This was the first time Liu Zhenqing had encountered a situation where someone was so difficult to coax. It really took him a lot of effort, and he was ultimately able to coax the two children into submission by promising them they could stay here as long as they wanted.

Liu Zhenqing really suspected that Li Xingruo had done this on purpose. They couldn’t be exposed in the capital, but after traveling for such a long time, couldn’t she have given the children some psychological preparation in advance? What would they have done if the children were frightened by this sudden encounter?

Faced with Liu Zhenqing’s penetrating gaze, Li Xingruo directly changed the subject and stated that she must go and pay a visit to their master.

Yunci and Yunqian adjusted their moods well, and actively helped prepare for the wedding banquet.

Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie brought the remaining four people to the courtyard to sit down and drink tea.

Liu Zhenqing immediately noticed the unhealed wound on Song Xingmu’s face and chuckled: “There is a knife above the character for lust.”

Song Xingmu turned his head to give Yi Chuan a look of blame: “Look, you made people laugh at me.”

Yi Chuan slanted a glance at him and then ignored him. He was aware that dishonest people such as them would make fun. 

Although Yi Chuan gave no response, Song Xingmu wouldn’t allow Liu Zhenqing to mock him, and said at once: “It’s because I went to see Miss Xi Ran that Xiao Chuanchuan got mad at me.”

Yi Chuan spat out a mouthful of tea. He sent Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie a wary glance, as he had also heard about the romantic affairs of the past.

Liu Zhenqing’s expression went stiff, and he looked at Song Xingmu with a twitching mouth.

Song Xingmru was all smiles as he said: “Before I left, Miss Xi Ran asked where I was going. I didn’t tell her.”

Huo Fenglie looked toward Liu Zhenqing.

Yue Xuqian was also someone who liked to watch a good show and fan the flames. He said: “By the way, my aunt…..”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Liu Zhenqing abruptly started to cough.

Huo Fenglie immediately poured him a cup of tea, and Liu Zhenqing said hurriedly: “The tea made by Fenglie is still the best.”

Song Xingmu gave him a taunting look.

As Liu Zhenqing and Song Xingmu bickered, Huo Fenglie asked He Lan and Yue Xuqian about the situation outside.

What Huo Fenglie was concerned about naturally wasn’t the capital, but the border. Although they had escaped alone, he naturally couldn’t help but worry about the Huo Family Army he left behind.

“The Huo family has no heir for the time being, and most of the troops have been dispersed. However, your deputy generals control the majority of them, and the emperor still has faith in their ability to lead. The Kingdom of Xiheng is also a bit chaotic right now, so the border is still stable.”

“Chaotic?” Liu Zhenqing heard this and asked curiously.

Yue Xuqian nodded. He had left many spies in Xiheng when he’d helped them, so he was well aware of these details.

“Without Li Jinshu, the young emperor doesn’t have the ability to shoulder the task of leading, and other forces have their own agendas. How could there not be chaos?” As Yue Xuqian spoke, he gave Liu Zhenqing an admiring look. “It was you who, after being there a month, turned Xiheng upside down.”

“They had problems to begin with. I just made them ferment early,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile. “What about Li Jinshu?”

“He seems to have become abnormal since you stimulated him. Nowadays, he’s seeking out magicians all the time to summon your soul, and basically doesn’t care about the outside world,” Yue Xuqian said.

When Huo Fenglie heard the part about summoning Liu Zhenqing’s soul, his eyes instantly filled with displeasure. He could ignore other suitors sniffing around, but Li Jinshu…..

Liu Zhenqing sensed something and reached out to grasp Huo Fenglie’s hand on the table, clasping their fingers together as he said: “The only one who can summon me is Fenglie.”

After speaking, he took Huo Fenglie’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

All of Huo Fenglie’s discontent vanished when he was treated like this by Liu Zhenqing. He was exceedingly easy to coax.

The others could only give Liu Zhenqing a thumbs up.

However, He Lan and Song Xingmu were filled with envy and jealousy upon witnessing their harmonious relationship.

