took Gong Jiu to stand in the distance and watched for a while, and felt that it was not as interesting as he remembered: [The quality of these firecrackers is not good, the sound is muffled, not crisp at all, and some of them did not explode at all. 】

System: 【This is the normal level that conforms to the world view! 】

Xue Chen: 【When this is over, Xie Heng will go into the fireworks business and will definitely make a fortune. 】

System: 【……】

Xue Chen pulled Gong Jiu: "Let's go out and take a look."

Many families nearby were setting off firecrackers, and his voice was a little unclear.

Gong Jiu moved closer to him and followed his brother out of the house.

The two came to the street and were drowned by the crowd.

Although the quality of fireworks and firecrackers in this era was a little worse, the cost was not high, and ordinary people could afford it. With so many people setting off fireworks together, even if the quality was a little worse, it looked quite spectacular.

Xue Chen rarely relaxed and looked up at the night sky.

Gong Jiu whispered, "Do you want to set off fireworks?"

Xue Chen shook his head, and suddenly thought of something, and changed his words, "Okay. I remember Uncle Cheng bought a lot of them in advance, I'll go back to Uncle Cheng and ask for a few to play with."

Xue Chen: [This is the first time my brother has asked me for toys.]

System: [Does he want to play? It's obviously you who want to play!]

Xue Chen: [Funny, Xie Heng does this every day, it's very novel to others, but I get to experience it every day!]

System: [That's right, I misunderstood you.]

After returning home, Gong Jiu asked someone to get several boxes of fireworks from Uncle Cheng.

Gong Jiu didn't let anyone carry it to the door, but placed it directly in the backyard. He turned around and called Xue Chen over, gave him the candle he had been lighting, lit the wick, and quickly stepped back, watching the flames fly high into the sky and explode into a gorgeous flower.

Xue Chen went to light other fireworks.

System: [You still say you're not playing by yourself! ! ]

Xue Chen: [So what! ]

System: [...As long as you are happy. ]

It's not the first time that it's talking nonsense, it's used to it.

Xue Chen: [Of course I'm happy, but Xiao Mian is so noisy. ]

Pei Rui didn't go to work on New Year's Day, and now he is in his yard.

He is blind, but his hearing is better than that of ordinary people. He also has the maximum level of internal strength and hearing, so he can hear any disturbance. However, in a particularly noisy environment, he is more affected than ordinary people, and his super hearing becomes a burden.

Xue Chen's soul is already very powerful, and it is no problem for him to control several vests at the same time. But now he is a little unsure about the situation on Pei Rui's side.

He controlled Pei Rui to find a place to sit down, and then he didn't focus on it, but all kinds of noises still kept drilling into his ears.

System: [Find something to plug your ears.]

Xue Chen: [That's the only way. Pei Rui followed his memory

and came to the cabinet next to him. He found a quilt, tore off the quilt cover, grabbed two pieces of cotton and stuffed them into his ears.

System: [This is too hardcore!]

The fireworks lasted longer than expected. The Taiping Palace was preparing for dinner, and there were still sporadic noises outside.

Xue Chen pointed to someone and took Pei Rui to the front to eat. He sent someone to call the Taiping King.

The Taiping King did not come, so he and Gong Jiu did not sit down, but sat aside and chatted.

Pei Rui arrived first. Xue Chen looked up and smiled, and performed perfunctorily: "Xiaomi is here, come and sit, and dinner will be served when Daddy comes."

Pei Rui nodded coldly and sat next to him.

Xue Chen observed Gong Jiu's expression calmly and placed the water cup in Pei Rui's hand.

System: [It seems that your brother really has no hostility towards Xiao Mian.]

Xue Chen: [Indeed, he has no hostility, he just treats Xiao Mian as air. He is always like this, it is really hard for people to resist teasing him.]

Pei Rui tilted his face and turned his ear towards Gong Jiu: "Second brother."

Gong Jiu looked at him and did not respond.

Xue Chen touched him, and Gong Jiu said coldly: "What's the matter?"

Pei Rui: "Aren't you going to give me the New Year's money?"

Gong Jiu was stunned for a moment, sneered, and was about to make a sarcastic remark, but he caught a glimpse of his brother's slightly frowned brows, and suppressed his dissatisfaction, "I'll give it to you tomorrow."

Pei Rui: "Thank you, second brother."

Gong Jiu waited for a while, and seeing that Pei Rui seemed not to speak again, he asked doubtfully "Why didn't you ask your elder brother?"

Pei Rui said calmly, "My elder brother gave it to me."

Gong Jiu: "Why didn't I know?"

He spent most of the day with Xue Chen. After returning from Liu Yixuan, the two brothers rested in their respective courtyards and separated for a short while, but Gong Jiu saw everything that Xue Chen did and was sure that Pei Rui hadn't been here.

Could it be that he had given it before today?

Or was Pei Rui's martial arts so advanced that he could have completely hidden it from him and come here quietly?

Xue Chen said apologetically: "This year is the first year that Xiao Mian has come. I prepared a red envelope for him, but not for you. You won't blame me, right?"

