Chapter 189

First Volume, Chapter 189: Pre-Wedding Cohabitation?

Recalling the manuscript he had just read.

Xie Yun'er's emotions grew even more tangled.

Who in all of Jingdu didn't know Qin Feng was a shameless lecher? Yet the subtle emotions woven through the words made one yearn for them. Had it not been for the sloppy, revolting handwriting proving otherwise, Xie Yun'er would never have believed the manuscript was written by Qin Feng.

To know a man by his writing.

Who could have guessed that this man, reeking of greed, lawless and sometimes mad, had such a tender side…

At that moment, Qin Feng suddenly mumbled in his sleep.

Xie Yun'er leaned her ear close and listened faintly—it seemed to be…

"Xie Yun'er, don't come near me, please… spare me."

"You!"

Hearing Qin Feng's dream words, Xie Yun'er's face flushed crimson instantly. She hadn't expected this scoundrel to fear her even in his dreams. This proved that today, Qin Feng hadn't been busy organizing the New Army—he was clearly using it as an excuse to avoid her.

Xie Yun'er's anger surged: "You shameless dog, I'll let you sleep!"

Xie Yun'er clamped her hand over Qin Feng's nose, intending to suffocate him.

Qin Feng's breath cut off, jolting awake. Half-asleep, he mistook her for Xiao Xiangxiang playing a trick.

He pulled Xie Yun'er into his arms, twisted his body, and with practiced ease shoved her into the quilt, patted her up and down, then closed his eyes, smacked his lips, and fell back asleep.

Qin Feng was utterly exhausted; in an instant, he was dead to the world again.

He had no idea the woman in his arms was flushed crimson, glaring at him with a murderous look.

Xie Yun'er instinctively grabbed her whip, looped it once around Qin Feng's neck, ready to strangle this damned flower-plucking lecher.

As the daughter of the Marquis of Ning, how had she ever endured such indecency? If this got out, how could she ever show her face again?

Just as Xie Yun'er was about to strike hard, she suddenly remembered something…

It seemed… she was about to marry him?

Thinking of this, her grip loosened slightly. Gazing at Qin Feng's sleeping form, she bit her lower lip and muttered softly: "If not for the matchmaker's agreement, I would've killed you long ago!"

After uttering her threat, Xie Yun'er moved to push Qin Feng's arm away, intending to flee this mess first.

But as she pushed, Qin Feng clung tighter, mumbling: "Don't… don't move around. This is the most comfortable way to sleep."

Xie Yun'er's face burned crimson; she wished she could sink into a crack in the floor.

As a virgin maiden, being held by a man was bad enough—but sleeping with him? How could this be?

But this scoundrel held her too tightly; if she woke him, a misunderstanding would surely follow.

Xie Yun'er could only give up, enduring the burning shame and tension, muttering curses under her breath, yet letting Qin Feng hold her.

Until moonlight pierced the window, Xie Yun'er seized the chance as Qin Feng rolled over, finally broke free, leapt off the bed, and exhaled in relief.

Looking at Qin Feng, asleep like a log, Xie Yun'er's cheeks blazed red. She snatched up her whip, ready to punish him severely—but raised it, then lowered it again.

Xie Yun'er turned to glance at the quiet night outside. If she woke Qin Feng, tonight's affair would be impossible to wash away—even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

At the daytime banquet, Qin Feng had avoided her—already humiliating enough for the Xie Residence.

Now, she had "spent the night" in his room. If this spread, she'd never be able to show her face again.

Xie Yun'er was both humiliated and furious, yet helpless. She stomped her foot and growled: "You damned scoundrel, once we're married, I'll have plenty of ways to deal with you! I'll remember this indecency today—we've got plenty of time left!"

As Xie Yun'er finished her threat, Qin Feng rolled over in his sleep.

Xie Yun'er's face paled. She dared not linger another moment, leapt out the window in panic, kicked off the eaves, sprinted across the tiles, and vanished into the night in an instant.

Meanwhile, Qin Feng was jolted awake by the muffled sound of wind rattling the window.

He rubbed his bleary eyes and groaned: "Damn it! Why's my arm numb?! What time is it? Shit!"

One moment drowsy, the next Qin Feng shot upright as if electrocuted.

Gazing at the night outside the window, Qin Feng slapped the bed: "Damn! Damn! I nearly forgot the main thing!"

Qin Feng scrambled out the door, shouting as he ran toward the courtyard: "Qin Xiaofu, where the hell are you? Come with me! Oh! Lin Brother? Wake up! Get up—I'm taking you somewhere great!"

Soon, Qin Feng led the two toward Mingyue Lake in the city center.

Though it was deep night, the entire Capital lay silent.

No pedestrians on the streets; only occasional patrols of night guards passed by in groups.

But when they reached the shore of Mingyue Lake, the scene was entirely different.

Three Hua Fang boats were moored on the lake, brightly lit, with drunken shouts and melodious singing drifting out.

At first, Lin Quqi and Qin Xiaofu were utterly confused.

They couldn't fathom why Qin Feng was acting crazy again at this hour.

But upon seeing the Hua Fang boats, their expressions instantly flipped 180 degrees.

Qin Xiaofu's eyes sparkled; he rubbed his hands and exclaimed excitedly: "Master, you're in such a refined mood tonight?"

"I was wondering why, since you fell into the water, you never came back to Mingyue Lake—were you scared stiff? Turns out I overthought it."

"If you're coming here, why didn't you say so earlier? I could've prepared some good medicine!"

Medicine your head!

Qin Feng kicked out, sending Qin Xiaofu flying, looking annoyed.

These days, many Wanfu were drug addicts.

After all, no law forbade it.

Not only did they take drugs without restraint, but the varieties were endless.

Some, for a small gathering of friends reciting poetry, would inhale certain minerals to sharpen their spirits and mood.

Others, as patrons of courtesans, would gorge themselves on drugs promising eternal potency.

Even sages, seeking Changsheng, swallowed all sorts of bizarre concoctions—this was far from uncommon.

But even if Qin Feng had one hundred times the courage, he would never dare touch pills from this era, as medical principles were backward, and many ingredients were no different from poison, causing immense harm to the human body.

Lin Quqi stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed intently on the Hua Fang, his face beaming: "I have waited so long, Brother Qin, and finally you're willing to bring me to witness the world. Ha! I've long heard of the fame of Jingdu's Mingyue Lake—now I finally get to see it!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn't help but sneer.

He thought: these so-called "literati" have always taken pride in chasing courtesans and visiting brothels, never feeling shame.

They call it: cultivating refined tastes.

Nonsense!

They're just a bunch of old lechers making excuses for their debauchery.

But Qin Feng brought Lin Quqi tonight precisely to "cultivate refined tastes"—and there was another layer of deeper meaning!