"No," Bai Di said, flicking her sleeve.
"Really?" Su Muxiao said with a charming smile. "Well, cousin, I do have something to talk to you about."
On one side, Bai Di was held tightly by Su Muxiao and couldn't move. On the other side, Bai Sheng was taking care of Princess Mingzhao on behalf of her aunt, Consort Zhao. So she couldn't come to help Bai Di either.
As for Feng Jingxuan, several princes were teaming up to pour cup after cup of strong wine down his throat.
"Di'er remembers that when uncle sent cousin to the nunnery that day, he declared that cousin was not allowed to return to Yongding without permission. Now, what's going on? I haven't heard that uncle has changed his mind. How did cousin manage to leave the nunnery?" Bai Di said, her eyes full of sarcasm.
Su Muxiao gave a faint smile. "Has cousin done anything wrong to be punished and confined to the nunnery? The one who should be punished most is not only at large but also has climbed a higher branch. How can cousin be willing to accept the punishment?"
As she spoke, Su Muxiao slightly retracted her chin and stared fixedly at Bai Di without blinking.
Bai Di felt a shiver down her spine under her gaze. She forced herself to say, "What does cousin mean by this? Di'er advised cousin not to act impulsively that day, but cousin didn't listen. Now cousin is blaming Di'er?"
"Yes, it's all because cousin was so stupid as to believe the slander of villains and act rashly that she has fallen into such an irredeemable situation. Di'er, tell me, why was cousin so stupid?" Su Muxiao said meaningfully.
Bai Di blinked her eyes, and her pupils darted around nervously. "It's good that cousin knows."
"Cousin heard that Di'er is now engaged to the Third Highness and will be the future Princess of the Third Highness. Oh, Di'er is really lucky. Cousin is very envious."
As she said this, Su Muxiao raised the wine cup in her hand. "Di'er, cousin congratulates you."
Bai Di looked at the wine in Su Muxiao's hand. The wine was clear and transparent, and as Su Muxiao raised her hand, it rippled slightly, reflecting the candlelight in the hall, bright and dazzling.
For some reason, looking at this cup of wine, Bai Di felt a faint uneasiness welling up in her heart.
The ripples on the wine surface spread out in circles, and her memory, along with these ripples, returned to that day at the Gaochang Marquis Mansion.
On that day, Su Muxiao had also held a cup of tea like this and apologized to Bai Zheng gently and amicably.
And this time, the same action, along with the expression on Su Muxiao's face, was just like that day, unusually gentle and amiable.
Bai Di frowned and shook her head. "Di'er is not feeling well today. The doctor has advised against drinking, so..."
"Di'er," Su Muxiao interrupted her directly. She stuffed the wine cup into Bai Di's hand without hesitation and said with a smile, "Cousin was really bored staying in the nunnery, so she sneaked out. Your uncle doesn't know about this yet. But this matter can't be hidden from him for long. Cousin will soon be caught and strictly confined, with no chance of coming out again. By then, cousin definitely won't be able to attend Di'er's wedding in person. But Di'er, we've been sisters for many years. If cousin can't witness your marriage with her own eyes, she'll feel really guilty. This cup of wine is just to fulfill cousin's wish. Please drink it."
Bai Di's beautiful eyebrows knitted into a frown. She felt nauseous listening to such a display of sisterly affection. When did Su Muxiao learn to be so hypocritical?
"Cousin, there's no need for this. Di'er has already said she's not feeling well..."
Bai Di's words suddenly stopped when she caught a glimpse of Feng Jingxuan out of the corner of her eye.
On the opposite seat for the princes, Feng Jingxuan's face was already noticeably flushed from being force - fed one cup after another.
But Su Muxiao's gaze was still fixed on the wine cup, and her fingers tapped gently on the wine pot on the table.
Bai Di knew what Su Muxiao's actions meant - it meant that even if she were to spill the wine in front of her like Bai Zheng did back then, the next second, Su Muxiao would pick up the wine pot and refill it for her.
"Your Highness, this cup of wine is from me, Yunxi."
The voice of Princess Yunxi came, slurred with drunkenness. She staggered towards Feng Jingxuan, grinning foolishly. Her body lurched forward from time to time, as if she was about to fall into Feng Jingxuan's arms.
Bai Di was immediately anxious.
A woman's intuition told her that Princess Yunxi had feelings for Feng Jingxuan. She couldn't just sit back and watch someone seduce her fiancé.
Bai Di looked at the wine cup, took a deep breath, and then drank the wine in one gulp.
"Thud."
Bai Di neatly placed the wine cup on the table, making a moderate sound.
"Di'er appreciates cousin's kindness and has drunk the wine. Di'er has something to attend to, so she can't keep cousin company. Cousin, please help yourself." With these words, Bai Di got up in a hurry and rushed towards Feng Jingxuan.
"Princess!"
After Princess Yunxi finished the wine she had toasted to Feng Jingxuan, she could hardly keep her balance. As soon as she turned around unsteadily, she slipped and fell backward onto the ground.
Feng Jingxuan was already dizzy from the alcohol. Seeing this, he quickly reached out his hand to help her, but because he was so drunk and top - heavy, he not only failed to support Princess Yunxi but was also pulled down to the ground with her.
Bai Di rushed forward anxiously to check on Feng Jingxuan.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, how are you?"
Hearing the noise, Consort Zhao's face changed. She quickly got up, lifted her skirt, and rushed towards them. She moved so fast that even the maids behind her couldn't catch up for a moment.
Whether it was a favored prince or a princess from a foreign country, if anything happened to either of them at the banquet she hosted, she couldn't bear the responsibility.
"Call the imperial physician, quickly, quickly call the imperial physician!"
Almost everyone in the hall rushed over at once. Even Bai Sheng walked a little closer with Princess Mingzhao in her arms. Only Bai Zheng and Su Muxiao watched from afar and exchanged a smile.
"Don't worry, Consort. Third Brother seems to be fine. He's just drunk. Just ask the Imperial Hospital to prepare some sobering soup," Feng Jingyi's voice came.
The hall fell silent for a moment. One could hear that Feng Jingxuan and Princess Yunxi on the ground had gradually begun to snore softly.
Feng Jingye laughed. "It seems we've drunk Third Brother under the table."
Seeing that they were all right, Consort Zhao felt a little relieved. She said to the maids behind her, "Help His Highness the Third Prince and Princess Yunxi to the side hall to rest. Ask the Imperial Hospital to boil some sobering soup."
"Yes."
Soon, the unconscious and drunk Feng Jingxuan and Princess Yunxi were carried away.
Bai Di stared longingly at Feng Jingxuan's departing back. Obviously, she was very worried, but because they were not yet married, she couldn't openly follow to take care of him. So she had no choice but to return to her seat dejectedly, looking very worried.
Consort Zhao was already in a bad mood. After this incident, the little bit of good mood she had managed to muster was completely gone. She immediately ordered all the wine to be removed.
"Mingzhao is just a child. Her birthday banquet is not a place for you to get drunk. Forget it. I'm tired. You all..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a shrill voice came from outside the palace.
"His Majesty has a reward—"