Yu Jingchen felt a little helpless.
"Still want to drink? Forgot that you got drunk during the day?" Yu Jingchen asked jokingly.
Nan Zhiyun felt embarrassed by Yu Jingchen's words, "That wine today..." She didn't know how to explain, after all, she truly didn't know that the wine would have such a strong aftereffect.
"Please enjoy, sirs," the attendant on the boat left after serving the items, leaving the two of them alone. Outside, the singers and musicians had already begun their performance.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes were fixated on the cup of wine that the attendant had just poured for her.
"You want to drink that badly?" Yu Jingchen asked helplessly, then directly took the wine glass from Nan Zhiyun's hand.
Nan Zhiyun: "..." She was a little disappointed. Watching Yu Jingchen bring the cup to his own lips, Nan Zhiyun knew that this meant she wasn't allowed to drink.
But just as Nan Zhiyun thought she wouldn't get to drink, Yu Jingchen placed the cup back in front of her.
"I'm not teasing you anymore. If you want to drink, have a cup," Yu Jingchen said, feigning it was just a joke.
Nan Zhiyun was a little surprised. He agreed?
"A little sip is fine, but don't overindulge," Yu Jingchen said.
"Mm, your concubine understands. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun's tone became cheerful at the thought of being able to drink the wine.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun like this, how could Yu Jingchen refuse her request? He just shook his head with a hint of doting. As for the wine... Yu Jingchen didn't drink any.
Nan Zhiyun's alcohol tolerance wasn't actually that poor. The situation this morning was purely due to carelessness, not knowing the wine's potency. But now, Nan Zhiyun knew her limits.
"Does Your Majesty dislike drinking?" Nan Zhiyun asked him.
"It's all to keep a good eye on you. If you get drunk again later, I'll be able to watch over you," Yu Jingchen said in a playful tone.
Nan Zhiyun felt shy at Yu Jingchen's words, how could she not know that Yu Jingchen was referring to her getting drunk today?
The two fell silent. The gentle sounds of the zither from outside inexplicably made one feel sleepy. Nan Zhiyun yawned. Why was she getting sleepy? It was still so early, and she had slept for so long today.
"Tired today?" Yu Jingchen put his arm around Nan Zhiyun.
"Perhaps. A bit sleepy," Nan Zhiyun said, yawning again.
"Then rest for a while." Yu Jingchen gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back. Nan Zhiyun, without much consciousness, fell asleep within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
Yu Jingchen watched her, his eyes deepening slightly. He then directly pressed Nan Zhiyun's acupoint to induce sleep.
"Your Majesty..." Xing Lai noticed something was wrong.
Yu Jingchen didn't speak. He unhurriedly adjusted Nan Zhiyun's position, held her in his arms, took his cloak, and covered her with it, tucking it in to prevent her from catching a chill.
He then gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back as if lulling a baby to sleep, in a leisurely manner.
Xing Lai observed the surroundings. The air seemed to have fallen silent at this moment. Qian Xia was not foolish and naturally sensed the abnormality but didn't speak. She felt that it was enough to just stand there quietly.
After a while, the music outside seemed to have gradually stopped. Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun in his arms, listening to her even breathing. She seemed to be sleeping soundly.
Yu Jingchen's lips curved slightly, "Sleeping so soundly. In this state, even if someone harmed you, you wouldn't know." Yu Jingchen sighed helplessly.
"But I'm here. How can anyone hurt you now?" Yu Jingchen gently tapped Nan Zhiyun's nose.
The next moment, the air on the entire boat seemed to freeze. The boat on the water was moving slowly, creating slight ripples. The ripples gradually expanded and then slowly disappeared...
Suddenly, the water surged, and a group of people in black night-visiting attire rose from the water, swords in hand, disturbing the calm surface.
The onlookers on both banks screamed in terror at the sight and began to scatter. Only Yu Jingchen remained seated calmly, his gaze unwavering.
Xing Lai began to guard the surroundings. The few guards who had been below also leaped up at this moment, coming onto the boat. The musicians and dancers who had been playing the zither now drew sharp blades from behind their backs. The two groups faced each other.
The black-clothed men were clearly prepared, so they directly charged with their swords. The scene descended into chaos.
The opposing side had more numbers, perhaps around twenty. However, Yu Jingchen's guards numbered only four. Thus, they couldn't block them all. A portion of them went directly into the inner chamber, their eyes flashing with murderous intent as they looked at Yu Jingchen, who was still sitting serenely in his seat.
They immediately rushed forward with their swords. However, the moment they touched Yu Jingchen, they were repelled by a whisk. It was none other than Xing Lai.
To forget to mention, Xing Lai, who was by Yu Jingchen's side, was no ordinary person. His martial arts skills... Xing Lai's eyes became sharp, and with a single move, he knocked over the foremost black-clothed man, killing him on the spot.
Yu Jingchen remained unmoved, focusing on guarding the little girl in his arms. She had to be protected well, lest she be disturbed.
However, someone was impudent and charged straight towards them. Fortunately, Xing Lai blocked them. Just as water splashed towards him, Yu Jingchen casually raised his hand, deflecting the water droplets that were meant to land on Nan Zhiyun.
Yu Jingchen looked at the water stains on the back of his hand. Such dirty things almost got on Nan Zhiyun, truly damnable...
Yu Jingchen slightly raised his arm, turning his wrist. As the black-clothed man charged again, he directly unleashed a palm strike. The plates on the table shattered instantly, embedding themselves into the attacker's body.
Perhaps it was too noisy, Nan Zhiyun stirred restlessly. Yu Jingchen coaxed her to continue sleeping, as if soothing a baby on the verge of waking.
Nan Zhiyun shifted slightly and actually snuggled closer into Yu Jingchen's embrace, continuing her sleep. Yu Jingchen smiled warmly and adjusted Nan Zhiyun into a comfortable position.
"Leave no survivors. Kill them all on the spot," Yu Jingchen's lips parted slightly, his voice chilling.
Xing Lai acknowledged the order and began to strike with increasing ferocity. Yu Jingchen, holding the sleeping girl in his arms, stood up.
"Follow me," Yu Jingchen said to Qian Xia. Qian Xia had never experienced such a scene, but fortunately, she remained calm in the face of danger and didn't cause any trouble, obediently following.
Yu Jingchen, carrying the sleeping little girl, walked out of the boat and returned to the carriage. The carriage was spacious, but Yu Jingchen did not put her down, keeping her in his embrace the entire time.