Chapter 257: Does he have to take responsibility for the little rabbit

Chapter 257

Seeing her low spirits, Yan Qinghe felt inexplicably irritated.

What better way to cure worries than eating?

He handed the menu to Song You'an: "Order whatever you like, don't hold back."

Qi Huan chuckled: "You sound like you're treating us."

If Yan Qinghe paid for this meal, her cousin could treat next time.

Back and forth, their relationship could blossom over shared meals...

As she finished speaking, Yan Qinghe scratched his head: "To be honest, before we left, Shu gave me 500 taels of silver. He said to order more dishes, so I wouldn't eat everything and leave you with nothing..."

"This meal is actually Shu's treat."

Qi Huan was stunned: "Has he been eating properly lately?"

"Yes!"

When you take from someone, you owe them a favor.

Yan Qinghe didn't hesitate to speak well of Li Shuchen: "Shu said that when he was in Yunzhou City, he promised you he would eat well and keep regular hours. When conditions allowed, he never broke that promise."

The key was that lately, conditions hadn't really allowed...

Shu often stayed up until midnight.

Thinking of this, Yan Qinghe guiltily rubbed his nose: "Let's eat, let's eat!"

The meal lasted from noon until a quarter past one.

After eating, Qi Huan excused herself to use the restroom, creating an opportunity for her cousin.

Yan Qinghe knew the situation well, so she felt at ease.

Besides, she was just in the next private room. If anything unexpected happened, she could quickly bring Yan Qing and Tao Su.

After she left, Song You'an timidly raised her eyes, her palms damp with nervous sweat.

She wanted to be brave for once.

With trembling hands, she picked up her teacup and took a small sip to calm her nerves and moisten her throat.

Her head was bowed low, hiding half her face. Yan Qinghe took the chance to secretly glance at her.

The young woman had jet-black hair and snow-white skin, with pure and innocent eyes, like a soft, tender little white rabbit.

He couldn't help but recall the scene from his dream...

Yan Qinghe's eyes flashed with annoyance. It was all Yan Wu's fault!

He must have accidentally seen Yan Wu's treasured picture book, which led to his daydreams becoming night dreams.

He felt truly sorry about this.

In this situation, should he take responsibility for the little rabbit?

Just as he was pondering who to ask to help propose marriage, Song You'an gently put down her teacup.

"Young Master Yan, my family is arranging a marriage for me..."

As she spoke, her face reddened, and her voice became as faint as a mosquito's hum: "...but I don't like the other party. Should I refuse?"

Why hope that Liu Zisheng had some flaw?

He should compete openly and fairly!

Having cleared his mind, Yan Qinghe raced back to the Duke of An Manor at the fastest speed of his life.

As expected, Shu hadn't gone to rest yet.

In the study, the advisors were still heatedly discussing how to quickly absorb the military power from the Marquis of Xuanping. With the Jin Kingdom eyeing them covetously and conflict rising at the borders, it was the perfect time for Li Country to use military force. They wanted to win over as many as possible and minimize bloodshed.

Yan Qinghe leaned against a large tree in the courtyard, quietly waiting for them to finish their discussion.

The moonlight was like silk, and the night wind whistled, sweeping up the last few withered leaves from the tree and mercilessly blowing them to the ground.

He suddenly remembered what Shu had told him yesterday.

It was time to send the intercepted peace negotiation silver to the border.

At the same time, he would join his father's old subordinates and head to the battlefield.

He looked up at the bare tree branches, unusually pensive.

He didn't know when the war would end, or when he would return.

Or even if he could return at all...

How could a woman's youth withstand such delay? Liu Zisheng could give the little rabbit a more stable happiness.

Yan Qinghe's eyes reddened as he stood straight-backed, disappearing into the night.

*

A few days before departure, he tugged on Li Shuchen's sleeve: "Brother..."

"Speak."

"Brother, can you hold a farewell banquet for me?"

Li Shuchen pressed his temples and gave him a cold glance: "Didn't you drink enough with Yan Wu and the others yesterday?"

"I want to drink with Qi Huan too, and also..."

Before he could finish, he saw Li Shuchen's icy gaze.

Yan Qinghe quickly saved himself: "Qi Huan is sister-in-law! Qi Huan is sister-in-law! Qi Huan is sister-in-law!"

"Mm." Li Shuchen's tone lifted slightly at the end.

"I've known Qi Huan for three years now. Before going to war, I want to have a meal with her and... her cousin to say goodbye. That's not too much, right?"

"...In case I die on the battlefield, this might be the last time we see each other."

This was the first time Li Shuchen had heard Yan Qinghe talk about life and death, as he was usually full of vigor and fearless.

"Tomorrow, at the Swallow's Return Pavilion."

"To bid you farewell."

Yan Qinghe smiled, having gotten what he wanted, and pushed his luck further: "Brother, can I borrow one of your clothes?"

"I like that new purple damask robe with cloud patterns you had made this month. It looks great on you! It would surely look great on me too!"

He wanted to leave the most handsome and dashing image in the little rabbit's mind.