Although everyone thought Liu Zhenqing was only speaking sweet words, in fact, he really did feel this way in his heart.

He always felt that he had been summoned back by that master Huo Fenglie met. According to the situation back then, if he hadn’t returned, Huo Fenglie may not have been able to survive. That master had said that this country had been left behind by his disciple, a late emperor, and he had been guarding Great Zhou all this time.

When Liu Zhenqing was absent from the Great Zhou Dynasty, the surrounding countries were ready to make trouble, and there was a lack of successors among the military commanders. Huo Fenglie had fought countless life and death battles to stabilize Great Zhou. If he died early and there was no general to guard the country’s borders, then Great Zhou would basically become a meal on a platter for other countries.

Therefore, that master made a brocade box and told Huo Fenglie to wait for Liu Zhenqing to return and repay his debt of emotion. If that wasn’t the case, then he really had no idea why he had been pulled back.

As they talked, they brought up the topic of the wedding arrangements for the day after next.

“There actually aren’t that many people. They’re all acquaintances, and we’re only missing two right now,” Liu Zhenqing said.

When He Lan heard Liu Zhenqing say this, he immediately turned to look at Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie naturally knew what he wanted to ask, and said: “Bai Su should be here, but I’m not certain about Qin Yu.”

Bai Su had left the capital, and the beautiful scenery along the way was full of rest stops they had all been to in each other’s company, so he would be extremely easy to find.

He Lan’s brow furrowed, and his eyes fixed on Huo Fenglie. But the latter was looking at Yue Xuqian.

Yue Xuqian coughed and said: “I’m the one who sent out the invitations, but I only knew that they were in the west. The invitations could only be left at a shop opened by my Yue family, and although I had people spread a secret code, I didn’t know if they would show up or not. If they transferred to a different location this year, it will be hard to say.”

He Lan’s complexion was a little off. Liu Zhenqing raised his cup of tea in a toast, then called for the servants to prepare wine so that everyone could drink as they chatted. Soon afterwards, Liu Qiao and Qiao Jin arrived as well.

Among this group of people, aside from Yue Xuqian, who took one sip and then played with the children, everyone else drank to their heart’s content.

Liu Zhenqing got drunk, of course, and was held in the arms of Huo Fenglie, who prevented him from drinking more. But as soon as Liu Zhenqing drank, his restlessness bubbled up from head to foot, and he unhesitatingly teased Huo Fenglie in public. Huo Fenglie could only obediently let himself be bullied as he kept careful watch over him.

Although the two of them were among a crowd, they spoke sweetly to each other as if nobody else was around.

Yi Chuan and Liu Qiao were both forthright people. Liu Qiao was peerlessly skilled in martial arts, and Yi Chuan was also a martial arts fanatic, so he couldn’t help but ask Liu Qiao for advice. The two of them fought to their heart’s content and were in a good mood. Yi Chuan even laughed a few times with a rarely seen lack of restraint. He picked up a wine jug with his long knife and took a drink, then tossed it to Liu Qiao, who also boldly started to take a drink.

But before he could drink, Qiao Jin snatched the jug and threw it to the side at the grinning Song Xingmu.

“Who told you to drink from the same jar as others!” Qiao Jin said heatedly.

Liu Qiao wore an impatient look: “What are you doing?!”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to have much of a reaction, Qiao Jin simply blew his top: “Don’t you like to exchange moves? I’ll fight you!”

“Your martial arts skills are too weak,” Liu Qiao said bluntly.

Qiao Jin’s face immediately reddened in anger. Seeing him like this, Liu Qiao feared that he would go crazy on such an occasion, and could only relax his tone as he said: “I taught you your martial arts, so there won’t be anything new.”

When it came to coaxing people, Liu Qiao hadn’t learned any of Liu Zhenqing’s tricks at all. Even though none of those words were comforting, Qiao Jin was still momentarily stunned. After all, Liu Qiao had softened his attitude, which meant he was coaxing him.

He was actually coaxing him? The flush to Qiao Jin’s face gradually changed in meaning.