According to common sense, if Xue Chen really gave Pei Rui a red envelope, it was indeed inappropriate, but it was not because he did not prepare one for his own brother, but because he did not tell Gong Jiu before giving it. Gong Jiu and he are both Pei Rui's brothers. If Xue Chen gave it himself, it would seem that Gong Jiu was not doing well.

But Gong Jiu had already written his dislike for Pei Rui on his face, so there was no place for Xue Chen to blame for what he did. Instead, Pei Rui said it so bluntly, which seemed like he was trying to stir up trouble.

Gong Jiu said: "Of course I won't blame you, brother. This is not your fault."

Pei Rui tilted his head, his sharp face was a little confused: "Is it my fault?"

Gong Jiu gritted his teeth: "It's not your fault either, I'm the one who's wrong."

He shouldn't have put most of his thoughts on building up his power in the martial arts world. If he had spent all this time practicing martial arts, how could he be seven years older than Pei Rui but not his opponent?

If he could beat Pei Rui, how could Pei Rui live to this day and sit at the New Year's Eve dinner and hate him?

Pei Rui nodded: "It's good that you know."

Gong Jiu showed some forbearance at the right time, looked at Xue Chen with grievance, quickly retracted his gaze, and drank a sip of tea as if nothing had happened.

Xue Chen had always been playing dumb and taking sides, but now Pei Rui had exposed his disrespect, and he could no longer pretend not to see it.

Xue Chen smiled and said, "You always targeted Xiao Mian before, but Xiao Mian is still a child. She can't hide things in her heart, but she has no bad intentions. Just give in to him, and when he calms down, he will get along well with you."

System: [Your brother is so pitiful. If he knew you did it on purpose, he would probably turn evil, right?]

Xue Chen: [Impossible, he will only reflect on his actions and feel deeply guilty!]

System: [......]

I almost forgot that this is a PUA master.

Gong Jiu did not argue with Xue Chen, but he did not agree either, and sat silently beside him.

Prince Taiping came from outside and saw the three of them sitting together around a small table, very close to each other, looking very intimate, but they were all silent and did not communicate at all. He could not help but ask in confusion: "What's going on?"

Xue Chen stood up and said with a smile: "We are waiting for you to come and eat."

Prince Taiping sat down, Xue Chen ordered the servants to serve the dishes, and the three of them also sat at the table.

Prince Taiping washed his hands and said casually: "The north has been restless recently, and there are more things to deal with. I will definitely accompany you tomorrow."

Xue Chen: "How can you be so free? Tomorrow there will be many people coming to pay New Year's greetings. My seniority is not enough, and you have to entertain them in person."

Prince Taiping sighed: "Why are there so many things?"

The New Year's Eve dinner was very rich, and it was still steaming when it was served.

Pei Rui sniffed: [It's all medicinal food! ]

System: [Not really? 】

Xue Chen:【Trust me, Xiao Mian has a very sensitive nose.】

King Taiping also placed a dumpling in front of Xue Chen, "Try it, I specially asked the kitchen to make it, there is only a little meat in it, and I added Ganoderma lucidum, Dangshen, and Astragalus. It should suit your taste."

Xue Chen forced a smile: "Thank you, Dad."

System:【Why don't you just tell them that your body is healed.】

Xue Chen:【It's definitely not possible to say it directly. Even if I say it verbally, they may not believe it. It has to be done gradually and proved by actual actions. But this goes against my plan. Before I gain a firm foothold in the court, I can't be healthy for the time being.】

He ate a dumpling with tears in his eyes.

Mushrooms were added inside, and mixed with the meat filling, it was very delicious, but there was a slight bitter taste. After eating it, Xue Chen felt that his saliva was bitter.

-

Yun Heyan cut Hu Sheng's arm and drank a few mouthfuls of blood. After satisfying his psychological needs, he wiped his mouth calmly.

Hu Sheng had met him before on the Nameless Island, and he had seen him drink Xie Heng's blood with his own eyes. He was not very surprised at this time.

Hu Sheng covered the wound on his wrist: "You'd better drink enough at once, and don't hurt the young master again."

Yun Heyan's eyes were red, and her breathing had not yet calmed down. She seemed to be unconscious. She waved her hands casually, and it was unknown whether she heard what he said.

Xie Heng said, "You go and bandage it."

Hu Sheng thought that Yun Heyan had just finished drinking blood and would not go crazy so quickly, so he turned and went to his room.

Yun Heyan paused for a while and heard a sound coming from outside.

He sat up straight and looked out the window, and saw a dull red cloak moving in the wind and appeared at the door.

"I'm here to join in the fun, Mr. Xie won't chase me away, will he?" Lu Xiaofeng came in, paused after seeing Yun Heyan, and smiled, "You are here too."

Yun Heyan nodded coldly.

System: [Lu Xiaofeng knows that Da Mian and the original body are in cahoots?]

Xue Chen: [I don't know.]

System: [Then why didn't he react at all. 】

Xue Chen: [Maybe he mistook Da Mian for Xiao Qi. 】

System: [……]

When will Lu Xiaofeng's leg, which was crippled by trickery, be healed!

