Misty Rain of the Old Times

As we chatted about Master Yanquan, time flew by, and before we knew it, it was dusk, with the clouds on the horizon glowing like fire.

Du Juan and the others had already prepared dinner and asked when it would be served. Chen Xuan put away the last battle flag he had finished and called out, "Wife, Hongyi, let's go get something to eat. Thanks to Hongyi, we're in for a treat today with this 80-year-old Daughter's Red wine."

Chen Xuan made a huge batch of array flags for the Mist Array, a total of 140. He was almost out of materials. He had done this job more than once before, and he could confirm that they were finished products without further verification.

He Hongyi stood up and said with a smile, "Then I won't stand on ceremony and bother you. If you like it after you've tried it, Ah Xuan, I have a few more jars over there, and I'll send them over to you anytime."

She was happy to spend more time with Chen Xuan, so there was no reason for her to refuse. In fact, she wished she could be with him every day. Unfortunately, it hadn't come to that point yet, but personally, she was more than willing to do so.

Of course, she wasn't a tactless person. The little princess didn't reject her and even intended to bring them together, which is why she stayed gracefully. If the little princess showed the slightest displeasure, she would reconsider rather than cling to her.

She paused for a moment, then looked curiously at the large number of small flags Chen Xuan had made in the chat and asked, "Why is Ah Xuan making so many exquisite little flags? They're really beautiful, like works of art. Do you perhaps want to decorate the courtyard?"

"Who decorates their yard with so many small flags? It's not like we're some bandit gang," Chen Xuan said frankly. "These are the flags of the Misty Array. They'll be useful later, but using them for decoration is understandable, just in a different way."

"A fog formation? Ah Xuan knows about formations?" He Hongyi said, speechless. She really didn't know much about Chen Xuan.

After waving all the array flags back into the house and putting them away, Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "I can't say I understand array formations. This kind of thing is profound and complex; I don't even have a basic understanding of it."

"Ah Xuan is too modest," He Hongyi smiled. Perhaps it was true from Chen Xuan's perspective, but what he called a smattering of knowledge was a skill that others could hardly match.

Chen Xuanzhen wasn't being modest about formations; he hadn't even figured out the concealment formation yet, let alone the floating formation or the complete Seven Star Sealing Formation. Anyway, he had plenty of time and was quite free, so he would take it slow and eventually make something of himself.

The little princess, standing beside her with pride, said, "Sister in red, my husband can also refine pills! There were two instances in recent years where the 'Free and Easy Pill' caused such a stir, both made by my husband. I heard it's very valuable, and even money can't buy it."

“I’ve heard of Xiaoyao Pills. So it was Ah Xuan’s doing. Last year, someone presented a few to our Yuhua Kingdom’s emperor. The emperor was overjoyed and the person who presented them was promoted from a commoner to a fifth-rank official. Later, His Majesty wanted more but could not find any more,” He Hongyi said, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "Your current emperor of Yuhua Kingdom is probably not a wise ruler. He just gives people official titles and ranks with a few aphrodisiac pills. A mid-level official is quite a high rank. Even Xiao Gao, the top scholar, is only at this level now."

The name "Xiaoyao Wan" doesn't sound very respectable, and it's notorious. It's natural for He Hongyi, a young woman, to blush, but she didn't pretend to be coy. A thought suddenly popped into her head: since this thing was made by Ah Xuan, he must have experienced it himself. She quickly stopped thinking about it, as it was too embarrassing.

Chen Xuan said somewhat awkwardly, "I made that thing just for fun, don't take it seriously, and don't listen to Qian Ning's praise. I only know a little bit about alchemy, but then again, if we ever go hungry, these skills can help us make a living."

He Hongyi quickly said, "Children's words are unreliable... um, bad things don't come true but good things do, Ah Xuan, you can't say such unlucky things." As she spoke, she thought to herself, "Although it's a joke, if one day it really happens, I'll take care of you, well, I can take care of the whole family."

The little princess said, both amused and exasperated, "My husband has a 'Carefree Pill' worth ten thousand taels of silver, and other priceless items, yet he says he's using it to make a living. If that's true, our family's life hasn't declined at all; on the contrary, it's become even more prosperous."

He Hongyi was speechless for a moment, thinking to herself that she was indeed a princess, and her perspective on problems was different. She herself had a narrow mind and actually thought that was a sign of being down on her luck.

Chen Xuan winked and chuckled, "I'll let you in on a little secret: the actual cost of one Xiaoyao Pill is practically zero. It's just for scarcity, so don't spread it around. I don't tell just anyone. I'm hoping to use it to scam... ah, I mean, trade with people later if needed."

Upon hearing Chen Xuan say that the cost of Xiaoyao Pill was so low, the little princess and the others were immediately taken aback. That was a rare and precious item that many nobles and royalty couldn't buy even with huge sums of money, yet it was so cheap.
Soon they arrived at the dining room, where the food was already on the table. It was quite sumptuous, and everyone was seated around the table. Each person was beautiful, with their own unique charm. Chen Xuan, being the only man, was like someone who had fallen into a flower garden. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of flowers. It was as if he had found his own place in the room. What more could one ask for in life?

