Chapter 11 Hangover: Why did you drink so much?!
Having learned from her experience on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Shen Yujiao thrived in Kunyi Palace for the next few days. In just a few days, she not only got to know most of the noble ladies, but also got along quite well with several of her sisters-in-law, except for the Princess Consort of Huan.
For some reason, Princess Huan seemed to have a great grudge against her. Every time the two looked at each other, Princess Huan would smile on the surface, but Shen Yujiao could clearly see the coldness in her eyes. On the last day of entering the palace, Shen Yujiao also gave up the idea of contacting her.
Are you kidding me? Who do you think you are? You're putting on such an air.
Oh, so Prince Huan seems to be the eldest son, but what's the use? Jiang Chen is still the crown prince!
Speaking of Jiang Chen, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but feel a little worried. Although Jiang Chen was a good drinker in modern times, now that he had transmigrated into the body of Crown Prince Chen, she wasn't sure if this pampered prince could drink alcohol.
What Shen Yujiao was worried about was exactly what Jiang Chen was worried about as well.
He had been declining to drink alcohol for several days, citing that he had just recovered from an illness, but everyone saw that he had a rosy complexion and was full of energy, and did not look like he had been seriously ill. As soon as the drinking party started today, they insisted that he drink with them.
The amber-colored wine rippled in the golden glass. Jiang Chen knew that there was no way to make excuses today, so he didn't hesitate any longer and drank it all in one gulp.
"good!"
One of the brothers shouted "Good!" and then it was a never-ending stream of wine cups. Jiang Chen tried to refuse, but when he looked up, he saw the emperor watching with great interest, as if he loved seeing this kind of brotherly affection.
He closed his eyes briefly, cursing inwardly at the supposed nonsense of ruler and subject, father and son. When he opened his eyes again, the spicy flavor went down his throat, and he downed cup after cup.
The group of princes and imperial relatives drank from day to night. After the party ended, Jiang Chen slumped on the table for a while to recover. Only after everyone had left did he groggily sit up, looking around with unfocused eyes. He then turned to Zhu Yu and asked, "Where is Chen Yujiao?"
When Zhu Yu heard him suddenly call out the Crown Princess's given name, she thought he was angry that the Crown Princess hadn't come to pick him up, so she whispered to comfort him, "The Empress just left, and the Crown Princess is waiting for Your Highness in the side hall right now."
"A side hall?"
Jiang Chen shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his mind, but it took him a while to remember where Zhu Yu had mentioned the side hall. He stood up unsteadily and, with Zhu Yu's help, walked towards the corridor leading to the side hall.
At this moment, under the corridor, Shen Yujiao was blocked in her way. She looked at the person in front of her with a cold face and spoke without any politeness: "Your Highness, please make way, you are blocking my way."
Upon hearing this, King Huan remained standing there motionless. Seeing that his eyes were red, his thin lips were tightly pursed, and his temples and jawline were taut, Shen Yujiao guessed that he was probably drunk. Not wanting to argue with a drunkard, she took a step to step aside and walk around him.
But before she could get past him, he grabbed her wrist with such force that Shen Yujiao's eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you doing? Let go!"
The person opposite her didn't hold on to her death. As soon as Shen Yujiao struggled, he let go and she regained her freedom. Shen Yujiao subconsciously wanted to run towards the main hall where Jiang Chen was.
"You just said I was blocking your way?" The person behind me suddenly spoke, his voice low and hoarse, clearly indicating that he was indeed drunk.
Shen Yujiao was somewhat helpless, guessing that he must have mistaken her for a palace maid. She turned to look at Prince Huan and gestured with her eyes towards the narrow corridor: "Otherwise what? There's only one path here. If you're blocking my way, how am I supposed to walk?"
Upon hearing this, King Huan's throat bobbed a few times. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Jiang Chen walking over from around the corner. He took a few steps forward, reached out and grasped the wrist of the person in front of him, and with a slight pull, drew the person into his arms.
