drunk
"What do you think of what happened tonight?" Wei Shu and Jiang Jin walked slowly on the bluestone path. There was some fog in the night, but fortunately, oil lamps were burning all night throughout the governor's mansion.
"I don't have any opinion, I'm just curious about what her purpose is?" Jiang Jin looked up at the moon in the sky, "But it seems that she can't escape being schemed against and being schemed against."
"Tired?" Wei Shu asked, looking at Jiang Jin's sorrowful expression.
"Yes, I'm a little tired, but we still have to keep going." Jiang Jin smiled. "It's okay, let's go back and rest, it's already past 1 AM."
"Okay." Wei Shu didn't bring up any other topics and followed Jiang Jin back to the courtyard.
"Your Highness, the person has been brought over." Lou Xuan was leaning against the couch with her eyes closed, resting, and Xue Ya's voice failed to make her open her eyes.
"What's going on?" Lou Xuan asked, fanning himself and pointing at the bamboo couch.
"Madam Wang was poisoned with arsenic, but the imperial physician arrived in time and saved her. Her maid said that Lord Wei is definitely involved in this matter." Lou Xuan didn't respond, so Xueya had to continue.
"They said the Wang family was trying to escape, and Madam Jiang suggested giving them a sleeping potion, but no arsenic was found in the porridge."
"Well, since she's here, let's check her bedroom. This governor's mansion certainly has such capable people—sneaking into a room under guard, poisoning someone, and then leaving without a trace. Remember to offer amnesty if you find her." Lou Xuan waved his fan dismissively.
"What if we can't find it?" Xueya had a plan in mind, but she didn't say it out loud.
"Make an example of him; framing Ah Jin deserves to die." Lou Xuan opened his eyes and looked at Xue Ya. "Has there been any result regarding the dereliction of duty?"
"His Majesty has already issued an edict to dismiss him and investigate him, and the Third Prince has also taken action. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince no longer has the energy to keep an eye on Bianzhou," Xueya relayed the news that had just arrived.
"Then let's watch from the sidelines, adding fuel to the fire when necessary, but remember not to get yourself into trouble." Lou Xuan can manipulate the court even without being in the capital.
"Yes." Xueya noticed the dark circles under Lou Xuan's eyes and advised, "Your Highness, please go and rest. This search will take a while."
"No need, I can't sleep even if I want to rest." Lou Xuan looked at Xue Ya with a smile, "What do you think A Jin is doing right now?"
"Madam Jiang is naturally resting. With His Highness taking care of her, she can rest well." Xueya smiled and brought in the warmed-up Seven-Return Cake. "Your Highness, why don't you have some? This is freshly made by the cook."
"That's quite ingenious." Lou Xuan picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. "Not bad, we can let A Jin have some tomorrow."
"Your Highness knows your wife well; tomorrow your eyes will surely be on this cake." Xueya noted it down and then served Lou Xuan some food. "Your Highness, would you like some wine? The governor's mansion has quite a few good wines, including a few jugs of your favorite goose-yellow wine."
"Bring it up." Lou Xuan's mood improved as he looked at the table full of delicacies. "Let Commandant Chang come and taste this wine."
"Yes." Xueya would naturally not disobey Lou Xuan's orders. The worldly taboo of meeting outsiders late at night was something Lou Xuan would simply ignore.
Chang Yi had just taken off his outer robe inside the room when he heard Xueya's voice outside the door, "Captain Chang, are you resting? My prince has just received a pot of goose-yellow wine. Would you do me the honor of coming to taste it?"
"Since it is Your Highness's invitation, how could I refuse?" Chang Yi, having dressed again, opened the door and walked ahead of Xue Ya.
"Your Highness seems to be in a bad mood today?" Chang Yi wondered if the poisoning incident was causing Lou Xuan some distress.
"This servant doesn't know about these matters either. Commandant Chang, please tell His Highness after you've seen him." Chang Yi knew he wouldn't get any information from Xueya, so he gave up on the idea.
"Your Highness." Chang Yi bowed, and Xue Ya respectfully withdrew and closed the door.
"Commander Chang, would you like to try this goose-yellow wine from the Governor's Mansion?" Lou Xuan's fair fingers held up a wine cup and placed it in front of Chang Yi.
"Your Highness is of noble birth, how could I trouble you to pour me wine?" Chang Yi picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
"So decisive, aren't you afraid I'll poison this wine for you?" Lou Xuan lifted Chang Yi's chin. "Bianzhou is very good, so I want it to become my fiefdom. What do you think, Commandant Chang?"
“Since it is what Your Highness desires, I will certainly do my utmost.” Chang Yi grasped Lou Xuan’s fingers. “Isn’t Your Highness’s behavior rather impolite?”
"Etiquette?" Lou Xuan chuckled and withdrew her finger. "I'm not afraid of those rumors. Why is Commandant Chang afraid? Or is Commandant a person who strictly adheres to etiquette?"
"Your Highness, why don't you spare some time to understand what kind of person I am?" Chang Yi pulled Lou Xuan's hand up and drew her into his arms.
"Offending the princess is a grave offense, Chang Yi, do you know your mistake?" Lou Xuan raised her hand and grabbed the hand at her waist.
“But I am the princess’s consort, and I will inevitably offend her in the future.” Chang Yi remained unmoved. Lou Xuan stepped on his foot, then got up and sat on the wooden stool.
"Kneel down!" Lou Xuan's voice was unreadable, neither happy nor angry. Chang Yi didn't care and obediently knelt on the ground.
"You're very capable; you've driven Wang Juesong to desperation." Lou Xuan didn't mince words and stated his meaning directly.
