Chapter 50. I'm sorry, Ningning.

Chapter 50

Piles of wine jars were carried onto the table, and rows of large bowls were neatly arranged before everyone began pouring the wine.

The wine spilled onto the table, but no one cared. They simply wiped it up and continued pouring, displaying an exceptionally unrefined manner. Shen Suining was usually the same way, so she didn't think much of it. However, considering He Hansheng was a refined person, she coughed and reminded him, "Could you be a little more refined?"

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. "Young Master, don't be shy! Do you think drinking from a big bowl will scare our young lord?"

With that, two full bowls of wine were handed to Shen Suining. "Please, young master and young lord, I wish you both a long and happy marriage and many children!"

The other person downed a bowl of wine, and Shen Suining couldn't be outdone, so she picked up her own bowl and drank it down as well.

She took a breath and was about to help He Hansheng drink when he pressed her hand down and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I'll do it."

Shen Suining was slightly taken aback. Seeing He Hansheng drink a bowl of wine without changing his expression, she realized that he must have taken the hangover medicine that Miao Wei had prepared for him. Otherwise, given his alcohol tolerance, he would probably have been lying under the table long ago.

Nevertheless, after drinking a bowl of wine, his expression stiffened for a moment, probably because he had never drunk wine like this before and his body was not quite used to it.

Shen Suining looked a little worried and was about to advise him not to be so reckless, but all the girls from Bifengtang rushed over to offer toasts. Shen Fengyu took the lead and drank several bowls. She was too busy taking care of herself to pay attention to He Hansheng.

Instead, amidst the shoving and jeering of the crowd, He Hansheng silently shielded her from drinking several times.

The more he drank, the less he spoke. At first, when he went to toast Shen Yan and Madam Shuyu, he could still manage to say some toasts. But later, when everyone was making a ruckus and offering toasts, He Hansheng hardly spoke anymore. He just drank in silence. Normally, he would be drunk after just one cup, but today he unknowingly drank more than half a jar and was still able to stand steadily.

Shen Suining was dragged off to drink by Shen Fengyu and Xing Li, so they couldn't pay attention to him. Jiang Yuchu was also drunk to the point of near death and was completely out of it.

After several rounds of drinks, when everyone was in high spirits, Shen Heyang finally arrived late.

He helped an elderly man with white hair into the Hall of Rites and Music. Everyone immediately fell silent, and even Madam Shuyu and Shen Yan quickly stood up to greet him. "Father, what brings you here?"

Grandpa Shen chuckled, shaking the large box he held in his arms as if it were a treasure. "It's been so long since I've seen Ningning. I've come to see her. I've made her so many toys again."

Madam Shuyu was slightly taken aback. She looked down at the box in the old man's arms, which was full of Shen Suining's toys from when he was a baby.

"Where is Ningning?" Old Master Shen seemed unaware of anything amiss, looking around for Shen Suining.

Shen Suining squeezed out of the crowd and, upon seeing her maternal grandfather, showed a hint of surprise. She immediately smiled and stepped forward, "Oh, I was just thinking of going to White Tiger Mountain to see you tomorrow, but you've come all this way on your own?"

Grandpa Shen looked at Shen Suining with a somewhat bewildered expression. He had no idea that his beloved granddaughter had grown into a young woman.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the previous liveliness. Old Master Shen suddenly looked bewildered, turning to Shen Heyang helplessly, and asked again, "Where's Ningning? Heyang, didn't you say you were bringing me to find Ningning?"

Shen Yan turned his face away and secretly wiped away his tears. Even Madam Shuyu's eyes were red. Old Master Shen was already over eighty years old. He had white hair and a youthful face, but he was becoming more and more confused.

Shen Heyang, supporting Old Master Shen, pointed to Shen Suining and said, "Look, isn't that Ningning?"

Shen Suining stepped forward, bowed slightly, and brought her face close to Old Master Shen, saying softly, "I am Ningning. Grandfather, I've brought my husband back today for our wedding. Won't you like to have a drink before you leave?"

Old Master Shen stared intently at Shen Suining for a long time, his expression shifting from initial unfamiliarity and wariness to confusion, and finally to surprise and excitement. These changes in his expression brought tears to the eyes of everyone present.

Lady Shuyu turned her back and covered her cheeks to hide her pain. When Shen Yan saw this, he gently pulled her into his arms to comfort her.

Only Shen Suining managed a forced smile, suppressing her emotions, and asked him, "Do you recognize me?"

Grandpa Shen nodded. "Ningning, you are Ningning."

His hands, clutching the toy box, trembled as he murmured repeatedly, "Ningning's grown into a young lady. And Zhuang Qing..."

“Grandmother went down the mountain to travel with my eldest brother. You know her personality; how could she stay on the mountain?” Shen Suining helped Grandpa Shen to sit down. “You often say that my personality is just like Grandmother's—playful, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, yes,” Old Master Shen finally smiled. “Ningning is exactly like Zhuang Qing when he was young, so playful. She must have secretly asked Sui’an to take her down the mountain to play. No wonder I can’t see her.”