Why are you standing here?
Shen Yujiao could tell he was drunk, and she felt a little worried and annoyed. There was a drunkard in front of her and another drunkard behind her. She really didn't know if they were drinking so much because they were getting a reward or something.
She broke free from Jiang Chen's embrace, shifted her position to support him, and, suppressing her displeasure because of the presence of others, softly replied, "I was just about to look for you when I ran into my elder brother. I was thinking of asking if you were still in the main hall."
"Brother," Jiang Chen seemed to only then notice Prince Huan standing to the side. He turned to Prince Huan with a grin, then raised his hand and patted Prince Huan's shoulder heavily. "Go back and rest early. Your sister-in-law is still waiting up ahead, isn't she?"
Upon hearing this, King Huan hummed in agreement, then asked with some concern, "Do you need my help? It's quite a distance from here to the palace gate."
Jiang Chen lowered his head and waved his hand, leaning against Shen Yujiao. He said in a muffled voice, "No need, brother, go back. I... won't see you off."
Shen Yujiao timely controlled the wildly waving arm, looked up and gave Huan Wang a perfunctory smile, then helped Jiang Chen stumble back. Even after they had walked a long way, Huan Wang could still hear Shen Yujiao's complaints.
"Why did you drink so much?!"
Back at the East Palace, Shen Yujiao threw him directly onto the bed, then sat at the table, panting and chugging tea. Seeing Jiang Chen drunk and unconscious, the anger she had suppressed in front of others surged up again.
"Wishing you well!"
Hearing the Crown Princess's anger, Zhu Yu didn't dare to delay for a moment. He hurriedly scrambled into the bedchamber from the outer room and knelt down in front of Shen Yujiao with a thud.
Seeing how scared he was, Shen Yujiao couldn't take her anger out on him. But when she turned to look at Jiang Chen, she was still furious: "Why is the Crown Prince so drunk?"
"In response to Your Highness, well... these past few days, when His Highness has attended banquets at the palace, he has declined every toast offered, citing illness. Today, His Majesty was watching, and several princes took turns offering toasts. His Highness couldn't very well refuse the princes' kindness in front of His Majesty, so... so..."
There's no need to say anything more. What doesn't Shen Yujiao understand? Jiang Chen is probably in a difficult situation in the palace today. It's already quite an achievement that he even bothered to come looking for her. Who can she blame? The Emperor?
"Sigh..." She sat down and sighed deeply. When she heard Jiang Chen say he was thirsty, she quickly poured him a glass of warm water and brought it over. "Here, take your time."
Jiang Chen struggled to open his eyes. Although the outline of the person in front of him was blurry, he could vaguely make out that it was Shen Yujiao. Only then did he feel relieved. He drank most of a glass of water from Shen Yujiao's hand, and then collapsed onto the bed, having no strength left.
Seeing that he was sleeping uncomfortably, Shen Yujiao felt both heartache and helplessness. She asked Zhu Yu to call two eunuchs to help Jiang Chen get up, change his clothes, and wipe his body. After everything was tidied up inside, Shen Yujiao returned to the inner palace.
Jiang Chen had been changed into a set of pajamas by the eunuch. With the restraints removed, his expression had softened considerably, but he was still frowning, seemingly uncomfortable.
Shen Yujiao felt his forehead and neck, worried that he had a fever. She then put her hand under the covers and gently covered his stomach. Seeing that Jiang Chen was indeed having an upset stomach, she immediately ordered someone to summon the royal physician Wang, who was in charge of serving the Crown Prince.
"His Highness the Crown Prince drank too much today and is feeling a bit feverish. He also seems to be suffering from severe stomach pain. Does Your Excellency have any way to alleviate this?"
