Witch, don't do anything reckless!

Chapter 92 Drinking Together

Li Chuqiu stared at the tightly closed courtyard gate, recalling Liu Xu's expression and reaction just now—he had previously thought that Liu Xu was angry about yesterday, which was why she was so indifferent.

I never expected this relationship to be like this.

I almost forgot about Jiang Ning!

This girl has been following Li Chuqiu around suspiciously—could Liu Xu have misunderstood something?

Li Chuqiu's eyelids twitched suddenly, and she felt even more terrified.

Reflecting on what he had done yesterday, and the scene Liu Xu had just witnessed of him and Jiang Ning being all lovey-dovey—

It's truly fortunate that Liu Xu didn't immediately castrate him with a sword!

No, I need to find a chance to explain this properly right away!

Otherwise, you won't even know how you died.

Just then, Xu Jinghong's voice rang out from the side again: "You brat, you don't actually have something going on with Princess Chaoyang, do you?"

'

Xu Jinghong recalled how Princess Chaoyang had followed Li Chuqiu closely earlier, and how the two had been very intimate in their words and actions—could they have hooked up too?

Thinking this, he was astonished and admiring, and at the same time, a little envious.

—Sure enough, being good-looking is an advantage!

On one side is a cool and aloof female boss, and on the other is a cute and sweet princess.

He got all the benefits!

—At this critical juncture, this guy is still gossiping and stirring up trouble?

Li Chuqiu retorted irritably, "If I were having an affair with the princess, would I have brought her here?"

Xu Jinghong thought about it and realized that it made some sense.

Anyone with a brain wouldn't easily bring their woman to another woman—wouldn't that be courting death?

"Oh, so you admit it, you're having an affair with Liu Xu, aren't you?!"

A glint of excitement flashed in Xu Jinghong's eyes. Wasn't this kid's statement tantamount to a direct admission?

In the past, Li Chuqiu would have naturally denied it outright. However, after what happened yesterday, he no longer intended to hide it.

However, it's impossible for them to admit that they allowed Xu Jinghong to publicize it so openly.

"If you continue to slander Deputy Commander Liu's reputation, she might just come out with her sword and kill us both."

"Hey, I'm not afraid, she's not angry with me!"

Xu Jinghong, emboldened, said, "So, you admit it, right?"

"Don't worry, if you tell me, I definitely won't tell anyone. I'll keep it a secret for you!"

Xu Jinghong was very interested and wanted to find out the secret between Li Chuqiu and Liu Xu.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?!"

Just then, Jiang Ning, who had appeared out of nowhere, leaned in from the other side. She looked at the two of them curiously, her eyes narrowing: "What are you two whispering about, all that secret?"

"Cough, it's nothing!"

Xu Jinghong coughed lightly, finding an excuse: "We were discussing what just happened—this mere maid dared to give Commander Li a hard time and shut him out; it's simply outrageous!"

Jiang Ning was already resentful about the maid Xiao Cui's insults towards Li Chuqiu, and upon hearing Xu Jinghong's words, her face immediately lit up with indignation: "That's right!"

"She's just a lowly maid, yet she's more arrogant and bullying than my own maid! That's outrageous!"

"No way, I'm going to confront her!"

Jiang Ning brandished her fists, ready to knock on the door and cause trouble, but Li Chuqiu grabbed her arm, saying, "Garlic Bird, Garlic Bird, don't go!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning stopped in her tracks, her face still flushed with anger, and glared at Li Chuqiu with some displeasure: "Why are you stopping me again?"

'

As if realizing something, a look of suspicion appeared on her face: "—Do you have feelings for her?!"

Li Chuqiu: "?"

"What kind of brain circuit is that?"

"That's exactly right—she insulted you, and you won't let me help you get revenge? Don't you have feelings for her?!"

Jiang Ning spoke with righteous indignation.

"What are you thinking? How could I possibly have feelings for her!"

"Really?" Jiang Ning stared at him with a suspicious look.

"Otherwise what? She's not pretty, has small breasts, and a terrible temper—how could I like someone like her?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning blinked and subconsciously glanced down at herself—though not very big, she was a bit bigger than the maid from before?

Also, I'm very good-looking!

And another thing—I don't think I have a very big temper, right?

Thinking this, Jiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

This scene was witnessed by Xu Jinghong, who was watching the spectacle from the sidelines.

His eyes were filled with astonishment and complex emotions.

—How could this be nothing more than a fling?!

Even if they weren't actually having an affair, this young princess probably already felt something for Li Chuqiu—

He hates good-looking men the most!

At this moment, Li Chuqiu realized that this princess's thought process was quite unusual, and she couldn't let her continue to cause trouble. At the same time, she couldn't let Xu Jinghong, who was standing nearby, continue to stir up trouble.

