Enter Chang Xiangsi and help Jingzhai fight

Chapter 267 Dream Return

Chuanzi was the first to get drunk and started to act coquettishly while holding onto Sang Tianer's arm.

Xiao Liu couldn't stand it anymore, so he kicked him lightly and told him to go back to his room. Lao Mu stroked his beard, pointed at them and laughed, then leaned to the side and snored loudly.

I looked at them and felt a little amused. Boss Xuan's wine was really a good one and it was worth the money.

Xiaoliu muttered something in a low voice, stood up and went to help Laomu back to the room.

Seeing that his legs were getting weak and he couldn't walk in a straight line, Seventeen stood up and helped Lao Mu up.

So he sent the confused Lao Mu away, and I sent the noisy Xiao Liu away, leaving Xiao Wei, who had fallen asleep on the table, to continue her sweet dream in the living room.

I talked to Xiaoliu for a long time along the way, and finally helped him lie on the bed on his side, covered him with a quilt, and then closed the door with peace of mind.

I was thinking about waking up Xiaowei and asking her to go back with me.

When I walked into the yard, I lowered my head and looked at the road carefully in the moonlight, for fear of stepping on the herbs or frozen ingredients that Xiaoliu and the others had stored.

A corner of a light grass-colored linen robe came into view. I looked up and saw Seventeen standing under the clear moonlight.

I didn't need to lower my voice to pretend, I just asked him, "What's wrong?"

He looked at me, shook his head and said, "Nothing, I have to go wash the dishes."

He and I returned to the hall one after another.

I saw Xiaowei was sleeping soundly, and I didn't have the heart to wake her up, so I covered her with a blanket, thinking I would stay for a while and wait for her to wake up before going back. Anyway, it's not too late now, she will wake up sooner or later.

I turned around to talk to Seventeen and saw that he was wearing the cloak I wore when I came.

He seemed... a little drunk.

But he was very well-mannered and didn't talk much. His cheeks just turned slightly red and he slowly cleaned up the dishes.

This is actually quite good, as it helps me relax my tense and cautious nerves.

I watched him stack a few bowls together and put a plate on top of them. He turned around and gathered the chopsticks together, then turned back and took the plate back.

If he continues to clean up like this, I wonder if he can successfully get the dishes to the kitchen for washing by midnight.

I sighed, walked behind him and whispered, "Aren't you sleepy? Go to sleep first, I'll soak these for you, you can still wash them tomorrow."

He turned around and repeated, "Soak first?"

I gently pushed his back and said, "Yes, soak it first and wash it tomorrow."

So he put down the pile of bowls in his hand, picked up a plate, and walked towards the kitchen.

I picked up the pile of bowls, and followed him to the kitchen anxiously, fearing that he would knock over some bottles and jars if he drank too much.

He was able to find the bucket, so he squatted down and put the plate into the bucket with great caution and reverence. He squatted there and stared at the bucket in a daze.

I also bent down and put the bowl in, pulled him up, and patted his arm: "Okay, it's soaked. Wash it tomorrow."

He stared at me blankly without saying a word.

I turned my head away from his gaze and happened to see a jar of honey in the corner.

I walked over and took the initiative to make him a bowl of honey water.

"Drink this to sober you up. You won't have a headache tomorrow."

I coaxed him to drink it, and then like herding a sheep, I persuaded him back to the room, lit a candle and placed it on the bedside cabinet.

There was a shelf by the door with a small basin underneath and a neatly folded towel on top.

Almost reflexively, I dipped the towel into the basin of water.

Then I realized what was happening and couldn't help laughing.

This is a maid's job that she is used to doing.

But now that we're here and have already been soaked, it won't hurt to wipe it off.

I wrung out the towel, walked over to him who was sitting on the bed, and wiped his face.

He shrank back, "Cool."

I held the towel between my hands for a while, then wiped him again: "It's not cold now."

"Well, it's not cold." He parroted.

For a moment I was in a trance, as if I was back in Tushan Prefecture.

But upon closer inspection, the house was dimly lit with candlelight and simply furnished. How could it be as magnificent and elegant as Tushan Mansion?

Smiling at myself, I helped him lie down slowly, covered him with a blanket, and patted him: "Go to sleep."

After saying that, I blew out the candle on the bedside table next to me and turned to leave.

A hand grabbed my wrist in the darkness, and a sharp pain rose.

"Don't leave."

For a moment, my hair stood on end, thinking he was sober and almost ran out of the door after breaking free.

When I ran to the door, I heard him mutter again in my ear: "I'm cold."

I stopped and thought for a moment, then turned around and walked back to his bed.

I reached into the quilt and touched it, and sure enough, the bedding was cool and a little damp.

I took off my cloak and covered his quilt: "How about this time? Is it better?"

He hummed softly, and then said, "But still a little. Especially my hands and arms, they are very cold."

I clenched my fists, then unclenched them after a while.

Resigned to my fate, I reached under the quilt, held his hand, and slowly stroked it upwards.

The hands are still the same hands, but starting from the wrists, they have an uneven touch, which is unfamiliar to me, with old scars running across them.

I slowly felt the pain he had gone through back then. The thin, delicate skin in the middle was the flesh that had grown back after being cut off. The fluttering edges were from being whipped, the sharp edges and the deep indentations in the middle were from deep stab wounds, and the sunken lines in the middle were scars that were difficult to heal after being burned.

As I caressed it, I shed tears in the darkness.

He seemed very comfortable, and extended his other arm to me: "It's cold here, too."

After massaging his other side and holding his hand and breathing, he finally put his arm back into the quilt and said politely, "Much better. Thank you."

"...You're welcome." I sighed and his deep breathing sounded at the same time.

I sat by his bed, my feet feeling like they were filled with lead. I knew I had to leave, but I could hardly move a step.

I'm afraid this opportunity to be able to peacefully coexist in the same room with each other will never come again, right?

Then let me stay a little longer.

Just for a moment.

After an unknown amount of time, he heard a dog barking outside. He suddenly woke up and sat up.

"What time is it?" His voice seemed much more sober.

I replied timidly, "It's been a while since the second watch. It's okay, you can continue to sleep."

He paused for a moment and then asked, "I slept for so long? Didn't Chang come to see me?"

After hearing his nonsensical words, I wondered why he suddenly remembered to ask Li Rongchang.

"No, you...fell into a trance after sleeping?" I whispered.

He chuckled and replied, "Maybe I was confused because of my sleep. I had a dream that you were old."

After saying that, he groped for the candle on the bedside table, raised his hand and lit it with his spiritual power.

I couldn't dodge in time and the candlelight illuminated my face.

His smile froze on his face.

The red candle looks cold from a distance, but the dream is still vague in the waning sky. *

My face right now might be a nightmare to him. Let him sober up completely.

*Adapted from Li Shangyin's "Spring Rain".