Yi Chuan’s sleeve was tugged by Song Xingrmu, and he looked back questioningly.

Song Xingmu slowly raised the jug of wine and drank directly from the place where Yi Chuan had just drunk.

Although he originally hadn’t thought much of it, after seeing Song Xingmu’s deliberate performance, Yi Chuan gave him a look of disgust and said: “Are you finished yet?”

Yi Chuan didn’t like Song Xingmu’s constant suggestive teasing. He was similarly irreverent toward everyone, but Yi Chuan just had an inexplicable aversion to it.

Song Xingmu gestured toward Liu Qiao and Qiao Jin, saying: “Don’t you see the overturned vinegar jar over there? I’m just warning you so that you don’t get beaten.”

“I see that you deserve a beating,” Yi Chuan said with a displeased frown.

Song Xingmu smiled and tugged at him: “Sure enough, Liu Zhenqing was right. Isn’t there a knife above the character for lust?”

Yi Chuan drew out his short knife. Song Xingmu hastily stood and pretended to run away: “Just kidding, just kidding.”

They were all having a lively time. To He Lan, who was silently nursing a drink to the side, all of these people seemed to be flirting. He was the only one who was really drinking.

The bitter taste of the wine coupled with the pale moonlight made him feel extremely lonely.

He Lan nearly broke the wine cup with the force of his next mouthful. He looked toward the moon and silently vowed, I’m making a note of this. Just wait!

At this time, a ship at sea could already see the illuminated island in the distance.

“Are we there?” Bai Su came out of the cabin and glanced at Qin Yu, who was drinking under the moon.

“We’ll reach shore by sunrise tomorrow.”

“He Lan and the others should have already arrived.” Bai Su smiled and sat opposite Qin Yu.

Qin Yu’s hand stiffened slightly around the wine.

Bai Su raised an eyebrow and said: “Give me a cup.”

Qin Yu poured wine for him.

Bai Su suddenly said: “The power of the Jinyiwei in the capital is at its peak. Before I left, He Lan had been promoted three levels, and many noble ladies had their sights set on him.”

Bai Su spoke casually, and Qin Yu listened casually.

But in the next moment, Bai Su said: “The wine is overflowing.”

Qin Yu then returned to his senses and stopped pouring.

Bai Su pursed his lips to hide a smile: “Do you want to know who He Lan…..”

“I’m not interested,” Qin Yu said resolutely. “But you’re no longer young. Isn’t your family urging you to marry?”

Bai Su’s humorous mood was disrupted, and he didn’t continue to poke fun about them.

It was late at night. Bai Su went back to rest, but Qin Yu couldn’t sleep. He just stood at the bow of the ship, gazing outward.

And at this time, He Lan had already walked to the pier with a wine jug in hand. Everyone had gone to rest, but he couldn’t sleep, so he came out to wait in expectation.

In the courtyard’s master bedroom, the drunk Liu Zhenqing continuously rubbed against Huo Fenglie, tormenting him endlessly.

But when Huo Fenglie kissed him, Liu Zhenqing pushed him away.

Huo Fenglie could only silently express his protest.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and lay on his side. Half drunk, he raised a hand and tickled Huo Fenglie’s chin, saying: “The things are on the small table.”

Huo Fenglie was taken aback, and the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably. He thought Qing-ge felt sorry for him and was finally going to break the rules, but when he went over there and opened the box, he was dumbfounded.

Huo Fenglie turned around and saw Liu Zhenqing lying in bed with his shirt completely removed, revealing a large swathe of white back, a delicate waist, and sensual dimples.

“Qing-ge…..”

“Don’t delay. We agreed that I would get your name tattooed on my back, and you’d do it yourself. Hurry up, I’m drunk and not afraid of the pain or itching.” Liu Zhenqing was disoriented and looked like he was about to fall asleep, but he still threatened: “If I don’t see it tomorrow, don’t even think about entering the bridal chamber with me.”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Wedding Extra 1 << Table of Contents >> Wedding Extra 3