Chapter 47 Drunkenness Under the Moon "Qin Jin, let's make up."

The moonlight was as white as silver, and countless rays of silver light generously fell upon the emerald green elm leaves, which rustled softly as they swayed gently.

Under the gentle night breeze, a huge full moon enveloped the two people sitting side by side, silently cutting out two intertwined silhouettes.

Xue Rongyue tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and finally couldn't help but ask again, "Were you really frozen unconscious back then?"

Qin Jin held the wine jar in his hands, glanced at her sideways, and sneered: "Otherwise what? You haven't even recovered from your illness afterward, and you still have the nerve to come to me to claim credit, asking for ruby ​​jewelry from the Western Regions as tribute."

"I didn't know..." Xue Rongyue muttered softly, "But you still managed to get the headdress for me."

A green leaf drifted down in front of Qin Jin, who reached out and caught it. Hearing this, Qin Jin's eyelids fluttered slightly, but he casually played with the leaf, pretending not to have heard.

That year, Qin Jin was still raised by the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor also cared for him very much. During a spring hunt, the Emperor saw that Qin Jin, at such a young age, could draw a bow and shoot an arrow, hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces away. The Emperor was immediately delighted and agreed that Qin Jin could ask for anything, no matter what it was.

The Emperor's promise was not easily made, and Qin Jin pondered for a long time after returning home, deciding to request the long spear forged from the black iron of the Western Regions. The Emperor had anticipated this and had already prepared the spear, but unexpectedly, Princess Yu'an and the Empress exchanged a knowing smile and both expressed their opposition.

The three held differing opinions and even made a bet about it.

When the appointed date arrived, under the expectant gaze of the emperor, Qin Jin hesitated for a moment before humming, "...I heard that the Western Regions have presented a magnificent and exquisitely crafted ruby ​​headdress as tribute. I wish to...have it."

Under Princess Yu'an's unrestrained and loud laughter, the emperor was dumbfounded: "You're not a girl, why do you need ruby ​​jewelry?!"

Qin Jin's neck turned red, but he stubbornly insisted, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Your Majesty, please grant it to me."

Princess Yu'an stepped forward and whispered a few words in the emperor's ear. The emperor listened with a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, then shook his head and chuckled, "...How old are those two? Never mind."

Glancing sideways at Qin Jin, he couldn't help but curse, "You good-for-nothing, you made me gamble away a whole jar of fine wine for nothing."

Xue Rongyue, like a victorious peacock, frequently flaunted her ruby ​​headdress in front of Princess Changle, which angered Princess Changle so much that her eyes turned red, and she ran back crying to scold her brother for being useless.

Seeing Qin Jin remain silent, Xue Rongyue pursed her lips, casually picked up a jar of wine and opened it: "Let's let bygones be bygones today. I'll punish myself with three sips as an apology to you."

After saying that, he raised his hand and smashed the wine jar in Qin Jin's hand, then drank three mouthfuls without hesitation.

With a slight raise of his eyebrows, Qin Jin kindly reminded him, "This is strong liquor."

"It's just some pear blossom wine, nothing to worry about. I can hold my liquor very well!" Xue Rongyue said, completely unconcerned.

With an indifferent shrug, Qin Jin stopped trying to persuade him. The two remained silent for a moment; one intently played with the leaf in his hand, while the other listlessly sipped his wine—a rare moment of harmony.

After a long pause, Xue Rongyue suddenly asked in a low voice, "Why are you unhappy tonight?"

Qin Jin's gaze remained fixed on the leaf, and upon hearing this, he gave a short hum: "Here we go again."

Xue Rongyue asked, puzzled, "What? Again?"

Qin Jin: "I told you not to pry into my privacy anymore, but you ignored my warning."

With a hiss, Xue Rongyue said with exasperation, "Qin Jin, Prince Qin! Why are you so wary of me? Can't you please put aside your prejudice against me for now? Am I trying to pry into your privacy? I'm clearly just showing you concern!"

With a slight upturn of his thin lips, Qin Jin asked leisurely, "Then why does Madam Xue care about me?"

