Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 103: Night Thief
The early summer night, which should have been peaceful, was somehow shrouded in a sticky, dry heat.

That gloomy feeling was like being shrouded in a layer of semi-dry moisture, making one feel suffocated and uneasy.

At least that's how Qingmei felt at that moment.

She lay on the bed, the brocade quilt wrinkled from being tossed and turned.

She remained awake, staring at the lotus blossoms embroidered on the ceiling of the tent, showing no sign of sleepiness.

The tenderness she felt with Yang Can last night was like a honey-soaked pebble thrown into the lake of her heart, still rippling softly in circles.

She hadn't yet tasted the ultimate deliciousness of yin and yang in harmony, but the warmth of his palms, the light kisses on her neck, and the steady heartbeat when he held her had already filled her heart to the brim, and she could clearly recall them with her eyes closed.

Go find him.

The thought popped up like spring grass, tickling her heart.

How wonderful it is to snuggle in his arms, to hear him speak softly, to feel the strength of his embrace—that sense of secure happiness is something no one else can give me.

She even secretly wondered how many times her daughter had been held by the master.

I can't miss a single one; I have to make up for it before I'm satisfied.

But the thought was quickly suppressed by the shadow on the other bed.

There's also a nun named Jingyao living in the same room!
Xiao Qingmei was immediately filled with remorse. "I was so stupid, so very stupid. Why did I let her live with me?"

Going out late at night and being watched by her would be so embarrassing.

As Qingmei was struggling with her thoughts, Jingyao's gentle voice suddenly drifted through the night: "Amitabha, Qingmei, you're tossing and turning, is it because your heart is not at peace?"

Xiao Qingmei stiffened, coughed twice, and made up a lame excuse: "N-no, it's just a bit hot, and I can't sleep."

"Hehe, a calm mind brings coolness." Jingyao's voice carried a hint of laughter, which made Xiaoqingmei even more agitated.

Quiet? She's anything but quiet!
Her heart was pounding like a little rabbit, and her body was burning hot. Yang Can was her life-saving medicine!
That annoying little nun, with her veiled accusations, is meddling way too much!

Xiao Qingmei didn't reply, but the tent was so quiet that they could hear each other breathing.

Unbeknownst to her, Dugu Jingyao, on the other bed, was feeling a pang of jealousy seeing her so distracted, like she had just eaten an unripe plum.

Dugu Jingyao couldn't help but speak up again, saying, "Qingmei, you love the flower in the mirror, but the flower will eventually wither."

You yearn for the moon's reflection in the water, but the moon will eventually sink. Too much attachment will only bring you suffering.

"laugh……"

Little Green Plum couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Little Master, even if you don't love that flower, it still blooms and withers."
Even if you don't love the moon, it will still rise and set. Isn't that just wishful thinking?

Dugu Jingyao choked for a moment, her chest heaving slightly, almost ruining her "wise and virtuous monk" image.

She quickly suppressed her anger and calmed her voice.

Although monks do not concern themselves with worldly affairs, they know that a pure heart and few desires are the right path.

With your restless and agitated state, you're likely to become trapped in your obsession, unable to extricate yourself.

"I'm determined to be obsessed! I'm determined to be unable to extricate myself!"

Xiao Qingmei was annoyed by what she said. She sat up abruptly, gritting her teeth, "I'm not a nun. Is it wrong for me to seek out someone I like?"

Huh? That's right!

These words immediately reminded Xiao Qingmei.

I'm not a nun, and even my daughter has tacitly approved of my relationship with my husband. Why should I listen to your opinions and be afraid that you will laugh at me behind my back?

Having found theoretical support, Xiao Qingmei immediately became more confident and assertive.

She quickly put on her outer garment and slipped on her shoes before heading out, walking with an air of swagger and arrogance.

Dugu Jingyao was dumbfounded. Only after her childhood sweetheart closed the door did she mutter resentfully, "A hopeless case..."

Since it's impossible to carve, why waste my skills? It's simply a waste of my words and... good intentions!
The nun angrily rolled over and couldn't help touching her hair, which had quietly grown longer.

Is that kind of thing really so unforgettable?
A little curiosity quietly sprouted in her heart, like the tender green shoots emerging on the earth in spring.

……

In the guest room, Pan Xiaowan was sitting in front of her dressing table.

She was only wearing a light green silk nightgown, the neckline loose, revealing half of her fair neck.

Her figure was plump and well-proportioned, with curves like soft jade soaked in water, gentle and smooth.

