Shen Qingfeng slowly opened his eyes. What came into view were the white bed curtains and the flickering candlelight seeping through them.
Although Shen Qingfeng had been unconscious, there was still a glimmer of awareness in his muddled state. Watching the wavering candlelight in the room, he knew that he had been lying in bed for a whole day.
The madness of Lu Yan last night still sent shivers down his spine. In his hazy consciousness, the swaying bed curtains, the broken moans, and Lu Yan's rapid and possessive panting made Shen Qingfeng now want to avoid them at all costs.
He shrank back, and along with it came an indescribable soreness and pain all over his body, especially the area behind, which burned with pain, making him let out a soft cry involuntarily.
There was a movement in the room. Then, the bed curtain was suddenly yanked open by someone, revealing Lu Yan's slightly anxious face.
The moment Shen Qingfeng saw Lu Yan, he trembled all over and then shrank back violently towards the inside of the bed at a visible pace.
Lu Yan was taken aback. His outstretched hand froze in mid - air, and a look of guilt flashed across his face. He slowly sat down, leaning on one end of the bed curtain. With a hint of apology, he said, "Qingfeng... Are you okay?"
It would have been better if Lu Yan hadn't mentioned it. Once he did, Shen Qingfeng's expression turned cold. He turned his head away, with a look of indifference that kept people at a distance: "Thanks to the Marquis's concern, I'm doing just fine."
Hearing this, Lu Yan knew that Shen Qingfeng was angry. He also knew that he had been a bit excessive last night. He pursed his lips and said nothing. He reached out and picked up a bowl of medicinal soup from the table on one side, blew on it to cool it down, then shifted his buttocks and sat next to Shen Qingfeng. Softly, he said, "Qingfeng, since you're awake, drink some medicine. I'll help you sit up."
Shen Qingfeng gave him a cold look and then angrily turned his head away.
Knowing that he was in the wrong, Lu Yan had no choice but to bear Shen Qingfeng's anger. He got closer and said, "Good Qingfeng, I was an idiot. Don't be angry with me. Drink the medicine quickly."
Shen Qingfeng snorted and said, "The Marquis has so much energy. How could he be wrong?"
Lu Yan lowered his head and dared not speak. He held the medicine bowl with both hands, coaxing and persuading. Finally, he helped Shen Qingfeng sit up, and Shen Qingfeng grimaced as he drank the medicine.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Shen Qingfeng finished drinking the medicine, he shouted that he wanted to get out of bed and return to the Shen Mansion. How could Lu Yan let him go back in such a state? He quickly said no. Shen Qingfeng then turned his head to look at him and said, "I've stayed here in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion long enough. Are you still going to stop me from going back to the mansion?"
Lu Yan naturally knew that he wanted to go back to take care of those things he had kept from him. For a moment, he was also filled with anger and said, "What's wrong with you staying here in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion? Can't I handle those outside matters for you? Why do you have to do it yourself?"
"Lu Yan!" Shen Qingfeng shouted sharply after hearing this, "I'm not your catamite!"
Lu Yan's breath caught in his throat. He trembled and slowly withdrew his hand and said, "I didn't mean that..."
Shen Qingfeng looked at him. Their eyes met for a while. Suddenly, Shen Qingfeng's expression softened. He reached out his hand, stroked Lu Yan's face, slowly slid down along his straight nose, and stopped at his chin with short stubble: "A Yan, do you know what I want?"
Lu Yan looked at him and suddenly grabbed his hand tightly. The scalding temperature came from their touching fingertips, as if it was going to engulf Shen Qingfeng's cold body.
"I want the common people to live in peace and contentment, the elderly to have a proper end, and the children to grow up well..." Shen Qingfeng leaned against Lu Yan's arms, his lips moving. In his mind was the never - extinguished fire in the Bian Palace. His long eyelashes fluttered as he spoke out his lifelong ambition.
"I want to see Li Xia last for thousands of generations, and I also want to see you galloping on the battlefield, pacifying the Eastern Hu and protecting Li Xia." Shen Qingfeng said softly, "A Yan, you're good at martial arts and I'm good at literature. Let's support Emperor Ming together and revitalize Li Xia. I'll make you a famous general through the ages, and you help me fulfill my lifelong wish. How about it?"
