This Lady Is Trying to Kill Me

Chapter 436: Housewarming Banquet (3)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Hearing this explanation, Luo Ning finally felt a little better and said softly, “Then, you have to be careful. The forces in Yan Province have already attacked you a few days ago. If their goal is to change the regime, they definitely won’t give up.”

Ye Jingtang smiled and said, “I know what to do.”

Luo Ning nodded slightly. After thinking for a moment, she put on the appearance of a cold heroine. “Little thief, I was the one who rewarded you in the past. Now that I’ve sent you such important news, are you going to return the favor?”

“Huh?” Ye Jingtang looked around and raised his hand to hold her cold face. “What reward do you want? How about I won’t offend Heroine Luo for half a month?”

?

How can this be called a reward?

It’s more like a punishment of being thrown into the cold palace…

Although Luo Ning thought so, she still pretended to like it on the surface and harrumphed softly. “I would like some leisure time, but you have to recuperate. How can 1 not understand the importance?”

While speaking, Luo Ning took out a small jade radish from her sleeve and stuffed it into Ye Jingtang’s hand. “If you have a conscience, help me teach Third Lady a lesson… Wait, it’s not a lesson. Think about it this way. We’ve had a bunch of firsts. If you follow Madam Wang’s method, you will also have a first with Third Lady. This can be considered fair and impartial, right? If I do everything first, Third Lady might not say it, but she’ll definitely blame you for being biased…”

Ye Jingtang didn’t expect Ning’er to come up with such a refreshing and refined reason. But after he thought about it carefully, he found it was quite reasonable. He immediately nodded and leaned closer to her face.

Luo Ning hugged Ye Jingtang’s neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him deeply. Then she pushed him away and tidied up her clothes. “Okay. It’s Yunli’s birthday today. I’ve cooked a meal in the new residence. You’re the owner. After eating, let Third Lady help you recuperate before you go back to work. Humans aren’t made of steel. No matter how busy you are, you have to recharge your energy, right?”

Ye Jingtang’s current priority was to gather information and find all the forces and figures in the capital related to Yan Province. Only after screening the targets could he investigate them one by one.

Because the source of the news couldn’t be revealed, it wouldn’t be easy to leave the task of collecting information to the Black Office. If he asked Third Lady to arrange for her subordinates to do it, they would obviously find out more things than he would running around.

Hearing this, Ye Jingtang didn’t say much else. After watching Luo Ning enter the courtyard, he quickly walked toward the new residence…

At night, in the Plum Blossom Courtyard…

In the middle of the Plum Blossom Courtyard was a crosswalk. The last time Ye Jingtang came here with Dumdum, it was still dark. Now, there were lanterns hanging under the eaves, and bright yellow lights lit the east and west wings of the main wing, making the place look beautiful and elegant.

In the middle of the main wing was the living room. There was a landscape painting hanging at the back middle of the room. Above it was a plaque with the words ‘Chilling Ice Pavilion’. Dumdum had written it herself and arranged for someone to deliver it two days ago. Below it was a luohan couch made of nanmu wood. There was a Go table on it. Under the light, it looked golden and spotless.

On the west side of the main wing was the master bedroom, and on the east side was the study and tea room.

The tea room was the owner’s usual place to drink tea and rest. It was located behind the study and relatively private. The owner would usually have his three meals a day with his wife and concubines here. Only when distinguished guests came would he make arrangements and go to the main hall at the front of the residence.

At this moment, the lights in the tea room were lit. The round table in the middle was covered with brocade, and round stools were around it. Xiuhe and Ping’er were busy setting the table.

Pei Xiangjun, who was wearing a light yellow autumn dress, carried in a tray with a dignified bearing. There was a plate of vinegar-cooked fish in it. She walked in from the door and said with a smile, “This is my first time cooking fish. I’ve only eaten it on Parasol Street before. If it doesn’t taste good, just tell me…”

Zhe Yunli, who was dressed as a scholarly young lady, didn’t have any homework today because she was the birthday girl. At this moment, she was adjusting the position of the jade turtle and other ornaments in the study with the bird.

Hearing Third Lady’s words, Zhe Yunli recalled what had happened on Double Osmanthus Alley in the past and replied, “Third Lady, you’re so virtuous. How can the food you cook not be delicious? Moreover, we’re not picky. When we lived on Double Osmanthus Alley, my martial mistress once made stir-fried meat and put in about three tablespoons of salt. Brother Jingtang took a bite and picked up a piece for me without changing his expression. 1 also picked up a piece for Brother Jingtang without changing my expression…”

“Yunli!” Luo Ning came in with Ye Jingtang’s favorite stir-fried meat and garlic sprouts. When she heard the heartless Yunli expose her shortcomings, her face turned cold.

Ye Jingtang was carrying two pots of wine. When he saw the warm scene in the room, the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile. After placing the wine on the table, he said, “Yunli, it’s time to eat.”

