527: Chapter 340: Night Talk_2 527: Chapter 340: Night Talk_2 The quiet streets, where many lights had earlier been extinguished, lit up once again.
Almost simultaneously, several robust will-spirits and Origin Qi followed the sound to investigate, but upon seeing the black dragon carriage parked in front of the courtyard gate, they quietly withdrew.
After a heavy silence,
“Boom—”
The thick gates of the mansion were opened from the inside, revealing not a gatehouse, but a radiant young man with bare arms.
Barefoot, with hair untied, he seed to be in quite a hurry.
It was Li Junqing.
The black dragon carriage sat quietly by the peaceful roadside, the inscription lamps hanging on the street casting the dragon’s eyes in vivid detail.
Upon seeing the carriage, Li Junqing’s handso face twitched, and he cursed his misfortune silently.
Is this kid’s ghost still haunting ?
“…”
In silence,
a man in black opened the carriage door, and a handso young master clad in brocaded robes stepped down leisurely with his hands behind his back, looking at the shirtless scion of the Imperial Family and said with a smile:
“Yunqing ah, it’s been a long ti.”
“Brother…
Brother?”
“It’s .”
“You… you survived an assassination attempt?”
“….”
Xu Yuan’s eyes twitched.
Li Junqing adjusted his expression; under the bright light, a crystal-clear sheen flashed in his eyes, then he quickly hurried over barefoot on the snow-covered ground,
coming closer,
tears shimred in Li Junqing’s eyes as excitent overtook him and he moved to embrace Xu Yuan, his voice trembling:
“Yunqing…
Yunqing thought he would never see you again in this life.”
Seeing this, Xu Yuan quickly grabbed his arm, stopping his movent with force, and said with a smile:
“This assassination left barely alive, and I hope I haven’t disturbed you tonight, have I?”
Buddy, keep your act in the theater; it’s not proper for n to embrace so casually.
Li Junqing continued his attempt to embrace, tears still in his eyes:
“The news that brother is still alive is the greatest joy Yunqing has heard in months.
Even if you did disturb , my joy knows no bounds.
With brother’s great talents, your death would have been a loss for Great Yan.
It’s just that the night is far gone, and Yunqing is still not properly dressed…”
“If you’re so happy, then let’s go inside for a chat, I’ll wait for you to get dressed.”
Xu Yuan said with a nod and a smile, then he headed straight toward the inside of the mansion.
Li Junqing’s eyes twitched again.
How can this man’s face be even thicker than his?
Before his thoughts settled, the figure had already entered the mansion on his own accord.
Standing bare-chested under the inscription lamps, Li Junqing glanced at the black dragon carriage and a few lines of frustration creased his forehead.
Xu Changtian ca looking for him?
What a joke!
Casting a glance at another courtyard covered in snow hundreds of feet away, Li Junqing felt his teeth itch with annoyance.
He ca for the brother next door; why involve him?
Does he think I don’t have enough on my plate?
Nevertheless, Xu Yuan’s survival was good news for him.
Heaving a sigh in his heart, Li Junqing’s face quickly resud its smile as he stepped quickly into the courtyard gate.
…
…
…
In the inner courtyard of the mansion, amidst drifting light snow, two figures sat on a tall pavilion overlooking Linjiang.
While drinking, Xu Yuan gazed at the snowy riverscape amidst the lanterns:
“…
This Guangyang Prefecture’s Li Mansion certainly has its charms.”
As he spoke,
Xu Yuan glanced at the beautiful servant clad in thin silk, her curves partially unveiled as she poured wine for them: “It seems I have indeed disturbed you tonight.”
Dressed only in light clothing covered by a brocaded robe, with his legs crossed, Li Junqing leaned back on a cushioned couch and laughed lightly:
“Interested?
I haven’t partaken tonight.”
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a slight smirk:
“Hah, just a jest, your imperial sister is also in the city.”
Li Junqing took a sip from his cup:
“She won’t co to .”
Xu Yuan gave him a deep look:
“Hah, should a loose tongue reveal secrets, it would harm the relationship between your sister and .”
“The lady is naturally deaf….”
“I wasn’t talking about her.”
“….”Li Junqing.
Xu Yuan smiled and raised his cup for a toast, the bronze cups clinking together as if in casual conversation among good friends:
“These past days, Yunqing must have been living a carefree life, surrounded by music day and night.”
Li Junqing glanced at him, tossing a piece of dried fruit into his mouth:
“If not for the music day and night, I might not have the chance later.”
As the river breeze fluttered through the window, causing Xu Yuan’s long hair to dance, he paused in drinking his wine:
“Oh…how so?”
Li Junqing cast a cursory glance at the neighboring courtyard:
“My recent situation has been quite dire, almost handed over by our father to the Pri Minister to accompany you in death…”
Xu Yuan looked puzzled:
“Where did you hear that?