When she sat there, she was like a blooming peony, and even the air seemed to be filled with a faint fragrance.

Her charming face was reflected in the bronze mirror:
Her eyebrows were delicate, her almond-shaped eyes were moist, and her red lips were like freshly picked flower petals...

The cold, mirrored surface was thus given a touch of vibrancy and life.

The hairpins, bracelets, and earrings that she had taken off before taking a bath were neatly arranged on the dressing table.

Only her long, glossy black hair hung down, making her skin appear even whiter.

But Pan Xiaowan had no mind to admire her own appearance; her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the dressing table.

She was like a flower waiting to be picked, but the person she longed for never even stepped through the door.

That little devil!

It was bad enough not being able to see him on Phoenix Mountain, but now that we're so close, yet still unable to meet, it's driving me crazy with longing.

"Ah, my wife, you're...you're still awake?"

Li Youcai's voice came from the doorway. He had his hair down and was wearing pajamas.

Both have their hair down, but Pan Xiaowan is incredibly charming, while Li Youcai, the Grand Steward... is somewhat "unpleasant to look at".

He lingered in the bathtub for a long time, intending to wait until his wife was fast asleep before coming out, but he didn't expect her to still be sitting in front of the dressing table.

They were clearly waiting for me!

Li Youcai's heart sank, but he forced a smile onto his face.

He only felt confident and at ease in front of a girl like Zao Ya, who was clueless about romance and whose feelings he didn't need to care about.

He felt a chill run down his spine when he faced Pan Xiaowan.

He couldn't lift his head, neither in spirit nor in health.

Pan Xiaowan could tell what he was worried about just by looking at his forced smile.

Pan Xiaowan couldn't help but snort coldly, then twisted her waist and turned to lie down on the couch.

Li Youcai felt a sudden sense of despair upon seeing this; his wife was indeed waiting for him to be intimate with her.

But... the thought of his skills being cut short before he could even use them made him think of her disdain and contempt, and even her sarcastic remarks that were sharper than knives.

Thinking about it that way, he felt even worse.

Li Youcai dawdled as he walked to the edge of the bed, awkwardly trying to come up with an excuse.

"Oh dear, we drank quite a bit tonight. After finishing at the big table, Brother Yang dragged me and Steward He to the small hall to continue drinking. I'm still a bit tipsy now..."

Pan Xiaowan was already restless and irritable because she couldn't see her lover, and hearing him rambling on and on about making excuses only made her angrier.

Do you really think I'm waiting for you?

She raised one of her delicate feet and kicked Li Youcai in the lower back.

"Thump!" Li Youcai fell heavily to the ground, wincing in pain.

"You useless old hag! Who cares about waiting for you?"

Pan Xiaowan snapped irritably, "If you've had too much to drink, go lie down in the outer room and don't disturb my rest!"

"Look at you, you're in a hurry."

Li Youcai stood up, rubbing his back, his face full of "reluctance," but inside he was overjoyed.

Fearing his wife might change her mind, he quickly grabbed his pillow and blanket.

As he turned around, Deacon Li's eyebrows twitched a few times, as if his wicked scheme had succeeded.

Hehe, I'm still the smart one, I finally escaped this disaster!
Li Youcai scurried off to the outer room, and soon after, deafening snoring filled the room.

Pan Xiaowan angrily blew out the candle and pulled the blanket over herself.

She is a continuous melody, how I long for someone to understand and sing it;

Her eyes are brimming with a soft light, just waiting for someone to shine upon them...

……

Little Qingmei walked skillfully along the flower-lined paths of the inner courtyard, her shoulders brushing against the blooming branches, leaving her covered in a delicate fragrance.

Just as she was about to reach Yang Can's bedroom door, she suddenly stopped, her mind filled with doubt.

If the master wants to see me, he will naturally tell me, even if it's just a hint.

But if I take the initiative to come to him like this, as if I'm offering myself up, won't he think I'm frivolous and look down on me from now on?
Thinking about it this way, Xiao Qingmei couldn't help but have second thoughts.

But if she went back like this, she was afraid that the little nun Jingyao would laugh at her.

As she stood there hesitating, the bedroom door creaked open, and two figures emerged from the lanterns under the eaves, one after the other.

Little Green Plum hurriedly hid behind a pillar and peeked out.

Leading the way was Yu Rui, the young master of Dailai City. He wore a black brocade robe, and the jade pendant at his waist swayed gently with each step.

Following behind was Yang Can.

Yu Rui turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Yang Can, and whispered a few words in his ear. Yang Can nodded and then waved.