Lu Yan was shocked all over. He lowered his head and looked at the person in his arms. For a moment, he couldn't say a word.
Shen Qingfeng slowly straightened up, looked up at him, and held Lu Yan's face with both hands and said, "A Yan, I've already told you about the pros and cons. You and I help Xia Chuli, and Xia Chuli will also help us. When he ascends the throne, I'll go back to the Northern Capital with you. Okay?"
Lu Yan pursed his lips, hugged Shen Qingfeng's waist tightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Qingfeng, are you serious?"
Shen Qingfeng nodded and said, "Serious."
"Then can you tell me who the person you brought out of that cave that day was? Is it related to what you told me?" Lu Yan asked.
Shen Qingfeng nodded again and said, "His name is Xiangcheng. He's another right - hand man I need."
Lu Yan paused and said, "What do you want to do?"
Shen Qingfeng knew that it would be unfair to Lu Yan if he hid this from him. So he told Lu Yan in detail about his plan to set up the Listening Wind Pavilion, but he didn't mention what he had seen in the tomb.
After hearing this, Lu Yan pinched his chin and said, "The Listening Wind Pavilion... Qingfeng, what do you plan to do with this killer organization?"
Suddenly, Shen Qingfeng smiled and said, "King Xia Jie is old. Don't be deceived by his seemingly healthy appearance. In fact, he has been taking medicine for a long time to cover up his illness, and his body is on the verge of collapse. Qi Yan must know this. But now the crown prince is still Xia Chuli. Seeing King Xia Jie's deteriorating health, they can't wait any longer."
In his previous life, Xia Chuli was once poisoned by Xia Yonglin. The poison was colorless and odorless. If it hadn't been accidentally discovered by Yu Shuang, Xia Chuli might have died on the spot. What made it even more difficult for Shen Qingfeng to handle was that he had once sent people to investigate the poison, but until now he still didn't know the name and type of the poison, which showed its power to kill people invisibly.
After that, he originally wanted to get some information from Xia Yonglin's mouth, but Xia Chuli, out of hatred, directly cut off Xia Yonglin's tongue. So this matter had no lead and was eventually forgotten with Xia Yonglin's death.
But in this life, many things have changed. Yu Shuang didn't follow Xia Chuli, and he wasn't in the Eastern Palace either. If he wanted to protect Xia Chuli, he had to make a complete plan.
Setting up the Listening Wind Pavilion as soon as possible to monitor Xia Yonglin and Qi Yan was the only way he could think of now.
"So, you're going to use the Listening Wind Pavilion to guard against the people of the King Cheng's line first?" Lu Yan understood and asked.
"That's right." Shen Qingfeng nodded and said, "The people of the King Cheng's line will surely regard Xia Chuli as a thorn in their side."
Lu Yan said, "Then what about you now..."
Shen Qingfeng smiled and said, "Take me back to the Shen Mansion, A Yan."
-
Inside the Shifang Zhai.
Liu Mei was reclining on the top floor of the Shifang Pavilion. The curling incense was floating in the room. She gracefully took a puff of smoke, leaned back on the couch, and slowly exhaled, half - closing her eyes contentedly.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
A masked servant rushed in through the door and whispered something in her ear. She raised her eyebrows, looked at the servant in surprise, and asked doubtfully, "Is this true?"
The servant nodded nervously, affirming the statement.
Liu Mei frowned. She slowly put away the tobacco pipe. Her half - exposed breasts were spotlessly white, arousing people's imagination in the early spring air. She let out a soft laugh and said, "Then invite him in."
The curtain was opened from the outside. It was none other than Xia Chuli, who should have been staying in the Eastern Palace.
It was already inappropriate for a royal relative to come to a place of debauchery, let alone an unpopular crown prince.
Liu Mei glanced at the young man walking in obliquely and frowned slightly. She could feel that Xia Chuli seemed different today.
Xia Chuli casually lifted his robe and sat on the stool. He poured himself a cup of tea.
"Long time no see, Boss Liu."
Liu Mei looked at him and let out a soft laugh and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I don't remember ever meeting you."
Suddenly, Xia Chuli laughed. He put down the teacup after taking a sip and turned to look at Liu Mei and said, "Why be so formal, Auntie?"