Surely they wouldn’t lay a finger on you.”
“They would, they certainly would.”
Li Junqing tapped his head and spoke with a touch of helplessness, “Just think about it, with my second brother protected by our father, it ans that our eldest brother’s power must be curbed.
Otherwise, even with external aid, my second brother would have scant chance in court affairs.
Plus, this issue sohow needs to give Minister Xu an explanation….
“Third Young Master, now tell , under such circumstances, who would be the most appropriate to surrender?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan revealed a look of contemplation, then drained the wine in his glass and laughed:
“What, not calling ‘big brother’ anymore?”
Li Junqing also returned the laugh:
“I find it rolls off the tongue better to call you Third Young Master.”
With that, the two n exchanged a knowing smile.
Reining in his mirth, Xu Yuan asked Li Junqing:
“You’re not seriously considering it?”
“Considering what?” Li Junqing feigned ignorance.
Xu Yuan gave him a aningful look:
“Your status is not low at all, the Imperial family’s comrcial ventures are under your control, and a portion of the Shadow Guard is in your grasp.
After so many years, I don’t believe you haven’t placed your own people among them.”
Li Junqing sounded quite displeased:
“What do you an ‘my own people’?
They belong to my elder brother.”
Xu Yuan, feeling sowhat bored, leaned back on the soft couch behind him and tapped on the desk:
“You were almost a sacrificial lamb this ti, yet your thoughts haven’t changed one bit?”
“….”
Li Junqing glanced at Xu Yuan, casually pulling a maidservant over, sliding his hand down her neckline to roughly grope her fullness before withdrawing, then gesturing at the table full of fine wines, exquisite delicacies, and the beautiful riverscape that brings a sense of bliss, grinned and said:
“I find my current life quite carefree.
“One must be content to live happily ever after.
Even if I’m not doing great, to revel night and day is still far better than most in this world, so there’s no need to vie for that position.”
Xu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he said:
“I…
am not joking with you.”
“Nor is your Highness joking with you, Third Young Master.”
“….” Xu Yuan looked slightly disappointed.
Li Junqing let go of the docile and beautiful maidservant beside him, leaned in a bit closer, and spoke oddly:
“Third Young Master, I’m very curious why you’re so confident in ?”
Xu Yuan glanced at him:
“In novels, it’s usually soone like you who appears indifferent to struggle that ends up claiming the throne…
Heh.”
“Pfft hahaha!”
Li Junqing laughed heartily, even slapping the table.
After his laughter subsided, he sighed deeply, looking out the window at the river scenery: “Now that you ntion it, it does seem to be the case, but reality isn’t like a storybook, and I truly do not wish — nor am I capable — to compete.”
“Actually, being a puppet could still sustain your current lifestyle,” Xu Yuan said abruptly.
Li Junqing’s eyes twitched:
“No, how can you say such things to ?
I’m not that tight-lipped.”
Xu Yuan spread his hands and raised his glass in the moonlight, inviting:
“You are a wise man, and since you don’t aspire to compete, you won’t speak out.
Hmm…
on the contrary, you should be worried about being indiscreet.”
Li Junqing paused for a mont, then his expression shifted.
He took the wine jug from the maidservant’s hand, stood up to personally fill Xu Yuan’s cup, and cleared his throat:
“Ahem, that is, big brother…”
“Relax, I’m not that petty,” Xu Yuan said with slight amusent.
“Everyone has their own aspirations, and I respect yours, but ti is of the essence right now.
If you change your mind later, you might find it’s too late.”
They clinked glasses and emptied them.
Li Junqing asked in a low voice:
“Changtian, you ca to see my second brother on this visit, didn’t you?”
“Did you figure that out yourself?”
“If you really wanted to reminisce, why cause such a stir?”
“Tch, you’re quite clever.”
“…” Li Junqing.
Xu Yuan eyed Li Junqing, his gaze turning sowhat icy:
“I’m a person of so standing, too.
If I were to be assassinated, I couldn’t just swallow the insult, could I?”
As he spoke,
Xu Yuan gazed over at Li Zhaoyuan’s separate residence and mused aloud:
“Judging by the ti, your second brother should be arriving soon.”
“It seems they are discussing matters over there as well….”
Li Junqing murmured and imdiately stood up, wrapping his arms around the maidservant’s plump and soft waist.
As he walked out, he said:
“Xu Changtian, I’m warning you, don’t disturb tonight.
Do it again and I’ll tell our imperial sister that you ca to my estate tonight for a secret rendezvous with a maidservant.”
“…..”
Xu Yuan gave a wry smile, watched the other’s figure disappear, and gently shook his head, murmuring softly:
“What a sha…..”
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