Yun Heyan said lightly: "Why are you here with Xie Heng instead of going to Hua Man Lou?"

Lu Xiaofeng heard a hint of jealousy in his words, and was more certain of his identity. She said helplessly: "Hua Man Lou and I are just friends. Today is the day of reunion, and Hua Man Lou naturally has to go home. I am alone and wandering without a family, so of course I have to find a few equally lonely friends to keep me company."

Yun Heyan: "I thought you were going back to find those confidantes."

Lu Xiaofeng smiled and didn't respond.

In previous years, he would definitely go to find a beauty to keep him company, but too many things happened this year, and there are still many doubts that have not been solved. Not long ago, Xie Heng had just encountered an assassination attempt. Lu Xiaofeng was really afraid that if he wasn't careful, he and Hu Sheng would be killed by the Ninth Young Master.

Lu Xiaofeng felt that he couldn't sleep well without coming to see it with his own eyes.

Lu Xiaofeng: "I brought some food here. Mr. Xie should have a lot of wine here? Why don't we have a few drinks on New Year's Eve?"

Xue Chen: [Damn it! What I hate most is wine!]

System: [Xie Heng's proficiency has been maxed out. You don't have to follow the character setting.]

Xue Chen: [I don't.]

System: [I have discovered that many things are your own fault.]

Xue Chen: [This is the way to happiness. If I don't follow my heart, my heart will be broken. 】

System: [……]

Xie Heng said calmly: "I do have a lot of wine here, but I never share it with others."

Lu Xiaofeng: "Even I can't do it?"

Xie Heng supported his arm and sat up from the couch: "You can."

Lu Xiaofeng showed a brilliant smile, and he didn't know what he was thinking about. He quickly restrained his expression and looked at Yun Heyan, "Don't be unhappy, you are my friend, Xie Heng is your friend, and friends of friends are naturally friends."

Yun Heyan: "Why can I be unhappy?"

"But you have a cold face all the time, and you don't show any joy after seeing me." Lu Xiaofeng said, "Are you blaming me for not keeping my promise and not recognizing you in time?"

He and Yun Heyan haven't seen each other for a long time.

Yun Heyan is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. If it is an old friend reuniting, he will never be as cold as he is now. At least he should ask how he is doing after they separated.

But Yun Heyan had a cold expression, except for the obvious emotional ups and downs when she saw him at the beginning, she simply ignored him afterwards.

It was obvious that this person was Yu Qi.

He expected that he would recognize him, and was disappointed when his expectation was dashed.

Lu Xiaofeng was 90% sure that the "Yun Heyan" in front of him was Yu Qi in disguise!

Yun Heyan: "What promise?"

Lu Xiaofeng: "I promised you that when I see you again, I will definitely recognize you."

Xue Chen: [He doesn't have me in his heart.]

System: [You can't say that. I feel that he has been thinking about you and your brother every moment during this period. Xue Chen :

Lu Xiaofeng is such a smart person, even if he is affected at first, he will analyze the result quickly. He can't even tell Da Mian from Xiao Qi, so he definitely doesn't have me in his mind.

The system thinks he is being hypocritical, but doesn't dare to say it out loud.

Yun Heyan: "Have you ever lost your memory?"

"Of course not!" Lu Xiaofeng responded without hesitation, "You are not Xiaoqi?"

"No."

Lu Xiaofeng: "Then why are you here with Xie Heng? When did you become so close to Xie Heng that you even spent the New Year together!"

Yun Heyan: "I work for the King of Taiping, so naturally I have some connections with Xie Heng."

Lu Xiaofeng: "Well, that makes sense. Did the King of Taiping send you to protect Xie Heng?"

Yun Heyan shook his head.

Xie Heng: "He will go back after the New Year."

Lu Xiaofeng's mind was in a mess. He had contact with all of the friends he knew. These people formed a line, and something was about to come out.

After Yun Heyan's excitement faded away after drinking the blood, he walked up to Lu Xiaofeng, took out a dagger, and licked the corner of his mouth: "Give me some blood."

Lu Xiaofeng knew that it was difficult to control him when he had an attack, and only drinking blood could make him regain his sanity, so he readily handed over his hand and let Yun Heyan cut a line on his wrist.

Yun Heyan sucked for a long while, sighed with satisfaction, and praised again: "Lu Xiaofeng, you are really a very rich person."

This was not the first time that Lu Xiaofeng was praised by him. When he heard Yun Heyan say this before, he thought that this person had just fallen ill and was not in a clear mind. Now he felt it was strange, "...What you said makes me feel like I am not a person, but more like a dish."

Yun Heyan: "You are indeed a dish. In my eyes, everyone is a dish, except Yu Qi."

Lu Xiaofeng: "Do you know Yu Qi?"

Yun Heyan nodded.

Lu Xiaofeng thought that the sudden enlightenment he had just felt was not an illusion. His friends really knew each other and were all involved in Gong Jiu's case.

Lu Xiaofeng smiled and asked, "Why not Yu Qi?"

Yun Heyan licked the blood on her lips and said, "He is special."