Chapter 28: Who's Playing Tricks?

  With a plan to kill two birds with one stone in mind, Xia Qiqi's footsteps quickened as she looked forward to seeing Zhao Zhu even more. But she was dragging the fool by the arm, and just after entering the west gate of the post station, she heard a slightly drunken voice shouting.

  "Hey, you, stop right there."

  She glanced sideways.

  That man was very handsome, with a pair of bright phoenix eyes that held a smile, and his black long hair scattered on his shoulders. He wore a crane cloak in Buddhist style, but it looked loose and sloppy, like an elegant young master who didn't care about his appearance.

  How did I run into this guy?

  On the seventh day of summer, Xia Kuai lets go of his foolishness and politely asks after his well-being, "Young Master is well."

  "I'm not feeling well." Yuan You pinched her chin and walked over, his eyes curved into a playful smile. "Little cousin, you've become even more lovely in the past few days."

  "It's lucky that young master has poor eyesight."

  "Hmm..."

  Yuan You smiled even more charmingly.

  "Little sister, didn't you say that day that when you grew up, you would promise to marry me? Why are you flirting with someone else today?"

  Xia Chuqi smiled and looked at him with a hint of mischief, "Young Master Xia is joking, but Chu Qi is also a man now."

  Yu Wei lowered his head, glanced at her green cheongsam dress, rubbed his nose and smiled, "Little mouth is really good at talking. Alright, since you're also a man...". As he spoke, he put his arm around Xia Chuqi's shoulder, saying with a sly tone, "I, young master, love delicate and pretty boys the most. Come, give me a kiss, and I'll let you in."

  "Give me a kiss?"

  On the seventh day of summer, she asked with a charming expression, unexpectedly hooking one small hand around his neck, raising her head, biting her lip, and whispering with a smile, "Young Master, this place doesn't seem right, how about another day?"

  Yuan You smiled and looked at her, "Another day? Alright."

  "Hehe......" Xia Chuqi smiled slyly and let go of his hand.

  Yuán Yōu was extremely bored and was just about to tease her again, when his back suddenly started itching. The itch came at the worst possible time, considering his usual elegant demeanor, he decided it would be best to withdraw first.

  "Little sister is absolutely right, let's reschedule for tomorrow, brother... shh, I'm leaving first."

  He shrugged his shoulders, gave a big flirtatious glance, and turned around to leave.

  "Halt!"

  A low and husky voice, coolness entering the ear, stopped Yuan Yu's legs and also chilled Xia Chuqi's heart.

  A tall figure emerged from under the yulan tree, walking slowly against the cold wind. With a straight waist, long legs, and steady footsteps, neither fast nor slow, his piercing gaze was filled with a dense sense of majesty, hiding a quiet and profound depth in his eyes, exuding an aura that was awe-inspiring.

  Apart from Zhao Yun, who else can have this kind of aura that can intimidate others?

  Yu Wei let out a slight cough and Yuan Yu almost choked.

  In the camp, he was caught by Yan Wangye while flirting with a young girl. He wished he could borrow a ladder to fly away, but his mouth became much more obedient, and even the titles that had not been used for many years came out.

  "Uncle Nineteen, you're also coming out to get some fresh air? Hehe, I had a bit too much wine today, goodbye, I'll take my leave first..."

  "What's the hurry?" Zhao You looked at him with a cold face, his emotions unclear. As he walked closer, his body seemed to carry a faint scent of autumn dew and white wine. "It just so happens that I've had some new ideas about improving the Divine Machine Camp's fire equipment, and I was just about to come find you to discuss it further."

  "How about now? Let's discuss it again tomorrow, today is already late..." Yuan Xiao Gongzi forced out a smile.

  "Not trying to get rid of the wine smell? I happen to have some Rain Before Dragon Well tea from the capital that's perfect for sobering up."

  "I'm not feeling too great... I'll go wash up and come back, okay?" He quietly used his elbow to scratch a bit, but Yuan Suo only felt the itchy spot on his body was like it had grown legs, the more he endured without scratching, the crazier the urge to scratch became.

  "It's nothing." Zhao Zun gave a cold glance, his face expressionless. "Is the comfort of your body as Right General more important or are military matters more important?"

  With one sentence, he cut off the tongue of the young master Yuan.

  Zhao Mou brushed down his robe and turned to walk towards the grand hall for discussion. The majestic and noble demeanor left Xia Chuyi stunned, almost forgetting her own important matters. When she came back to her senses, she was about to call out to him, but unexpectedly, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, paused, and instructed Zheng Erbao to take the fool ahead to settle down first. Then, with a cold gaze, he glanced at her, furrowing his brow with a complex expression.

  "Come, attend."

  This sentence is exactly what I wanted to say.

  She softly comforted the fool for a few sentences, and waited until he reluctantly followed Er Bao Gonggong to the West Wing. Only then did she quietly follow behind Zhao Zhu, occasionally glancing at Yuan Xiao Gongzi's awkward gait, as well as that one face that was almost too handsome to bear, secretly amused.

  In the grand hall.

  Zhao Zhuo leaned lightly against the back of the armchair with a pillow, letting Yuexi pour tea for him. He lazily called out to Xia Chuyi to come and massage his shoulders, seemingly unaware that Yuan Xiao Gongzi was anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks. After inviting him to sit down, he began to discuss the improvements to the firearms of the Divine Machinery Battalion in a calm and collected manner.

