94 Lunch At The Inn (1/2)
He Peng and Lan Ansit on the river bank eating, watching the people skate around on the frozen river . ”Thank you An, this meat is tender and delicious.” He Peng wipes the grease on his sleeve.
Lan An looks at the pile of empty skewers next to He Peng, ”I'm glad you liked them, my cake is very sweet, thank you for standing in line to get it for me.” He Peng reaches over and brushes some crumbs from her lips. ”We should get back His Highness should arrive soon.”
”You are right, I wonder who he is meeting?”
”Sometimes I feel the less I know the better.” He Peng likes to do his work and mind his own business
He pulls her up into his arms, ”Lan An I hope we can be married soon.” He kisses her tenderly and takes the remnants of the skewers from her hands to throw away. They stroll along looking at the shops, enjoying their momentary freedom, it isn't often they get to spend time together in the day.
They arrive back at the Angel Sky Inn to see a flutter of activity outside. Villagers are gawking at a pair of beautiful people that just descended from the sky. Wang Li Jie used his qinggong to go down the mountain not considering the villagers seldom saw cultivators use this technique, that their entrance would create a stir simply landing in front of the Inn. He chuckled as he heard the comments from the crowd calling Xiaolian a celestial goddess from heaven as he set her down.
He didn't want his identity known so when He Peng and Lan An saw them they simply bowed and said, ”Master, your room is prepared,it is on the third floor”
Wang Li Jie motioned for Xiaolian to follow him into the Inn, and they went directly to the third floor. He Peng opens the door for them, ” Lan An will bring the tea for you and when your guest arrives we will serve you, I already instructed the Innkeeper you are not to be disturbed.”
”Very good. You may go.”
Xiaolian takes off her coat and takes the hairpin from her bun, her hair cascades down her back. She massages her temples, that hairstyle gave her a massive headache.
”Wang Li Jie you didn't say a word on the way here, are you angry with me?” she rubs her neck, he held her so tight while they were coming down the mountain her whole body aches.
He has had a chance to calm down and realizes he overreacted earlier. He has decided they will stay the night here allowing him one more night with her. After the meeting with Kang Longwei he will take her to a romantic spot and confess his love for her. He will ask he to be his Empress.
”No, I was never angry.”
”It seemed like it after I changed my dress.”
”I was anxious to leave and you were dawdling.”
She walks over to the window, peers down at the street.” Wang Li Jie come over here, Isn't that Huang Howan I met at your palace? She seems to be collecting money from someone.”
Wang Li Jie comes over to the window and sees Huang Howan with a man who is dressed like an official. He is wearing a blue brocade robe, could he be the Mayor, why is she receiving money from him, he will have Yang Chang investigate.
Lan An knocks on the door ” I have your tea.”
”Enter”
She sets the teapot on the table and pours them each a cup.
”Wang Li Jie, I heard this village is famous for its Dragonflower wine, do you think you could order some with our lunch?” Xiaolian is feeling very stressed right now, since she raised her level of cultivation she can see people's auras so clearly. It is distressing when someone is saying one thing but their aura is telling another story. Li Jie right now denied beng angry earlier but his aura was ink black at the time, she truly was frightened of him for the first time since she has known him.
”Lan An when you bring lunch make sure to bring the wine Zhang Xiaolian requested. Also tell the Innkeeper to alert Kang Longwei we have arrived.”
When Lan An runs down the stairs she bumps into Wan Cuifen who was standing at the bottom staring upstairs. ”Sorry, Miss”, Lan An bows and apologizes.
Wan Cuifen recognized Wang Li Jie when they arrived as the man who was with Kang Longwei yesterday. Why is he back , maybe I could use him to get revenge on that golden haired man who humiliated me.
”It was an accident I'm fine. I'm Wan Cuifen and you?”
”Sorry Miss, I must hurry my Master wants me to find a jug of Dragonflower wine to go with their lunch.”
Wan Cuifen wonders why they would want that evil wine.”I work here at the Inn we have some in our cellar.” {It was left by men who had stayed at the Inn several years ago, after they killed two of their fellow travelers and destroyed half the Inn, They were powerful officials and were able to escape prosecution claiming it was demons who had done it. They remembered nothing of the incident}.
”I will add it to our lunch bill then, there will be another gentleman joining them so two jugs? How big are they?
”For three people two jugs would be the appropriate amount.” Wan Cuifen is devising a plan, this girl can be used. She will create a chaotic atmosphere between the three of them resulting in a deadly fight.
”Can you have the Innkeeper tell Kang Longwei my Master has arrived?”
”I saw him leave earlier, I will leave a message for when he returns.”