Chapter 60: Drunkenness and Sobriety —— Text/Written by Ji Jin

  Xia Chuqi originally wanted to divide one move into two steps.

  If the girl in front of her doesn't agree to her demands, she will use the same method as before to deal with Yuanyu, drugging her until she agrees, and she believes that such a ridiculous thing, unless someone's brain is flooded, no one would easily agree.

  However, the fact is that she found herself to be a fool.

  After she finished telling the girl in detail about how the two of them would join forces to use the "Tiger Leaving the Mountain" trick to rob the officials' money at the post house, the other party simply nodded and said "good", without any extra strange expressions on her face, as if robbing an official's home was no big deal.

  Are ancient people too unrestrained?

  Why don't we all go and rob the government?

  Her straightforwardness made Xia Chuqi feel more and more surprised, and instead felt uneasy in her heart.

  "Hey, such a big thing, don't you need to consider it?"

  "What's the difference? Isn't it just a matter of losing money?"

  Others countered with ease, but Xia Qi's eyebrows were raised, "My point is that the people living in the post house are either officials or servants. If we go to rob and it doesn't go well, we might lose our heads. You agreed so readily, I'm not feeling too reassured."

  Isn't she clear enough now?

  But she just pushed away the knife pressed against her neck and calmly said with a hint of mockery.

  "He who fears falling will never learn to walk; he who fears death will never be full."

  At the beginning of summer, Qiuzi slightly closed her eyes, just about to praise "The children of Jianghu are indeed bold enough", but saw that she paused for a moment, and her eyes looked over her, looking towards the other end of the alley, and another sentence came out.

  "What's wrong with dying again?"

  As soon as he heard these words, Xia Chuyi suddenly enlightened.

  It turns out that the world is indeed difficult, and she has encountered a master who has a deep hatred for the government. This guy had long wanted to take revenge on society, but had not found an opportunity yet?

  However, she thought again, if a girl's family has a good environment, they can eat well and dress warmly at home, waiting for the sedan chair to get married and serve their husband. Who would be willing to come out and steal, making a living on the tip of a knife?

  Thinking of this, she felt a few more points of sympathy for the girl.

  Sheathing his dagger, Xia Qiuli patted her shoulder, "It seems that everyone has a hard time, let's walk and talk, and make a detailed plan."

  After just a few words, the girl had opened up to her completely.

  Her name is Li Miao, a native of Ying Tian Prefecture. She was also the daughter of an official's family. Two years ago, her family encountered disaster and all her family members died unjustly. Due to her birth chart showing a violent and bloody fate, before she reached adulthood, she was forcibly sent by her grandmother to a nunnery to become a nun and cultivate herself, thus escaping one calamity. Alone and adrift, after learning of the disaster that befell her family, she left the nunnery and spent two years drifting in the wind and rain.

  She also said that it was the anniversary of her family members' death, so she prepared some money to go to the heavenly palace to worship. Today, on the street, she saw Gu A'jiao dressed up and looking like a rich man's daughter, so she had the idea to take her purse.

  What she said is true or false, Xia Chuyi cannot be verified.

  But in her opinion, since everyone is a fake, it doesn't matter whether they are real or not.

  To show her sincerity in doing business with Li Mei, she naturally fabricated a miserable story of how she was alone and homeless. Unexpectedly, she didn't move herself to tears, but instead moved Li Mei to tears, who grabbed her hand and choked back sobs repeatedly.

  The seventh day of summer is turning white eyes.

  Sister, aren't you too easily moved?

  However, since everyone is alone anyway.

  She and she stand almost instantly on a line in some aspects.

  That is loneliness.

  ……

  ……

  The action plan has been worked out.

  It took Xia Qiuzi a whole day to prepare everything they needed for the night's stay at the relay station.

  Later, she and Li Mo ate hastily at the inn, then took her to the "Phoenix Inn" where Gu A'jiao and her father lived to return her purse.