Xue Rongyue took a sip of wine, glanced at Qin Jin, and asked mischievously, "You want to know?"

After a moment of silence, Qin Jin turned to look at her. Their eyes met, and he unexpectedly nodded, saying frankly, "I want to know."

Xue Rongyue was truly stunned: "What's going on? Why are you suddenly not being stubborn anymore?"

Qin Jin chuckled: "So, are you going to tell me or not?"

Xue Rongyue was unwilling to obey, and raised her head to signal Qin Jin: "Then you drink a big gulp of wine."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jin suppressed his smile and slowly turned his head: "Alright, suddenly I don't want to know anymore."

Xue Rongyue looked at him suspiciously: "You're not worried that you can't outdrink me and will cause a scene later, are you?"

Meeting Xue Rongyue's blatantly provocative gaze, Qin Jin raised an eyebrow and asked, "A reverse psychology tactic?"

Xue Rongyue raised an eyebrow: "Will it work?"

Qin Jin picked up the wine jar and tapped it against the one in Xue Rongyue's hand. He then drank a large mouthful of wine expressionlessly: "It's useful."

Xue Rongyue burst into unrestrained laughter.

Inside the main hall, Guang Sheng held a broom in one hand and leaned his entire upper body against the window, intently eavesdropping on the conversation between the two people on the roof, fearing that they might start fighting at the slightest disagreement. However, he was startled by the sudden burst of laughter.

He had only been assigned to serve the young master for a short time when his elder brother repeatedly warned him that Lady Xue of the General's Mansion was a mortal enemy of the young master and told him to be careful. But now, looking at how Lady Xue and the young master interacted, they didn't seem like mortal enemies at all.

He now deeply suspects that his brother is siding with him.

"If you've kept me in suspense long enough, just tell me already." Qin Jin turned his face away, his expression indifferent.

Looking down at the wine jar in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the jar's surface, Xue Rongyue remained silent for a moment before finally uttering those words: "...Qin Jin, let's make up."

Qin Jin was startled. The clear wine spilled from his trembling arm, soaking his thin spring shirt. The dampness and warmth of their skin ignited a growing heat that spread from his arm to his heart and then to his brow.

Xue Rongyue pressed on, saying, "I've thought a lot these past few days. Since our initial falling out stemmed from a misunderstanding, now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, why should we fight each other to the bitter end?"

She looked at Qin Jin, her almond-shaped eyes filled with the soft moonlight: "Shall we turn hostility into friendship?"

Qin Jin slowly closed his fingers, hastily shifting his gaze. A hint of undisguised emotion was revealed in his eyes. He gripped the wine jar tightly, so much so that the veins on the back of his hand bulged, yet he could not control his trembling.

In the quiet silence, at one moment, he suddenly gritted his teeth, tilted his head back, and took a swig of wine.

At this moment, Xue Rongyue appeared remarkably patient, sipping her wine at a leisurely pace. Qin Jin finished one jar, and she followed suit, until several empty jars gradually accumulated at their feet. Finally, Xue Rongyue's patience completely ran out—

"Qin Jin! I've already lowered my head, what are you still hesitating for!" Xue Rongyue stood up abruptly, put her hands on her hips, and glared angrily at Qin Jin.

Qin Jin remained silent, his head bowed.

"What exactly do you mean?!"

Unable to see the expression on his face, Xue Rongyue stamped her foot, then squatted down and squinted to investigate: "You're so hesitant, could it be that there's still some unresolved misunderstanding or conflict between us?"

She brought her face right up to Qin Jin's, their noses just a finger's width apart, their warm breaths mingling instantly: "If you have any questions, just say so. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding!"

Caught off guard, Qin Jin was startled. Before he could create some distance, he was stunned by Xue Rongyue's drunken, cross-eyed look and her flushed cheeks. He turned in astonishment to the empty space where she had just sat down and saw several wine jars: "You, how did you drink so much?"

Xue Rongyue frowned, her face saying, "How could you be like this?": "Look how stingy you are. Keep track of how much you drank, and I'll pay you back tomorrow, okay?"