After hearing this, Physician Wang first bowed to her, then stepped forward to check Jiang Chen's breathing and then took his pulse. After a moment, he respectfully reported, "Your Highness must have induced vomiting after drinking the wine. At this moment, your stomach is empty and burning, which will naturally cause discomfort. I will now prescribe a remedy. After it is cooked, wait until it is warm before letting Your Highness take it. You will feel much better in less than a quarter of an hour."
“Okay, then I’ll have to trouble you,” Shen Yujiao said quickly.
Physician Wang hurriedly said he dared not, bowed, and then went to fetch and prepare the medicine. Shen Yujiao stayed by the bedside until the medicine was brought over. She personally fed it to Jiang Chen spoonful by spoonful. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, seeing that Jiang Chen's brow was slowly relaxing, Shen Yujiao went to wash up and change her clothes.
Late at night, after the lights were turned off, Shen Yujiao leaned against the bed rail, looking at Jiang Chen's sleeping face but unable to fall asleep. Jiang Chen had drunk too much today, and she felt that she had overlooked some details, but at this moment she couldn't remember what she had forgotten.
Slender, fair fingers stroked the boy's brow. At this moment, Shen Yujiao's eyes were filled with heartache. She slowly lay down beside Jiang Chen. As soon as her head touched the pillow, the person next to her seemed to notice her movement. Although he was clearly asleep with his eyes closed, he was able to accurately cover her with the blanket.
In the darkness, Shen Yujiao was slightly taken aback, then leaned her head a little closer to him. Between breaths, she could faintly smell the mint water mixed with the smell of alcohol. She never objected to Jiang Chen drinking, but she was worried that he would harm his health if he drank too much.
After a while, seeing that Jiang Chen's breathing was steady, her worries gradually subsided. As expected, Jiang Chen did not have the habit of acting crazy when drunk after changing bodies, which made her feel slightly relieved.
The room was quiet. Shen Yujiao lay beside Jiang Chen, and only the sound of their breathing could be heard. After the constant turmoil of the past few days, she was somewhat reluctant to leave this moment of peace. She had originally intended to take advantage of her clear mind to think about what she had overlooked today, but before she knew it, her consciousness was gradually covered by drowsiness.
The next day, the morning sun shone through the window lattice and into the vast bedroom, illuminating the bed curtains. Jiang Chen struggled to wake up amidst a splitting headache.
He stared blankly at the bed curtains reflecting the red light for a moment, then his consciousness gradually returned. He felt a numbness in his left shoulder. Looking to the side, he saw Shen Yujiao sleeping soundly with her head on his left shoulder. Jiang Chen wanted to endure the discomfort and go back to sleep, but after all the commotion yesterday, his throat was so dry and painful. After lying there for a while, he carefully moved Shen Yujiao's head onto the pillow, then got up and moved his numb shoulder. He went to the small clay stove and poured himself a cup of hot water.
Mu Jin had been guarding the outer palace since last night, fearing that the two masters might feel unwell and need someone to help. Hearing the noise from the inner palace, she quickly and quietly entered. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, she immediately lowered her eyes, brought over the medicine that had been kept warm in the outer room, and whispered, "Your Highness, this is medicine that the Crown Princess had prepared for you. Before going to sleep, she instructed that if you wake up, you must take it while it is still warm."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen put down his water glass, took the medicine bowl from Mu Jin's hand, and drank it all in one gulp. Then, in a hoarse voice, he said, "You've worked hard. Go and rest. There's nothing else to do today, so tell the servants not to come over."
"Yes." Seeing Mu Jin leave with the bowl of medicine, Jiang Chen lay back down on the bed.
Yesterday was the last palace banquet. Since court sessions would begin the day after tomorrow, the emperor gave everyone two days off. As a result, on the sixth day of the month, the Eastern Palace was quiet. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess slept and woke up repeatedly, as if trying to make up for all the sleep they had missed these past few days.
They slept until the seventh day of the new year, then went back to the study. Even during the two-day holiday, they couldn't find any rest.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of the month. This was also the day when Jiang Chen officially began attending court.
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