  Originally thought to be better said and harmonious, but unexpectedly, the Gu family father and daughter didn't say much, especially looking at Old Man Gu's expression, not only was he not angry, but instead seemed somewhat grateful, which elevated Xia Chuyi's understanding of ancient people's thoughts to a new level.

  For tonight's action, Xia Qi Qi and Li Mo both wore men's clothes.

  In today's society, it is much more convenient for men to go out and take care of things than women.

  So when Xie Yu saw Gu Ajiao, Xia Chuyi thought of the long journey to Ying Tian Fu and kindly reminded her that with a face as good-looking as hers, she didn't have the ability to protect herself and was likely to tempt men into committing crimes. When going out, it's better to dress up as a man or wear more subdued clothes.

  Unfortunately, she wore out her mouth corner, that Gu A'jiao first went out, wherever she went, felt fresh, and was a heavenly beauty, not only refused to wear men's clothes, but also dressed up as a charming and flirtatious girl, making Xia Chuyi sigh before leaving the inn.

  "Next time if you get bullied again, I won't care about you anymore."

  Gu Ajiao also didn't get annoyed, she just pouted her small mouth and smiled coquettishly.

  "You wouldn't ignore me, would you? Who made me your friend?"

  "Hey, you're still eating with me? Who treated you as a friend?" Xia Chuqi raised an eyebrow, glared at her with annoyance, and then checked herself in the mirror again.

  A head of long hair was tied up on the top of his head, and although the coarse linen shirt on his body was not eye-catching, the eyebrows and eyes that were painted still had a few points of youthful vigor.

  "Not bad!" She was very satisfied and quite certain that this outfit wouldn't reveal any flaws.

  "How ugly! " Gu A Jiao pinched her handkerchief and frowned, with a mouthful of disgust. "Where are you two going? Dressed like this, I don't know if others will think you're going to rob a house!"

  "That's right, go rob and plunder."

  At the beginning of summer, Xia Zhiyu raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "If I don't come tomorrow morning, you and Old Man Gu can take your own boat to Beijing, no need to wait for me."

  The last rays of winter sun had fallen into the horizon like blood.

  Ba County is a major town in the southwest of Da Yan Dynasty. There are two post stations within its borders. One is Chao Tian Station, located inside Chao Tian Gate, and the other is Bai Shi Station, located on the west side of Ba County. As Zhao Zun will be entering the capital by official boat at noon tomorrow, Xia Chuqi judged that he would probably be staying at Chao Tian Station.

  Surely enough.

  She and Li Miao went out of the post house and casually found a vendor to ask, and confirmed the news.

  Quietly looking at the not far away post station, Xia Qi sneaked out under the cover of night and first tied up her horse that she had ridden from Jin City Prefecture as well as two other horses she had gotten from the horse market to a locust tree about half a li away from the post station. Then, frowning again, she instructed Li Mo in a low voice.

  "Remember what I said, don't take the easy way out. If you lead the guards here, whatever you do, don't ride a horse. Not even one. Those Golden Guards are fierce when chasing people, your horses can't outrun them. Just cut off the reins and stab the horses in the butt, let them scatter in all directions, the pursuers will disperse immediately. With your skills, it's easy to escape..."

  To put it bluntly, Xiaoyi couldn't let Li Mo follow her to death.

  No matter how stubborn, unruly and shameless she is, deep down inside, she's still a modern special forces soldier.

  This has always affected her character and behavior, making it impossible for her to do anything too cruel or ruthless.

  She asked Li Mo to go with her to the relay station, all she needed was someone who could divert the attention of the soldiers guarding the gate and allow her to slip in smoothly.

  Li Mian coldly looked at her and didn't say much, just nodded slightly.

  "Be careful..."

  "It's okay."

  "I'll meet you outside."

  Responding to the two words, Xia Chuyi suddenly felt a sense of familiarity with his comrades from past lives. He patted Li Mo's shoulder and his tone became even more serious: "You don't have to respond to me, it's too dangerous. One person escaping is easier than two people escaping. If I haven't returned by dawn, remember that there are some silver pieces in the package in my room, take them and use them."

