Chapter 101
As dusk settled, Su Zhelan sat by the window, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with a dried herb, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the courtyard gate.
Xiao Qiyun did not appear for an entire day. The only sound in the courtyard was the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves, which was unusually quiet.
Only when the last rays of the setting sun had completely faded and the lanterns lit up one by one did that familiar figure appear beneath the moon gate.
Xiao Qiyun walked with a composed gait, his dark robes still carrying a few lingering traces of ink fragrance, as if he had just come from his study. He carried a plain gauze palace lantern in his hand, the warm yellow light softening his slightly cold and hard features.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Xiao Qiyun's voice carried a hint of weariness, but his gaze softened when it fell on Su Zhelan. "I was held up by the Grand Tutor, and we discussed the allocation of grain supplies in the northern frontier."
He approached and casually reached out to brush away non-existent dust from Su Zhelan's shoulder. "Let's go, Sheng Xuan must be getting impatient."
Su Zhelan nodded, and as he stood up, a refreshing herbal scent wafted from his robes. He glanced at Xiao Qiyun's slightly tired face, asked no further questions, and simply replied softly, "Mm."
The two walked side by side on the bluestone path leading to Shengxuan Courtyard. The glow of the lanterns cast swaying shadows beneath their feet, and the evening breeze carried the chill of early autumn. Xiao Qiyun shifted the palace lantern to the hand closer to Su Zhelan, and the warm light enveloped half of Su Zhelan's body, dispelling the slight chill of the night wind.
"Sheng Xuan... is this mission really not dangerous?" Su Zhelan couldn't help but ask in a low voice, her voice sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.
He recalled Sheng Xuan's confident assurances from the previous day, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart.
Xiao Qiyun didn't stop walking. He glanced at him sideways, and in the dim light, Su Zhelan's slightly furrowed brows were clearly visible. "With Sheng Chi personally overseeing the cleanup of the remaining bandits on the trade route, it's not a big operation."
His voice was steady, carrying a calming power, "It's just that the journey is a bit arduous, with strong winds and sandstorms."
Su Zhelan breathed a slight sigh of relief, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her sleeve: "That's good..."
Xiao Qiyun's gaze lingered for a moment on his clenched fingers, then she remained silent. The light and shadow flickered, their shadows lengthening and shortening on the stone path, a tacit understanding flowing in their silence.
Turning the corner of the corridor, Shengxuan's brightly lit courtyard came into view.
A blue cloth was laid out on the stone table, with several plates of refreshing side dishes. In the center was a jar of pear blossom wine that had just been opened from its mud seal. Its crisp fragrance mingled with the evening breeze and spread out in wisps.
Sheng Xuan had long since changed out of his armor, now sporting a sharp, dark red outfit that accentuated his spirited demeanor. He broke the clay seal, pouring amber-colored wine into a celadon cup, reflecting the flickering candlelight: "Come, come! Have a taste! I got this from that old drunkard!"
Su Zhelan sat on the stone bench, his pale white robes bathed in a warm yellow light. He picked up his wine glass, his fingertips tracing the cool rim, and watched Sheng Xuan excitedly fill his glass. He then turned to Xiao Qiyun: "Here, this is for you."
Xiao Qiyun, dressed in a black casual suit, sat in the dimly lit area, idly twirling an empty wine glass between his fingers. He took the wine pot handed to him by Sheng Xuan, but instead of pouring for himself, he first filled Su Zhelan's glass to seven-tenths full, his movements elegant and composed.
"Drink less, this wine has a strong aftereffect." The voice was gentle, but the eyes seemed to be measuring the limits of Su Zhelan's drunkenness.
"Okay, okay!" Sheng Xuan waved his hand dismissively, tilted his head back and gulped down a cup, exhaling a satisfied breath. "Ze Lan, you should try some too, it's really delicious!"
