Chapter 97: Losing Control After Drinking
On their wedding night, Qin Mingxu was not so drunk that he lost consciousness.
He was helped in by Feng Gao, feeling groggy. As he lay on the bed, he opened his eyes, wanting to call out to Sang Yu. But he saw Feng Gao sitting on the ground, saying to Sang Yu, “Elder Sister, this bridal chamber is wonderful, and you are wonderful.” Sang Yu, who had just performed the wedding ceremony with him, was so gentle with Feng Gao. She coaxed Feng Gao, saying that when he resigned from his post and returned, they would be together every day.
At that time, Qin Mingxu did not want to think too much.
Although Feng Gao called Sang Yu “Elder Sister,” he never called Qin Mingxu “Brother-in-law” like Zhu Xifeng did.
He had always tried to understand Sang Yu. To understand her youthful affection for Feng Gao.
But he found that in his married life with Sang Yu, Feng Gao was an almost omnipresent shadow.
Whenever Feng Gao was involved, Sang Yu lost all reason.
Again and again.
He convinced himself that Feng Gao was just an eunuch, and even if he admired his wife, it was merely spiritual solace. But when Feng Gao spoke to him with the interrogation, contempt, and sharp demeanor typical of the Eastern Depot, he instinctively felt uncomfortable.
Zou Cheng said before he died, “I am already dead, and the evidence has been destroyed. The only person who knows your secret in this world now is Feng Gao. You can live peacefully with Zhu Sangyu until old age.”
And Feng Gao’s threat today, what difference did it have from Zou Cheng’s past threat to him?
He still had a chopping block beneath him, and a sharp knife above his head. It was just that the person holding the knife had changed from Zou Cheng to Feng Gao.
After Qin Mingxu said that, he felt Feng Gao’s immense disappointment. His background was not as good as Feng Gao’s, his methods were not as good as Feng Gao’s, and his power was not as good as Feng Gao’s, but at this moment, a painful joy surged in his heart. A joy of inflicting a thousand wounds on oneself to inflict eight hundred on the enemy.
Jiangnan in the twelfth lunar month, lonely and cold.
In the Qin Manor’s garden, a few wild plum trees. A small window with a candle burning, facing the plum blossoms, their sparse shadows graceful.
In the garden, the two men each had their own thoughts, their own hidden depths.
They faced each other in a standoff.
After a long while, Feng Gao spoke.
“When I was at Shenju Mountain, I didn’t kill Zou Cheng because I wanted to find the evidence and destroy it, to make you completely safe. If I had known you would kill him now to settle things, why would I have gone to such lengths? You were lucky to escape disaster in the Cai Le Workshop case this time, but next time, you might not have such good luck. Please be cautious in your actions from now on. Elder Sister… needs you.”
After speaking, he leaped over the wall.
He seemed to have compromised with Qin Mingxu’s words.
Yes, Qin Mingxu was Sang Yu’s husband. When he said, “Elder Sister… needs you,” he had already conceded defeat.
However, Feng Gao still firmly believed that Qin Mingxu was responsible for the Cai Le Workshop case.
Qin Mingxu turned with mixed feelings, preparing to return to his room.
As he rounded the rockery, he heard faint rustling sounds behind a large stone.
Qin Mingxu immediately became alert and asked, “Who is there?”
No one answered.
He took a short knife from his sleeve and approached step by step. Behind the large stone, a dark shadow.
Just as Qin Mingxu was about to strike, the dark shadow cried out, “Godfather, it’s me, it’s me… I’m scared… the little rabbit is lost…”
It was Cherry.
Qin Mingxu put away his short knife and picked up Cherry.
He looked at his young daughter in his arms, her eyes wide open, and asked gently, “Cherry, when did you come here?”
Cherry’s tear-streaked eyes were like a pond in the rain, hazy and clear. “Godfather, I just came chasing the little rabbit, and it disappeared here. Do you think a wild cat caught it…”
The little rabbit was a gift Qin Mingxu bought from a Persian in the South Market half a month ago for Cherry. Cherry loved it dearly and often chased and played with it in the garden.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Godfather will look for it with you,” Qin Mingxu squeezed Cherry’s cheek and said softly.
That night, Qin Mingxu patiently accompanied Cherry in the garden, searching for the rabbit for a long time.
They searched everywhere but couldn’t find it.
Cherry fell asleep on his shoulder.
Qin Mingxu carried her back to the bed, took off her small shoes, and covered her with the quilt.
Cherry, in her deep sleep, still called out in her dream, “Little rabbit, little rabbit, Godfather, Godfather…”
Qin Mingxu tucked in the corner of her quilt.