  Li Mian looked at her, furrowed his brow, and his eyes deepened a bit.

  Time was pressing, Xia Qi didn't have time to say anything more to her, everything that needed to be said had already been said. From now on, it was all about taking action. Taking a deep breath, she lightly hooked the corner of her lips, pinched Li Mo's palm, took two self-made "smoke bombs" from the horse and stuffed them into her hands, her expression turned serious.

  "In a moment, use this to divert the guard, and at critical moments, it can also save lives."

  Li Mian lifted what was in his hand and rarely showed a curious expression.

  "What is this?"

  "Don't ask, just light the fuse and throw it to the ground, there will be thick smoke coming out, but the effect won't last long, so hurry up." Actually, this thing is not rare in modern times, it's just a simple smoke bomb made from saltpeter and other materials, many modern people can make it themselves. Of course, as a special forces operative, Xia Chiyu's version is slightly more refined than ordinary people's, but due to material limitations, it's not as potent as the ones used in the army before."

  But in the eyes of people at that time, this was simply a divine artifact.

  "You... actually know how to do this?" Li Miao was still in a daze.

  Xia Zhiqiu patted her shoulder with a smile on the seventh day of summer.

  "I know a lot of things, I'll teach you again when I have the chance. Now, get ready."

  Li Miao blinked his eyes and said, "Good."

  Like Chao Tian Yi, Qing Gang Yi was also surrounded by thick earthen walls on all sides, making it difficult to sneak in except through the city gate. Smoke bombs could temporarily block the guards' line of sight, and with Li Mo providing cover, when the smoke cleared, the pursuing soldiers would be drawn to her, and naturally wouldn't notice Xia Chuqi sneaking in under the cover of the thick smoke.

  Li Mian is indeed a guy with pretty good kung fu skills.

  But in an instant she was close to the city gate, a few rolls over, as if with a full belly of hatred, loudly shouted "You turtles, come and take your lives", decisively lit the smoke bomb in her hand, and threw it towards the city gate.

  "My grandma..."

  "What is this? Cough, cough..."

  "Assassins! Chase them quickly!"

  There were eight soldiers guarding the gate. As they coughed and cursed, fanning away smoke with their hands, Xia Chuyi quickly slipped into the city gate and stuck close to the base of the wall, letting out a long sigh of relief.

  She finally made it in.

  The station was dark and gloomy, and soon the big and small lanterns were swarming towards the city gate like dragons and snakes. Because assassins had been found there, almost all of the night patrol soldiers in the post house rushed to the city gate.

  It is clear that Li Mi has completely drawn fire.

  She slipped in very safely like this.

  "Amitabha Buddha, bless Li Mian's safe escape."

  Xia Qi quickly observed the situation of this inn after muttering to herself for a moment.

  This place is no smaller than Qinggang Inn, where does Zhao Zhu live? Where is the fool again?

  Looking at the buildings in front of her, Xia Qi was careful not to stir up trouble, and quietly made her way through the buildings in the inn. She searched for Zhao Zhu carefully, one by one. It would be easy to find him, as he always stayed in the most magnificent and elegant buildings. However, if it wasn't absolutely necessary, she didn't want to meet him, hoping instead to secretly find Ah-Dai and bring him out, or at least confirm his safety.

  An hour has passed...

  Two more hours have passed...

  The city gate had already come to a standstill, and all around was quiet.

  The guards in the inn were not as strict as she had imagined, but things did not go as smoothly as she had hoped.

  She didn't find an idiot.

  During these two periods of time, she searched the entire inn and found no one.

  Where did Zhao Ziyu take him after all?

  The night fog grew thicker, slapping against my face with an icy chill that seeped from head to heart. In the pitch-black inn, only occasionally could be seen a few lanterns carried by the night patrol guards wandering around, and there was no other sound.

