Dice Drunk

With one less participant, the chances of losing increased. After a few rounds, Yuanli finally got a little tipsy. Hengjin, who sat next to her, had been incredibly lucky, having only had three drinks in total. The desire to win arose, and the three tipsy men all wanted Hengjin to lose, but it was almost always them who lost.

The Moon Fairy said, "How come you are so lucky? No, try shaking the ball a little differently."

"What kind of game do you want to change, father?"

"Shake the rim, one shake, three shakes. I don't believe you're lucky enough to beat the three of us in one shake."

"Alright, since my father has spoken, I'll go first. Ah Li, come on."

After a few rounds of drinking, Yuanli could only shake Hengjin every time, but she lost to Yuexiaxianxian and Taibaixingjun very consistently. Fortunately, Hengjin got Yuexiaxianxian and Taibaixing drunk, otherwise she would have fallen down if it was her turn next time.

"Do you want to shake it again?" Heng Jin asked.

Yuanli's desire to win was overflowing at this moment. She held the dice cup tightly, turned around and sat face to face with Heng Jin beside her. "Of course, I will beat you." As she said that, Yuanli began to shake the dice, and she didn't dare to stop for a long time. She knew very well that if she had another drink, she would be drunk.

The hand that was slowly shaking the dice cup was suddenly grabbed by Heng Jin, and his warm hands were placed on the back of her hands. Yuan Li tried to shake his hands off but couldn't. "You want to cheat?"

Heng Jin didn't answer her question, instead offering her a bright smile. The soft chuckle and the upturned corners of his mouth held Yuanli's gaze until he stopped manipulating her to crank the dice cup. He raised his eyes to meet hers, and he leaned closer to her. A gentle breeze blew past, carrying the unique scent of the sacred peach blossoms from his body to her, and also carried the peach blossom petals from her mansion to her. Some petals landed on her and his hair, and slid down their shoulders. Yuanli's mind flashed back to them, as she and Ah Ci stood under the peach tree in Prince Wen's mansion, petals also falling like this in the sky. He held her, his face buried in her waist, and said that three lifetimes of marriage were not enough.

"Is the minister very good-looking?"

Heng Jin seemed to have guessed what she was thinking and said this for no reason, instantly bringing her memories back to her wedding night with him. He asked her so gently as she stared at him intently.

The contrast between their former love and their current situation was stark. Her eyes gradually grew warm, tears filling up in them. Yuanli lowered her head and looked away, blinking repeatedly to avoid the tears, which still fell to the ground.

He is always like this, haunting and stirring up memories of the past.

The red string of the matchmaker in his hand lit up again between their overlapping hands. Heng Jin rested his chin on her hair bun. His soothing voice came from above her head, "Why are you crying? I'll always be tied to your hands. I'll always belong to you. No one can take me away."

Yuanli didn't want to argue with him anymore, fearing that her grievance would be fully revealed if she opened her mouth. Hengjin took her hand and opened the dice cup. All three dice showed sixes.

"You beat Yuanli."

He released his grip on her hand, picked up the wine glass on the table and drank it all in one gulp. A breeze blew by, and the coolness swept over the back of her hand again, making it feel like more than just the back of her hand felt empty.

Heng Jin took out a large brocade box and opened it. Inside was a lavender dress with several interlaced lavender pearl chains hanging under the outer layer of tulle.

"I'm not here to question you or argue with you. I wanted to give you this dress. I always can't control my jealousy and make you unhappy. I know I was wrong, Yuan'er, and I will try my best to control it in the future. I promise to tell you the truth as soon as the third life experience is over. Can you please not marry Cha Suxun yet? Wait for me a little longer, okay?"

Seeing that she didn't say anything and didn't even look at her, Heng Jin pulled up the corner of her clothes and shook it gently, "Please, Yuanli..."

Yuanli didn't want to answer him, so she pretended to be drunk and fell to the side. She was mentally prepared to hit the ground, but Hengjin quickly hugged her. Yuanli could only pretend to be drunk and fell asleep in his arms, which was better than having to deal with him.

Heng Jin picked her up and placed her on the couch, covered her with a blanket, cast a spell to dispel her drunkenness before leaving.

Hearing the door close, Yuanli still didn't dare open her eyes, fearing that Hengjin would find out she was pretending to be drunk. Now she was completely sober, she tried to find the best solution to this relationship, but it seemed like no matter how hard she tried, it was already a dead end.

Yuanli was bored in the house, so she took out the Book of Exotic Beasts that Tianshu had copied for her and read it with fascination. She studied it until the next day without realizing it.

Xiaozhu brought her a bowl of sobering soup. Yuanli knew it was made by Hengjin after just one sip.

After finishing the sobering soup in the cup and about to put it down, the image of Heng Jin standing with a small saucer in her hands suddenly appeared at the bottom of the cup. Yuanli subconsciously covered the cup like a guilty thief, and looked around. Seeing that no one saw her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

But on second thought, even Yuanli didn't know why she felt so guilty just now.

