Long Yi personally delivered dinner to the military tent. As soon as he entered, he felt the tense atmosphere inside.
It was getting late, and still no one had returned. Long Yu felt an ominous premonition rising in his heart.
He knew exactly what kind of person Murong Qinjian was.
The man was dissolute and unreliable. Once he entered the city, he was like a wild horse off its reins. Perhaps he had taken that boy out carousing.
The more he thought about it, the more likely this possibility seemed.
His mood was terrible, and he had no appetite for dinner whatsoever.
Sitting at the table, watching Long Yi set out the meal, he abruptly asked, “Why haven’t they returned yet?”
Long Yi knew clearly that his master was asking about Young Master Yan, not Master Murong.
If Master Murong went out and died somewhere, his master probably wouldn’t even think to ask about it.
“Perhaps… perhaps young Master Yan’s errand today was more complicated than expected, causing the delay.”
Long Yu disagreed.
“What complicated business could that kid have?”
That kid spent his days thinking about nothing but how to make money. Even if he went out to negotiate business, it shouldn’t take until now.
“Long Yi, quickly take some men and go look for them, lest something happen.”
He worried first that Murong Qinjian might lead his little troublemaker astray in their carousing. Though this little troublemaker had always been quite mischievous, he wouldn’t admit it. Second, he feared there might be Rongdi assassins or spies nearby, and the two might encounter a situation where they were outnumbered.
Having followed him for many years, Long Yi could guess his thoughts well. Seeing his furrowed brow and grave expression, he dared not delay.
“Yes, I’ll go at once.”
However, just as he selected several men with good light movement skills and prepared to search, he encountered Murong Qinjian and Yan Xiaosi at the military camp entrance.
Murong Qinjian was cradling Yan Xiaosi in his arms while riding a horse. A chestnut-red horse carrying saddlebags and a bag of rice seeds followed obediently behind.
Upon seeing the two, Long Yi immediately felt his tense nerves relax. He waved for the men behind him to disperse, and went forward to meet them. As he approached, he smelled a strong scent of alcohol.
“Master Murong, did you take young Master Yan drinking?”
Looking at Young Master Yan’s condition, it seemed he was drunk.
Long Yi pressed his temples, which were beginning to ache.
His master cared so much about young Master Yan; he would certainly be angry now.
Murong Qinjian smiled with a guilty expression.
“I only gave him three cups, who knew his tolerance would be so low.”
As he spoke, he leaped down from the horse with Yan Xiaosi in his arms. Soldiers came forward to tend to the two horses and the seeds that Yan Xiaosi had purchased.
Murong Qinjian prepared to carry Yan Xiaosi back to the tent.
“I’ll carry little Yan back to the tent. You go report to your master that we’ve returned.”
“Alright.”
Long Yi nodded in agreement. Carrying Young Master Yan? He didn’t have that courage. Better to leave it to Master Murong.
He followed behind Murong Qinjian, but noticed that Murong Qinjian was carrying Yan Xiaosi directly toward Wu Bin and the others’ tent. He quickly reminded him: “Master Murong, Young Master Yan doesn’t live there anymore.”
Murong Qinjian only thought he had been reassigned to another tent, and casually asked, “Then where does he live now?”
Long Yi pointed to the commander’s tent and said, “Young Master Yan now shares a tent with the master. You should take young Master Yan to the master.”
Murong Qinjian had thought Yan Xiaosi had stayed in Long Yu’s tent for just one night, temporarily caring for Long Yu’s injuries. He hadn’t expected her to have moved there permanently.
Wasn’t Long Yu frigid and a virgin? He never shared quarters with anyone. How had he abandoned his principles?
The last person he wanted to see right now was Long Yu.
He looked down at the person leaning against his chest, with rosy cheeks and a drunken expression, feeling like he was holding a hot potato.
“Long Yi, why don’t you…”
Long Yi knew what he was about to suggest and interrupted him before he could finish: “Master Murong, the master’s tent is right ahead. Quickly take Young Master Yan inside. The autumn evenings are quite windy, and Young Master Yan is drunk. Be careful he doesn’t catch cold.”
It was indeed cold. Murong Qinjian shivered, then gritted his teeth and strode toward Long Yu’s tent with Yan Xiaosi in his arms.
Long Yu wouldn’t dare kill him, so what was there to fear?
Long Yu was sitting at the dinner table, chewing his food like wax. Hearing movement at the entrance, he reflexively looked up to see Murong Qinjian carrying a little drunk cat inside, with Long Yi anxiously following behind. His brows immediately furrowed.
“What happened?”
His actions were faster than his words. As he spoke, he had already risen and taken two steps toward Murong Qinjian.
He strode to Murong Qinjian’s side and reached out to take the little drunk cat from his arms.
A second earlier, seeing the little drunk cat with rosy cheeks, glistening lips, and an innocent face leaning against Murong Qinjian’s chest, his heart had burned with waves of anger and jealousy.
Knowing this man’s jealous nature, Murong Qinjian quickly offered up the little drunk cat with both hands.
“Take good care of him. I’m leaving now.”
“You stop right there.”
After getting someone drunk, he thought he could just slip away? His Highness the War King would let him know that wasn’t an option.
Having stopped Murong Qinjian, Long Yu didn’t immediately lash out. Instead, he carried the adorable little drunk cat to his large bed, gently placed her down, removed her shoes, and carefully covered her with the blanket.
This series of actions left Murong Qinjian staring in disbelief.
Was this still the frigid Long Yu he knew?
Since when did the lofty and frigid His Highness the War King know how to take care of someone?
“Long Yi, is this really your master?”
Long Yi was indeed accustomed to unusual sights.
“Master Murong, Young Master Yan has saved the master twice.”
Young Master Yan was different from others in the master’s eyes.
After Long Yu had settled Yan Xiaosi, he turned back with a cold face to seek out the culprit.
“How much did he eat tonight?”
If he hadn’t eaten anything before drinking and ended up this drunk, he definitely wouldn’t let the culprit off easily.
Murong Qinjian felt a wave of relief.
“Well, before little Yan drank, he ate a bowl of rice and quite a few dishes.”
Long Yu’s expression improved slightly.
“Where did you take him drinking?”
As far as he knew, Murong Qinjian’s usual drinking spots were those brothels, where he claimed the alcohol was good.
Murong Qinjian’s heart skipped a beat. He certainly didn’t dare tell Long Yu about taking Yan Xiaosi to Lanxiang Pavilion.
He thought for a moment, remembered a name, and casually answered: “Yu Family Private Kitchen. Just earlier, little Yan said the dishes there taste quite good.”
Long Yu had heard of Yu Family Private Kitchen and thought that when Yan Xiaosi was sober, she probably wouldn’t follow the despicable Murong to those kinds of places, so he believed it.
“Don’t you know he’s not even fifteen yet? He’s still a child with a delicate digestive system, yet you took him drinking.”