I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 59 - 48: Dragon and Tiger Fight

About seven or eight zhang away, Zuo Zixiong and his group blocked the corridor exit. Xu Qing, standing in the path, intercepted a waiter carrying tea and fruits without any delay. He deftly snatched a pot of pre-spring Longjing tea and then turned back to the private tea room.

"Brother Xu said he had important matters to attend to, why has he returned?"

"There is indeed something important." Xu Qing smiled as he placed the teapot on the table and said:

"I specifically went to get a pot of good tea. It is said to be picked by the tongues of young girls, warmed and dried on their chests, giving it an exquisite flavor. You must try it."

Such a delightful thing?

Even Zhu Huai’an, who had visited once five years ago, couldn’t resist the temptation of this maiden’s spring tea.

He eagerly lifted the lid of the teapot, fanning the steam with his hand and taking several deep breaths.

In just a few moments, the chubby boy’s cheeks turned red.

"Good tea! This milk tea is indeed fresh and fragrant."

Beside him, Wu Wencai saw Zhu Huai’an praising the tea incessantly and also poured himself half a cup. He smelled it before tasting it, exclaiming that it was a worldly delicacy, a rare treasure!

Wu Zhiyuan, with thin skin, hadn’t even taken a sip yet. Just from smelling the tea, it felt as if he was witnessing enchanting scenes within the cup, making him deeply embarrassed.

Truly, this is mortifying! As a nobleman, how could he swallow such vulgar tea?

Hmm, it smells so good!

Xu Qing paid no mind to the excited trio. The tea was just ordinary pre-spring tea. The story about maidens picking and preparing it was something he made up on a whim.

His attention was now focused on the newcomers, Overseas Dragon and Walking Tiger.

He wondered if Zuo Zixiong from the Divine Strategy Camp and Bai Luo from the Celestial Heart Sect would notice each other.

If they did, a fight between a dragon and tiger might be inevitable.

As for him, a young zombie, he should just sit with Zhu Huai’an and the others, quietly drinking the fake milk tea.

Matters involving adults should be left to the adults.

...

Xu Qing hid in the elegant room of the corridor, occasionally peeking through the screen to observe the situation outside.

From his elevated position, he could oversee the whole scene.

After Zuo Zixiong and the notable person he was guarding chose their elegant room, Zuo stood like a Gate God at the entrance, his eagle-like eyes scanning around.

Xu Qing looked down at the stage. As soon as Bai Luo from the Celestial Heart Sect saw Zuo Zixiong appear, he disappeared behind the stage without a trace.

At this time, the election for the Drumming Order was just halfway through. The real talents who had a chance at the Courtesan title had yet to appear, but guests had already begun spending lavishly, betting on the unseen talents.

In an elegant room just a short distance away, the noble served by Zuo Zixiong also presented an extraordinarily luxurious gift.

"Zhao the Important Person gifts Lady Hanmeng a Mingtiao Zither, priceless!"

As soon as this was announced, the audience erupted in astonishment.

Xu Qing didn’t see what was special about this zither and wasn’t surprised. However, Wu Zhiyuan was shocked and said: "It’s the zither that Duke Dongpeng gifted to Wei Yao!"

Wu Wencai was also surprised: "What kind of important person can give away the Wei family’s heirloom Mingtiao Zither as a gift..."

Compared to the Wu brothers, who were of humble origin, Zhu Huai’an clearly knew more inside information.

After a moment of reflection, he said something shocking: "I heard that this zither was a birthday gift from the Wei family to the Crown Prince on his sixtieth birthday."

"The lady who announced the gift called him Zhao the Important Person, and the Crown Prince’s surname is also Zhao..."

Xu Qing and the others exchanged glances.

In the Book Phoenix Pavilion, there was an unspoken rule that when a young gentleman presented a gift, the lady announcing it would call him ’Young Master.’ But if the gentleman was older, he would be called ’Important Person.’

With the surname Zhao, of advanced age, and able to give away such a priceless treasure as the Mingtiao Zither.

Who else could it be but the Crown Prince who had survived decades?

Initially, Xu Qing thought that Bai Luo’s presence here might be a coincidence, but upon realizing the identity of the notable person Zuo Zixiong was guarding, he abandoned this thought.

Not long ago, while Xu Qing was helping distribute leaflets for Celestial Heart Sect, he had obtained a piece of information - Bai Luo, one of the Five Luo Guardians, had been plotting to assassinate the Crown Prince.

Now that these two groups suddenly gathered in one place, it was hard to call it a coincidence.

In the private room, the Wu brothers were unaware of the internal machinations and felt that this was a worthwhile visit, having encountered the Crown Prince himself.

Zhu Huai’an was overjoyed, thinking that even someone of the Crown Prince’s stature would come here to have fun. By extension, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it could be said that he once visited a brothel with the future emperor!

Hah! I really brought honor to my Zhu family!

...

In the private room, the noble’s lavish gifts, the talented girls on stage displaying their talents, and the zealots sharpening their knives in dark corners all added to the tense atmosphere.

The private room where Xu Qing was located was too close to Zuo Zixiong and his group, making him uneasy all over.

He had to find a way to avoid that Gate God and leave.

Fortunately, at this time, the seven Flower Order candidates had already competed, leaving only three top cards to vie for the final Courtesan and Flower Drum seats.

Among these three, there was Lady Hanmeng, who received the Crown Prince’s zither.

As for the girl, Jingwan, whom Zhu Huai’an had spent a fortune on, she didn’t make it to the finals, only receiving the title Flower Order.

With the lower-tier titles settled, the Flower Order candidates began to choose guests to receive their gifts.

As Xu Qing was finding a chance to escape, he saw an adorable maid enter their room with a set of wedding attire meant for a groom.

"Who here is Young Master Zhu, who gifted the jade bracelet?"

Seeing Zhu Huai’an stand up, the maid smiled and said: "My lady received many valuable gifts, but she didn’t fancy those vulgar items. What moved her was Young Master Zhu’s poetry."

"Lian’Er congratulates the young lord."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Huai’an knew he had become Lady Wan’er’s chosen guest.

Seeing this, Xu Qing had an idea and quickly stood up to congratulate him.

Outside the private room, maids with flower baskets and attendants holding red silk were ready, presenting a scene of a grand wedding procession.

However, everyone knew that this was just a fleeting romance, lasting only a few days. After that, the girl would go back to her usual life, and the gift-givers would often leave for various reasons.

Zhu Huai’an put on the wedding robe while Xu Qing, eager to leave the private room, along with the Wu brothers, acted as groomsmen, joining the procession to Lady Wan’er’s pavilion.

Taking the flower basket, Xu Qing scattered flower petals while escorting Zhu Huai’an out of the main hall. Suddenly, intense sounds of fighting erupted from the corridor they had just left.

They turned to see a frantic hall where a man dressed as a Daoist, wielding two blades, was fighting with a youth in white.

"Zuo Zixiong, with Cui Yuanlong absent today, you can’t protect your master alone. Why not join our sect and present the Crown Prince’s head? You will be our sect’s Venerable Guardian!"

Zhu Huai’an, wanting to watch the commotion, was pulled back by a dark-faced Xu Qing and pushed into the pavilion.

You a young lad, don’t go near the adults. Go play house with Lady Wan’er.