Chapter 2
Chen Qian took off the court robes that symbolized his official position and sat back in his chair. He immediately calmed down as if he had never said what he had just said. "You can ask your mother about the rest. I am powerless. All I can do now is to remain in this position so that after entering the palace, Qian'er will still have her family to rely on."
Shen Yi almost broke the fan in his hand. He had so much to figure out, and so much he couldn't. "Father, you said you'd rely on me. Do you think my sister would still rely on the Shen family, on the people who sent her away?"
He seemed to be sitting at a table playing an unsolvable game of chess, a piece clutched between his fingers, certain it would eventually fall somewhere. He knew the wickedness of those within the court, and that beneath their skins lay either a ghoul like the Heavenly Family, or else they would be devoured, reduced to a pile of fleshless, dry bones.
But he didn't understand why it was his elder sister, why it was the Shen family. Now all he could think of was his elder sister's haggard face and his mother's sighing all day long, as well as his own anger.
"Get out. You can stay wherever you want this month. Remember, you're also a member of the Shen family. If anyone can save the Shen family in the future, it's you." Shen Qian raised his voice, his voice hoarse, and his last words sounded a bit dejected. "Even if it's for the Huo family, don't cause trouble again."
He understood what Shen Qian meant, and knew that his elder sister had become a victim from now on. But how could Shen Qian have the heart to do that, as his elder sister was so innocent.
In the end, Shen Yi could only remain silent. Only the sound of the closed door being opened could be heard. He could clearly see the moonlight shining in the courtyard without looking up, and he could also peek at the full moon tonight from the side of the pool.
My sister should have gone to bed by now. Thinking this, he waved his hand to stop the servant from following him and led the horse out of the house.
Shen Yi calmed his horse, which was about to kick, and loosened his clenched fist. He rode through the streets, where the lights were bright, illuminating the bustling city of Chang'an.
Where else could he go? He simply wanted to return to his own peaceful and comfortable place, to resume his old ways—he could even vaguely sense that Chen Qian preferred seeing him this way, as a response to that person. Therefore, he would continue to obey, offering his daughter to the palace without even a murmur of complaint.
The singing hall was filled with the fragrance of powder and cosmetics. The madam smiled and waved her hand to call him in. Chen Yi stopped his horse, unfolded his folding fan and fanned it lightly, avoiding the singing girls who surrounded him. He only responded, "I am alone tonight. Just serve some simple wine. Remember not to let anyone follow us."
The madam nodded repeatedly and naturally asked the singing girls around her to serve other customers. She took the silver bag containing money and busily ordered the waiter to bring the wine.
"Young Marquis, please feel free to drink. These are all good wines that were newly imported this month. If there's anything you don't like, feel free to smash it..." Shen Yi didn't hear what she said next. The groans and laughter coming from some of the rooms filled his ears, making him even more annoyed.
He sat down in the compartment where he usually stayed, and watched the waiters coming and going and piling up wine jars on the table. He slumped in the soft chair, and his smile finally disappeared.
The sheng and xiao instruments in the singing hall continued to play enchanting tunes, enticing the guests who came here for pleasure. Chen Yi looked at the bustling crowd through the thin, transparent window paper and opened the jar of wine and poured it down his throat.
The soft melody sang of Chang'an's bustling night, and the wine, which was no different from the tune, was more like plain water. He tasted a small jar before he realized the taste. Hadn't he noticed the blandness of this wine before?
Chen Yi stopped and thought seriously about his past self. He had indeed forgotten when he had ever drunk alone. Even at night, the sound of the piano in the room never stopped.
Along with the sometimes passionate, sometimes calm string music, singing girls sang the most popular lyrics and songs in Chang'an. So I didn't realize that the wine in the jar couldn't quench my sorrow, and I seemed to have forgotten that I had tied my horse to the high tower and stood by the weeping willows, a place where I had never suffered.
But he couldn't walk anymore, so he just threw the reins to the guys at the door and let them do whatever they wanted.
Shen Yi let himself lie in the chair, leaned on his legs and drank the jar of wine that was like water, then threw the jar to the ground. He heard the crisp sound, looked at the completely broken pottery pieces, and then finally laughed out loud.
He opened a new jar of wine, this time taking it slow, sipping it sip by sip. He inexplicably tasted a hint of sweetness in the wine he often drank. The same sweet incense was lit in the side room, slowly drawing him back into the singing room, into his previous state of mind.
Maybe just a few days ago, before his sister started her hunger strike, he was still gathering with the children of Shen Qian's colleagues to drink and bet - what was they betting on?
Chen Yi thought about what happened a few days ago and drank another jar of wine unconsciously. Because of the rising heat in his body, he loosened his waist belt and opened his collar to let the cool breeze sneak in through the open window.
After thinking about it for a long time, he still couldn't come up with any conclusion. He just thought that it was some property that was gambled away and if it was lost, it was lost. The Marquis's Mansion had everything, so it didn't need these one or two items.
