Fang Cheng parted ways with the couple at a winery.
After they got off the carriage, Fang Cheng looked at them sincerely and said, "Young master, madam, I'll buy some wine and dried food here before heading back to Lingshan Town. I don't know if we'll ever meet again, so take care on your journey!"
Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning nodded at Fang Cheng, saying "Until we meet again," before watching him expertly drive his cart down another road.
A fleeting encounter, followed by a swift goodbye. Liu Ming'an watched Fang Cheng's cart disappear into the distance and muttered to himself, "We probably won't see him again."
"Let's find an inn to eat first," Jiang Ning suggested practically, not as prone to melancholy as Liu Ming'an.
Wine Selling Town appeared much more prosperous than Lingshan Town, with wider streets and more vendors lining the roads.
Unfamiliar with the area, Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning chose the nearest inn called "Destined Inn" and walked straight in.
"Welcome, esteemed guests! Please, come in!" A sharp-eyed waiter immediately greeted them enthusiastically. "Have you come from afar? Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"
"We'll stay the night," Liu Ming'an replied. He glanced around the crowded, noisy dining hall, realizing Jiang Ning probably wouldn't like such an environment. He quickly added, "Please show us to our room first, and then bring the food up."
"Certainly!" The waiter promptly agreed, leading them upstairs while inquiring about the type of room they wanted, what dishes they'd like, whether they needed a hot bath, and various other details, being extremely thorough and attentive.
Liu Ming'an answered each question after consulting with Jiang Ning, eventually choosing a street-facing room with a good view. He asked the waiter to bring up some of the inn's signature dishes and to prepare hot water for bathing after they finished eating.
Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning had just set down their bags in the room when the waiter knocked, bringing their meal.
The waiter placed a large bowl on the table and explained, "Sir, this is our signature dish - Drunken Chicken in Huadiao Wine. We use five-year-aged Huadiao wine! It also contains over ten kinds of Chinese herbs including ginseng, astragalus, hawthorn, and sanbai powder. It's slow-cooked alternating between medium and low heat, making it both delicious and nourishing."
"You use five-year-aged Huadiao wine for cooking?" Liu Ming'an was surprised.
The waiter seemed to have anticipated this reaction and replied with a hint of pride, "Haha, sir, you don't understand. In our Wine Selling Town, wine is the least scarce resource. A mere five-year-aged Huadiao is nothing. If you like, we can let you drink your fill of fifty-year-aged Huadiao!"
"Truly worthy of being called the wine country of the Liang Kingdom!" Liu Ming'an exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
The waiter then set down an earthen pot and said to Jiang Ning, "This is sweet osmanthus wine with glutinous rice balls. The soup is fragrant and sweet, and the rice balls are soft and chewy. I'm sure the madam will enjoy it."
There was also a plate of fried tofu with garlic sprouts, a dish of sour and spicy shredded potatoes, and a small bucket of rice. After placing everything on the table, the waiter said, "Please enjoy your meal. I'll return in half an hour to clear the dishes," then turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Three dishes and a soup, two of which were related to "wine." As Liu Ming'an was serving rice, he asked the person beside him, "Ning, do you drink alcohol?"
Jiang Ning picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of the drunken chicken, answering, "I've never drunk before, but maybe I can hold my liquor well."
"Why do you think that?" Liu Ming'an found it hard to believe.
Jiang Ning curved her lips slightly but didn't answer. Instead, she picked up another piece of chicken and placed it in Liu Ming'an's bowl. "Never mind that, let's eat. This chicken tastes good!"
Jiang Ning wasn't actually lying to Liu Ming'an. In her previous life as an assassin, she needed to stay alert at all times, so she never drank unless absolutely necessary. In this world, she truly hadn't drunk any alcohol yet.
But why did she think she could hold her liquor well? Naturally, it was because of the Blood Lotus Space within her. The last time Zhao Qiang had tried to drug her with knockout drops, she hadn't been affected at all. Jiang Ning had guessed that the space might eliminate negative external influences on her. The numbing effect of alcohol was similar to knockout drops, so Jiang Ning deduced that she would be able to drink without getting drunk.
After they finished eating, the waiter indeed came on time to clear away the dishes. Then, two waiters brought in a bathtub, filled it with buckets of hot water, and said, "Please call us when you're done bathing," before closing the door and leaving again.
Jiang Ning hadn't had the chance to bathe properly in the three days of travel, so seeing the steaming bathtub made her itch to strip off her clothes and soak in it immediately.