When she put the cup down, Yuanli felt something shaking in it. She took her hand away and saw a candied fruit suddenly appear out of thin air in the cup, while the image of Hengjin in the cup had disappeared.

Yuanli ate the candied fruit, and the sweet taste in her mouth once again confirmed that this candied fruit was the same one he made in the mortal world.

However, Yuanli was particularly curious about how Hengjin did it, and she held the cup in her hand and turned it over and over to look at it.

As he watched, another line of small words appeared at the bottom of the cup: Want to learn? Come to me and I'll teach you.

She cast a spell to remove the words on the bottom of the cup, washed the cup and put it back, then stood there and looked at it. There was no other change in the cup, so Yuanli left.

For several days, Heng Jin didn't bother her again, and Yuan Li was content to relax and unwind, either reading the Tome of Exotic Beasts or visiting Taibai Xingjun's residence to help with alchemy and ask for some Huayu Dan. Taibai Xingjun was especially helpful, giving her three large baskets. As Yuan Li and Jiuwei were carrying the Huayu Dan back to their residence, they spotted Xiang Yao and Heng Jin hurriedly passing by from a distance.

"Have you heard, Master? Recently, there have been powerful evil spirits causing trouble frequently. Emperor Hengjin can be seen running around several times a day." Jiuwei said.

Upon hearing this, Yuanli couldn't help but worry about Heqi and Hengjin. If it was just an ordinary demon, the Demon Realm could handle it on its own. If Hengjin had to go out to fight, it was probably Xieyuan's group of demons causing trouble. Moreover, it had been so long since the incident at Yuemang Mountain, and there had been no news from the Heaven Realm.

"Have you heard of any evil spirit?"

"No, Master, if you want to know, I'll ask Xiang Yao."

"No! If you ask Xiang Yao, Heng Jin will definitely know. You never know what that old man will think. No, no."

Jiuwei whispered, "Even if you didn't ask, just because you glanced at him from a distance, if Xiangyao told him, he would still think that you care about him."

"Do you know Xiang Yao and Heng Jin? You can ask Xiang Yao for information, and you know Heng Jin's temperament so well."

"They're all ancient mythical beasts. I know Hui from Tianshu Xingjun, and it's normal for me to know Xiangyao too. The older you get and the longer you live, the more you know. When Xiangyao's original form goes out with Hengjin, his nine heads always look in one direction, so they must have seen us. After you got drunk, Hengjin made sobering soup in our immortal palace and carried you back to the bedroom. He couldn't hide his feelings for you, I don't even need to guess. Do you believe it? I guess soon Emperor Hengjin will send a message to comfort you."

After finishing his words quickly, Jiuwei looked back at Yuanli's reaction and added, "You said we are family, so I said this."

"Of course we're one family. I quite like the way you talk to me. It feels like we're old friends who can talk about anything. That's great. Kyuubi, when you get back, please come to my palace. I have something I want to ask you in private."

Jiuwei agreed readily. As soon as they arrived outside the mansion, Yuanli couldn't wait to grab Jiuwei's hand and wanted to go back to the room quickly. Xiaozhu stopped her with the assessment list sent by Sixian Pavilion.

"Xingjun, the list of those who have passed the assessment has been sent to you. Because there are too many candidates applying for our Xingjun Mansion, the reserve quota is full, and we need to screen out some. If Xingjun is free, I will bring them all to you for your review."

"Surely, so many people chose us. Xiaozhu, you are truly a prophet. You are my sole representative. You are the chief steward of our Xingjun Mansion. I trust your discerning eye. Go ahead. I will write the final list after I finish with Jiuwei."

Xiaozhu is always careful and thoughtful, and sincere and loyal, so Yuanli feels at ease leaving things to him. Unlike those in the mortal world who only work hard when they get money or other benefits in return, Xiaozhu needs firm trust and a little praise to make him happy.

After instructing him not to be disturbed, and seeing him busy with his own affairs, Yuanli closed the palace door, pulled Jiuwei to sit on the gold and silver silk couch, and placed a small cup of tea on the table. She said, "No need to sit so stiffly, relax. Jiuwei, do you know the previous Demon Lord?"

Jiuwei's body, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. She had expected this day to come, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"I know. Master, you're not asking me if I know about Heng Jin and Li Wan's past, are you?" Looking at Yuan Li's shocked expression, Jiuwei added, "I know you like that old thing."

This time, Yuanli was even more shocked. "How did you know?"

"Didn't I tell you I'd observed you when we met? Although you hid your concern for him, the emotion in your eyes was too obvious. That time when you went to Taibai Xingjun's residence and heard others discussing Heng Jin and Li Wan, I saw your distraught look. We foxes have very good eyesight. Others may not have noticed, but I saw it clearly. Don't worry, I won't go out and say anything. Even if Xiang Yao comes to ask me about something, I will just say I know nothing."

Jiuwei sat face to face with her and said to her in a very serious tone, "Before I answer my master, I have something very important to tell you. I have been worried for many days and nights because of this."