"Your Highness is not to be underestimated either. To be able to frame a prefectural governor for treason and to mobilize so many crossbows, I truly dare not underestimate you, Princess," Chang Yi retorted, not to be outdone.
"Father intends to appoint you as Commander-in-Chief, are you happy, Commander Chang?" Lou Xuan squatted down and looked into Chang Yi's eyes.
"Your Majesty's decision is naturally beyond my ability to presume to speak of it." Chang Yi exchanged a glance with Lou Xuan, showing no sign of panic.
"Tsk, all talk and no action. So, Commander Chang, have you come up with a plan? How can you help me take Bianzhou?"
"Didn't Your Highness take action? The court has been quite unstable lately." Chang Yi wasn't stupid; as soon as Lou Xuan revealed a hint of his thoughts, he could connect all the dots.
"Chang Yi, I've actually grown quite fond of your clever mind. If I die, I'll definitely take you with me." Lou Xuan chuckled, patting Chang Yi's cheek, his eyes filled with icy coldness.
"Get up, the floor is cold. I'd be heartbroken if you hurt yourself kneeling on it." Lou Xuan sat back down at the table.
"Your Highness, I believe you." Chang Yi, no longer holding back, drank several cups of pale yellow wine.
"If you get drunk, I won't have anyone to take you home." Lou Xuan looked at Chang Yi's still clear eyes and suddenly became interested. "Commander Chang, how much wine do you need to drink before you get drunk?"
"I have never been drunk since birth, but if Your Highness wishes to know, I am willing to give it a try." Chang Yi drank another cup of goose-yellow wine.
"Excellent, Xueya, bring a few more jars of wine. I want to see Commandant Chang drunk today." Lou Xuan was quite pleased with Chang Yi's tact. Before long, Xueya led several people to place the fine wine from the altar on the table.
"Your Highness, these are all the fine wines from the Governor's residence." Xueya lowered her head and led the group away. As she closed the door, she saw Lou Xuan watching Chang Yi drink with great interest.
"Chang Yi, your alcohol tolerance is really impressive. You're still quite clear-headed after three jars of wine." Lou Xuan's curiosity was piqued as he looked at the empty wine jars on the table.
"Chang Yi, are you still ready for the next jar of wine?" Lou Xuan poured himself a jar of wine as well.
"Your Highness, why not give it a try?" Chang Yi directly unsealed the wine, lifted the jar, and drank it all in one gulp. At this moment, there was a hint of drunkenness in his eyes.
"Drunk?" Lou Xuan stood up and placed his wine cup to Chang Yi's lips. "Can you still drink?"
"It would be disrespectful for me to refuse Your Highness's gift." Chang Yi grasped Lou Xuan's hand and drank the wine in her cup without hesitation.
"Are you really drunk or pretending?" Lou Xuan lifted Chang Yi's chin with her index finger.
"If Your Highness believes I am truly drunk, then I am truly drunk; if Your Highness believes I am faking drunkenness, then I am faking drunkenness." Chang Yi then took Lou Xuan's hand.
"Your Highness told me your plans today. Can I take that Your Highness is now trying to trust me?" Chang Yi asked, taking advantage of his drunkenness.
"You are the son-in-law bestowed upon me by my father, so naturally I must trust you." This time, Lou Xuan did not withdraw her finger, but simply looked at Chang Yi.
“From the moment I became Your Highness’s consort, Your Highness has been the most important person in my heart.” Chang Yi knelt down in front of Lou Xuan. “Your Highness, Chang Yi is at your service.”
"Commander Chang, you're quite pragmatic." Lou Xuan withdrew his finger and looked down at Chang Yi with a condescending expression.
"I hope Commander Chang will keep his word. If you betray me, I will have a thousand ways to make you wish you were dead."
"Of course." Chang Yi knelt respectfully at Lou Xuan's feet. "Your Highness is a daughter of heaven, and I dare not neglect her."
"Get up." Lou Xuan's wariness of Chang Yi intensified. Such flexibility and adaptability could easily lead to him overstepping his bounds; that would be disastrous.
"Commander Chang surely knows what to do, right?" Lou Xuan suppressed his vigilance and maintained a calm expression.
"I told you, Your Highness will get everything you want." Chang Yi looked intently at Lou Xuan.
"No, I mean everything you and I want, I can have." Lou Xuan held out her palm in front of Chang Yi.
"It is my great honor." Chang Yi reached out and took Lou Xuan's hand in his large palm.
At dawn, Chang Yi returned to his residence, the warmth of his palms still lingering. He took out a small booklet from a box, filled with information about Lou Xuan.
"Princess Zhaoyang is truly fascinating. I wonder if His Majesty is aware of her ambitions, or if His Majesty simply wants to give the Crown Prince's faction more wings?" Chang Yi lay on the couch, the drunkenness long gone, leaving only deep suspicion on his face.
"Your Highness, Lady Jiang and Lord Wei have arrived." Xueya cleared away the leftover food from the table and replaced it with fresh breakfast.
"Yes, let them in." Lou Xuan hadn't slept all night but showed no signs of fatigue.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Jiang Jin bowed, but Xue Ya quickly pulled her up, while Wei Shu obediently returned the bow.
"Tell me, what's this about the sleeping potion?" Xueya helped Jiang Jin sit down next to Lou Xuan.
"Madam Wang and her men attempted to escape through the secret passage. I knew I couldn't kill them all, so I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure." Jiang Jin, unable to discern Lou Xuan's intentions, could only kneel below.
"Having heard General Wei's words that there would be no mercy, Ah Jin will probably want to protect him to some extent." Lou Xuan naturally knew Jiang Jin's thoughts.
"Your Highness, I have this intention, but I dare not deceive you." Jiang Jin swallowed hard, not daring to refute. Lou Xuan glanced at Wei Shu but did not approve.
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