"Being drunk isn't so bad."
Shen Qingfeng was stunned. He saw Lu Yan turn back again and continue drinking. Seeing that Lu Yan accepted every toast, everyone got excited. Many people offered him a second toast after the first. Shen Qingfeng watched Lu Yan gulping down the wine, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
However, even so, he could do nothing but watch silently.
"Smack!" After God knows how many cups, even someone with as good a drinking capacity as Lu Yan finally slumped limply onto the table after downing another cup in one go.
"Marquis Dingbei?"
"Oh, Marquis Dingbei is drunk."
Some people turned their gazes to Shen Qingfeng, but Shen Qingfeng sat there stiffly, unmoved.
Chen Luo watched Lu Yan with interest, let out a soft laugh, and whispered, "It took him so long to get drunk? What a fool. He can't even pretend!"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Dingbei is drunk," Chen Qi trotted up to King Xia Jie's side and whispered into his ear.
"Oh?" King Xia Jie raised his eyebrows, looked down at the group of onlookers, and a strange smile appeared on his lips.
"Marquis Dingbei is in high spirits and has drunk a bit too much. Someone, take Marquis Dingbei to the side hall to rest," King Xia Jie said loudly.
Hearing this, several maids and eunuchs quickly ran up from behind. The eunuchs carried the unconscious Lu Yan on their shoulders, while the maids carried his discarded outer robe. After tidying up for a while, they were about to take him away.
"Mr. Shen," unexpectedly, King Xia Jie suddenly fixed his gaze on Shen Qingfeng. Shen Qingfeng, who had been sitting there watching coldly, shuddered all over. He raised his cold eyes and stared back.
King Xia Jie grinned, "Your fiancé is dead drunk. It would be unreasonable if you don't go and take care of him, right?"
Shen Qingfeng tensed up all over, and the look in his eyes when he looked at King Xia Jie suddenly turned as cold as ice.
Chen Qi reacted quickly and shrilled, "Someone, take Mr. Shen to the side hall as well!"
A few more maids ran in from outside. They quickly tidied up Shen Qingfeng's outer robe and other belongings, then stood nervously beside the table, looking at Shen Qingfeng. But Shen Qingfeng remained as still as a statue, sitting firmly in his seat without moving.
It would be okay once, but if it happened again, it would be a huge joke in front of the various vassal kings. Chen Qi stepped down from the platform, stood in front of Shen Qingfeng, and ordered him condescendingly, "Mr. Shen, what are you still standing there for? Please go."
"You! ... Qingfeng!" Xia Chuli glared at Chen Qi, then turned to look at Shen Qingfeng, whose face was as cold as frost.
A eunuch actually dared to order a son of a noble family openly in the court? Compared to the embarrassment I brought you, this damned eunuch seems to have embarrassed you even more! Shen Qingfeng gritted his teeth. He propped his hands on the table and suddenly stood up.
Xia Chuli looked at him worriedly, opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back in front of so many people.
"It's okay, A Li," Shen Qingfeng gave Xia Chuli a gentle smile, "I'll be back soon."
Then he said no more and strode straight towards the door of the Shanhe Hall. The eunuchs and maids quickly carried the unconscious Lu Yan and their belongings, and followed closely behind Shen Qingfeng.
Shen Qingfeng walked with big strides, not even bothering to turn around and look at Lu Yan.
Xia Chuli was startled. He also stood up and staggered a few steps to chase after him, but was suddenly blocked by Chen Qi, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please return to your seat."
"You! Chen Qi!" Xia Chuli was so angry that his eyes were red, but he stopped in his tracks. Even his voice when scolding Chen Qi didn't dare to be too loud. After all, a crown prince without real power was really restricted in this palace full of hidden dangers.
He stood on tiptoe and looked. He only saw Shen Qingfeng's white figure flash at the door of the Shanhe Hall and then suddenly disappear.
At that moment, something seemed to suddenly stir in Xia Chuli's heart. For some reason, just now, when he watched Shen Qingfeng's back getting farther and farther away, he suddenly had a strong illusion that it seemed as if Shen Qingfeng's departure this time would really mean leaving him forever.
Another episode caused by Shen Qingfeng gradually faded away amidst the toasting and drinking of the court officials. The Shanhe Hall became lively again. But beneath the surface of the celebration, some people were worried, some were watching the fun, and some had ulterior motives. People's hearts were unpredictable, and in this cut - throat court, it was unknown where the real safe haven was.
-
Shen Qingfeng looked at the so - called "side hall" in front of him. His eyes were deep and his expression was complex. After pondering for a while, he finally let out a faint smile.
Even though this was his second life, many things had come full circle.