Shen Suining turned around, raised her chin to signal, and her subordinates immediately and quickly closed the hidden compartment where the memorial tablet of Lady Zhuang Qing was placed, instantly cleaning up all traces of the worship.

She took He Hansheng's arm and returned to Old Master Shen, happily introducing him: "Grandfather, look, this is my husband, your grandson-in-law."

"Grandson-in-law," Old Master Shen's eyes lit up when he saw He Hansheng, praising him repeatedly, "Not bad, handsome and talented, looks like a caring person, a good match for Ningning, a good match for Ningning!"

As he spoke, he took a rattle drum and a pure gold safety lock from the toy box in his arms and handed them to He Hansheng. He then took his hand and said in what he thought was a very soft voice, "Grandson-in-law, my dear granddaughter is quite a clingy little thing. Just like Zhuang Qing and Yu'er, she's stubborn with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. If she upsets you, please don't hold it against her for my sake, okay?"

“Grandfather, don’t worry,” He Hansheng said, forcing himself to squat down. “Ningning is my wife, and I will cherish her as much as my own life.”

Old Master Shen burst into laughter, "Good, good!"

He beckoned to Shen Heyang, "Quick, fill my glass, I want to drink with my grandson-in-law!"

The Liyue Hall became lively again, with everyone drinking and eating heartily, taking turns to toast Shuyu and Chenyan, as if nothing had just happened.

Shen Heyang was about to step forward with two jars of wine when Shen Suining blocked his way.

Although Shen Suining had drunk quite a bit, her mind was still relatively clear. She snatched the wine jar away and said, "You know your grandfather's health best. How dare you let him drink?"

"Hey, hey, don't spill it! That's my carefully brewed medicinal wine!" Shen Heyang said in a fit of anger, glancing at Old Madam Shen before finally lowering his voice, "Of course I know the old man's condition best. How could I mess around? Don't you know what kind of person he is? If you don't let him drink it, then none of us will be able to drink it in a while."

“Then you’re not allowed to drink anymore after he and He Hansheng have drunk together,” Shen Suining warned him in a low voice. “I finally found such a good man. If you drink him away, you’ll have to compensate me with ten more.”

"..." Shen Heyang rolled his eyes. "Pathetic."

The banquet lasted from late afternoon until almost dark, and most people were carried out lying on their sides, their names forgotten.

The only ones who could still stand and walk were Madam Shuyu and Shen Suining. The former had a good alcohol tolerance, and the latter, although not bad either, was more relaxed because she was mostly toasting He Hansheng's wine towards the end.

Shen Heyang was still relatively sober, after all, he had to take good care of Old Master Shen. The journey to and from Baihu Mountain took most of the day, and the old man couldn't withstand such a journey, so he naturally had to stay at the villa for the next two days.

As Shen Suining carried the unconscious He Hansheng out of the Liyue Hall, she glared fiercely at Shen Heyang, saying, "I'll settle the score with you later!"

He Hansheng's current state is very strange.

His eyes were open, and his cheeks weren't particularly red. With the help of external forces, he could barely straighten up, which didn't seem like he had drunk too much. However, he was limp all over, with almost all his weight on Shen Suining. Even his expression was somewhat blank, as if he had lost his soul.

Shen Heyang chuckled twice and kindly asked a few of his Jishetang staff to help Shen Suining carry He Hansheng back to Yuquan Villa.

As soon as He Hansheng entered the villa, he vomited. He was bent over with a pained expression, and the veins on his forehead were bulging. He was in great discomfort.

"Meng Chun, quickly go and fetch a water bowl and some sobering tea," Shen Suining said angrily to the two men who had brought him back, while soothing He Hansheng. "What are you standing there for! Your Master Shen sent you here to bring someone back, are you just going to stand by and watch?"

"Young Master, please calm down, Young Master, please calm down," Zhu Li quickly took out a medicine packet from his pocket and handed it over. "This is an emetic prepared by our Hall Master for Young Master. Young Master just drank the medicinal wine he brewed, so it shouldn't have damaged his liver or lungs. As long as Young Master vomits up all the wine he drank and drinks some nourishing hangover tea, he will be fine."

Shen Suining handed the medicine to Huaixia, "Go and boil it quickly."

He Hansheng knelt on the ground and vomited for a long time before finally recovering a bit. Shen Suining quickly fed him some hot tea, saying, "Drink some water; it will make you feel better."

He Hansheng did as instructed, but as soon as he swallowed a mouthful of water, his stomach churned again. He held the water bowl and vomited for a long time, filling the entire courtyard with a strong smell of alcohol and medicine.

After vomiting everything out of his stomach, He Hansheng collapsed into Shen Suining's arms, too painful to speak.

Shen Suining took her handkerchief to wipe his mouth and suddenly noticed that a trace of scarlet blood had spilled from the corner of his lips and stained the handkerchief. He Hansheng seemed to realize something at this moment and tried his best to restrain himself.

"He Hansheng, don't swallow!" Shen Suining panicked when she saw him spitting blood. She immediately turned and glared at Zhu Li and Cang Shu, "You two go back to Jishetang now and tell your Hall Master Shen to get over here!"

