Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Thieves’ Eyes

Huangfu Jingchen saw his expression change dramatically and was taken aback, asking, “What’s wrong? Is it poisoned?”

Huangfu Jinxuan replied, “It’s not poisoned, just tastes quite strange!”

Huangfu Jingchen, hearing this, also bit into a piece of meat. The texture wasn’t bad, and once in his mouth, the taste wasn’t bad either. He, having eaten plain meals in Wangshan Town for so long, felt a delicious explosion on his taste buds.

He said, “It’s quite delicious!”

Huangfu Jinxuan looked at him with a peculiar expression, set down the skewer, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly with a sympathetic face, “Young Master, Yunzhou is great in every way, except that life is a bit too rough. Look at you, you find this roast skewer delicious? Aren’t you too easily satisfied?”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

It was indeed quite tasty, this roast meat had a unique flavor. Of course, the food at a Yunzhou restaurant was also delicious, it just had been nearly a year since he last had it. He wasn’t particularly fussy about food, good food was great, but if it wasn’t good, he wouldn’t be picky either.

Huangfu Jinxuan looked at him with eyes full of sympathy: “Young Master, if you get the chance, you really must come to the Capital more often. The Capital is full of exquisite food; once you are there, I will treat you to something different every day, making sure not to repeat any meal in two months.” He glanced disdainfully at the beautifully roasted skewers: “This roast, whether in material or seasoning, just lacks in cooking skill and technique. Our Capital’s exquisite chefs make roast meat that’s truly exceptional. But I must say, this seasoning somewhat has the style of an exquisite chef, though the chef’s skill is too crude…”

He babbled on and on, mostly encouraging Huangfu Jingchen to go to the Capital.

Huangfu Jingchen said speechlessly, “Jinxuan, did you forget that the son of a Vassal King cannot enter the Capital without an imperial edict!”

Huangfu Jinxuan was taken aback, as if realizing this rule did exist.

His eyes flickered, suddenly feeling rather fortunate.

His father was also a prince, but because he was an Imperial Nephew, they had more freedom than even the Princes or Imperial grandsons. They could live in the Capital, and even when he was reckless there, the Imperial Uncle would just let it slide with a smile.

He was merely an Imperial Nephew, not even the heir to his father’s title, and yet he seemed to live more freely and contently than someone like Huangfu Jingchen, an actual Imperial Grandson and Prince Cheng’s Heir.

As for the farewell drink, the two of them found it rather tasteless, coupled with the fact that Huangfu Jinxuan found the dishes here disdainful from the start, they ended the gathering early.

Upon returning to the guest house, Xia Wenjin had not returned yet.

Huangfu Jingchen felt something was off. Could it be Xia Wenjin intentionally avoided him and left early?

He thought about it, decided to check Xia Wenjin’s room.

This was still the room he had arranged for Xia Wenjin, though he had never been inside. For one, Xia Wenjin was almost always busy, rarely coming here, and when she was in the room, she would just wash up and sleep, getting up early the next morning to return to the quarantine area to work.

It wasn’t until the last couple of days, with fewer things happening in the quarantine area, that she returned and treated this place as a resting point.

He opened the door; in Xia Wenjin’s room, clothes were still there, even some newly bought items, as if she had just temporarily left after setting them down. When he went to meet Huangfu Jinxuan, she went out.

Did they just happen to miss each other?

At this moment, a servant just happened by the door, and Huangfu Jingchen called out to him, “When did the young lady in this room leave?”

“Oh, you mean Miss Xia, she left around late afternoon!”

It’s now late evening.

Also, when he walked into Hongfu Restaurant, the owner fawned over Huangfu Jinxuan saying that there was another distinguished guest in another private room. He hadn’t paid attention at the time, but recalling it now, it seemed odd.

Who could this distinguished guest of Wangshan Town be?

Could it have been Xia Wenjin?

With nothing better to do, and the restaurant not too far, he decided to take another look.

Golden Tiger Room, Hongfu Restaurant.

Out of four jars of wine, two were already empty.

Five pounds isn’t much but it isn’t little either.

Kong Tixin was eager to please Yu Shikui, toasting frequently, and Wang Bolao, keen to impress both Lord Governor and Lord County Magistrate, drank glass after glass, and was exceedingly eager to toast as well.

With their toasting, Xia Wenjin was naturally roped in, but her reaction was calm, neither refusing nor drinking excessively.

Wang Bolao wouldn’t force her to drink; pleasing his higher-ups was one thing, but he truly felt grateful to Xia Wenjin. Were it not for Xia Wenjin discovering the epidemic, if the outbreak in Wangshan Town got out of hand, the entire town would suffer, and he’d be the first to be impacted as the town head.

Even when Yu Shikui and Wen Hao’s army besieged Wangshan Town, it was thanks to the efforts of Huangfu Jingchen, Xia Wenjin, and Shang Jingwang that the lives of everyone in the town were saved.

Meanwhile, every time Xia Wenjin’s clear and deep gaze turned towards Kong Tixin, he felt as if his intentions were being seen through, making it hard to outrightly reveal his plan to get her drunk.

However, he wasn’t worried. Just a little girl, how much could she drink? The amount they let her skip should be enough to intoxicate her. Besides, even if she doesn’t get drunk, doesn’t he have other plans?

By now, Wang Bolao was swaying unsteadily, while his wife, having had several drinks, was already knocked out.

Yu Shikui had a flush on his face, having also drunk a fair amount.

Facing such a beautiful young lady, akin to a fairy, truly complemented the wine.

Especially considering the plan Kong Tixin had hinted at earlier, he felt all the more delighted.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Kong Tixin picked up the wine pot, which he had brought personally, and gently twisted the lid before pouring a cup for Yu Shikui and himself, and then discreetly poured a cup for Xia Wenjin.

As for Wang Bolao? After downing the two cups earlier, he was already passed out at the side; he and his wife were originally brought in by Kong Tixin as a facade to lower Xia Wenjin’s guard.

Otherwise, as just a humble town head, how would he have the credentials to dine with them?

Kong Tixin graciously said, “Miss Xiao Xia, you’ve done such a great service for Wangshan Town, I, on behalf of the townsfolk, drink a toast to you!”

On behalf of the townsfolk of Wangshan Town? Do you deserve it?

A hint of cold amusement flickered in Xia Wenjin’s eyes, but her expression remained unchanged as she raised the glass and followed along, saying, “Lord Kong, you’re too kind!”

Watching Xia Wenjin drink the wine without hesitation, Kong Tixin and Yu Shikui exchanged a glance, their sly eyes gleaming with light.

Then, while persuading her to drink more, they kept a close watch on Xia Wenjin.

After two cups, Xia Wenjin set the glass down, pressing her forehead and said, “I feel like I can’t hold my liquor anymore, feeling a bit dizzy!”

Kong Tixin immediately said, “The sedan chair is prepared; I’ll have someone escort you back to the guest house!”

“Then thank you so much, Lord Kong!”

The sedan chair was indeed prepared beforehand, right outside the restaurant. Whether it would take her to the guest house, however, was another story.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep