Chapter 11 Short Banquet

Chapter Summary: I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table.

Standing at the door, Xu Luchuan looked around and noticed that there were two rooms on the left and right sides of Jingming Hall. No wonder Liu Shiyu agreed without any objection after hearing Lian Yue's words.

Lian Yue walked to the door without anyone noticing and slammed it shut.

The light then dimmed. Dust swirling in the light and shadow passed through Xu Luchuan's gaze and landed on Liu Shiyu's upright back.

Turning around in front of the desk, Liu Shiyu, just like in Jinling, removed her stern mask after closing the door and smiled gently: "Today I'll stay in the east, and you'll stay in the west. We won't disturb each other."

"I didn't sleep well last night. I'm so sleepy, I'm going to rest now." Liu Shiyu said, putting her hands behind her back and slowly moving closer to Xu Luchuan. "Young Master Xu, see you tonight~"

Leaving behind a bright smile, Liu Shiyu stepped into the room on the east side.

Xu Luchuan was lost in thought, inexplicably immersed in the strange atmosphere. Watching her door open and close, Xu Luchuan turned and walked towards his own room. But as soon as he pushed open the door, Liu Shiyu heard Xu Luchuan's gritted teeth "calling" from the west.

Liu Shiyu

Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu sat down on the edge of the couch and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

Xu Luchuan stood in the west room, his anger burning as he looked at the study before him. Then, glancing at the cramped couch in the corner—a spot too cramped for this grown man—he unconsciously clenched his fists. He had, after all, fallen into Liu Shiyu's trap.

After an unknown amount of time, all was silent. The Jingming Hall was utterly still.

Liu Shiyu had fallen into a deep sleep. Xu Luchuan, however, leaned against the couch fully clothed, gazing silently at the potted Chinese elm by the window. As time passed, light and shadow danced before his eyes, and Xu Luchuan gently closed them. Until, dappled sunlight etched its mark on his serene face, the door was quietly pushed open.

"Mother."

Xu Luchuan's delirious ramblings startled Liu Shiyu, causing her to stop in her tracks.

"Mother, don't go..."

Liu Shiyu leaned against the door and looked out into the distance; Xu Luchuan's brows were furrowed. She turned and gently closed the door, then tiptoed forward.

Standing before the couch, Liu Shiyu stared silently.

She remembered that Xu Luchuan, like herself, lost his mother at a young age. Like her, he was abandoned by his father after his mother's death.

So...they were kindred spirits...but she met Consort Qin, and Liu Shijin. And who did Xu Luchuan meet? How has he fared in Liyang all these years?

In the dimly lit room, Liu Shiyu stood beside him for a long, long time.

"Your Highness, where are you?"

Suddenly, a loud call came from outside the corridor.

Xu Luchuan awoke with a start from a nightmare. As he opened his eyes, he saw Liu Shiyu frantically trying to escape. He hesitated, then said sternly, "What are you doing here?"

"I...I..." Liu Shiyu had nowhere to escape, so she could only turn around with a helpless smile, "I've come to call you to Juhezhai to attend the banquet."

Xu Luchuan did not answer, but sat up and gently rubbed his forehead twice.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Liu Shiyu asked, noticing the person's worried face. Unexpectedly, the other person didn't appreciate the concern and coldly replied, "None of your business."

Liu Shiyu was speechless. She was about to retort, but remembering Xu Luchuan's expression just now, she swallowed all the hurtful words. Turning away with a flick of her sleeve, Liu Shiyu's eyes were filled with sadness. Stepping through the door of the east room, she said indifferently, "...Let's go. Don't keep my elder sister waiting."

Xu Luchuan stood up and watched Liu Shiyu's retreating figure, wanting to say something. But after the person disappeared through the door, he couldn't utter a word.

...

Inside the Juhuizhai, singing and dancing filled the air.

When Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan arrived, they found no other male concubines in the room. Only Junyu was sitting side by side with Liu Shijin, chatting and laughing.

"Xiao Wu, come here quickly!" Liu Shijin waved from the seat.

Liu Shiyu nodded and left, ignoring Xu Luchuan behind her. She seemed still sulking because of what had just happened. Xu Luchuan sensed this but offered no explanation.

As they took their seats, Liu Shijin, holding her wine glass, glanced over casually and immediately knew that the two must have had some unpleasantness. However, she didn't expose it. Instead, she put down her glass and casually asked, "Young Master Xu, it's been eight years since you left Liyang. I wonder when you will return to Jinling?"

"Your Highness, I am returning home at the beginning of the year," Xu Luchuan replied truthfully.