A young maid carrying a ram's horn lantern hurried over and led Yu Rui toward the side door. The lantern's glow swayed in the night, gradually disappearing around the corner.

Yang Can stood under the corridor for a while, then called out, "Someone come here!"

Another maidservant came carrying a lantern. He stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear. The maidservant quickly squatted down to greet him, then turned and walked away with her lantern.

Looking at Yang Can's busy figure, Xiao Qingmei felt a surge of shame.

The young master's visit late at night must be for something extremely important.

While my master is busy with important matters, I'm thinking about lovemaking. What a shameless girl I am!
She quietly lifted her skirt and tiptoed away, trying to slip away.

But after taking only a few steps, Yang Can's voice came from behind: "Sneaking around... Qingmei?"

Xiao Qingmei froze, as if she had been frozen in place.

When she slowly turned around, her face was already as red as a ripe cherry, and even her ears were burning hot.

Xiao Qingmei opened her mouth, wanting to find an excuse such as "coming to bring hot tea" or "coming to pick up something," but when she saw Yang Can's knowing look in her eyes, she felt that she couldn't hide it from him.

She could only stand there awkwardly, as if steam was rising from the top of her head.

Seeing her like this, Yang Can immediately understood her purpose and felt a surge of joy.

If the little girl hadn't tasted the sweetness, why would she have taken the initiative to come to me?
Does this prove that I'm capable?

Hahaha……

Yang Can couldn't help but step forward and gently take Qingmei's small hand.

The little green plum's delicate body trembled again, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Neither of them spoke, yet there was an unspoken understanding between them.

Little Qingmei obediently followed Yang Can and was pulled into the room by him.

Incense burned in the room; it was blended by Dugu Jingyao herself, and its scent was light and not strong, but rather elegant and pleasant.

Yang Can led her to the edge of the bed, reached out and picked her up, placing her on his lap.

The little plum blossom gasped in surprise and instinctively tried to struggle, but he held her firmly in his arms, preventing her from moving.

Yang Can's warm breath brushed against her ear as he softly asked, "Why did you suddenly want to see me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his hand gently stroked her back. The touch of his fingertips was gentle and clear, sliding from her spine to her waist, making the little plum's heart tremble.

Her body gradually softened, like a pool of butter melting on a hot pan, and she couldn't help but slide down.

……

Kang Zhengyang has been staying at Feng'an Fort for the past two days. The situation is currently turbulent, and he even keeps a knife under his pillow when he sleeps.

As the night deepened, light footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard, followed by a maid's hushed voice: "Kang Quchang, the master requests your presence!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Zhengyang hurriedly sat up and, a moment later, followed the maid to the Yang residence.

Kang Zhengyang met up with Leopard Head and they headed to the back residence together.

"Master, Kang Zhengyang and Cheng Dakuan request an audience." The two men stopped in the corridor, their voices extremely low.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Yang Can walked out wearing a moon-white bathrobe.

In the inner room, on the daybed, Xiao Qingmei's hair was scattered messily on the pillow, and her neck was covered with faint red marks.

Hearing the door open, she panicked and grabbed the quilt, covering her head and face completely.

Although the bedroom door wasn't directly opposite the bed, and there was a carved screen separating the main room from the bedroom, her heart was pounding like a deer.

If someone catches even the slightest glimpse of this, how will I ever face anyone again?

Yang Can walked down the corridor steps, deliberately moving away from the door, before whispering instructions to the two of them.

His voice was extremely soft, and only by getting very close could one hear snippets of his words, such as "carriage," "investigation," and "dodge attention."

Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head listened and nodded, occasionally whispering a few words in agreement, their eyes full of understanding.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yang Can finally finished explaining. The two bowed to each other and then quietly disappeared into the night.

They knew the paths in the back of the Yang residence like the back of their house. There wasn't even a maid to guide them. Their footsteps were as light as two fluttering leaves, and they disappeared in an instant.

Inside the room, Xiao Qingmei quietly loosened her grip on the corner of the blanket, leaving a small gap in the blanket, and listened intently to the sounds outside.

Light shone through the crack, casting a faint blush on her cheeks. A few strands of her dark hair clung to her fair cheeks, adding to her charming innocence.

She only breathed a sigh of relief when she faintly heard footsteps fading away, and her tense body relaxed slightly.

But after waiting for a long time, Yang Can still did not return.

Little Green Plum couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that he was also held up by urgent business and went out?

Even if something happened, you should have told me!

