northernbook Chapter 208 Sleeping in a Tent
Chapter 208 Sleeping in a Tent
Shen Lue stared wide-eyed at the woman behind him.
She had her long hair tied in a high ponytail, and the blue dress she wore gave her a neat and tidy look.
Good heavens, he actually saw Qi Chuyin!
It's even scarier than encountering a ghost in broad daylight.
He was definitely dizzy from the heat and his vision was blurry.
Without hesitation, Shen Lue turned his head and continued walking forward, faster and faster.
Suddenly someone patted my shoulder from behind.
Shen Lue felt as if his shoulder was being burned, and he trembled a few times before shaking the hand off his shoulder.
"Shen San, don't be so formal." Qi Chuyin looked at his tense expression, withdrew her hand nonchalantly, raised her eyebrows and said, "We used to be like brothers, even sharing a tent, and I've never seen you act like this before."
"How can that be the same? You didn't want to be a proper girl, so you went to the Northern Frontier to be a man." Shen Lue wanted to punch himself to death as he recalled the stupid thing he had done. He said fiercely, "Don't mention this again. Let's pretend we don't know each other."
After saying that, Shen Lue darted away faster than a rabbit, disappearing from Qi Chuyin's sight in an instant.
He went with his father to support the northern border. During the mission, he happened to be assigned to the same team as Qi Chuyin, who was disguised as a man.
He had brought no food and was both hungry and thirsty.
Qi Chuyin shared her dry rations with him, which moved him deeply. Seeing that she was short and thin, like a bamboo pole, and delicate like a woman, he was instantly filled with a protective instinct.
This guy is under my protection.
They were like brothers, always on the same side, eating and living together when they went on missions together; they were practically sworn brothers.
After winning the battle, at the victory banquet, his comrades asked him, "Shen San, now that you're back in the capital, shouldn't your marriage with Xiao Qi be settled by now?"
Shen Lue scoffed: "How can two grown men like us get married?"
The other soldiers looked bewildered: "Xiao Qi is a woman."
Shen Lue felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck him on the head.
How could his best friend be a woman?
His comrades realized something and exclaimed in shock, "How is Xiao Qi acting like a man? You didn't realize it, did you?"
Shen Lue said in a daze, "I'm blind."
It was then that he learned that Qi Chuyin was the granddaughter of General Qi.
Everyone in the military camp knew that because of her status and abilities, no one made a fuss about her gender.
Only that fool doesn't know.
This brother is no longer a good fit.
He took out a knife, cut off his robe, and threw it into Qi Chuyin's tent, demonstrating his determination to sever all ties.
To everyone's surprise, the woman returned to the capital.
Shen Lue rubbed his face vigorously, deciding to return to Liangzhou ahead of schedule.
Just then, a figure blocked his way.
Shen Lue stared wide-eyed, only to see that the person in front of him was not Qi Chuyin, but a man with red lips, white teeth, and a handsome face. He was wearing a white, wide-sleeved long robe and holding a folding fan in his hand, exuding elegance.
He had a pair of captivating eyes, and when he looked at someone intently, they seemed to hold affection.
Shen Lue got goosebumps all over his body.
Pei Wuyan waved his fan and said, "Brother Shen, I met you as soon as I entered the capital. This fate is truly wonderful."
Shen Lue couldn't help but think of Qi Chuyin and muttered, "A tragic fate."
Pei Wuyan was taken aback, his gaze sweeping over Shen Lue's face: "You did me a great favor in Liangzhou, and I promised to treat you to drinks. But a chance encounter is worse than a formal invitation. I know a tavern where the drinks are stronger than what you had in Liangzhou. Shall we go try it?"
Shen Lue didn't want to go anywhere and was about to refuse when he heard Pei Wuyan say, "I'm staying at the Duke's mansion this time. If you want to invite me for a drink, send an invitation to the Duke's mansion."
Shen Lue frowned: "You live in the Duke's mansion?"
Pei Wuyan nodded.
Shen thought for a moment and agreed to go to the tavern.
The tavern was in a secluded location and decorated in a quiet and elegant style.
Pei Wuyan led Shen Lue to the private room with practiced ease and ordered several jars of strong liquor to be brought in.
The aroma of the wine awakened Shen Lue's cravings.
While he was in the North, he didn't drink a drop of wine. He had thought he would be able to drink to his heart's content at the victory celebration, but when he learned that Qi Chuyin was a woman, he only drank one jar of wine, which was practically just a mouthwash for him.