  "Shaohong, what do you think?"

  What can he do?

  On one hand, he was unbearably itchy; on the other hand, he feared losing his dignity. Yuan Xiaojun's handsome face twisted in agony, and he wished he could roll around on the ground to relieve himself.

  "My nineteenth uncle, can't you just stop tormenting me? Next time I won't bother you, and I won't cause any more trouble in the camp either. Isn't that enough?"

  Zhao Zhuang gave him a cold look and threw him a "a leopard cannot change its spots" glance, before turning his head to look at Xia Chuqi.

  "Give him the antidote."

  "What, what antidote?"

  "Still pretending?"

  In his cold voice, Yuan Yu suddenly realized and stood up with a start, pointing at Xia Chuqi, whose beautiful phoenix eyes widened in shock.

  "Oh, so it's you, you little scoundrel. I was just joking with you, but you're being too venomous about it!"

  Xia Chuiqi forced a strange smile, then looked at Zhao Zhu and became serious again. "Master's words, there is no antidote. It's the powder made from grinding the stinging hairs of the nettle stem leaves. Tell him to go back and burn some mugwort water to wash it off, maybe it'll work. If not, wait until his skin itches thoroughly, then it won't itch anymore."

  "Ow... it's so itchy I'm going to die..." Yuan You had already forgotten about his image, and was scratching himself vigorously. "Tian Lu, you little servant girl, you'd better be careful. Tsk tsk, even her cousin wants to harm me, I..."

  With a "bang", Zhao Zhu's scalding hot tea suddenly flew out of his hand, interrupting his words.

  "Violate military discipline again, and I'll have your skin torn off! Tomorrow, go to the barracks yourself to receive ten military rods."

  This came suddenly, Xia Chui's small mouth was agape, and her hands gripping his shoulders stiffened.

  By the time she came back to her senses, Yuan Xiaojun had vanished into thin air.

  Lowering her head, she continued to pinch the man's shoulder and asked thoughtfully, "How did you know I had drugged him?"

  Zhao Zun lightly blew away the tea leaves on the water surface, took a sip, "You little slave, honey mouth, bitter gourd heart. What's the next sentence?"

  Thinking of his own affairs, Xia Qiuzi casually responded, "Honey mouth, bitter melon heart, white donkey black conscience."

  Clever.

  After Zhao Zhuo finished boasting, she suddenly realized that she had inadvertently scolded herself. Glaring at the back of his head in annoyance, she was suddenly a little puzzled - could this be the legendary "one thing subdues another"? Otherwise, with her clever and wise brain, why did she always end up being outsmarted by him?

  She didn't have time to think carefully about this, she cleared her mind and turned the topic to a serious matter.

  "Is it your man who shot the arrow with a bird's feather in the woods?"

  This is purely her guess.

  In such a situation, he would help her, and apart from him, she couldn't think of anyone else.

  As expected, he didn't deny it. He just hummed softly, his voice becoming even lower with a hint of drunkenness.

  "A bit heavier."

  Gritting his teeth and staring at him, Xia Chui added more strength to his hand. "You helped me, I'm not an ungrateful person. I know your current difficulties, so I've thought of a wonderful plan that can help you..."

  "Little slave." With a light press on her brow, Zhao Zhu interrupted her words, pushed away her hand, and stood up to take large strides outside, "I'm tired, going back to my room."

  What's with this guy!

  It's already July 7th in the lunar calendar, "I haven't finished speaking yet..."

  He turned around, his eyes filled with coolness.

  "Is your business more urgent than mine? Catch up!"

  She exchanged a glance with him, and Xia Chuqi seemed to have an epiphany. Could it be that speaking here wasn't very convenient?

  But here apart from her, there's only Yuè Yù, doesn't he even trust Yuè Yù?

  Old fox.

  She followed him all the way back to the Jade Emperor's Pavilion, where she met Zheng Erbao at the door. She hid behind him and secretly inquired about the fool's situation, only then did she feel at ease entering the house. But as she waited and waited, that Zhao woman simply leaned lazily against something, with an air of elegance, reading a book, seemingly having already forgotten what she wanted to say.

  Cheap person, always so serious about being cheap.

  In her heart she cursed him, but on her lips she was obedient, "Papa, I have something to say..."

  "Hmm?" He raised his eyes and looked over coldly. Clearly he didn't want to listen.

  He is a big shot.

  Lao Tzu said, occasionally lowering one's posture in dealing with things is a magnificent high-profile in low-key.

  "Grandpa, I wanted to ask, what's the urgent matter you have?"

  Zhao You nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied, "Go and get some warm water for washing feet, and give Grandfather a foot massage."

  Digression

  Haha, thank you for sending us beautiful flowers and diamonds, those lovely girls.

  Er Jin has been extremely busy with many things these two days, so she hasn't had time to reply to comments. Please forgive her, sisters.

  Yeah, I'll reply as soon as I have time today. Actually, even though I didn't respond, I've read them all.

  The plot is unfolding, and I'm reading it with a cool girl who has a lot of patience. Thumbs up for you guys!