He looked at his daughter for a long time, his expression calm.
Children don’t lie. Little Cherry should not have overheard the conversation between her godfather and her uncle. She shouldn’t have.
A moment later, Qin Mingxu ordered a servant boy to bring hot water. After washing up, he blew out the lamp and lay down on the bed, a river flowing in his heart, sometimes rapid, sometimes gentle, and slowly fell asleep.
Under the same winter moon.
Meanwhile, Feng Gao left the Qin Manor. As soon as he mounted his horse, someone arrived from the Maternal Uncle’s residence.
“Director Feng…”
The person bowed and said obsequiously, “Our Maternal Grandfather and Lord Maternal Uncle have prepared a banquet at their residence and invite you to join them.”
“You wait here, did you know I came to the Qin Manor…”
Feng Gao glanced at the man, “Are you following me?”
The man was startled by the cold glint in Feng Gao’s eyes and quickly knelt on the ground. “No, no, no, it’s not like that. I wouldn’t dare to follow Director Feng even with a hundred lives. It’s because Director Feng came to Yangzhou this time to deliver an imperial decree, and it’s related to the Zheng family. Therefore, the Maternal Grandfather sent people to wait on the official road early… Director Feng didn’t dismount along the way, so we didn’t dare to disturb you, and waited for Director Feng…”
“Tell them that I came to Yangzhou on behalf of His Majesty. Tomorrow, I will go to the Zheng Residence to deliver the decree. The banquet is not necessary.”
The man quickly said, “Director Feng, please allow me to explain. Our Maternal Grandfather is advanced in age and rarely entertains guests. This time, because he was waiting for Director Feng, he has not rested until now. We implore Director Feng to grant us some face and make time to visit.”
Feng Gao originally did not want to go, but the father of Consort Zheng had made such a gesture, and refusing again would be truly inappropriate.
Besides, his mood tonight was like ice shattered in the twelfth lunar month; those ice shards rolled around, cool and sharp, piercing him again and again, grinding against him again and again, torturing him again and again.
He thought for a moment and said to the man, “Let’s go.”
The man was stunned for a moment, then understood. He clearly hadn’t expected this errand to go so smoothly, and was overjoyed. He got up from the ground and said, “Thank you, Director Feng, thank you, Director Feng. I will lead the way and hold the lantern for you…”
Feng Gao sat on his horse and looked up at the moon in the sky.
A crescent moon hung in the west, with a few sparse stars. Along the street, occasional houses emitted the cries of infants, the scolding of women, and the rough snores of men. Amidst the sky’s light and clouds and the world’s human warmth, it exuded a unique coziness.
Not a single cozy home belonged to him.
They traveled along the road. Yangzhou, twenty-four bridges under the bright moon, bridges horizontal, water vertical. In such a heaven and earth, Feng Gao felt a sense of desolation.
Zheng Residence.
Magnificent and opulent. Golden bricks and jade beams.
Utterly luxurious.
After the servant announced his arrival, Zheng Cheng, the father of Consort Zheng, with his aged body, personally came out to greet him. Zheng Tai followed behind his father, smiling amiably.
Feng Gao could not help but step forward to exchange pleasantries and pay their respects.
The Zheng father and son did not become arrogant due to the extraordinary attention His Majesty paid to Consort Zheng for giving birth to a Prince. Instead, they were very polite and attentive to Feng Gao, repeatedly expressing their fatigue.
The banquet was prepared in the main hall.
Zheng Tai bowed and smiled, “I heard Director Feng is from Dongchang Prefecture. This Lord has specifically ordered people to transport this superior Autumn Dew White from Shandong a few days ago.”
Clear shadows do not disdain autumn dew white, new endeavors are tinged with late mist.
Shandong Autumn Dew White is a famous wine of the season.
Everyone took their seats.
Singing and dancing commenced.
Feng Gao said little, merely drinking cup after cup of Autumn Dew White.
He didn’t know how much Autumn Dew White he had drunk. It felt as if he had swallowed many pearls of autumn dew and clear shadows like smoke into his stomach, and his mind became hazy.
He held his forehead and continued to drink.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw a woman walking towards Zheng Tai.
The woman’s stubborn eyebrows and eyes, her simple yet resilient smile, dressed in a blue robe without any adornments, was unmistakably Elder Sister.
Elder Sister.
Elder Sister.
Where was her round belly?
Was Pea lost again?
Feng Gao stood up and hurried towards the woman. He bent down, hugged her, and then quickly let go.
He said in despair, “Elder Sister, where is Pea? Why is Pea missing? Has he wandered off from us again? Are you here to find me?”
Vaguely, a clear and cold smile bloomed on the woman’s lips.