Pei Wuyan filled two cups with wine, pushing one of them towards Shen Lue. Just as he was about to urge him to drink, he saw Shen Lue frown, gulp down the wine in the cup, and call for a large bowl.
Pei Wuyan: "..."
Shen Lue held a jar of wine and took a deep sniff: "Fragrant."
He filled two bowls with wine, and with a "clatter," he placed one bowl in front of Pei Wuyan, then picked up the other bowl and downed it in one gulp.
Pei Wuyan paused for a moment: "Brother Shen, you have a good capacity for alcohol."
“I can’t hold my liquor.” Shen Lue filled his bowl again. “I can’t compare to my father.” He said somewhat unconvinced, “I’m only a little bit worse than my two older brothers.”
His thumb was pinching the tip of his little finger.
Pei Wuyan's eyes flickered slightly as he held up his wine bowl: "Like father, like son. Take advantage of this rare opportunity today to practice your drinking capacity."
"Brother Pei is right." Shen Lue downed his drink in one gulp, then wiped his mouth with his hand. "That was refreshing."
Pei Wuyan paused in his action of holding the bowl when he saw Shen Lue drinking in such a bold manner.
"Drink up!" Shen Lue urged. "We won't stop until we're drunk today."
Pei Wuyan finished one bowl of wine, and then it was refilled.
After drinking two jars of wine, Pei Wuyan was a little drunk. He propped his head up with one hand and squinted at Shen Lue. Shen Lue's eyes were clear and he showed no signs of drunkenness. He even poured the jar into his mouth.
Pei Wuyan's eyes darkened. He opened another jar of wine and filled Shen Lue's cup. "Brother Shen, I have a few friends at the tavern. They're waiting for me to keep an appointment. I see you're enjoying your drink. Why don't you invite them over to drink with us?"
Shen Lue's plan was simple: Pei Wuyan would treat them to wine, so Pei Wuyan would set the rules. He didn't care much; as long as there was wine to satisfy his craving, that was enough.
He readily agreed, "Sure, it'll be more fun with more people."
Pei Wuyan left the private room and found four people who could hold their liquor, and they took turns getting Shen Lue drunk.
Shen Lue accepted all comers, even bringing Pei Wuyan along.
Pei Wuyan was dizzy and his vision was blurry. He saw Shen Lue roll up his sleeves and play a drinking game with the other people, drinking bowl after bowl.
The men who had been drinking with him collapsed one by one, lying haphazardly.
Shen Lue put down his wine bowl, looked at the drunken group, and then turned to look at Pei Wuyan, whose eyes were blurry with drunkenness.
He grinned, held a bowl of wine, and brought it to Pei Wuyan's lips.
"Brother Pei, have a bowl."
Pei Wuyan really couldn't drink anymore and was about to refuse when the wine was poured into his mouth.
He was forced to drink a bowl of wine, and then Shen Lue handed him another bowl.
"Come on, Brother Pei, drink up."
"Have another bowl."
"Done."
Pei Wuyan was so full he was about to vomit. He tried to open his eyes, then slumped limply onto the table.
In the instant he lost consciousness, a thought popped into his mind: Is this what they call a low alcohol tolerance?
Shen Lue nudged Pei Wuyan's arm: "Brother Pei, Brother Pei?"
Pei Wuyan was completely drunk and showed no reaction whatsoever.
Shen Lue frowned and muttered, "You guys have such a poor alcohol tolerance, even worse than mine."
The wine here wasn't as strong as the wine from Liangzhou, and Shen Lue drank it all in a jumbled way, becoming a little tipsy.
He had a great time drinking today and walked out of the private room in a good mood, only to see four or five people guarding the door.
The group of people were stunned to see that Shen Lue was sober and showed no signs of drunkenness.
Shen Lue frowned: "What do you do?"
These men saw that Shen Lue had a fierce look on his face, and his arms were muscular and powerful.
They dared not confront him directly, and instead put on a smiling face: "We are Master Pei's men."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lue's furrowed brows relaxed: "Your master is drunk, hurry up and go in to serve him."
The group nodded quickly and pushed open the door to the private room.
"Wait a minute," Shen Lue called out to them, reminding them, "Remember to pay for your drinks."
Several people stared at Shen Lue's departing figure, their expressions twisted.