"In the end, I am just a pawn in Master Xiao's hands. A pawn to be manipulated by others... Sister, I have accepted my fate. This is how my life is going to be. I just feel sorry for my two young children."

Su Tiyue frowned, unconvinced.

With her elbow resting on the cloud-patterned table on the couch and her chin propped up, she softly asked, "Does my sister still have the mulberry wine she gave me last time?"

"How about...we have a drink?"

Meng Xueji opened her eyes wide, thinking she had misheard, and gently reminded, "The mourning period for the late emperor has not yet ended, and drinking and merrymaking are forbidden in the palace."

Su Tiyue shrugged and chuckled, "That's precisely why we should drink and make merry..."

The late emperor died well, he died so well!

This is absolutely gratifying!

I bet Su Tiyue wasn't the only one keeping those two sentences to herself.

Looking across the entire imperial city, and even the entire Yong'an City, and the entire Northern Liang... how many people wished for his death?

If Lin Yan really exists in this world, then Su Tiyue would very much like to meet her!

She has done a truly great deed...

Later, Meng Xueji finally couldn't refuse Su Tiyue's request and had no choice but to bring out her treasured wine, which the two of them drank three jugs of...

Perhaps because Liu Shuang'er's condition had improved, Meng Xueji was in a great mood and unknowingly drank a lot.

Su Tiyue, however, knew she couldn't hold her liquor well, so she only drank two or three cups and wasn't drunk, just slightly tipsy.

That night, they opened up to each other and talked a lot, mostly cursing.

They cursed the late emperor, the corrupt and decadent imperial city, and the heartless and ungrateful eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

...

The night was as still as water, and the moon rose above the branches.

Su Tiyue had just left Jingren Palace.

Before leaving, Mengxueji escorted her to the entrance of Jingren Palace, standing there watching her leave with a smile in her eyes.

Su Tiyue turned around and glanced at her, her nose tingling. She couldn't help but turn back and gently hug Meng Xueji, who was drunk and could barely walk, yet insisted on seeing her off.

The night breeze was slightly cool, but the two of them felt warmed by the few jugs of mulberry wine.

Su Tiyue whispered in Meng Xueji's ear, "After the storm comes the calm. Sister, I hope that in the future... you will get what you want and everything will go smoothly."

This sentence is both an expectation and a blessing.

On the way back to Tingyu Tower, Liu Wan noticed that she was in low spirits and assumed that Xiao Heye had bullied the Empress again.

But she didn't dare to say anything reckless, so she could only stay quietly with Su Tiyue.

After walking a short distance through the Imperial Garden, a familiar, tall figure appeared at the end of the cobblestone path.

Su Tiyue wasn't drunk, so she naturally recognized her.

She waved her hand, signaling Liu Wan to go back first.

He stood still, motionless, silently watching Xiao Heye.

Xiao Heye looked her up and down before walking towards her with steady and powerful steps.

The two parted on bad terms last night, and Xiao Heye had many things he wanted to say but didn't get a chance to.

Also, Su Tiyue is really hard to coax when she's angry.

As he walked toward her, Xiao Heye had already figured out how to make her happy.

But he had just walked up to Su Tiyue, and before he could even speak...

But Su Tiyue spoke first, tilting her head back, her voice soft and languid: "Palm Seal, carry me on your back..."

Xiao Heye looked down and smelled the stench of alcohol. Helplessly, he pinched her ear.

The little thing is really bold; the mourning period for the late emperor is not over yet, and it dares to drink alcohol?

He didn't speak, but heard Su Tiyue say that he would carry her on his back.

Xiao Heye then squatted down without saying a word...

Su Tiyue leaned against his back, her slender arms wrapped around his neck, and asked in a very soft voice, "Didn't the Master say that he would agree to any condition as long as we were in bed?"