Chapter 57: Lunar New Year Confidences in the Boudoir

Soon, Gao Wu and his companions ushered in their first Lunar New Year in the Great Zhou Empire.

The streets of the capital were already bustling with extraordinary liveliness.

Bright red lanterns and couplets hung outside every doorway, and the streets were filled with more chatter and laughter than usual. Children chased and played, their joyous sounds echoing off the flagstones.

The murderous aura of the pugilistic world seemed to have dissipated on this single day.

The manors within the city were equally far from desolate; wealthy households adorned their gates with lanterns and colorful ribbons, and servants busily prepared the New Year's Eve feast.

Braised pork belly, steamed fish, eight-treasure rice, and other delicious delicacies filled the tables.

Had they been in their original world, the three major celebrities might have been busy at some televised gala or corporate year-end party.

But here, they were merely members of the multitude in the Great Zhou, living an ordinary Lunar New Year just like anyone else.

"A solitary stranger in a strange land, every festive season I miss my kin all the more!"

Gao Wu recited casually. He truly had no intention of showing off before others, but he had underestimated the lethal impact of this verse!

Li Xingyun read it over several times, still feeling unsatisfied. Unable to help himself, he stood up and chanted loudly, "'A solitary stranger in a strange land, every festive season I miss my kin all the more!' Fine poetry, truly wonderfully written, this calls for a large bowl of wine!"

Ji Ruxue, Miaochengtian, and Zhong Xiaokui were all hearing this poem for the very first time, and they simultaneously cast strange glances toward Gao Wu.

They had not expected that someone with Gao Wu's rugged and rough appearance could compose such exquisite poetry!

Gao Wu: "..."

As night fell, brilliant fireworks bloomed across the sky, and servants set off firecrackers in the courtyards. The loud crackling noise was filled with joy and peace.

A full moon hung high in the sky, casting its light upon every corner of the capital, adding a touch of tranquility and poetry to this special night.

The third year of Qianyuan had arrived!

Liu Yifei brought her ropes and began setting up her bed inside Gao Wu's room.

Gao Wu had consumed quite a bit of wine that evening, so he simply leaned against the head of the bed, watching Liu Yifei busy at work. Under the candlelight, Liu Yifei's figure was faintly discernible.

Once she had tied the ropes securely, she gave a light touch with the tips of her toes and fluttered effortlessly up onto the rope, lying down steadily upon the swaying cord as if she were resting in a cradle.

"Stop staring, go to sleep!"

"Hehe, how come you suddenly decided to sleep in my room again tonight?"

When Gao Wu asked the question, he felt a deep sense of emotion in his heart. When Liu Yifei had first transmigrated over, he was in a perilous situation, and to protect him, Liu Yifei had guarded his room every single night.

Truth be told, among the three women, Liu Yifei valued him the most and had sacrificed the most for him.

Yet Gao Wu felt as though he rarely showed concern for her.

Bah, what a scoundrel!

Gao Wu scolded himself inwardly.

"The capital is far from peaceful. When you were investigating the culprit behind the demon clan earlier, you already offended them, and furthermore, you caused the Minister of Rites to lose face. It is still best to exercise caution!"

The red candlelight swayed gently, and Liu Yifei happened to be standing sideways to Gao Wu. For a moment, Gao Wu was left staring in a daze!

Sensing something, Liu Yifei turned slightly, presenting her side and back to Gao Wu, yet her rounded buttocks curved outward just a fraction, leaving Gao Wu a direct view.

How could Gao Wu endure such a sight? He hurriedly lay back down on the bed, fixed his gaze tightly on the canopy, and took deep breaths.

Liu Yifei's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She could sense that Gao Wu's breathing had suddenly grown heavy, and she thought to herself, 'Could this fellow be thinking of improper things?'

The next morning, Gao Wu was half-asleep when Li Xingyun suddenly burst into his room, waking him up with a start.

"Brother Gao, Brother Gao, it's bad, something major is wrong!"

