Chapter 306: Savor the romance of Jiangnan!

Early November.

The wind already carried a bone-chilling cold.

A private room on the second floor of the Dafengtai Restaurant.

Chen Yan was flipping through the menu by the window. As his fingertip slid past the line for "Roasted Lamb," he heard steady footsteps coming up the stairs.

He looked up and saw You Cheng Huai lift the curtain and enter. Snowflakes still clung to his black cloak, and a thin layer of frost had gathered on his hair tips: "Brother You, you've come late enough!"

"You really made me wait, brother!"

The room was warmed by silver-bone charcoal, creating a cozy atmosphere.

"Brother Chen, I couldn't help it!"

You Cheng Huai took off his cloak and handed it to the waiter standing by. Beneath his cotton robe, a jade belt was visible at his waist. He walked to the table, sat down, brushed the residual snow from his shoulders, and said helplessly: "The coursework at the Imperial Academy has been heavy these days, and my father has been monitoring me strictly..."

"If only I were like Brother Chen, about to be sent to a prefecture, that would be great!"

His words were full of envy.

Chen Yan's father was Chen De, one of the founding generals under the command of the Old Pillar of State Dugu.

He had planned his official career long ago.

After the spring of the coming year, he would head north to take up his post.

As for You Cheng Huai's father, the Junior Marshal You Wangzhi, he placed extreme importance on academics and maintained strict control.

He also wanted to be sent to a prefecture, where the sky was high and the clouds were wide, free from all constraints.

"Let's not talk about these mood-spoiling things..." Chen Yan poured the wine, the liquid clinking against the cup wall with a soft sound. "Let's eat and drink!"

As he spoke, he gestured for the waiter to hurry and bring up the hot dishes that were being kept warm.

He then picked up a pair of chopsticks and passed over some cold-dressed alfalfa.

After three rounds of drinks, You Cheng Huai was just picking up a piece of charred, fragrant lamb chop when his movements suddenly paused. His gaze swept over the carved wooden pillar in the corner of the room, as if he had remembered something, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"A few days ago, Yang Gong, the eldest son of Grand General Yang, died right here in this Dafengtai..." He put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine cup but didn't drink, his fingertips rubbing the rim. "Isn't it unlucky to eat and drink here?"

Before he finished speaking, he shivered. Even though the charcoal fire in the room was burning brightly, he subconsciously pulled his collar tighter.

You Cheng Huai remembered that Yang Gong had died a miserable death...

It was said that black blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he died in agony.

"Brother You, you are being overly cautious..." Chen Yan gulped down a mouthful of wine, unconcerned, and said, "That business with Yang Gong was the Junior Chancellor colluding with the Qi State, wanting to incite internal chaos in our Great Zhou!"

"The two of us don't carry that much weight, so just eat and drink with peace of mind!"

"Come, a toast to you!"

As he spoke, he filled the wine cup again and raised it.

Chen Yan had heard his father mention that Yang Gong's death was because the Qi State, in coordination with the Junior Chancellor, wanted to incite a struggle between the Grand Chancellor and the two great Pillars of State, so they could take advantage of the situation...

He had even joked that even if he died a hundred times, it wouldn't have that kind of effect!

"Brother Chen is absolutely right!"

You Cheng Huai nodded, agreeing: "We aren't qualified..."

At that moment, he finally set his mind at ease.

His father, Junior Marshal You Wangzhi, didn't take sides, so the fire couldn't possibly reach them.

He paused and continued to ask: "Then what performances are there later?"

He looked like someone who had been stifled for too long.

"Still going to the usual place?"

Chen Yan blinked, smiled tipsily, and said: "The Hongxiao Workshop has brought in several Jiangnan women who are skilled in playing and singing!"

"Good." You Cheng Huai paused with his cup, his eyebrows slightly raised: "Then let's go and savor the romance of Jiangnan!"

The two hit it off immediately.

Hongxiao Workshop.

The wind and snow here seemed lighter than elsewhere, and red lanterns swayed gently under the eaves.

Pushing the door open, a wave of heat mixed with delicate fragrance and warm charcoal rushed toward them, instantly dispelling the chill from their bodies.

Chen Yan raised his voice and shouted, breaking the quiet elegance of the building: "Steward!"

"Where is the steward!"

"Hurry over here!"

His shout was full of force, causing even the faint sound of the pipa from the next room to pause.

A moment later, a sound of jingling jade ornaments approached from afar. A middle-aged woman named Su Yan, wearing a lotus-root colored brocade dress, walked over quickly. A pure gold hairpin with kingfisher feathers was inserted diagonally into her hair, and a perfectly measured smile was on her face: "Who did I think it was?"

"So it's Young Master Chen and Young Master You!"

"It's been a while since you two came!"

"I've missed you dearly!"

After speaking, she covered her mouth halfway with a handkerchief and laughed softly.

The fine lines at the corners of her eyes bunched together, yet she insisted on putting on a maiden-like, coy expression.

"You speak well..."

"A reward!"

Chen Yan was in a great mood. He fished an ingot of silver from his bosom, tossed it over, and laughed.

After Su Yan caught it, she bowed, her eyes curving: "Many thanks, Young Master Chen!"

She paused and continued: "I'll go call Nishang and Qiudie to accompany you right away!"

"I will definitely serve you two to your heart's content!"

After speaking, she turned to leave.

This Miss Nishang and Miss Qiudie were the old flames of Chen and You.

"Wait!"

Chen Yan stopped her.

