Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Divine Ingenuity, Calculations as Accurate as a God’s

“Smack!”

Zhou Xianming, upon hearing this, could no longer bear it and stared fiercely at Han Wenxin, “You’re talking nonsense! Would Li Yue, a lady with a blind eye, fancy a rough martial artist like you?”

An Jing was also startled by Zhou Xianming’s momentum, pausing with his chopsticks in hand.

But Han Wenxin just frowned, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thick arms, and retorted, “What’s wrong with a martial artist? I am the sole heir of a three-generation lineage of arrest officers in my family. Are you looking down on martial artists?”

Han Wenxin was half a head taller than Zhou Xianming, and with his burly stature and intense gaze, he might not have the upper hand against Jianghu experts, but facing a mere scholar like Zhou Xianming was naturally not a problem.

“No….no problem.”

Zhou Xianming wilted and quickly raised his wine cup towards An Jing, “Doctor An, let’s drink.”

An Jing clinked his cup and said, “Mr. Zhou, actually, Brother Han is somewhat right. It’s possible that Li Yue is just toying with your feelings.”

“Doctor An, that’s not right of you to say.”

Zhou Xianming glanced at Han Wenxin and argued with reason, “Why would she toy with your feelings or Arrest Officer Han’s feelings and only toy with mine? She must have some fondness for me to act in such a way.”

An Jing: “…..”

Han Wenxin mockingly said, “Brother An, stop advising him. When the truth comes out and he has nothing left, he will understand how cruel reality is.”

Mr. Zhou also swept away with his sleeve, “When the day of my wedding with Miss Li Yue comes, don’t forget, Arrest Officer Han, to bring a generous gift.”

Han Wenxin scoffed, “If anyone’s getting married first, it’ll be me.”

“You?”

An Jing asked in surprise, “Could it be that Brother Han already has someone in mind?”

Arrest Officer Han was slightly older than An Jing. His father had been arranging marriage prospects for him, but they always ended inconclusively. Could it be that Han Wenxin had finally seen the light?

Han Wenxin rubbed his hands and chortled, “Actually, Brother An, I have a somewhat presumptuous request, and I am not sure if I should speak of it.”

Zhou Xianming paused with his wine cup mid-air, staring in astonishment at the scene unfolding before him.

Could it be that Han Wenxin enjoys pederastic love, taking a liking to men over women, men atop men….

“Don’t, don’t say any more.” An Jing was also startled and hastily said, “My wife wouldn’t agree.”

“What are you thinking about.”

Han Wenxin said irritably, “What I’m talking about is Tan Yun.”

“Tan Yun!?”

An Jing’s eyebrows shot up.

Han Wenxin nodded, looking at him eagerly, “You are my half-brother from another father and mother. You have to help me out here.”

Although Tan Yun couldn’t compare to the stunning beauty of Zhao Qingmei, she was also a rare beauty, with graceful curves, a plump figure, and a lively and adorable personality. If he could marry her, it would be quite good.

“Pah, despicable arrest officer!”

Zhou Xianming snuck a glance at Han Wenxin and cursed inwardly. No, I can’t let this guy Han Wenxin have his way.

Thinking this, Zhou Xianming subtly began to plot.

An Jing paused and said, “It’s not that she’s out of the question; the key is I don’t have the final say—first, she has to be willing…..”

If Tan Yun herself was willing, it wouldn’t be impossible to discuss it with Zhao Qingmei.

Han Wenxin quickly said, “She will definitely be willing! Every time I visit, she always greets me first. Have you forgotten the last time I went to pick up medicine from your pharmacy? She insisted on handing it to me personally, and at your place for dinner, she poured wine for me, and there was also….”

Towards the end, Han Wenxin believed that Tan Yun’s kindness towards him indicated a hidden affection.

Watching Han Wenxin ramble on, An Jing was stunned momentarily. He really wanted to say that about the poison—she personally administered it.

“Arrest Officer Han, you’re drinking too much; eat some more food.”

“Nonsense, I can hold a thousand cups without getting drunk. The Black Whirlwind of Yu State; for me, this is merely like rinsing my mouth.”

“Didn’t you used to claim to be the Vajra of Yu State?”

“Isn’t it all the same? In any case, it’s all me.”

“When I return from the imperial examinations this autumn, by then, I will treat you all to a grand feast at Yutian Pavilion.”

“Mr. Zhou, just remember you once said you’d be willing to wait on me hand and foot.”

…..

Night deepened, and the whole of Yu State City seemed to sink into silence.

An Jing, seeing the dim lights in Jishi Hall, felt a sudden jolt in his heart. Could it be that his wife hadn’t slept yet?

But he wasn’t perturbed because he had already arranged his story with Han Wenxin, explaining that a medical emergency in the Yu State City prison had detained him for some time.