"Come on, everyone, don't be shy. We're all family here, so we don't have many rules. Just relax and make yourselves at home," Chen Xuan said, picking up his bowl and chopsticks and starting to show off. Unless it was a special occasion, he didn't care about etiquette; he just wanted to be happy, which made him very carefree.

Hearing Chen Xuan say that he wasn't an outsider, He Hongyi's heart raced a little, a sweet feeling welling up inside her. She stood up, rolled up her sleeves to reveal her fair arms, and poured Chen Xuan a cup of Shaoxing wine with her delicate hands, saying expectantly, "Ah Xuan, try it and see if it suits your taste."

"Daughter's Red" is a type of Shaoxing wine. Eighty years of aging has turned it amber in color. The aroma is rich and mellow, with a subtle silky texture. Picking up his glass, Chen Xuan said thank you, then downed it in one gulp. After a moment of reflection, he said, "Excellent wine! Smooth on the palate, with a long finish, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth. The taste is smooth and silky. It must have been buried under an osmanthus tree for many years; truly a rare and fine wine."

“That’s right. Ah Xuan can even tell the difference. You know wine well,” He Hongyi said in surprise.

Chen Xuan put down his wine glass and said, "I know a little bit. In the past few years, I accompanied the young master to many drinking parties and saw many refined people drinking wine. I've picked up a few smatterings from that experience."

"Is it really that delicious? Husband, I want some too!" the little princess asked excitedly.

She's not a child anymore, Chen Xuan laughed, "Drink if you want. Come on, let me pour you some wine. Hmm, everyone has some, let's all have a taste, except for Roujia. You're still young and growing, it's not good for you to drink alcohol, it will hurt your brain."

“Master, let’s do it ourselves,” Du Juan said, not wanting Chen Xuan to pour them the wine.

However, Chen Xuan began pouring wine for everyone without showing favoritism, and said with a smile, "It's alright, we're all family here, there aren't so many rules, as long as we're all happy together."

"Thank you, Ah Xuan," He Hongyi said with a radiant smile as she accepted the wine glass with both hands. Her fingers touched Chen Xuan's palms, sending a tingling sensation through her. At the same time, she felt a pang of envy. This atmosphere was so wonderful; there weren't so many rules. Unlike other families where maids and concubines weren't even allowed to sit at the table to eat, Ah Xuan didn't care about any of that. She couldn't sense any sense of superiority or hierarchy in him. This was the life she had always imagined. She wondered when she would be able to become a part of this family. She had to work hard; happiness was something she had to fight for.

The little princess picked up her wine glass and said gracefully, "Come on, let's all have a drink! Roujia can have tea instead of wine, or soup, and wait a few years before drinking alcohol. My husband wouldn't let me drink until my eighteenth birthday last year."

"Well, cheers everyone, wishing you all happiness every day. I don't have much knowledge, so I can't say anything good for a toast. Please don't laugh at me," Chen Xuan said, raising his glass.

"Thank you, Master. May you always be safe and healthy," Yunlan and Yunxin said, raising their glasses. Their eyes were filled with tenderness and affection as they looked at Chen Xuan. Their hearts were overflowing with sweetness. They thought to themselves that they must have accumulated a lot of good fortune in their past lives to be chosen by His Highness to enter this family. It was an honor to be able to serve a man like Master. They just didn't know when Master would take them. They hoped that the day they could serve Master would come soon.

They were maids who came with the bride price, and it was only a matter of time before Chen Xuan took them into his household.

Everyone shared a drink, and the little princess, her cheeks flushed, stuck out her tongue and said, "I don't drink alcohol, but this wine tastes quite good to me. Husband, pour me another glass. I want to drink with you and have a good time today."

She was the only one who dared to directly ask Chen Xuan to pour wine. Chen Xuan chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, whatever you say. But wine isn't a good thing. Just have fun, don't overindulge."

You even drank with me and seemed happy. What's your alcohol tolerance? What's mine?
"I know," the little princess said nonchalantly, taking a bite of food to mask the taste of alcohol. He Hongyi rarely drank alcohol, but she was very happy to drink with Chen Xuan. Although they weren't alone together, she still felt a sense of blissful romance. That's what it's like to like someone; everything feels sweet.

After a few rounds of eating and drinking, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "Actually, Shaoxing wine like Daughter's Red is the best match for crab, but it's not the right season now. It would be most appropriate to wait until autumn when the crabs are plump. Besides, we're not drinking it the right way; Shaoxing wine should be served warm."

"Is that what they say?" the little princess asked curiously, though she really didn't know anything about drinking.

Du Juan quickly stood up and said, "Please forgive us, sir. We didn't do a good job. We'll go heat the wine right away."