Su Yan stopped in her tracks and asked suspiciously: "What is it, Young Master Chen?"

"Steward, Chen has heard that your Hongxiao Workshop has received quite a few Jiangnan beauties who are both talented and beautiful!" Chen Yan curled the corner of his mouth and smiled pointedly.

Just as Su Yan was about to respond, the smile on her face suddenly stiffened, her footsteps halted, and her brows furrowed imperceptibly.

She rubbed the silk handkerchief in her hands, her tone dropping a few degrees: "Young Master Chen, I am truly sorry!"

"The new girls from Jiangnan have all been booked by Young Master Xingchui of the Xiuyun Pavilion..."

Chen Yan's brows immediately shot up: "A merchant's son dares to be so overbearing?"

Immediately, anger flared up. He turned to his guards and ordered with a fierce tone: "Go, invite that damn Young Master Xingchui over to have a talk!"

Getting there first was one thing, but leaving none behind?

This was intolerable.

"Understood." The guards responded in unison and headed toward the pavilion filled with music and song.

"Young Master Chen, you absolutely must not!"

Su Yan panicked instantly, her face turning pale with fright, but the guards dodged past her.

She stamped her feet in anxiety, grabbing Chen Yan's arm tightly, her voice even carrying a sob: "Young Master Xingchui is also a guest of our Hongxiao Workshop!"

"What is there that cannot be done?"

Chen Yan shook off Su Yan's hand and smiled contemptuously, dismissing: "He is merely the son of a merchant..."

"Making my brother and me run for nothing, he deserves to be taught a lesson!"

You Cheng Huai nodded, very much in agreement with Chen Yan's way of handling things.

Before long, a loud crash of tables and chairs overturning came from the pavilion.

Mixed with a man's exclamation and cursing, the sound quickly grew closer, clearly being dragged downstairs by the guards.

"Who are you people!"

"What are you doing to this young master!"

"Is there no law anymore!"

Having his fun interrupted for no reason and being held on both sides, the disheveled Ji Xingchui roared hysterically.

"In Chang'an, I am the law..."

Chen Yan glanced at him and snorted coldly: "Drag him down and beat him!"

"Then throw him out!"

"Understood."

The guards responded and moved again.

"Steward, go call the girls from Jiangnan over..." You Cheng Huai said.

"Yes... I'm going right away!"

Su Yan's face was deathly pale, and she said tremblingly.

Before long, the sound of light footsteps came from the stairs.

Several girls wearing water-green ru-skirts stood timidly before them, the leader being Mo Qianyu, with willow-leaf brows and apricot-kernel eyes.

Seeing people, she blushed, her hands nervously twisting her handkerchief. The gentleness and shyness of a Jiangnan woman were fully displayed on her.

"Greetings, Young Master Chen!"

"Greetings, Young Master You!"

The Jiangnan girls bowed respectfully in unison.

"Brother You, you pick first!" Chen Yan said modestly.

"Brother Chen, you pick first!" You Cheng Huai said politely.

"Then I'll take this one..." Chen Yan chose Mo Qianyu, the most alluring among the girls, without hesitation.

"Fine, then you're the one!" You Cheng Huai finally chose Chu Yingge, who was slightly less striking.

Inside the pavilion.

"Young Master You, let me feed you wine!" Chu Yingge nestled against You Cheng Huai, her eyes swirling, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

When she spoke, she used the soft tone of the Wu dialect, the end of her sentence slightly raised, making one's heart itch.

"No more drinking!"

"Beauty, come here!"

"This young master can't hold it anymore!"

The fire in the charcoal brazier burned brighter and brighter, reflecting the light and shadow swaying throughout the room.

You Cheng Huai stared at the charming person in his arms, only feeling a wave of dry heat rushing up from the soles of his feet, his whole body's blood boiling.

"Young Master, don't be so impatient, let's play a game first!" Chu Yingge showed even deeper charm, actively rubbing against his palm, her tongue tip lightly licking her lower lip.

"What game?"

You Cheng Huai swallowed hard and smiled wickedly: "This young master only wants to play the game between men and women with you!"

"Young Master Chen, look at this pendant!"

Chu Yingge took out a small silver pendant from her hair bun. The chain was extremely thin, and the pendant was a hollowed-out lotus flower.

Inside was embedded a pigeon-blood red gemstone, flashing with an eerie light under the charcoal fire.

She panted, held the pendant up before You Cheng Huai's eyes, and her fingertips swayed lightly.

The gemstone swayed back and forth with the movement, red like a jumping blood bead, reflecting an eerie red light in her eyes, "Young Master... look at this lotus flower..."

Her voice suddenly became ethereal, carrying a strange rhythm, "Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it look like the one in the Jiangnan water..."

"Hmm?"

"This..."

You Cheng Huai's gaze was sucked in by that touch of red light, and his eyelids suddenly became heavy.

Chu Yingge's voice seemed to come from very far away, lingering and soft, covering him like a net: "Whether it's appearance or figure, Mo Qianyu is ten thousand times better than me..."

"Young Master Chen, don't you want to get close to her and gallop on her body?" She leaned closer, the pendant almost touching the tip of his nose.

"Want... want!"

You Cheng Huai's breathing gradually became heavy and slow, his eyes began to lose focus, and the burning desire that had been raging just now seemed to have been doused with cold water, leaving only a numb, dry heat.

Immediately, his unfocused gaze became firm: "Why can Chen Yan have Mo Qianyu to accompany him? I also want to savor that taste!" ===== CHAPTER 307 =====