“Okay.” Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning placed all kinds of side dishes on the table and sat down on the left and right sides of Ye Jingtang. Although Ye Jingtang wanted to be modest, it was his first time eating at home, so he was still pushed to the main seat. Yunli sat beside Luo Ning.

Ye Jingtang also prepared a small stool for the bird, who was trying its best to remain calm and not drool. When he saw Ping’er and Xiuhe standing nearby, he said, “Come eat too. There aren’t many people in the residence, so there’s no need to be so polite.”

Hearing this, Xiuhe bowed and sat beside Third Lady. “Thank you, Young Master! No, Master!”

This was the first time Ping’er had seen Ye Jingtang up close. She was a little embarrassed and sat obediently beside Yunli with a smile.

On the surface, Pei Xiangjun wasn’t married, so she could be considered Ye Jingtang’s martial aunt. As an elder, she was the first to raise her wine glass. “Jingtang can be considered to be in a high position now. A housewarming banquet is a grand affair. All the major sects in the three provinces of Yun, Ze, and Liang will send people to deliver gifts. Half of the nobles and generals of the Imperial Court will probably come too. The commotion will be too big. So I discussed it with Jingtang. Today will be our housewarming banquet, and it happens to be Yunli’s birthday. It’s a double blessing. Cheers!”

“Cheers.”

Ding-

Six wine cups clinked together.

The bird was a little confused, but it still raised its wings and made the gesture of clinking cups…

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the courtyard fell silent.

Luo Ning didn’t touch a single drop of alcohol. It was Zhe Yunli’s birthday today, so she was allowed to drink a few cups. But she became drunk. Because of this, when the family banquet was about to end, Luo Ning carried her to the embroidery building beside the back garden to rest.

Ping’er was Luo Ning’s subordinate, so it was naturally not appropriate for her to stay at the table to drink with Young Master Ye. Seeing this, she ran over to serve the young lady.

Ye Jingtang had drunk a lot, but ordinary wine couldn’t make him drunk. At most, he felt a little tipsy. On the other hand, Third Lady’s face was red as she stood by the window to sober up. There was some hesitation in her eyes. It was obvious that she was considering whether to sleep at the Pei residence or at home.

Xiuhe wasn’t a silly girl. Ever since Third Lady returned, as long as Ye Jingtang was at home, Third Lady would send her away. She would either have to go to the cloth shop to check the accounts or buy things far away. She had long guessed Third Lady’s situation.

After Xiuhe cleaned the table, she saw that Third Lady was so shy that she didn’t dare to speak out. She said considerately, “1 haven’t checked the accounts on the street today. I’ll go back first. Third Lady, rest here tonight. Otherwise, it won’t look good if such a big house is empty.”

Pei Xiangjun turned around and naturally didn’t refuse. She gave Xiuhe some instructions and even used the joy of moving into a new house as an excuse to reward Xiuhe with a big red packet before watching her leave.

After glancing at the sky, Ye Jingtang threw the bird out of the window and closed the door of the main wing. “Third Lady, do you sleep in the east wing or here?”

Pei Xiangjun came over and said drunkenly, “The door is already closed. Where else can I sleep… Jingtang, I told you before that 1 haven’t entered your family yet. When Ning’er is around, I won’t say anything if you mess around. But in private…”

Ye Jingtang walked over to the delicate Third Lady, picked her up, walked into the master bedroom, and passed through the bead curtain. “1 have to behave myself in private. I remember. Third Lady, you’ve drunk too much. Rest here. 1 promise not to move. When you fall asleep, I’ll go out and find a place to rest.” ?

Pei Xiangjun was placed on the very wide Babu bed. She felt that Ye Jingtang was flirting with her. She wanted to pretend, but she wasn’t the vixen after all. So she lay lazily on her side on the bed and slowly untied her belt. “You promised not to move. You can’t go back on your word.”

As the belt was untied, the top slipped off, revealing snow-white shoulders and a red cut-out undergarment in front of her chest. It was the latest design that she had just bought at Literary Virtue Bridge. Not only did it wrap the watermelons perfectly, but there was also a small oval slit in the middle. The slit was bottomless…

Ye Jingtang blinked and sat down in front of Third Lady. “Third Lady, if you have any tests, just use them. If I can’t pass them, I’ll… 1’11…”

Pei Xiangjun lay on her side on the bed. Her left hand supported the side of her face, and her right hand reached into her dark red undergarment through the slit…

Ye Jingtang took a deep breath and silently lowered the curtain.

“Hmph- I knew you wouldn’t be able to hold on. Today is our big day of moving into a new house. I promised you a few days ago that the two of us can mess around in private, so I won’t say anything about the rules today. But when we’re with Ning’er, you can’t go too far. She gets embarrassed easily, and so do I…”

“I know..”