The so - called "side hall" in front of him was actually the bedroom that Xia Chuli had given him after he ascended the throne. After Shen Qingfeng moved in, Xia Chuli had renamed it Qifeng Hall. Shen Qingfeng was extremely familiar with every plant and tree in this former palace. He had lived here ever since Xia Chuli ascended the throne. After he started living here, no matter it was spring, autumn, winter or summer, he had never shared a bed with Xia Chuli again, and Xia Chuli had never come to find him here. Oh no, Xia Chuli had come once. It was the only time he had entered this place, and he had brought a cup of poisoned wine with him.
There was no greater sorrow than the death of the heart. Looking at that cup of poisoned wine, Shen Qingfeng had tilted his head and drunk it all before Xia Chuli had even finished speaking. Extreme pain welled up from every part of his body, and his consciousness finally sank into darkness. After that, he didn't know how much time had passed. He had floated in mid - air in a soul state, quietly watching his own corpse lying in this huge Qifeng Hall for several days, ignored by anyone.
Shen Qingfeng had always thought that he had been liberated after he had willingly drunk that cup of poisoned wine. But now that he was back in this place, everything he saw made his blood run cold. The familiar carvings, the familiar potted plants, the familiar flowers and plants, everywhere here was filled with Shen Qingfeng's unforgettable memories.
For ten years, he had loved Xia Chuli whole - heartedly for ten years.
But what had he gotten in return?
A sudden pain stabbed at his heart. Shen Qingfeng was speechless for a moment. A lump stuck in his throat. His face turned pale, and he covered his mouth and trembled all over. He deliberately lowered his voice as he followed the crowd.
He didn't want to be noticed.
It was too shameful, too painful.
The maid opened the door of the side hall. Although no one lived here, since it was next to the Shanhe Hall and was often used as a palace for distinguished guests, it was cleaned regularly. They placed Lu Yan steadily on the bed. After the leading eunuch had finished tidying up, he turned to look at Shen Qingfeng, who had been standing by the threshold.
His face was as pale as snow, and his body trembled slightly due to weakness. But the little eunuch deliberately ignored these and said bluntly, "Mr. Shen, Duke Chen has given the order for you to take good care of Marquis Dingbei in this side hall. There is hot water and clean clothes in the side room. You must take good care of Marquis Dingbei. You are not allowed to leave here until dawn tomorrow."
Shen Qingfeng lowered his head, and his expression couldn't be seen. He stood there silently, like a statue without emotions.
The little eunuch thought that Shen Qingfeng was reluctant, so he emphasized again in a sarcastic tone, "Mr. Shen, you have to do this whether you like it or not. Duke Chen's order is the king's order."
"Hehe..." Shen Qingfeng's tone suddenly became sharp. He raised his eyes, and the extremely cold light in them made the little eunuch tremble all over, "When did that castrated thing start to represent the king? Does he think he can cover the sky with one hand?!"
"Shen Qingfeng! What do you want to do?!" The little eunuch's voice was shrill. After all, he was just pretending to be powerful. Now that Chen Qi wasn't around, he lost his pretense. Facing Shen Qingfeng, who was approaching step by step with a gloomy face, he was so scared that he couldn't even speak properly, "I... I'm warning you! This is Duke Chen's order! Do you... do you dare to disobey?!"
Hearing this, Shen Qingfeng stopped about an arm's length away from the little eunuch, his voice as cold as ice, "I wouldn't dare."
"You... you..." The little eunuch's face turned blue and then white with anger. Finally, he left a sentence of "You'd better watch your step" and then ran away as if fleeing for his life.
Shen Qingfeng didn't move. There came the sound of an order to seal the side - hall door. Then, with a "clank", the main door of the side hall was firmly closed.
King Xia Jie was determined to see him go crazy.
Shen Qingfeng looked at the unconscious Lu Yan on the bed. The cold expression on his face softened involuntarily. He slowly walked to the head of Lu Yan's bed and gently sat down on the edge of the bed.
Lu Yan had drunk a lot. He hadn't woken up even when he was being dragged all the way here. Now he was sleeping soundly and snoring softly. Even in his sleep, his eyebrows were still furrowed.
Shen Qingfeng looked at Lu Yan's face. For no reason, he slowly stretched out his hand, and his slender fingertips gently touched the center of Lu Yan's furrowed eyebrows.
"Heh..." Shen Qingfeng smiled bitterly, "Lu Yan, both of us are caught in this game. How can we avoid the things in it?"
Lu Yan's eyes were tightly closed and he didn't respond.
"Forget it. What's the point of talking to a drunkard..." Shen Qingfeng laughed at himself and slowly retracted his outstretched hand.
But the next moment, his wrist hurt. A strong hand suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly. Shen Qingfeng was startled. He quickly lowered his head and saw Lu Yan's dark and deep eyes.