Chapter 9 Getting into Character
Chapter Summary: My feelings for Ayu are mutual.
Following Qiu Shibai, Liu Shiyu walked through long corridors connected by water to Baochunzhai, where Liu Shijin lived.
Before Qiu Shibai could even announce his arrival, Liu Shiyu pushed open the door to Baochunzhai. Qiu Shibai, naturally, dared not argue with the Princess Protector of the Nation, and could only follow behind her, observing her every move.
The door opened slowly, and a strong smell of alcohol hit them. Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan were both stunned by the scene inside.
There were only four or five handsome men, scattered and sprawled on the ground. Looking up again, behind the peach blossom screen in the center, Liu Shijin was leaning against a soft couch, completely drunk and unconscious.
At this moment, the man slumped in the armchair on the right woke up upon hearing the noise. He staggered over to Liu Shiyu, raised his hand, and made a lewd remark: "Whose daughter is this? So beautiful. But... who's she trying to impress with that sour face?"
Qiu Shibai realized something was wrong. He was about to step forward when he saw his female attendant rush over and quickly pin the rude man to the ground.
Liu Shiyu frowned and glared angrily, while Xu Luchuan, behind her, suppressed a laugh so hard he was practically injuring himself. The man, on the other hand, was so frightened by Lian Yue's sudden treatment that he remained silent.
Liu Shiyu stared at the person on the ground, clenched her fists, and said in a deep voice, "Go and dismantle the screen for me."
"No, Your Highness! No, you mustn't!" Qiu Shibai was shocked. He had long heard that this Princess Protector of the Nation was a ruthless and decisive person, but he never expected that seeing her in person would prove him right.
Qiu Shibai's attempts to stop her were ineffective. After receiving the order, Lian Yue stood up and swiftly flipped the peach blossom screen to the ground.
The loud crash of the screen hitting the floor startled the drunken slumbering the room. Qiu Shibai, fearing Liu Shiyu might do something further inappropriate, quickly stepped forward: "Get up, all of you. Don't linger here, get out, all of you get out."
The people inside, seeing this, got up and left in a daze.
In the end, only the person who had been pinned down remained standing there, stunned. Seeing that the person showed no intention of moving, Qiu Shibai quickly stepped forward and led him out.
But as soon as she stepped out the door, Liu Shiyu said, "I don't want to see him again in Guangling."
Upon hearing this, Xu Luchuan, who had been suppressing a laugh just moments before, could no longer manage a single laugh. His expression froze. Xu Luchuan thought to himself, given how he had treated Liu Shiyu yesterday, if he were to return to the capital after leaving Guangling, would she also eliminate him without mercy, like flipping over a screen or eliminating him just as she had eliminated this person?
Looking up at Liu Shiyu's serious back, Xu Luchuan felt a chill run down his spine.
"Liu? Xiao Wu?" Liu Shijin woke up groggily on the soft couch. Before Liu Shiyu could come forward, she got up and walked towards the group of people.
Liu Shiyu noticed that Liu Shijin was walking unsteadily and was about to reach out to help her. Unexpectedly, Liu Shijin bypassed him and rushed straight towards Xu Luchuan.
Turning around in surprise, Liu Shiyu saw Liu Shijin leaning against Xu Luchuan and drunkenly saying, "Whose young master is this? So handsome. But why is he frowning? Is the young master unhappy?"
Xu Luchuan was caught off guard by Liu Shijin's embrace, and he struggled to pull away. But Liu Shijin held him tighter and tighter. Then, he turned his gaze to Liu Shiyu, his eyes seeming to say: Liu Shiyu, you'd better save me right now.
Liu Shiyu pretended not to understand, silently thinking to herself: Serves you right for bullying me. You're unlucky to have met Liu Shijin.
But who knew that the next second, the drunken Liu Shijin was about to kiss Xu Luchuan.
Now, Liu Shiyu could no longer stand idly by, otherwise Xu Luchuan would have to stay and become Liu Shijin's lover.
She swiftly placed her hand in front of the two of them, then covered Liu Shijin's mouth and pulled back. But Liu Shijin still refused to let go.
Seeing that there was no way to separate the two people, Liu Shiyu sighed and whispered, "Elder sister, do you want to know whose son this is? He is Xu Luchuan, the second son of Xu Taichang."
