Chapter 31 Sincere Thoughts After Drinking: "I hope everything goes well for her."

"Have a few drinks with me."

Shen Minghuai dismissed Hua Xin and Ying Ming, and inexplicably followed Li Changling onto the roof.

Why not drink Linjiangxian?

Li Changling brought out two jars of wine, saying, "I don't want to listen to A-Ying's nagging."

"But perhaps that wouldn't be appropriate at Mingyue Tower either." Everyone knows that Mingyue Tower and Linjiangxian are the most fierce rivals.

Shen Minghuai almost lost his footing; if he had fallen from the building, the entire city of Yangzhou would probably know about it by tomorrow.

Li Changling unsealed the bottle and held it up, saying, "How would she know if you don't tell her?"

Shen Minghuai hesitated for a moment, then tapped the wine jar against the glass, saying, "Hmm."

Li Changling took a big gulp, wiped his lips with satisfaction, and said, "Fine wine, moonlight, young man."

Shen Minghuai choked and turned red after taking a small sip.

"You haven't drunk alcohol before, have you?" Li Changling patted him on the back to help him catch his breath, and Shen Minghuai quickly made a three-point gesture.

"three times?"

Shen Minghuai said with difficulty, "Three cups...cough cough...at most, three cups..."

“He gets drunk after just three cups!” Li Changling laughed loudly. “How come a drunkard like Fu Jizheng has a disciple who doesn’t drink a drop? But it’s fine, A-Ying hates people who reek of alcohol the most.”

Shen Minghuai raised an eyebrow and asked, "Things?"

Li Changling became quite patient and explained to him, "We used to have a fox. Once, it stole Master's osmanthus wine and got covered in the smell. As a result, A-Ying threw it outside and let it smell of alcohol for several days."

Shen Minghuai exclaimed in surprise, "You've kept foxes before?"

"Yes. Aying loves it. It's all white and very clever." Li Changling hadn't been able to recall this memory for a long time, and his tone unconsciously carried a hint of regret.

Shen Minghuai asked cautiously, "Then what is it now...?"

“It’s gone.” Li Changling looked towards that bright, clear place, “The Moonlit Pavilion, the Humble Moon.”

Shen Minghuai did not ask any further questions, and looked up at the only light in the darkness.

Li Changling murmured, "I haven't seen such a beautiful moon in five years."

Below, the lights of thousands of homes were almost dim, with only a full moon filling the rooftops. Li Changling, swaying slightly, stood on the roof of Mingyue Tower carrying a wine jar. Suddenly, a crabapple petal drifted down from somewhere, and he was instantly filled with joy. He swiftly performed a set of sword techniques, naming it "Drunken Jade Terrace."

In a corner where the moonlight couldn't reach, a novice swordsman witnessed the entire scene. The next day, everyone in the streets and alleys talked about it, and Li Changling's drunken revelry at the Ten-Mile Tower in Yangzhou became a legendary tale.

Shen Minghuai stared blankly at the crescent moon, "It's a pity today is only the eighth day of the month."

"The moonlight today is not as beautiful as it was that day, but it is still enough." Li Changling had not been up on this rooftop for a long time since then.

"This scene is absolutely stunning." Shen Minghuai took another sip, "but it's ultimately not perfect."

Li Changling couldn't help but laugh, "The moon has its phases, how can it always be full?"

Shen Minghuai spoke his wish to the moon with utmost sincerity, "But I hope that someone can have everything go perfectly." He then added softly, "I hope that she has everything go perfectly."

"What are you saying?" Li Changling turned his head to look at Shen Minghuai, whose cheeks were already flushed. "You've only had a few sips, are you already drunk?"

"Slightly...drunk."

Li Changling snatched the wine jar from him, looking utterly disgusted. "I don't want to carry you back."

"Need not."

Shen Minghuai's hands were suddenly empty. He took out the bayberry rice dumpling from his pocket, peeled it open, took a bite, and frowned. "So sour."

Li Changling leaned over to take a look: one, two, three, four, five—five bayberries. He slapped his thigh. "Oops! The thread was tied wrong."