Having said that, he propped himself up with his swaying body and began counting the wine jars.

This was on the roof ridge, where the tiles were layered upon each other, making it difficult to walk. Xue Rongyue stumbled with every step, her foot slipped, and she almost fell over.

Qin Jin quickly grabbed her, rubbed her temples, and said sarcastically, "You dare to say you have a good alcohol tolerance with this?"

Xue Rongyue's arm was restrained by Qin Jin, but that didn't stop her from jumping up and down: "I have a very good alcohol tolerance. If I hadn't drunk several jars with Jingnu at the restaurant before coming here, I could still be continuing!"

Qin Jin found it amusing and glanced at her: "What, you didn't have enough to drink with Jingnu, so you come here to ask me for more wine?"

He raised his voice: "Guang Sheng."

Guang Sheng rushed out: "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Qin Jin instructed, "Tell Jingnu to come and help her mistress. You personally escort them to the carriage and back to the manor."

Guang Sheng said with difficulty, "Young Master, Jingnu did not come with Madam Xue tonight, and there was no Xue family carriage in front of the mansion. Madam Xue came on her own."

Qin Jin stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Before he could speak, Xue Rongyue leaned over again mysteriously and boasted to Qin Jin, "Jingnu can't hold her liquor. I got her drunk and she's sleeping soundly in the mansion right now."

Qin Jin, one hand on his waist, laughed in exasperation: "You're getting cocky now?"

Xue Rongyue raised an eyebrow: "Of course, I already said I can hold my liquor well. After Jingnu got drunk, I drank a lot more myself in order to come find you."

Qin Jin was slightly taken aback: "Why did you come to me and force yourself to drink?"

"Because there are some things I can only say to you when I'm drunk," Xue Rongyue said matter-of-factly.

Her curled eyelashes cast a small shadow, and Qin Jin quickly looked away until Xue Rongyue began to struggle: "Gently, you're hurting me." Only then did he realize what was happening and awkwardly let go.

Guang Sheng also noticed that Xue Rongyue was drunk and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, curfew will be in a quarter of an hour."

With a helpless sigh, Qin Jin said, "Clean up the guest courtyard next door, and send two maids over to serve her."

That's all we can do.

Guang Shen agreed and quickly went out to make the arrangements.

After a chaotic scene, it was finally managed to move Xue Rongyue from the rooftop to the guest courtyard. Qin Jin, who was also a little drunk, was sobered up by the commotion.

Seeing Xue Rongyue enter the room with the help of a maid, Qin Jin breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave when Guang Sheng quickly picked up the small wolf doll that had been left on the ground and handed it to Qin Jin: "It seems to have been taken from Madam Xue."

Qin Jin took the doll and glanced at it, his pupils immediately shrinking.

At this moment, the maidservant who had been sent to serve Xue Rongyue rushed out and hesitated before Qin Jin: "Madam Xue has been refusing to drink the hangover soup and insisted on coming out to ask you, saying that you haven't given her an answer yet."

Guang Sheng asked in surprise, "What answer?"

Qin Jin gripped the wolf-shaped plush toy tightly in his fingertips. A piercing buzzing sound suddenly rang in his ears. He gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his breath caught in his throat.

......

The maidservant hurried out and then hurried back, whispering to Xue Rongyue, who was restless even while lying on the bed, "The young master said yes."

Xue Rongyue curled her lips into a smug smile, her eyes clear, showing no trace of drunkenness. While the two maids went to fetch some hangover soup, she peered out the half-open window, only to be startled—

Qin Jin stood under the pear tree, half of his body shrouded in darkness. He held the rag doll she had deliberately dropped during their earlier struggle. However, his expression was not the moved she had expected. Instead, he resembled a stiff puppet. Under the bright moonlight, his eyes revealed a clear and uncontrollable pain and resignation.

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Author's Note: Xiaoyue: A little trick [shy]

Persimmon: A different treat every day, each one unique! [melted]

Waaaaaah, my darlings, please check out my pre-orders! Is there anything you like? Or do you have any favorite themes or character designs? Feel free to send them to me! If I can write about it, I'll start!