Chapter 160 How Would You Choose Fireworks?
“Yes…” Mu Chenbi said blankly, “Unfortunately, there was no wine with me at that time.”
Guan Ye raised her wine bowl and touched the rim of Mu Chenbi's bowl again, "Then let's save it for today, I'll drink with you."
Mu Chenbi felt a surge of heat in his heart and, disregarding everything else, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. Surprisingly, the pungent liquor tasted surprisingly sweet. Mu Chenbi looked at the bottom of the bowl in confusion, "This liquor... is sweet?"
Guan Ye laughed again, "You...you really...are so silly."
Mu Chenbi picked up the wine jar and refilled it for the two of them. After three bowls, their wheat-colored skin was flushed. When he reached out to add more, Guan Ye quickly picked up the wine jar and stopped him. Looking at Mu Chenbi's strong body, which was much heavier than a fifty-pound bag, she wondered what she would do if he got too drunk.
"Guan Ye." Mu Chenbi's hand grasped at empty air, his eyes swirling with dark rage, when he suddenly grabbed Guan Ye's wrist. "Give it to me."
Guan Ye slapped his hand, leaving a five-finger mark on the back of Mu Chenbi's hand. "Give me the wine." Mu Chenbi grabbed Guan Ye's wrist and tried to snatch the wine jar.
So... he wanted to drink... Guan Ye suddenly felt guilty, picked up the wine jar and poured a little more for Mu Chenbi, "This is your first time drinking, you don't know your own alcohol tolerance, drink less, no one will care if you get drunk here."
"When was the first time you drank alcohol?" Mu Chenbi rested his chin on one hand and held up the wine bowl with the other, his dark eyes beneath his phoenix-feather eyelashes deep and unfathomable.
Guan Ye recalled that it was when her father finally brought her to Tangshui City. Overjoyed, her father bought a jar of wine, and she secretly took a big gulp when her father wasn't looking. She felt so dizzy that it was as if she was walking on a pile of cotton. Her father shook her awake and scolded her, "You little brat, you dare to steal strong liquor. With your health, you'll die if you drink a few more sips."
Drinking could kill you? Guan Ye was skeptical. A few days later, her father found a large ship and said he would take her out to sea. Once they arrived, she wouldn't have to run away anymore. Her father took out the little silver he had left and bought a jar of good wine. He said he didn't know if there would be any wine to drink there, so he had to drink his fill before boarding the ship.
Guan Ye hadn't forgotten the feeling of almost dying from dizziness last time, so no matter how much she craved it, she didn't dare to steal a drink. She watched as her father drank a whole jar of wine and then never woke up again... The mortician who prepared her father's body for burial said that being able to die according to one's own preferences wasn't a loss.
After that, we drank together and returned to Rongdu with Xingguo Ward. The Emperor himself visited Xingguo Ward, giving the Pei family immense glory. That night, everyone in the ward drank to their heart's content, and I also drank a few bowls. Perhaps it was because I had grown up, but I no longer had the feeling of stepping on a pile of cotton after sneaking a drink when I was young. I only felt a pleasant, slightly tipsy feeling. The banquet was filled with clinking glasses, the young men discussed swordsmanship under the moon, and there was Ajiu... Guan Ye's cheeks flushed. Ajiu that night... was so hot.
As Guan Ye thought about it, her forehead became damp. Suddenly, it seemed that A Jiu was sitting right across from her, one hand supporting her chin and the other holding a cup, staring at her intently. Her dark eyes held a huge ball of raging fire, with the power to burn the heavens and the earth.
"Ah Jiu..." Guan Ye couldn't help but whisper, "What could she be doing?"
Mu Chenbi was startled. He heard it clearly: Guan Ye called out Ajiu's name. Mu Chenbi raised his wrist and drank the wine. Only he could hear the low sigh in his heart.
— "Guan Ye" (关靥).
A shout pulled Guan Ye from her reverie, "Song...Er?" Guan Ye rubbed her eyes, "Why are you here?"
Song Mian breathed heavily, glancing sideways at Mu Chenbi. He was about to say something to Guan Ye when he suddenly seemed to realize something was wrong. He couldn't help but turn his head to look directly at Mu Chenbi. The word "Ajiu" stuck in his throat. This person was clearly Ajiu, but... it didn't seem like it... Song Mian rubbed his forehead a few times. The cold wind outside made him exceptionally clear-headed. He hadn't been drinking, so how could he not even recognize the person?
“We’ve met before.” Mu Chenbi pulled out a chair and invited Song Mian to sit down. “Sit down and have a drink.”
Song Mian sat down stiffly, not daring to reach out and take the wine bowl that Mu Chenbi offered. Mu Chenbi smiled, put down the wine bowl, and looked at Guan Ye, saying, "Your friend surnamed Song seems to have figured something out. His eyes are sharper than those of the people in Xingguo Ward."
"He...is not A-Jiu?" Song Mian looked closely at the man's face in disbelief. After a little attention, he could tell that he was indeed not A-Jiu. Even if he had a scar on his brow bone that was the same as A-Jiu's, he was not A-Jiu.
"My name is Mu Chenbi." Mu Chenbi smiled and nodded. "You and Guan Ye seem to be old acquaintances?"
Song Mian picked up the wine bowl and took a sip. A little color returned to his pale face. He glanced at Guan Ye, put down the wine bowl, and said slowly, "I suppose so."
Guan Ye's heart was in her throat. Just as she was about to say something, Song Mian said, "She goes to buy fried cakes whenever she has free time. That's how we got to know each other. When she saw me being insulted by the shopkeeper, she even introduced me to help Boss Wanqi deliver goods. Does that count as being old acquaintances?"