Su Zhelan looked into Sheng Xuan's bright eyes, smiled slightly, and carefully took a sip. The sweet and slightly spicy liquor slid down her throat, carrying the fragrance of pear blossoms; it was indeed delicious. He nodded: "Mmm, very fragrant."
"Right!" Sheng Xuan was even more smug, filling his cup again. He started talking non-stop, from the amusing incidents at the training ground these past few days to Sheng Chi's strictness, his face beaming with excitement. The candlelight flickered on his youthful, vibrant face.
During the meal, Xiao Qiyun rarely touched his chopsticks, only occasionally taking a sip of wine, and his gaze mostly fell on Su Zhelan.
He saw Su Zhelan, encouraged by Sheng Xuan, take two more small sips of wine, her fair cheeks gradually flushing a light pink, like newly blossoming peach petals. Her clear eyes also became misty, and she looked at people with a hint of unconscious bewilderment.
"Zhelan, your face is red!" Sheng Xuan pointed at Su Zhelan's face, laughing loudly but with a slight slurred tone. "Was the alcohol too strong? Look at me, I'm fine!"
He patted his chest and poured himself another glass, but his movements were slower than before, his hands trembled slightly, and a few drops of wine spilled onto the table.
Su Zhelan subconsciously touched her burning cheeks and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Yes... it's a little hot."
Xiao Qiyun's lips curled slightly as he picked up the wine pot and poured Su Zhelan another half cup: "Pear blossom wine is warm in nature, just right for warming the body." His voice was deep, carrying a subtle coaxing quality, "Having another half cup won't hurt."
Su Zhelan looked at the half-glass of crystal-clear wine, then at Xiao Qiyun's gentle yet unyielding gaze. After hesitating for a moment, she picked it up and slowly drank it.
The effects of the alcohol seemed to be getting stronger; he felt a little dizzy, and even the candlelight appeared double.
Sheng Xuan was already quite drunk, slapping the table and humming an off-key song, his voice loud but somewhat indistinct. He stood up unsteadily, intending to pat Su Zhelan on the shoulder, but stumbled.
Xiao Qiyun quickly grabbed Sheng Xuan's arm and gently pressed him back into his seat: "Sheng Xuan, you're drunk. I know you can hold your liquor, but don't overindulge. We have important business to attend to tomorrow."
His voice was calm, and his words sounded like advice, but they were more like stating a fact—Sheng Xuan was not drunk, but he had reached his limit.
Sheng Xuan suddenly raised his head, seemingly wanting to refute, but his eyes glazed over for a moment, and in the end he only mumbled a "hmm," then leaned back softly in his chair, half-closing his eyes, and stopped talking, only his breathing became heavier.
He wasn't completely drunk, but he was clearly already overwhelmed by the alcohol and was in a semi-conscious, tipsy state.
The courtyard was much quieter, with only the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze and the occasional crackling of candlelight.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze swept over Sheng Xuan, who was slumped over the edge of the table, his eyes half-closed and his breathing heavy, before returning to Su Zhelan's flushed cheeks and hazy eyes.
He did not get up immediately, but turned his head to the side and whispered to the shadows, "Help the young general to rest." His voice was not loud, but clear and steady.
The two servants waiting under the eaves immediately stepped forward silently and skillfully helped the dazed Sheng Xuan to his feet.
Sheng Xuan mumbled something indistinctly, seemingly trying to struggle, but ultimately couldn't resist the effects of the alcohol and the strength of the servants. He was half-supported and half-carried away from the courtyard, his steps unsteady but not completely collapsed.
Watching Sheng Xuan's figure disappear, Xiao Qiyun slowly stood up, walked around the stone table, and went to Su Zhelan's side. His figure enveloped her, carrying a faint scent of agarwood and a hint of wine.
He leaned down, his voice low and dangerously magnetic: "He's drunk."
A warm breath brushed against Su Zhelan's earlobe, "You...are you almost there too?"