An Jing sniffed his nose and, finding no scent of alcohol on himself, he felt relieved.

“Creak!”

The side door was gently pushed open.

“Husband, why have you come back so late?” A voice rang out like a silver bell.

Zhao Qingmei was sitting in front of the hall, cup of tea in hand, taking a gentle sip before smiling sweetly at An Jing.

An Jing shivered, then touched the sweat on his forehead, “Han Wenxin, that kid, stopped me halfway, said there were a few people who had come down with a sudden illness. Faced with such a life-and-death matter, I naturally couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

“By the way, madam, why haven’t you gone to bed so late?” As he spoke, An Jing subconsciously rubbed his hands together.

Zhao Qingmei put down her teacup, her voice soft, “How could I possibly sleep without you being back?”

Hidden in the backyard, Tan Yun heard this, her nose wrinkled slightly, “Stinky son-in-law, you went out drinking and still claim you went to treat patients, and you didn’t even bring back any pastries… I really want to expose your shameless face.”

The Human Sect spy lost track of An Jing, but in the end, he found An Jing and his two companions’ whereabouts at the Wuyang Tavern and naturally reported the information back intact.

An Jing felt a bit guilty, “Madam, you’ve really worked hard.”

He went out for drinks, not expecting Qingmei to still care so much about him. If she knew that his cultivation was involved with people in Jianghu, she would surely be constantly worried. He absolutely couldn’t let Qingmei find out about this.

Zhao Qingmei picked up a small cup from the table, “Husband, come drink your medicine.”

Medicine!?

An Jing paused for a moment, “Madam, is there a mistake here…”

Inside the cup was pitch black, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.

Zhao Qingmei had actually brewed him some medicine, did his robust body really need it?

Zhao Qingmei’s eyebrows rose slightly, “No mistake, I’ve brewed sobering medicine.”

“Sobering… medicine, I see.”

An Jing was startled for a moment, then let out a dry laugh, gulping down the sobering medicine. In his heart, though, he was secretly muttering, how did Zhao Qingmei know he had gone out drinking?

Could there be a mole?

That shouldn’t be, Zhou Xianming and Han Wenxin were both crawling back. By all accounts, they shouldn’t have been able to send a message.

Moreover, he didn’t smell of alcohol at all, which brought a sliver of doubt to An Jing’s heart.

“Tastes good, doesn’t it?”

Zhao Qingmei took back the empty cup and smiled.

“Anything made by madam is delicious.”

Feeling guilty, An Jing changed the topic, “By the way, madam, what do you think of Han Wenxin?”

“What about Han Wenxin, that kid?” Zhao Qingmei asked, clearly puzzled.

“How do you think he and Tan Yun would be together?” An Jing said, grinning.

Han Wenxin, that kid!?

Tan Yun, who was just about to go back to rest, perked up her pink ears when she heard this.

Zhao Qingmei raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing, “Are you suggesting that Han Wenxin, that kid, has taken a liking to Tan Yun?”

An Jing nodded, “He said that Tan Yun seems to fancy him…”

That comment essentially summed up everything Han Wenxin meant, An Jing was just providing a recap.

“If Tan Yun is willing, I have no objections,” said Zhao Qingmei, her peach blossom eyes blinking as if her lips were smiling too.

Taken a liking to him!

In the backyard, Tan Yun’s face darkened upon hearing this, her fists tightly clenched making a creaking sound. That Han Wenxin actually dared to slander her! It seemed she couldn’t just study calligraphy in the coming days; she also had to learn some sword techniques.

Sensing that An Jing and Zhao Qingmei were walking toward the backyard, Tan Yun silently made a note in her little book then returned to her room.

The evening breeze gently drifted, and the starry sky was boundlessly vast.

It was as if many thoughts, many melancholies, were melting into the dense night.

An Jing looked up, feeling moved, “Tomorrow is going to be a good day.”

“My favorite thing is good weather,” Zhao Qingmei also looked up, murmuring, “With good weather, one’s mood gets better as well.”

Gazing at that beautiful face and those tender eyes, An Jing swore in his heart that he mustn’t let her be involved in the turmoil of Jianghu like himself; he would protect her at all costs.

“Husband, what’s the matter?”

Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly, taking hold of An Jing’s hand.

“Qingmei, you’re so beautiful, I just want to look at you more,” An Jing said earnestly, gripping her hand tightly.

“Silly, I’m yours to look at however long you wish,” Zhao Qingmei’s heart raced, and a flush spread across her cheeks.

“It’s getting late.”

An Jing felt the smoothness and softness in his hand.

With a hint of allure in her eyes, Zhao Qingmei said, “Brother, it certainly is getting late.”

When I miss her, a day apart feels like three autumns.

When she smiles at you, those three autumns feel like just a day.

……..