Qin Dynasty: Starting with clinging to Zhao Ji's thigh

Chapter 197 Han Fei's Snoring

As Honglian carried the plum wine around the corner of the corridor, her footsteps suddenly became lighter.

She saw her husband and Ninth Brother lying side by side on the bamboo mat, their four feet, covered in melon pulp, dangling in the lake water, looking just like those two beggars from Xinzheng East Market who always ripped off her sugar paintings.

"Husband—"

She started to speak but then suppressed a laugh, and gently put down the plum wine.

The crisp sound of the glass cup hitting the blue bricks startled two kingfishers, and the piece of melon pulp on Ying Jing's face fell into the lake with a "plop," attracting a group of carp to fight for it.

Han Fei wiped his face, the sweet taste on his fingertips vaguely reminding him of the sacrificial offerings he used to steal as a child: "Little sister, do you know that back then, Duke Zhuang of Zheng and Gongshu Duan shared a cold melon—"

"Ninth Brother!"

Honglian suddenly grabbed the plum sauce spoon: "If you keep spouting off your erudition, this plum sauce will end up being used to feed the fish."

However, since the place was near the lake, she lost her footing and almost fell into the lake.

Ying Jing suddenly reached out and grabbed her fair wrist. Honglian stumbled and fell onto the mat, spilling plum juice onto the Taotie pattern that Han Fei had previously drawn. The dark red juice meandered along the patterns, truly resembling a ferocious beast drinking blood.

Honglian's crimson skirt spread out on the bamboo mat, like a fallen pomegranate petal.

"My husband is the best! You naughty brother, you almost made me fall into the lake!"

Honglian gave a charming hum, stood up, and lightly kicked her embroidered shoes to shoo Han Fei away.

Han Fei was not annoyed; he simply used the plum wine to paint another crooked black bird.

Honglian scoffed again, "Ugly! Not pretty at all!"

"It doesn't look very good; it needs to be changed."

Ying Jing was also somewhat dissatisfied. He dipped his brush in plum blossom paste and added a few more strokes, then used melon seeds to dot the eyes, and scooped up some soil from the lakeside and sprinkled it on the painting.

Han Fei's eyes widened in surprise: "With just a few strokes, you have transformed my black bird into a black dragon. Lord Changxin's painting skills are far superior!"

In any case, it is much more vivid and lifelike than the black bird painted by Han Fei.

Honglian laughed so hard her hairpin tilted: "My husband's painting can be exchanged for at least three cartloads of millet, while Ninth Brother's painting can only be exchanged for a peck, which would be considered a greedy merchant."

"Honglian, have you forgotten how much I loved you when you were little?"

Han Fei playfully clutched his chest, feigning sadness, and took a few steps back before slipping and falling into the lake.

Han Fei's exclamation and Hong Lian's laughter blended together.

Ying Jing didn't rush to rescue the people. The lake wasn't very deep, and the maid and Honglian had already gone up. His gaze turned to the corner of the corridor.

A young girl in a yellow dress was carrying a zither, and beside her was Madam Hu, who was dressed in green and looked dignified and gentle.

Ying Jing went to meet her and took Nongyu's delicate hand in his.

Even though they had already had more intimate contact, Nongyu still seemed a little shy with so many people around, and her face immediately turned red.

"Husband..."

She wanted to free herself, but couldn't resist Ying Jing's advances, so she had no choice but to hand over the guqin she was holding with her other arm to Madam Hu, leaving Lord Changxin to be disrespectful.

Mrs. Hu stood to the side, a relaxed and gentle smile on her face.

She hadn't felt this comfortable in a long time. Although her relationship with Nongyu was somewhat awkward, being able to live such a peaceful and carefree life was exactly what she had always hoped for.

When she occasionally met Ying Jing's gaze, her eyes held a hint of gratitude and tenderness.

Han Fei finally climbed to the lake shore. Too lazy to get up, he lay down on the bank and even knocked over Ying Jing's ice chest, taking the last slice of cold melon from it and enjoying it with relish.

"Husband, stop fooling around, let Nongyu play the zither."

Having escaped the clutches of Lord Changxin, Nongyu knelt in the waterside pavilion and gently stroked the zither strings, the music startling the koi carp scrambling for food in the lake.

Ying Jing rested his head on Honglian's beautiful legs, watching the clouds drift across the sky, surrounded by the clear, melodious sound of a zither, feeling only peace and tranquility.

Unfortunately--

"Huh...huh...huh..."

Han Fei's snoring broke the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

He lay sprawled out on the lakeside, fast asleep.