Zhu Li and Cang Shu looked at each other, unsure how to respond, when they heard Shen Heyang's panting behind them.

He was carrying several bags of medicine, his hands resting on his knees, breathing rapidly and unable to speak coherently. He could only gesture as he spoke: "No need... to call, I... rolled up here myself..."

After catching his breath, Shen Heyang stepped forward and gave He Hansheng a few acupuncture needles. He let out a soft sigh and was about to say something when Shen Suining slapped him on the forehead. "Try sighing again."

"..." Shen Heyang laughed smugly, "I just settled the old man in and rushed up here without stopping. I hadn't even caught my breath before I took your husband's pulse, and this is how you treat me?"

Shen Suining sneered, "You brought the wine, you got the person drunk, if you dare not come, I'll have Bifengtang tear down your pharmacy tomorrow!"

"Okay, okay, don't get upset. If you break this one, I'll compensate you with ten."

"If you keep talking nonsense, what are you doing?" Shen Suining raised her fist to strike again.

Shen Heyang knew he couldn't beat her, so he quickly tried to appease her: "Don't worry, he just took the hangover medicine that Xiaowei made for him and drank too much alcohol. His body couldn't take it for a while. Once he throws up all the alcohol and rests for a couple of days, he'll be a healthy and energetic young man again."

Shen Suining frowned, "Isn't the hangover cure that Sister Miao gave supposed to reduce the effects of alcohol?"

"Who said that?" Shen Heyang glanced at her. "Every medicine has some side effects, especially since your husband can't drink alcohol. The medicine that can keep him sober when he's drunk is naturally much stronger than ordinary hangover cures, and it will cause immeasurable side effects. Not only did he take the antidote with side effects that Xiaowei gave him, but he also drank so much alcohol that his body couldn't handle. If it weren't for my medicinal wine protecting him, your husband would have died from vomiting blood long ago!"

Shen Suining's pupils contracted as she looked incredulously at He Hansheng, who was leaning on her shoulder. He had been pricked with several needles and was almost unconscious, but Shen Suining still couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you know that this medicine has side effects?"

“He knows, Xiao Wei told him everything,” Shen Heyang said before He Hansheng could answer, recounting the whole story to Shen Suining. “In short, you wanted to save face, so Xiao Wei went along with it. But as a doctor, she couldn’t keep quiet about the side effects of the medicine, so she told your husband the truth. Your husband knows you’re a strong-willed person, so he told Xiao Wei not to tell you. Xiao Wei was afraid he would do something reckless and get into trouble, so she told me. So, here I am standing in front of you now.”

After recounting the whole story, Shen Heyang couldn't help but sigh, "You and your mother are so lucky to have found husbands who are all so devoted to you."

"Shut up." Shen Suining clenched her hands and helped He Hansheng up from the ground without saying a word.

After Shen Heyang gave him a few acupuncture needles, his condition improved and he didn't seem to be in as much pain as before. However, he seemed to lack strength, so Shen Suining had Zhuli and Cangshu carry him into the bedroom.

Shen Suining didn't go inside; she just sat on the swing under the eaves, swaying back and forth, lost in thought.

Shen Heyang knew she was worried, so he came over and said to her, "Don't worry, your uncle is here. He won't let anything happen to your husband."

"He still has the nerve to call himself uncle? How can an uncle treat his nephew-in-law like that?"

"..." This accusation caught Shen Heyang off guard, and he burst out laughing in anger. But considering that today was Shen Suining's big day, he didn't argue with her.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden boardwalk next to Shen Suining. After hesitating for a moment, he asked her, "Ningning, you've chosen this husband. Do you really plan to leave Shuyu Manor, leave your parents and maternal grandfather, and live with him in Huadu?"

"It's just a temporary solution," Shen Suining glanced at him, looking somewhat dejected, but still forced herself to speak, "Father has things to do in the capital, and Mother is worried about him."

"And then what?"

"We'll talk about the future later. Why are you asking me now?" Shen Suining got off the swing, clearly displeased. "Have Huaixia find you a room to rest for a while. I'll go in and check on him. Come over later."

After saying that, she went inside, as if afraid that Shen Heyang would ask another question.

Inside the room, He Hansheng's condition had stabilized considerably, but he was still quite listless.

Meng Chun brought over the hangover medicine that Shen Heyang had brought. Shen Suining glanced at it and gestured for Meng Chun to help He Hansheng up. She then carefully fed him the medicine.

After taking the medicine, He Hansheng leaned weakly against Shen Suining's chest, his forehead burning hot, but he still tried to open his eyes and gently touched her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Ningning."

He Hansheng's eyes were bloodshot, making him look a little more disheveled than usual, but the tenderness and affection in his eyes were still so pure that Shen Suining couldn't help but notice. She reached out and held his hand back, her tone unusually gentle, "You're in this state, why are you apologizing to me?"

“Twice,” He Hansheng said softly, his voice barely audible to the two of them, “I’m sorry I couldn’t leave you with any good memories either time.”