Chapter 404

Chen Wujì and Xiao Zong got along swimmingly, drinking until the wee hours.

Xiao Zong can't hold his liquor, but he loves to drink.

Probably because they were chatting too happily, as they drank Xiao Zong, clearly already tipsy, insisted on dragging Chen Wujì to become sworn brothers, and no amount of persuasion would work.

Even though Chen Wujì and Xiao Yujì took turns telling Xiao Zong that they were about to get married, Xiao Zong still refused, shouting that their marriage and becoming husband and wife is their own business and doesn't interfere with becoming sworn brothers.

In the end, Qin Zhánhong knocked Xiao Zong out with a single blow, finally ending the farce.

The group didn't stay overnight at the Xiao residence; instead, they went to the county office.

This idea was Qin Zhánhong's, and her reason was simple and blunt.

She wanted to sleep together with Chen Wujì and Xiao Yujì that night; what would happen if Xiao Zong found out about it at the Xiao household tomorrow?

It would be awkward for others and inconvenient for ourselves; better just to find another place to stay.

Chen Wujì naturally agreed readily; he had already experienced that sneaky feeling earlier that afternoon.

There's no need to keep going back and forth on this; besides, it's not exciting.

The position of Yunnan County's deputy magistrate remains vacant, as does the residence; now it belongs to Chen Wujì, the commandant.

Although it's not legal, neither Chen Wujì nor Qin Feng gave it any thought.

Even if the mountains are high and the emperor far away, the emperor has abandoned this place—what laws are left?

The moon is bright, the stars sparse, and the breeze is gentle.

Yunnan City also quieted down beneath that midnight moon.

The three of them laughed and chatted nonsense as they entered the side gate of the county office; when they passed Qin Feng's courtyard, they all stopped in unison.

"Did you hear a woman's voice?" Qin Zhánhong asked softly.

Chen Wujì nodded, "Not only did I hear it, but the voice sounded off."

Xiao Yujì chuckled lightly, "What could possibly sound normal at this hour?"

"County Magistrate Qin has no wife or concubine—where could that woman's voice come from? A mountain wild ghost?" Qin Zhánhong's imagination sprang to life.

Chen Wujì tugged at them, "Come on, let's go; they have their own red‑knowing confidante."

Listening at Qin Feng's wall corner is pointless; we might as well go back and have Qin Zhánhong and Xiao Yujì shout.

"Wait, do I hear whipping sounds?" Qin Zhánhong held her breath, listening intently to the courtyard, then said, "Listen—hiss… why is a man shouting? Does it sound like he's being beaten badly?"

"Could it be that Magistrate Qin has been kidnapped by bandits?" Xiao Yujì asked.

Qin Zhánhong's expression grew grave: "Hard to say; Magistrate Qin has offended many people lately, so it's possible someone holds a grudge and might resort to killing to silence him out of spite."

Chen Wujì is also feeling uncertain now.

The sounds coming from the courtyard indeed resemble Qin Feng being abused.

"Go inside and take a look—be careful not to alert whoever's in there, and if you see anything, come out and tell me right away!" Chen Wujì told Qin Zhánhong.

Qin Zhánhong has the best skills, so sneaking in would be easiest for her.

"Okay." Qin Zhánhong replied, lightly tapped her foot, and leapt onto the wall top.

Chen Wujì peeked and said, "The outfit she's wearing under her skirt today looks quite nice."

"Now you say that? Sister Zhánhong will definitely let you see plenty later." Xiao Yujì said, speechless.

At such a tense moment, Chen Wujì suddenly said that, leaving her a bit dazed.

Chen Wujì calmly said, "I just happened to see her when she jumped up, so I gave a quick comment."

After saying that, he snorted coldly, "Don't worry—this is our turf, nothing will happen. I just want to see which bastard has the guts to cause trouble at the county office; I'll make him learn how to write the 'shattered' in 'death by a thousand cuts.'"

Not long after, Qin Zhánhong returned.

Under the faint moonlight, her face was flushed intensely, as if she had just downed a jar of extraordinarily strong liquor and it hit her face all at once.

"How is it? Any bandits?" Xiao Yujì asked anxiously.

Qin Zhánhong remained silent, shaking her head.

"What's going on? Speak up!" Xiao Yujì pressed.

Qin Zhánhong rubbed her face hard, "Something got into my eyes just now; I need to go wash them immediately."

"Hey, you—tell us what happened first," Xiao Yujì said.

She felt as restless as a cat with an itch, but Qin Zhánhong kept beating around the bush, refusing to say what really happened inside.

"Definitely no bandits—relax." Chen Wujì said, then curiously asked, "What exactly did you see?"

Seeing Qin Zhánhong's state, he knew there were definitely no bandits.

But Qin Zhánhong had definitely seen something extraordinary.

After gathering her thoughts, Qin Zhánhong told Chen Wujì and Xiao Yujì, "I just… saw a woman beating a man with a whip. After a while they… ended up lying on top of each other upside down… uh, you don't need the details—just imagine it."

Xiao Yujì was a bit bewildered, "A woman beating a man—is it Magistrate Qin's beloved beating him? What kind of play is this? And were they clothed?"

"How could they have clothes on?" Chen Wujì laughed.

He had already guessed what Qin Feng was up to.

I have to say, Magistrate Qin's tastes are quite advanced—he even does it in reverse.

With that trick, we'll probably be able to drink together happily from now on.

"Oh… I think I get it now." Xiao Yujì suddenly realized, looked at Qin Zhánhong, and gave a sly smile, "Sister Zhánhong, isn't this exactly what you've been wanting? Try it on your husband tonight?"

Chen Wujì's face instantly darkened.

Damn!

What is this woman saying?

"Enough already—our grudge is long over, and I don't have that kind of fetish." Chen Wujì hurriedly said.

Qin Zhánhong hadn't yet snapped out of what she'd just seen, "I need a moment… wait, you just said to try it on your husband?"

She sprang back to life, "This is good, this suggestion is really good, let's go, go, go, spring nights are short, hurry up and go!"

Chen Wuji: ……

"Qin Zhanhong, I'm telling you, you can't use violent intimidation!"

Qin Zhanhong laughed coquettishly, acting cute in Chen Wuji's ear, saying: "Husband, just consider this compensation for me—you have no idea how angry I was after I came down the mountain. Those punishments I gave you were actually all for your benefit; they didn't achieve any punitive purpose at all."

"Before I didn't know how, but now I do—shouldn't you satisfy me a little?"

"No way!" Chen Wuji refused firmly and righteously.

"That's something you didn't expect—how can you blame me? This matter is already over; we shouldn't bring up old scores."

He would absolutely never experience Qin Feng's damned hobby.

Clearly a suave and talented gentleman, how could he have such a hobby behind his back? What a two-faced person!