“...Who?” Liu Shijin was taken aback when he heard Xu Luchuan’s name.
Liu Shijin replied, "Xu Luchuan."
After confirming that the person in front of her was Xu Luchuan, Liu Shijin immediately jumped off him and hid behind Liu Shiyu. Then, peeking out from her shoulder, Liu Shijin looked at her with extreme disdain and clicked her tongue, saying, "How could it be him? Liu Xiaowu, your taste in men is really terrible."
Upon hearing this, Xu Luchuan's face darkened, his gloomy eyes filled with a desire to tear Liu Shijin to pieces on the spot. Liu Shijin was equally defiant, glaring back at him angrily. The two were now locked in a fierce confrontation, just like they had been at the horse racing track years ago.
Liu Shiyu, sandwiched between the two, said calmly, "Elder sister, you're not drunk..."
"Of course not. Little Wu, don't you know my drinking capacity?" Liu Shijin smiled, she was honest.
As he left Liu Shiyu's side, fanning himself with his fan, Liu Shijin stepped over the fallen screen and couldn't help but complain, "Not only did you not bring anything, but you also smashed things! It's such a waste of my top-quality rosewood. Liu Xiaowu, you have to compensate me."
Sitting back on the soft couch, Liu Shijin looked at the stunned crowd and waved her brocade fan, saying, "Sit down, what are you all standing for? Sit down quickly."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu glanced at Xu Luchuan and gestured for him to sit down as well.
As soon as they sat down, Liu Shijin's mouth started chattering again: "It's been so many years. I never expected that our Little Fifth Princess would not only become the majestic and powerful Princess Protector of the Nation, but also have such unique tastes in choosing men. I really never imagined that Little Fifth Princess's lover would be you."
After saying that, he deliberately looked at Xu Luchuan and carefully examined him.
Liu Shijin suddenly realized that Xu Luchuan was truly extraordinary now, with no flaws whatsoever. And then there was his temperament. If it were before, Xu Luchuan would have been furious after Liu Shijin's earlier teasing and probing, and certainly wouldn't have swallowed his anger so easily.
But Liu Shijin had no intention of letting Xu Luchuan off the hook. She wanted to see if the person in front of her was truly genuine.
But Xu Luchuan suddenly adopted a respectful demeanor. Since he was putting on an act, he wanted to play it convincingly.
"Your Highness is joking."
"Even though Your Highness and I have had many unpleasant encounters in the past, those are all things of the past. I am willing to apologize for any offenses I may have caused you. However, now that A-Yu and I are in love, I urge you to put aside all past grievances and let us turn hostility into friendship."
Liu Shiyu turned to look at Xu Luchuan. She wondered where he had learned these words, or if he had simply learned them naturally through repeated practice. In any case, Liu Shiyu's surprised gaze had never left Xu Luchuan since he had spoken those words.
Liu Shijin's hand, which was waving a round fan, suddenly stopped. She must have misheard. How could such a reasonable person be Xu Luchuan?
For a moment, the Baochunzhai was completely silent.
After a long while, Liu Shijin was speechless, choked by Xu Luchuan's words. She could only awkwardly laugh and say, "Since Young Master Xu's attitude is so sincere, what else can I say? As long as Xiao Wu is happy, I, as the eldest sister, have no objections."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Xu Luchuan acknowledged and gently patted Liu Shiyu's hand. Liu Shiyu realized what he meant and quickly replied, "Thank you, elder sister."
Liu Shijin casually waved his fan twice in the air, then smiled without saying a word.
She never expected that in these six years, which were neither long nor short, their changes would be so unpredictable. The once domineering and arrogant boy had become a noble and refined gentleman. The once bright and innocent girl had become a cold and aloof lady.
Liu Shijin lamented the impermanence of life, realizing that even he himself was being swept away by the river of time, struggling to escape.
Just then, there were three soft knocks on the door, followed by a gentle voice saying, "Your Highness, I've had the kitchen prepare some hangover soup. Would you like some?"
After speaking, Liu Shiyu thought Liu Shijin would reply immediately. Unexpectedly, no one answered after waiting for a long time.
When she turned her head, she saw Liu Shijin pretending to be drunk again, leaning against the soft couch. She then looked up at Liu Shiyu, gesturing for her to answer for her.
Liu Shiyu was puzzled, but had no choice but to reply helplessly, "Come in."
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