"Sister Juan, please sit down. There's no need for that. Drinking is about having fun. Being too particular only ruins the experience," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by He Hongyi. She secretly made a mental note of it, thinking to herself that she needed to learn more about wine culture, otherwise she would know nothing and how could she enjoy wine with Ah Xuan under the moon and flowers in the future?
Chen Xuan eventually drank most of the wine. The little princess was already slightly tipsy after a few cups. Chen Xuan didn't let her drink too much, and she didn't insist either. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a great time.

As the moon rose above the treetops, He Hongyi reluctantly took her leave. After all, their relationship hadn't reached the point where she could stay overnight. She looked forward to the next time they could spend together like this.

It was getting late, so we tidied up and went back to our rooms to rest.

Since their marriage, the little princess has lost her initial shyness and even invited Chen Xuan to play in the water together. How could Chen Xuan refuse? He was so captivated by the pleasures of their intimate moments that he couldn't tear himself away.

Perhaps because he had drunk a little, he was not only extremely proactive that night, but also unusually bold...

After a blissful moment, the little princess leaned lazily against Chen Xuan's chest and suddenly said in a soft voice, "Husband, even a fool can see how much the woman in red loves you. She's so devoted to you. When are you going to accept her into the family?"

Chen Xuan was both amused and exasperated. After all that commotion, was it really appropriate to say such things now that things had calmed down? He chuckled helplessly, "We've only been married a short time, and my wife is already so eager to push me into someone else's arms?"

"It's all because you're too much. I can't satisfy you on my own. I can feel it. It's my fault as a wife. Naturally, I hope someone can help share the burden and satisfy you. Besides, what's wrong with that? It's not like my husband doesn't want me anymore. Let's do it together..." the little princess said matter-of-factly.

Chen Xuan quickly interrupted, "You can't say that. I understand my wife's feelings, let's talk about it later. I promised my father-in-law that I wouldn't accept any other girls within a year."

"Then Yunlan and Yunxin are not allowed either? They came as part of your dowry, so they are not included in your promise to Father Emperor," the little princess continued the topic.

"Why does my little wife always think about these things?" Chen Xuan said helplessly. "It's getting late, my wife, go to sleep."

"Yes, I understand what Brother Xuan means. I'll pick a good day for you later," the little princess said excitedly.

No, what do you mean you understand what I mean? And you even picked a good day, but the little princess had already closed her eyes and gone to sleep without saying a word.

Looking at his wife in his arms, Chen Xuan didn't know whether to be happy or not.

After his wife fell asleep, Chen Xuan felt it was time to put his long-planned actions into action, so he got up quietly without disturbing the little princess.

But just as he finished dressing and was about to leave, the little princess opened the door and asked, "Husband, where are you going so late?"

"My dear wife, I'm sorry. Did I disturb your sleep? I'm about to go out for a bit and will be back before dawn," Chen Xuan said apologetically as he turned around.

The little princess hummed in agreement and then asked, "What are you going to do? Do you need my help?"

"My wife, you can just sleep well. Do you remember what I told Roujia and the others that day? I was planning to bring some rain to Yang County," Chen Xuan said frankly, having nothing to hide from his wife.

Knowing that her busy schedule wasn't anything serious, the little princess said, "Then I won't go and cause trouble for my husband. I'll go early and come back early, and be careful."

"It's nothing dangerous," Chen Xuan said with a smile. "Go to sleep, my wife. I'll go take care of my work now. If you're worried about being disturbed later, just let me know and ask Aunt Mei or Sister Juan to block out the noise around the room."

"No need, I'm not a child anymore. Although I don't know how my husband plans to make it rain, I'm not afraid of the noise you make."

After giving a few instructions, Chen Xuan went out, taking with him the four large fog arrays he had created during the day and disappearing into the night.

The large fog array only covers a range of ten miles, so he made up for it with quantity. Four sets of large array flags working together should be enough.

At the same time, under the bright moonlight, someone came from the north and quickly approached Yang County. Under the moonlight, her hazy figure looked like a fairy on the water.

However, she was stopped shortly after setting foot in Shangyun Prefecture, where Yang County is located.

There were only four or five people who stopped her, all dressed in black robes, all of them were innate masters, and their auras were all at the top level of the innate realm.

Even so, despite their superior numbers and equipment, they remained wary and fearful of the ethereal, fairy-like figure, as if facing a formidable enemy.

These people clearly learned of the woman's whereabouts through special channels and deliberately waited here after analyzing the information.

Facing the woman, one of them respectfully bowed and said, "Li Xi from the Jing Kingdom's Martial Arts Department, along with his subordinates, pays respects to the ethereal fairy. We hope you will forgive any disturbance. It is our duty. We dare to ask why you have come to our Jing Kingdom. This concerns the relations between our two countries, so please state your purpose to avoid any misunderstanding."

...(End of chapter)