The palace servants slaughtered one of the bears they had hunted. They skinned it, roasted the bear heart, and cooked the bear meat in various ways - steaming, boiling, frying, and deep - frying. Everyone enjoyed the meal to their heart's content.
Yi Zhici found the Qiulu Bai wine so delicious, sweet but not cloying. She kept sipping glass after glass. Before long, she was completely drunk.
The feast ended with everyone in high spirits and tipsy.
Zhong Qing supported Yi Zhici back to the tent. When they reached the forest outside the main hall, seeing someone coming, Zhong Qing quickly bowed and said, "Greetings to the Marquis's Heir."
Hou Chen also came out for some fresh air because he was a bit drunk. "Hmm, is the princess also drunk?"
There were few lamps here, and the light was dim and rather dark. Yi Zhici and Hou Chen were both unmarried. Although there was a maid present, it would still be inappropriate. Zhong Qing said, "Yes, Your Highness. I'll take the princess away first."
Just as Hou Chen was about to nod in agreement, he saw Yi Zhici looking at him hazily. Especially when her eyes fell on Hou Chen's fur cloak, they lit up.
Her big eyes blinked. When she acted coquettishly, few people could resist. Even Yi Junshi, who was used to dealing with all sorts of things and was often extremely angry with Yi Zhici on weekdays, would lose his temper as soon as Yi Zhici acted coquettishly with him.
Yi Zhici said in a soft, waxy voice, "Hey, do you also find it stuffy inside?"
Hou Chen vaguely felt that this was not the tone Yi Zhici usually used to talk to him, but he had nothing to refute, so he just replied, "Hmm."
Yi Zhici turned to Zhong Qing and said, "You wait for me over there first. I have something important to take care of."
Zhong Qing didn't quite trust her current state of mind. "Princess, let me take you back to rest first. You can deal with whatever it is tomorrow."
"No! I drank just for this. How can I wait until tomorrow?" Yi Zhici firmly refused Zhong Qing's suggestion to go back and rest. Then she turned to Hou Chen and said, "I have something to tell you. I like you. I've liked you since the Chrysanthemum - viewing Banquet. What do you say?"
Finally, she said it. Yi Zhici laughed stupidly, feeling relieved.
Hou Chen's eyebrows almost shot up to his forehead. "Should I know about this?"
"What do you mean by'should' or'shouldn't'!" Yi Zhici felt that her dignity had been challenged. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Don't avoid this question. I'm not the kind of person who pesters others. Give me a clear answer. Is it me that you wrote on your wish list?"
Hou Chen smiled helplessly. He was really afraid that this misunderstanding would continue. "Princess, I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."
Yi Zhici didn't have the time to listen to Hou Chen. She just felt that she had said what she wanted to say and made things clear, so her problem was solved.
Then, she pounced on Hou Chen and hugged him.
Zhong Qing was shocked and quickly pulled Yi Zhici away. "I'm so sorry, Marquis's Heir. Our princess is drunk."
Hou Chen was speechless for a while. "It's okay. Hurry up and take her back to sleep." Then he quickly strode away from this troublesome place.
Zhong Qing tightly held Yi Zhici within her reach and rushed towards the tent. Although she had been with Yi Zhici since childhood, she had never seen her drunk like this. It was really scary...
But just as they took a few steps, Zhong Qing felt a sense of despair. Why wasn't Zhong Yi on duty today...
Lin Yuan was standing not far away, with a complex look on his face.
Zhong Qing: "...."
Zhong Qing let out a silent scream in her heart. Didn't General Lin see what just happened...
Yi Zhici was still muttering, "Does he not like me..."
Lin Yuan walked over. "Is the princess drunk?"
Zhong Qing replied, "Yes..."
When Yi Zhici saw the fur cloak, her eyes lit up again. "Hey, why did you come back?"
Lin Yuan's eyes dimmed a bit. "Princess, this subordinate..."
Yi Zhici pounced on him and hugged him.
This hug was with all her might. She kept muttering, "Ah, now you can't escape. You're not allowed to run away anymore!"
Zhong Qing was still complaining in her heart. Why wasn't Zhong Yi on duty today...
But Lin Yuan said, "It's okay. I'll take the princess back."
Before his words faded, Lin Yuan picked Yi Zhici up horizontally. Yi Zhici wrapped her arms around Lin Yuan's neck and still held on tightly.
Zhong Qing followed behind. These two masters were getting bolder and bolder. At least her princess had the excuse of being drunk, but General Lin didn't...
When they got back to Yi Zhici's tent, Yi Junshi was actually inside. Seeing Lin Yuan carrying Yi Zhici in, he was stunned for a moment and then nodded. "Go ahead. A Ci's bedroom is over there."
Zhong Qing: "???" It turned out that her princess was so bold because she inherited it from the marquis!
Yi Junshi said to Zhong Qing, "When A Ci wakes up, tell her to come and see me."
"Yes." Zhong Qing didn't dare to say much and followed Yi Junshi out of the tent.