  Now, there is no place she hasn't "visited", only the unique and quiet large courtyard in the middle of the post house...

  There, she began to suspect it was Zhao Yu's residence.

  Was he putting himself and the fool in the same category? She didn't dare be certain.

  It seems she has no choice but to sneak in and take a look first.

  Creeping in the dark and oppressive night fog, she calmed her mind, cupped her hands over her face, feeling icy coolness...

  According to Zhao's usual level of vigilance, she knew that rushing in directly from the gate was absolutely impossible. Fortunately, she had been prepared and had made a three-clawed grappling hook with iron tools. Although this thing couldn't climb over the outer high wall with battlements and guards, it was still easy to flip into a courtyard.

  She grasped the hook and pinched the tail rope tight, "whoosh" - with a flick of her paw, she swung herself up onto the wall.

  It's stuck!

  Pulling the rope to test its strength, Xia Qiuzi nodded in satisfaction and climbed up the wall like a monkey, using the rope to climb up three or two times before lightly jumping down, making very little noise.

  This courtyard is very large, the southwest climate is warm, and it seems that there are still waves of fragrance in the courtyard. Zhao Zun has always been a quiet person, although the defense outside is strict, once he enters his inner mansion, it is cold and deserted, just like him.

  She carefully hid the hook and other objects in a cluster of flowers at the foot of the wall, then tiptoed over to make her way around a section of corridor and start searching the wing. The night watchman was probably dozing off, she slipped from outside to inside without making a sound or waking anyone up.

  Both rooms have been searched thoroughly, but no fool has been found.

  Next, there is only the main house left.

  She turned the door handle gently, using all her patience to make sure it didn't make a sound. But as soon as she entered the room, she was stunned.

  There was even a light on inside.

  That is to say, the people inside haven't fallen asleep yet?

  She tensed up for a moment, her back against the marble wall, and slowly peeked out with bated breath.

  The entire room was quiet and still, with only Zhao Zun present. He sat on a purple sandalwood carved arhat chair, wearing only a black soft satin nightgown, with the jade belt tied loosely around his waist. His eyes were half-closed, revealing a rare lazy demeanor. In front of him, on a small table, was placed a chessboard and several white jade wine pots.

  The air is filled with the refreshing and light fragrance of "Chenpi wine".

  The familiar wine aroma entered her nose, and Xia Zhi's body hair stood up. Even the marble relief on her back seemed to be scratching her back stiffly. The heart that was suspended in her throat due to tension involuntarily twitched in pain.

  Does he have a headache again?

  Drink Fructus aurantii (a type of Chinese medicine) when you have a headache. To deliberately do something that is obviously impossible, isn't that just asking for trouble?

  Covering her heart, in the next instant, she heavily bit her own mouth again.

  Isn't it ridiculous? The other is a dignified prince, shouldn't he be living a more carefree and happy life than her? Why does she have to worry so much?

  The pain from the bite made her sober up a lot.

  Forget it! Don't bother about so much.

  She was looking for a fool, and if it wasn't absolutely necessary, she couldn't afford to make an enemy of this cheap Zhao person. And the inner room was just so big, one glance could see through it, naturally it was impossible to hide a fool like that big living person. Thinking about it, she slowly withdrew her head, took a deep breath, and stepped back towards the door step by step.

  The distance from the wall to the door is very close.

  But she walked extremely slowly and quietly, without making a sound.

  Just as she was about to make a quick exit, a sudden gust of wind swept past her from behind. She turned around alertly and saw a tall black figure approaching her step by step, its face bearing a cold, hard, bewildered or complex emotion, like a giant eagle ready to pounce on its prey.

  Will this also be discovered?

  At the beginning of summer, her heart skipped a beat.

  No time to think, she reached into her bosom, ready to strike him, but he suddenly spoke up.

  " Chu Qi?"

  That voice, with a hint of drunkenness and an inexplicable low huskiness that couldn't be put into words.

  Her heart skipped a beat, and her tightly furrowed eyebrows relaxed.