Annoyed by the disturbance, Gao Wu finally opened his eyes and saw Li Xingyun pushing him in a panic.

"What is it, early in the morning, not even letting a man sleep properly..." Gao Wu suddenly looked toward the spot where Liu Yifei had tied her ropes. It was completely empty, and only then did he let out a sharp sigh of relief.

"Brother Gao, I, I, sigh..."

"What on earth happened? Stop dawdling like an old woman!"

"I, didn't I drink too much yesterday? When I woke up this morning, Ruxue, she, she... sigh, how on earth can I put this?"

Li Xingyun stamped his feet in anxiety!

"Is she in your bed? Or are you in her bed?"

"Ah?" Li Xingyun was stunned. When he woke up that morning, he was indeed in Ji Ruxue's bed, but how did Gao Wu know?

"What kind of look is that? Sigh, isn't it just this little matter? It's no big deal, the two of you share mutual affection, just take her as your wife!"

Gao Wu dismissed it casually and flopped back onto the bed to continue sleeping.

An affair that would be entirely commonplace in modern times felt like the sky was collapsing to Li Xingyun!

And he was supposed to be the future Duke of Tang, too!

Gao Wu mocked Li Xingyun inwardly.

Wait, no, why did he suddenly feel a sour taste in his mouth?

Even a kid like Li Xingyun had found his spring, while he himself still had nothing?

Could Li Xingyun have come here specifically to show off?

At this thought, Gao Wu could no longer remain asleep; he hurriedly dressed and got out of bed.

"Brother Yun, come, elaborate and tell me what on earth happened?"

Li Xingyun said with a distressed expression, "Brother Gao, I've made a grave mistake. When I woke up this morning, I discovered I was sleeping in Ruxue's bed, and Ruxue, she was right in my arms."

"Oh! Then did you two reveal yourselves to each other completely?"

"No!" Li Xingyun was startled. "How could that be possible, we were both fully clothed!"

Gao Wu's interest plummeted instantly. "Tch, so you were just lying together and nothing good actually happened."

"That's still not right! This, this violates the rules of propriety!"

"You're all people of the pugilistic world, what rules of propriety do you need to follow!" Gao Wu became even more disdainful. "Oh, Xingyun, don't try to hoodwink me with that pedantic scholar nonsense!"

"Well, even so, we can't just pretend nothing happened. After all, Ruxue still has to marry someone in the future!"

Gao Wu looked at Li Xingyun strangely. "Marry? Marry whom? Would you bear to let her marry someone else?"

"I, uh..."

"Since you've already held her in your arms and slept with her, just take her home as your bride. Stop dawdling, what kind of behavior is that!"

"But, but I'm not ready yet!"

"Whoa, you aren't planning to turn your back and deny everything, are you?"

"Don't talk nonsense, how could that be possible!" Li Xingyun grew somewhat flustered, raising his hand to swear an oath. "I swear, I am serious. I will definitely treat Ji Ruxue well and take care of her for the rest of my life!"

"Oof, how cheesy!" Gao Wu looked toward the doorway. "Ruxue, you heard it all, didn't you? Our Xingyun is being serious. Do you accept?"

Li Xingyun froze instantly, not daring to look back over his shoulder.

Then, he felt himself being grabbed from behind in a tight embrace, and Ji Ruxue said with a tearful choke in her voice, "Xingyun, I believe you!"

Gao Wu winked at Li Xingyun. 'Brother, I've done all I can to help you; the rest is up to you!'

Gao Wu stretched lazily as he walked out of the room. Doing one good deed a day left him feeling refreshed and clear-minded!

However, something felt a bit wrong. Wasn't this supposed to be his own room?

As he walked to the courtyard gate, he discovered all five women gathered around it, curiously peering into the yard.

Miaochengtian and Ji Ruxue both hailed from the Huanyin Pavilion and were as close as sisters. The moment they saw Gao Wu, they immediately asked,

"I heard the two of them slept together last night?"