Chapter 19

Following the king's order, everyone in the palace was brought to the Ministry of Justice for questioning. Within two days, the entire story was sorted out and the case was settled. When the truth was revealed, the court was in uproar. What had been thought of as a conspiracy by foreigners had become a power struggle within the inner court.

Lord Wang originally had two wives, and Wang Yi was born to a concubine. The second wife tragically died of illness after giving birth to a son, leaving the first wife childless. Seeing Lord Wang doting on Wang Yi, she felt resentful and, upon receiving news that Lord Wang wanted to hand over the entire palace to Wang Yi, she set up this scheme.

As for the part about Ling Huanchen, it was a complete accident. Wang Yi happened to be obsessed with Ling Huanchen, whom he had just met, so Madam Wang used this as an excuse to dispel the rumors. However, after the Ministry of Justice intervened, the truth was revealed again and again. Seeing that the cover-up was no longer possible, Madam Wang set fire to the palace, hoping to bury the entire palace with him.

After Lord Wang learned the whole story, he was ashamed to return to the court and wrote a letter of resignation to return home. From then on, the Wang family never participated in the court again.

The two people in the Yuluan Palace were not affected by the outside world at all and treated it as a small episode.

Ling Huanchen was lying on the shore, holding a history book. He glanced over and immediately caught sight of a memorial in front of him, all about the Ministry of Personnel. He saw Yu Xi put down another one, also about the Ministry of Personnel.

"The Ministry of Personnel has been busy lately?" How come eight out of ten books are about the Ministry of Personnel?

Yu Xi looked up when he heard the voice. "I think the Ministry of Personnel has too little to do. I'm afraid that talented people are being left behind. I'll find something for them to do."

This excuse of settling scores later is quite righteous.

A wise ruler cannot kill court officials at will. It is always reasonable to assign them some tasks to support the country.

Ling Huanchen laughed, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

The misunderstanding was resolved, but he had more important things to prepare for.

In the next few days, Yu Xi often didn't see Ling Huanchen after court. Just when he was about to go out to look for him, he saw the person he missed came back by himself. When asked, he just said that he went for a walk in the garden.

This continued for one, two, five, and six days. Yu Xi had no choice but to catch the man and ask him about it.

"Huanchen has been very busy lately?"

Ling Huanchen's grip on the book tightened slightly. "I'm not busy at all. It's just that the summer scenery is so beautiful that I can't help but linger there every day."

"Oh? The scenery in this garden is so charming?" Yu Xi suddenly approached, "Is it bigger than me?"

Ling Huanchen put the book down to hide the rice paper underneath. He looked up and saw the King of Youcheng standing right next to him. "Of course, he is not as great as Your Majesty."

Seeing that he refused to tell the truth, Yu Xi reached out and put her arm around his waist, not giving him a chance to retreat. "Huanchen, what are you doing behind my back?"

Ling Huanchen's originally calm expression was on the verge of collapse. The hand on his waist was really not honest, causing him to dodge frequently, but he was clamped by the other party and could not escape at all.

"Please forgive me for not being able to tell you. When the time comes, Your Majesty will know."

The more mysterious it is, the more interesting it is.

Yu Xi looked at the person in front of him closely, his eyes sliding over him inch by inch, "Okay."

"Your Majesty...can you...let me go?"

Yu Xi let go of his hand in response. If he continued to pester him, he would no longer be able to guarantee his normal life.

A gentleman's word is as good as gold, let alone a king's. After Yu Xi agreed to Ling Huanchen's request, she didn't ask any further questions, nor did she send anyone to investigate secretly. She truly took trust to the extreme.

Soon, the middle of the night had arrived, and preparations were frantic both inside and outside the palace: Prince Youcheng's birthday banquet. Ministers racked their brains over what gifts to send, while Chief Secretary Fu worked tirelessly to arrange all the necessary arrangements.

Every year's birthday banquet was nothing more than dragon and lion dances, music, dancing, and a stage performance. Yu Xi had long anticipated any new twists and turns, and hadn't been expecting them. But this year, with Ling Huanchen, his beloved and lost benefactor, even the usual birthday banquet performances seemed more interesting.

Inside the Yougan Palace, there was a lively atmosphere of singing and dancing, and the sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras were endless. During the banquet, the court officials, no longer in their usual solemnity, forced themselves to put on a smile, whether genuine or fake, as they toasted each other and exchanged a few pleasantries.

"Left Prime Minister, I respect you."

The Left Prime Minister raised his wine cup and clinked it with his, "Master Wei, please."

Wei Qian looked towards the stage, intentionally or unintentionally, and whispered, "This young prince from the merman tribe does have some tricks up his sleeve to make the king smile. I remember that during last year's birthday banquet, the king was very serious."

The left prime minister just smiled and said nothing, drinking.

At this time, the two people in the hall were guarding a table full of delicious food, but both of them fixed their eyes on the emerald jade wine pot in front of the table.

Ling Huanchen had a very bad impression of wine. He had tasted it once when he was in the mermaid tribe, but it only felt spicy at first and bitter at the end, completely failing to appreciate the beauty of fine wine. In his previous life, he had never touched alcohol again. Now, seeing Yu Xi sipping glass after glass, his curiosity was piqued again.

"Is this wine really so delicious?"

Yu Xi picked up the wine jug and filled it for him, "Huanchen, why don't you try it?"

Seeing that Ling Huanchen was still hesitant, he added, "This wine is brewed from peach blossoms. It tastes sweet and is not easy to get drunk."