However, just as she took off her outer garment, she casually turned her head and saw Liu Ming'an standing by the window, staring fixedly at the closed shutters, his face slightly red.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and understood what was on his mind.
Once she was fully immersed in the bathtub, with hot water enveloping her body and all her muscles relaxed, Jiang Ning noticed that Liu Ming'an was still staring at the same spot, his gaze unwavering. She couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Liu Ming'an," Jiang Ning suddenly called out, and saw him stiffen immediately.
"N-Ning, what is it?" Liu Ming'an tried to answer calmly.
Jiang Ning originally didn't have anything to say, but hearing his question, she suddenly felt like stirring things up a bit.
She reached out and knocked the dry towel off the edge of the tub onto the floor, then said, "The towel fell on the floor. I can't reach it. Can you pick it up for me?"
After speaking, Jiang Ning leaned back against the edge of the tub, waiting leisurely. It took a while before she saw Liu Ming'an slowly walking over, his head lowered, staring at the floor the entire time, not daring to look up even slightly.
Why so reserved? Jiang Ning couldn't understand.
When Liu Ming'an picked up the towel and held it out at arm's length, Jiang Ning suddenly grabbed his hand, pulling him to the edge of the tub. She asked, feigning ignorance, "Why are you afraid to look at me?"
Liu Ming'an's eyes inadvertently caught sight of Jiang Ning's slender neck, delicate collarbone, bare shoulders, and the exposed upper half of her snow-white chest. His face instantly turned crimson, and he quickly squeezed his eyes shut, feeling like he couldn't even speak properly: "N-Ning, d-don't tease me... let go..."
"Hehe..." Jiang Ning chuckled softly, pulling him even closer. "I won't! Answer me, and I'll let go."
Liu Ming'an, eyes still tightly shut, stuttered, "I-I'm afraid of... of offending you."
Looking at Liu Ming'an's appearance, as if he was the one being teased, Jiang Ning found it amusing: "You weren't afraid of offending me when you found excuses to climb into my bed? You weren't afraid of offending me when you secretly held my hand late at night? And when you thought I was sound asleep and tried to steal a kiss, how come you didn't think about the word 'offend' then?"
Liu Ming'an sighed, knowing that Jiang Ning wouldn't let it go unless he explained clearly.
He finally opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Ning.
Due to the hot bath, Jiang Ning's face was slightly flushed, her long hair wet and clinging to her cheeks. Her eyes looked moist in the steam, her deep gray irises reflecting Liu Ming'an's uncomfortable expression, focused yet innocent.
Jiang Ning only saw Liu Ming'an open his eyes and gaze at her steadily for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, he bent down, cupped her face in his hands, and in the next instant, a passionate, burning kiss landed on her lips.
This kiss was different from all the previous ones.
Liu Ming'an was a gentle person, and his kisses had always been gentle too, like the soft spring breeze and gentle rain in March, gradually melting Jiang Ning's heart bit by bit.
But this time, Liu Ming'an kissed her urgently, heavily, and chaotically. As their lips and teeth intertwined, Jiang Ning could almost feel his restless heart.
After a while, Liu Ming'an stopped. They were both breathing heavily, and Jiang Ning even felt a slight sting on her lips from the intensity of the kiss.
"Ning, I want to marry you," Liu Ming'an said, his voice hoarse, after pecking Jiang Ning's reddened lips once more.
"So you think that before marrying me, we shouldn't engage in marital activities?" Jiang Ning seemed to understand this ancient person's thought process.
"Yes, because I cherish you," Liu Ming'an said solemnly.
"Then, what if..." Jiang Ning moved closer to Liu Ming'an's lips again, kissing him lightly twice, and said in a seductive tone, "I want to sleep with you?"
Liu Ming'an's heart, which had just calmed down a bit, started racing again. His face and ears turned so red they seemed about to drip blood. He took half a step back, turning his face to the side, avoiding Jiang Ning's gaze.
Jiang Ning only heard Liu Ming'an's voice, as quiet as a mosquito's buzz: "Ning, please endure it for now. If... ahem, if you were to get pregnant, we're still on the road, and you would suffer. I can't bear that. Let's wait until we're settled."
After finishing his words, Liu Ming'an felt he couldn't stay in the room for another moment. He bolted for the door, calling out, "You bathe first. I'll come back in half an hour."
Jiang Ning leaned on the edge of the bathtub, watching Liu Ming'an's fleeing figure. A radiant smile bloomed on her face.
This feeling of being cherished and valued was truly wonderful!
However, Liu Ming'an did have a point. Her identity hadn't been confirmed yet, and if she were to accidentally become pregnant, it would indeed cause many complications.