Chapter 32: Drunken Lament

  "Xiao, don't drink too much." Jing Changke snatched the wine jug from Zhang Xiao's tight grip, letting him continue drinking, and tomorrow's wedding would be unnecessary.

  As his good friend, Jing Changke also didn't know what to say to comfort the man in front of him who was drowning his sorrows in drink. Having never experienced love himself, how could he take a stand and comment on who was right or wrong?

  The only thing he remembered was that when everyone else was pointing and staring at Leng Ziyue, he was always defending her. Not just because she was his fiancée, but also because this man truly loved that woman.

  When everything's balance is broken, a good couple becomes resentful, one with unspoken bitterness in their heart, the other attempting to take their own life, only to have their emotions suddenly change.

  Whether it is good or bad, who can tell clearly.

  "Leave me alone, let me drink, let me drink..." Zhang Xiao stood up, disregarding the wine stains on his white long shirt, and desperately tried to grab the wine jug that was being held high in his hand.

  His heart hurts so much, it really hurts, he's almost dying of pain, why not let him have a good drink.

  Although he wanted to get drunk, why did he become more and more sober? He was in so much pain. But no one could understand his pain, no one could fully comprehend his suffering.

  Want to love, can't love, want to get close, afraid of being rejected.

  This is his life without Yueer, what's the point of him living on?

  "Xiao, don't be too hard on yourself." No matter what his intentions were, after a few years had passed, in Jing Changke's heart, he had already considered Zhang Xiao to be his friend.

  Seeing him being troubled by emotions, yet he was powerless to help, and couldn't even find words of comfort.

  Leng Ziyue's change, Jing Changke saw it with his own eyes, but he didn't say anything. However, he deeply sympathized with Zhang Xiao, because he knew that Zhang Xiao and Leng Ziyue could never go back to the way things were before, forever.

  "Haha, I'm making things difficult for myself. Ah, yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. Do you know how hard it is for me? I don't want to marry her, not even a little bit. I don't like her. Tell me why I should be with her?" After rambling on, Zhang Xiao threw down the wine jug and grabbed Jing Changke's sleeve, saying: "I'm treating you as a friend by inviting you out for drinks. I don't want to see Long Jian, I don't want..."

  With a drunken burp, Zhang shouted loudly on the wine table: "Waiter, bring wine... Bring me all the best wines... Quick... Quick..."

  He didn't want to see Baili Changjian, nor did he want to see his aunt. Nobody wanted to see him.

  But he couldn't deceive himself. The person he most wanted to see was the one he didn't dare to meet, his Yue'er, that Yue'er who hated him. Isn't it ridiculous?

  "Alright, I'll send you back to your place, you really can't drink anymore." Jing Changke left his seat and walked over to Zhang Xiao's side, pulling up his arm and putting it on his shoulder, supporting him as he stood up.

  "I'm not drunk, if you're really my friend, come and drink with me... burp... I won't leave, no way..." Feeling his body being dragged away, Zhang Xiao struggled with all his might.

  He didn't want to go back to the palace where he was being watched like a prisoner by all his family members. What's meant by "his life is tied to the fate of the whole family" and "don't harm everyone for the sake of one person's personal feelings".

  Is he just unwilling to marry a woman he doesn't like and that's going to ruin everything for everyone?

  Why doesn't anyone want to put themselves in his shoes and think for him, even if it's just saying a few words of concern, instead of constantly reminding him not to forget his mission.

  "Alright, I know you're not drunk. Let's change places and drink some more. I know where there's good wine." Jing Changke said following Zhang Xiao's words. Drunken people always say they're not drunk, so why bother arguing about it.

  Tomorrow's wedding is inevitable. Before leaving the house, he had already received the order from the palace master and could not let Zhang Xiao escape the marriage. He must appear at the wedding scene.

  Jing Chang Ke didn't understand why the usually carefree and unenthusiastic Gong Zhu would be so particular about this wedding, which held no significance for him. What hidden circumstances were at play that made him unable to figure it out?

  Dragging his feet, Zhang Xiao smiled foolishly, "You... don't deceive me... don't..."

  "I'm not cheating you."

  "Okay... Ugh... I... Believe... Believe you..."

  Clutching his chest in extreme discomfort, Zhang Xiao's face turned deathly pale. If it weren't for Jing Changke supporting him, he might have collapsed onto the ground and spent the night there.

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  Yongshou Palace

  "I offer my respects to the Empress Dowager, wishing her peace and prosperity." Consort Jiang curtsied elegantly, performing a dignified ritual in front of the Empress Dowager, with a charming smile.

  "Grandson pays respects to the Empress Dowager, wishing her peace and prosperity." With a hundred-mile-long sword and jade crown securing his hair, his entire body clad in green attire accentuating his exceptionally tall and slender figure, he exuded an air of grandeur.

  The Empress Dowager lifted her eyelids and smiled kindly: "All of you get up, it's not necessary to be so formal when a family meets, what's the point of this?"

  "The Empress Dowager has arrived." The mother and son stepped aside, and a eunuch immediately brought over chairs for them to sit on. Once they were seated, the sound of conversation filled the hall.

  Qin auntie gently massaged the empress dowager's shoulders, while palace maid Ju Xiang pounded on the empress dowager's legs. No one broke the silence first.

  The Empress Dowager usually tells the imperial concubines that she likes quietness and doesn't need to ask for their well-being every day, but Yongshou Palace is still bustling. Whoever wants to compete for favor in front of the palace will come to curry favor with her, the Empress Dowager.

  After all, she is someone who can speak in front of the emperor, and as long as she speaks up, the imperial favor will not have to worry.

  Jiang Guifei, regardless of whether it was windy and rainy or thunderous, even if the Empress Dowager did not see her, would definitely come to pay respects, even if only standing outside the gate of the Yongsou Palace.

  "But there's something I want to ask the empress dowager." Her slightly narrowed eyes sparkled with a subtle, mysterious light. Having lived for most of her life in the palace, what could possibly escape her notice?

  In the harem, as long as the women's fight for favor did not affect the emperor's offspring, she would turn a blind eye and pretend that nothing had happened.

  Her dignity is not allowed to be underestimated by anyone.

  "Look what Mother Empress said, isn't it just us servants coming to pay our respects and ask after your well-being?" Concubine Jiang covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief embroidered with orchids, smiling in a way that seemed to scold and tease at the same time, a perfect picture of a playful concubine.

  "Your Majesty, I really do have something to discuss. The Emperor put down his tea cup and looked at the Empress Dowager's eyes, indicating that he should continue speaking. He went on: "I know that Your Majesty often invites Miss Leng to play music in the palace. This time, I came to borrow a scripture, which Your Majesty is also aware of. As you know, I love collecting famous zithers from all over the world. Yesterday, I acquired a good one and wanted to ask Miss Leng to try it out. At the banquet that day, her performance of 'Ambush on All Sides' was even praised by Father Emperor."

  Seemingly unintentionally, Baili Changjian's eyes met the Empress Dowager's gaze, which had turned sharp in an instant. He looked very innocent and calm, and no one could detect any intention.

  "Oh, I haven't heard of it before. Let her come to the palace in a few days and perform for me." The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, and a surge of anger suddenly rose from her chest. That little girl actually dared to act in front of her, which was really not right.

  Things at the palace banquet, she must have known the reason, just thinking about finding a reason to summon Leng Ziyue into the palace, Baili Changjian gave her a good excuse.

  She'd better take a good look at that girl and see where she got her skills from.

  It's not easy, but with one throw, she was really thrown into a good mess...