Hearing that it was brewed with peach blossoms and not bitter, Ling Huanchen became interested. He picked up the wine cup and took a sip. Immediately, his eyes lit up and he drank the rest.

It is indeed sweet, although still a little spicy, but the aftertaste has a floral flavor.

Seeing him pour a second glass, Yu Xi laughed and said, "Could it be that our Huanchen is a hidden alcoholic?"

"I just drank too quickly and didn't taste it."

Yu Xi didn't expose him, as the newly changed music happened to draw her attention. Not only him, but all the civil and military officials also stopped what they were doing. A group of palace servants supported the folded screens and followed the dancer into the hall.

Yu Xi closed her eyes and listened quietly for a while, "What song is this? Why haven't I heard it before?"

"I wrote this in a hurry and haven't chosen a name yet." Ling Huanchen thought for a moment, "This is specially for the king's birthday celebration, so I'll be bold enough to use your name. How about naming it Xi?"

Yu Xi thought about what had happened and suddenly realized, "You did it? So this is the surprise?"

“Not entirely.”

As the drumbeat intensified, the palace attendants each pulled one side, and the screens unfurled with a swish, instantly capturing the attention of the entire audience. Twelve screens reflected the entirety of the Youcheng Palace, a scene both majestic and earthy, breathtaking.

This surprise was quite big. Yu Xi withdrew her gaze from the screen and then it fell on Ling Huanchen, but she couldn't take her gaze away.

Yu Zhao was stunned watching from the side. "Sister Wang, this painting is simply out of this world. Sister Wang, you can't do this. All our birthday gifts will become scrap metal."

After that, no performance could attract King Youcheng's attention, and even the delicious wine and food on the table could not divert his attention.

Ling Huanchen's body couldn't help but heat up under the burning gaze next to him. He was eager to do something to cover it up, and finally saw the wine cup in front of him.

As I drank cup after cup of peach blossom wine, my body didn't get cooler, but hotter.

If only there was a pool for him to jump into.

Thinking of this, he stood up in a daze and said, "Your Majesty, I will go out for some fresh air."

Yu Xi grabbed the man and asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"I have done nothing wrong, I just feel the heat is stuffy in the palace, I will be back soon."

At this moment, the Prime Minister and several ministers stood up to toast. Ling Huanchen took the opportunity to break away from Yu Xi's hand and sneaked away through the side door.

Blown by the evening breeze, Ling Huanchen seemed to regain some clarity, but also seemed even more confused.

He was unaware that he was stumbling as he staggered into the imperial garden. The water vapor from the pond attracted him all the time.

If he were sober, he would definitely sit upright in the pavilion, or at most lean over to take a look. But now he was half drunk and half awake, and his head was hot, so he sat by the pond and took off his shoes.

The remaining sanity prevented him from jumping into the pool, and he just kicked the water at the edge.

Peach Blossom Wine was nothing special, but for someone who never drank, even a little bit would make them drunk. Especially since he had drunk more than half a pot. His expression hadn't shown in the hall just now, but it was all on display after he came out.

When Yu Xi came out, he saw his little mermaid playing in the water by the pond like a child, much more lively than usual.

The moonlight was reflected on the water, creating ripples, but this drunk man insisted on interfering and kicking the reflection.

Yu Xi shook her head and walked forward, "Let me see whose little mermaid is being naughty?" Then she pretended to be silent, "Well, I see clearly, it's mine."

Ling Huanchen raised his head, tried to open his eyes wide to see clearly, and then smiled, "It's you."

Yu Xi bent down to hug the person, but was resisted to the death, "Stop making trouble, come back with me."

"I won't go back." Ling Huanchen struggled, "Unless you pick the flowers for me."

Yu Xi looked in the direction he pointed and saw the most eye-catching lotus flower in the pond.

"I want the biggest one!"

Yu Xi sighed almost inaudibly, tapped her toes lightly, flew out, stepped lightly on a lotus leaf, reached out to pick it up, turned around and returned to the shore, without even getting her shoes wet.

When Ling Huanchen got the lotus, he immediately smiled and held it in his arms as if it were a treasure.

"Can we go back this time?" Yu Xi said in a coaxing tone.

Ling Huanchen looked up when he heard the voice, his eyes blurred, "You carry me."

Yu Xi said nothing and immediately carried the person on his back. The birthday banquet in Yougan Palace was still going on, but the birthday boy had left early, leaving the remaining trivial matters to the Prime Minister and Yu Zhao.

I thought Ling Huanchen would be quiet once he got into bed, but I didn't expect that he would become even more troublesome once he got to the bedroom.

"Why don't you lie down?" Ling Huanchen grabbed Yu Xi's arm and looked at him eagerly.

"You lie down, and I'll lie down."

Ling Huanchen rolled to the inside and patted the bed, "Lie down."

As soon as Yu Xi got on the bed, Ling Huanchen came up to him, rubbing his hands dishonestly into his clothes.

"What are you doing?" Yu Xi held him down with one hand. His breathing became unstable, but he still tried to remain calm.

"Why are you hotter than me?"

Ling Huanchen seemed to be genuinely searching for an answer. When his hand was captured, he put his mouth to Yu Xi's. Yu Xi happened to tilt his head, causing Ling Huanchen to lose his balance and fall, his face buried in the crook of his neck. His teeth grazed and, as luck would have it, left a tooth mark on his neck.

Yu Xi immediately hugged him, turned over, and looked down into his eyes.

The author has something to say:

Yu Xi: Today we are tasting the Peach Blossom Drunken Shark.