Liu Shiyu was startled; she had forgotten to mention these things.

"Oh? Since Young Master Xu only returned home three months ago? Then how come I heard that you two met a year ago?" Liu Shijin leaned against the table, casting a sharp gaze at Liu Shiyu. "Liu Xiaowu, do you have anything to explain?"

Xu Luchuan turned to look at the person beside him, and saw Liu Shiyu calmly say, "My lord, it is true that he only returned home three months ago. But the year before last, when he returned to Jinling to visit his family, we reunited and have been corresponding by letter ever since. We have never stopped."

"So that's how it is." Liu Shijin seemed to have been persuaded by Liu Shiyu. She raised her hand and took the wine cup that Jun Yu handed her, which was filled with wine. She smiled with her eyes narrowed. "It's truly a case of mutual affection. Come, Mr. Xu. I'll toast you."

Xu Luchuan stared at the wine glass in front of him, hesitating to touch it. He seemed somewhat troubled.

Seeing this, Liu Shijin rose from the table, picked up the wine pot, and swayed to his seat, kneeling on the floor. Liu Shijin's eyes crinkled with a smile, a hint of sharpness in her tone, as she raised her hand to offer him the wine cup, repeating, "Young Master Xu, this is a toast to you."

Liu Shiyu, standing to the side, was unaware of Xu Luchuan's intentions in resisting. However, she could tell that he didn't want to accept Liu Shijin's coercion. Resolutely taking the wine glass, Liu Shiyu put her earlier displeasure behind her, saying, "I'll drink with my elder sister."

"No, I insist on..."

Liu Shijin was always willful and reckless. She waved her hand to block Liu Shiyu, but before she could finish speaking, Xu Luchuan snatched the glass of wine and drank it down in one gulp.

Turning around in surprise, Liu Shiyu watched as Xu Luchuan slowly put down his wine glass, lowered his head, and remained silent.

Seeing his generosity, Liu Shijin immediately slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and laughed heartily. But only Liu Shiyu felt something was wrong. Just as he was about to reach out to check, there was a loud thud as Xu Luchuan's head slammed straight onto the table.

A sudden loud bang startled everyone present, leaving them completely bewildered.

"Xu Luchuan." Liu Shiyu called out, supporting Xu Luchuan's shoulder. She gently pushed him twice, but there was no response.

Looking up at Liu Shijin again, Liu Shiyu remained silent, which startled her so much that she quickly said, "Don't look at me like that. I didn't poison this wine."

"What happened?" Liu Shiyu asked calmly, without any hint of blame. Liu Shijin crossed his arms and looked down arrogantly at Xu Luchuan, who was slumped over the table, and said, "Xu just can't hold his liquor."

"No one can get drunk from just one cup of wine..."

But no sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Luchuan abruptly stood up, his forehead flushed and his eyes glazed with drunkenness. Liu Shiyu turned around at the sound, and she truly hadn't expected someone to get so drunk after just one drink.

"Who's there? The person next to you." Liu Shijin chuckled. "What kind of man can drink so little? How can he be Xiao Wu's lover? He's really useless!"

Liu Shijin laughed heartily, while Liu Shiyu said nothing, only shifting his gaze to Junyu over there. Upon seeing this, Liu Shijin immediately stopped laughing and angrily explained, "Junjun is not in good health and should not drink alcohol. How can you compare him to her?"

Liu Shiyu did not argue. She glanced at Xu Luchuan, then turned and ordered, "Someone, take Young Master Xu to Jingming Hall."

As she rose, Liu Shijin noticed the visible weariness in Liu Shiyu's eyes. She then cupped her hands and said, "It seems we can't eat this meal. I really don't have any appetite either. Please excuse us, elder sister."

Xu Luchuan was helped by the servants and headed towards Jingming Hall first.

Just as Liu Shiyu stepped out of the Juhezhai restaurant, she heard Liu Shijin call out loudly from behind, "Xiao Wu, wait a minute. Now that the banquet is over, your elder sister will come with you."

After saying that, Liu Shijin glanced back at Jun Yu, who then replied knowingly, "Your Highness, go ahead."

Lifting her foot to follow, Liu Shijin took Liu Shiyu's hand in hers, just like when they were children.

After dismissing her attendants, she and Liu Shiyu walked down the steps and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Wu, tell your elder sister the truth, you and Xu Luchuan actually have no relationship, and he is not your lover, right?"

Liu Shiyu suddenly turned around, falling into her all-seeing eyes. The summer evening breeze swept up a carpet of fallen petals. She thought there was no need to hide it, so she smiled and replied, "Mm."