"Your brother has come all the way to Yuhua City and is attacking you head-on, and you still have the mood to joke around here?"

Li Chuqiu then turned her attention to Xu Jinghong.

Xu Jinghong's smile froze for a moment, but then she shrugged indifferently: "What can I do? This Yuhua City isn't mine. He can come and go as he pleases. Am I supposed to just tell him to get lost?"

"I don't think his purpose is that simple."

Li Chuqiu gave him a meaningful look: "He's very wary of you. I'm afraid he won't let you off easily this time he's come to Yuhua City."

Hearing this, Xu Jinghong maintained her indifferent attitude: "Who knows?"

"He was sent by the imperial court to investigate the assassination of Prince Jing's heir. Whether he had any other motives is not important."

His tone seemed relaxed, but Li Chuqiu was thinking about the scene where he was about to make a move—if Xiao Cui hadn't suddenly appeared, he probably would have already attacked Xu Guanlan.

This nonchalant attitude is clearly just a deliberate attempt to show off.

"Wait, by the way, did he steal your woman?"

At this moment, Jiang Ning, who was standing next to him, suddenly spoke up.

She blinked, looking at Xu Jinghong with curiosity, her eyes filled with innocence.

Xu Jinghong's expression froze.

"Why does the princess ask that?"

"Isn't that right?"

Jiang Ning blinked.

Xu Jinghong remained calm and categorically denied it: "Absolutely not!"

"Really?"

Jiang Ning didn't believe it. She recalled what had just happened: "But didn't that guy just say he was getting married?"

"He got married, but said he wanted to thank you for finding him a good sister-in-law—did he really steal your woman?"

Xu Jinghong fell silent.

Li Chuqiu, who was standing to the side, exclaimed, "Good heavens!"—anyone else would never so bluntly rub salt into someone's wounds.

Although he had guessed this possibility earlier, Li Chuqiu naturally wouldn't ask because it concerned a man's dignity.

But Jiang Ning is different!

Why does she care about your every move?!

She found it strange just now—Xu Jinghong and Xu Guanlan are half-brothers, but they don't get along.

Jiang Ning could understand this, after all, she didn't have a good relationship with her elder brother, the prince who was killed!

Meanwhile, Xu Guanlan came all the way from the capital, deliberately showing off in front of Xu Jinghong. He even said that he was able to marry such a wonderful sister-in-law thanks to Xu Jinghong?

What does it mean?

Combined with Xu Jinghong's ugly expression when he heard the news—isn't this a classic case of someone having their woman stolen?

This really piqued Jiang Ning's interest!

There's some juicy gossip to come!

Xu Jinghong remained silent this time.

Although he wanted to deny it, under Jiang Ning's persistent questioning, he finally couldn't keep his composure.

"She's just a woman I don't know very well, it's not like I stole her," Xu Jinghong said, seemingly very indifferent.

"You're lying!"

Jiang Ning didn't believe it at all: "If we weren't close, why were you so angry just now?!"

"Do I look angry?"

"Yes—it's like having your beloved woman stolen, like being cuckolded!"

Jiang Ning nodded very seriously.

Xu Jinghong: "————"

After a long pause, he sighed deeply: "I thought I had almost forgotten about this!"

"I suddenly have a craving for a drink!"

Xu Jinghong looked at Li Chuqiu: "Are you free? Shall we go grab a couple more drinks?"

Li Chuqiu was about to politely decline, as he still needed to find an opportunity to explain to Liu Xu. He had no time to accompany him for drinks and listen to his cliché story of being cuckolded by his brother.

But before he could even speak, Jiang Ning beside him nodded enthusiastically, "Okay, okay, I want to go too!"

Xu Jinghong looked at Li Chuqiu: "What about Commander Li?"

Just as Li Chuqiu was about to speak, he saw Jiang Ning looking at him expectantly: "Of course, together!"

Li Chuqiu asked, "Aren't you afraid of being caught and punished by your mother if you go drinking?"

"Hey, as long as you don't tell, and I don't tell either, Mother won't know!"

Jiang Ning turned to Xu Jinghong: "Will you tell anyone?"

"Of course not." Xu Jinghong shook his head.

"Isn't that it?!"

She stepped forward and tugged at Li Chuqiu's sleeve, gently shaking it: "Come on, let's go for a drink—okay?"

Seeing Jiang Ning blinking her innocent, wide eyes at him, with a slightly coquettish expression, Li Chuqiu finally couldn't resist. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded: "Okay."

Jiang Ning's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she laughed, cheering with joy.

"Let's go, let's go!"

She tugged at Li Chuqiu's sleeve and led her outside.

Beside him, Xu Jinghong watched this scene quietly with narrowed eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips.

—If they weren't having sex, he'd cut his head off.