Su Zhelan wanted to shake her head, but felt that her head was too heavy to lift. She vaguely raised her eyes and saw Xiao Qiyun's deep eyes, which were close to hers, filled with emotions as thick as ink that she could not understand.
"I..." Su Zhelan began to speak, her voice soft and gentle without her even realizing it.
Xiao Qiyun's fingertips gently brushed across his burning cheeks, the movement gentle yet carrying an irresistible meaning: "It's late, we should go back."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhelan's slightly parted lips, glistening with wine stains. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice deepened.
"I send you."
Su Zhelan felt an arm firmly encircle his waist, lifting him up from the stone bench. He leaned weakly against that solid chest, the familiar scent of agarwood mingling with a strange, aggressive aroma.
"Stand firm."
Xiao Qiyun's voice rang in Su Zhelan's ear, deep and with a hint of command. His arm tightened slightly, supporting Su Zhelan's swaying body.
The warm, strong hand encircling the waist provided a clear tactile experience through the thin fabric, offering both support and undeniable control.
Su Zhelan instinctively tried to stand up straight, but his legs felt weak, as if he were walking on cotton, so he could only lean more heavily on Xiao Qiyun. He mumbled an "Mmm," his head slumped against Xiao Qiyun's shoulder.
Xiao Qiyun looked down at the limp, drunk person in his arms, the moonlight outlining a deep, unfathomable smile of satisfaction on his lips.
He didn't take a step immediately, but paused slightly to let Su Zhelan get used to her standing posture, and also to let this intimate embrace linger a little longer in the quiet courtyard.
The evening breeze was cool, but it couldn't dispel the warm, wine-scented atmosphere that rose between the two of them.
"Let's go." Xiao Qiyun finally spoke, his voice a little softer than before, but the arm around Su Zhelan's waist did not loosen at all.
He led Su Zhelan, slowly turned around, and strode towards the courtyard gate.
Su Zhelan was practically leaning against Xiao Qiyun, her steps unsteady, each one feeling like she was walking on clouds. Xiao Qiyun's steps were steady and slow, patiently matching Su Zhelan's staggering gait.
Su Zhelan could feel the rise and fall of Xiao Qiyun's chest and hear his steady heartbeat, mixed with her own somewhat disordered breathing.
The aggressive aura seemed to intensify, enveloping him and leaving him nowhere to escape, nor any desire to escape.
Xiao Qiyun looked down at Su Zhelan's almost closed eyelids, tightened his arms, pulled him closer to himself, and carried him forward in a half-carrying manner.
The curve of his lips deepened, and the surging, dark emotions in his deep eyes almost devoured the person in his arms.
The night breeze carried a coolness, blowing against Su Zhelan's burning cheeks and neck, bringing a brief moment of clarity.
His chaotic thoughts seemed to have been somewhat dispersed, and his steps became a little more steady.
Su Zhelan subconsciously straightened her back, trying to make herself look less disheveled.
The moonlight, like water, spilled into the quiet courtyard. The two walked in silence, the only sounds being the rustling of their clothes and Su Zhelan's occasional unsteady breathing.
Xiao Qiyun felt that the person in his arms seemed to have regained some strength, so he relaxed his support slightly, but his arms were still firmly wrapped around Su Zhelan's waist, like a silent barrier.
Finally, we returned to Su Zhelan's courtyard.
Xiao Qiyun pushed open the door and helped Su Zhelan sit down in the armchair by the window. The chair was cushioned, and when Su Zhelan sat down, her back straightened instinctively, her hands placed neatly on her knees, and although her eyes were still a little hazy, she tried to focus on looking ahead, looking somewhat like her usual aloof and self-possessed self.
Xiao Qiyun looked at him trying so hard to maintain his proper posture, a barely perceptible smile flashed in his eyes, and perhaps a hint of... disappointment? He thought that the cold wind had indeed dissipated a lot of the effects of the alcohol, and that Su Zhelan had recovered.