“Of course it counts.” Mu Chenbi nodded. “A friend in need is a friend indeed. Guan Ye is chivalrous and loyal. I admire her more and more.”
Song Mian turned to look at Guan Ye, his deep-set eyes conveying a profound meaning, "What a chivalrous heart! Guan Ye can be like this to me, she can only do even better to others."
Mu Chenbi smiled and said, "Of course, I should be worthy of being called Master Guan."
Guan Ye sensed that Song Mian seemed to have something to say to her, "Did you want to see me about something?"
Song Mian glanced sideways at Mu Chenbi. Although he didn't know who this man was, his demeanor and bearing suggested he was no ordinary person. Song Mian opened his mouth as if to speak, but then waved his hand and said, "What could it be? I was just passing by and thought it was you and Ajiu together, so I thought I'd come in and ask you for a drink. I've had my drink, so I'm leaving." As he spoke, he got up to leave, lifted one foot, turned around, picked up a fried quail between two fingers, and chuckled, "I haven't eaten yet, thanks."
Mu Chenbi observed Song Mian's retreating figure with interest. "Although this man does rough work, he has a scholarly air about him. It seems he has his own past." Then she smiled at Guan Ye and said, "Do you have a story? I'd like to hear yours."
Guan Ye seemed not to have heard Mu Chenbi's words clearly. She leaned out of the window to look for Song Mian. West Street was already at its noisiest time. In the blink of an eye, Song Mian's slender figure had already blended into the crowd and was hard to find.
Across from the tavern, Lou Cangyu had been hiding for quite some time. He had followed Song Mian all the way there. When they arrived at the tavern, Song Mian saw Guan Ye and A Jiu sitting opposite each other by the window. Song Mian, as if grasping at a lifeline, hurried inside to find Guan Ye and A Jiu. He even drank the wine A Jiu offered him. Song Mian's brows were heavy as he spoke to the two of them for a while. Lou Cangyu was too far away to hear what they were saying. After sitting for a short while, Song Mian got up and left. He probably didn't say much in those few words, but… judging from Song Mian's expression, he must have overheard something while spying in the inner quarters. He was eager to tell others what he had seen and heard, even if not today, even if it wasn't Guan Ye and A Jiu, he would tell others someday…
When Lou Cangyu first heard about Song Mian's background from Guan Ye, he was already filled with unease. The boy who survived jumping into the sea from Hu Xian's ship, who held the secret of smuggling people from Canglang Island, and who was indignant about the drowning of others, constantly claiming to seek justice for his companions... How could they all be so soft-hearted about such a dangerous person, and even fantasize about persuading Song Mian to keep the secret? Song Mian can keep it for a while, but not forever. Only the dead can truly keep secrets.
Most importantly—he might have overheard Wushuang and Wanqixi's conversation. Regardless of whether he heard it or not, or how much he heard, as long as Wushuang's safety is at stake, Song Mian cannot live any longer, even if there is the slightest possibility.
Lou Cangyu reached for the sword hanging at his waist, gripping the hilt tightly. The veins on the back of his hand bulged. The last time this sword drew blood, it was when it cut Ajiu's brow bone. If it drew blood again today... it would be the death of Song Mian.
It was nearly midnight, and the crowds at the market gradually dispersed, leaving only a few people buying New Year's items. Suddenly, a "whoosh" was heard, and fireworks were set off by some wealthy family in Rongdu. One after another, they illuminated half the night sky. Guan Ye looked over and saw fireworks scattering everywhere, much like the mysterious fireworks that had lit up the Heavenly Furnace on the day the meteorite was melted. Guan Ye stared blankly, the light of the fireworks shining on her upturned face, giving her beautiful features a jewel-like luster.
Everyone was drawn to the sudden fireworks, cheering and rushing into the streets, pointing at the bursts of light in the night sky and marveling at them. Only Mu Chenbi seemed to be outside of this world. At this moment, there was no noise, no fireworks, no passersby, no worldly troubles. There was only his beloved woman, resting her chin on her hand and gazing intently at him. Her eyes shone brightly, and in Mu Chenbi's eyes, there was only her.
"Do you like watching fireworks?" Mu Chenbi asked softly. He was reluctant to break the tranquility, yet he couldn't help but want to say something to Guan Ye.
"Hmm," Guan Ye responded. She had seen it all on the run. Back then, during major festivals, wealthy families in small towns would set off fireworks, drawing crowds of people eager to watch. At those times, her father would look on with disdain, muttering, "What's so special about that? The fireworks in Rongdu during festivals are truly exciting!" He would gesture as he spoke, "In our Tianhufang alone, we set off firecrackers and fireworks for a full hour on New Year's Eve." As he spoke, her father's mood darkened again. "Firecrackers?!" All that could be heard was the thud of his head hitting the ground.
When Guan Ye saw the Rongdu fireworks her father had mentioned today, she wasn't particularly excited. Fireworks are beautiful, but their beauty is fleeting, turning to ashes in an instant. You hear the sound, see the spectacle, and then it's gone. Even so, people still set them off and watch them. Even knowing it's a ephemeral display of brilliance, so many people still go, without complaint or regret.
Just like Pei Yuan, who was determined to rebuild Zhenguo Fang, he knew the road ahead was unpredictable, but he still embarked on the uncertain journey back to the capital without hesitation. He would rather be like fireworks, even if he were to be reduced to ashes, he would not have lived a brilliant life. If he could choose, Pei Yuan would rather have his head fall at the execution ground than be like his ancestor Pei Chong, just a forgotten grave on Canglang Island.
Guan Ye, what would you choose?
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