Shen Minghuai looked at him, puzzled.

"This zongzi was made by Aying. She loves bayberries and put in a lot of them. How did it end up in your hands?" A thousand thoughts suddenly swirled in Li Changling's eyes, sometimes clear and sometimes obscure.

"She made it?" Shen Minghuai held the zongzi in his hand up to the moonlight, examined it closely, and smiled like a child who had just eaten candy, without realizing it. He took another bite.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but can taste change too?" Li Changling shook his head repeatedly, recalling how he had forced himself to say "delicious" hundreds of times in the past.

"Delicious." Shen Minghuai obviously didn't hear his muttering to himself.

Li Changling took out the thing Wang Yan had just given him, glanced at Shen Minghuai, sighed heavily, then placed it in Shen Minghuai's palm, crossed his arms and said, "You'd better be able to shoulder this responsibility."

Shen Minghuai stared blankly at the hundred ropes in his hand, without saying a word.

Li Changling squinted at him, "You don't want it?"

Shen Minghuai tied the rope around his wrist. "I want to protect her, but she has her own ideas and the ability to protect herself. It's not up to you or me to decide."

"Hmm, that makes sense." Li Changling seized the opportunity to ask, "Then tell me, who is the number one in the world today?"

"Of course it's you." Shen Minghuai didn't hesitate for a moment. Feeling it wasn't sincere enough, he added, "The number one person in the world is none other than Li Changling. My master thinks so too, but—"

"He just can't bring himself to do it!"

Shen Minghuai nodded in agreement, and Li Changling laughed and took another sip of wine.

The next morning, Shen Minghuai saw the empty bowl on the table and remembered that he had drunk some antidote soup in a daze the night before, but he did not ask who had brought it to him.

Hua Xin knocked on the door and entered the room. Upon seeing this, he hurriedly said, "Last night, Madam Wang said that Young Master Li must have taken you out for drinks, so she told us the recipe for this hangover remedy. How are you feeling today, young master?"

"It's acceptable."

Shen Minghuai immediately bathed and changed his clothes. Just as he finished tying his jade belt, Yang Jingzhe's voice rang out in the courtyard.

"Brother Minghuai! Brother Minghuai!"

Yang Qiying scolded from behind, "You've ruined all the peace and quiet in this courtyard."

Before Shen Minghuai had even left the house, he heard that Yang Jingzhe was going south with his elder brother, Yang Sitong. After Yang Qiying explained briefly, he understood that Yang Sitong was going to Xiuzhou to visit a friend, while Yang Jingzhe was going sightseeing.

Seeing that Shen Minghuai hesitated, Yang Qiying whispered again, "Father means that you, Young Master Shen, will take care of things. If anyone makes a mistake, please write to Father."

Yang Jingzhe was still immersed in the joy of going on a long trip, grinning from ear to ear.

After days of hints, Yang Jiezhou finally became suspicious. Shen Minghuai naturally nodded in agreement, and then asked Huaxin to go to Wanchun Garden to inquire. If the two of them minded, they could go to Huating first, and then go to Hangzhou together later.

In the afternoon, after Yang Qiying saw Shen Minghuai off, Yang Jiezhou called to her from under the eaves.

“Aying, you and Minghuai… that Minister of Revenue has a higher official rank than your father, and I’m afraid you’ll become his concubine.”

Yang Qiying said without changing her expression, "Aying doesn't care about these things, as long as it can help Father."

Yang Jiezhou asked, bewildered, "Help me? What do you mean?"

Yang Qiying looked at her father, puzzled. "Wasn't that what you wanted?"

Yang Jiezhou's old eyes widened. "What do I mean?"

Yang Qiying nodded. "You introduced me to Young Master Shen, not because you wanted to curry favor with the Duke of Dingguo?"

"You silly child!" Yang Jiezhou never expected that a simple meeting would be misunderstood by Yang Qiying.

"Do you think I'm that kind of person?! Sacrificing my children's happiness for my own future—"

Yang Qiying interrupted, "It can't be considered a sacrifice. Young Master Shen is a very good person, and his family background is also good."

