I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 158 - 101 A Cup of Cloudy Wine

"Brother Xu, you’ve really made me miss you!"

Zhu Huai’an, who had been waiting bitterly for a long time, had red eyes, unclear whether it was because he’d stayed up all night or because he was too excited upon seeing him.

Zhu Huai’an reached out and grabbed Xu Qing’s wrist, his other hand tightly holding his palm, afraid he might run off again.

"Let go!"

Xu Qing pushed the chubby fellow away disdainfully; two grown men pulling and dragging each other in broad daylight was improper.

"You’re not in Jinmen Prefecture City, running here to find me, what for? There’s nothing fun here..."

Inside the Funeral Shop, Zhu Huai’an was sighing deeply: "Brother Xu, I won’t lie to you, I’m troubled in my heart!"

"You, a precious crown prince, still troubled? How many people want to live a life where clothes and food come to hand and can’t achieve it!" Xu Qing looked at the uninvited Prince Zhu unhappily.

At this moment Zhu Huai’an was thirsty, seeing a water tank in the shop, he picked up the ladle and wanted to drink the fine water from the tank.

He took a sip, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Good wine!"

Xu Qing thought that’s indeed true, the water tank had immersed the Wine Worm he’d thrown in, a tank of fake wine free from any additives, which was healthier than the genuine wine sold outside.

Zhu Huai’an drank a mouthful, feeling that his inner sorrow had an outlet.

"There’s poor sorrow and rich sorrow; Brother Xu, why must you ask the obvious?"

Xu Qing felt a slight stirring in his heart.

"Father’s sorrow? Do you intend to avenge your father?"

Zhu Huai’an’s eyelids twitched, silently putting down the ladle.

Seeing his silence, Xu Qing knew he’d guessed right.

"In this case, it’s also good. But in the future, the road is long and distant, I hope Your Highness takes care." Xu Qing discreetly took a step back and bowed to Zhu Huai’an.

The revenge for the Long Pavilion King wasn’t an ordinary family feud; it was inevitably tied to the state fate of the dynasty.

As a lowly Corpse Driver, a little Zombie in the Funeral Shop, he didn’t want to get involved in this deep muddy pool. free𝑤ebnovel.com

The struggle of the dynasty is always unidirectional; it’s like a rolling wheel crushing an ant nest, not to mention human power; even a Martial Arts Grandmaster might not escape unscathed under the wheel.

Seeing Xu Qing’s reaction, Zhu Huai’an felt increasingly bitter in his heart.

"I truly envy Brother Xu, who can live a peacefully serene life." Xu Qing shook his head in denial.

"Can’t be called serene, at most it’s just a petty life snatched from chances." Zhu Huai’an, seeing the other unmoved by reason or feeling, knew he must change methods to open Xu Qing’s heart.

Since friendship wasn’t enough, he’d appeal to misery.

Zhu Huai’an’s eyes reddened, and tears started to fall.

"..."

Seeing this, Xu Qing’s eyelids twitched. He thought, we’re just chatting; how come he started shedding tiny pearls out of nowhere?

"Since I can remember, my father fought in the Northern Territory; those were times he didn’t return even once in three to five years." Xu Qing thought Zhu Huai’an would talk about the deep hatred he carried on his shoulders but unexpectedly, the chubby fellow started recounting his childhood.

"At that time, my mother often said, it was because of people like my father guarding the mountains and rivers that the common people could live enriched lives." "Without soldiers standing up to resist foreign enemies, if the barbarians started devouring our territories, how many people would lose their homes?"

The more Xu Qing listened, the more he felt off, realizing the chubby fellow’s words had hidden meanings, hinting at him indirectly.

"Today’s emperor doesn’t care about civil affairs but only wishes to exterminate my Zhu family. Anyone with clear eyes knows, his order for our family to move is fake; eliminating hidden dangers is the true aim." Zhu Huai’an began speaking about the order from Emperor Zhao Rong, asking him to go to the Northern Territory.

Xu Qing remained silent; the Long Pavilion King held great prestige among the Northern armies, and Zhu Huai’an was his only heir. If Zhu Huai’an went to the Northern Territory, local military towns would surely support and protect him.

Emperor Zhao Rong couldn’t be unaware of this.

Xu Qing pondered slightly and understood the hidden intricacies.

The Long Pavilion King’s meritorious achievements couldn’t be erased, regardless of any backstage defamation; the contribution of the Zhu family to the Dayong Dynasty was undeniable.

If Emperor Zhao Rong wanted to eradicate the Zhu family, he absolutely wouldn’t dare to act openly.

The public outcry would be too great a price for Zhao Rong, who valued his reputation.

Looking at Zhu Huai’an, Xu Qing spoke calmly: "In such an urgent situation, you should think of strategies promptly; why have you come to me?"

"Why bother asking the obvious, Brother Xu? Others may not know, but I understand; you aren’t a mediocre person." "..."

Zhu Huai’an lowered his voice and continued: "Several months ago, at the manor banquet, I knew it was you who saved me; I’ve always remembered this." "Brother Xu, you have rare talents in both civil and military affairs; if you could come forth and join the world, I’d saddle your horse willingly." This isn’t about saddling my horse; it’s clearly repaying kindness with enmity! Xu Qing couldn’t help but shake his head.

At the Funeral Shop, he was happy playing with cats and cultivating ghosts; why would he go to the Northern Territory recklessly?

Zhu Huai’an still spoke fervently.

He pleaded emotionally and logically with Xu Qing; for the first time, Prince Zhu was so desperate to recruit talent.

It could be said Xu Qing was his first testing ground for recruiting soldiers; if he couldn’t convince him now, he feared losing confidence in future endeavors.

If he couldn’t even win over an old acquaintance, how could he have the charisma needed to attract other talents?

"Huai’an, my ambition doesn’t lie there; saying more won’t change my mind."