It's the same restaurant and the same private room as yesterday.

The difference is that there's one more person today.

Jiang Ning had never been to a place like this before, and she was very curious about everything around her, looking left and touching right. It wasn't until Li Chuqiu pulled her back that she obediently sat down beside her, looking curiously at the wine on the table.

"Come, Your Highness, would you like to try some?"

Xu Jinghong poured Jiang Ning a small bowl of wine, the aroma of which filled the private room.

Jiang Ning leaned closer and sniffed, her face immediately flushing slightly, feeling a little dizzy. She picked up the wine bowl and took a small sip.

Then, his eyes lit up slightly.

"Delicious!"

"Drink less, be careful not to get drunk!" Li Chuqiu reminded him.

This girl clearly hasn't drunk much alcohol.

"No way."

Jiang Ning scoffed, "Don't look down on me!"

"It's a rare privilege to have the honor of drinking with Your Highness, so I'd like to offer you a toast." Xu Jinghong toasted Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning happily savored her wine.

After a few drinks, Xu Jinghong put down his wine bowl, glanced meaningfully at Jiang Ning beside him, and said to Li Chuqiu, "Actually, you should be the one most worried about Xu Guanlan."

"What do you mean?"

Xu Jinghong spoke calmly: "Xu Guanlan is only twenty-five this year. He's not even qualified to enter the Six Ministries in the capital. He only entered officialdom because of the Xu family's influence. The assassination of Prince Jing's heir is no small matter. If there wasn't some behind-the-scenes manipulation, why would they send such a young man with such little experience for no reason?"

Li Chuqiu understood; it was indeed so.

"I reckon this is an opportunity the Xu family is fighting for for him, a chance to enhance his resume. As long as he can investigate this matter safely and return to Beijing to report for duty, his future will be bright—"

Xu Jinghong's lips curled into a slight smile, a hint of mockery in them: "The Xu family, quite the display of skill!"

Li Chuqiu looked at him: "Are you jealous?"

Why should I be jealous?

"You're just jealous."

Li Chuqiu continued to look at him calmly.

Xu Jinghong: "————"

"Alright, maybe there is a bit of jealousy involved."

Xu Jinghong readily admitted, "We're both from the Xu family, but he's under the family's protection, doing nothing and with a bright future ahead of him, while I was sent here—if you were in his shoes, wouldn't you be jealous?"

Li Chuqiu did not speak.

He couldn't really comment on this kind of thing.

"Xu Guanlan's presence here is not only due to the Xu family's arrangements, but also undoubtedly thanks to the Second Prince's instigation."

Xu Jinghong narrowed his eyes and said, "The struggle for the throne in the capital is serious right now. The Second Prince needs to win over the Xu family and also needs the Xu family's power to work for him. At the same time, Xu Guanlan's visit here may have been at the behest of the Second Prince."

"That's why I said you're the one who should be most worried—"

Xu Jinghong looked at Li Chuqiu: "My grudges with him won't be settled anytime soon, and he won't be in a hurry to deal with me!"

"But you're different, you and Deputy Commander Liu—"

At this point, Xu Jinghong suddenly remembered something, glanced at Jiang Ning who was listening intently with a wine bowl in her hand, and quickly shut up.

"Um?"

Jiang Ning blinked her bewildered eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Who is Deputy Commander Liu?"

He then turned to Li Chuqiu and asked, "You and Deputy Commander Liu?"

"Um?"

Her face flushed, and she looked somewhat suspicious.

"Commander Li is a subordinate of Deputy Commander Liu, so naturally he'll be under their surveillance!"

Xu Jinghong coughed lightly and gave Li Chuqiu a meaningful look.

He was ignored by Li Chuqiu with a blank expression.

"Oh?"

Jiang Ning blinked and nodded, seemingly understanding.

Having dealt with Jiang Ning, Xu Jinghong looked at Li Chuqiu, her tone more serious than ever before: "Once he finds out anything, he definitely won't let it go—"

"Your situation is very dangerous!"

Li Chuqiu spoke up: "The Second Prince will kill me?"

"Definitely!"

Xu Jinghong nodded: "He would absolutely not allow anyone to ruin his plans, especially you—"

At this point, Xu Jinghong took a deep breath: "I originally thought the person sent from the capital this time would only have some connection with him, but I never expected it to be Xu Guanlan!"

Xu Guanlan's appearance did indeed catch Xu Jinghong off guard!

His arrival will surely make Li Chuqiu's situation extremely dangerous!

"He'll definitely try to investigate me, and he'll investigate you too—and he can't possibly miss the rumors circulating about Tianxuan Si recently—"

"So, you'll definitely be targeted by him!"

Even if it's just a "rumor," given his ruthless nature, you—

Xu Jinghong said worriedly, "I'm afraid they'll target you!"

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