Yang Jiezhou raised his left eyebrow. "So what's this...?"

Yang Qiying smiled and said, "I have no feelings for him."

Yang Jiezhou pressed his right eyebrow. "Then what about his feelings for you...?"

Yang Qiying smiled, "He had no intention of doing so either. It's a pity about my purple bamboo flute."

Yang Jiezhou was immediately confused. "So you're just ordinary friends, and there's nothing more to it?"

Yang Qiying tilted her head and thought for a while, "I guess so. But no, I can't really say."

Yang Jiezhou said urgently, "What's so hard to explain?"

Yang Qiying turned and went into the courtyard. "Anyway, they're doing very well."

"Who's good?" Yang Jiezhou followed up. "When you look for a husband in the future, you should find someone like Young Master Shen, understand?"

"Where can we find another Duke Dingguo? We can't find one."

“You silly child, I mean someone as attentive as Young Master Shen.”

"oh."

"Oh what? Did you even hear what your father said...?"

Along the way, three carriages followed one after the other, and except for mealtimes, they only exchanged nods.

Every time Wang Yan alighted from the carriage, Li Changling would shield her behind him. Whenever Yang Jingzhe tried to speak with her and inquire about her studies, Shen Minghuai would suddenly appear and join in.

As soon as Yang Si sat down, Wang Yan would return to her room. Although it was Li Changling's instruction, she didn't know what danger was causing Li Changling to be so on edge. He only said that there were many enemies, both overt and covert, and that she needed to be careful. He also told her to avoid using violence during this journey, and that he would stay by her side the whole time.

It was still half a day's journey to Huating. This time, the inn was the same as before, and Wang Yan was arranged to stay in the westernmost wing, right next to Li Changling.

Tonight, having overeaten, Wang Yan put on his outer robe and went out to digest his food. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a cup being smashed, seemingly coming from the innermost room on the east side. He then saw a disheveled woman rush out of the room, but before she could take a step, she was pulled back inside by the man.

Wang Yan, having removed her veil, arrived at the door of Yang Sitong's room, tapped lightly with her jade-like fingers, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Young Master."

Yang Sitong was about to remove the woman's underpants when he heard the sound and stopped. He opened the door and saw a woman in white standing gracefully, with a fair face and delicate skin, her veil billowing in the breeze. His eyes widened immediately, and he exclaimed, "Fairy, are you a generous gift from Heaven to me?" As he spoke, he was about to pull her into the room.

Wang Yan sneered and attacked him with his bare hands, saying, "I was sent by the underworld to take your life."

Having become accustomed to swordsmanship, Wang Yan might not necessarily have the upper hand in palm techniques. However, this person was skilled in palm techniques, and after several exchanges, Wang Yan could only skillfully deflect his attacks, finding himself in a very passive position.

Just as he was about to lead him out of the room, Yang Sitong suddenly pulled his hand, and the veil fell off. Before he could see the face clearly, Wang Yan reached for his waist and walked out quickly. As soon as he stepped out of the room, he bumped into the silver-clad man's arms.

The man wrapped his arms around her, completely obscuring her face beneath his robe. Wang Yan instinctively grabbed the man's hem, the chill in her fingertips gradually dissipating.

"Young Master Yang."

The man, though not angry, exuded an air of authority. He then spoke in a cold voice: "The paintings and calligraphy used by the tea merchant Wang and the salt merchant Xu to offset taxes were purchased from your shop, weren't they? They are the same old works by skilled painters that Young Master Yang recently acquired. Do you really think no one can distinguish their authenticity? If Young Master Yang insists on going his own way, I, Shen, can only tell Lord Yang the truth about these matters and ask him to handle them impartially."

Yang Sitong gritted his teeth, "Shen Minghuai!"

Wang Yan grabbed Shen Minghuai's clothes with both hands and whispered, "He drugged me."

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Author's Note: I heard there's a blood moon today, the Ghost Festival, so let's take a look at the bright moon in this chapter (*ˉ︶ˉ*)