He raised his neck and poured out the remaining wine until there was no drop left before putting it down. He stepped on the broken pottery shards and sat back at the table, reaching out to open the third jar of wine tonight.
Suddenly he felt like something was missing around him. Perhaps it was the noise that almost blew the roof off when they were betting, or perhaps it was the people who were with him - whether they were his companions or the singing girls. Drinking without anyone to accompany him would only make him feel more and more sleepy.
Shen Yi couldn't stand excitement when it came to having fun. Even if he thought about it, he was still a person who refused to admit defeat. He thought that he had only drunk two jars of wine, so it would not be so easy to get drunk.
So he simply attributed his sleepiness to the fact that he had been so hastily riding down the street tonight, forgetting to meet up with his old friend. He had long boasted about not getting drunk even after drinking a thousand cups, and the wine now tasted like water.
He tasted it more slowly, detecting a hint of bitterness amidst the lingering softness, wondering if there was something wrong with this month's new wine.
Only after he had completely calmed down did he continue to think about Shen Qian.
He shouldn't have spoken so much to Shen Qian today; it was just one side of the story. Only he knew exactly what that person meant, and Shen Qian was always concerned with preserving himself, so perhaps there was still room for maneuver.
Even if we have to trouble Old Master Huo in the end, there's no need for Grandfather to personally go to see His Majesty. This matter all depends on what A'niang thinks. A'niang should be able to do it more appropriately.
As for himself, he should arrange another banquet tomorrow and invite the people he usually drinks with. Most of them are just coming of age, around his age, but gathering together to gather some news from the court doesn't necessarily mean he's doing anything unusual.
Besides, that person would not stretch his hands too far and ignore so many officials in the court. He would only stare at them. A place for seeking pleasure is not a place to discuss serious matters.
Chen Yi became more open-minded. He picked up a small half-jar of wine, opened the door and called the waiter, asking him to find a few musicians and singers to play and sing to make the room as lively as possible. He also cut half a plate of roasted meat to go with the wine.
He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and chewed it clean, masking the bitter taste of the wine. He then lay back on his side on the couch, letting the waitress gently take the wine jar from his hand, pour it into a small cup, and then, with her wide sleeves, bring each cup to his lips.
The light scent of powder wafted into his nose, and the sound of the piano soon rang out along with the singing. Shen Yi listened to the familiar tune and felt that it was exactly the same as the sound that had just come from outside the door.
A melodious, clear voice sang the words, and slender fingers plucked the strings of the harp to the tune of the new composition. "Young Marquis—drink slowly, the night is still long." The maid refilled his wine cup. Although she urged him to drink slowly, she filled the cup to the brim, and the wine almost overflowed in the dim light.
Chen Yi drank it all, occasionally picking up some meat with his chopsticks to fill his empty stomach. The music of the piano was soothing, and the aroma of the wine was intoxicating. He slowly closed his eyes and drank one glass of wine after another.
He had no intention of seeking pleasure, and getting drunk was difficult for him. Moreover, he had already thought of some ways, and he just had to think them over carefully tomorrow to see who he could get more information out of so that he could make plans for the next step.
Drinking alcohol now was indeed like drinking water. He fell asleep in the gradually rising drowsiness, accompanied by the continuous sound of piano and voice, soft and gentle, just like sleeping on a soft couch, weaving a gentle paradise, carrying his dissipated anger and confusion, and also nurturing his fear and panic that he had not yet realized.
Shen Yi fell asleep, and the singing girls in the side rooms followed him out. They undressed him, covered him with quilts, and counted the empty wine jars on the table, preparing to go to the madam to collect the tonight's reward money. The young marquis was always generous, and they were eager to stay here, but they hated that he was not interested, just drinking and listening to music while the red sleeves waving in the room.
They had no choice but to pray that some of the money could be allocated to them in the end so that they could use it as capital to support themselves and live a more comfortable life in the singing house.
The autumn wind blew through the closed window, blowing away the last scattered piano sounds, and the sounds of lovemaking also stopped.
After drinking, Shen Yi fell into an unexpectedly deep sleep, and he too had a deep dream on the soft couch—he dreamed of himself riding a horse in front, followed by his elder sister's red sedan chair. Red makeup was spread all the way into the mansion, and Shen Qian had applied the finest rouge, her eyes smiling even brighter than usual.
She is looking forward to it and is in love with it, waiting for the man who will spend the rest of his life with her to come and marry her.
My grandfather rarely went out. He sat on a high seat waiting for the wedding banquet to begin, and also waiting for the newlyweds to bow three times: first to heaven and earth, second to their parents, and third to each other, until the mandarin duck tent was warm and the red star moved.
As for himself, he sat at the main table, drinking the wine brewed by his mother long ago. The strong liquor stirred his spirit again when it went down his throat. He was dressed in fine clothes and riding a horse, full of joy and passion, and he poured all of it into the banquet. He was considered to be the eldest son of the family and the romantic young man.
Only then would one get drunk and enjoy oneself to the fullest.
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