  No need to think too much, she has already exposed herself. In front of him, it's hard to escape again. However, no matter what, Zhao Zun wants to catch only her Xia Chuqi, and originally had nothing to do with the fool. Today, entering the station, she made up her mind that if she didn't succeed, she would sacrifice herself. Thinking about it, there was nothing to be afraid of, and fighting him wasn't a new thing, at most it would just be death, what's there to fear?

  She narrowed her eyes and withdrew her hand. Looking at the tall figure in front of her, she calmly took a step back, pressing her back against the door, clenching her fists, with a hint of mockery in her gaze.

  "Your Highness, King of Jin, you win. I'm back, do with me as you will, and let the fool go."

  Zhao Zhuo remained still, his eyes hazy with wine as he sized her up.

  "Huh? What did you say?"

  Xia Qiqi snorted and raised an eyebrow, "Is pretending to be a fool interesting?"

  He took another step closer, his cold eyes still staring at her.

  Then, one step, another step, slowly closing in.

  As he got closer, that intoxicating wine fragrance also wafted over, causing Xia Chuqi's heart to completely lose control and speed up its beating frequency. That familiar, annoying, and infuriating oppressive feeling gripped her heart tightly.

  On one hand she was scolding herself for being useless, on the other hand she hated him so much that her teeth itched.

  "Take my life if you want it, what's the point of making things difficult for a fool?"

  "Huh?" Zhao Zun asked softly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes as he looked at her hesitantly, as if he really hadn't understood at all. He raised his head and rubbed his forehead, then suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist.

  "Now that you're back, come keep me company for a couple of drinks."

  Lowering her head to look at the tightly grasped wrist, Xia Chuqi was stunned again and again.

  After he so ruthlessly locked her in the woodshed, took away the fool, and slaughtered the people of Cui Nian Village with such cruel means, how could he be so calm as if nothing had happened?

  "Let go!"

  At the beginning of summer, a chill ran down her throat, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off his grip on her wrist. She was so angry that she could hardly breathe, and her eyes glared at him with hatred.

  "Zhao Zhu, I'm asking you if you still have any face left?"

  "You're quite bold, say it again."

  He gazed over with a cold expression, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and the bottom of his eyes were completely red from intoxication. However, the chill and sharpness on that cold face had not decreased by a single thread, and his emotions were forever impossible to discern.

  He snorted coldly, as an intruder, Xia Chuqi felt it necessary to remind him of their current situation. "Prince Jin, you're really drunk? Can't tell what's going on? I came looking for my idiot today, and since he fell into your hands again, that's just my bad luck. But you know, the idiot doesn't understand anything, he's innocent. You're a prince, why bother with someone who has intellectual problems? Isn't that making your own intelligence look more urgent?"

  He gazed coldly at her, Zhao Zhu closed his eyes and put his hand on his forehead again.

  He seemed to be drunker, he seemed to have a worse headache, in the cold voice, there was his usual irritability when he hadn't been drinking.

  "Your grandpa's place has no one, only wine. Love to drink or not, if not then get out."

  On the seventh day of summer, he hummed and then burst out laughing in extreme anger.

  Is it her ears that have gone wrong or is this scumbag's brain out of order?

  She fell silent for a moment, Xia Qiuzi stared at his cold face full of intoxication, didn't say anything else, pushed away his hand, turned around and ran towards the door. But before she could run out of the door, her waist was tightly wrapped, and she was firmly restrained by his arms from behind. Next, as usual, he effortlessly lifted her up and heavily slammed her onto that armchair.

  "Did Grandpa tell you to leave?"

  "......" wasn't it him who told her to get out?

  Xia Chuqi slightly curled up her lips and smiled sarcastically.

  "What do you want? Kill me now?"