"Sit still and don't move," Xiao Qiyun whispered, then turned and went to the small kitchen. There was always warm water there, and he quickly brought back a steaming bowl of hangover soup.
It has a clear color and emits a faint aroma of dried tangerine peel and hawthorn.
Xiao Qiyun handed the soup bowl to Su Zhelan: "Drink some of this, it will make you feel better."
Su Zhelan blinked, seemingly trying to understand the sentence.
He nodded, his movements slow yet deliberately solemn, as he reached out to take the bowl.
When his fingertips touched the warm bowl, he flinched slightly, but still took it steadily, or at least that's how he felt.
He lowered his head, brought the bowl close to the rim, carefully blew on it, and then tried to take a sip.
However, the spoon seemed to have its own ideas. It gently tapped Su Zhelan's lips, and a few drops of warm soup splashed out, sliding down his chin and dripping onto his pale white clothes, spreading a small dark patch.
Su Zhelan was completely unaware and continued to focus on "drinking".
He pursed his lips, but the spoon kept missing its mark. Half of the amber soup went into his mouth, while the other half trickled down his chin and down his cheeks, soaking his clothes and even dripping onto the back of his hand, which was neatly placed on his knee.
Xiao Qiyun's lips, which had been curved in a gentle smile, froze instantly. His pupils contracted as he looked at the "tragic" scene of Su Zhelan drinking soup—she sat upright, her expression even carrying a hint of seriousness after trying hard, as if she were performing a solemn ceremony, but her movements were as clumsy as a child learning to use a spoon for the first time, with soup spilled everywhere.
When Su Zhelan finally put down her bowl, she subconsciously licked the corner of her mouth, which was still wet with soup, revealing a watery, innocent yet satisfied smile.
"...Sweet?" His eyes were as pure as a mountain stream, yet they were also clearly hazy with intoxication.
Xiao Qiyun: "..." Looking at the wet marks on Su Zhelan's clothes and the back of her hands, and then at that face that was trying to stay awake but was full of confusion, he finally understood that the cold wind had only blown away the surface heat. This person was actually very drunk. The upright appearance just now was just the last stubbornness of a drunkard.
A strong feeling, mixed with helplessness and a kind of indescribable tenderness, welled up in my heart.
Xiao Qiyun sighed silently, resignedly stepped forward, and pulled a clean, plain handkerchief from his sleeve.
"Don't move." His voice was deep, with a hint of barely perceptible doting and helplessness. He bent down and gently wiped the sticky soup from Su Zhelan's chin and neck with a handkerchief.
Su Zhelan sat obediently, letting Xiao Qiyun do as he pleased. However, her hazy eyes remained fixed on the person so close to her, filled with complete trust and a hint of unconscious dependence.
The handkerchief gently brushed across her chin, wiping away the sticky soup. Xiao Qiyun's movements were focused and meticulous; through the soft fabric, his fingertips could feel the delicate warmth of Su Zhelan's neck skin.
Just as the handkerchief touched the side of her neck, Su Zhelan suddenly blinked, staring at Xiao Qiyun's lowered profile, where the moonlight and candlelight cast soft shadows on his sharply defined features.
Perhaps it was the alcohol taking effect, or perhaps the tranquility was too alluring, but Su Zhelan spoke without warning, her voice soft with a touch of drunkenness and a hint of childlike frankness:
"Your Highness Qi Yun..." he called softly, the last syllable lingering as if confirming something. Then, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes hazy yet intensely focused on Xiao Qi Yun, a pure and unguarded smile curving his lips.
"...It's really beautiful, I love it!"
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
Xiao Qiyun abruptly stopped wiping. The handkerchief rested on Su Zhelan's neck, and his fingertips could even feel the faint pulse of her heartbeat.
He looked up and unexpectedly met Su Zhelan's clear, yet slightly watery eyes, clouded by intoxication. There was no mockery or flattery in them, only pure, almost naive appreciation, as if stating a perfectly natural fact.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