The little green plum angrily threw off the covers, only to be startled to find Yang Can already standing in front of her.

Startled, Xiao Qingmei almost cried out, but before she could utter a sound, her mouth was covered.

……

As night deepened, two lithe figures flashed across the wall of the Feng'anzhuang Guesthouse area.

Like two nocturnal cats, they stealthily crept into the vicinity of the inn's stables.

Four carriages brought by Yu Rui were parked here, the horses were all kept in the stable, and occasionally they let out a few low neighs, breaking the silence of the night.

Because they were to depart early the next morning, the goods on the wagons had not been unloaded. They were still tightly bound with thick ropes and covered with heavy tarpaulins, making them look no different from ordinary freight wagons.

The two figures were Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head. Both of them were masked, with only their wary eyes showing.

They looked around for a moment, then quickly drew their daggers from their waists, aimed at the ropes binding the goods, and cut them.

"Who goes there?" A loud shout suddenly rang out in the night.

The night patrol guards of Dailai City suddenly appeared out of nowhere, carrying long swords, and rushed straight at the two of them.

Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head were so startled that they paused, exchanged a glance, and pretended to be caught off guard before hastily drawing their swords to fight.

"Clang!" The sound of swords clashing was particularly jarring in the night.

Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head deliberately slowed down their movements, retreating hastily as they fought.

Shouts and clashes of weapons rose and fell, creating a lively and chaotic scene.

The commotion indeed alerted the people nearby, and the guards of Dailai City rushed out of their houses.

Yu Xiaobao and He Youzhen also put on their coats and came out of the guest room.

Only Li Youcai, the chief steward who drinks every drop of alcohol and gets drunk every time he drinks, was still snoring away, showing no signs of waking up.

Having achieved their goal, Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head feinted, then turned and ran towards the wall, quickly vaulting over and disappearing into the night.

Yu Rui's guards chased after him to the wall, but looking at the pitch-black night and unable to find their way to Feng'an Manor, they could only grumble and return to the inn.

"Young master, look!"

A guard carrying a torch led Yu Rui, who had hurriedly put on his clothes, to the carriage.

He pointed to the rope that had been cut in half and loudly reported, "Someone sneaked in at night to steal things from the car!"

If this rope had been discovered any later, it would have been cut!

Another guard stepped forward and said loudly, "Young master, this is Master Yang's territory. Should we tell him to send someone to investigate?"

Yu Rui's expression darkened as he glanced at the rope that was half broken.

He pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No need. They're probably just petty thieves who got greedy for money. It's the middle of the night, even if we tell Master Yang, they won't find anything out."

Let's talk about it tomorrow morning. We've already bothered him enough; let's not disturb his rest now.

Yu Rui continued with a grim expression, "Move the truck to the backyard of my guesthouse, and send more people to watch over it, never leaving its side!"

The guards responded in unison and immediately began to move the carriage.

He Youzhen stood under the corridor, watching the busy crowd, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Yu Xiaobao stood under his corridor, his face extremely grim.

Useless! Utterly useless!
Yang Can can't even handle this small matter properly, and he even alerted the enemy! He's a complete and utter good-for-nothing!

The four carriages were moved to the scenic courtyard behind Yu Rui's residence.

The place is filled with flowers and trees, and there is also a small artificial hill. The space is already narrow, and once the carriage stops, it takes up most of the courtyard.

Importantly, this place is completely invisible from other guesthouses.

The side gate of the courtyard creaked open, and Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head, who had just "escaped," walked in.

The masks on their faces had been removed, and Yu Rui's subordinates, who had obviously been instructed beforehand, immediately went to greet the two as they entered.

The group exchanged a few words in hushed tones, then quickly got to work without further ado.

They first untied the thick ropes on the carriage, then lifted the heavy lacquered cloth, and finally removed the top layer of thatch.

Under the lights, pieces of armor gleaming coldly were clearly revealed.

Soon, another group of people walked in through the side gate. They were Kang Zhengyi, Kang Zhengyang's brother, and Cheng Lao Er, the second brother of Leopard Head.

They led more than twenty sons and nephews from the Kang and Cheng families, carrying spices, furs, and medicinal herbs taken from the Yang family's storeroom, and carefully piled them aside.

Yu Rui's guards carefully unloaded the armor from the carriage, handed it to them, and then they delivered it to Yang Can's storeroom.

The two groups moved swiftly and in perfect unison between the carriages and the warehouse, like a swarm of ants working in perfect harmony.

(End of this chapter)