  A hand, warm from his body temperature, reached out and grasped her icy face, its fingers slowly tracing the contours of her cheeks before coming to rest on her slender neck. Probably due to years of leading troops in battle, his fingertips had a thin layer of calluses, which repeatedly brushed against her skin with a gentle touch that sent shivers down her spine, causing her to tremble involuntarily, but a soft smile still played on her lips.

  "Hey, what do you really want to do? You're acting like this, it's easy for me to misunderstand. Actually, do you have a crush on me?"

  Zhao Zun narrowed his eyes, and his pupils showed no emotion.

  They stared at each other for a long time before he finally lowered his head, sizing her up with a slightly drunken tone that carried a unique charm.

  "Are you cold?"

  "I'm not cold." Xia Chuqi retorted, even more disgusted with herself for trembling at his touch. From then on, whenever she spoke to him, aside from the anger towards him, there was even more self-loathing.

  "Your Highness, King of Jin, are you really drunk to the point of not understanding human language? I feel like there's a communication barrier between you and humans. Alright, now just answer me one sentence: what do you want in exchange for releasing my foolish family member?"

  Dong...

  As soon as her voice fell, Zhao Zhuo sat down heavily beside her with a thud. What made her even more incredulous was that his drunken eyes only glanced at her twice, and then he tilted his head to one side, and simply lay down, comfortably leaning on her leg, closing his eyes, and murmuring with a few strands of wine.

  "Let me teach your grandfather a lesson first."

  Looking at the big head placed on his own thigh, Xia Chui's heart skipped a beat, almost choking with anger. It turned out that he really didn't take himself as an outsider, and thought it was still in Qinggang County back then?

  "What's the point of still being stunned?"

  It seemed like she wasn't making a sound, but then her brain started talking again.

  As usual, emotions unclear, voice cool, tone full of imperative sentences.

  On the seventh day of summer, she didn't move at all, staring at him. Suddenly, she wondered if she were to pull out a knife and slash his neck right now, would this powerful prince who dominated the imperial court and led the heavenly army as the great general, understand how to resist?

  Or did he really have such confidence, and was sure she wouldn't kill him?

  She wanted to try it out, but she couldn't.

  Her goal was just to find a fool, not to kill a prince and become a fugitive for life.

  Since he refused to reveal the whereabouts of the fool and didn't plan to deal with her immediately, even wanting to pretend that nothing had happened, she, as a doctor, would treat him like a patient and play along.

  Cool and calm, Xia Qi's fingers touched his head, first removing the black jade hairpin from his head, then gently combing his black hair with her fingertips as she usually did when massaging him. Only after that did she start pressing the acupoints on his head, one by one, emotionlessly.

  "Where does it hurt?"

  "He nodded."

  "How much wine did you drink?"

  "Not much."

  "Are you drunk?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "What's your name? Do you still remember?"

  "Your grandfather."

  Are you really drunk or just pretending?

  At the beginning of summer, her hands stopped moving and she lowered her head to observe him carefully as he muttered to himself with his eyes closed. On a perfect face that couldn't find any flaws, a lazy and cold aura was emitted, but no matter how you looked at it, he really didn't have any defensive heart towards her.

  If he were awake, would it be possible? Of course not.

  So there is only one answer, and that is this Zhao Zhenren might have really become a fool from drinking.

  She continued to gently massage him, and Xia Qi asked him, "So I'll ask you, where did you lock up the fool? You caught him, what do you want to do with him? Do you want to threaten me into coming back?"

  "Fool?" The head tilted slightly, and the eyebrows furrowed for a moment.

  He suddenly flipped over, turned around abruptly, and pressed her down under his body. This sudden movement scared Xia Chuqi's heart into her throat, her hands tightly pushing against his chest, her eyes wide with fear.

  "Zhao Zhu, what are you going to do?"

  Digression

  Today's condition is really bad, I've revised and edited again and again, but the remaining 4000 words still don't want to be sent out. I want to update more, but I really don't want to affect the quality and layout of the article just for the sake of updating the word count. If it's fixed later, I'll update twice, if not by 2 pm, then it will be updated together tomorrow.