Chapter 19 - The Smell Of Alcohol

 The cold wind outside was fierce, and the three guards guarding the gate were so cold that their hands and feet were a little stiff, and they just wanted to rub their hands and stamp their feet. They turned their heads and saw Yan Xue standing expressionless, like an ice sculpture. They didn't dare to move immediately and could only grit their teeth and persist.

"Guard Yan, please open the door; I have something to do." Bai Zhi's voice came from the courtyard.

Yan Xue turned around and opened the door. This time of being confined was different from the last time. The prince specifically told him that if the servants in Jianjia Garden had something to report, he must open the door in time.

As soon as the door opened, Bai Zhi's face was revealed. Her round face was slightly upturned, with a bit of reluctance, and she looked particularly cute and innocent.

"These are for you; take them!"

Bai Zhi stuffed the oil bag into Yan Xue's hand, turned, and ran away. Before Yan Xue could come to his senses, he saw two more exquisite oil bags in his hand. The three guards beside him immediately became alert.

"Guard Yan, does Miss Bai Zhi like you? She even sent you something."

"Guard Yan, you are so serious all day long, but there is a girl who likes you."

"Guard Yan, open it and have a look."

Yan Xue opened one of the oil bags and found that it was full of pastries. Each pastry was different, with different colours and unique shapes. It looked very delicate and appetising.

One of the guards exclaimed, "I have heard that the salty pastries made by Miss Bai Zhi, the princess's personal maid, are excellent. Today, I see that they are indeed well-deserved. Let me have a taste."

After saying that, he was about to reach out to pinch it. Yan Xue moved quickly and dodged.

He said sternly, "The prince ordered us to guard the door, not to joke around!"

The other two guards were about to make fun of it, but when they saw Yan Xue's dignified face and murderous aura, they immediately wilted. They quickly stood still. Yan Xue wrapped the oil package and put it in his arms. After he stood up, his face returned to its usual solemnity, but he always felt warm in his chest. After Bai Zhi delivered the oil package, she trotted to the long corridor at the door of the house and touched her face. It seemed a little hot. She took several deep breaths before she calmed down.

 

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At night, Zhao Yujiao sat in a wheelchair and prepared a few exquisite side dishes in the kitchen. She also asked Hongying to dress her up carefully, looking forward to Pei Xiuyan coming back to have dinner with her. Even when the night was deep, there was still no sign of Pei Xiuyan.

Li Fu trotted over and panted, "Miss Zhao, the prince just sent someone to tell him that he would stay in the palace tonight and would not come back."

Zhao Yujiao bit her lips tightly; her eyes were slightly red, and she felt very aggrieved. This was the first time Pei Xiuyan did not spend the New Year with her in the three years since she moved to the Qing Palace.

Li Fu saw Zhao Yujiao's sad expression and couldn't help feeling distressed.

"Miss Zhao, don't be sad. It's not that the prince won't spend the New Year with you. It's just that he can't leave because of the palace. Today, the emperor is hosting a banquet to entertain Prince Pingyang. How can the prince leave the emperor and Prince Pingyang and come back?"

Zhao Yujiao certainly understood these principles, but she still felt sour in her heart.

Li Fu made up his mind and said, "Miss Zhao, if you don't mind, I'll talk to you here, so don't be sad."

Hongying couldn't help but curl her lips. Li Fu was really disgusting. Zhao Yujiao suppressed her discomfort and said, "Don't bother housekeeper Li. Since the prince is not coming back, I will rest first."

Since that day, she has followed Li Fu's advice and asked Pei Xiuyan to punish Ye Chuyan. Li Fu always came here, intentionally or unintentionally, and often reported Pei Xiuyan's every move to her in private. She knew that Li Fu was the person who knew the prince best, besides Yan Xue. On the one hand, she was eager to understand Pei Xiuyan's words and deeds, as well as the things outside, through Li Fu. On the other hand, she was disgusted that Li Fu took the opportunity to talk to her.

Seeing Zhao Yujiao in a state of despair, Li Fu wanted to hug her and comfort her. Unfortunately, he knew his identity and dared not go beyond that. After a few more words of comfort, he left reluctantly.

 

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Today, the emperor hosted a banquet in his Zhengyang Palace not only for Pingyang Wang Nan Gongli but also for Wu Mu.

Pei Ye raised a glass of wine and said to Wu Mu, "Wu Yuntai donated 500 million taels of silver to the frontier soldiers this time. I wanted to reward him, but he repeatedly refused. What do you think I should reward your Wu family with?"

Pei Ye's face had already flushed from drinking. When he spoke, he always seemed to smile, making it difficult to see his emotions. Wu Mu did not dare to look directly at Pei Ye, so he picked up the glass and drank it all.

He said respectfully, "The Wu family is a royal merchant, and everything they have is the royal grace. We dare not expect rewards. It is our honour to do our best for the Dafeng soldiers."

Nan Gongli was also slightly drunk and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, it was said to be a family dinner; why did you bring up these court affairs again?"

He smiled warmly and spoke very gently.

Pei Ye pinched his eyebrows and shook his head, as if helpless.

"It's all because I drank too much and accidentally brought up these things. I will punish myself with a glass."

Pei Ye picked up the wine glass and was about to drink it, but Pei Xiuyan stopped him.

"Your Majesty, you've drunk too much. How about I drink this glass of wine for you?"

Wu Mu picked up the glass again and looked directly at Pei Xiuyan. "Prince Qing really thinks of Your Majesty everywhere. I will drink this glass with Prince Qing."

Nan Gongli also picked up the glass and said, "I also want to drink a glass of wine for Your Majesty and Prince Qing."

When he spoke, his eyes were already a little wandering. When he picked up the glass, he found that there was no wine in the glass.

Pei Ye was amused by Prince Pingyang's actions and laughed.

"Wu Mu and Prince Qing are both my blood relatives. One shares the affairs of the court with me, and the other shares the worries of the national treasury with me. You are my uncle, and let me marry a virtuous wife."

"You are all my closest friends. I am really happy to invite you to gather here today."

Pei Ye was very excited and excited.

"Come on, let's all put aside our identities today and get drunk."

As soon as Pei Ye was happy, the atmosphere quickly became lively. The hall was filled with wine, and the aroma of wine was everywhere.

Prince Pingyang was the first to fall. He was drunk but still yelled, "Bring more wine." Pei Ye had no choice but to order the eunuch to help him down and settle him down. Pei Ye soon became a little drunk. The eunuch was afraid of delaying the palace ceremony on the first day of the new year, so he persuaded him to leave first.

Seeing this, Wu Mu and Pei Xiuyan persuaded Pei Ye to let the eunuch help him down. Only Wu Mu and Pei Xiuyan were left in the hall. Wu Mu's respect for Pei Ye was gone.

He looked at Pei Xiuyan coldly, gritted his teeth, and said, "Prince Qing, why don't we go to the back garden for a walk to get rid of the smell of alcohol?"

Pei Xiuyan sneered, "The young master of the Wu family is alone, so he can stay out all night. My princess is still waiting for me in the mansion, so I don't have time to accompany you for a walk."

"You..." Wu Mu forced himself to calm down.

He took a deep breath and said calmly, "I heard that there is a girl named Zhao living in the prince's mansion who is very popular with the prince. I wonder if this is true."